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🚀 Getting Started with Tromsø

Tromsø is a KDE Plasma desktop image built from source with BuildStream. It's the KDE sibling of Project Bluefin's Dakota (GNOME) — same BuildStream-from-source approach, different desktop.

Available Images​

Tromsø is published as a bootc OCI image on ghcr.io:

# Pull the image
podman pull ghcr.io/tuna-os/tromso:latest

# Switch an existing bootc system
sudo bootc switch ghcr.io/tuna-os/tromso:latest
sudo systemctl reboot

Quick Start​

Prerequisites​

  • BuildStream 2.7.0+ (via bst2 container)
  • Podman or Docker
  • QEMU + KVM for testing
  • 200GB+ free disk space (cache)
  • 16GB+ RAM recommended

Build from Source​

git clone https://github.com/tuna-os/tromso.git
cd tromso
just build
just export
just boot-vm  # Test in QEMU

Install via bootc (from pre-built image)​

sudo bootc switch ghcr.io/tuna-os/tromso:latest
sudo systemctl reboot

First Look​

Tromsø ships KDE Plasma with a clean, default configuration:

  • KDE Plasma 6 — the latest stable KDE desktop
  • Wayland by default — smooth, modern display server
  • Discover — GUI package manager (Flatpak + RPM)
  • KDE Apps — Dolphin (file manager), Konsole (terminal), Kate (editor)
  • System Settings — deep customization via KDE Control Center

Key KDE Features​

FeatureHow to Access
Virtual DesktopsCtrl+F1-F4 or Overview (Meta+W)
KRunnerAlt+Space — app launcher, calculator, file search
Window TilingDrag to edges or use Meta+Arrow
WidgetsRight-click desktop → Add Widgets
Dark ModeSystem Settings → Appearance → Theme

Customization​

# Install KDE themes and widgets
brew install kde-themedb

# Configure Plasma
systemsettings  # Launch KDE System Settings

Software​

# Flatpak (pre-enabled)
flatpak install flathub org.kde.krita

# Homebrew (pre-installed)
brew install kate

# RPM packages
sudo dnf install kdenlive

See Also​