# BlackArch Linux

An ArchLinux based distribution for penetration testers and security researchers.

Repository: https://github.com/BlackArch/blackarch
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/blackarch-linux
Homepage: https://www.blackarch.org
Language: Shell
License: BSD-3-Clause
License Family: permissive
Topics: cyber-security, cybersecurity, distribution, hacker, hacking, it-security, linux, pentest, pentesting, red-team, red-teaming, security, security-tools, tools, tools-and-automation
Last push: 2026-08-24T08:12:15+00:00
Link (homepage): https://www.blackarch.org
Link (site_page): https://www.blackarch.org/faq.html
Link (site_page): https://www.blackarch.org/downloads.html

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 77/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 5130, "days_push": 9, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 3474, forks 674 (observed 2026-08-28T04:08:06.053208+00:00)

## What it is
BlackArch Linux is an Arch Linux-based penetration testing distribution bundling over 2,800 security tools for penetration testers and security researchers. It can be installed as a full OS via ISO or added on top of an existing Arch installation through its package repository.

## Use cases
- set up a pentesting environment with thousands of security tools
- add hacking and forensics tools to an existing Arch Linux install
- boot a live ISO for on-the-go penetration testing
- build a red team or security research workstation
- install categorized tool groups for web, network, or reverse-engineering testing

## When to choose
- you are already comfortable with Arch Linux and pacman
- you want the broadest collection of security tools on a rolling-release distro
- you need a live or netinstall ISO for pentest engagements

## When to avoid
- you are new to Linux or Arch and want a beginner-friendly distro
- you need a non-Arch base like Debian or Ubuntu
- you only need one or two security tools that run on your current OS

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: security, penetration-testing, developer-tools, cli
- domain: security, penetration-testing, operating-systems
- platform: self-hosted
- tags: arch-linux, pentesting-distribution, red-team, security-tools, live-iso, rolling-release, command-line, linux

## Member repositories
- BlackArch/blackarch (main) score 77
- BlackArch/webshells (plugin) score 32

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:06.053208+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T18:36:32.778673+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/BlackArch/blackarch (fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:06.053208+00:00, sha 4458cc79a3f3)
  - homepage: https://www.blackarch.org (fetched 2026-08-29T09:30:33.054559+00:00, sha 12146816d326)
  - site_page: https://www.blackarch.org/faq.html (fetched 2026-08-29T09:30:33.064035+00:00, sha 309d3ed16aa1)
  - site_page: https://www.blackarch.org/downloads.html (fetched 2026-08-29T09:30:33.066344+00:00, sha 796b243c0d3e)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.