The Fedora Project has announced the official release of Fedora Linux 42. The latest Fedora 42 version ships with Linux Kernel 6.14, GNOME 48, KDE Plasma as an official edition, a new COSMIC spin, and a new Anaconda Web Installer.
Fedora 42 also incorporates numerous core component updates, such as the latest versions of Python, Ruby, and DNF5. Furthermore, Fedora Workstation 42 will ship without X11 support by default, pushing Wayland adoption for the GNOME desktop.
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Major Improvements and New Features in Fedora 42
Fedora 42, codenamed "Adams", ships with lots of new features, updates, and improvements. Let us discuss some of the notable additions in Fedora Linux 42.
1. KDE Plasma Desktop is now an official Edition
Previously, KDE plasma was available as a "Spin", but starting with Fedora 42, it receives the same level of quality and support as the main Fedora Workstation edition. Meaning - the Fedora KDE Desktop Spin has been officially promoted to Edition status.
Additionally, Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop is now supported on Power Systems (ppc64le), and the full KDE stack is available on OpenPOWER based systems.
2. Introduction of Fedora COSMIC Spin
Starting from Fedora 42, the project has added a brand-new Fedora COSMIC Spin, featuring the COSMIC desktop environment. For those unaware, COSMIC is Rust-based and developed by System76, the makers of Pop!_OS.
COSMIC includes features like hybrid per-workspace window/tiling management, window stacks with tabs, and robust customisation options that integrate with GTK and (later on) Qt.
3. Significant changes to the Anaconda Installer
The installer now features a new Anaconda Web UI that is the default for Fedora Workstation. This aims to provide a smoother installation experience with features such as an installation progress indicator, built-in help, and configuration review. A new "Wizard" allows users to skip unnecessary steps.
The web UI for partitioning has been revamped with a new guided partitioning function offering more powerful automatic partitioning with customisation options.
The installer also includes a new "Reinstall Fedora" option and improved support for dual-boot installations. Anaconda is now also a native Wayland application.
4. Fedora WSL
This is yet another significant feature addition in Fedora 42. The Fedora Linux images for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is officially available now.
This would allow Windows users to easily run Fedora on their systems without the need for dual-booting or a separate virtual machine.
5. Updated Core Components
- Python: Includes the latest upstream release of python-setuptools.
- Ruby: Features the latest stable version, Ruby 3.4, which aims to make Fedora a superior Ruby development platform.
- DNF5: Includes new logic to automatically remove expired and obsolete repository keys from the system.
- GNU Toolchain: Updated to gcc 15, binutils 2.44, glibc 2.41, and gdb 15+.
- Setuptools: Updated to version 74+.
- PHP: Upgraded to version 8.4.
- Fedora Workstation 42 defaults to Wayland. Fedora Workstation with GNOME 48 will no longer use X11 by default, with a compile-time flag to build without X11 support being disabled. However, other Fedora editions, spins, and desktops still support X11.
6. Other Notable Changes
- Switch to EROFS for Live Media. The read-only filesystem image format for Fedora live media has been changed from SquashFS to EROFS.
- Enable auto-updates by default in Fedora Kinoite.
- Creation of Fedora Windows Subsystem for Linux Images.
- Improved edk2 security through enabling security-related build-time options.
- Retirement of Python 3.8.
Fedora 42 Default Wallpaper's "Hitchhiker's Guide" Reference
Did you notice something a little unusual on the default Fedora 42 wallpaper? Keen-eyed observers might have spotted "6x9=42".
For those unaware, this is a direct reference to the Douglas Adams science fiction series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where the number 42 is calculated by a supercomputer as the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything". This makes the wallpaper a deliberate and humorous nod to the Fedora 42 release number
Fedora 42 is the first Release with a Code Name Since Retirement
If you don't know already, "Adams" is the code name for Fedora 42, and this is the first Fedora release to have a code name after they were retired many years ago. This code name also refers to Douglas Adams.
$ cat /etc/fedora-release Fedora release 42 (Adams)
Download Fedora Linux 42
Users can download the latest Fedora 42 (Workstation, Server, KDE Plasma, IoT, etc.) from the following links.
1. Official Fedora Website
- Fedora 42 Workstation: https://fedoraproject.org/workstation/download/
- Fedora 42 Server: https://fedoraproject.org/server/download/
2. Fedora Project Servers (Direct ISO Links)
Choose your edition (Workstation, Server, KDE, etc.) and architecture (x86_64, aarch64).
3. Alternative Mirrors (Faster Downloads)
If the main server is slow, use a mirror near you:
Select "Fedora Linux 42" → Pick your country/region.
4. Torrents (Recommended for Large Files)
Fedora provides torrents for better download reliability:
Look for Fedora-42-* torrents (e.g., Workstation, Server).
5. Special Editions
- Fedora Spins: https://spins.fedoraproject.org
Upgrade Fedora 41 to Fedora 42
If you're already running Fedora 41, you can safely upgrade it to the latest Fedora Linux 42 as described in the following link.
Resource:
