Debian-based distro from Brazil adds much to its nation’s rep in Linuxsphere
By Larry Cafiero
When it comes to creating and maintaining Linux distros, Brazil doesn’t jump out as the first place you’d mention. It isn’t exactly a hotspot. Sure, Brazil has a couple of standouts like Big Linux and Linuxfx, to name two, however there’s a rich, albeit somewhat unknown, culture of Linux distros from that South American country.
Today we’re going to add another Brazilian distro to the mix with this week’s Distro of the Week when we test drive Mauna Linux.
Mauna Linux’s latest version is 25.3, code-named Polaris, and it is based on Debian Trixie 13.6 while coming in a variety of desktop environment flavors like Cinnamon, LXQt, MATE and Xfce. There is also a Christian Edition that is available for those who are so inclined, but for purposes of this review, we are going to be heathens and use the MATE version after an unsuccessful stab at the LXQt version, and we’ll explain why later.
Installing Mauna Linux 25.3
The ISO for the LXQt and the MATE versions of Mauna Linux 25.3 are 3.8 GB and 3.6 GB respectively, and both downloaded without a hitch.
Once they were on a USB drive, it was on to the hardware. First the LXQt version, which came up as a live USB version with an install icon on the desktop. Thanks to a standard Calamares-based install, we were asked our location for time/date purposes, which keyboard we wanted (US please), disk partitions, login/password setup, check the summary, and under 10 minutes later the distro installed without a hitch.
But here’s where the hitch in the LXQt version revealed itself: Upon rebooting and updating, the keyboard for some reason reverted back to the Portuguese keyboard, and the distro could not hold some of the minor changes that I made to it, like maintaining the new cursor style. Not being patient enough to troubleshoot these issues – I know, mea culpa, mea culpa – I switched to the MATE version instead.
The MATE install was similar with the identical Calamares setup and under 10 minutes later we were back on the air, so to speak, with a Welcome window for the distro itself which, among other items, invited us to upgrade the distro. Around 100 upgrades awaited us when we clicked the button to upgrade and we put the laptop aside for awhile while it dutifully ran them. The Welcome window in Mauna Linux is unique insofar as it provides a wide range of help to the new user.
This would be a good time to mention the system requirements for Mauna Linux 25.3. The minimum system requirements for the distro are 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of hard-drive space, however the Mauna Linux web site suggests a 64-bit processor (preferably amd64), the same RAM and hard-drive space, a network board, Internet connection and 128MB or higher of video capability.
Kicking the tires on Mauna Linux 25.3
In both the MATE and LXQt versions of Mauna Linux 25.3, the 3-plus GB of ISO provided a wealth of software for the user to operate, which is the first of several feathers in their proverbial cap. Firefox? Yep, it’s here. VLC media player? Also present. GIMP? Of course, it’s here, too. The file manager is Caja, which is not a far cry from Thunar, and there are a wealth of tools that come with Mauna which are somewhat specialized as well.
The word processor that comes with Mauna Linux 25.3 is OnlyOffice, which is adequate for use in the grand scheme of things. But just to be on the safe side – and to test out both of the distro’s two software downloading systems, specifically Software Manager – which is the store-like program for adding software – and the old-school Synaptic Package Manager, I added LibreOffice as well as the Thunderbird email client for good measure.
One reboot later, it was “go time” for Mauna Linux 25.3.
Programs in Mauna Linux 25.3 are responsive and quick, in large part thanks to Debian under the hood. Daily tasks and digital chores were handled with ease, and as it turned out I really didn’t need to download LibreOffice because I took a stab at writing this article on OnlyOffice and it performed remarkably.
Multitasking was effortless in Mauna Linux 25.3 as well, as multiple tasks were handled with ease. In fact, with several programs open, the RAM rarely reached above 2 GB with no swap used, meaning that the distro was handling all I threw at it with the poise you would expect from a Debian-based distro. Also, using web programs like Google Docs and Google Drive were simple and effortless.
I did have a chance to use some of the tools at the user’s disposal in the distro, specifically some of the MATE-based tools like the Disk Use Analyzer, as well as the Mauna USB Formatter. To be honest, I took liberties with the latter, downloading an ISO and making a live USB from it, and it performed flawlessly. Another feather in the Mauna Linux cap, to be sure.
The final word
Mauna Linux 25.3 “Polaris” joins over 80 Linux distros currently based on Debian which, of course, is a crowded field; perhaps the most crowded in the Linuxsphere. As such, it would be difficult for it to stand out, especially since Mauna is currently ranked 251st – although peaking at 166 in the four-week rankings – in the Distrowatch page-hit rankings for the year.
But never mind: Mauna Linux has two things going for it. First, despite a false start with the LXQt version, the distro’s MATE version is very solid and responsive, to say nothing of very attractive. There are a wide range of desktop photos to replace the default wallpaper, if you’re interested, and they seem to be primarily Brazil-based photos. Also, the developers at Mauna Linux seem to care deeply about their product, and provide both a well-stocked forum and wiki for those who wish to use it.
Is Mauna Linux good for beginners? The MATE version gets a solid “yes,” although users may want to avoid the LXQt version for reasons mentioned earlier. Once again, the wiki and forum are top-notch, and the MATE version has a very simple learning curve for Windows users coming out of the proverbial cold.
Intermediate and greybeards would easily find Mauna Linux a worthy daily driver as well, with a wealth of MATE- and Mauna-based tools available, and both new users and more advanced users both would be comfortable navigating the desktop and exploring the ins and outs of their system.
Check out Mauna Linux by visiting the download page and give it a try.
Do you have a distro you think would make a great feature for Distro of the Week? Don’t be shy—let me know! Email me at larry.cafiero@gmail.com and I’ll make an effort to make your choice available to the wider public … No suggestion is too mainstream!