This fully atomic Linux distro is a challenge to install but a treat to use

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• AerynOS is an autarkic Linux distribution.
• It includes a unsocial installation and bundle manager.
• You tin download and instal this OS for free.

I emotion a bully challenge, and it's been immoderate clip since I've recovered Linux to connection one.

Then I ran into AerynOS.

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To beryllium fair, this Linux organisation isn't each that difficult; it conscionable has an installer that doesn't precisely clasp your hand. Once you implicit the installation, you'll find yourself with a Linux organisation that's built from scratch, is afloat atomic, and delivers a beauteous KDE Plasma desktop.

What is atomic?

First, let's speech astir the atomic quality of AerynOS. 

Although you mightiness deliberation that an atomic organisation is an immutable one, that is not ever the case. Immutable distributions (which my esteemed colleague, Steven Vaughan-Nichols, and I person been discussing for immoderate time) equine the halfway of the operating strategy arsenic read-only, truthful it cannot beryllium changed. 

Also: 5 reasons to power to an immutable Linux distro contiguous - and which to effort first

Immutable distributions supply you with superior information (far stronger than accepted operating systems) and the assurance that upgrades volition ever work. The extremity of AerynOS is to yet go an immutable distribution, but for now, it is simply atomic.

An atomic organisation is 1 that manages bundle updates and installations by layering changes connected apical of a halfway strategy image, alternatively of modifying the strategy directly. This attack enhances stableness and allows for casual rollback to erstwhile states successful the lawsuit of an update failure. In different words, an atomic organisation is each astir ensuring that upgrades ever succeed.

What's up with the installation?

Modern Linux distributions typically connection straightforward installations, making them a point-and-click affair. In fact, astir Linux distributions are easier to instal than either MacOS oregon Windows.

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AerynOS takes a antithetic attack to the installation. First, the installer instrumentality is text-based, but requires that you manually partition your drive.

Sounds casual enough, right? After all, AerynOS includes the GParted GUI partition manager, which is reasonably casual to use. However, the partition requirements for AerynOS are somewhat antithetic from the accustomed Linux layout.

When you usage GParted connected AerynOS, you person to bash the following:

1. Create a caller partition array (it indispensable beryllium of the gpt type).
2. Create a partition for the footwear sector. Ensure this record is astir 2GB successful size. It besides indispensable beryllium a FAT32 record system.
3. Apply the changes.
4. Right-click the FAT32 partition and prime ESP (which volition automatically prime footwear and deselect MSFTDATA).
5. Close GParted.

That's the process of partitioning the drive. You past request to tally the AerynOS installer, which is really reasonably casual to use, contempt being command-line based.

And that, my friends, is wherever the challenges end.

Post-install AerynOS

When you log into AerynOS, you'll find yourself connected the KDE Plasma desktop. Everything is already up to date, truthful you don't request to tally an update immediately, arsenic you would with a non-immutable distribution.

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AerynOS doesn't marque changes to the KDE Plasma desktop -- not adjacent the wallpaper. This is vanilla KDE Plasma, truthful it should beryllium instantly familiar. You besides get the KDE Discover app center, which includes Flathub support, truthful you'll person tons of bundle to take from.

If you look successful the Office class of the desktop menu, you'll find that KDE Plasma has switched from its aged calendar and contacts apps to Merkuro Contacts and Merkuro Calendar.

What I similar astir Merkuro Calendar is that it allows you to easy sync with assorted services, including Nextcloud, Google Calendar, Outlook, CalDAV, and more. In seconds, I had Merkuro Calendar connected to Google Calendar and each was well.

Of course, if you request different bureau apps (such arsenic LibreOffice), simply unfastened Discover, hunt for the desired app, and instal it.

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As I expected, KDE Plasma ships with the acheronian taxable enabled, truthful I instantly jumped into System Settings to alteration that. Sadly, the postulation of downloadable themes for KDE Plasma didn't look to privation to install. Fortunately, the Breeze taxable came preinstalled, which is simply a airy theme.

What makes AerynOS unique?

Beyond the installation, AerynOS represents a revolutionary attack to Linux.

There are immoderate low-level differences, specified arsenic the usage of the LLVM toolchain (instead of the accepted GNU version). Then there's the atomic quality of the OS -- making it much unafraid and reliable. (The developers bespeak that 100% immutability is planned for aboriginal releases.)

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The strategy besides automatically manages footwear entries, kernel synchronization, and rollbacks, eliminating the request for manually written configuration files. If the EFI strategy partition is accidentally wiped, it tin beryllium automatically rebuilt.

Package management

AerynOS uses its ain bundle manager, moss, which is reasonably straightforward. For instance, if you privation to instal curl, you'd contented the command:

sudo moss instal curl

The moss bundle manager besides includes options specified arsenic list, remove, search, sync, and more. You besides get KDE Discover, which is large for installing GUI apps.

Need to instal a GUI app? KDE Discover has you covered.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Performance

KDE Plasma is simply a accelerated desktop environment, and AerynOS does not dilatory it down successful the slightest. I recovered apps installed rapidly and opened precise fast. Even enabling animations didn't dilatory down the desktop. (Speaking of which, my installation of AerynOS does not see the KDE Plasma Wobbly Window effect due to the fact that my hardware won't enactment it. I installed it arsenic a virtual machine.)

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No substance what I threw astatine AerynOS, it handled it beautifully. After installing curl, I performed my accustomed show cheque utilizing the Ollama section AI. After installing Ollama (which uses curl) and pulling the qwen3-coder LLM, I ran the query:

Write a Python publication for taking idiosyncratic input for name, birthdate, email, and telephone number, and append it to the record user_input.txt.

Of course, qwen3-coder easy (and quickly) spit retired the response, which was a moving Python publication for accepting idiosyncratic input.

Who is AerynOS for?

AerynOS is not for everyone. To efficaciously enactment with this Linux distribution, you request to recognize however to partition a thrust and usage the bid line. That's not to accidental AerynOS is arsenic hard as, say, Gentoo, but those caller to Linux should debar this distribution. 

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If, however, you're bushed of the aforesaid old, aforesaid old, I suggest you springiness AerynOS a try. It's unsocial capable to contiguous a challenge, but not excessively challenging to deter you from pursuing it.