KITE GNU Linux
It's a Linux distribution, customized for public schools in the Indian state of Kerala.
“KITE” stands for Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education, a state-owned body.
The distro is based on Ubuntu LTS.
It uses Wayland by default (Wayland is a display server protocol, more modern than the older X org).
It includes a suite of applications aimed at education: Krita (graphics), PictoBlox, GCompris, Tux Paint, etc.
There are also tools to teach AI concepts (machine learning, computer vision) built into the OS.
Beyond just schools, it’s designed to work for desktop publishing (DTP), 3D animation, sound recording, broadcasting, and more.
This OS is meant for ~300,000 computers in Kerala’s public schools.
It’s not limited to schools: the OS can be installed and used by teachers, students, DTP centers, government offices, etc.
By using this free, open-source OS instead of licensed software, Kerala reportedly saved a very large amount of money for many of their school and government computers.
Also, school IT coordinators will be trained to install the OS.
The OS supports Malayalam computing (Kerala’s local language).
It also includes tools like e-book readers, desktop publishing software, graphics editors, and more that are tailored for educational use.
This is not the first version: KITE (formerly IT@School) has been producing a GNU/Linux distribution for years.
The project is part of a broader push by the Kerala government to use free and open-source software (FOSS) in education.
By using a customized Linux distro, students get access to rich educational software without licensing costs.
Because it's FOSS, Kerala can adapt and maintain the OS to their exact needs (language support, tools for their curriculum like AI).
Huge cost savings by avoiding proprietary software, very relevant for public education budgets.
Inclusion of local language tools (Malayalam) makes the system more accessible for students and teachers in Kerala.
Deploying on hundreds of thousands of machines means this is not just a pilot, it’s a large-scale initiative.
Points to consider:
Running a modern Linux distro (with Wayland) on older school machines might be challenging if hardware is weak.
IT staff and teachers need to be trained not just to install but also to maintain and support the OS.
While it’s designed for schools, convincing all users (or even external organizations like DTP centers) to use it might take effort.
Keeping a custom OS updated, secure, and aligned with educational needs requires ongoing resources.
This is a mature, practical project, not just an experiment, they’re deploying a real, usable OS to many machines.
It aligns with broader trends in using open-source in public sectors (education, government).
Enjoy #linux 🐧
Download now
https://kite.kerala.gov.in/KITE/index.php/welcome/downloads
Well, that was exciting. See you in the next one!