Can MainstreamOS finally make Linux a household name? I

What happened

" That was my immediate reaction to MainstreamOS, a Linux distribution that is as polished as any I've ever beheld. The MainstreamOS site says it's "one open system that feels right whether it's your first Linux or your tenth. Nothing here needs a terminal, and nothing can't be undone. " That statement is about as true as they come.

This OS feels right; it's got everything you need to make working with Linux a breeze, all the while making it look good and feel efficient. It's the best of all possible worlds, making both Arch Linux and Hyprland easy enough for anyone to use and experience what a truly efficient and powerful desktop operating system can be.

When you first install and log in to MainstreamOS, you are greeted by a setup tool that lets you configure Mainstream for whatever purpose you need, such as gaming, video editing, or content creation. And yes, you can add apps to this later via the handy GUI (GNOME Software).

To add an app to the dock, open the overview, right-click the app, and select Pin to Dock. Let's not forget that MainstreamOS is based on Arch Linux -- although you'd never know it (unless you attempted to install an app or update the system from the command line, which you don't need to do). One interesting bit is that Mainstream ships with apps like Spotify and GNOME Software.

You also get Steam, Chromium, Kitty, and even GNOME Files. That convergence of GNOME and Hyprland makes for as great a combination as peanut butter and chocolate. Mainstream is also a rolling release distribution, which means it's always up to date. This makes it a solid gaming platform; just launch Steam, sign in, and start playing your favorite games.

If you're a fan of Linux or a fan of cool-looking, easy-to-use desktop computing, you'd be remiss if you didn't give MainstreamOS a try. This Linux distribution could easily make the open-source operating system mainstream.

Why it matters

Next, you are treated to a Hyprland GUI configuration tool that not only makes customizing the desktop easy, but also shows you how powerful the UI is. The fact that MainstreamOS makes Hyprland beautiful and accessible is the biggest "wow" factor for me. What the developer has done is customize Hyprland so it looks and feels very much like MacOS.

And unlike many Hyprland configurations, you get to use your mouse! (IYKYK) There's a left sidebar that can be customized in Settings > Interface > Left Sidebar. Currently, the left sidebar is limited to AI, which should come as no surprise. Although it states it can be used with local models, I was unable to set it up successfully.

You can use the AI sidebar with Gemini, Claude, Codex, and Mistral. I'll dig into this at a later date to see if I can get it to function with the likes of Ollama. As well, there's a right sidebar that somewhat resembles the one found in MacOS. You get quick settings, multimedia controls, notifications, a calendar, a to-do list, and a timer.

I've yet to see a distribution that uses Hyprland configured in such a way that makes it useful for just about any type of user. Even if you've never used a tiling window manager, you shouldn't have any trouble using MainstreamOS.

And then there's the Overview, which is similar to that of the GNOME desktop environment but offers 10 default virtual desktops and the usual search tool (which also lets you search for files, do web searches, launch apps, and run basic calculations). The more I dig into MainstreamOS, the more I dig it. Another nice touch is the media controller in the top bar.

Open Spotify, start playing a tune, and you can pause, jump forward or backward. You also get a simple Conky on the desktop that presents the time and date. As far as the top bar is concerned, the layout goes like this (from left to right): At the bottom, you get a nicely animated dock, where you can add/remove favorite apps and access the overview.

What to watch

If you're looking for something different that won't be too challenging while still giving you the opportunity to make your desktop OS truly special, MainstreamOS should definitely be on your radar. I haven't been this impressed by a Linux distribution since the last time a Hyprland-based distro wow'd me.