The P03 Kernel
A Linux kernel obsessively tailored for efficiency and desktop interactivity, built on Fedora's base with the best patches from the performance-kernel community.
P03 is developed independently by CatPieLeaf and ships as RakuOS's default kernel — but it's a standalone project. You don't need to run RakuOS to use it; it's just a first-class citizen here.
Highlights
Automatic Secure Boot Signing
Local key generation and signing happen automatically at build/install time — no trusting distributed keys, no hand-rolled signing scripts.
Tailored, Not Blind Performance
Every patch is chosen for real efficiency and responsiveness gains, not benchmark chasing — tuned for how the kernel actually feels to use.
Firelzrd's Patch Set
Includes most of Firelzrd's work: LRU-Marie, BORE, ADIOS, PoC-Selector, Cambyses, Nap CPUIdle, ZRAM-IR, and more.
Handheld & Surface Support
First-class support for handhelds like the ROG Ally and Steam Deck, plus Microsoft Surface devices.
Modular Spec-File Build
Fully modular RPM spec build using patches on top of Fedora Koji SRPMs as the base source — an approach inspired by the TKG kernel.
Unfair By Design
Desktop-centric and interactivity-first, on purpose. (Future EL builds flip this: fair scheduling, server-centric.)
Best of Every Kernel
Pulls proven patches from XanMod, CachyOS, Clear Linux, TKG, and others — whichever approach works best.
dmemcg-booster
Free VRAM savings on AMD graphics via dmemcg-booster support.
AppArmor Support
Built with AppArmor support for systems that want mandatory access control without SELinux.
Building & Configuration
P03 is built from a modular RPM spec file, using Fedora's Koji SRPMs as the base source and layering patches
on top — the same approach popularized by the TKG kernel. Expect roughly 1-2 hours to build and about 10 GB
of free disk space, with an optional interactive xconfig step and extensive
spec-file toggles for picking exactly which patches and options you want.
Pre-built packages are available via COPR for Fedora Workstation and Silverblue, independent of RakuOS.
Full source, build instructions & COPR repo →