SoltrOS vs Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite
Fedora Silverblue (GNOME) and Kinoite (KDE) are the official immutable variants of Fedora.
They share the same rpm-ostree foundation but differ significantly in their approach to user experience
and package management.
Feature
Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite
SoltrOS
Update System
rpm-ostree
bootc (image-based)
Package Managers
Flatpak (primary), Toolbox
Flatpak + Nix (pre-configured) + Homebrew + Distrobox
Nix Support
Manual installation and configuration required
One command install with unfree packages enabled, nixmanager.sh included
Gaming Tools
Manual installation needed
Pre-installed (GameMode, MangoHud, GOverlay, CoreCtrl, launchers)
Browser
Firefox (with telemetry)
Waterfox (no telemetry, no sponsored content)
Shell Configuration
Basic default shell
Zsh with Oh My Zsh and terminalparty theme pre-configured
System Management
Command-line tools (rpm-ostree, etc.)
helper.sh tool for streamlined management
Desktop Variants
GNOME (Silverblue) or KDE (Kinoite) - can rebase between them with rpm-ostree commands
KDE Plasma, COSMIC, or GNOME - switch with simple helper commands
Key Difference: Silverblue/Kinoite focus on Flatpak as the primary package manager.
SoltrOS takes a multi-manager approach, officially supporting Flatpak, Nix, Homebrew, and containerized
distributions. Nix is pre-configured and ready to use with 80,000+ packages.
When to Choose Silverblue/Kinoite
- You want the official Fedora immutable experience
- Flatpak meets all your software needs
- You prefer minimal pre-installed software
- You're comfortable with manual configuration
When to Choose SoltrOS
- You want access to multiple package ecosystems
- Gaming is a priority (pre-installed tools)
- You want Nix without configuration headaches
- You prefer privacy-focused software (Waterfox)
- You want a comprehensive management tool (helper.sh)
SoltrOS vs Universal Blue (Bazzite, Aurora, Bluefin)
Universal Blue is a project that builds custom Fedora Atomic images with different configurations
and focuses. Bazzite targets gaming, Aurora focuses on developers, and Bluefin emphasizes GNOME
desktop experience.
Feature
Universal Blue Variants
SoltrOS
Management Tool
ujust (Just-based recipes)
helper.sh (Bash-based)
Nix Integration
Fleek or community solutions
Determinate Nix with nixmanager.sh, pre-configured flake
Image Philosophy
Multiple specialized images for different use cases
Focused core system with package manager flexibility
Customization
Fork and modify images (BlueBuild)
Direct system management via helper and package managers
Desktop Options
Many variants (KDE, GNOME, DX, Framework-specific)
Three core options (KDE Plasma, COSMIC, GNOME)
Gaming Focus
Bazzite: Heavily gaming-focused with Steam Deck optimizations
Gaming-ready with pre-installed tools, general-purpose design
System Packages
Varies by image
Comprehensive set for gaming, development, and daily use
Key Difference: Universal Blue offers many specialized images for specific use cases
(gaming PC, developer workstation, etc.). SoltrOS provides one focused system with flexibility through
package managers. Universal Blue uses Just for management; SoltrOS uses Bash-based helper.sh.
When to Choose Universal Blue
- You want a highly specialized image (like Bazzite for gaming handhelds)
- You prefer Just recipes for system management
- You need Framework laptop-specific optimizations
- You want to fork and create your own custom image
When to Choose SoltrOS
- You prefer Bash-based tools over Just
- You want comprehensive Nix integration built-in
- You prefer a focused system over multiple specialized variants
- You want gaming support without handheld-specific optimizations
- You value direct system management over image forking
SoltrOS vs Traditional Fedora
Traditional Fedora Workstation uses a mutable filesystem where system files can be modified directly.
This is the standard Linux model most users are familiar with.
Feature
Fedora Workstation
SoltrOS
System Updates
DNF updates individual packages, can partially fail
Atomic image updates, all-or-nothing with rollback
Package Management
DNF (RPM packages)
Flatpak + Nix + Homebrew + Distrobox (layered approach)
System Stability
Can break during updates or package conflicts
Immutable base prevents system breakage
Recovery
May require rescue mode or reinstallation
Boot previous working version from GRUB
Package Availability
RPM repositories (Fedora + third-party)
Flatpak (flathub) + Nix (80,000+ packages) + Homebrew + containers
System Modifications
Direct filesystem access, modify anything
Immutable base, user modifications in home directory
Key Difference: Traditional Fedora gives complete filesystem access with standard
package management. SoltrOS provides an immutable base that prevents system breakage, with software
installed through multiple package managers. Updates are atomic and reversible.
When to Choose Traditional Fedora
- You need to modify system files directly
- You're comfortable with traditional Linux administration
- You require RPM packages not available elsewhere
- You don't want to learn a new system paradigm
When to Choose SoltrOS
- You want update safety with rollback capability
- You prefer system stability over flexibility
- You value the reliability of atomic updates
- You want access to multiple package ecosystems
- You're willing to use containerized distros (Distrobox) for system-level needs
SoltrOS vs NixOS
NixOS is a Linux distribution built entirely around the Nix package manager. The entire system
is declared in Nix configuration files, making it fully reproducible.
Configuration
Everything in Nix language (configuration.nix)
Standard Linux with optional Nix for packages
Learning Curve
Steep - requires learning Nix language and concepts
Standard Linux knowledge applies, Nix is optional
Package Management
Nix only (declarative)
Flatpak + Nix + Homebrew + Distrobox (imperative)
Desktop Setup
Configure desktop environment in Nix
Pre-configured KDE Plasma, COSMIC, or GNOME
Getting Started
Write configuration files, understand Nix
Works immediately, use helper.sh for management
System Philosophy
Purely functional, declarative
Immutable base with traditional imperative package management
Reproducibility
Full system reproducibility via configuration files
Image-based reproducibility, user packages are imperative
Key Difference: NixOS requires learning the Nix language and declaring your entire
system in configuration files. SoltrOS is a standard Linux distribution with Nix available as one of
several package managers. You get Nix's package availability without the complexity of NixOS.
When to Choose NixOS
- You want full system reproducibility
- You're willing to invest time learning the Nix language
- You want to declare everything in configuration files
- You need advanced features like NixOS modules
- Declarative system management appeals to you
When to Choose SoltrOS
- You want Nix packages without learning NixOS
- You prefer imperative package management
- You want a working system immediately
- You value multiple package manager options
- You want pre-configured desktop environments
- Standard Linux administration knowledge is sufficient
Summary: What Makes SoltrOS Different
SoltrOS Strengths
- Pre-configured Nix with nixmanager.sh - easiest Nix setup on any immutable distro
- Gaming tools pre-installed - ready for gaming immediately
- Multiple package managers officially supported
- Waterfox browser for privacy by default
- Comprehensive helper.sh management tool
- Three desktop environments, atomically switchable
- Zsh with Oh My Zsh pre-configured
- Focused system design, not dozens of variants
Trade-offs
- Newer project with smaller community
- Uses bootc instead of established rpm-ostree
- More opinionated than Silverblue (pre-configured vs minimal)
- Not as specialized as Bazzite for gaming handhelds
- Doesn't have the full declarative power of NixOS
- Less documentation than established distros
The Bottom Line: SoltrOS is for users who want an immutable Linux distribution with
gaming support, comprehensive Nix integration, and multiple package management options - without spending
hours configuring everything. It bridges the gap between minimal systems like Silverblue and specialized
variants like Bazzite, offering a ready-to-use system with flexibility.
