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KibaOS is built on Arch Linux (the "Rolling" release, meaning it's always kept up to date rather than released in big yearly versions). It uses the Budgie desktop environment and is designed so that anyone switching to simple can sit down and use it immediately, without having to configure anything first.
KibaOS is built and maintained by Kiba Labs.
Note
New to Linux? A "distribution" (or "distro") is just a complete, ready-to-install version of the Linux operating system, bundled with a desktop, apps, and settings. KibaOS is one such distribution.
We're happy to recommend CurrentBuild, a builder of Linux-first desktops, workstations, and laptops. This is just a recommendation — CurrentBuild is not affiliated with KibaOS and does not pre-install KibaOS on the machines they sell. If you're looking for hardware that's well-suited to running Linux in general, they're a solid option to check out; you'll still need to install KibaOS yourself by following the steps below.
- What KibaOS Includes
- Recommended Hardware: CurrentBuild
- Getting Started
- System Requirements
- Everyday Use
- Building KibaOS Yourself
- Project Structure
- Contributing
- License
- About
KibaOS aims to work well right out of the box, so there's no need to spend an afternoon installing extra software just to get a usable computer.
| Feature | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| A solid foundation | Built on Arch Linux, a well-respected base known for staying current and supporting the newest hardware. |
| A clean, familiar desktop | The Budgie desktop environment provides a taskbar, a centered dock, and a clock applet, laid out so everything is easy to find. |
| Everyday apps, already installed | A file manager (Nemo), a web browser (Firefox), a calculator, a calendar, email (Geary), notes, music, and a to-do list app. |
| A guided setup experience | KibaOS's own built-in installer (the OOBE app, short for "Out-Of-Box Experience") asks you one simple question at a time. |
| Windows program support | Many simple Windows programs can be double-clicked and run directly — no extra setup needed. |
| Automatic background updates | Small fixes download and apply on their own, without interrupting what you're doing. |
Tip
If a word here is unfamiliar — like "desktop environment" or "ISO" — don't worry. We explain each one the first time it comes up.
An ISO file is a single file that contains an entire disc's (or USB drive's) worth of data. It's how most Linux operating systems are distributed. You'll write this ISO onto a USB drive, then boot your computer from that USB drive to try or install KibaOS.
You can download the latest KibaOS ISO file here: Download KibaOS on SourceForge
Important
Each release comes with a SHA256 checksum, which is a short code used to verify your download wasn't corrupted or tampered with. It's good practice to check it, though not strictly required to get started.
You'll need a USB flash drive (8 GB or larger is plenty) that you don't mind erasing — everything currently on it will be deleted.
Free graphical tools like Balena Etcher or Ventoy make this easy — you just select the ISO file and the USB drive, and click "Flash."
A live session lets you try KibaOS directly from the USB drive, without installing anything or changing your computer in any way. This is a great way to check that your hardware (Wi-Fi, graphics, etc.) works well with KibaOS before committing to install it.
- Plug in the USB drive.
- Restart your computer and open the boot menu (usually by pressing a key like
F12,F2,Esc, orDelright after powering on — it varies by computer). - Choose the USB drive from the list.
- KibaOS will boot and log you in automatically.
Note
Anything you do in the live session — files you create, settings you change — is not saved once you restart. It's meant only for trying things out. To make KibaOS permanent, continue to Step 4.
These accounts only exist while you're trying KibaOS from the USB drive — they are replaced by your own account when you install:
| Account | Password |
|---|---|
liveuser |
live |
From the live desktop, open the "Install KibaOS" icon. This launches KibaOS's own built-in installer, which asks you a few simple questions one at a time:
- Your preferred language and region
- Your keyboard layout
- Which disk to install onto
- Your username and password
- A short confirmation screen before anything is written to disk
After you confirm, the installer copies KibaOS onto your computer's disk, sets up the bootloader (the part that lets your computer find and start KibaOS when it turns on), and finishes by creating your personal user account.
Caution
Installing KibaOS will erase the disk you choose in step 3 above. Make sure you've backed up anything important, and double check you're installing to the correct disk if your computer has more than one.
Once installation finishes, restart your computer, remove the USB drive, and KibaOS will start normally from your computer's own disk.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 64-bit (x86_64) | Dual-core or better |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Disk | 20 GB free space | An SSD is much faster than a traditional hard drive |
| Graphics | A GPU supporting OpenGL 2.0 | A dedicated graphics card |
KibaOS can run many Windows programs right out of the box. Just double-click the program's file, and it'll open and run — no extra setup needed.
Tip
Not every Windows program will work perfectly — this depends on the program itself, not on KibaOS. Simpler desktop applications tend to work best.
KibaOS quietly checks for small, official patches in the background and applies them on their own, without interrupting your work. There's generally nothing you need to do — updates just happen.
If you'd like to build your own copy of the KibaOS ISO from source instead of downloading the prebuilt one, you'll need:
- Docker installed
- A Linux computer with at least 15 GB of free disk space
git clone https://github.com/WolfTech-Innovations/Kiba
cd Kiba
docker run --rm --privileged \
-v "$PWD:/w" \
-e RUN_NUM=local \
archlinux:latest \
/w/build.shNote
The build.sh script does the real work: it installs Arch Linux's archiso tool, configures the Budgie desktop, builds KibaOS's custom graphical installer, sets up automatic updates, and finally packages everything into a bootable ISO file. The official KibaOS releases on SourceForge are built automatically using this exact same script, run by GitHub Actions (a service that builds and tests projects automatically) every time changes are pushed to the project or on a regular weekly schedule.
Kiba/
├── .github/
│ └── workflows/
│ └── kiba.yml # Tells GitHub Actions when and how to build KibaOS
├── branding/
│ └── kibaos_banner.png # KibaOS logo and brand images
├── build.sh # The full build script — the heart of the project
└── README.md # This file
Issues and pull requests are welcome at the WolfTech-Innovations/Kiba repository. If you're planning a larger change, please open an issue first so we can talk it through — thanks!
KibaOS is a distribution, not a single piece of software — it bundles together many separate projects (the Linux kernel, Budgie, Wine, and more), each with its own license. The build scripts and configuration files in this repository are released under the MIT License.
KibaOS is a Kiba Labs project.