# Chakra Linux > Linux distribution **Wikidata**: [Q2457713](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2457713) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra_(operating_system)) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chakra-linux ## Summary Chakra Linux is a Linux distribution that was developed as a community-driven operating system based on the Linux kernel, with a primary focus on providing a streamlined KDE-based desktop experience. The project was founded in December 2008 and became a member of the Software in the Public Interest nonprofit organization, operating under the GNU General Public License. Chakra Linux, originally known as KDEmod, aimed to offer users a lightweight yet fully functional Linux system optimized for the KDE Plasma desktop environment. ## Key Facts - **Name:** Chakra Linux (also known as KDEmod, Chakra GNU/Linux, or simply Chakra) - **Type:** Linux distribution (operating system based on the Linux kernel) - **Inception Date:** December 2008 - **License:** GNU General Public License - **Member Organization:** Software in the Public Interest (founded June 16, 1997) - **Last Stable Version:** 2017.10 "Goedel" (released October 8, 2017) - **Previous Version:** 2017.03 "Goedel" (released March 14, 2017) - **Desktop Environment:** KDE (GUI toolkit/framework: ) - **Website:** https://www.chakralinux.org/ - **Distrowatch ID:** chakra - **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted - **Sitelink Count:** 17 (Wikipedia language versions) - **Freebase ID:** /m/0fp_qpv - **Golden ID:** Chakra_(operating_system)-EXGRB6 - **Wikipedia Title:** Chakra (operating system) - **Commons Category:** Chakra GNU/Linux - **Pro Linux Database ID:** 17089 ## FAQs **What type of software is Chakra Linux?** Chakra Linux is a Linux distribution—an operating system built on the Linux kernel that includes core GNU components and various software packages to create a complete, usable desktop environment. **Who developed Chakra Linux and when was it created?** Chakra Linux was created by the community and officially founded in December 2008. The project originated as KDEmod before rebranding to Chakra Linux. **What organization is Chakra Linux affiliated with?** Chakra Linux is a member of Software in the Public Interest (SPI), a nonprofit organization founded on June 16, 1997, that serves as an organizational home for free and open source software projects. **What desktop environment does Chakra Linux use?** Chakra Linux is optimized for the KDE desktop environment, specifically using KDE Plasma as its primary graphical user interface. **What license governs Chakra Linux?** Chakra Linux is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), ensuring users have the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software. **What was the last version of Chakra Linux released?** The final stable release was version 2017.10, codenamed "Goedel," which was released on October 8, 2017. **How many language versions of Chakra Linux's Wikipedia article exist?** There are 17 Wikipedia language versions covering Chakra Linux, including Arabic, Bengali, Catalan, German, English, Spanish, Persian, French, Galician, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Commons. ## Why It Matters Chakra Linux represents an important contribution to the Linux ecosystem because it demonstrated the viability of a community-driven distribution focused specifically on delivering the best possible KDE desktop experience. The project emerged during a period when many Linux distributions were experimenting with different desktop environments and packaging strategies, and Chakra stood out by optimizing specifically for KDE while maintaining a lean system footprint. The distribution mattered because it provided an alternative for users who wanted the power and flexibility of Arch Linux (upon which it was based) but with a pre-configured KDE environment that worked out of the box. This made it accessible to users who lacked the technical expertise to configure KDE manually on a base Arch Linux system. Chakra Linux's membership in Software in the Public Interest also connected it to a broader ecosystem of established free and open source projects, lending it credibility and structural support within the FOSS community. The distribution's existence demonstrated how community projects could organize themselves under nonprofit umbrellas to ensure longevity and legal protection. The project's development trajectory, culminating in the 2017.10 "Goedel" release, documents an important chapter in Linux distribution history—showing how specialized distributions could thrive by focusing on specific use cases rather than attempting to be all things to all users. ## Notable For - Being one of the first major Linux distributions specifically optimized for the KDE desktop environment while maintaining a lightweight, Arch Linux-based foundation - Operating under the Software in the Public Interest nonprofit umbrella, providing organizational stability and legal protection - Maintaining active development for nearly a decade (2008-2017) as a community-driven project - Releasing the "Goedel" series in two versions (2017.03 and 2017.10), with the latter being designated as the stable preferred version - Achieving representation in 17 different language versions on Wikipedia, indicating international community interest - Being categorized in the Wikimedia Commons under Chakra GNU/Linux, with dedicated logo and screenshot files in the public repository ## Body ### History and Origins Chakra Linux traces its roots to December 2008, when the project was established as a community-driven Linux distribution. The project originally operated under the name KDEmod, reflecting its initial focus on providing a modified version of KDE for Arch Linux users. Over time, the project evolved and rebranded as Chakra Linux, though it maintained close ties to the Arch Linux ecosystem. The decision to join Software in the Public Interest (SPI) as a member organization was significant for the project's legitimacy and sustainability. SPI, founded in 1997, provides nonprofit infrastructure for free software projects, including legal support, trademark protection, and organizational framework. This membership placed Chakra Linux among respected projects like Debian, Arch Linux itself, and other prominent FOSS distributions. ### Development and Releases Chakra Linux followed a rolling release model inspired by its Arch Linux heritage, but with its own release schedule for stable versions. The project released version 2017.03 "Goedel" on March 14, 2017, followed by version 2017.10 "Goedel" on October 8, 2017. The latter was designated as the preferred stable version, indicating it was the recommended release for production use. The "Goedel" codename references the mathematician Kurt Gödel, continuing a tradition in the Linux community of naming releases after notable figures in mathematics, science, or computing. This naming convention has been used by several distributions, including Debian and Chakra's contemporaries. ### Technical Architecture As a Linux distribution, Chakra Linux is built upon the Linux kernel and includes core GNU components, following the model established by the original GNU/Linux systems. The distribution's primary distinguishing technical characteristic was its focus on the KDE desktop environment. The GUI toolkit and framework used by Chakra Linux is identified in the source material as , which corresponds to KDE's Qt-based application framework. This tight integration with KDE meant that Chakra Linux provided users with a complete, pre-configured KDE Plasma desktop experience without requiring manual configuration. The distribution maintained a balance between providing a ready-to-use system and allowing users the flexibility to customize their environment—a hallmark of Arch Linux-derived distributions. ### Community and Ecosystem Chakra Linux maintained an active community presence, with its official website at https://www.chakralinux.org/ serving as the primary hub for information, downloads, and community engagement. The distribution's presence on Distrowatch (identified by the ID "chakra") indicated ongoing interest from the broader Linux community. The project's international reach is evidenced by the existence of 17 Wikipedia language versions covering Chakra Linux, ranging from Arabic to Chinese. This multilingual representation suggests that the distribution had appeal beyond English-speaking users and was discussed in diverse linguistic communities. The Wikimedia Commons hosts dedicated resources for Chakra Linux, including the project's logo (Chakra-shiny.svg) and screenshots (Chakra_Goedel_Screenshot.png), demonstrating the project's integration into the broader free culture ecosystem. ### Legal and Organizational Structure Chakra Linux operates under copyright protection, meaning the software is copyrighted rather than placed in the public domain. This is standard for most Linux distributions, which retain copyright while distributing under the GNU General Public License, which ensures the source code remains freely available. The project's membership in Software in the Public Interest provided it with organizational structure typical of established FOSS projects. SPI serves as a fiscal sponsor and legal entity for member projects, helping with trademark issues, donation handling, and organizational governance. ### Related Projects and Context Chakra Linux existed within a broader ecosystem of Linux distributions, many of which share similar foundations or philosophies. As a distribution based on Arch Linux, Chakra was part of a family of "Arch-derivatives" that includes distributions like Manjaro, Antergos, and others. The project's focus on KDE placed it among distributions that prioritized the KDE experience, differentiating it from distributions focused on GNOME, XFCE, or other desktop environments. This specialization was a key part of Chakra's identity and marketing. The Freebase ID (/m/0fp_qpv) and Golden ID (Chakra_(operating_system)-EXGRB6) provide additional reference points for the distribution in knowledge graphs and curated databases, facilitating cross-referencing with other data sources. ### Legacy and Current Status While the last stable release (2017.10 "Goedel") dates from October 2017, Chakra Linux remains a notable entry in Linux distribution history. The project demonstrated how community-driven distributions could carve out specialized niches by focusing on specific desktop environments or user experiences. The distribution's nearly decade-long development cycle (2008-2017) represents a significant investment by its community of developers and users. For those interested in the evolution of Linux desktop environments and the diversity of the FOSS ecosystem, Chakra Linux serves as an example of how specialized distributions can thrive by meeting specific user needs. ## References 1. [2017](https://community.chakralinux.org/t/chakra-2017-10-goedel-released/6693) 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Chakra_(operating_system)-EXGRB6)