Heads provides a minimal Linux boot environment running as a coreboot or LinuxBoot ROM payload for laptops, workstations, and servers.
Open source
24 alternativespongoOS
pongoOS provides a pre-boot execution environment for Apple devices built on checkra1n.
About pongoOS
pongoOS is a repository of source code for a pre-boot execution environment for Apple boards, built on top of checkra1n. It is run through checkra1n using the -k option, which loads a Pongo binary before the operating system boots. Builds are documented for macOS, using Xcode and command-line utilities, and for Linux, using clang and the ld64 and cctools-strip tools.
The build produces four outputs: a Mach-O main PongoOS, a bare metal binary, the checkra1n kernel patchfinder (KPF) as a Pongo module, and a consolidated binary that merges PongoOS with the KPF. Depending on which binary is loaded and which flags are used, the KPF either runs automatically before boot, runs while booting to the Pongo shell, or is not available. The repository also includes pongoterm, an interactive shell client for macOS, and an example module.
The KPF currently includes an SEP exploit, which the source says is to be moved into mainline PongoOS in the future. A userland build of the KPF can only be run on arm64. On Linux distributions other than Debian and Ubuntu, users are likely to need to build the required tools themselves.
Key features
- Builds a main PongoOS Mach-O, a bare metal binary, and a KPF module
- Consolidated binary runs the checkra1n kernel patchfinder automatically before booting XNU
- Option to load the kernel patchfinder while booting to the Pongo shell
- pongoterm, an interactive shell client for macOS, included in scripts
- Example module provided in the example directory for reference
- Separate build instructions for macOS and Linux using clang
Best for: Developers and researchers who work with checkra1n on Apple boards and need to build PongoOS from source.
Good for
- Build steps are documented separately for macOS and Linux
- Offers boot options with or without the kernel patchfinder loaded
- Source is organized into separate directories for core code, tools, examples, and scripts
Watch out for
- On Linux distributions other than Debian and Ubuntu, required tools may need to be built manually
- The userland kernel patchfinder build can only be run on arm64
- The bundled kernel patchfinder currently includes an SEP exploit that is planned to move into mainline PongoOS
pongoOS at a glance
- Website
- github.com/checkra1n/pongoOS
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Linux Apps
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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pongoOS FAQ
How do the different checkra1n boot options behave with PongoOS?
Running checkra1n -k Pongo.bin boots to the Pongo shell with the kernel patchfinder not available. Running checkra1n -k PongoConsolidated.bin auto-runs the patchfinder and boots to XNU. Adding -p to the consolidated binary loads the patchfinder but boots to the Pongo shell.
What is needed to build PongoOS on Linux?
The build requires clang, ld64, and cctools-strip. On Debian or Ubuntu, ld64 and cctools-strip can be installed from the checkra1n repository. On other Linux flavours, the source says these may need to be built manually.
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