# IncusOS

15 Hacker News commenters recommended IncusOS and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Immutable, read-only Linux host that runs Incus containers and VMs with A/B updates and no package manager, managed through the Incus API. Common caveat: no shell access.

## Why people recommend it

- Immutable read-only root, no package manager (5 comments): "read-only root FS, interactions with the system exclusively through the Incus API, no package manager" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47897415)) "it has some very nice properties like the OS being immutable, and having no shell" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49195177)) "Sounds pretty appealing though - immutable OS, A/B updates & very locked down." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50127366))
- A/B updates and safe auto-updates (3 comments): "Having an OS that versions all my VMs and allows A/B running the actual OS, has a high quality CLI" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47902178)) "Sounds pretty appealing though - immutable OS, A/B updates & very locked down." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50127366)) "it does make sense on a paper: safe auto-updates, no manual key management" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46584805))
- Runs containers and VMs on ZFS (2 comments): "Running IncusOS on some local hardware with ZFS underneath is a phenomenally powerful sandbox." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46574114)) "which includes ZFS, immutability and manages both containers and VMs" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46713045))
- Fast and easy to use (2 comments): "it's so fast and easy it's not at all noticeable" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46360846)) "It's a joy to set up and use." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47898451))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [SmartOS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/smartos.md): 20 recommend
- [Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription](https://hackerapproved.com/p/red-hat.md): 16 recommend
- [Fedora CoreOS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fedora-coreos.md): 8 recommend
- [YunoHost](https://hackerapproved.com/p/yunohost.md): 7 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "IncusOS", https://hackerapproved.com/p/incusos/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).