Nobara (operating system)

Nobara Linux^[6] is a Linux distribution based on Fedora Linux.^[7] It is developed by Thomas Crider, otherwise more colloquially referred to as "Glorious Eggroll",^[8] who is also known for developing Proton-GE.^[9]

Nobara Linux

Screenshot of nobara with GNOME Shell
Developer	Thomas Crider, Community-driven
OS family	Linux (Unix-like)
Working state	Current
Source model	Open source
Initial release	July 10, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-07-10)[1]
Repository	github.com/Nobara-Project/nobara-images
Package manager	RPM (DNF), Flatpak, OSTree
Platforms	Primary: x86-64, armhf, aarch64[2] Alternative: mips64el, mipsel, ppc64le, RISC-V, s390x[3][4]
Kernel type	Monolithic (Linux kernel)
Userland	GNU
Default user interface	GNOME Shell, KDE Plasma 6, Bash
License	Various free software licenses, plus proprietary firmware files[5]

History

Nobara Linux was first released on July 10, 2022.^[1] It was developed and maintained by Thomas Crider, previously employed as a software maintenance engineer at Red Hat, working in Denver, Colorado, United States.^[10]

On May 13, 2025, version 42 was released and version 41 received these updates as rolling release updates making Nobara Linux officially a rolling release distribution. Brave replaced Firefox as the default Browser.^[11]

Features

Nobara Linux aims to provide users who are less technologically skilled with commonly used packages, due to the original Fedora Linux having "3rd party or proprietary packages is usually absent from a fresh install."^[12] as stated on the official Web site. Claiming that most "point and click users" who rely heavily on graphical user interface installation processes and activities, may struggle with such tasks. Packages commonly used by gamers or in gaming-related activities are installed by default. As mentioned on the official Nobara site, "WINE dependencies, obs-studio, 3rd party codec packages such as those for gstreamer, 3rd party drivers such as NVIDIA drivers, and even small package fixes", along with other features are not explicitly mentioned, but designed to improve the user experience primarily for gamers.^[13]

Installation

The official Nobara Linux site supplies ISO images that can be run using a bootable USB device. The site recommends that one use the Ventoy utility to create a bootable USB device. The Linux distribution is offered in five desktop environments; Official (modified KDE), GNOME, KDE, Steam-HTPC (modified KDE, customized to look/feel like Steam Deck; built for HTPCs) and Steam-Handheld (modified KDE, customized to look/feel like Steam Deck; built for Handheld devices).^[14]

SecureBoot must be disabled in BIOS on the target machine, as Nobara does not support it.^[15]