PikaOS is a gaming/optimization-focused Linux distribution that emphasizes ease of use and high compatibility. Built on a Debian base but with cherry picked and custom compiled packages ensures that Pika is stable whilst being bang up to date!
If you would like to support us by donating you can do so here: Ko-fi
¶ What is PikaOS?
PikaOS is designed to provide:
- Gaming Out of the Box: Setup for pain-free Linux gaming from the start.
- Excellent Performance: Combines up-to-date drivers with a custom-tweaked kernel for speed. We also optimize every package with O3, LTO and avx2 for extra speed!
- High Compatibility: Debian sid base with custom patches ensures broad software and hardware support.
- Open Source: All code is available on our Gitea.
¶ Key Features
- 🐦 Cute bird mascot
- 🎮 Gaming-focused setup
- 🖥️ Included drivers for optimal hardware support
- 🚀 Performance-tuned for speed
- 🔗 High software and hardware compatibility
- 🌐 Open-source development
¶ Getting Started
¶ Download PikaOS
Choose your preferred version:
Last updated 20/12/2024
¶ Installation
Please check our getting-started guide for installation instructions.
¶ Recent Updates
PikaOS IV First 2025 ISO (05/01/2025):
- Updated kernel
- Updated mesa
- Updated linux-firmware
- Tweaks to refind installing to fix missing bootloader in rare cases
- Updated translations
- Perf improvements to Pika Kernel Manager
- Gamescope updated
- Gamescope session fixed
- Power profiles daemon installation fixed
PikaOS IV Boot up refinement ISO (18/12/2024):
- Added Experimental Ventoy support learn more
- Updated to Kernel 6.12.5 and other standard updates
- Moved boot system from live-boot to custom booster hooks (Should result in a faster boot time)
- Added Experimental plymouth support
- Added support for refind-btrfs snapper for non encrypted setups learn more
- Added support for manual UKI secure boot signing learn more
PikaOS IV Early December Updates ISO (06/12/2024):
- 6.12.3 Kernel
- Mesa 24.3.1
- Nvidia Driver 565 updated
- Linux firmware updated
- pikafetch added to repos - fastest fetch there is by far
- Hyprland updated
- Cosmic desktop updated to Alpha 4
- Falcon rewritten and configuration added
- Pikabar now standard on Hyprland install - custom bar for Pika written in quickshell
- Wine updated to 9.22
- LLVM updated to 19
- Chromium updated and optmized with AVX2, LTO, PGO, BOLT + additional video encode/decode support added
- LACT added to repos for GPU fan and overclocking controls
- Zig and Zig nightly added to repos
- Ly display manager added to repos
- Many other smaller improvements
PikaOS IV Bug Fixes ISO (27/11/2024):
- Fixed root partition requesting too much disk space.
- Fixed Refind installing into wrong efi.
- Removed Refind Fallback.
- Made default user ID 1000 instead of 1001. (should help with permissions for those coming from another Distros)
- Redid the manual partitioning ui again.
- Added a help me button to manual partitioning.
- Fixed webapp-manager not opening from pika-welcome.
- Fixed first setup app crashing when clicking on internet settings.
PikaOS IV Debut 04/11/2024:
- Made from the ground up from a Debian base
- Fully self compiled packages with LTO, AVX2 and O3 optimizations
- KDE/Plasma 6
- Gnome 47
- Cosmic Desktop
- Latest Hyprland
- Latest CachyOS patched Linux kernel
- Brand new custom installer
- Custom Updater and welcome apps
- Easy driver management with Pika Drivers
- Fully self packaged Nvidia drivers
- Falcon Gamemode to help get max performance out of your games
- Wallpapers by the super talented Neytirix, with permission ofc
- Additional wallpapers by the awesome Colorman
- Lots more to discover!
¶ Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our FAQs here.
¶ Community and Support
¶ Contributing
We welcome contributions! Come speak to us on Discord if you are interested in helping us out developing PikaOS!
🐦 PikaOS - Your new Linux distro for gaming and beyond! 🚀