What is Zenclora?

Zenclora is a Debian-based desktop Linux distribution optimized for stability, gaming, and daily use. Built with a philosophy of simplicity and peace, Zenclora eliminates bloat and complexity while providing powerful tools for modern computing.

Key features include:

  • ZPM (Zen Package Manager) - Install apps with simple, elegant commands
  • Choice of Desktops - Optimized GNOME or lightweight MATE desktop environments
  • Debian Stable Base - Rock-solid foundation with security updates

Desktop Editions

Zenclora OS comes in two distinct desktop flavors to suit your workflow and hardware preferences.

GNOME Edition

The default, modern, and highly polished desktop experience. It is heavily customized to offer a clean, distraction-free environment that looks beautiful out of the box. Ideal for users with modern hardware who prefer a sleek, gesture-driven workflow.

  • Features: Modern aesthetics, fluid animations, custom theming.
  • Best For: Modern PCs, laptops with touchpads, users who want a premium feel.

MATE Edition

A lightweight, traditional, and blazing-fast desktop environment. The MATE edition is designed for maximum performance and is deeply integrated with custom Conky setups for real-time system monitoring directly on your desktop.

  • Features: Low resource usage, traditional taskbar workflow, Conky integration.
  • Best For: Older hardware, power users who prefer a classic layout, maximizing gaming performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zenclora OS?

Zenclora OS is a Debian-based, stability-focused Linux distribution designed for everyday use. It combines the rock-solid foundation of Debian with optimized performance and a curated user experience.

What makes Zenclora OS different from other Linux distributions?

  • ZPM (Zen Package Manager) — A custom-built package and system manager designed exclusively for Zenclora OS.
  • Performance Tuning — Kernel-level optimizations that make Zenclora noticeably faster than vanilla Debian.
  • Polished Desktop — A beautifully customized GNOME desktop environment out of the box.

What is ZPM (Zen Package Manager)?

ZPM is a package and system manager that lets you install popular software not found in the official Debian repositories with a single command. It also simplifies complex system management tasks and includes a set of helpful utility tools.

For example:

sudo zen install brave steam vscode
sudo zen remove steam
sudo zen system dns
sudo zen tools formatusb

That's it — simple and straightforward.

The goal of ZPM is to save users time, make Linux easier to use, prevent security risks from untrusted third-party repositories, and provide a clean, well-organized system.

Why is Zenclora OS more performant than stock Debian?

Zenclora OS applies kernel-level tweaks and disables unnecessary kernel features to boost overall system performance. These optimizations result in a snappier, more responsive experience compared to a default Debian installation.

Is NVIDIA supported?

Yes! After installing Zenclora OS, simply run:

sudo zen install nvidia-driver

This will automatically detect and install the correct proprietary driver for your GPU.

Can I play games on Zenclora OS?

Absolutely. Zenclora OS's performance optimizations provide a smooth gaming experience, and ZPM gives you quick access to gaming software like Steam, Lutris, Wine, and more.

I'm completely new to Linux. Is Zenclora OS right for me?

If you're eager to learn Linux and aren't afraid of the terminal, then yes — Zenclora OS is a great choice. ZPM handles much of the complexity for you, making the learning curve much gentler.

Where can I follow new releases and updates?

Updates and announcements are posted on our YouTube channel and X (Twitter) account.

I found a bug. What should I do?

Send an email to nixovena@protonmail.com with a detailed description of the issue. If it's a Zenclora-side bug, it will be addressed in the next update.

System Requirements

Component Minimum (Runs) Recommended (Smooth Experience)
Processor (CPU) 1.0 GHz Dual-Core (64-bit) 2.0 GHz+ Quad-Core
Memory (RAM) 2 GB 4 GB or more
Storage (Disk) 10 GB (System only) 25 GB+ (Including apps and data)
Graphics (GPU) Integrated Graphics (Intel HD, etc.) GPU with 3D acceleration support
Display Resolution 1024 × 768 1920 × 1080 (Full HD)

Installation

Step 1: Download the ISO file from the official website or SourceForge.

Step 2: Create a bootable USB drive using Ventoy, Rufus, or Balena Etcher.

Step 3: Enter your BIOS and boot from the USB drive.

Step 4: Choose "Live Mode" to try Zenclora, or start the Debian Installer for permanent installation.

Note: If using NVIDIA GPU, ensure nouveau driver compatibility or install proprietary drivers after installation using zen install nvidia-driver

Live Mode Exit: When shutting down in Live mode, press Enter at the Plymouth screen to safely remove the live medium.

NVIDIA Driver Installation

Installing the NVIDIA proprietary driver on Zenclora OS is as simple as a single command:

sudo zen install nvidia-driver

ZPM will automatically detect your GPU and install the appropriate driver version. Once the installation is complete, reboot your system for the changes to take effect.

ZPM - Zen Package Manager

ZPM is Zenclora's unified package manager that simplifies software installation. Just use zen (or the alias zpm) – no more searching for repositories or adding GPG keys manually.

Basic Usage

zen install <package>    # Install a package
zen remove <package>     # Remove a package
zen update               # Update system and packages
zen list                 # List available packages
zen help                 # Show help message

Available Packages

Gaming

zen install steam            # Steam with all dependencies
zen install gaming-pack      # Lutris, Wine, MangoHud, GameMode

Browsers

zen install chrome           # Google Chrome
zen install brave            # Brave Browser (Stable)
zen install brave-beta       # Brave Browser (Beta)
zen install brave-nightly    # Brave Browser (Nightly)
zen install floorp           # Floorp Browser
zen install mullvad-browser  # Mullvad Browser

AI & Development

zen install windsurf         # Windsurf AI Editor
zen install antigravity      # Antigravity AI
zen install claude           # Claude AI Desktop
zen install vscode           # Visual Studio Code
zen install vscodium         # VSCodium (Telemetry-free)
zen install sublime-text     # Sublime Text Editor
zen install docker           # Docker with Compose
zen install nvidia-docker    # NVIDIA Container Toolkit
zen install rust             # Rust programming language
zen install r-project        # R Project for Statistical Computing
zen install temurbin         # Eclipse Temurin JDK
zen install ardunio          # Arduino IDE

# Zen AI Toolkit
zen ai ollama                # Ollama manager
zen ai toolkit               # Tools for AI developers
zen ai apichat               # Terminal-based API chat
zen ai llmstore              # Download & manage offline LLMs

Media & Productivity

zen install spotify          # Spotify
zen install jellyfin         # Jellyfin Media Server
zen install signal           # Signal Messenger
zen install teams-for-linux  # Microsoft Teams for Linux
zen install mattermost       # Mattermost Desktop
zen install vencord          # Vencord (Discord client mod)
zen install anydesk          # AnyDesk Remote Desktop
zen install editor-pack      # GIMP, Krita, Inkscape
zen install producer-pack    # Ardour, Audacity, LMMS
zen install office-pack      # LibreOffice suite

System & Performance

zen install flatpak          # Flatpak with Flathub
zen install snap             # Snap package manager
zen install liquorix         # Liquorix gaming kernel
zen install nvidia-driver    # NVIDIA proprietary driver
zen install waydroid         # Waydroid (Android in Linux)
zen install virtualbox       # Oracle VM VirtualBox
zen install winehq           # WineHQ (Run Windows apps)

Privacy & Security

zen install mullvad-vpn      # Mullvad VPN client

# Zen Security Utilities
zen sec jails                # Manage Firejail sandboxes
zen sec usbguard             # Simplify USBGuard management
zen sec checksum             # Verify file checksums easily
zen sec firewall             # NFTables-based firewall

System Utilities

ZPM includes powerful system management utilities accessible via zen system. These tools help you maintain, optimize, and troubleshoot your system.

DNS Configuration

Easily switch between popular DNS providers with persistent settings:

sudo zen system dns

Options: Google, Cloudflare, Quad9, AdGuard, OpenDNS, or custom DNS servers.

ZRAM Management

Configure compressed RAM-based swap for better performance:

sudo zen system zram

Benefits: Faster than disk swap, extends SSD lifespan, effective memory compression.

System Optimization

Free up memory and clear system caches instantly:

sudo zen system optimize

This command syncs filesystem, clears memory caches, optimizes swap, flushes network buffers, and runs SSD TRIM.

CPU Mitigations

Control CPU security mitigations (Spectre/Meltdown) for performance tuning:

sudo zen system mitigations

Warning: Disabling mitigations improves performance but reduces security.

System Information

Get detailed hardware and software information:

zen system info

Shows: OS, Kernel, CPU, Memory, Storage, GPU, Network, Services, and Security status.

Service Manager

Manage systemd services interactively:

sudo zen system services

Actions: Start, Stop, Restart, Enable, Disable, Mask, Unmask, View Logs.

Package Viewer

Explore installed packages on your system:

zen system packages

Features: List all, search, view details, recently installed, package count, largest packages.

Log Viewer

View and manage system logs:

zen system logs

Options: System logs, kernel logs, boot logs, auth logs, application logs, live stream, clear old logs.

Network Reset

Reset all network rules and configurations:

sudo zen system netfix

Flushes iptables, resets nftables, clears DNS cache, resets routing, restarts network services.

APT Repair

Fix common APT and dpkg issues:

sudo zen system aptfix

Checks for locks, broken packages, fixes dependencies, cleans cache, updates package lists.

Hostname Configuration

Change your system's hostname effortlessly:

sudo zen system hostname

Updates both /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts to immediately apply the new computer name without requiring a manual restart of networking services.

Zen Tools

ZPM provides utility tools for common system tasks via zen tools.

USB Formatter

Format USB drives with various filesystems:

sudo zen tools formatusb

Supported formats: FAT32 (cross-platform), NTFS (Windows), ext4 (Linux), exFAT (large files).

Features: Automatic device detection, safety checks to prevent formatting system drives.

DEB Installer

Install .deb packages easily:

sudo zen tools debinstaller

Options: Install from local file, install from URL, view recently installed packages.

File Manager

File management utilities from the terminal:

sudo zen tools filemanager

Operations: Change permissions (chmod), change ownership (chown), find files, find large files, delete files/directories.

Zenthub (Flatpak Store)

A beautiful CLI-based Flatpak software center with a Python3 Rich interface:

zen zenthub

Zen ZPT

An APT frontend with a stunning CLI UI and detailed messages for package management:

zen zpt

Zen Settings

Configure system settings such as language selection:

zen settings

How ZPM Works?

ZPM works by integrating the official APT repositories of packages into the system. This allows the installed software to be updated directly from its official sources and managed in full compatibility with the system.

ZPM targets software that is generally not available in Debian repositories but is widely used. Examples include popular applications such as Steam, Spotify, Brave, and VSCode.

The main objective of this approach is to prevent users from risking their systems by adding random and unreliable repositories and to avoid "repository chaos."

Package Policy

The following principles are applied within the scope of ZPM:

  • No On-Demand Addition: Packages are not added based on user requests.
  • Verified Reliability: Unrecognized software or software with unverified reliability is not included in the system.
  • Official Maintainers Only: If a software is maintained by a third party (volunteer) instead of its official developer, that package is not added.

Security Approach

There are two major risks at the heart of these restrictions:

  • Supply Chain Attacks: Packages from third-party sources may contain malicious code.
  • FrankenDebian Problem: Mixing different and incompatible repositories can lead to system instability and dependency issues.

ZPM adopts a controlled and selective package management model to minimize these risks.

Known Issues

Wrong language after installation

After installing Zenclora OS, the system language may default to English instead of your selected language. This is caused by a compatibility issue between the Debian installer and GNOME. To fix it, go to GNOME Settings → Region & Language and select your preferred language.

Plymouth screen hangs on shutdown in Live mode

When shutting down in Live mode, the Plymouth splash screen may appear stuck. Simply press Enter to proceed and safely remove the live medium.

Zenclora Commands

Display system information with Zenclora branding:

zenclora-fetch

This command shows your system specs, Zenclora version, and ASCII art in a beautiful terminal output.

Project Status & Policies

Zenclora OS is a hobby project developed during limited personal time. As such, updates and bug fixes may take longer than professional distributions.

Independent Project: Zenclora OS is completely independent and does not accept donations. Please beware of any fake donation calls made in the project's name.

Contributing Policy

At this stage, I do not accept direct external code contributions. Maintaining security and system integrity requires rigorous auditing of all code. To ensure consistency, the entire development process is managed centrally. This policy may be re-evaluated in the future if a secure and auditable contribution framework is established.

Ownership & Copyright

Zenclora OS is developed and managed by Nixovena Labs. The project code, build structure (releng), and visual assets may not be used in other projects without explicit permission.

Official Distribution

The only official source for Zenclora OS is my SourceForge page. Files downloaded from other locations may be modified or unsafe. I strongly recommend using only the official release for your security.

Disclaimer & Terms of Use

Zenclora OS is a Debian-based project provided "as is". The developer is not responsible for any data loss, system failure, or damage resulting from its use.

Users assume full responsibility for any system modifications. Low-level changes (Kernel, Bootloader, Partitioning) can lead to system instability.

As an experimental hobby project, seamless operation across every hardware and software combination is not guaranteed. Always test the system in a non-critical environment first.

Contact

Nixovena Labs: nixovena@protonmail.com

X (Twitter): @nixovena

GitHub: @nixovena