Nøughty Linux is an unconventional Linux desktop experience that combines Ubuntu's familiarity and broad hardware compatibility with Nix's declarative configuration and vast software library all wrapped in a user-friendly interface that requires zero Nix knowledge.
Maximum desktop. Minimum effort.
Development Status: pre-alpha 💣
- Standard Ubuntu Server installation
- Bootstrap Nøughty Linux
curl -fsSL https://noughtylinux.org/bootstrap | bash- Reboot into Nøughty Linux
Ubuntu provides hardware drivers, kernel, and system foundation. A Nix flake provides curated terminal environment, desktop shell, applications, development tools and a TOML configuration gives users meaningful control without complexity.
- Ubuntu: Hardware compatibility and driver management
- Determinate Nix: Performance optimised Nix
- system-manager: Manage system config using Nix on any distro
- nix-system-graphics: Run graphics accelerated programs built with Nix on any Linux distribution
- home-manager: Manage a user environment using Nix
- kmscon: Linux KMS/DRM based virtual Console Emulator
- nala: Beautiful and fast alternative to
apt-get - just: a command runner
- TOML: a config file format for humans
- Catppuccin: soothing pastel theme for the high-spirited!
- 🥇Primary: Linux enthusiasts wanting contemporary tools with a tightly integrated experience
- 🥈Secondary: Give me the bling without the effort eye candy hunters
- 🥉Tertiary: Users interested in Nix ecosystem without NixOS commitment
- Opinionated defaults: Excellent "out-of-box" experience
- User agency: Meaningful choices without overwhelming options
- Zero Nix knowledge: TOML configuration and simple CLI
- Power user escape hatch: Advanced users can add custom Nix configuration via
home-manager/user/custom.nix - Theme consistency: Catppuccin color palette exposed for custom application theming
- Catppuccin only.
- Wayland only.
- No full desktop environments.
- A few well chosen configuration options, not exhaustive control.
- Minimal project hosting requirements. Ideally nought.
The name plays on "nought" (British English for zero) while embracing the rebellious spirit of doing things differently. For the developer audience, noughty creates a parallel to programming's truthy/falsy concepts because Nøughty Linux is nought a distro and unlike traditional Linux distributions, distributes nought ISOs 📀
This architectural choice has the following benefits:
- Nought ISO maintenance burden
- Nought hardware compatibility testing
- Nought installation media versioning
- Nought distribution infrastructure costs
- Nought security maintenance
The name embodies the project's core philosophy: providing maximum value from minimum user investment. Users contribute nought in terms of complex configuration, system administration, or Nix expertise, yet receive a fully contemporary, declaratively managed terminal environment and desktop shell.
See TODO.md for the roadmap and work in progress 🚧
