AuraDE is a ChromeOS-inspired desktop for ordinary Arch Linux hardware. It uses the Ash user interface while keeping the Linux kernel, hardware support, NetworkManager, PipeWire, and systemd that already work on the machine.
This repository is a development preview. It is not an official Google or ChromeOS distribution, and it is not a stable release. Do not install an unsigned image on a machine that contains data you cannot restore.
- A graphical installer and a keyboard-first text installer.
- Local Linux accounts and a simple first-login path.
- Wayland desktop session support with software-rendering fallback.
- Files, Settings, Terminal, Diagnostics, audio, power, display, and accessibility integration.
- A NetworkManager bridge for the ChromeOS-style network surface.
- Btrfs snapshots and recovery tools when the selected layout supports them.
- Optional local assistant features that are disabled in the base profile.
- Arch package recipes, an ordered Chromium patch series, tests, and an ISO profile.
The graphical installer is part of the 0.2.0 development line. It is not included in any 0.1.0 release artifact.
- Building explains the package, Chromium, and ISO workflows.
- Testing explains checks that can run without publishing private machine data.
- Troubleshooting covers common build and installation problems.
- Hardware validation records the public qualification matrix.
- Contributing describes review and test expectations.
- Security explains how to report a vulnerability privately.
| Path | Purpose |
|---|---|
| patches/ | Ordered Chromium source patches (patches/SERIES) |
| chromiumos-ash/ | Ash package and Linux session launcher |
| aurade-* | AuraDE support packages |
| shill-nm-adapter/ | NetworkManager to Shill D-Bus bridge |
| ci/ | Source, package, release, and smoke checks |
| installer/ | ArchISO profile, installers, and recovery tools |
| assets/ | Brand artwork and public media |
Chromium is intentionally not vendored here. The pinned source revision is recorded in pins/chromium.sha, and the patch series is applied in the order listed by patches/SERIES.
On an Arch Linux host, or inside a suitable Arch build environment:
git diff --check
AURADE_VERIFY_CHROMIUMOS_ASH=0 ci/arch-package-smoke.sh
ci/source-integrity-gate.sh
ci/public-release-leak-gate.shTo inspect the complete workflow without changing the host:
./build-aurade.sh --plan --allThe first Chromium build is large and can take hours. Keep checkouts, package caches, ISO files, VM images, and logs outside the Git checkout. The scripts use AURADE_WORKDIR for that purpose.
Use a matching checksum and release notice for every image. The installer shows the selected disk, repeats its identity immediately before the erase gate, and keeps the text path available when graphics are unavailable.
AuraDE is developed in public through GitHub issues and discussions. When asking for help, include the release or commit, hardware family, and the exact user-visible error. Remove passwords, API keys, serial numbers, private logs, and network addresses before posting.
AuraDE-authored packaging, helpers, scripts, and documentation use the license in LICENSE. ChromiumOS, Ash, and third-party components retain their own licenses and notices. See THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md.