This fully atomic Linux distro is a challenge to install but a treat to use
Looking for a Linux distribution to challenge you? AerynOS delivers that - plus atomic-powered security and stability.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- AerynOS is an independent Linux distribution.
- It includes a unique installation and package manager.
- You can download and install this OS for free.
I love a good challenge, and it's been some time since I've found Linux to offer one.
Then I ran into AerynOS.
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To be fair, this Linux distribution isn't all that difficult; it just has an installer that doesn't exactly hold your hand. Once you complete the installation, you'll find yourself with a Linux distribution that's built from scratch, is fully atomic, and delivers a beautiful KDE Plasma desktop.
What is atomic?
First, let's talk about the atomic nature of AerynOS.
Although you might think that an atomic distribution is an immutable one, that is not always the case. Immutable distributions (which my esteemed colleague, Steven Vaughan-Nichols, and I have been discussing for some time) mount the core of the operating system as read-only, so it cannot be changed.
Also: 5 reasons to switch to an immutable Linux distro today - and which to try first
Immutable distributions provide you with serious security (far stronger than traditional operating systems) and the assurance that upgrades will always work. The goal of AerynOS is to eventually become an immutable distribution, but for now, it is merely atomic.
An atomic distribution is one that manages software updates and installations by layering changes on top of a core system image, instead of modifying the system directly. This approach enhances stability and allows for easy rollback to previous states in the event of an update failure. In other words, an atomic distribution is all about ensuring that upgrades always succeed.
What's up with the installation?
Modern Linux distributions typically offer straightforward installations, making them a point-and-click affair. In fact, most Linux distributions are easier to install than either MacOS or Windows.
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AerynOS takes a different approach to the installation. First, the installer tool is text-based, but requires that you manually partition your drive.
Sounds easy enough, right? After all, AerynOS includes the GParted GUI partition manager, which is fairly easy to use. However, the partition requirements for AerynOS are slightly different from the usual Linux layout.
When you use GParted on AerynOS, you have to do the following:
- Create a new partition table (it must be of the gpt type).
- Create a partition for the boot sector. Ensure this file is approximately 2GB in size. It also must be a FAT32 file system.
- Apply the changes.
- Right-click the FAT32 partition and select ESP (which will automatically select boot and deselect MSFTDATA).
- Close GParted.
That's the process of partitioning the drive. You then need to run the AerynOS installer, which is actually fairly easy to use, despite being command-line based.
And that, my friends, is where the challenges end.
Post-install AerynOS
When you log into AerynOS, you'll find yourself on the KDE Plasma desktop. Everything is already up to date, so you don't need to run an update immediately, as you would with a non-immutable distribution.
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AerynOS doesn't make changes to the KDE Plasma desktop -- not even the wallpaper. This is vanilla KDE Plasma, so it should be immediately familiar. You also get the KDE Discover app center, which includes Flathub support, so you'll have tons of software to choose from.
If you look in the Office category of the desktop menu, you'll find that KDE Plasma has switched from its old calendar and contacts apps to Merkuro Contacts and Merkuro Calendar.
What I like about Merkuro Calendar is that it allows you to easily sync with various services, including Nextcloud, Google Calendar, Outlook, CalDAV, and more. In seconds, I had Merkuro Calendar connected to Google Calendar and all was well.
Of course, if you need other office apps (such as LibreOffice), simply open Discover, search for the desired app, and install it.
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As I expected, KDE Plasma ships with the dark theme enabled, so I immediately jumped into System Settings to change that. Sadly, the collection of downloadable themes for KDE Plasma didn't seem to want to install. Fortunately, the Breeze theme came preinstalled, which is a light theme.
What makes AerynOS unique?
Beyond the installation, AerynOS represents a revolutionary approach to Linux.
There are some low-level differences, such as the use of the LLVM toolchain (instead of the traditional GNU version). Then there's the atomic nature of the OS -- making it more secure and reliable. (The developers indicate that 100% immutability is planned for future releases.)
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The system also automatically manages boot entries, kernel synchronization, and rollbacks, eliminating the need for manually written configuration files. If the EFI system partition is accidentally wiped, it can be automatically rebuilt.
Package management
AerynOS uses its own package manager, moss, which is fairly straightforward. For instance, if you want to install curl, you'd issue the command:
sudo moss install curl
The moss package manager also includes options such as list, remove, search, sync, and more. You also get KDE Discover, which is great for installing GUI apps.
Need to install a GUI app? KDE Discover has you covered.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Performance
KDE Plasma is a fast desktop environment, and AerynOS does not slow it down in the slightest. I found apps installed quickly and opened very fast. Even enabling animations didn't slow down the desktop. (Speaking of which, my installation of AerynOS does not include the KDE Plasma Wobbly Window effect because my hardware won't support it. I installed it as a virtual machine.)
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No matter what I threw at AerynOS, it handled it beautifully. After installing curl, I performed my usual performance check using the Ollama local AI. After installing Ollama (which uses curl) and pulling the qwen3-coder LLM, I ran the query:
Write a Python script for taking user input for name, birthdate, email, and phone number, and append it to the file user_input.txt.
Of course, qwen3-coder easily (and quickly) spit out the response, which was a working Python script for accepting user input.
Who is AerynOS for?
AerynOS is not for everyone. To effectively work with this Linux distribution, you need to understand how to partition a drive and use the command line. That's not to say AerynOS is as difficult as, say, Gentoo, but those new to Linux should avoid this distribution.
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If, however, you're tired of the same old, same old, I suggest you give AerynOS a try. It's unique enough to present a challenge, but not too challenging to deter you from pursuing it.