bootablev0.1.1

v0.1.1

Features and limits

DesktopDiscovery + downloads
Bootable desktop catalog browsing distributions and releases
Image catalog in the desktop app.

01 · Discovery

Catalogs and downloads

DistroWatch catalog
Search releases by popularity, Arch, or Debian.
Other catalogs
Browse Omarchy and Raspberry Pi images.
Local images
Open ISO, IMG, RAW, or supported archives with native dialogs.
Downloads
Queue, pause, resume, cancel, and retry downloads.
Partial downloads
Resume supported transfers and keep download history.
Publisher checksums
Block files that fail a publisher checksum.
No checksum
Label the download HTTPS-only.
Catalog cache
Cache results for 30 minutes. Use stale data if refresh fails.
DesktopSource + target
Bootable desktop source and removable-drive selection
Source and drive selection.

02 · Plan

Source and drive checks

Seven source formats
ISO, IMG, RAW, XZ, gzip, Zstandard, and bzip2.
Expanded size
Measure compressed images before checking drive capacity.
Whole drives
Accept only whole USB or removable drives.
Drive refresh
Rescan while idle. Lock the drive list while writing.
Rejected drives
Reject fixed, read-only, system, and undersized drives.
Write review
Show the source, drive, method, operations, and data loss.
Confirmation
Require approval for the selected drive and plan.
Identity recheck
Find the drive again by stable ID before writing.
Administrator access
Elevate only the fixed write helper.
TUIWrite + drive tools
Bootable terminal interface with source, drive, and review controls
Write controls in the terminal app.

03 · Write

Raw writing and drive tools

Raw images
Write ISO, IMG, and RAW files directly.
Compressed images
Write XZ, gzip, Zstandard, and bzip2 without extracting them first.
Read-back
Read the written range and compare SHA-256.
Cancellation
Stop at a safe boundary and mark the drive incomplete.
Progress
Show phase, bytes, speed, ETA, verification, and safe removal.
Bad-block checks
One, two, or four destructive patterns on Linux.
Fake-capacity checks
Test the full drive on Linux. This erases the drive.
Drive backup
Create RAW, IMG, or DD backups on Linux and macOS.
TUIWindows + Raspberry Pi
Bootable terminal interface showing Windows and Raspberry Pi modes
Windows installer options in the TUI.

04 · Windows installers

FAT32 Windows media

GPT or MBR
Create a FAT32 partition for UEFI setup.
UDF sources
Read UDF-only Windows ISOs with 7-Zip.
WIM splitting
Split oversized install.wim files for FAT32.
Source checks
Reject missing boot files, collisions, and oversized files.
Media checks
Check UEFI files, payloads, WIM parts, and FAT32 limits.
Setup options
Configure hardware, account, region, privacy, BitLocker, and policy options.
WIM tools
Use DISM, wimtools, or wimlib.
Firmware
UEFI only. Legacy BIOS is not supported.
DesktopFilters + search
Bootable desktop catalog filters and search controls
Catalog filters and search.

05 · Interfaces

GUI, TUI, and CLI

Desktop app
Mouse controls, native file dialogs, and background tasks.
Terminal app
Keyboard and mouse controls with the same write and drive tools.
CLI
Inspect images, list drives, review plans, and run supported operations.
GUI and TUI
Use the same labels, plans, progress, errors, and options.
Linux
Supports backup, Windows media, and drive tests.
Windows
Supports raw images and Windows media.
macOS
Supports raw images, backup, and Windows media.
Developer tests
Includes QEMU/OVMF boot tests and a loop-device write test.

Limits

Not supported

  • Platform code signing and macOS notarization
  • Legacy BIOS helpers for constructed Windows media
  • Linux persistence and persistent multiboot
  • Windows To Go
  • DOS and FreeDOS media
  • VHD, VHDX, and FFU backup
  • OpenPGP or minisign publisher verification
  • Localization
  • General-purpose FAT, NTFS, UDF, exFAT, or ext formatting
  • Official ISO and UEFI Shell downloads
  • Silent unattended installation
Download BootableRead the guidesView implementation status →