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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](https://archlinux.org) 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](https://www.gnome.org) 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 and Flathub: browsers, messaging, office, media, notes, remote desktop, database clients and local AI, plus a full developer toolchain, with mise for any other language you want. |
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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, SSH takes keys, not passwords, 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, your mise languages, 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 |
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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. |
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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. |
/utilities/#configure |
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 use KDE or some other window manager? |
Yes, but you won't be happy. CoreDesktop is meant to be an opinionated installation that leans into GNOME and everything it provides. In our opinion, GNOME offers the best combination of keyboard window management with the traditional mouse options for dragging things around, including windows. If you want another window manager like KDE, there are fantastic distributions such as [CachyOS](https://cachyos.org). |
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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 |
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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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