Linux hardware vendor System76 has officially launched the first stable version of the COSMIC desktop environment alongside the new Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Linux distribution. This release, based on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS series, utilizes the Linux 6.17 kernel and introduces a completely new desktop experience written in Rust.
Historically, Pop!_OS utilized a version of COSMIC that was built on the GNOME desktop environment. However, System76 aimed to innovate by creating a new desktop environment from the ground up, maintaining a familiar interface while enhancing user efficiency and enjoyment.
With this new release, several GNOME applications have been replaced by their COSMIC counterparts, including COSMIC Files (replacing Nautilus), COSMIC Terminal (replacing GNOME Terminal), COSMIC Text Editor (instead of GNOME Text Editor), and COSMIC Media Player (instead of Totem). Additionally, the previously used Pop!_Shop has been substituted with a new application called COSMIC Store, contributing to an improved user experience along with a built-in screenshot tool and a Welcome app for easier desktop setup.
The COSMIC launcher allows users to quickly launch and navigate applications, featuring tools like web search, file search, and even a calculator. COSMIC also supports multiple layout options, enhanced workspaces, intuitive window management, and customizable theming options.
System76 CEO Carl Richell noted, “This year, System76 turned twenty. For twenty years, we have shipped Linux computers. For seven years, we’ve built the Pop!_OS Linux distribution. Three years ago, it became clear we had reached the limit of our current potential and had to create something new. Today, we break through that limit with the release of Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with the COSMIC desktop environment.”
One of the key features of COSMIC is its availability beyond just Pop!_OS. It can be used on various other distributions, including Arch Linux, openSUSE Tumbleweed, NixOS, Fedora, AerynOS, and even BSD and Redox OS platforms.
Under the hood, Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS runs on the Linux 6.17 kernel series and comes with the Mesa 25.1.5 open-source graphics stack. Interested users can download the 64-bit and ARM64 live ISO images suitable for Intel/AMD or NVIDIA hardware from the official website.
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