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 →