my own linux

kuro.

i built kuro for my laptop because i wanted a desktop that looks the way i like it and stays out of my way.
it's arch linux with hyprland and a bunch of apps i wrote myself in c. there's a public version below that anyone can use.

type something. the bars move like they do on my lock screen.

download → have a look
the kuro desktop: a thin top bar over a black and white wallpaper

why kuro

it started as my own setup.

kuro is mainly made for me. the apps, the shortcuts and the colors are all the way i want them on my own laptop, and that's where i use and test it every day. friends kept asking if they could have it too, so i made a public version. it's the same system with the same apps, just without the things that only make sense for me, like the tools for my phone and tablet or my own shortcuts. so if some choices feel a bit personal, that's why.

the look

black and white, mostly.

the whole system uses one font and sticks to black, white and the greys in between. there are no shiny buttons. whatever you're working on is bright and the rest gets dimmed. if you want some color, there are themes that take their colors from the wallpaper (super + w).

lock screen with a clock and an equalizer
the lock screenthere's no password field. you just type and the bars react to each key.
the unlock animation in frames
unlockingthe bars turn into a line and the desktop opens from it. it takes about a second and you can turn it off in settings.
the quick panel under the top bar
the quick panelwi-fi, bluetooth, hotspot, sound, brightness and your notifications. it opens from the icon on the right side of the bar.
the menu while typing
super + done search for apps, settings and everything else.

the apps

mostly written in c.

most of the apps are my own. i wrote them in c with gtk, so they start fast and don't need much memory. there's a settings app, a file manager that can open zip and rar files, a picture viewer, a music player, a store for apps and updates, a system monitor and a few more.

kuro settings, overview page
settingseverything in one place. changes apply right away.
kuro files with a preview
filesfolders first, type to filter, and space shows a preview of pictures, pdfs, videos or what's inside an archive.
the picture viewer
viewpictures and pdfs on a black background. the file name shows up when you move the mouse.
music playing with kuro's bar
video and musicvideos play in mpv with a small bar on top (title, progress, time). music has its own little player.

small stuff

the things i use every day.

taking a screenshot
screenshotspress print, then drag over an area, click a window or press enter for the whole screen. it gets saved and copied right away.
screenshot editor
marking them upyou can add arrows, boxes, text or blur things out.
super + shift + r
records the screen. a red dot and the time show in the bar until you stop it
super + v
everything you copied recently, pictures included
super + .
emoji and symbols. type “fire” or “arrow” and press enter
super + shift + p
pick a color anywhere on the screen, it gets copied as hex
below 20 %
battery saver turns on by itself (no animations, darker screen)

updates

updates can be undone.

kuro is based on arch, so the software is always up to date. before every update it saves a copy of the system, which takes a second and barely uses any space. if an update breaks something, go to settings → updates → go back and restart. your own files aren't affected by this. and if kuro doesn't start at all, the saved copies are in the boot menu as well.

settings, undo an update

shortcuts

mostly the super key.

windows arrange themselves next to each other, so you don't have to drag them around. if you forget a shortcut, super + k shows all of them.

super + d
menu
super + enter
terminal
super + e
files
super + i
settings
super + n
quick panel
super + w
themes
super + tab
all windows
super + s
store and updates
super + q
close a window
super + 1 … 0
workspaces
super + escape
lock
the shortcut panel

installing

it asks a few things and does the rest.

installer welcome page
from the stickstart from the usb stick and the installer opens. you can also pick “try kuro” first, that doesn't change anything on your pc.
installer summary page
check before it startsbefore anything happens you see everything on one page: disk, encryption, your name and time zone. the install takes about 8 minutes and works offline.

download

download kuro

there are two versions. the desktop version is what i use on my laptop. the server version has no desktop and is meant for a pc that just runs in the background.

desktop the full system with the desktop, the apps and the themes

↓ kuro-2026.11.02-x86_64.iso2.5 GB · for 64-bit pcs and laptops

sha256 c245e8f144045c56f24fdfc359d199988d07880ad61139594b2480e6f5553b56

server no desktop, a text installer, ssh, and the commands kuro update and kuro status. podman, a firewall and a small web dashboard are optional. about 0.8 gb.

↓ kuro servercoming soon
  1. put it on a usb stickit needs at least 8 gb and everything on the stick gets deleted. on linux: sudo dd if=kuro-2026.11.02-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M, on windows you can use rufus or balena etcher.
  2. start from the stickusually by pressing f12 (sometimes esc, f8 or f9) right after turning the pc on. then choose install kuro, or try kuro if you want to look around first.
  3. answer a few questionslanguage, disk, your name and time zone, then a last check. after that it installs on its own.
  4. remove the stick and restarton the first start it helps you with wi-fi, the keyboard layout and a theme, and shows you the most important shortcuts.

the server installs the same way, just with a text installer. it can also install itself from a kuro-install.conf file. after that you log in with ssh and use kuro status and kuro update.