When it comes to Linux distributions, many of us have experienced the same story repeatedly: another Arch-based distro with minor tweaks or yet another Debian fork with a polished installer. After a while, they all feel similar. But sometimes, a distribution pops up that genuinely tries to differentiate itself.
One such project is PikaOS — a Debian-based Linux distribution that blends some very modern features with a few unusual choices. Unlike traditional Debian stable or Ubuntu-based distros, PikaOS is built on Debian SID (testing/unstable), ships with a custom kernel optimized for gaming, and defaults to Btrfs as its filesystem. It also includes tools like a kernel manager, gaming utilities, and desktop customization features that make it stand out.
In this article, we’ll walk through PikaOS from installation to first impressions, highlighting what makes it unique, what feels rough around the edges, and where it shines.
📑 Table of Contents
- Installation Experience
- First Boot & Welcome Screen
- Update System & Codec Setup
- Kernel Manager & Gaming Utilities
- Gnome Customization Options
- Applications & Package Management
- Snapper, Btrfs & Rollback Issues
- Documentation & Community
- Custom Kernel & Long-Term Concerns
- Pikman Package Manager Explained
- Pros, Cons & Who Should Try PikaOS
- FAQs
- Final Thoughts
⚙️ Installation Experience
Like most modern Linux distros, PikaOS ships with a graphical installer that feels familiar to anyone who has used Pop!_OS, elementary OS, or Ubuntu derivatives. The interface is clean and polished, but a few quirks stand out:
- Language & Keyboard selection works as expected.
- The partition manager is where things get confusing. Instead of the typical disk selection interface, PikaOS requires selecting drives via a “blinking highlight” system. It works but feels unintuitive for first-timers.
- Manual partitioning is technically possible but not beginner-friendly.
Once past partitioning, the rest of the process (timezone, user setup, packages) flows smoothly. Installation speed is decent, and within minutes, PikaOS is ready to boot.
👉 Tip for new users: Stick to automatic partitioning with Btrfs unless you are an advanced Linux user.
👋 First Boot & Welcome Screen
On first boot, PikaOS feels slightly different:
- You’re asked to create your user account after installation, similar to Pop!_OS.
- Unusually, the system then forces an additional reboot before logging in. Not a big deal, but unexpected.
After the second boot, you’re greeted with a Welcome App — a well-structured onboarding screen that offers:
- System Updates
- Codec & Driver Installation
- Kernel Manager Access
- Recommended Applications
This welcome flow makes PikaOS approachable, especially for newcomers who want essential setup tasks in one place.
🔄 Update System & Codec Setup
PikaOS doesn’t just rely on apt upgrade. Instead, it introduces a custom update manager:
- It supports both APT (Debian packages) and Flatpak updates in one go.
- The UI, while functional, can be a little clunky (jumping text when updating).
- If there are no updates, the app still forces you through a slightly odd accept/decline flow.
Codec installation (media playback, proprietary formats) also happens through the Welcome App. A small annoyance: the password prompt sometimes hides behind other popups, making it look like nothing is happening until you notice it.
🧩 Kernel Manager & Gaming Utilities
Here’s where PikaOS really starts to separate itself. Unlike most Debian derivatives, PikaOS includes:
- A Kernel Manager GUI that lets you:
- See which kernel you’re running.
- Install newer kernels (including RC releases).
- Remove older kernels easily.
This is rare for Debian-based systems. It allows users with newer hardware or gaming rigs to stay on the latest kernels without waiting for Debian SID to catch up.
In addition, PikaOS provides gaming utilities grouped together:
- Steam and Lutris support.
- Controller configurations.
- Gaming-related packages you can install with one click.
It feels somewhat inspired by projects like Bazzite or Garuda Linux, but built on Debian rather than Arch/Fedora.
🎨 Gnome Customization Options
Another highlight: PikaOS includes multiple pre-set desktop layouts for Gnome. Using their Appearance Manager, you can switch between:
- Traditional Windows 11 style
- macOS-like layouts
- Unity-inspired setup
- Classic GNOME 2 style
This makes it easy for users migrating from other operating systems. However, switching rapidly between multiple layouts sometimes causes broken overlapping panels. It’s best to stick with one at a time.
👉 Note: Some extensions are pre-installed as system extensions — meaning you can disable them but not uninstall them entirely.
📦 Applications & Package Management
Out of the box, PikaOS is fairly minimal:
- Firefox is the default browser (thankfully, not GNOME Web).
- Basic GNOME apps (Clocks, Photos, Contacts, etc.) are included.
- Productivity apps like LibreOffice or Kdenlive are not pre-installed but offered in the “Recommended Apps” list.
The real twist is in package management:
- Alongside
apt, PikaOS ships with Pikman, its own package manager. - Pikman integrates APX-like functionality (borrowed from Vanilla OS), allowing installation of packages from multiple distributions (Arch, Fedora, Alpine).
- In practice, this feature feels experimental. Some installs fail without clear error messages.
📂 Snapper, Btrfs & Rollback Issues
By default, PikaOS installs to Btrfs, a filesystem known for its snapshot and rollback capabilities. Unfortunately, PikaOS doesn’t enable these features properly:
- Snapper isn’t preconfigured.
- Timeshift isn’t included.
- Rollbacks require manual setup by the user.
This is a missed opportunity. The whole point of Btrfs is easy rollback in case of breakage — especially important on Debian SID, which is inherently unstable.
👉 Suggestion: PikaOS should preconfigure Snapper or Timeshift by default.
📖 Documentation & Community
Documentation is a mixed bag:
- Good: Guides for desktop environments, Nvidia ISOs, and secure boot setup.
- Weak: Almost no documentation for Pikman/APX, making it hard for users to fully explore its unique features.
On the bright side, the community is active on Discord and forums. New users can usually get quick support.
🛠️ Custom Kernel & Long-Term Concerns
PikaOS’s custom kernel claims:
- Better performance out of the box.
- Gaming optimization.
- Wider hardware compatibility than stock Debian kernels.
This is promising — but raises a long-term concern: Will the custom kernel be maintained consistently? Many small distros start ambitious, but kernel maintenance requires serious effort.
For now, the kernel seems solid, but users should keep this in mind before adopting PikaOS for production systems.
🐧 Pikman Package Manager
Pikman is PikaOS’s attempt to unify package management:
- Runs APT commands under the hood.
- Adds support for installing from other distros.
- Manages updates and Flatpaks too.
While innovative, Pikman currently suffers from poor documentation and some confusing errors. Still, the idea of a cross-distro package manager is exciting if polished further.
✅ Pros, Cons & Who Should Try PikaOS
Pros:
- Modern Debian SID base.
- Custom kernel optimized for gaming.
- Kernel Manager GUI (rare for Debian).
- Btrfs by default.
- Multiple desktop layouts pre-configured.
- Active community.
Cons:
- Btrfs snapshots not set up (big missed feature).
- Pikman/APX functionality feels incomplete.
- Installer partitioning UI confusing.
- Occasional polish issues (popups, layout glitches).
- Long-term stability of project uncertain.
Who Should Try It:
- Gamers who want Debian SID with easy kernel management.
- Tinkerers curious about new package manager ideas.
- Users who like customizing their desktop quickly.
Who Should Avoid It (for now):
- Absolute beginners looking for stability.
- Professionals needing guaranteed rollbacks.
- Users wary of depending on a small distro’s custom kernel.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is PikaOS stable enough for daily use?
It depends. Debian SID is more “rolling” than stable. Expect occasional breakage, though PikaOS tries to mitigate that with updates.
Q2. Does PikaOS support Nvidia GPUs?
Yes. There are dedicated ISOs with proprietary Nvidia drivers pre-included.
Q3. Can I use PikaOS for gaming?
Absolutely. It includes gaming utilities, controller support, and optimized kernels. However, Steam/Proton users may still prefer distros like Pop!_OS or Nobara.
Q4. Is Pikman better than APT?
Not yet. It’s an interesting idea, but documentation is lacking and errors can be confusing. Stick to APT if you need reliability.
Q5. Why doesn’t Snapper work out of the box?
Snapper must be manually configured. Hopefully future releases automate this.
🏁 Final Thoughts
PikaOS is one of the more interesting Debian-based projects in recent years. By combining a modern kernel, Btrfs filesystem, gaming tools, and desktop customization, it delivers a fresh experience for Linux enthusiasts.
However, it also feels like a work in progress. Features like Pikman and Btrfs snapshots need polish before PikaOS can be considered reliable for the average user.
If you’re curious about new Linux ideas and enjoy testing bleeding-edge features, PikaOS is worth a spin. For users needing stability and polish, distributions like Pop!_OS, Fedora, or Linux Mint may be safer bets.
👉 Official website: pika-os.com
⚠️ Disclaimer
PikaOS is based on Debian SID, which is inherently unstable. Use it only if you are comfortable troubleshooting Linux issues. For mission-critical systems, stick to Debian Stable or Ubuntu LTS.
Tags
pikaos, debian sid, linux review, linux gaming, btrfs, pikaos installation, pikaos kernel, pikaos pikman, linux customization, pikaos vs debian
Hashtags
#Linux #PikaOS #Debian #GamingOnLinux #Btrfs #OpenSource #LinuxReview #FOSS
