# armada-os/armada

SteamOS-like ARM handheld distro

Repository: https://github.com/armada-os/armada
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/armada
Homepage: https://armadaos.dev/
Language: Shell
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Last push: 2026-09-03T01:57:03+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 80/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 100, release rhythm 98, longevity 6
- inputs: {"age_days": 89, "days_push": 0, "days_rel": 16, "gap_med": 8.0, "n_releases_24m": 9}
- flags: young, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1302, forks 72 (observed 2026-09-03T02:15:09.289449+00:00)

## What it is
Armada is a SteamOS-like Linux distribution for ARM64 gaming handhelds, built on Fedora bootc with device support derived from ROCKNIX. It ships ARM64 Steam with FEX x86 translation and Proton compatibility, a KDE Plasma desktop, Gaming Mode, over-the-air updates, and handheld-focused power and controller controls.

## Use cases
- install SteamOS-like Linux on an ARM gaming handheld
- run x86 Steam games on an ARM64 device via FEX and Proton
- boot a handheld from an SD card with a console-first gaming OS
- get a KDE Plasma desktop alongside a Steam Gaming Mode on a handheld
- apply over-the-air OS updates without reflashing
- tune power, fan, and controller calibration on a gaming handheld
- install Linux to internal storage alongside Android

## When to choose
- you own a supported ARM64 handheld (e.g. Snapdragon SM8550/SM8650/SM8750 devices) and want a SteamOS-like experience
- you want Steam, FEX, and Proton preconfigured out of the box on ARM
- you want both a console-style Gaming Mode and a full Linux desktop
- you prefer an image-based, OTA-updatable OS over a traditional distro install

## When to avoid
- your device is not on the supported-device list
- you cannot risk bricking the device or losing data during ABL flashing
- you need a stable, production-ready OS - it is explicitly prototype software
- you want x86 handheld support - this targets ARM64 devices only

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: experimental
- function: game, embedded, developer-tools
- domain: gaming-tools, operating-systems, embedded-systems, cross-platform
- platform: embedded
- tags: steamos, arm64, gaming-handheld, fex, proton, fedora-bootc, rocknix, linux-distribution, kde-plasma, ota-updates, linux, arm

## Member repositories
- armada-os/armada (main) score 80

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-09-03T02:15:09.289449+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T08:22:14.711673+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/armada-os/armada (fetched 2026-09-03T02:15:09.289449+00:00, sha 6e46099e39a1)
  - homepage: https://armadaos.dev/ (fetched 2026-08-29T12:21:47.429727+00:00, sha 10f3a2917e8c)
  - site_page: https://armadaos.dev/getting-started/flashing-to-an-sd-card (fetched 2026-08-29T12:21:47.432466+00:00, sha 8f6ead3f465a)
  - site_page: https://armadaos.dev/getting-started/install-to-internal-storage (fetched 2026-08-29T12:21:47.434349+00:00, sha 762b7c10e4dc)
  - site_page: https://armadaos.dev/getting-started/updating (fetched 2026-08-29T12:21:47.436130+00:00, sha df9632b7285b)
  - site_page: https://armadaos.dev/getting-started/uninstalling-and-restoring-android (fetched 2026-08-29T12:21:47.437752+00:00, sha d25711ce4e89)
  - site_page: https://armadaos.dev/using-armada (fetched 2026-08-29T12:21:47.439952+00:00, sha fcd114018cba)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.