Mainstream OS is an Arch-based Linux distribution for people who want a modern desktop without editing config files. It ships end-4's illogical-impulse Quickshell shell — heavily modified and openly credited — on Hyprland, with a full GUI settings app for monitors, theming, keybinds, networking, and updates. Pick a wallpaper and the whole OS rethemes to match; save and schedule themes.
A real distribution, not a respin: its own GPG-signed package repo (no AUR at install), signed ISOs, and a Calamares installer with five install methods including full-disk encryption and dual-boot. Every update takes a Btrfs snapshot first — one-click rollback from the boot menu — and each install runs a 19-check self-verification. Gaming Mode swaps to a SteamOS-style Big Picture session with one keypress; Console Mode boots straight into it. A legacy-NVIDIA edition covers older GPUs.

Features

  • Every setting in a GUI settings app — never a config file or a terminal
  • Material You theming: the whole OS recolors from any wallpaper, still or video
  • Save complete looks as named themes; pair Day/Night themes on a schedule
  • Gaming Mode: one click swaps to a SteamOS-style Big Picture gamescope session, one click back
  • Display management: arrange monitors, resolution, refresh rate, scale, VRR
  • Layout switching per workspace: dwindle, master, scrolling, monocle, float
  • Launcher that finds apps, folders, files, and does quick math
  • Scrolling overview: drag windows and files between workspaces on a zoomed-out map
  • Session restore: log out or reboot, your windows come back One-click DaVinci Resolve and OBS setup with GPU encoding on Wayland
  • App management GUI for native packages and Flatpaks
  • Auto drive mounting: set up once, ready every login; format and unlock encrypted drives
  • Automatic Btrfs snapshot before every update, rollback from the boot menu

Project Samples

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License

GNU General Public License version 3.0 (GPLv3)

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Additional Project Details

Operating Systems

Linux

Intended Audience

End Users/Desktop

Registered

2026-07-02