Anatase – immutable Fedora-based distribution

Anatase is an immutable Fedora-based distribution designed for desktops, laptops, home theatre PCs and gaming handhelds. It aims to provide a single system image that works across a wide range of hardware rather than maintaining separate images for different devices and graphics configurations.

The distribution uses bootc for its immutable system architecture. System updates are handled as complete images rather than by modifying the base operating system package by package. Anatase offers stable, rolling and testing update channels. The stable channel receives tested updates periodically, while rolling tracks ongoing development more closely.

KDE Plasma is the main desktop environment. Plasma Mobile is also available for touch-oriented devices, and Anatase provides a separate Gamemode built around gamescope. Gamemode is intended for handhelds and living-room systems and provides features including variable refresh rate support, HDR, frame-rate controls, hardware controls and frame generation.

A notable component is Spaces. These are isolated environments that let users run packages and applications from Arch Linux, Fedora, Ubuntu and Kali Linux alongside the main Anatase system. Applications installed in a Space can integrate with the desktop, while permissions control which directories and devices are exposed to the environment. This allows users to access traditional distribution package managers without modifying the immutable base system.

It also pays particular attention to gaming hardware. The project supports a large collection of handheld PCs and provides facilities for controller configuration, gyro controls, back buttons, RGB lighting, fan curves and TDP management. AMD, Intel and recent NVIDIA graphics hardware are supported, although NVIDIA GPUs from the GTX 1000 generation and older are currently excluded.

Key Features

• Immutable Fedora-based operating system using bootc.
• Uses KDE Plasma as its main desktop environment.
• Offers Plasma Mobile for touch-oriented devices.
• Provides a gamescope-based Gamemode for gaming handhelds and living-room systems.
• Uses a single x86_64 image across supported desktops, laptops, HTPCs and handhelds.
• Provides stable, rolling and testing update channels.
• Supports automatic background system updates.
• Offers Spaces for running Arch Linux, Fedora, Ubuntu and Kali environments.
• Integrates graphical applications installed inside Spaces with the desktop.
• Supports Flatpak applications.
• Includes hardware controls for supported handheld PCs.
• Supports AMD, Intel and recent NVIDIA graphics hardware.
• Offers Secure Boot support using a Machine Owner Key.
• Uses SELinux for mandatory access control.
• Supports encrypted installations using LUKS.

This entry was written with the assistance of a visitor who completed the distro form.