DOWNSTREAM FORK NOTICE This repository is a downstream fork of microsoft/azurelinux (branch 3.0). It is maintained independently for the purpose described below. The original Azure Linux README is preserved in full below this section.

This fork of Azure Linux 3.0 is the foundation for a custom Linux desktop distribution targeting the KDE desktop environment as the canonical desktop direction.

Build a production-quality, RPM-based desktop Linux distro that:

• Inherits Azure Linux's hardened security baseline, reproducible build pipeline, and ~3,078 upstream packages
• Enables bare-metal desktop hardware rendering via a rebuilt Mesa with Intel (iris) and AMD (radeonsi) Gallium drivers
• Delivers a production KDE desktop experience with a KDE-first package and image roadmap
• Ships a server image and a desktop image from the same fork, maintained independently of one another

Azure Linux 3.0 (base)
  └── Mesa rebuild (enable iris + radeonsi Gallium drivers)
       └── Low-level desktop prerequisites (libseat, libdisplay-info, xdg-desktop-portal)
            └── KDE session core (SDDM, Plasma Workspace, KWin)
                 └── KDE shell + apps (Plasma desktop, System Settings, Dolphin, Konsole, ...)

Phase: Planning / Pre-build (April 2026)

• Technical feasibility analysis complete
• Linux build host provisioned
• First clean Azure Linux build validated
• Mesa spec reworked for desktop GPU
• KDE packaging started

To avoid split ownership and duplicate maintenance, this repository uses exactly two sources of truth:

• Work status: open GitHub Issues and Pull Requests
• Project state: Git history on main

The ProtagonistOS dashboard is published from main through .github/workflows/pages.yml.

Azure Linux is an internal Linux distribution for Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure and edge products and services. Azure Linux is designed to provide a consistent platform for these devices and services and will enhance Microsoft’s ability to stay current on Linux updates. This initiative is part of Microsoft’s increasing investment in a wide range of Linux technologies, such as SONiC and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Azure Linux is being shared publicly as part of Microsoft’s commitment to Open Source and to contribute back to the Linux community. Azure Linux does not change our approach or commitment to any existing third-party Linux distribution offerings.

Azure Linux has been engineered with the notion that a small common core set of packages can address the universal needs of first party cloud and edge services while allowing individual teams to layer additional packages on top of the common core to produce images for their workloads. This is made possible by a simple build system that enables:

• Package Generation: This produces the desired set of RPM packages from SPEC files and source files.
• Image Generation: This produces the desired image artifacts like ISOs or VHDs from a given set of packages.

Whether deployed as a container or a container host, Azure Linux consumes limited disk and memory resources. The lightweight characteristics of Azure Linux also provides faster boot times and a minimal attack surface. By focusing the features in the core image to just what is needed for our internal cloud customers there are fewer services to load, and fewer attack vectors.

When security vulnerabilities arise, Azure Linux supports both a package-based update model and an image based update model. Leveraging the common RPM Package Manager system, Azure Linux makes the latest security patches and fixes available for download with the goal of fast turn-around times.

NOTE: Looking for CBL-Mariner 2.0 Source? Click here

Instructions for building Azure Linux 3.0 may be found here: Toolkit Documentation.

To try Azure Linux Download the ISO here: Azure Linux 3.0 x86_64 ISO / Azure Linux 3.0 aarch64 ISO

Before using a downloaded ISO, verify the checksum and signature of the image.

After downloading the ISO, use the quickstart instructions to install and use the image in a Hyper-V VM.

Note: Support for the ISO is community based. Before filing a new bug or feature request, please search the list of Github Issues. If you are unable to find a matching issue, please report new bugs by clicking here or create a new feature request by clicking here. For additional information refer to the support.md file.

• Bugs, feature requests and questions can be filed as GitHub issues.
• We are starting a public community call for Azure Linux users to get together and discuss new features, provide feedback, and learn more about how others are using Azure Linux. In each session, we will feature a new demo. The schedule for the upcoming community calls are:
• 7/24/2025 from 8-9am (PST) Click to join
• 9/25/2025 from 8-9am (PST) Click to join
• 11/20/2025 from 8-9am (PST) Click to join
• 1/22/2026 from 8-9am (PST) Click to join
• 3/26/2026 from 8-9am (PST) Click to join

This project may contain trademarks or logos for projects, products, or services. Authorized use of Microsoft trademarks or logos is subject to and must follow Microsoft's Trademark & Brand Guidelines. Use of Microsoft trademarks or logos in modified versions of this project must not cause confusion or imply Microsoft sponsorship. Any use of third-party trademarks or logos are subject to those third-party's policies.

Any Linux distribution, including Azure Linux, benefits from contributions by the open software community. We gratefully acknowledge all contributions made from the broader open source community, in particular:

1. GNU and the Free Software Foundation

2. The Fedora Project for SPEC files, particularly with respect to Qt, DNF and content in the SPECS-EXTENDED folder.

3. The Photon OS Project for SPEC files originating from the Photon distribution.

4. Linux from Scratch

5. And other open source projects as referenced here