# ParticleOS Installer

A bootable ISO installer for ParticleOS, a Debian/Ubuntu-based atomic desktop system using apt-ostree.

## 🎯 **Project Overview**

ParticleOS is an atomic, immutable desktop system built on Debian/Ubuntu using apt-ostree (the Debian equivalent of rpm-ostree). This installer creates a bootable ISO that allows users to:

1. **Live Boot**: Try ParticleOS without installation
2. **Install**: Install ParticleOS to disk with atomic updates
3. **Experience**: See apt-ostree in action on a real desktop system

## 🏗️ **Architecture**

### **Core Components:**
- **Base System**: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with apt-ostree
- **Desktop Environment**: KDE Plasma (similar to Aurora)
- **Package Manager**: apt-ostree for atomic updates
- **Boot System**: GRUB with ParticleOS branding
- **Installer**: Custom installer for apt-ostree systems

### **Key Features:**
- **Atomic Updates**: Transactional system updates with rollback
- **Immutable by Default**: System files protected, user data in /var
- **Package Management**: apt-ostree for system packages, Flatpak for applications
- **Live Environment**: Boot and test without installation

## 📁 **Project Structure**

```
particleos-installer/
├── README.md                 # This file
├── aurora-system.yaml        # apt-ostree system definition (future)
├── build-iso.sh             # Main ISO build script (future)
├── build-iso-simple.sh      # Simple ISO build script (current)
├── test-build.sh            # Test build environment
├── scripts/
│   ├── setup-chroot.sh      # Set up build environment
│   ├── build-system.sh      # Build ParticleOS system
│   ├── create-iso.sh        # Create bootable ISO
│   └── install-system.sh    # Installer script
├── config/
│   ├── grub.cfg            # GRUB boot configuration
│   ├── isolinux.cfg        # ISOLINUX configuration
│   └── branding/           # ParticleOS branding assets
└── output/                 # Generated ISO files
```

## 🚀 **Quick Start**

### **Build ParticleOS ISO:**
```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone <your-repo> particleos-installer
cd particleos-installer

# Test the build environment
./test-build.sh

# Build the ISO (simple method)
./build-iso-simple.sh

# Result: output/particleos-1.0.0.iso
```

### **Test in VM:**
```bash
# Create VM with the ISO
qemu-system-x86_64 -m 4G -enable-kvm \
  -cdrom output/particleos-1.0.0.iso \
  -boot d
```

## 🎨 **ParticleOS Features**

### **System Management:**
```bash
# Check system status
apt-ostree status

# List installed packages
apt-ostree list

# Install packages
sudo apt-ostree install nginx

# System updates
sudo apt-ostree upgrade

# Rollback if needed
sudo apt-ostree rollback
```

### **Application Management:**
```bash
# Install applications via Flatpak
flatpak install flathub org.kde.discover

# Or use traditional apt for user packages
sudo apt install firefox
```

## 🔧 **Development**

### **Prerequisites:**
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or Debian 12
- apt-ostree (from your repository)
- debootstrap, squashfs-tools, xorriso, grub-pc-bin
- 10GB+ free space for building

### **Build Process:**
1. **Base System**: Create Ubuntu base using debootstrap
2. **Package Installation**: Install apt-ostree and desktop packages
3. **System Configuration**: Configure services and user accounts
4. **Live Environment**: Create bootable live system
5. **ISO Creation**: Package into bootable ISO
6. **Testing**: Test in VM environment

## 🎯 **Goals**

- [x] **apt-ostree Integration**: Working atomic package management
- [x] **OCI Image Support**: Container image generation
- [x] **Simple ISO Build**: Basic bootable ISO creation
- [ ] **Advanced ISO Build**: Full apt-ostree compose integration
- [ ] **Desktop Environment**: KDE Plasma with ParticleOS branding
- [ ] **Installer**: User-friendly installation process
- [ ] **Documentation**: User and developer guides

## 🚀 **Current Status**

### **✅ Working:**
- Basic ISO build system using debootstrap
- apt-ostree integration in built system
- Live boot environment
- Simple installer script

### **🔄 In Progress:**
- Advanced apt-ostree compose commands
- Full system definition support
- ParticleOS branding and customization

### **📋 Next Steps:**
1. Test the simple ISO build
2. Implement apt-ostree compose commands
3. Add ParticleOS branding
4. Create user-friendly installer
5. Document user workflow

## 🤝 **Contributing**

This project follows the same principles as uBlue Aurora but adapted for Debian/Ubuntu with apt-ostree. Contributions are welcome!

## 📄 **License**

Same license as apt-ostree project.