Do Son 
A Chinese developer employed at Microsoft has created an unconventional Linux distribution that is virtually indistinguishable from Windows 11. The project, named AnduinOS, is a customized version of Ubuntu in which the GNOME desktop environment has been meticulously reshaped to mirror the appearance of Microsoft’s latest operating system.
AnduinOS is the brainchild of Anduin Xue, a Microsoft engineer who develops the project independently during his spare time. The current version, 1.3, is based on Ubuntu 25.04 and was released in early May. Despite the project’s youth—this being only its fourth release—it has already garnered considerable attention from the tech community.
What sets AnduinOS apart is that it does not replace Ubuntu’s default desktop environment, but instead transforms the existing GNOME interface using a curated collection of themes and extensions. The result is a user experience that strikingly emulates Windows 11, complete with familiar wallpaper and a fully functioning “Start” button. A suite of 18 distinct GNOME extensions is employed to achieve this remarkable likeness.
The system presents an appealing solution for users accustomed to Windows 11 who wish to explore Linux, especially on older machines that no longer meet Windows 11’s hardware requirements. AnduinOS supports both X.org and Wayland, ensuring broad compatibility across diverse hardware configurations.
Beyond its visual transformation, AnduinOS includes significant under-the-hood modifications. The developer has entirely removed Canonical’s controversial Snap packaging format, replacing it with Flatpak. The distribution relies solely on native .deb packages—including Mozilla Firefox—and its software store is configured to operate exclusively with Flatpak applications.
The system is considerably leaner than standard Ubuntu. The installation image weighs just 2 GB compared to the 6.25 GB of the full Ubuntu GNOME release. Post-installation, it occupies 6.9 GB of disk space and idles at around 1.3 GB of RAM—quite reasonable for a 2025 Linux distribution.
Notably, AnduinOS boasts high-quality localization, offering dedicated regional editions with full Chinese language support. The developer also maintains thorough documentation, a rarity among enthusiast-led projects. Version 1.5 is expected to be based on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and will include long-term support.
By default, the system comes with a minimal set of pre-installed applications—primarily standard GNOME utilities such as image and document viewers, a media player, calculator, and BitTorrent client. Office suites, email clients, and messaging apps are not included, though they can be easily installed via Flatpak.
Xue admits he is surprised by the level of attention his modest side project has received. However, with the looming end-of-life for Windows 10 and a growing interest in alternative operating systems, such enthusiasm is entirely understandable.
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