PikaOS offers several ISO editions built on different desktop environments (DEs), tiling window managers (WMs), and compositors — so you can choose the setup that best fits your style and skill level:
Desktop enviroments (DEs) offer a more traditional and complete desktop experience. and are usually the starting points of new users, Being the most beginner friendly options
GNOME Edition: Known for its stability and simplicity, GNOME works great out of the box; ideal if you’d rather focus on using your system than configuring it.
The most MacOS-like UI out of the box.
KDE Edition: A traditional, highly customizable desktop experience for users who want control without the need for endless manual configuration. The most Windows-like UI out of the box
Window Managers (WMs) are compositors that are incredibly customizeable, they are highly keyboard driven and require being quite comfortable with editing text based config files to customize,
- They will present a steep learning curve for new users, but offer the highest level of customization for users willing to learn
Niri Edition: A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor designed to arrange windows in an infinite horizontal strip. It’s lightweight, keyboard-driven and efficient but requires some manual configuration, making it a solid pick for users comfortable with editing config files.
Hyprland Edition: A highly customizable tiling Wayland compositor for users who love smooth animations, transparency effects and extensive theming options. Demands familiarity with config files.
Regardless of the flavor you choose, make sure to download the version that matches your GPU:
Once you've downloaded an ISO from the main page head to the Basic Setup Guide.