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KaOS screenshot

KaOS

KaOS is a desktop Linux distribution that features the latest version of the Noctalia desktop environment, the Calligra office suite, and other popular software applications that use the Qt toolkit. It was inspired by Arch Linux, but the developers build their own packages which are available from in-house repositories.

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Vanilla OS screenshot

Vanilla OS

Vanilla OS, a fixed-release distribution based on Debian (formerly Ubuntu, prior to version 2) with the GNOME desktop, is an immutable operating system. The core parts of the system are locked down to prevent unwanted changes and corruption from third-party applications or a faulty update.

Technical Specs Comparison
KaOSVanilla OS
IndependentBaseDebian
pacman / pkgPackage Managerdeb (APT)
systemdInit Systemsystemd
Rolling ReleaseRelease ModelFixed Release
2026.02Latest Version22.10
IntermediateDifficultyIntermediate
February 15, 2026Release DateJuly 28, 2024
x86_64
Architecture
x86_64
niriNoctaliaGNOME
Desktops
niriNoctaliaGNOME