Community OS directory
trinity's maintained index of every uConsole OS image by compute module, with kernel versions, formats and links — read it before flashing anything.
What it takes
- Software only
Difficulty 1 of 3 — easy.
Details
The directory (April 2026) organises images by core: ClockworkOS, Armbian, Arch, Manjaro and NixOS for the A-06; Ubuntu 22.04 and ClockworkOS for the R-01; and for the Pi modules everything from ClockworkOS and Rex's Debian, Ubuntu, Kali, Parrot, DragonOS, RetroPie, TwisterOS and Manjaro to the CI-built images, postmarketOS, Void, Fedora, NixOS, the Arch kernels and a Debian 12 image for CM3/CM4/CM4S. Radxa and OrangePi CM5 have their own sections, and EwokOS is noted as the only non-Linux OS.
Its summary is blunt: Raspberry Pi modules have the best software support, non-Debian systems need real customisation, and Rex's images are the safest choice. Companion threads by the same author cover hardware, extension boards, and cores and adapters.
Links
Open at Forum threadRelated mods
Run a Meshtastic node on the console itself: meshtasticd drives the AIO's SX1262 over SPI, with the graphical MUI, the web UI or the Contact TUI client on top.
On Rex's images a single apt install gives you SDR++ for the AIO's RTL-SDR or a USB dongle; his AIO package adds the sdrpp-brown fork.
Rex's ClockworkPi-RetroPie image (Pi-Gen, EmulationStation, RetroArch) is the working answer; the Debian install and gamepad threads fill in the rest.
jutleys booted a prepared Windows 95 disk image in RetroArch's DOSBox-X core with working mouse buttons; plain DOSBox on the A-06 needs output=opengl to behave.
Two receivers, two recipes: the 4G card's GNSS via AT+CGPS on /dev/ttyUSB3, or the AIO's GPS on the serial port (/dev/ttyS0 CM4, /dev/ttyAMA0 CM5) at 9600 baud.
The AIO's PCF85063A keeps time off-grid once the right overlay is in config.txt — and on a CM5 the built-in fake RTC has to be switched off first.