The project Marathon OS has been introduced, aiming to develop a Linux distribution specifically for mobile devices. This project combines elements from the PostmarketOS distribution with the graphical shell Marathon Shell. The user interface is created using Qt and QML, and features its own composite server utilizing the Wayland protocol. The design of the gesture control model is inspired by the BlackBerry 10 operating system. The project is coded in C++ and QML and is released under the MIT license.
Installation of Marathon OS is feasible on devices supported by PostmarketOS, with the OnePlus 6 (Snapdragon 845) smartphone recognized as a fully tested platform. The system depends on the PostmarketOS and Alpine Linux package base. The Linux kernel is configured with the PREEMPT_RT option, offering real-time functionality. The root partition operates in read-only mode. For compatibility with Android-supported devices, the libhybris layer is implemented to enable the use of Android drivers in user space.
Data protection in Marathon OS involves full-disk encryption, along with the utilization of the Landlock mechanism to isolate applications. The system also employs the separation of powers mechanism, which allows users to restrict individual application capabilities, such as network access, location services, camera usage, microphone access, address book entry, storage permissions, Bluetooth connectivity, and telephone functions.
Marathon OS accommodates the execution of programs developed with Qt/QML-based tools, as well as Linux applications compatible with a Wayland-based environment. Future plans for the system include integration of the Waydroid package for running Android applications. A dedicated application catalog, Marathon Store, is being developed for program distribution and installation.
The operating system comes equipped with essential programs including an application manager, web browser, calendar, calculator, camera application, photo gallery, maps, messenger, notes app, multimedia player, configurator, and terminal emulator. Standard applications such as Firefox, GIMP, and LibreOffice can also be installed. Program delivery is facilitated through a proprietary package format (zip archive + metadata + digital signature), with support for installation in Flatpak and Snap formats. Additionally, compatibility with GTK and GNOME technologies is maintained through a specialized layer.