Home

ArchibaldOS Wiki

Overview

ArchibaldOS is a specialized operating system focused on professional audio processing and low-latency performance. The system is primarily written in Nix (72%) and Shell (28%), making it highly configurable and reproducible.

Current Status

As of July 2025, ArchibaldOS is undergoing significant improvements and changes with version 2025.2 in development. The system is actively maintained by ALH477.

Core Features

Audio Stack

• Currently transitioning from PipeWire to a pure JACK-based audio stack
• Focused on achieving ultra-low latency (<2ms round-trip)
• Support for high-resolution audio (96kHz/32-bit)
• Professional-grade MIDI implementation

Key Components

1. JACK Audio Server

   • Real-time audio processing
   • Advanced routing capabilities
   • Professional-grade latency optimization
   • Comprehensive connection management

2. Auto-Configuration Tools

   • Hardware detection and analysis
   • Profile-based configuration
   • Automatic connection management
   • Performance monitoring and optimization

3. Development Tools

   • JUCE framework integration
   • VST SDK support
   • LV2 development tools
   • Automated testing framework

Current Development Focus

1. Audio Stack Migration

• Implementation of pure JACK-based audio server
• Removal of PipeWire dependencies
• Enhanced real-time performance
• Professional audio tool integration

2. JACK Auto-Configuration Suite

• Hardware detection system
• Profile management
• Connection handling
• Performance optimization

3. System Improvements

• Security enhancements
• Performance monitoring
• Package management optimization
• Documentation expansion

Technical Specifications

Audio Capabilities

• Sample Rates: Up to 96kHz
• Bit Depth: 32-bit
• Latency: Target <2ms round-trip
• MIDI: Full support with precise timing

System Requirements

• Real-time kernel support
• ALSA-compatible audio hardware
• Support for JACK audio server
• Sufficient RAM for low-latency operation

Configuration Examples

JACK Server Configuration

services.jack = {
  enable = true;
  jackd.enable = true;
  jackd.extraOptions = [
    "-R"            # Realtime scheduling
    "-P89"          # High RT priority
    "-d alsa"       # ALSA driver
    "-p 32"         # Period size
    "-n 2"          # Number of periods
    "-r 96000"      # Sample rate
    "-S"            # Enable sync mode
  ];
};

Performance Settings

powerManagement = {
  cpuFreqGovernor = "performance";
  powertop.enable = true;
  cpupower.enable = true;
};

Future Roadmap

Version 2025.2

1. Phase 1 (Core Audio Stack)

   • JACK implementation
   • Tool integration
   • Performance testing

2. Phase 2 (Security & Optimization)

   • Enhanced security features
   • Performance monitoring
   • System optimization

3. Phase 3 (Developer Tools)

   • Development toolkit
   • Testing framework
   • Documentation updates

Contributing

Contributions to ArchibaldOS are welcome. The project is primarily focused on:

• Audio performance optimization
• Tool development
• Documentation improvements
• Testing and quality assurance

Support

For support and discussion:

• GitHub Issues: ArchibaldOS Issues
• Documentation: Available in repository
• Wiki: This documentation

License

Please refer to the repository for license information.