matrixOS is a Gentoo-based distribution which combines Gentoo’s flexibility with an immutable base system and atomic updates. Rather than updating the running base installation package by package, matrixOS uses OSTree deployments. An upgrade is deployed as a complete filesystem state, allowing the system to retain an earlier deployment that can be selected if something goes wrong.
The distribution is primarily designed for desktop systems and homelab use. Its developers describe reliability and gaming support as its two main goals. Images are available with GNOME or System76’s COSMIC desktop, each maintained as a separate OSTree branch. Users can switch branches with the distribution’s vector management utility.
matrixOS includes current Mesa and NVIDIA graphics drivers and comes prepared for gaming with Steam and Lutris. Applications can also be installed using Flatpak and Snap, while Docker is available for containers. The underlying Gentoo environment and Portage remain important to how the system is built, but the normal matrixOS installation keeps the base operating system read-only.
The vector utility handles upgrades, deployment management, branch switching, installation and other system tasks. Previous OSTree deployments can be retained for rollback, while selected deployments can be pinned. Users who need a conventional Gentoo environment can temporarily make the system writable or permanently “jailbreak” an installation into a mutable Gentoo system with direct Portage access.
Hardware requirements are more restrictive than many distributions. matrixOS targets x86-64-v3 processors, requiring features including AVX2 and FMA, and recommends at least 64GB of storage. Secure Boot is supported, and the default filesystem layout uses Btrfs.
The project describes matrixOS as a hobby distribution intended for homelab rather than mission-critical production use.
| Working state: | Active |
| Desktop: | GNOME, COSMIC |
| Init Software: | systemd |
| Package Management: | OSTree, Portage, Flatpak, Snap |
| Release Model: | Rolling |
| Platforms: | x86_64 (x86-64-v3) |
| Home Page: | github.com/lxnay/matrixos |
| Developer: | matrixOS contributors |
| This article is part of our Big List of Active Linux Distributions and Open Source Operating Systems. |
What's a Linux distribution ("distro")? |
| A distro provides the user with a desktop environment, preloaded applications, and ways to update and maintain the system. Each distro makes different choices, deciding which open source projects to install and provides custom written programs. They can have different philosophies. Some distros are intended for desktop computers, some for servers without a graphical interface, and others for special uses. Because Linux is an open source operating system, combinations of software vary between Linux distros. |
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