Vanilla OS

Overview

Vanilla OS is a free, open source Linux distribution with immutable, atomic and user-friendly cores. It is based on Debian Sid (a rolling update test branch, starting from Vanilla OS 2.0), provides a pure GNOME desktop environment, and emphasizes simplicity, security and high performance. It implements an immutable file system through ABRoot (the root file system is read-only and updated using A/B partitions), supports cross-distribution software installation (such as Debian, Fedora, Arch, Alpine) through the Apx package manager, and gives priority to Flatpak to provide sandboxed applications. Vanilla OS 2.0 "Orchid" (released on July 28, 2024) is completely rewritten, and Vib (Vanilla Image Builder) is added to support custom OCI images and enhance modularity. It is suitable for developers, players and daily users, especially for scenarios that require a safe and stable environment.

History and Development

• Origin:
  • 2022: Vanilla OS was initiated by Mirko Brombin (founder of the Bottles project), based on Ubuntu 22.10 Kinetic Kudu, with the goal of providing a pure GNOME experience and an immutable file system.
  • December 29, 2022: Vanilla OS 22.10 Kinetic was released, introducing Almost (immutable tool, later replaced by ABRoot), Apx package manager and First Setup wizard.
• Development History:
  • 2023:
    • Vanilla OS 1.x: Based on Ubuntu, optimize Apx to support Flatpak, AppImage and Snap, and emphasize sandboxed applications.
    • X post said "The immutable design and Apx of Vanilla OS 22.10 are eye-catching."
    • In March, it was announced that Vanilla OS 2.0 will switch to Debian Sid to provide a purer GNOME experience, get rid of Snap dependencies and Ubuntu release cycles.
  • 2024-2025:
    • Vanilla OS 2.0 Orchid (July 28, 2024): Completely rewritten, based on Debian Sid, upgraded ABRoot v2 (OCI image update), Apx v2 (support for multi-distro containers), Vib (custom images), Prometheus (container management) and Eratosthenes (package information browsing).
    • Vanilla OS 2.0.1 Orchid (2024): Fixed the First Setup background update problem, added LUKS2 encryption and manual partitioning.
    • Vanilla OS 2.1 Orchid (2025): Upgrade GNOME 48, optimize Flatpak and Wayland support.
    • X post says "Vanilla OS 2.0's Debian base and immutable design are the future of the Linux desktop".
• Community and support:
  • Maintained by the Vanilla OS team, hosted on vanillaos.org,GitHub and Reddit (r/vanillaos).
  • User feedback says "Vanilla OS is suitable for advanced users, but not friendly enough for novices".
• Open source license:
  • The core code is GPL v3, Apx and Vib are MIT.

Main features

Vanilla OS is known for its immutability, atomicity and cross-distribution software support, suitable for development and security scenarios. The following are its main features:

1. Immutable file system (ABRoot)
   • Use ABRoot v2 to implement read-only root file system, atomic updates through A/B partitions and OCI images to prevent system damage.
2. Apx Package Manager
   • Apx v2 is a containerized package manager that supports Debian, Fedora, Arch, Alpine and openSUSE packages, and integrates Flatpak and AppImage.
3. Pure GNOME Desktop
   • Provides an unmodified GNOME desktop (GNOME 48 in 2.1), supports Wayland, and has a simple interface.
4. Vib (Vanilla Image Builder)
   • Generates custom OCI images and supports modular system building.
5. Recovery Mode and First Setup
   • Recovery Mode: Integrates GParted and Terminal for easy system recovery.
   • First Setup: Guides users to configure language, Flatpak and drivers.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Immutable and atomic updates:
  • ABRoot ensures system stability and prevents update failures.
  • X post says "Vanilla OS 2.0's A/B partitions make updates worry-free."
• Cross-distro support:
  • Apx supports multiple distro packages, better than Deepin (linglong) and Q4OS (Debian only).
• Pure GNOME:
  • Provides an unmodified GNOME experience, better than Ubuntu's customized GNOME.
• Privacy and security:
  • No telemetry data collection, sandboxed applications enhance security.
• Modular design:
  • Vib and OCI images support customization, suitable for developers.

Limitations

• Based on Debian Sid:
  • Rolling updates may cause instability, requiring ABRoot rollback.
• High hardware requirements:
  • Requires 50GB storage (A/B partition) and 8GB RAM (recommended), not suitable for low-end hardware.
  • Solution: Use high-end devices or the cloud.
• Not newbie-friendly:
  • Immutable design and Apx are complex for newbies (u/SenderoLinux)
  • Solution: Refer to the documentation (vanillaos.org) or use Ubuntu.
• Incomplete documentation:
  • Vanilla OS 2.0 documentation has not been fully updated.
  • Solution: Check GitHub (github.com/Vanilla-OS).
• UEFI support only:
  • Legacy BIOS is not supported.
  • Solution: Use UEFI devices.

Summary

Vanilla OS is a free, open source Linux distribution based on Debian Sid. It is known for its immutable file system (ABRoot), atomic updates, and cross-distro package management (Apx). It provides a pure GNOME desktop suitable for developers, players, and advanced users. It enhances modularity and stability through Vib, Prometheus, and Recovery Mode, and gives priority to using Flatpak to provide sandboxed applications. Vanilla OS is suitable for development scenarios that require immutability and cross-distro support.