GLFOS is a distribution based on NixOS created by the Gaming Linux FR community. It takes the entirety of NixOS and adds a configuration layer focused on gaming and accessibility.
Note
GLFOS is not a fork of NixOS. It is a pre-assembled NixOS configuration with dedicated modules, a graphical installer, and custom tools. Unlike NixOS, GLFOS is designed to be accessible and turnkey, from installation to updates and system maintenance.
What GLFOS Keeps from NixOS
- The Nix package manager and the Nix functional language
- Declarative system management through
.nixfiles - The Nixpkgs repository (stable and unstable packages)
- The generations system (easy rollback)
- Flakes support (enabled by default on GLFOS)
- Firewall enabled by default
What GLFOS Adds
Graphical Installer
NixOS offers manual installation via the command line or a minimal installer. GLFOS uses Calamares, a guided graphical installer, to make the installation accessible.
Simplified Commands
GLFOS provides aliases for the most common NixOS commands:
| GLF Command | NixOS Equivalent | Function |
|---|---|---|
glf-update |
sudo nix flake update + nh os boot |
Update the system |
glf-switch |
sudo nix flake update + nh os switch |
Apply changes immediately |
glf-history |
nix store diff-closures ... |
Update history |
glf-systeminfo |
Combination of inxi, lscpu, lspci |
System information |
GLFfetch |
- | Custom GLFOS fetch |
Gaming-Optimized Kernel
GLF OS Optimizations Compared to a Vanilla Linux Kernel
- HZ_1000: Timer frequency at 1000 Hz (improved responsiveness, ideal for gaming and real-time applications).
- PREEMPT_FULL: Full kernel preemption (reduced latency, improved performance for interactive tasks).
- BFQ: I/O scheduler optimized for desktop environments (better smoothness for graphical and multimedia applications).
- LTS Kernel: LTS version for increased stability and long-term support (annual change).
- Controller Modules: Added drivers for Xbox and PlayStation controllers (plug-and-play compatibility).
- Racing Wheel Modules: Native support for Thrustmaster, Logitech, and Fanatec wheels.
- Opentabletdriver: Integration of drivers for graphics tablets.
- AMD CPU Parameters:
amd_pstate=active(if KVM-AMD enabled): Dynamic and optimized CPU frequency management for AMD processors.nosplit_lock_mitigateandclearcpuid=514: Mitigation of hardware vulnerabilities specific to AMD CPUs.
- Split Lock Mitigation Disabled (
kernel.split_lock_mitigate=0): Reduced latency for performance-sensitive applications. - Memory and I/O Optimizations:
vm.swappiness=10: Reduced swap usage to prioritize RAM (better overall system responsiveness, ideal for gaming).vm.vfs_cache_pressure=50: Optimal balance between cache and available memory.vm.dirty_bytes=268435456andvm.dirty_background_bytes=67108864: Limited background disk writes to reduce latency.vm.dirty_writeback_centisecs=1500: Adjusted delay for deferred writes (better I/O management).vm.max_map_count=16777216: Increased limit for memory-intensive applications.
- NMI Watchdog Disabled (
kernel.nmi_watchdog=0): Reduced latency by disabling the non-maskable interrupt monitoring mechanism. - Enhanced Security:
kernel.kptr_restrict=2: Kernel address masking to limit information leaks.kernel.kexec_load_disabled=1: Prevents loading of external kernels (protection against kexec attacks).
- Log Management (
kernel.printk="3 3 3 3"): Reduced console messages for a cleaner environment. - Unprivileged Namespaces (
kernel.unprivileged_userns_clone=1): Allows non-root users to create namespaces (useful for containers and application isolation).
Pre-configured Gaming
GLFOS includes out of the box (standard and studio editions):
- Lutris (with GTK4/Adwaita libraries)
- Heroic Games Launcher (Epic, GOG, Amazon)
- MangoHud (monitoring overlay)
- Wine Staging + Winetricks
- UMU Launcher (Steam Runtime compatibility)
- Oversteer (steering wheel management)
- Piper (gaming mouse configuration)
- Input Remapper (controller remapping)
- Faugus Launcher (Windows applications)
- Fanatec and Logitech wheel support (dedicated drivers)
STEAM_EXTRA_COMPAT_TOOLS_PATHSvariable pre-configured- Flatpak and AppImage compatibility
- Davinci Resolve pre-configured with CUDA/OpenCL (STUDIO)
- OBS pre-configured with obs-vkcapture and virtual camera (STUDIO)
- KDEnlive, Audacity, Reaper, Calf, GIMP
Managed NVIDIA Drivers
GLFOS integrates a dedicated NVIDIA module with:
- A recent NVIDIA driver, tested and validated by the GLFOS team for stability
- Hybrid laptop support (PRIME offload/sync)
- Automatic modesetting configuration
- Support for cards from GTX1650/RTX2000 onwards
Optimized Audio (PipeWire)
- Reduced latency by default (48 kHz, quantum 256)
- JACK support enabled
- USB suspend disabled (prevents audio dropouts)
Pre-configured Printing
A wide set of printer drivers is included (HP, Brother, Canon, Epson, Samsung) with Avahi network discovery enabled.
Automatic Updates
GLF OS includes an automatic update system (security patches and updates to new GLF OS versions) with desktop notifications (in French and English) informing the user through your desktop environment's notification system.
Custom Tools - Quick Tour
- EasyFlatpak: simplified Flatpak application management (automatically installed via Flathub) - How to use
- Nix Disk Manager: simplified disk mounting - How to use
- Nix Firewall Manager: Firewall management
- GLFOS Welcome Screen: first boot welcome screen
- GLFOS Environment Selection: desktop environment switching
Editions
GLFOS is available in several editions:
| Edition | Desktop | Gaming | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | GNOME or Plasma | Yes | Desktop / gaming |
| Studio | GNOME or Plasma | Yes | Multimedia creation with Davinci Resolve |
| Studio Pro | GNOME or Plasma | Yes | Studio with Davinci Resolve Studio |
| Streamers | GNOME or Plasma | No | OBS + StreamDeck support |
| Mini | Your choice | No | Minimal installation |
Other Optimizations
- zram enabled (25% of RAM, zstd algorithm)
- Daily fstrim (SSD maintenance)
- nix-ld enabled (binary compatibility)
- Firefox pre-configured with PipeWire support and language packs
- Plymouth with custom GLFOS theme
- Expanded Mesa shader cache (12 GB)
- 32-bit support enabled (for gaming)
Customization
On GLFOS, customizations are made in the file /etc/nixos/customConfig/default.nix. This file is preserved during updates and allows you to add packages and configurations without touching the rest of the system.
To go further: Custom User Configurations
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