mkOS

Make your Linux, your way.

A declarative installer and configuration tool that sets up secure, reproducible Linux systems with full disk encryption and btrfs snapshots out of the box.

Get Started View Source

What mkOS Does

Automated Installation

Partitions, encrypts, and installs your choice of Linux base system with a single command.

LUKS2 Encryption

Full disk encryption with Argon2id key derivation configured automatically.

Btrfs Layout

Proper subvolume structure for root, home, and snapshots. Ready for rollbacks.

Unified Kernel Images

Single signed EFI executable with kernel, initramfs, and cmdline bundled. Direct UEFI boot with automatic updates and Secure Boot ready.

Declarative Config

Define your system in a manifest file. Reproducible installations every time.

Multiple Distributions

Supports 6 non-systemd Linux distributions: Artix, Void, Gentoo, Alpine, Slackware, and Devuan.

Quick Start

1

Boot a Live Environment

Boot into any supported Linux live ISO: Artix, Void, Gentoo, Alpine, Slackware, or Devuan.

2

Run the Installer

curl -sL https://mkos.cc/install | sh

The installer auto-detects your distribution and prompts for disk selection, encryption passphrase, and system configuration. No manifest file required.

3

Reboot

Remove the installation media and boot into your new encrypted system.

1

Boot a Live Environment

Boot into any Linux live ISO with network access. The rescue tool works from any distribution.

2

Run the Rescue Tool

curl -sL https://mkos.cc/rescue | sh

Auto-detects your LUKS and EFI partitions. You can also specify them explicitly:

curl -sL https://mkos.cc/rescue | sh -s -- /dev/sda1 /dev/sda2
3

Fix Your System

You'll be dropped into a chroot with your full system mounted (root, home, snapshots, EFI, and all virtual filesystems). Fix what you need, then exit to cleanly unmount everything.

What You Get

+------------------+
|   EFI (512MB)    |  FAT32 - Kernel + Initramfs
+------------------+
|                  |
|   LUKS2 Volume   |  AES-XTS-512 + Argon2id
|                  |
|  +------------+  |
|  |   btrfs    |  |
|  |            |  |
|  | @          |  |  Root subvolume
|  | @home      |  |  User data
|  | @snapshots |  |  Automatic backups
|  +------------+  |
+------------------+

A properly partitioned, encrypted system with snapshot support, configured to boot directly via EFISTUB.

Use Cases

Personal Workstations

Set up your development machine with encryption and snapshots in minutes, not hours.

Server Deployments

Reproducible server installations from a manifest file. Same config, same result.

Custom Distributions

Use mkOS as the foundation for building your own Linux distribution or appliance.