NixOS-based simulation OS • Kiosk + Desktop

The Nuclear Control-Room Operating System

ChernOS is an immersive OS experience built on NixOS, featuring a Soviet-era control-room UI, reactor + containment simulation, a NetOps suite, multitasking, persistence profiles, plugins, and installability via Calamares.

Download ISO .iso GitHub repo Build nix Docs md

Wayland + Sway kiosk Chromium shell (default) Electron suite (optional) NetOps + packet bus Persistence v3 Calamares can wipe disks

Key Features

Filterable overview — click a category

System Platform

NixOS flake-based reproducible ISO with Wayland/Sway kiosk and fast boot tuning.

Reproducible ISOflake build → isoImage
Autologin + boot-to-dashboardkiosk-first experience
Software fallbackVM-friendly rendering path

Shell Modes

Choose between Chromium kiosk and an Electron desktop suite for native multi-window.

Chromium kiosklow overhead, stable in VMs
Electron suitenative OS windows + multi-instance
Workstation supervisorlaunch + manage windows

Multitasking & Windowing

Run multiple modules in parallel with an internal WM, taskbar, wallpapers, and hotkeys.

Internal WMfocus / minimize / close
Taskbar + wallpapersoperator workstation feel
Hotkeysconfigurable operator shortcuts

Reactor & Containment

Telemetry, safeguards, routing, faults, and aftermath — coupled to alarms and reactive audio.

Animated temperature ringstemp / pressure / radiation
Secondary containmentintegrity, ΔP, filtration, radiation
Cross-section visualizerstylized live chamber view

Faults & Aftermath

Inject faults, watch cascades, and enter aftermath states with escalated alarms/music.

Fault systemsensor / pump / pressure / ghost rad
Safeguard rechargeresource + timing model
Meltdown aftermathlockdown + state shift

NetOps Suite

Node network simulation with packet routing/throttling, topology UI, and terminal tooling.

NodesCORE-1 / FLOW-A / SHIELD-X / DIAG-NET / OPS-TOWER
Packet systemroute, inspect, throttle
Topology UIlinks, status, traffic context

Persistence v3

Profiles, snapshots, and logs — plus optional overlayfs persistence for OS-level changes.

Profilessave/load operator presets
Logsevent history + diagnostics
Exportsportable JSON bundles

Message Bus & Plugins

Decoupled subsystems with publish/subscribe events and an extensible plugin framework.

Event busfault → alarms → audio → UI
Plugin systemcommands, listeners, UI panels
Developer docsARCHITECTURE + PLUGINS guide

Installation (Calamares)

ChernOS includes Calamares to install from the live ISO to disk. Indicated hotkeys and UI actions may vary by build. Use on spare hardware/VMs unless you’re sure.

Hotkey: Ctrl + Alt + I Hotkey: Super + I Warning: partitioning can wipe disks

Screenshots

Click to expand

Main Control DashboardReactor telemetry, alarms, and operator controls.

Containment VisualizerCross-section + integrity/ΔP/radiation controls.

NetOps TopologyNodes, links, packets, and tooling.

Workstation MultitaskingInternal WM + Electron window control.

Get Started

Build, boot, and explore

Build the ISO

Requires Nix with flakes enabled.

nix build .#iso -L --print-build-logs

Write the ISO to USB or boot it in a VM. Default shell is Chromium kiosk; Electron desktop is optional.

Recommended VM Settings

For VirtualBox / similar:

VRAM128MB+ if available
3D AccelOn (if stable)
Resolution1920×1080 best layout

Common Hotkeys

Defaults (may differ in your build):

Install (Calamares): Ctrl+Alt+I / Super+I Electron: Ctrl+Alt+E / Super+E Night Shift: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N

Documentation

GitHub links

README

Features, hotkeys, terminal commands, persistence, plugins, and installer notes.

Open README

Architecture

Layer model (NixOS → Wayland/Sway → Shell → UI core → Sim engine → Bus/Plugins).

Open ARCHITECTURE.md

Plugins

Plugin manifest, API, permissions model, packaging, debugging, and examples.

Open PLUGINS.md

Releases

Download the latest ISO and read the release notes.

Open Releases