# ROCKNIX/distribution

Repository: https://github.com/ROCKNIX/distribution
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/rocknix-distribution
Homepage: https://rocknix.org
Language: Makefile
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Last push: 2026-08-25T17:48:51+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 91/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 95, longevity 64
- inputs: {"age_days": 904, "days_push": 8, "days_rel": 32, "gap_med": 30, "n_releases_24m": 8}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1515, forks 337 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:56.558318+00:00)

## What it is
ROCKNIX is an immutable Linux distribution for handheld gaming devices focused on retro gaming emulation, developed by a community of enthusiasts. It provides a plug-and-play OS image flashed to SD cards or internal storage, with built-in emulators, network play, media playback, and cloud sync.

## Use cases
- turn a handheld gaming device into a retro emulation console
- flash a Linux gaming OS to an Anbernic or Gameforce handheld
- play retro games with RetroAchievements and game scraping
- set up local and remote multiplayer on a handheld emulator
- install an OS to a handheld's internal storage instead of SD card
- sync game saves between devices and the cloud
- add VPN and Bluetooth controller support to a gaming handheld

## When to choose
- you own a supported handheld gaming device and want a ready-made retro emulation OS
- you want plug-and-play emulation with active community support
- you need network play, cloud sync, or VPN features on a handheld
- you want to install to internal storage for faster boot and Steam gaming

## When to avoid
- your device is not on the supported devices list
- you need a commercially licensed OS to bundle or sell on hardware
- you want a fully supported product with formal support channels
- you need a general-purpose desktop Linux distribution

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: game-engine, embedded, self-hosted, developer-tools
- domain: gaming-tools, operating-systems, embedded-systems, cross-platform
- platform: embedded
- tags: retro-gaming, linux-distribution, handheld-gaming, emulation, emulationstation, immutable-os, retroachievements, anbernic, gameforce, linux, arm

## Member repositories
- ROCKNIX/distribution (main) score 91

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:56.558318+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 2026-08-30T04:32:08.417972+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/ROCKNIX/distribution (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:56.558318+00:00, sha 0ee46d84a6a4)
  - homepage: https://rocknix.org (fetched 2026-08-29T11:35:39.622114+00:00, sha 5e2fbb7d0033)
  - site_page: https://rocknix.org/play/install (fetched 2026-08-29T11:35:39.627345+00:00, sha 1c6803f48c43)
  - site_page: https://rocknix.org/play/installtointernal (fetched 2026-08-29T11:35:39.629524+00:00, sha 89bfbe85c43e)
  - site_page: https://rocknix.org/configure/h700-installation (fetched 2026-08-29T11:35:39.631211+00:00, sha 4aacc1680314)
  - site_page: https://rocknix.org/faqs (fetched 2026-08-29T11:35:39.625188+00:00, sha 866909a2f533)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.