The NICE.OS project is currently in the process of developing an independent Linux distribution that is being built from scratch using its own source code and package base. Unlike other distributions, NICE.OS does not rely on borrowing package assembly scripts. The project is working on creating its own tools, patches, and build policy. As of now, an iso image (603 MB) is available for download, specifically designed for installation on virtual machines such as KVM, Proxmox, VMware, and VirtualBox.
This distribution is being offered for free, both for private and commercial use, with no restrictions on the number of devices. However, users must adhere to the license agreement which prohibits modifying, adapting, translating, decompiling, or distributing the source code without express permission. NICE.OS is positioned as a long-term support (LTS) server system that is optimized for virtual machines, cloud systems, and edge nodes.
The distribution supports two approaches: atomically updated (immutable based on OSTree) and classic RPM (dnf/dnf5). The atomic version mounts the /usr partition in read-only mode, uses Btrfs snapshots, and treats base system versions as manageable artifacts. The classic RPM version utilizes package management through dnf and dnf5, supporting manual and automatic updates with a console installer “niceos-installer.”
NICE.OS provides a minimal and predictable base for containers, without a graphical environment, where only essential services are launched. Application software is suggested to be installed in containers (Docker/Podman/Kubernetes) or as separate services on top of the base. Official container images can be found on Docker Hub and similar images are built on the same minimal basis.
Furthermore, the distribution offers support for domestic cryptography, including GnuPG and OpenSSL with GOST requirements and audits. These features are aimed at users who require GOST cryptography for signing, encryption, and verification.