HackerOS is what a Linux enthusiast’s OS should be

HackerOS is a Debian-based Linux distro for everyone

HackerOS is a new Linux distribution based on Debian Testing. Despite its name, it's designed for a broad audience, including regular users, gamers, and cybersecurity enthusiasts.

The operating system ships with the KDE Plasma 6.5.4 desktop by default and uses the Wayland graphics platform. It comes with several pre-installed tools aimed at its target user bases.

Multiple editions for different needs

HackerOS is available in several distinct editions, each tailored for different hardware or user preferences. The naming suggests a niche focus, but the versions are largely for general use.

The available downloads include:

• HackerOS Official: The standard KDE Plasma version.
• HackerOS NVIDIA: A version optimized for systems with NVIDIA GPUs.
• HackerOS Official: Xfce/GNOME: Variants featuring the Xfce or GNOME desktop environments.
• HackerOS: Hydra: A version with a heavily customized, visually striking desktop similar to Garuda Linux.
• HackerOS: Cybersecurity: The only truly specialized edition, which includes a suite of security and penetration testing tools.
• HackerOS: LTS: A long-term support version for stability.

Notable features and user experience

The distribution uses Zsh (Z Shell) as its default terminal, which offers a user-friendly feature not found in standard Bash. It automatically corrects the capitalization of mistyped commands, which can save time for frequent terminal users.

For gaming, it includes Steam and GOverlay out of the box. It also comes with pre-installed firmware for broader hardware compatibility and offers the option to install performance-tuned kernels like XanMod or Liquorix.

However, it lacks some standard applications like a full office suite or a dedicated email client, which users would need to install separately.

The "hacker" tools are more playful than professional

The OS includes a suite of custom commands accessed by typing hacker in the terminal. These commands are geared toward hobbyists and enthusiasts rather than professionals.

For example, hacker game launches a text-based adventure where you play a hacker infiltrating a digital fortress. Other commands like hacker unpack provide utilities for various tasks, though some were non-functional during testing.

Some rough edges remain

The experience wasn't flawless. The tested desktop exhibited a mix of English and Polish language elements that couldn't be changed through standard settings.

Furthermore, several of the custom hacker commands were broken. Attempting to run hacker shell resulted in an error because the underlying script was missing.

Despite these issues, HackerOS presents a solid, feature-rich Debian base with enough unique additions to appeal to Linux enthusiasts looking for a pre-configured system that works for daily use, gaming, or light security tinkering.