# Ark Linux

> Linux distribution

**Wikidata**: [Q1330799](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1330799)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ark-linux

## Summary
Ark Linux is a discontinued Linux distribution. The operating system's last stable release was version 2008.1, published in May 2008. The project's official website went offline by June 2012, though archived versions remain accessible.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Ark Linux is an instance of a Linux distribution.
*   **Latest Version:** The final stable version is 2008.1, released on May 15, 2008.
*   **Website Status:** The official website (http://www.arklinux.org) went offline on or before June 26, 2012.
*   **Archival Access:** An archived copy of the website is available via the Wayback Machine (archived February 18, 2012).
*   **Launch Context:** A publication date of March 2005 is associated with the project.
*   **Global Reach:** The project maintained Wikipedia presence in 10 languages, including French, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, and Ukrainian.
*   **Directory IDs:** The distribution is tracked under the Distrowatch ID "ark" and the Pro-Linux.de database ID "3122".

## FAQs
### Q: Is Ark Linux still active?
A: No, Ark Linux is no longer active. The project's official website was taken offline in June 2012, and there have been no stable releases since version 2008.1.

### Q: What was the last version of Ark Linux?
A: The last stable version of Ark Linux was 2008.1, which was released on May 15, 2008.

### Q: Where can information about Ark Linux be found now?
A: While the official site is down, structured data is available on Wikidata and Wikipedia. An archived snapshot of the official website can be accessed through the Wayback Machine.

## Why It Matters
Ark Linux represents a specific era of open-source development history, serving as an example of the diverse Linux ecosystem that existed during the mid-2000s. While it did not achieve the longevity of major distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, its existence is documented across multiple international databases and encyclopedias.

The project is significant for researchers and archivists because it has clear markers of its lifecycle, from its publication in 2005 to its definitive end in 2012. With sitelinks in 10 different languages and entries in databases like Distrowatch and Freebase, Ark Linux illustrates the global spread of Linux culture and the eventual attrition rate of smaller distributions. Its preservation in the Internet Archive allows for the study of user interfaces and installation processes (such as the specific "Arklinux_installer.png" captured in commons) typical of that computing epoch.

## Notable For
*   **Definitive End-of-Life:** The project has a clearly recorded cessation date (June 26, 2012) for its web presence.
*   **International Documentation:** Unlike many obscure distributions, Ark Linux was documented in a wide array of languages including Korean, Ukrainian, and Hebrew.
*   **Archival Preservation:** The existence of specific file links for logos and installers in the Wikimedia Commons ensures the project's visual history is preserved.
*   **Version Timeline:** It has a distinct and verified timeline spanning from at least March 2005 to May 2008 for its stable releases.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
Ark Linux is classified as a Linux distribution, a type of operating system built around the Linux kernel. It is listed in various software databases, including Distrowatch (ID: ark) and the Pro-Linux.de database (ID: 3122).

### Release History
The operating system had a limited release cycle centered around the mid-to-late 2000s.
*   **Publication:** Documentation points to a publication date of March 2005.
*   **Stable Release:** The final confirmed stable release is version 2008.1, timestamped May 15, 2008.

### Web Presence and Archival
The project was hosted at `http://www.arklinux.org`. This domain became inactive on June 26, 2012.
*   **Archive:** The last functional snapshot of the site was recorded by the Wayback Machine on February 18, 2012.
*   **Resources:** Visual assets, such as the distribution's logo and an image of its installer interface, remain hosted on Wikimedia Commons.

### Linked Data and Identifiers
Ark Linux is connected to the broader semantic web through several identifiers:
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/02q73q
*   **Wikidata:** The entity has a sitelink count of 10, connecting it to Wikipedia pages in Commons, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Romanian, and Ukrainian.
*   **Related Entities:** It is categorized alongside similar entities like "PhoeNUX OS" in knowledge graphs.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.arklinux.org:80/article.php?story=20050319113904421)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. DistroWatch