A Rust-first, AI-powered Linux distribution
RegicideOS is a forward-looking Linux distribution that has begun as a fork of Xenia Linux with a clear vision: to create an AI-first, Rust-powered operating system designed for the future of computing.
Our mission is to build a secure, performant, and intelligent operating system where every component that can be implemented in Rust will be migrated to Rust, and AI capabilities are integrated at the system level.
Regicide in this case refers strictly to the "kings" of the current operating system marketplace: Microsoft, unsafe programming languages, and human-centric system administration, and has no further social or political ramifications
implied.
Motivational slogan:
"The commits will keep coming until every single Red Hat Enterprise customer cancels their subscription."
- System-wide Rust adoption: Every component that can be replaced with Rust binaries will be migrated
- Memory safety: Eliminate entire classes of vulnerabilities through Rust's ownership model
- Performance: Leverage Rust's zero-cost abstractions for optimal system performance
- Intelligent system management: AI-driven optimization and resource allocation utilizing Reenforcement Learning
- Predictive maintenance: Proactive system health monitoring and issue resolution
- User assistance: Context-aware help and automation capabilities
- Continual Reinforcement Learning: Inspired by the techniques listed in A Survey of Continual Reinforcement Learning
- Kernel transition: Readiness for migration to the Asterinas kernel as it matures
- Immutable system: Read-only BTRFS filesystem for enhanced security and stability
- Container-native: Built around containerized workflows for application isolation
| Component | Technology | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel | Linux (→ Asterinas) | System foundation |
| Init System | systemd | Service management |
| Filesystem | BTRFS (read-only) | Immutable system image |
| Container Runtime | Distrobox | Application isolation |
| Desktop Environment | Cosmic Desktop | User interface |
| Package Management | Overlays | Software distribution |
/
├── boot/efi # EFI System Partition
├── root/ # Read-only system image (squashfs)
│ ├── usr/ # System binaries
│ ├── etc/ # Configuration (overlay)
│ └── var/ # Variable data (overlay)
├── home/ # User data (separate subvolume)
└── overlay/ # Writable overlays
├── etc/ # Configuration overlay
├── var/ # Variable data overlay
└── usr/ # User software overlay
- Read-only root: System files protected from accidental modification
- Atomic updates: Safe, transactional system updates
- Rollback capability: Easy system state restoration
- Distrobox integration: Seamless containerized application environment
- Isolated workspaces: Clean separation between system and user applications
- Compatibility layer: Run applications from any Linux distribution
- Modern interface: Built with Iced for a native Rust experience
- Wayland native: Next-generation display protocol
- GPU-accelerated: Hardware-accelerated graphics pipeline
- Community-driven: User-submitted package collections
- Curated sets: Pre-configured application bundles for specific workflows
- Easy sharing: Simple format for distributing software collections
- 64-bit x86 processor
- 12GB disk space minimum (20GB recommended)
- UEFI or Legacy BIOS firmware
- Internet connection
The installer defaults to minimal packages only (no recommended packages) and BTRFS filesystem. Common configurations:
Step 1: Boot Live Environment
Recommended Live Environments:
- Fedora Workstation Live: https://getfedora.org/en/workstation/download/
- Ubuntu Live: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop
- Arch Linux Live: https://archlinux.org/download/
Boot your target machine from the live environment and connect to the internet.
Step 2: Quick Install (Recommended)
For the fastest installation, use our pre-built minimal installer binary:
# Download the pre-built installer
curl -L -o regicide-installer https://github.com/awdemos/RegicideOS/releases/latest/download/regicide-installer
# Make executable and run
chmod +x regicide-installer
sudo ./regicide-installerStep 3: Manual Install (Advanced)
If you need to build from source or use a custom configuration:
# Install required packages in live environment
# For Fedora:
sudo dnf -y install curl gcc btrfs-progs sgdisk rust cargo
# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/awdemos/RegicideOS.git
cd RegicideOS/installer
cargo build --release
sudo ./target/release/installer# For Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install git curl gcc btrfs-progs
# For Arch:
sudo pacman -S git curl gcc btrfs-progs
sudo ./regicide-installer
# or for manual build:
sudo ./target/release/installerThe installer will guide you through:
- Disk selection and partitioning
- Username and password setup
- Minimal package installation (no recommended packages)
- BTRFS subvolume configuration
# Create minimal configuration
cat > regicide-config.toml << EOF
drive = "/dev/sda"
repository = "https://repo.xenialinux.com/releases/"
flavour = "minimal" # Uses minimal packages only
release_branch = "main"
filesystem = "btrfs"
username = "your-username"
applications = "minimal" # IMPORTANT: No recommended packages
EOF
# Run automated installation
sudo ./regicide-installer -c regicide-config.toml- Live OS: Any modern Linux live environment (Fedora recommended)
- Storage: Target drive will be completely erased and reformatted
- Network: Required for downloading system image from Xenia repository
- Time: 15-30 minutes depending on internet speed
After installation completes:
- Reboot into your new RegicideOS system
- Login with your created username and password
- Verify Installation:
# Check system status systemctl status cat /etc/os-release # Verify BTRFS setup sudo btrfs filesystem df / sudo btrfs subvolume list / # Check BtrMind service (if AI tools installed) systemctl status btrmind
If the pre-built installer fails, ensure Rust is properly installed:
# Verify Rust installation
rustc --version
cargo --version
# If not installed:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
source ~/.cargo/envThe installer includes comprehensive BTRFS validation:
- Subvolume structure verification
- Proper mount point configuration
- Compression and optimization settings
- Read-only root with writable overlays
If downloading from Xenia repository fails:
# Test connectivity
ping repo.xenialinux.com
# Use alternative mirror if needed
# In config file, set: repository = "https://mirror.xenialinux.com/releases/"- Core installer functionality
- BTRFS read-only system
- Rust rewrite of installer
- Cosmic Desktop integration
- Rust replacements of core utilities
- Basic local-only Rust-based AI integrations
- Rust-based system utilities
- Memory-safe package manager
- Rust-based system components
- Predictive system maintenance
- Intelligent resource allocation
- Context-aware user assistance
- Natural language system control
- Asterinas kernel integration. Probably in 2026-2027.
- Complete Rust system stack
- Advanced AI capabilities
- Distributed system features
We welcome contributions to RegicideOS! Areas where we particularly need help:
- Rust development: Rewriting system components in Rust
- AI integration: Implementing intelligent system features
- Overlay creation: Developing useful package collections
- Documentation: Improving guides and references
- Testing: Bug reports and verification
See our Contribution Guidelines for details.
| Feature | Xenia Linux | RegicideOS |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Language | Mixed | Rust-first |
| AI Integration | Limited | Core focus |
| Kernel | Linux | Linux → Asterinas |
| Filesystem | Multiple options | BTRFS (read-only) |
| Desktop Environments | Multiple | Cosmic Desktop only |
| Package Management | Traditional | Overlay-based |
| System Philosophy | General purpose | AI/Rust-focused |
| Update Model | Traditional | Immutable |
RegicideOS is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. See the LICENSE file for details.
- Xenia Linux: For providing the excellent foundation upon which RegicideOS is built
- Rust Foundation: For creating the language that powers our vision
- System76: For the Cosmic Desktop environment
- Asterinas Team: For their groundbreaking kernel research
- Container Community: For the tools that make our container-first approach possible