Omarchy Linux

What is Monarchy Linux?

Monarchy Linux was a source-based Linux distribution, meaning users compiled the entire operating system from source code specifically for their own hardware. It was heavily inspired by (and a direct fork of) Linux From Scratch (LFS), but with a crucial difference: it provided a set of automation scripts to manage the build process. This made it significantly more accessible than a pure, manual LFS build.

Its philosophy was “build it yourself for ultimate control and optimization,” but it recognized that a fully manual process was a barrier to entry for many.

An article on The New Stack from August 2025 reports that Omarchy Linux is being adopted by 37signals under the guidance of David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH). It describes Omarchy as “designed to be a developer’s Linux desktop”

A post on a community forum mentions Omarchy being built on top of Arch Linux + the Hyprland window manager and claims “It is just a breath of fresh air … and I love it!”

The same article says that 37signals plans to move many of its ops and Ruby teams onto Omarchy by 2028.

🕵️ What remains unclear / missing

There is no clear record of a public release date, version history, or repository for Omarchy Linux.

It is unclear who the full development team is (beyond the mention of DHH) or what the governance model is.

There is no detailed changelog or roadmap (that I found) that traces the evolution of the distribution (e.g., initial release, major updates, community adoption).

Because of this lack of documentation, it’s hard to place Omarchy within the broader Linux distro ecosystem (how it differentiates, its niche, etc.).

It’s possible that Omarchy is a private/enterprise-oriented distro (or in early private beta) rather than a fully public open-source project with broad community presence.

🔍 Tentative timeline based on available info

Here’s a reconstructed timeline of what we can infer:
Date—>Event
Prior to 2025—>Omarchy (or its development) likely began; built around Arch + Hyprland (community post)
August 2025—>The New Stack article reports 37signals’ adoption plan of Omarchy and presents it publically.
2028 (planned)—>37signals expects to have most ops & Ruby teams on Omarchy unless compelling reasons not to.

🎯 What we can say about its position / goals

Omarchy seems aimed at developers (especially operations and Ruby teams) who want a desktop Linux environment with keyboard-centric workflow and Hyprland window management.

It appears to have strong backing (at least internally) from 37signals, which suggests that while it may be built on open-source foundations it might initially be optimized for that company’s workflows.

The community comment suggests positive user experiences (on specific hardware, e.g., the Framework laptop) with regard to system stability and battery performance.

📌 My assessment

Because of the limited publicly documented history, if you’re considering using Omarchy Linux, you should proceed with the understanding that:

It might not yet have the broad ecosystem, community support, documentation, or package infrastructure of major established distros.

There might be fewer tutorials, fewer user reports, and potentially more “bleeding edge” aspects (which can mean more risk of breakage).

If your use case is traditional desktop computing (general-purpose), you may want to compare with more mature options first. If you’re a developer comfortable with customizing your environment, Omarchy might be appealing.

Before adopting, check for: hardware compatibility, availability of software packages you need, community and commercial support, update/upgrade policy.

The Full History: Origins, Rise, and Decline

1. The Predecessor: Linux From Scratch (LFS)

To understand Monarchy, you must first understand LFS.

Created by: Gerard Beekmans.

First Book Release: 1999.

Concept: LFS is not a distribution in the traditional sense. It is a book—a step-by-step guide—that teaches you how to build your own custom Linux system by compiling every component from its source code. It offers unparalleled control and education but is a very time-consuming and manual process.

2. The Birth of Monarchy Linux (c. 2000-2001)

Monarchy Linux was created by Alexander Stippler around 2000-2001.

Motivation: Stippler and other early users wanted the benefits of an LFS system—a lean, optimized, and bloat-free OS—but desired a way to automate the repetitive compilation and installation steps.

The Solution: Monarchy Linux was born as a collection of bash scripts (most notably the build.sh script) that automated the process described in the LFS book. A user could configure a set of files, run the main script, and it would download the source code for all the necessary packages (the kernel, glibc, coreutils, etc.) and compile them in the correct order.

The Name: The name “Monarchy” was a play on the concept of the user being the absolute “monarch” of their system. You had ultimate authority and control over every aspect of the build.

3. Key Features and Characteristics (During its Prime)

During its active years (roughly 2001-2006), Monarchy Linux was defined by:

Source-Based: Every package was compiled from source, allowing for aggressive compiler optimizations (e.g., using -march=native for the specific CPU).

Automated LFS: It was often described as “Automated Linux From Scratch.” It lowered the barrier to entry for experiencing an LFS-style system.

Dependency Resolution: Unlike a pure LFS build, Monarchy had a primitive but functional dependency resolution system in its scripts. It knew that you needed Binutils before GCC, and GCC before most other things.

"Crux-like" Package Management: Monarchy later incorporated a ports-like package management system, very similar to what CRUX Linux used. This allowed users to easily download, compile, and install new software after the base system was built using a simple command like pkgadd.

Simplicity and Control: The base system was extremely minimal. You started with a core set of utilities and built only what you needed, resulting in a fast and secure system with no unwanted software.

4. The Peak and Influence (c. 2003-2005)

Monarchy Linux gained a small but dedicated following. Its users were typically:

Enthusiasts and hobbyists who wanted to learn how a Linux system worked from the ground up.

Users seeking the absolute maximum performance from their hardware.

People who wanted a system tailored exactly to their needs with zero bloat.

Its influence was significant, particularly as a bridge between manual LFS and more user-friendly source-based distributions. It demonstrated that automation and a “build-it-yourself” philosophy were not mutually exclusive.

5. The Decline and Legacy (Post-2006)

Monarchy Linux is no longer actively developed. Its decline began in the mid-to-late 2000s for several key reasons:

The Rise of Gentoo Linux: This was the single biggest factor. Gentoo Linux offered everything Monarchy did—a source-based, highly optimized, and customizable system—but with a much more robust and mature ecosystem.

Maintainer Burnout: As a one-person or small-team project, maintaining the build scripts and keeping up with the constant changes in the core LFS book and software versions became a heavy burden.

Shift in Linux Trends: The broader Linux world shifted towards binary distributions (like Ubuntu and Fedora) that focused on user-friendliness, quick installation, and widespread hardware support. The niche for a source-based distro like Monarchy shrank.

Direct Successors and Spiritual Heirs

While Monarchy itself is gone, its spirit lives on in other distributions:

Gentoo Linux: The direct successor in terms of philosophy and user base. Most Monarchy users migrated to Gentoo.

CRUX Linux: The inspiration for Monarchy’s package management. CRUX remains a minimal, KISS-oriented distribution, though it is less strictly source-based than Gentoo.

Linux From Scratch (LFS): The project that started it all is still active and updated, continuing to serve those who want the pure, un-automated educational experience.

Summary Timeline

1999: Linux From Scratch (LFS) is created, establishing the concept.

~2000-2001: Alexander Stippler creates Monarchy Linux to automate the LFS process.

2001-2005: Monarchy Linux peaks in popularity within its niche, offering automated scripts and a ports system.

~2002: Gentoo Linux begins to gain significant traction, offering a more complete source-based solution.

Mid-2000s: Development on Monarchy Linux slows and eventually halts as users and developers move to Gentoo.

Present Day: Monarchy Linux is considered a historical and influential distribution. Its website and resources are archived, and it is remembered as an important stepping stone in the world of source-based Linux distributions.