Because I Can (Or, More Accurately, Because I Have Too Much Time on My Hands) – Linux on a Wii U
You know those projects that serve absolutely no practical purpose, but you pursue them anyway just to prove you can? That’s more or less my entire brand. My latest masterpiece of questionable utility: getting Debian Linux to run on my trusty old Wii U. Yes, really. The console I received as a Christmas present in 2012, the one I’ve had since I was seven and probably should have outgrown by now, is now dabbling in the sophisticated world of command lines and open-source operating systems. My mum still thinks it just plays Mario Kart, and frankly, I can’t blame her.
Everything’s precariously stored on a USB flash drive, with the bootloader quietly residing on the SD card. As for networking—whether Wi-Fi or Ethernet—that’s currently off the table in my case. It’s not an inherent limitation of Linux on the Wii U, but rather down to me lacking a compatible USB Ethernet adapter. So, for now, it’s less a fully functioning computer and more a digital monument to "because I was bored." That said, someone out there managed to get an ATProto PDS running on a Wii U using millipds, a Python implementation—proof, perhaps, that the universe has a sense of humour and there are endless possibilities for those willing to squander time exploring them.
My highly technical summary to my non-techie mum? "I did it! I’m running Debian Linux on my Wii U (it’s stored on my USB flash drive with the bootloader on the SD card). TL;DR: I can still use my Wii U as a Wii U, I’m just experimenting with hacking it." Honestly, that sums up my entire approach to technology rather neatly. It’s still my Wii U, just with a secret, gloriously impractical Linux side hustle.
A Family of Machines: From PowerPC to x86_64 (And Why I Own So Many)
It’s a curious thing, reflecting on the range of architectures I’ve somehow accumulated. My primary machine remains my Mac mini—a rather indulgent £850 18th birthday present to myself back in 2023. Nothing says "responsible adult" quite like spending nearly a grand on a computer when you already have several others. (I loathed Windows, and Linux wasn’t viable as my daily driver.)
Then there’s my secondary machine: a Dell Inspiron 3501, a 16th birthday gift from my dad in 2021. That one now runs Arch Linux on its x86_64 architecture and thankfully replaced my rapidly disintegrating Lenovo Ideapad—the bottom chassis on that thing was literally chipping away like a cheap biscuit. The Lenovo was my main machine until the Dell came along, followed eventually by the Mac mini, because apparently, I can’t resist upgrading.
Now, tucked in amongst these, is my Wii U: a fascinating PPC-32 device, codenamed "Café," powered by its "Espresso" CPU. I’m currently running Aroma atop its native Café OS—a superb custom firmware environment that truly expands what the console can do. And by "what it can do," I mostly mean letting me install Linux on it for no sensible reason whatsoever.
A Nintendo Network Renaissance with Pretendo (Because Official Services Die and I'm Stubborn)
On the topic of the Wii U, it’s also running Pretendo via Inkay. For the uninitiated, Pretendo is a brilliant replacement for Nintendo’s official network services, much like WiiLink and Wiimmfi for the original Wii. It’s a wonderful way to keep these consoles alive and functional long after official support has disappeared.
At some point, I would like to dig out my old New Nintendo 3DS XL (such a long-winded name) and shove homebrew onto that, but no luck right now as I don't know where the charger is.
It scratches that itch for online connectivity on beloved old hardware. Who needs shiny new games when you can keep playing decade-old titles online with a likeminded community?
Hacking the vWii (Wii Mode) Too! (Because One Useless Project Isn't Enough)
And because one hacked console clearly isn’t enough, I’ve also delved into the vWii—the virtual Wii mode on the Wii U—to get WiiLink up and running. It’s all about extending the life and functionality of these classic systems, embracing the community-driven efforts to preserve and enhance our collective gaming nostalgia. Or, in my case, just making sure I have enough ongoing projects to avoid anything resembling productive work.
The Mac Mini Experiment: Asahi Linux (A Brief Moment of Sanity, Followed by Panic)
My tinkering isn’t confined to ageing Nintendo consoles. Not long ago, I even ran Asahi Linux (its Fedora KDE remix) on my Mac mini. It was another classic "because I can" scenario, exploring the limits of both the hardware and my patience. I did eventually revert it to macOS—the thought of accidentally bricking an £850 machine was, surprisingly, enough to give me pause.
Nostalgia and the Worth of Old Hardware (Or, Why I'm a Digital Hoarder)
It’s funny how things come full circle. The Wii was my very first gaming system, followed in time by the Wii U. I’ve had a Nintendo Switch (the revision model) since 2019, so by most modern standards, the Wii U is practically worthless. But worth isn’t always about monetary value or current relevance.
The Wii—and by extension, the Wii U—is my nostalgia base. It’s where so many early gaming memories were forged, and keeping it alive in these unconventional ways is a testament to those memories. It’s not about resale value on Amazon or eBay; it’s about what these machines represent to me (and how much obscure, wonderfully pointless fun I can squeeze from them).
This whole journey—from coaxing Debian onto hardware never designed for it, to exploring alternative social protocols on a proof-of-concept PDS—reminds me that the most interesting projects often arise from sheer curiosity and a willingness to push boundaries, regardless of practical outcome. It’s about the challenge, the learning, and the satisfaction of seeing something unexpected come to life—even if that "something" is a Linux distribution running on a console that was already obsolete before I’d even started.