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Federated CoreDesktop turns a fresh Arch Linux and GNOME install into a tiling, keyboard-first desktop with the software you need for work, sandboxed AI agents, snapshots, backups and one-command updates. |
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Not a distribution, yet. Just Arch, GNOME and some very good scripts. |
A tiling Arch desktop, ready for work in one command. |
CoreDesktop takes a fresh **Arch Linux + GNOME** install and turns it into a keyboard-first workstation with a flexible tiling system, with the apps, developer tools, firewall, snapshots, backups and **sandboxed AI agents** already set up. |
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| Install CoreDesktop |
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| What's included |
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CoreDesktop · 5120 × 1440 ultrawide |
A CoreDesktop screen on an ultrawide monitor: three tiled windows side by side, a zoom out to the GNOME overview with the dock, and back. |
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CoreDesktop is *some scripts*, not a distribution, yet. Arch Linux does the heavy lifting, so you get upstream fixes as they land, and a *flexible tiling* desktop that makes the most of any screen, *ultrawides* included. |
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What you get |
Everything set up, nothing in the way. |
One install script, safe to run again. If something fails, run it again. It skips what's already done. |
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| A tiling desktop you drive from the keyboard |
GNOME with the Tiling Shell extension: a flexible tiling system you can lay out however you like, Super + arrow keys to move windows, and the full mouse-friendly desktop when you want it. |
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| The software you'd install anyway |
From pacman, the AUR, Flathub and mise: browsers, messaging, office, media, notes, remote desktop, database clients and local AI, plus a full developer toolchain. |
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| Sandboxed AI agents |
opencode, Hermes Agent, Cline Desktop and Claude Code run in a sandbox that can only change your project folder and can't read your keys or passwords. |
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| Snapshots and backups |
Snapper snapshots / before every update. `configure` adds encrypted, daily restic backups of your home folder to your Nextcloud. |
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| Safe by default |
The ufw firewall is on, Docker can't punch holes in it, and [`audit`](/utilities/#audit) shows every open port and who can reach it. |
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| One command to stay current |
`update` snapshots, then updates Arch, GNOME, AUR, Flatpaks, Ruby, extensions and firmware, and tells you if a step failed. |
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| Browse the software |
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| See the system defaults |
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By the numbers |
A lot of setup you won't have to do. |
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command to install, after Arch and GNOME |
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Flatpak apps, from browsers to video editing |
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AI coding agents, each in a sandbox |
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steps that `update` runs, in order |
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How it works |
From USB stick to working desktop. |
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| Install Arch with GNOME |
Boot the Arch ISO and run `archinstall`. Choose the desktop profile, GNOME, pipewire and the right GPU driver. |
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| Run one command |
Open a terminal, paste the install command, and enter your password once. Then be patient: it takes a while. |
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| Configure and reboot |
`configure` connects your Federated Core, joins your Tailscale network, sets up backups and signs in your AI agents. |
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| Read the full install guide |
/install/ |
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Built for Federated Computer |
Even better with your Federated Core. |
CoreDesktop is what the Federated Computer team works on every day. Point it at your Core and it wires itself into your apps. |
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| Accounts |
Calendar, contacts, files and email |
Your Nextcloud and email go into GNOME Online Accounts, your files mount in the Files sidebar, and Element points at your Core's Matrix server. |
/utilities/#configure |
Connect your Core |
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| Network |
Your own Tailscale network |
Join this computer to your Core's headscale, so you can reach your other machines from anywhere. |
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Set up Tailscale |
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| Backups |
Encrypted, daily, off this machine |
restic backs up your home folder to your Nextcloud: 7 daily, 4 weekly and 6 monthly, with a passphrase only you keep. |
/utilities/#restoring-from-a-backup |
How restoring works |
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Questions |
Good to know before you start. |
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| Is CoreDesktop a Linux distribution? |
Not yet. Today it's a set of scripts that runs on top of a standard Arch Linux and GNOME install. Arch does the heavy lifting; CoreDesktop adds the extensions, software and configuration. |
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| Do I need a Federated Computer account? |
No. Everything except the `configure` steps for your Core, its Tailscale network and backups works on its own. A lot of the software is chosen for work at Federated Computer, but you may find it useful too. |
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| What if the install fails halfway? |
Run the command again. It skips what's already done and picks up where it stopped. |
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| Does it work on ultrawide monitors? |
That's what it's best at. The tiling system adapts to any screen: pick a layout from the tiling icon in the top-right corner, or make your own. |
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| Can I add my own tools on top? |
Yes. A sibling project is any git repository with an optional `install.sh` and `update.sh`. Install it with `sibling`, and every `update` keeps it current. |
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| Sibling projects |
/siblings/ |
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Get a better desktop this afternoon. |
Install Arch with GNOME, paste one command, and come back to a tiling workstation that's ready for work. |
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| Install CoreDesktop |
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