The latest articles on DEV Community by Grumpy (@grumpygaming). https://dev.to/grumpygaming https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3064210%2F907cd5bf-c0ee-4e71-9dbc-9e22666fd09c.jpeg https://dev.to/grumpygaming en Grumpy Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:49:30 +0000 https://dev.to/grumpygaming/im-learning-linux-by-building-my-own-distros-and-now-one-runs-my-legion-go-4ogc https://dev.to/grumpygaming/im-learning-linux-by-building-my-own-distros-and-now-one-runs-my-legion-go-4ogc <p>I'm still pretty new to Linux. A few weeks ago I wanted to understand how a Linux system really fits together, so I started with a Linux From Scratch idea. That turned into something more useful: <strong>KrelboyneOS</strong>, a Debian 13 distro built with live-build for development and security learning. It has an Xfce desktop, a dark teal look, and the tools already set up.</p> <p>Once that worked, I had a new idea. I own an original <strong>Lenovo Legion Go</strong> and didn't love running Windows on it. So I made a second distro from the same layout: <strong>Krelboyne Go (KrelGo)</strong>, a Debian 13 gaming OS for the Go.</p> <h2> What KrelGo does </h2> <ul> <li>Boots to an Xfce desktop in landscape at 144 Hz</li> <li>Steam with Proton, ES-DE as a game frontend, RetroArch with a set of emulator cores</li> <li>The built-in controller works in Steam, ES-DE and RetroArch</li> <li>On-screen keyboard, PipeWire sound, Wi-Fi, internet time sync</li> </ul> <p>It's now installed on my Go in place of Windows. I've played Palworld through Proton and a few emulated games on it.</p> <h2> Things that surprised me (aka what broke) </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>The Go's screen is natively portrait.</strong> Linux had to be told to turn it into a 2560x1600 landscape screen at login. The boot menu is still sideways, because it runs before Linux starts.</li> <li> <strong>Secure Boot hid the USB port.</strong> With Secure Boot on, the Go wouldn't even show the USB or microSD port as a boot device. I had to turn it off.</li> <li> <strong>The controller worked in ES-DE but not in games.</strong> Debian's RetroArch doesn't ship controller profiles, and switching RetroArch to the SDL2 controller driver fixed it.</li> <li> <strong>Windows and Linux disagreed about the clock.</strong> The time was five hours off until I added internet time sync.</li> <li> <strong>Sound was installed, but the volume icon wasn't.</strong> A test before release showed the volume plugin was never added to the panel. Testing in a VM before uploading saved me there.</li> </ul> <h2> What I'd love pointers on </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Legion Go hardware:</strong> has anyone got the rear paddles, gyro or rumble working on plain Debian? HHD or InputPlumber? I haven't tested sleep and resume yet either.</li> <li> <strong>Maintaining a live-build distro:</strong> any tips from people who maintain one, especially on keeping two related distros in sync without copy-paste?</li> <li> <strong>General advice for a beginner</strong> shipping their first Linux projects in public.</li> </ul> <p>Both are early alphas, so try them live or in a VM first.</p> <ul> <li>KrelGo: <a href="https://krelboyneos.org/krelgo.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://krelboyneos.org/krelgo.html</a>, source at <a href="https://github.com/grumpy-gaming/krelgo" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/grumpy-gaming/krelgo</a> </li> <li>KrelboyneOS: <a href="https://krelboyneos.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://krelboyneos.org</a>, source at <a href="https://github.com/grumpy-gaming/KrelboyneOS" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/grumpy-gaming/KrelboyneOS</a> </li> <li>Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/hzUZDPwBs7" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://discord.gg/hzUZDPwBs7</a> </li> </ul> <p>Thanks for reading. I'm learning as I go, so feedback is very welcome.</p> showdev linux opensource beginners