Frequently asked questions

If you cannot find your answer here, ask on   Telegram or open an issue on   GitHub .
What exactly is VasakOS?
A GNU/Linux distribution based on Arch Linux with a desktop of its own. It is not Arch with a different theme: the panel, the file manager, the terminal, the settings, the gallery, the audio player, the keyring and the notification daemon are applications written for this system, in Rust with Tauri and Vue.
Is it ready to use every day?
It is in Alpha. It installs, runs and updates, but there are incomplete features and changes that break compatibility between versions. It is perfectly good for trying it out and reporting problems; we do not yet recommend it as the only system on a work machine. The detail, component by component, is in   state of the project .
What requirements do I need?
Minimum: 64-bit CPU, 4 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk. Recommended: 4 cores, 8 GB of RAM and 40 GB of disk. The full list is in   Downloads .
Does it work with Wayland or with X11?
Wayland. The session runs on the Wayfire compositor, managed by systemd through uwsm. X11 applications work through Xwayland. There is no native X11 session and none is planned: maintaining both duplicated the work with no benefit for the user.
Does it work well with NVIDIA?
With the free drivers (nouveau) and with recent versions of the proprietary driver, yes. Hybrid Optimus setups and older cards with legacy drivers may need manual adjustments. Always try in Live mode before installing.
Can I use the VasakOS desktop on another distribution?

On Arch Linux, yes, by adding the   package repository . On Arch derivatives such as Manjaro or EndeavourOS it usually works, bearing in mind that Manjaro delays packages relative to Arch and that can cause incompatibilities.

On Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora or openSUSE there are no packages: every component would have to be compiled by hand. It is possible, but it is not supported.

How do I update the system?
With sudo pacman -Syu. VasakOS is rolling release: there are no versions that fall behind and no large migrations. The full guide, including what to do with .pacnew files and how to roll back an update, is in   updating the system .
How do I change the look of the desktop?
From Settings → Appearance you can change the light/dark mode, the GTK theme, the icon pack and the cursor theme. Because the desktop interface is built with web technologies, it can also be modified with CSS without recompiling anything.
Where is my configuration stored?
In ~/.config/vasak/. That is where vasak.conf holds the system configuration and shortcuts.json the custom keyboard shortcuts. It is best to change them from Settings rather than editing them by hand: the interface validates the values and applies the changes immediately.
Can I customise the keyboard shortcuts?
Yes, from Settings. You can see all the shortcuts, modify them, create new ones and detect conflicts between them.
Does it support multiple monitors?
Yes. Monitors are detected automatically and the wallpaper extends across all of them.
Does VasakOS collect data?
No. The system has no telemetry, sends no usage information to any server, and does not require creating an account. This website uses Google Analytics with the IP anonymised; the operating system does not.
Is it free? Will it stay free?
Yes to both. All the code is free under the GPL, and you can install it on as many machines as you like. The project is sustained by   donations and by the work of Vasak Group; none of that changes the licence or adds paid features.
How can I help?
Installing it and reporting what does not work is the most useful thing, and it does not require knowing how to program. If you also write code, the guide is in   contribution . Translations, documentation, icons and wallpapers are all needed too.