paradox

reality is optional

aurora · 0.5

A Linux distribution compiled from source, one contradiction at a time. No base distro underneath. No bloat. Just the parts you asked for.

step through what is this?

↓ built from nothing

what it is

built from nothing

paradox is assembled with the Linux From Scratch method — every package compiled from upstream source on the machine it runs on. There is no Debian, no Arch, no Red Hat underneath it. It is aimed at people who read man pages for fun.

compiled, not repackaged

gcc-15.2, glibc-2.43, kernel 6.18 — built from source, not pulled from someone else's archive.

nothing you didn't ask for

systemd init, GNU userland, nano. No vendor layer, no telemetry, no preinstalled anything.

defaults with taste

Readable colors, a prompt that tells you who and where you are, and a login banner worth looking at.

honest about its age

This is 0.5. It boots, it runs, it gets online, it installs itself — encrypted and mirrored if you like — and it is missing things. Those things are listed, not hidden.

delivery

one image, two modes

Same base system either way. The only thing that changes is whether the graphical session starts at boot.

server

boots to a terminal

Login prompt, the mirror banner, and a shell. Nothing running that you didn't start.

download it ↓

desktop

boots to a graphical session

The same system with a display server and desktop on top, carrying the same palette.

still being built · version TBD

packages

paradox glitch firefox

The package manager is paradox — a wrapper over pacman with verbs that fit the place. Thirty signed packages, served from our own repository. Plain synonyms work too, so nobody has to memorise anything.

root@paradox — installing●
root@paradox:~# paradox glitch firefox
:: resolving from repo.paradoxlinux.com
:: 1 package · 62.4 MiB

  firefox  128.4.0-1

✓ reality updated

root@paradox:~#  
commanddoesplain form
paradox glitch <pkg>install a packageparadox install
paradox collapse <pkg>remove a packageparadox remove
paradox shiftupdate everythingparadox update
paradox seek <term>search the repoparadox search
paradox listlist what's installed—

the shell

which way is up

This is what you get at login. The wordmark, its reflection dissolving into the dark, and a prompt that colours who you are separately from where you are.

tty1 — first login●
paradox linux (aurora)
Kernel 6.18.10 on an x86_64 (tty1)

paradox login: root
Password:

reality is optional

aurora · 0.5

root@paradox:~# ls
script.sh   test_folder   test.txt   backup.tar.xz   wallpaper.png
root@paradox:~#  

releases

the codename queue

Named after celestial phenomena, in order. When one ships, the next one starts.

aurora→ nebula→ quasar→ pulsar→ corona→ eclipse→ zenith→ halcyon

documentation

the handbook

Every command, every colour, and a blunt list of what is still missing — written fresh for each release, so the documentation always matches the version in front of you.

read the handbook every version

download

step through

paradox 0.5 "aurora" is the first public release. One image — boot it to look around, or install from it. Write it to a USB stick and go.

aurora · 0.5 · x86_64

download the ISO · 2.1 GB

live image + installer · UEFI install · boots on UEFI and legacy BIOS

verify your download — optional

Run these on the computer you downloaded to — your existing Mac, Windows or Linux machine — after downloading and before writing the USB stick. It has nothing to do with booting paradox, and you don't have paradox yet when you do it. The installed system is identical either way; these checks only tell you the download is good.

sha256Confirms the 2.1 GB file arrived intact rather than truncated. Cheap, and it saves you chasing imaginary install problems caused by a bad download.
gpg signatureConfirms the image is genuinely ours and hasn't been tampered with. Extra assurance for the security-minded — the HTTPS download already covers most people.

You'll need gpg and sha256sum on that machine — both built in on Linux and macOS. On Windows use something like Gpg4win, or just do the checksum.

on your own computer, before writing the stick●
# import the paradox signing key
$ curl -fsSL \
    https://repo.paradoxlinux.com/paradox-linux.gpg \
    | gpg --import

# check the file arrived intact
$ sha256sum -c paradox-0.5.iso.sha256
paradox-0.5.iso: OK

# check it is genuinely ours
$ gpg --verify \
    paradox-0.5.iso.sig paradox-0.5.iso
gpg: Good signature from "paradoxadmin"

Key 0956915D16CAA24F signs the image and every package in the repository. Import it first, or the signature check fails with an unhelpful error. gpg will also warn that the key isn't certified by anyone you trust — expected, not a failure. "Good signature" is the line you want.

firmware — read before you install

live sessionBoots on both legacy BIOS and UEFI. Anyone can boot the stick and try paradox, whatever their firmware.
installingRequires UEFI. The installer writes a UEFI bootloader only — legacy-BIOS installation isn't supported yet.
in shortOn anything reasonably modern you can try it live and install it. On an old BIOS-only machine you can run the live session, but not install to disk.

what you need

2 GB RAMto run the live image and installer
8 GB diskminimum; 16 GB or more is comfortable
UEFIrequired to install; Secure Boot off

Before you try it. Secure Boot must be off — the bootloader is self-signed. Wi-Fi and wired ethernet both work; audio does not, and there is no desktop yet. Optional full-disk encryption has no recovery key, so if you encrypt, do not forget the passphrase. This is version 0.5 and it is early on purpose.

paradox server

aurora · 0.5 · x86_64

  • Boots to a terminal
  • Guided installer — nothing written until you confirm
  • Optional LUKS2 encryption and RAID 0/1/10
download

paradox desktop

aurora · version TBD · x86_64

  • Boots to a graphical session
  • Same base as server
  • No date yet — it ships when it's right
not yet dated