Welcome to ZelixOS

Your comprehensive guide to getting started with ZelixOS

Introduction

ZelixOS is a modern, user-friendly Linux distribution built on a solid foundation and powered by KDE Plasma technology. It's designed specifically for users who are new to the Linux world and for those who want to work efficiently with a clean, simple interface.

As a community-supported project developed by CyberPlus Studios, ZelixOS embraces the free software philosophy and aims to provide an easy, modern, and customizable Linux experience that everyone can use.

Key Features

  • Pre-configured KDE Plasma desktop environment
  • Custom welcome application to guide new users
  • Zelix Essentials for one-click software installation
  • Built-in backup and system cleaning tools
  • Optimized for both modern and older hardware

Installation Guide

Installing ZelixOS is straightforward and designed to be accessible for beginners. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Download ZelixOS

Visit the official ZelixOS website and download the latest ISO image.

Download ZelixOS

2. Create a Bootable USB

You'll need a USB drive with at least 4GB of space. Use one of these tools to create a bootable USB:

  • Rufus (Windows)
  • Etcher (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • dd command (Linux terminal)
# Example using dd command (Linux)
sudo dd if=zelixos.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
sudo sync

⚠️ Warning

Make sure to select the correct drive with dd command. Using the wrong drive will erase all data on that drive!

3. Boot from USB

Restart your computer and enter the boot menu (usually F12, F2, or Del key). Select your USB drive from the boot menu.

4. Install ZelixOS

Once the live environment loads, you'll see the ZelixOS installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to:

  1. Select your language and keyboard layout
  2. Choose your installation type (alongside Windows, replace, or manual partitioning)
  3. Create your user account
  4. Wait for the installation to complete
  5. Reboot into your new ZelixOS system

First Steps After Installation

After installing ZelixOS, the Welcome Application will automatically launch to help you get started. Here's what you should do first:

1. System Update

Always start by updating your system to get the latest security patches and features:

sudo apt upgrade

2. Install Essential Software

Use Zelix Essentials to install commonly used applications with a single click. This includes:

  • Web browsers (Firefox, Chrome)
  • Office suite (LibreOffice)
  • Media players (VLC, MPV)
  • Development tools (VS Code, Git)
  • Communication apps (Discord, Telegram)

3. Configure Backup

Set up Zelix Backup to protect your important files. You can schedule automatic backups or run them manually.

✓ Pro Tip

Set up automatic backups to run weekly. This ensures you always have a recent backup without having to remember to do it manually.

System Requirements

ZelixOS is optimized to run on a wide range of hardware. Here are the recommended specifications:

Component Minimum Recommended
Processor 64-bit dual-core 1.5 GHz 64-bit quad-core 2.0 GHz+
RAM 2 GB 4 GB or more
Storage 15 GB free space 25 GB+ SSD
Graphics Intel HD Graphics or equivalent Dedicated graphics card
Network Internet connection (for installation) Broadband internet

Zelix Essentials

Zelix Essentials is a custom application that simplifies software installation. Instead of searching for packages and typing commands, you can browse categories and install applications with a single click.

Features

  • Curated selection of popular applications
  • One-click installation
  • Categorized by use case (Development, Media, Office, etc.)
  • Automatic dependency resolution

How to Use

  1. Open Zelix Essentials from the application menu
  2. Browse through categories or use the search function
  3. Click the install button next to any application
  4. Wait for the installation to complete

Zelix Backup

Zelix Backup is your data protection solution. It allows you to easily backup and restore your system files and personal data.

Creating a Backup

  1. Launch Zelix Backup from the application menu
  2. Select what to backup (system files, home directory, or custom locations)
  3. Choose backup destination (external drive, network location)
  4. Set a schedule (optional) or run immediately
  5. Click "Create Backup"

Restoring from Backup

  1. Open Zelix Backup
  2. Click "Restore"
  3. Select the backup you want to restore from
  4. Choose what to restore
  5. Confirm and wait for restoration to complete

Zelix Cleaner

Keep your system running smoothly with Zelix Cleaner. This tool helps you remove unnecessary files, clear cache, and free up disk space.

What It Cleans

  • Package cache
  • Orphaned packages
  • Temporary files
  • Log files
  • Thumbnail cache
  • Trash bin

⚠️ Important

Always review what will be deleted before running Zelix Cleaner. Some cache files can speed up application loading times, so you may want to keep them.

Welcome Application

The ZelixOS Welcome Application is your gateway to getting started with the system. It automatically launches on first boot and provides a guided tour of essential features and settings.

What It Offers

  • Quick system overview and tour
  • Links to documentation and community resources
  • Quick access to system settings
  • Shortcut to Zelix Essentials for software installation
  • Tips and tricks for new Linux users
  • System information display

Accessing Welcome App

If you've closed the Welcome Application, you can always reopen it from the application menu or by running:

zelix-welcome

✓ First Time User?

Take advantage of the Welcome Application's guided tour. It's designed to help you feel comfortable with ZelixOS in just a few minutes!

KDE Plasma Desktop

ZelixOS uses KDE Plasma as its desktop environment, providing a beautiful, modern, and highly customizable interface.

Key Features

  • Intuitive and familiar interface for Windows users
  • Powerful widgets and desktop effects
  • Extensive customization options
  • Integrated file manager (Dolphin)
  • Built-in screenshot and screen recording tools

Basic Navigation

  • Application Launcher: Click the bottom-left icon or press Super/Meta key
  • Task Manager: Shows running applications in the panel
  • System Tray: Access system settings, notifications, and quick settings
  • Activities: Organize your workflow with virtual desktops

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Meta (Super) Open application launcher
Meta + D Show desktop
Meta + E Open file manager
Ctrl + Alt + T Open terminal
Ctrl + Alt + L Lock screen
Print Screen Take screenshot

Customizing Your Panel

  1. Right-click on the panel
  2. Select "Enter Edit Mode"
  3. Add, remove, or rearrange widgets
  4. Adjust panel height and position
  5. Click "Exit Edit Mode" when done

Themes & Icons

Personalize your ZelixOS experience with custom themes, icons, and color schemes.

Changing Themes

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Appearance → Global Theme
  3. Browse available themes or download new ones
  4. Click "Apply" to use a theme

Installing New Themes

You can download themes directly from within System Settings:

  1. Open System Settings → Appearance
  2. Choose the category (Global Theme, Plasma Style, Application Style, etc.)
  3. Click "Get New..." button
  4. Browse and install themes from the KDE Store

Popular Theme Collections

  • Breeze Dark: Default dark theme, clean and modern
  • Nordic: Beautiful nordic-inspired color palette
  • Sweet: Vibrant purple and pink theme
  • Materia: Material design inspired theme
  • Arc: Flat theme with transparent elements

Icon Themes

Change your icon theme in System Settings → Appearance → Icons:

  • Papirus: Clean, colorful icons
  • Tela: Rounded, modern icon set
  • Qogir: Flat, colorful design
  • Candy: Colorful gradient icons

Color Schemes

You can also create custom color schemes in System Settings → Appearance → Colors. Mix and match different accent colors to create your perfect setup!

Essential Terminal Commands

While ZelixOS provides graphical tools for most tasks, knowing some basic terminal commands can be helpful:

System Updates

# Full system update
sudo apt full-upgrade

# Update package database only
sudo apt update

Installing Software

# Install a package
sudo apt install package-name

# Search for a package
apt search package-name

System Information

# View system information
neofetch

# Check disk usage
df -h

# View running processes
htop

Troubleshooting

Here are solutions to common issues you might encounter:

System Won't Boot

  • Boot into live USB and check if your hard drive is detected
  • Try booting with previous kernel version from GRUB menu
  • Check BIOS/UEFI settings for secure boot and boot order

WiFi Not Working

# Check network interfaces
ip link

# Restart network manager
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

# Check if WiFi is blocked
rfkill list
sudo rfkill unblock wifi

Graphics Issues

  • For NVIDIA cards, install proprietary drivers from Zelix Essentials
  • For AMD/Intel, open-source drivers should work out of the box
  • Try switching to a different kernel if issues persist

Audio Not Working

# Restart PulseAudio
pulseaudio --kill
pulseaudio --start

# Or use PipeWire
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse

Package Manager Issues

# Fix broken packages
sudo apt --fix-broken install

# Reconfigure packages
sudo dpkg --configure -a

# Clean package cache
sudo apt clean
sudo apt autoclean

Performance Issues

  • Check system resources with htop
  • Disable desktop effects in System Settings if using older hardware
  • Run Zelix Cleaner to free up disk space
  • Check for runaway processes consuming CPU/RAM

Need More Help?

Join our community forum or Discord server for additional support from the ZelixOS community!

Development on ZelixOS

ZelixOS provides an excellent environment for developers with pre-configured tools and easy access to development packages.

Development Tools Available

  • Code Editors: VS Code, Kate, Vim, Nano
  • IDEs: JetBrains suite, Eclipse, Android Studio
  • Version Control: Git, SVN
  • Compilers: GCC, Clang, Rust, Go
  • Interpreters: Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP
  • Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis

Setting Up Development Environment

Python Development

# Install Python and pip
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv

# Create virtual environment
python3 -m venv myproject
source myproject/bin/activate

Node.js Development

# Install Node.js and npm
sudo apt install nodejs npm

# Or use nvm for version management
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
nvm install --lts

Web Development

# Install Apache and PHP
sudo apt install apache2 php libapache2-mod-php

# Or install LAMP stack
sudo apt install lamp-server^

Docker Support

# Install Docker
sudo apt install docker.io
sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

# Install Docker Compose
sudo apt install docker-compose

✓ Pro Tip

Use Zelix Essentials to quickly install popular development tools. It handles all dependencies and configurations automatically!