Good questions. Plain answers.
A few things
before you launch.
Get to know the system, its choices, and its current limits.
Is Starchaser Linux free?
Yes. Starchaser Linux is free software under GPL-3.0-or-later. Some bundled components have their own licenses. See About & credits.
Is version 1.0 available?
Not yet. Version 1.0 is coming soon, and no release date has been announced. The download page will point to the release when it is ready.
Is it Arch-based?
Yes. Starchaser Linux is an Arch-based desktop. See About & credits for the projects underneath.
Does it require UEFI?
Yes. Starchaser Linux boots UEFI only, with Secure Boot turned off. It needs an x86-64 computer. See the full system requirements.
Where do apps come from?
Apps come from the official package repositories and Flathub. Community packages from the AUR are built only when you choose one in Settings.
Is it stable enough for everyday use?
Under active development; it installs and runs day to day, but expect rough edges. Try it in a virtual machine first if you want to explore the desktop before installing on real hardware.
How do updates and rollback work?
Settings includes an Updates page. When automatic snapshots are set up, software changes are covered by btrfs snapshots. Settings > Recovery explains what going back would undo and asks for your password before restoring system files. Your home folder stays as it is. Read the recovery guide.
Does Ask send my data anywhere?
With Ollama running on this computer, Ask’s check results stay on the computer. External providers receive what the checks found: running programs, network names and addresses, and recent errors. A remote Ollama endpoint also receives the results. Choose providers in Settings > AI; do not assume a signed-in AI account is local.
Can Ask make changes on its own?
Ask runs read-only checks and proposes actions. You decide whether to press Apply. A proposed firewall rule opens as a draft in Settings for review; a suggested terminal command still waits for Enter. AI coding agents in the agent dock have their own permissions.
Does it include a complete security testing suite?
No. The ISO includes nmap and tcpdump. It is a controllable base for building your own toolkit, with a normal root shell, terminal, SSH, OpenVPN support, and firewall, USB, and privacy controls.
Can the firewall ask before an app goes online?
Yes, outgoing app control uses OpenSnitch. The desktop setup installs it. If it is missing, Settings blocks outgoing app rules and explains the missing dependency.
Does it work on a tablet?
There is support for touch panel gestures, a sign-in touch keypad, and on-screen keyboard layouts. Tablets are still being tested, and touch is not yet a main focus.
Does this website track me?
No. This site uses no trackers, external fonts, embedded third-party content, or analytics. Its page resources are served locally. Links to GitHub and other project sources only take you there when you follow them.