According to XDA-Developers, the CachyOS Linux distribution has made a significant shift in its January 2026 release, making the Wayland display server the default on its live ISO and installer. The new setup uses the Plasma Login Manager and skips installing Xorg dependencies if a user opts for a Wayland-based installation. The release also bundles both a Stable and an LTS kernel for better hardware compatibility. Furthermore, a brand new installer performs an architecture check right at the start, which the team claims can save up to a gigabyte in downloads. Finally, the default bootloader has been switched to Limine, moving the selection process into the installer itself.
The Wayland March Continues
Here’s the thing: this isn’t surprising anymore. CachyOS is just the latest in a line of projects, like Budgie and GNOME, that are putting Wayland front and center. It feels like we’ve hit a tipping point. The conversation has shifted from “if” to “when” for most mainstream desktop environments. And honestly, it’s about time. X11 had an incredible, decades-long run, but its architecture is creaking under the demands of modern displays and security expectations.
But It’s Not a Full Goodbye Yet
Now, CachyOS isn’t completely ripping out X11. The reports note that Xorg-based options aren’t being stripped from the installer. That’s smart. There’s still a ton of software, especially older or niche applications, that either needs X11 or just works better with it for now. By making Wayland the default but keeping X11 as an installable option, they’re guiding users toward the future without abandoning those who still need the past. It’s a pragmatic approach that avoids alienating their user base.
The Practical Shifts Under the Hood
So what do these changes actually mean for someone trying the ISO? The switch to Plasma Login Manager (instead of SDDM) and the exclusion of Xorg deps for a pure-Wayland install are quiet but meaningful. They reduce complexity and potential conflicts for the majority of users who will just take the default path. The early architecture check in the new installer is a genuinely nice usability win—nobody likes downloading a gigabyte only to find out it’s the wrong version. And moving to Limine as the default bootloader? That’s an interesting, more modern choice that reflects the distro’s focus on performance and newer tech.
What It Really Signals
Look, the technical details are one thing. But the bigger story is the momentum. When smaller, performance-focused distros like CachyOS make this move, it tells you that the ecosystem support for Wayland is now robust enough for daily driving. The driver support is there. The desktop environments are there. The major apps are (mostly) there. We’re past the era of Wayland being a cool experiment for enthusiasts. This is it becoming the industrial standard. For businesses and professionals relying on stable Linux workstations, this consolidation around a modern display protocol is ultimately a good thing, reducing long-term fragmentation and support headaches. The transition is finally feeling real.
