If you’re searching for a Linux distribution that makes the transition from Windows effortless—particularly if you’re an avid developer or everyday user dissatisfied with the predictability of mainstream operating systems—there is an increasingly intriguing candidate on the scene: AnduinOS. Emerging as a distinctive blend of the familiar and the innovative, AnduinOS takes aim at the considerable community of users who may desire the stability, security, and flexibility of Linux without sacrificing the inviting experience of a Windows desktop environment. To fully appreciate AnduinOS’s potential and positioning, it’s important to scrutinize its technical underpinnings, user experience, and value proposition against the broader open-source landscape.
An Overview: What is AnduinOS?
AnduinOS is a relatively new Linux distribution based on Ubuntu 25.04, the latest iteration from Canonical as of writing. Ubuntu is widely regarded for its hardware compatibility, robust support channels, and consistently maintained package repositories. By building on Ubuntu 25.04, AnduinOS benefits from all these strengths and inherits support out of the box until 2026—critical for users seeking both innovation and reliability.
On its surface, AnduinOS markets itself as an ideal environment for developers seeking refuge from the confines of Windows. However, its broader appeal emerges from its intent to recreate the look and feel of Windows 11 through a carefully crafted GNOME 48 desktop. In doing so, it aims to flatten the learning curve for newcomers without diluting the hallmarks that longtime Linux users cherish: customizability, performance, and open access to both free and proprietary applications.
Key Features
1. Windows 11-Inspired User Interface
The Windows 11 aesthetic in AnduinOS is more than skin-deep. By leveraging GNOME 48—one of the most stable and adaptable desktop environments—developers have succeeded in delivering a UI that feels immediately familiar to those coming from the Microsoft ecosystem. Menu layouts, system trays, and workflow elements echo Windows design conventions. Standout touches, like a weather widget integrated into the bottom left of the desktop, serve as examples of thoughtful innovation rather than mere mimicry. This element, lacking in most default GNOME installations, has been repeatedly cited by users and reviewers as a simple but impactful addition.
For users hesitant to traverse uncharted territory, these touches reduce friction and anxiety, while GNOME’s underpinning assures a solid and contemporary user experience.
2. Developer-Focused, Yet Widely Accessible
While AnduinOS is advertised as a developer-centric distribution, evidence suggests its utility extends to a much broader audience. Unlike distributions that arrive bloated with specialized packages and niche utilities, AnduinOS maintains a minimalist ethos. The base installation forgoes an excess of pre-installed software, allowing users to curate their environment using GNOME Software and baked-in Flathub support. This design benefits developers by offering a clean slate that can be tailored to their toolchains while remaining approachable for general users who desire simplicity.
Flatpak and Flathub integration is one notable strength. It not only expands available software (including proprietary offerings like Spotify and Slack) but also streamlines updates and sandboxing, which contribute positively to both security and system stability.
3. Impressive Performance
Running a full GNOME desktop is often (though not always) associated with heavier system demands. Yet, AnduinOS demonstrates surprising agility—even within resource-constrained virtual machines, such as those operating with a mere 3 GB RAM and two CPU cores. Applications open rapidly, system animations remain fluid, and essential maintenance tasks (like software updates) execute without undue delay.
These observations align with claims from GNOME developers and independent benchmarks, which have documented considerable recent improvements to GNOME’s responsiveness and efficiency. While rivals like KDE Plasma occasionally compete for the title of “lightest” major desktop, GNOME’s balance of performance and polish in AnduinOS stands out.
4. Set-it-and-Forget-it Approach
A significant advantage—and one consistently highlighted in reviews of AnduinOS—is its stability and straightforwardness. For users burned by unstable desktops or cryptic errors, AnduinOS delivers peace of mind on par with, if not superior to, mainstream operating systems. With “set-it-and-forget-it” simplicity, the distribution empowers users to focus on tasks rather than troubleshooting. GNOME 48’s reliability means crashes are vanishingly rare, and system operations proceed as expected.
Installation Experience and System Requirements
Setting up AnduinOS mirrors the simplicity found in most mature Linux distributions. The installation process—from downloading the ISO and creating a bootable USB or virtual machine, through the first login—can be completed in under five minutes, based on multiple user reports and tested reviews. This allows users to get started without fuss or frustration, an essential consideration for less technically inclined audiences.
Minimum System Requirements
- Architecture: x86_64
- Processor: 2 GHz minimum
- RAM: 4 GB (though lighter configurations may work, official guidance suggests this as minimum)
- Disk Space: 20 GB
- Firmware: UEFI or BIOS
- Display: 1024×768 resolution
- Removable Media: USB port or DVD drive for installation
These requirements emulate those of contemporary Linux distributions, balancing accessibility for older hardware with sufficient resources for modern applications.
Comparing AnduinOS with Other Windows-Like Linux Distributions
While AnduinOS joins a growing group of Linux distributions designed to appeal to Windows expatriates, its approach merits critical comparison with alternatives such as Zorin OS, Linuxfx, and Linux Mint (particularly with the Cinnamon desktop):
- Zorin OS offers a highly-polished desktop and custom layouts mimicking various versions of Windows. It is rooted in Ubuntu LTS releases, occasionally trading off access to the newest Linux features for longer-term stability.
- Linuxfx (Windowsfx) places even more explicit emphasis on Windows emulation, not only visually but also in compatibility—bundling tools like Wine and an “activation center” reminiscent of Microsoft’s license management.
- Linux Mint is celebrated for its Cinnamon desktop, which, while inspired by traditional Windows UIs, retains a distinctly "Linuxy" feel and excels at stability.
AnduinOS’s differentiator is its blend of recent Ubuntu underpinnings (Ubuntu 25.04, which introduces the very latest Linux kernels and features), minimalism, and refined GNOME experience tailored directly to Windows 11 aesthetics. Notably, AnduinOS does not ship with Wine or similar solutions by default. Its primary selling point is not supporting legacy Windows applications—this may be a deal breaker for some, but it maintains a narrow focus and avoids confusion that comes with trying to be “everything for everyone.”
Developer Features: Hype or Substance?
A recurring question, echoed by early adopters and reviewers alike, is whether AnduinOS truly delivers on its promise as a developer-first distribution. Reports suggest that, besides offering a familiar layout and some helpful keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Super+V for clipboard history), nothing unique stands out for software engineers or IT professionals. Contrary to what one might expect, AnduinOS does not bundle an expanded suite of development tools, integrated SDKs, or language runtimes out of the box. Nor are there specialized workflow enhancements tied to coding or scripting tasks.
This is not necessarily a drawback; plenty of experienced developers prefer to assemble their personal stack atop a clean base, eschewing “kitchen sink” distributions that require extensive pruning. Moreover, with Flatpak, Snap, and apt available, the most relevant tools—from VS Code to Docker and beyond—are easily obtained and regularly updated.
Therefore, the developer orientation of AnduinOS is best understood as
workflow familiarity and not tool curation. Those who require ready-to-go C++/Python/Java support, or who desire tightly-integrated IDEs, will need to spend some additional setup time.
Everyday Usability: For the Average User
AnduinOS’s commitment to mainstream usability is most apparent in its minimal pre-installed software, simple first-run experience, and no-nonsense system tray. The incorporation of GNOME Software with Flathub support is particularly valuable. Users can rapidly install mainstream open-source and proprietary applications in just a few clicks—a process indistinguishable (or, arguably, more seamless) than the Microsoft Store or Apple App Store. Notably, the inclusion of tools like Slack and Spotify further blurs the line between traditional “Linux” and what users expect from any modern desktop ecosystem.
AnduinOS’s performance and stability, especially under moderate system loads and even within virtual machines, suggest it is suitable not only for seasoned Linux hobbyists but also for those with little to no experience outside the Windows world.
Security and Stability
Building atop Ubuntu 25.04 confers critical advantages in terms of both security and system stability. Ubuntu, and by extension AnduinOS, receives routine security patches, kernel updates, and backported fixes for known vulnerabilities. The use of Flatpak containers for third-party software further bolsters security by isolating applications from the core OS, limiting potential vectors of attack.
GNOME’s mature codebase has ironed out many of the bugs and hitches that once characterized early Linux desktops, making AnduinOS a solid candidate for users who demand reliability. For enterprise developers sensitive to unexpected downtime or data loss, these are non-trivial benefits.
Critical Risks and Limitations
Yet, every distribution is a matter of priorities and trade-offs. AnduinOS carries several notable caveats:
- Lack of Windows-Only Application Support: By focusing on workflow and UX rather than application-level compatibility, AnduinOS may not satisfy users reliant on legacy Windows software or games. Wine or PlayOnLinux can be installed after the fact, but are not first-class citizens by default.
- Dependencies on Ubuntu’s “Interim” Releases: Ubuntu 25.04 is an interim, rather than long-term support, release. While this enables more rapid feature adoption, it also means shorter support windows and potentially more frequent upgrade-induced friction.
- Young Project, Limited Community: As a new distribution, AnduinOS lacks the massive user base and documentation trove found with Ubuntu, Fedora, or Mint. Users encountering edge-case hardware or unusual bugs may find their troubleshooting resources limited.
- No Unique Developer Toolchains: Those hoping for novel workflow integrations, clever developer-centric GUI tools, or advanced productivity widgets may be disappointed. The “developer orientation” is more about aesthetics and ergonomics than technical substance.
- Minimal Hardware Requirements, but Not Ultra-Lightweight: While the baseline system requirements are reasonable, AnduinOS is not intended for ultra-low-end hardware or resource-starved legacy PCs. For that, distros like Xubuntu or Lubuntu would be better fits.
Community and Outlook
A thriving open-source distribution requires an engaged, supportive user base, a responsive developer team, and a willingness to iterate rapidly in response to new challenges. It is too early to say whether AnduinOS will amass the following to rival more entrenched “Windows-like” Linux projects, but its foundation is promising.
Ubuntu’s rapid update cycle ensures access to the latest security and kernel developments, while GNOME’s ongoing evolution keeps the UI modern. If AnduinOS can cultivate a robust community forum, supply timely bug fixes, and avoid over-reaching for niche feature sets, it may grow into a formidable contender for those seeking a Windows replacement.
Who Should Consider AnduinOS?
AnduinOS is especially compelling for:
- Developers who prefer a clean, minimal base and plan to install their preferred toolchains.
- Former Windows users seeking a Linux experience with as little culture shock as possible.
- General-purpose desktop users interested in modern, stable workflows with access to key proprietary and open-source apps.
However, those needing guaranteed compatibility with corporate/enterprise Windows apps, or hoping for out-of-the-box gaming-focused enhancements, may need to supplement AnduinOS or consider more specialized distributions.
Final Verdict
In the sprawling universe of Linux distributions, AnduinOS distinguishes itself not by being the most feature-rich, nor the flashiest, but through its careful curation of familiarity, usability, and up-to-date technology. Its Ubuntu 25.04 foundation gives it access to leading-edge packages and security features, while its GNOME 48 desktop successfully emulates the best of Windows 11’s design without becoming derivative or gimmicky.
AnduinOS’s greatest strengths are its performance, streamlined user experience, and open embrace of Flatpak and Flathub for easy application access. Its lack of out-of-the-box Windows compatibility, specialized developer tools, or LTS status may give some users pause, but these are calculated trade-offs rather than oversights.
Whether you are a developer, a power user, or a Windows convert looking for a stable, attractive, and easily customizable Linux alternative, AnduinOS is well worth a trial. Its clean installation process, minimal bloat, and strong performance underscore the promise it offers—a promise of seamless transition, modern workflow, and the power of open source, wrapped in a desktop as familiar as it is freeing.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, AnduinOS is only a download away. Try it in a virtual machine or on spare hardware, and you may find yourself converted by its clarity, confidence, and competent execution.
Source: ZDNET
This Windows 11-like Linux distribution is aimed squarely at developers
Introduction to AnduinOS
