How the latest Netrunner distro delivers a Linux productivity powerhouse

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ZDNET Highlights

• Netrunner is a Linux distribution for everyone.
• Based on Debian, Netrunner uses a modified KDE desktop.
• Netrunner may not win design awards, but it does a pretty good job.

KDE Plasma is one of the best desktop environments on the planet. It’s intuitive, beautiful, user-friendly and highly configurable. I would go so far as to say that KDE Plasma has overtaken GNOME as the most popular desktop environment for Linux.

Some Linux distros, such as KDE Linux, come with a fairly untouched version of KDE Plasma, while other distros come with customized versions. Netrunner takes KDE Plasma and turns it into a hybrid of KDE Plasma, GNOME, and Windows 11. As a result, the Netrunner desktop distribution should look immediately familiar to anyone who has used a PC in the last decade. Some may consider this a bold statement, but it is actually true.

Also: KDE Linux is the purest form of Plasma I’ve used in months — but there’s a catch.

The developers of Netrunner have done a great job of designing a Linux distribution that looks great, is easy to use, and performs quite well. I tested a previous version of Netrunner and declared it a ready-made Linux distribution for productivity and gaming. How does Netrunner 23 stack up? Let’s dive in.

What is Netrunner?

According to the Netrunner site, “Netrunner is a full Linux operating system for PCs, laptops/netbooks, and ARM microcomputers, making exclusive use of the KDE Plasma desktop environment.”

Pretty, simple description, right? Let’s go deeper.

• Includes a complete set of preinstalled software for everyday use.
• Uses a customized KDE desktop environment.
• Based on the latest Debian Stable release.
• There is an LTS (Long Term Support) version for continued package and security updates.

And what has Netrunner done with KDE Plasma? It includes Dash and SimpleMenu, a task manager with extended icons, and a show desktop hotspot. Customizations have been moved from System Settings to Plasma Tweaks. There’s a unified look for KDE and non-KDE apps, GTK apps without client-side decorations (so they look like native KDE Plasma apps), the Quantum theme engine, an enhanced Dolphin (file manager) toolbar, and more.

Also: How much RAM does Linux really need in 2026? My sweet spot after decades of use

Netrunner’s minimum system requirements are:

• CPU – 1.6-GHz
• RAM – 1 GB
• Storage – 15 GB
• Graphics – Intel GMA 945
• Video memory – 128 MB

You will find Netrunner versions for both Intel and ARM architectures.

How was my test?

During my testing period, I did not face a single issue. Netrunner installed and performed to perfection. Out of the box, there were no updates available, which was somewhat surprising; I believe these were downloaded during installation.

The first thing that caught my attention was the desktop menu, which is a result of having SimpleMenu installed. This is where Netrunner wants to take cues from the GNOME desktop. SimpleMenu takes an overview approach to desktop menus, which is also configurable. From within the Apps dashboard settings, you can configure how apps are displayed, sorted, categorized, and viewed.

You can also customize the hot keys to open Simplemenu.

Too: 5 Best Linux Distros for Beginners

If you don’t like SimpleMenu, right-click the menu icon, select View Options, and choose a different option.

convenient shareable folders

On the NetRunner desktop, you’ll see an icon called Network Drives. If you click that icon, you can set up a network folder share. All you need to do is locate the folder you want to share, set a password and save it.

If you want to share folders on your LAN, this would be a very welcome feature.

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preinstalled apps

As for preinstalled applications, you’ll find LibreOffice (including the base database tool), Firefox, Audius (music player), Frozen Bubble (my favorite Linux game), GIMP, Grub Customizer, Handbrake, Stitcher (Youtube download GUI), Thunderbird, Telegram, VocosReenNG (screen recorder), VLC Media Player, WhatsApp, Yakuza (drop-down terminal), and more. There is also an icon in the Games category that simplifies the installation of Steam.

The curated collection of apps means you can be productive and creative in no time.

The only caveat: although Flatpak is installed, it is not enabled in KDE Discover. Luckily, all you have to do is open Discover, go to Settings, and click Add Flatpak. Once you’ve taken care of that, you can install even more apps (including proprietary options like Slack and Spotify).

What is Netrunner for?

From time to time, a Linux distro comes my way that makes it a little challenging to determine which one it’s for. Netrunner falls into that category.

However, anyone who wants a Linux distribution that meets traditional daily needs for productivity, entertainment, and gaming should consider Netrunner a solid choice. Does this mean it is ideal for gamers? No. Is it the best choice for entertainment and multimedia? Not necessary. What about productivity? now we’re talking.

Also: My proven way to speed up Linux when upgrading RAM isn’t worth it (and it’s free to do)

Netrunner is kind of normal, in the sense that it’s a Linux distribution that won’t bother anyone. You log in and think, “Okay, it’s a desktop operating system,” and not, “Oh, it’s great!” This doesn’t mean that Netrunner is boring, but it is boring in the sense that it doesn’t do anything too radical, which means it will be instantly familiar and usable to anyone.