Omarchy: DHH's commitment to a fine-tuned Arch + Hyprland

The arrival of Omarchy has set off all the radars in the developer community: David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH), creator of Ruby on Rails, has decided to publish his own Linux distribution.This proposal is based on Arch Linux and integrates Hyprland as a tiling window manager, with the idea of ​​offering a sharp and usable experience from the first Boot, without giving up the fine control that captivates the most technical experts.

The move doesn't come out of nowhere. After more than a year away from macOS for its disagreements with Apple's corporate directionDHH first devised Omakub to facilitate the jump to Ubuntu with a single command. Now, that stage has been the prologue: with Omarchy, he raises the stakes towards a Arch + Hyprland environment fully curated, which retains the extreme flexibility of Linux, but is ready to work in minutes.

Because right now?

According to DHH, something has changed in the air: more and more developers are looking at Linux on the desktop with real curiosity, not just as a weekend experiment. Arch Linux is not new (it's been around since 2003), but the profiles it's reaching are. thanks to new tools, active communities, and role models that act as voices on networks and content.

In this shift, the focus is once again on free software: Linux appears as that open and durable alternative that has been ready for decades, waiting for disenchantment with Apple and Microsoft to push more users to try it. The idea is no longer to imitate macOS or Windows, but to propose something different and elegant in their own tradition.

It's also a factor that the Arch ecosystem today is much less complex than it was a few years ago. The guided installer Archinstall has significantly lowered the barrier to entry, and the AUR (the huge community repository) makes it so that "everything" or almost all software is available, usually in its most recent version, reducing the need for third-party scripts and repositories that become inevitable in other distros.

In this context, DHH sees fertile ground for a well-considered proposal: a factory-prepared Arch, without diluting its philosophyFrom there, Omarchy was born, as a way to channel the current drive toward a polished experience from the very first minute.

From Omakub to Omarchy

Omakub was the landing strip for those arriving from macOS or Windows: an Ubuntu installation that, with a single command, was ready for modern web development, taking care of aesthetics and familiarity so that the change would be pleasant. This approach made life much easier for new users without forcing them to put together a thousand pieces.

But DHH ended up seduced by the combination of Arch Linux with Hyprland. He describes it without mincing words: it's Linux "in hard mode." An Arch ISO leaves you in a terminal essential, and even connecting to Wi‑Fi may require dealing with text-based utilities like iwctl. Hyprland, on the other hand, arrives "atomized": no greeter, no menu bar, no notifications, no file manager. You choose each component, you configure it with your files and build your own desktop.

The result can be wonderful, but getting there takes hours of assembly if you start from scratch. That's where Omarchy cuts in without betraying the spirit of Arch: Packages the selection of parts and tweaks that DHH uses daily, so more people can enjoy the set without investing 10–20 hours upfront in fine-tuning the wiring.

Compared to the Ubuntu stage of Omakub, Omarchy targets an audience that values ​​detail control and is willing to learn, but wants be productive from the first startSame underlying vision, different technical foundation, and a fast, aesthetically pleasing, and ultra-configurable tiled desktop.

What exactly does Omarchy offer?

Omarchy is not Arch's "hello world": it is A very well-crafted selection and configuration of Arch Linux + Hyprland, based on what its author performs daily. It includes the pieces that Hyprland does not include by default (lock screen, bar, widgets, notifications, file utilities, etc.) and a consistent visual criterion, so that when installing without touching anything you get exactly the DHH environment.

It doesn't aim to imitate Windows or macOS. Its philosophy is different: be elegant and better on your own terms, embracing the essence of Linux. It doesn't aim to be as familiar as ever, but rather to elevate productivity and attention to detail in everyday use, with a design that accompanies the workflow rather than hindering it.

DHH presents it as a system "ready to be productive": It brings practically everything a modern developer needs to get started. Tools cited include names like Neovim, Spotify, Chromium, Typora, Alacritty and LibreOffice, and even Zoom appears contemplated. All of this without falling into "just a list of packages": the intention is a complete system designed for both aesthetics and productivity.

Those who prefer to play around a little can use Omarchy as is and get to work; whoever wants to customize, has a paved path to changing themes, adjusting shortcuts, modifying window behavior, and expanding the system as you wish with the AUR. The approach isn't uniform: it makes it easier and faster.

In practice, the promise is to "plug and play" in minutes on Arch + Hyprland, avoiding the most arid stretch of initial assembly, but retaining control and proximity to the metal that so many people are looking for when making the jump to Linux.

Who is Omarchy for?

It's not for everyone, and its creator recognizes this. If you're looking for an "appliance" that don't force you to lift the hood, you'll probably feel more comfortable with Apple or Microsoft systems, where the priority is not to touch anything.

Omarchy is aimed at those who enjoy fine-tuning their environment, They value speed, visual pulse, and a gigantic package ecosystem., and are willing to invest some time in learning in exchange for years of comfortable work. It's ideal for people who want the granularity of Arch and the fluid aesthetic of Hyprland, without having to worry about configuring from scratch.

That audience exists, and today it is larger than before: developers, content creators and technical teams looking for control, performance and a sustainable foundation for your workflows. Omarchy leans toward them, not absolute familiarity.

The DHH message is clear: If you are attracted to the idea of ​​a polished but your own LinuxOmarchy can be a powerful entry point. If you prefer a "no-touch" desk, there are better options.

How to get started (without messing up)

In order not to break anything during the move, DHH itself suggests a progressive route, avoiding unnecessary risks and maximizing useful learning during the test.

• First, test on hardware secondary to experiment without compromising your main equipment.
• Install with archinstall to solve Arch's base in no time; then add Omarchy on top and you'll have Complete Hyprland in minutes.
• If you decide to stay, it's time to learn: You'll master shortcuts, themes, settings, and polish a flow that's totally yours.

This plan reduces friction, avoids surprises, and allows you to assess whether the proposal is a good fit for you. The reward is a lightweight, beautiful, and lightning-fast desktop., built your way and with a modern toolbox from day one.

An anecdote: the browser challenge and a patch-based solution

An obsession of DHH is that when changing the subject in Omarchy, all apps reflect the new color scheme instantly. That already worked fine on almost the entire desktop, except for one main player: Chrome/Chromium.

Chromium allows you to adjust its appearance to follow the Linux GTK theme, but the process is slow: you have to touch settings, apply changes and close/reopen windows. None of that fits with the idea of ​​a smooth subject changeWhat can you do if you want immediacy?

The response was pragmatic: DHH, via 37signals, offered a reward of $5.000 to whoever could solve the problem in a technical way that could be exported to the Chromium project. Collaborator Helmud Yanuka accepted the challenge and, in just four days, prepared a patch that allows you to change the theme from the terminal and instantly apply it to all open windows.

In order not to be at the mercy of the calendar of Google, was born Omarchy-Chromium-BIN, a micro-fork with that minimal patch, now available on the AUR. It's not a new browser: it updates automatically every night, pull security improvements from the main branch and just adds that much sought after theme integration feature.

The corporate bet: 37signals jumps on the bandwagon

Omarchy isn't staying on its creator's desk. DHH has announced that 37signals will migrate its Ruby Operations and development teams to Omarchy. over the next three years, in line with the natural hardware renewal cycle. It's a declaration of commitment to the platform and a measure of the current state of Linux.

The decision comes shortly after the company announced that it would begin to phase out the Mac in favor of Windows PCs. Now the pendulum swings back: DHH's reasoning is that With Linux you control your destiny much better than with closed systems, and also performance matters, and a lot.

In the day-to-day use of products like Basecamp or HEY, the difference is noticeable. DHH maintains that with Native Docker on Linux, Rails tests flyAnd in specific comparisons, it claims that, in its HEY app, even a Mac with M4 Max is almost twice as slow compared to an equivalent Linux Desktop Framework.

The change also brings with it hardware decisions: Goodbye MacBook; hello Framework and Beelink. Portables and modular desktops, efficient mini-PCs, and a diverse offering where Linux performs to its full potential. The idea is to combine powerful, repairable equipment with an open, self-controlled platform.

Beyond the niche: signs of a change of era

DHH does not claim that "the year of Linux on the desktop" has arrived - that eternal meme - but he perceives conditions that They line up like they haven't been seen for a long timeValve powers Linux with Steam Deck (running Arch), popular content creators talk about their migration, and projects like Hyprland don't copy others: They propose different experiences.

At least among developers, DHH sees room for a significant leap. Whether mass adoption materializes or not, for him the question is settled: has found in Linux an environment that excites himOmarchy is their way of turning that enthusiasm into a usable product for anyone eager to take the plunge.

The push of the AUR, the maturity of modern tools, and the reduced installation friction with archinstall create a combination that didn't exist before. Added to this a well-measured curation of components, the result can convince profiles that two years ago would not even consider it.

Is it for everyone? No. Can it redefine the standard of what an Arch looks like out-of-the-box without losing its soul? That is precisely the promise of Omarchy.

The technical ingredients that eliminate tolls

One of the virtues of the approach is how it reduces typical tolls: Network configuration from terminal, composer selection, panels, notifications, file managers… All of this comes already integrated and coordinated. And if you want, you can replace it with alternative components in just a few clicks. commands.

The AUR repository multiplies possibilities: "it seems to be all Linux software and almost always in its most recent version." For those coming from environments where you have to add PPAs, scripts or unofficial repositories to use modern utilities, this it's a breath of air.

The visual part is not a blob either. Hyprland allows fluid animations, very agile mosaic layouts and granular control over shortcuts and window rules. Omarchy overlays a cohesive theme and mechanisms so that changing the color scheme is instant across the entire desktop.

And then there are the little big details that mark the day to day: well-chosen fonts and italics, clean terminal integration like Alacritty, careful choice of GUI and CLI applications, and a dotfile structure that doesn't force you to take apart the castle to change a wall.

Community and early traction

Beyond the 37signals circle, DHH comments that There are already around 50 external collaborators contributing to Omarchy, while in the Rails ecosystem the logical reach is thousands of people. This breeding ground can accelerate improvements, documentation, and practical examples.

The presence of prominent figures—and corporate decisions such as the gradual migration of a well-known company—help build confidence. Community traction is key in any project of this type, and there are signs here that interest is materializing into concrete contributions.

Who is DHH: two brushstrokes to understand the author

DHH's profile is not that of a typical developer. Born in Copenhagen in 1979, co-founded 37signals and created the Ruby on Rails framework and the Instiki wiki. He is co-author of Agile Web Development with Rails, Getting Real and Rework alongside Jason Fried.

Personally, he is known for his direct and unfiltered opinions, something that has generated support and criticism in equal parts. In 2005 he received the O'Reilly Open Source Award; he has also appeared on the covers and in influencer lists of technical publications. He has vehemently defended his vision of "opinionated" software and the value of productive simplicity.

In addition, it has a notable sporting side: semi-professional endurance driver, participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans continuously between 2012 and 2019 (and again in 2022), alternating between LMP2 and LMGTE Am categories with teams such as OAK Racing, Aston Martin Racing and Rebellion. In 2014 he was crowned LMGTE Am champion with four wins and four second places, including a class victory at Le Mans, sharing the wheel with Kristian Poulsen and Nicki Thiim.

This background helps to understand why his projects are rarely lukewarm: They focus on performance, control and aesthetic criteria. Omarchy fits that pattern: It does not seek to please everyone, but rather to satisfy those who share that technical sensitivity.

Without falling into hagiographies, it serves to contextualize why a leader with an audience, a company behind him and a culture of "optimizing what is important" can catalyze a very polished Arch + Hyprland that others can adopt in their daily work.

Omarchy brings together several vectors that are currently in full swing: The popularity of Arch and Hyprland, the simplification of installation with ArchInstall, the abundance of the AUR and a curation that reduces tolls without taming the system. If you're drawn to a fast, beautiful, and deeply adaptable Linux, here's a proposal that gets to the point from the first boot.