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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/AnimatedGTVR/abora-os/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Abora OS is a Linux distribution built directly on NixOS. It keeps everything that makes NixOS powerful — reproducible builds, declarative configuration, generations, rollbacks, and flakes — and wraps the rough first-experience parts in a guided installer, curated desktop profiles, app bundles, and a small set of human-friendly command layers. The goal is not to hide NixOS or replace it, but to make the start less rough so you can spend time using the system instead of fighting it.

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What Abora adds to NixOS

NixOS is a uniquely powerful base, but new users routinely hit the same walls: a sparse live image, no guided installer, a single default desktop path, and commands that assume you already know the flake and rebuild syntax. Abora addresses each of those points directly.
NixOS can feel like…Abora adds…
A blank live systemA cleaner boot and welcome flow
Manual setup right awayA guided terminal installer
One main desktop path22 desktop and window-manager choices
Long rebuild commandsShorter abora, anix, and update commands
A plain first bootWallpapers, themes, apps, and branding
Recovery you have to figure out yourselfSnapshots, rollback helpers, and repair tools

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The current release: DENALI 3.1.4

DENALI 3.1.4 is the current stable Abora release. It shipped a rebuilt Omarchy-inspired TUI installer, ANIX v1, TinyPM v4, full Abora branding across boot and desktop, and the complete 22-desktop selection matrix. Config is validated before nixos-install runs, failed installs drop to a live shell with logs attached, and the Limine bootloader is verified on disk before the installer declares success.

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The three tool layers

Abora, ANIX, and TinyPM each own a different slice of the experience. They are designed to work together but stay out of each other’s way.

Abora commands

Handle distro setup, recovery, health checks, and installed-system configuration. Key commands: abora welcome, abora doctor, abora recovery, abora setup, abora config.

ANIX v1

The human layer for NixOS profiles. Covers profile switching, snapshots, rollbacks, rebuild previews, and system settings without requiring you to know the flake syntax directly.

TinyPM v4

The app and package layer. Provides simple install commands (grab, search), package source checks (tinypm sources), and bridges into Abora and ANIX when needed.

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Abora commands

abora covers first boot, recovery, desktop switching, and daily maintenance. After installation, it is the fastest way to check system health or trigger a reconfiguration without opening any Nix files by hand. 
abora welcome          # first-step status and quick actions
abora doctor           # check Flatpak, themes, boot assets, updates, ANIX
abora recovery         # rollback, rebuild, repair Flathub, collect reports
abora setup            # installed reconfiguration launcher
abora config           # view or change local settings
abora desktop list     # list available desktop profiles
abora desktop set gnome

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ANIX v1

ANIX maps friendly profile names to real NixOS flake configs. Running anix switch nix gaming is a safer, shorter front-end for sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /etc/nixos#gaming. It also handles snapshots, diffs, rollbacks, and system-level settings like hostname, wallpaper, and desktop without requiring you to edit any .nix file. 
anix quickstart        # first-run setup
anix status            # profile, generation, and snapshot state
anix diff nix gaming   # preview changes before applying
anix switch nix gaming # apply a profile
anix rollback nix      # roll back a generation
anix save              # local Git snapshot of /etc/nixos
anix doctor --fix      # health checks and auto-repair
anix set desktop gnome # change a setting without editing Nix
Named flake profiles available out of the box: stable, minimal, gaming, creator, developer.

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TinyPM v4

TinyPM is the app layer. On Abora it prefers Nix, but can also work with Flatpak, Snap, and common native package managers where available. 
grab firefox           # install through the best available source
tinypm sources         # show native/Flatpak/Snap availability
tinypm system          # Abora/NixOS/ANIX bridge status
tinypm repair          # repair-focused doctor checks
tinypm anix status     # forward a command to ANIX
tinypm abora doctor    # forward a command to Abora

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22 desktop environments

Abora DENALI 3.1.4 ships 22 desktop environments and window managers, plus a console-only option — all selectable at install time. The full matrix spans full desktop environments, tiling window managers, Wayland compositors, and lightweight options.
DesktopTypeDisplay Manager
GNOMEFull DEGDM
KDE PlasmaFull DESDDM
COSMICFull DECOSMIC Greeter
XFCEFull DELightDM
CinnamonFull DELightDM
MATEFull DELightDM
BudgieFull DELightDM
LXQtLightweight DESDDM
PantheonFull DELightDM
HyprlandWayland compositorSDDM (Wayland)
SwayWayland compositorSDDM (Wayland)
NiriWayland compositorSDDM (Wayland)
RiverWayland compositorSDDM (Wayland)
i3Tiling WMLightDM
AwesomeWMTiling WMLightDM
QtileTiling WMLightDM
BSPWMTiling WMLightDM
HerbstluftwmTiling WMLightDM
OpenboxFloating WMLightDM
FluxboxFloating WMLightDM
IceWMFloating WMLightDM
MangoWMWayland compositorSDDM (Wayland)
No desktopConsole-onlyTTY
All 22 desktop profiles are evaluated against nixpkgs in CI before every release via make check-desktops. If a profile breaks, it does not ship.

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App bundles and Flatpak

At install time you choose a starter app bundle: Fan Favorites, Essentials, Social, Creator, Developer, Gaming, or System Tools. The catalog holds 53 apps across 6 categories. Every bundle is opt-in — you can skip all of them and add apps later with grab. Flatpak is enabled on every Abora install and Flathub is added automatically on first boot. No extra setup is required.

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Continue to the next steps

Quickstart

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