This Windows 11-like Linux distribution is aimed squarely at developers

If you’re looking for a Linux distribution to wean you from Windows, there are a lot of options. Even distributions that don’t look and feel like Windows 10 or 11 can be tweaked to resemble Microsoft’s OS.

And then there are some Linux distributions that resemble Windows out of the box. Among those distributions is a rather new player on the field, AnduinOS. Version 1.3 was just released, and after giving it a test, I’m impressed.

The latest version of AnduinOS is based on Ubuntu 25.04, so it has the same underpinnings as Canonical’s celebrated distribution. That means it enjoys solid hardware support, a user-friendly package manager, a sound and stable base, and support until 2026.

Also: Why this Linux distro is my new favorite Windows replacement

AnduinOS achieves its Windows 11-like look with GNOME 48, and it does an outstanding job of that (while still maintaining the same level of simplicity that you’ll find on most GNOME-based Linux distributions). At the same time, it opts to add a few touches you don’t typically find on the GNOME desktop (such as the weather app as a clickable button in the bottom left corner of the desktop), which is a nice touch.

But here’s the thing about AnduinOS: although it’s advertised as a distribution geared toward developers migrating from Windows, it’s actually good enough for everyday use. The first thing I did was comb through the desktop menu to see how they’ve built this for developers, and nothing really stood out. Sure, they’ve added things like a Super+V shortcut to open the clipboard history (nice) and HDR support, but nothing in this distribution screams, “Developer!” Rather, this distribution screams, “Hey, I’m Linux, but I’m really easy to use!”

In fact, this is one of those “set-it-and-forget-it” distributions that makes using Linux a delight. It’s intuitive, simple to use, and well-designed.

My experience

The installation of AnduinOS is just as easy as any modern Linux distribution. After I downloaded the ISO and created a new virtual machine, I had the OS up and running in less than five minutes. Once I logged in, I was immediately impressed with how well the developers were able to configure GNOME to resemble Windows 11… all while still retaining a bit of Linux flavor.

Also: The 4 most Windows-like Linux distros to try because change is hard

One of the first things I noticed was the minimal amount of pre-installed software. That’s all fine and good, because you can open the GNOME Software app, search for whatever you need, and install with a single click. Another nice touch is that the developers baked in Flathub support for GNOME Software, which means you’ll find a lot more software to install (even proprietary apps like Spotify and Slack).

Another aspect of AnduinOS that I really enjoyed was the performance. It’s no secret that GNOME has become one of the best-performing (full-blown) Linux desktops on the market, and AnduinOS shows this off quite well. Click an app and it opens almost immediately. Updates and upgrades happen with expediency, and animations are buttery smooth (even when running as a virtual machine with only 3 GB of RAM and two CPU cores).

Also: These 6 lightweight Linux apps let older PCs run blazing fast

Because I’m not a fan of the Windows 11 UI, I honestly didn’t think I would enjoy the AnduinOS UI. Oddly enough, I did. That could be because every time I have to interact with Windows 11, I’m always afraid the desktop is going to crash (it feels like KDE Plasma did some 10 years ago – it was slow and prone to flake out). With AnduinOS, there’s absolutely no fear of that. GNOME 48 is rock solid and gives the user a nice sense of security that all is going to go exactly as expected.

As far as AnduinOS being geared toward developers, according to the developers, “AnduinOS is a custom Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that aims to facilitate developers transitioning from Windows to Linux by maintaining familiar operational habits and workflows.” It’s not that you’re going to find all of the tools you need to hit the ground running with a developer project pre-installed; it’s that AnduinOS delivers a familiar workflow. From my experience, what this means is that the AnduinOS UI will immediately feel familiar, and your development workflows should easily translate.

That same idea applies to everyday users, so AnduinOS is just as relevant to the average user as it is to developers.

It’s a rare occasion that I run across a Linux distribution that I’ve not heard of. It’s even rarer that I come across one I never knew about and that is as impressive as AnduinOS. In the end, if you’re looking for a Linux distribution to help transition you from Windows to Linux, and you’re not so concerned about running Windows-only apps, AnduinOS is a great choice.

Also: This Linux distro I recommend to power users takes a unique approach to OS design

If I’ve piqued your interest, make sure to download an ISO of AnduinOS and either use it for a virtual machine or burn it to a USB device and install it on a spare computer. You won’t be disappointed.

Minimum system requirements

• Architecture – x86_64 architecture
• Firmware – UEFI or BIOS
• Processor – 2GHz processor
• RAM – 4GB RAM
• Disk Space – 20GB disk space
• Screen – 1024×768 screen resolution
• Ports – USB port or DVD drive

Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.