CachyOS just dropped its third release of the year (download here), and while it might not scream for attention, there is a lot going on under the hood. This is the kind of update Linux folks tend to appreciate once they actually start using it, not just reading about it.
The big change up front is Shelly replacing Octopi as the default GUI package manager. That might not sound exciting, but package management is one of those things you interact with constantly, so it matters. If Shelly ends up being faster or easier to deal with, that alone could make a difference day to day.
The installer also gets some love. After installation finishes, the system now creates a clean snapshot and keeps it permanently. That is a smart move. If you have ever messed something up after a fresh install, you already know why having a baseline snapshot is useful. CachyOS is basically saying go ahead and tinker, we have your back.
Dual boot users should benefit too. GRUB os prober is now enabled by default, so other operating systems get picked up automatically instead of forcing you to jump through hoops. At the same time, the GNOME package selection has been cleaned up, and UKUI is gone. No big loss there for most folks.
On the graphics side, AMD users get a new Plymouth theme because the old one had issues, especially with multi display laptops. It is one of those fixes that probably annoyed a small group of users a lot, so it is good to see it addressed. There is also a new installer option for MangoWM with DMS shell, which leans into the project’s performance focused vibe.
One feature that stands out a bit more is DNS over HTTPS support built right into the welcome app. You can test different DNS providers, see latency, and even let the system pick the fastest one automatically. It is a simple addition, but it pushes privacy in the right direction without making things complicated.
The welcome app in general seems to be getting more attention lately. There is now a VRAM management toggle for AMD and Intel GPUs, better keyboard navigation, and cleaner looking icons that actually hold up in dark mode. Nothing groundbreaking, but it all adds up.
Then there is fingerprint sudo support. CachyOS can now configure supported fingerprint readers automatically, letting you authenticate sudo commands with your finger instead of typing a password every time. That is the kind of convenience people expect elsewhere, and it is nice to see Linux catching up in a practical way.
A lot of the rest of the update is classic behind the scenes work. Better detection for Intel CPUs, improved NVIDIA profile handling, fixes for handheld devices like the ROG Ally, and even specific Wi Fi hardware tweaks. It is not flashy, but it is the stuff that makes a distro feel solid instead of frustrating.
Storage performance gets a tweak too. The default NVMe scheduler switches to kyber, which should help with responsiveness when the system is under mixed load. You probably will not notice it immediately, but over time it can make things feel smoother.
There are also a bunch of fixes. Installer logging is clearer, microcode packages get cleaned up properly, and some NVIDIA related quirks have been sorted out. A couple of problematic settings tied to newer drivers have been disabled to avoid headaches, which is probably the right call.
For existing users, nothing complicated here. Just update like you normally would and move on. No manual steps required.
All in all, this is not a flashy release, and that is kind of the point. CachyOS is focusing on making the experience better without turning it into something it is not. If you like a performance minded Linux distro that still pays attention to usability, this one keeps things moving in the right direction.
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