Frequently Asked Questions

Zen OS is a minimalist Ubuntu-based Linux distribution designed for developers, creators, and users who want a clean, distraction-free computing experience. It combines the stability of Ubuntu with a carefully curated set of tools and a beautiful, minimal desktop environment.

Yes, Zen OS is completely free and open source. It's licensed under the GPL-3.0 license, which means you can use, modify, and distribute it freely. We believe in the power of open source software and community-driven development.

Zebu is the codename for the current release of Zen OS (version 60.04). Like Ubuntu, we use alphabetical animal names for our releases. A zebu is a species of domestic cattle that represents strength, reliability, and adaptability - qualities we strive for in our operating system.

Yes, Zen OS fully supports dual booting with Windows and other operating systems. During installation, choose "Install alongside" option and the installer will automatically set up the dual boot configuration. Make sure to back up your important data before installation.

Zen OS requires a minimum of 15GB of disk space, but we recommend at least 25GB for comfortable usage. The base installation takes about 8GB, leaving room for user data, applications, and system updates. For development work, consider allocating 50GB or more.

If Wi-Fi doesn't work during installation, try connecting via Ethernet cable if possible. If that's not available, you can complete the installation offline and install Wi-Fi drivers afterward. Most modern Wi-Fi adapters will work automatically after the first update.

Zen OS uses a custom desktop environment built around i3-gaps window manager with carefully selected components. This provides a minimal, tiling window manager experience that's perfect for productivity while remaining accessible to newcomers.

Yes, you can install other desktop environments if you prefer. However, this may conflict with Zen OS's minimalist philosophy and could affect system performance. You can install them using:

Zen OS uses the standard Ubuntu update mechanism with some enhancements. You can update through the graphical update manager or using the command line:

Zen OS comes with a comprehensive development environment including:

• Git with sensible defaults
• Node.js and npm
• Python 3 with pip
• Docker and docker-compose
• VS Code with Zen theme
• Vim with modern configuration
• Build tools (gcc, make, etc.)

Zen OS includes convenience commands for setting up development environments:

If Zen OS won't boot, try these steps:

1. Check BIOS/UEFI boot order settings
2. Try booting from recovery mode in GRUB
3. Check if Secure Boot is causing issues
4. Boot from a live USB and check disk integrity

If the problem persists, visit our forum for detailed troubleshooting help.

You can report bugs and issues through several channels:

• GitHub Issues: For technical bugs and feature requests
• Community Forum: For general issues and discussion
• Discord: For real-time help and quick questions

When reporting bugs, please include system information, steps to reproduce, and any error messages.

Try these performance optimization steps:

If performance issues persist, consider checking hardware compatibility or asking for help on our forum.

Zen OS is highly customizable. You can modify:

• Themes: Use zen theme <name> command
• Keybindings: Edit ~/.config/i3/config
• Status bar: Configure ~/.config/i3status/config
• Colors: Modify ~/.config/zen/colors

After making changes, restart i3 with Super + Shift + r.