The desktop
A clean, uncluttered desktop.
A top bar, a dock and an app launcher. Press Super+Space to find any app.
Learn moreIntroducing
KilneOS
Build desktop apps with the web.
If you can build a website, you can build for KilneOS.
Install with one command. Open in its own window.
Version 0.1.0 · early release · open source
What you get with Kilne OS.
Apps
Files, with tabs and previews.
Keep several folders open in one window and see thumbnails of your images and documents.
Learn moreThemes
Choose how it looks.
Dark or light, with five accent colours. One setting changes the whole system.
Learn morePermissions
See what an app wants first.
Before an app installs, the Store lists what it asks to do, in plain words.
Learn moreFor developers
Install your app with one command.
Build a web app, then run kilne install to put it on your desktop.
Learn moreBuilt on Debian
Use any Debian package.
Install programs with apt and they show up in the launcher on their own.
Learn moreThe desktop
A desktop that stays out of your way. You get a top bar, a dock and a launcher. Nothing else is on screen until you open it.
Type to filter. Press Esc to close.
Interactive demo This is a re-creation of the KilneOS interface, not a screenshot. On KilneOS you press Super+Space for the launcher. Here, click the launcher icon or press Space.
Apps are web apps
Build apps with the web tools you already know. Then install them on Kilne with one command.
Package it, then install it.
Build your web app as usual and add a short file that describes it. Run kilne install, and the app shows up in the launcher, in its own window.
Packaging guideSee what an app will do.
Before an app installs, the Store lists what it asks to do, in plain English. If the app asks for more than the screen showed, the install stops.
About the StoreUpdate safely, and go back if you need to.
Each app keeps its previous version. Upgrade when you want, roll back with one command, and choose whether removing an app also deletes its data.
The kilne commandRun your own app catalog.
Build a catalog from your apps, serve it on your own computer to test it, and add it to Kilne as a source.
Catalog toolsMake it yours
Choose a look, and the whole system follows. Try the controls below.
Design concept
What it’s made of
Built from well-known parts. Debian, Wayland, Rust and the web.
More apps included.
Ready to try it? The easiest way is to run it in a virtual machine.
15 GBof disk space
1 GBof RAM
Debian 13as the base
Open sourceshell and tools
Concept
See the concept Kilne Mobile is a phone version we’re designing.
It would have no Google services, no Play Store and no Android apps. It’s a concept for now, and it won’t be open source.