CachyOS is a rolling release Linux distribution based on Arch Linux that focuses on performance optimizations for modern x86-64 hardware, including gaming workloads. It rebuilds its kernel and core packages with CPU-architecture-specific compiler optimizations while retaining Arch's Pacman package manager and compatibility with the Arch User Repository (AUR). The project provides both a graphical installer built on Calamares and a command-line installer, a choice of more than a dozen desktop environments and window managers, and a dedicated "Handheld Edition" aimed at devices such as the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go.