Recommended

The ISO: install from a USB stick

Version 2.0.0
≈ 3.3 GB
64-bit (amd64)
BIOS and UEFI
English and Turkish

Debian 13 with BioKids: Xfce, the children's apps and the assistant's runtime included. It starts from the stick and installs with Debian's own installer, with no internet needed. On a computer with Windows it offers to shrink Windows and install beside it.

File name: biokids-2.0.0-amd64.hybrid.iso

Download the ISO How to install

Release notes and the signed SHA256SUMS: the release page on GitHub.

APT

Debian packages

Already on Debian 13? Install BioKids from the project's signed APT repository; its updates come from there too.

Install with packages →

MIT

Source code

Every line is open. You can build the ISO yourself, too.

BioKids on GitHub →
How the ISO is built →

Next step

Which guide should I start with?

Pick the way that suits your computer; each is a few short steps.

Only BioKids on this computerA spare or a new computer.Install → Keep Windows tooChoose one of the two at each start.Beside Windows → I want to try it firstWithout touching your computer.Try in VirtualBox → I already use Debian 13Packages on your existing system.Debian packages →

Requirements

System requirements

An ordinary laptop or desktop a few years old is enough.

Processor	64-bit (amd64 / x86-64). ARM and Apple Silicon are not supported.
Memory (RAM)	4 GB. 7 GB or more for the optional Ask Me assistant (a bigger model from 12 GB).
Disk	About 25 GB; leave at least 40 GB free when installing beside Windows.
USB stick	8 GB or larger (its contents are erased).
System	The ISO contains Debian 13 "trixie". Installing with packages is supported on Debian 13 only; Ubuntu is untested.
Session	X11 (Wayland is not supported); the ISO sets this up itself.
Internet	Not needed to install. Needed for updates, phone access and the optional downloads.

Check the file you downloaded

To be sure the file is complete and unchanged, compute its SHA256 and compare it with the value in the SHA256SUMS file on the release page. They must match character for character.

Windows

Open PowerShell in the folder with the file and type:

PowerShell

Get-FileHash .\biokids-2.0.0-amd64.hybrid.iso -Algorithm SHA256

macOS

In Terminal, in the folder with the file:

Terminal

shasum -a 256 biokids-2.0.0-amd64.hybrid.iso

Linux

Download SHA256SUMS into the same folder as the ISO and type:

Terminal

sha256sum -c --ignore-missing SHA256SUMS

It should end with OK.

Signature

SHA256SUMS.asc on the release page is the signature of SHA256SUMS, made with the BioKids release key. The key's fingerprint:

F6A4 D652 8690 1EE0 99A1 095A 793E 458A 5F17 E9B0

To check the signature on Linux, with both files in the same folder as the ISO:

Terminal

curl -fsSL https://apt.biokids.bilalgurkansanli.com/KEY.gpg | gpg --import
gpg --verify SHA256SUMS.asc SHA256SUMS

It should say "Good signature" and show the fingerprint above.

What's in the ISO?

Debian 13 "trixie" and the Xfce desktop (for the parent; the child never sees it).
All of BioKids: the background service, the parent panel, the child's launcher, Zio and Sio.
Children's apps: GCompris, Tux Paint, TuxMath, SuperTux and more.
The runtime for the Ask Me assistant (llama.cpp, whisper.cpp, Kiwix). The models are not included; you download them from the panel if you want them.
Debian's firmware for wireless cards.

The live session on the USB stick is only for trying and installing: the child supervision runs on the installed computer.

Download BioKids

The ISO: install from a USB stick

Debian packages

Source code

Which guide should I start with?

System requirements

Check the file you downloaded

Windows

macOS

Linux

What's in the ISO?

Your child's computer, with your home's rules.