Popcorn kernel

The kernel collection for ZenOS.

This is a multi-kernel repository containing custom linux kernels optimized for:

• D: Desktops (Responsiveness & Gaming)
• L: Laptops (Efficiency & Thermals)
• M: Mobile devices (Battery & GKI)
• S: Servers (Throughput & Stability)

Building

To build Popcorn, you just run nix build .#X-y (where X is the big variant and y is the small variant).

For example, to build the generic desktop Popcorn kernel, you'd run:

nix build .#D-generic

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Aside from that, all variants are built using a GH action and released as nightly for testing. If you want to test them, head over to releases.

Desktop variants

The D family focuses on responsiveness and lowest latency at all costs. It utilizes the BORE (Burst-Oriented Response Enhancer) scheduler.

• D-generic: The standard version of Popcorn-D. Built for x86_64-v3 (Intel Haswell+ / AMD Excavator+; generally CPUs from 2013 onwards).
• D-v4: Optimized for newer CPUs supporting x86_64-v4 (Intel Ice Lake+ / AMD Zen 4+; generally CPUs from 2019 onwards supporting AVX-512).
• D-lts: Long Term Support version. Built for x86_64-v3.
• D-doromitul: Custom-tailored kernel for doromiert's main PC ("doromi tul II"). Features Zen 4 specific tuning and 6+6 CCD awareness.

Laptop variants

The L family balances responsiveness with battery life and thermals.

• L-generic: Built for x86_64-v3 (CPUs from 2013 onwards).
• L-v4: Optimized for x86_64-v4 (AVX-512 capable mobile chips like Intel Tiger Lake+ or AMD Phoenix/Hawk Point).
• L-lts: LTS version for laptops. Built for x86_64-v3.
• L-arm: Experimental ARM variant of Popcorn-L.
• L-doromipad: Custom-tailored for doromiert's Thinkpad L13 Yoga Gen 1 (Comet Lake).
• L-book3: Custom-tailored for Blade0's's Galaxy Book 3 (750XFG-KA2UK).
• L-asus-f15: Custom-tailored for CatNowBlue's's Asus F15.

Server variants

The S family focuses on throughput and thermal consistency for 24/7 uptime.

• S-generic: Built for x86_64-v3 (Xeon E3/E5 v3+ / EPYC Naples+).
• S-v4: Optimized for x86_64-v4 (Xeon Scalable 3rd Gen+ / EPYC Genoa+).
• S-arm: Experimental ARM variant of Popcorn-S.
• S-nzserver: Custom-tailored for doromiert's main server ("Negative Zero Server").

Mobile variants

Strict priorities: Battery > Thermals > Responsiveness > Performance.

• M-generic: Basic GKI (Generic Kernel Image) version.
• M-salami: Tailored for the OnePlus 11 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2).

Microarchitecture Guide

Level	Required Features	Examples
v3	AVX, AVX2, BMI1, BMI2, FMA	Intel Haswell, AMD Zen 1/2/3
v4	AVX-512 (F, BW, DQ, VL)	Intel Ice Lake/Sapphire Rapids, AMD Zen 4