REG Linux (Retro Emulation Gaming Linux) is an open-source, immutable operating system built for retro-gaming consoles, handhelds, and mini-PCs.
It is designed to be lightweight, fast, and reliable, with a modern toolchain, systemd-free init system, and optimized Buildroot base.
REG Linux runs on ARM, AArch64, RISC-V 64-bit, and x86-64 architectures.
REG Linux is a portable retro-gaming OS that can be written to a USB stick or SD card to instantly turn any compatible board or computer into a console.
- 🔒 Immutable system image
- ⚙️ Based on Buildroot. systemd-free init system
- 🚀 Optimized for performance and fast boot
- 🧩 Modular packaging system (no overlayfs required)
- 💾 Read-only root filesystem with
/userdatapersistence - 🕹️ Out-of-the-box support for dozens of emulators and cores
- 🧠 Designed for embedded and handheld SoCs (Allwinner, Rockchip, Amlogic, Snapdragon, SpacemiT K1, etc.)
- 🌐 Website: https://reglinux.org — latest releases and supported devices
- 📚 Wiki: https://wiki.reglinux.org — documentation and developer guides
- 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/reglinux — community, support, and discussion
- 🧠 GitHub Organization: https://github.com/REG-Linux
Join our active community:
- 💬 Discord Server →
#help-and-supportchannel - 📰 Reddit Community
REG Linux is open to contributions from developers, designers, and testers:
- 🧩 Development: submit pull requests — makeapullrequest.com
- 🌍 Translations: help localize menus, docs, and UI components
- 🎨 Themes: create and share themes for EmulationStation-style front-ends
- 📢 Spread the word: talk about REG Linux on YouTube, X (Twitter), or in retro-gaming communities
Donations and hardware contributions will soon be accepted to support ongoing development.
| Directory | Description |
|---|---|
board/ |
Platform-specific configuration: patches and board support for SBCs and handhelds. |
buildroot/ |
The Buildroot framework used to assemble REG Linux images. |
configs/ |
Build configurations defining what packages and options are enabled per device. |
package/ |
The main system and emulator packages (Makefiles, patches, configuration). |
scripts/ |
Utilities and helper scripts for building, flashing, or managing devices. |
A more detailed explanation of the build process and directory layout is available in the Wiki → Developer Guide.
git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/REG-Linux/REG-Linux.git
Install docker using your package manager, then :
cd REG-Linux
make reglinux-docker-image
make xxx-build
Example: building for Allwinner H700 target
make h700-build
Example: building for x86_64_v3
make x86_64_v3-build