The Nitrux development team has released version 6.0 of its immutable Debian-based Linux distribution, featuring a CachyOS-patched Linux kernel 6.19 and several Wayland-native components. This update emphasizes performance enhancements and virtualization capabilities. It is available for download in variants tailored for different graphics hardware.
Nitrux 6.0, an immutable and systemd-free Linux distribution built on Debian, arrived on March 3, 2026. It defaults to the Hyprland desktop environment and relies on AppImage for software delivery. At its core is Linux kernel 6.19, optimized with CachyOS performance patches to boost system efficiency.
The release updates key elements of the graphics and desktop stack. Hyprland reaches version 0.53.3, accompanied by tools like Hyprlock, Hyprpaper, Hypridle, and Hyprsysteminfo. Other advancements include Mesa 25.3.3 for graphics, Flatpak 1.16.2 for applications, Python 3.13.9, NetworkManager 1.54.3, WirePlumber 0.5.13, Calamares 3.3.14 for installation, and Distrobox 1.8.2 for container management. NVIDIA users gain the 590.48.01 driver.
New Wayland-focused additions stand out. QMLGreet, a C++ and MauiKit-based login manager, replaces QtGreet and works with greetd and wlroots compositors. NudgeOSD provides on-screen notifications and shortcut feedback in Wayland sessions.
VxM emerges as a novel hypervisor orchestrator from the Nitrux team, aimed at high-performance virtualization. It leverages VFIO PCI passthrough and IOMMU isolation, granting virtual machines near-native hardware access, including GPUs.
Practical improvements include a Rescue Mode embedded in the boot process, enabling snapshot-based system restoration without extra media. Boot configurations rebuild automatically post-restoration. Desktop tweaks refine Hyprland animations and rules, Waybar styling, and configurations for SwayNC and Hyprlock. System tweaks address NVMe power management to cut boot times and improve initramfs handling.
Legacy elements are phased out: QtGreet, the shell-based Nitrux Update Tool System, and the NetworkManager ifupdown script.
Downloads offer two ISO options—one for NVIDIA GPUs and one for AMD or Intel graphics. Developers advise a fresh install with the new media, though upgrades from Nitrux 5.1 are possible via the update tool.
