HeliumOS has just launched its 10 Beta version. This new release promises a desktop experience that is both easy to use and incredibly stable.
Let's discuss what's inside this latest update!
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Built on a Rock-Solid Foundation: AlmaLinux 10
HeliumOS 10 Beta is built directly on AlmaLinux 10. This means you get a very strong and reliable base for your computer.
Isaac Beverly, HeliumOS creator, chose AlmaLinux after facing issues with other systems. Debian offered limited support and could break during updates.
CentOS Stream had a complex schedule and shorter support. AlmaLinux was the perfect choice, offering long-term stability and support.
What's New and Exciting in HeliumOS 10 Beta?
This beta release comes packed with features designed to make your life easier:
- NVIDIA Graphics, Ready to Go: Say goodbye to complicated driver setups! HeliumOS 10 Beta now offers "out-of-the-box" support for NVIDIA graphics cards. This uses NVIDIA's Open GPU Kernel Modules, making your gaming and graphics work smooth from the start.
- Secure Boot, Made Easy: For those who care about security, Secure Boot is supported by default. You might need to turn it off during installation, but you can switch it back on right after. Even if your computer has older security keys, there's an easy fix by adding official AlmaLinux certificates.
Why "Atomic" Updates?
Have you ever had a computer update go wrong? Perhaps your system stopped working halfway through?
HeliumOS 10 Beta fixes this with "atomic updates". This means updates either work perfectly, or they don't happen at all. Your system will never get stuck in a "broken" state.
This magic happens thanks to a clever tool called 'bootc'. It bundles everything needed for your system to start, making updates super reliable.
A Desktop OS with 10 Years of Support
HeliumOS uses the beautiful KDE Plasma desktop, making it easy to navigate and use. Finding apps is simple with its app store, which is full of "Flatpak" packages. These applications are up-to-date and run safely on your system.
Plus, HeliumOS is committed to 10 years of support. This means long-term features, fixes, and security updates for your device.
Gaming and Running Windows Software
HeliumOS is great for fun too! Many Windows games on the popular Steam platform work well using "Proton," a special compatibility tool.
You can also run many other Windows applications using "Bottles". If you need to run Windows fully, "Boxes" lets you do that inside a virtual machine.
All these helpful tools are easy to install from the included Software Center.
Download HeliumOS 10 Beta Today!
Ready to try it out? You can download HeliumOS 10 Beta right now! It's about 3.4GB in size. A stable version of HeliumOS 10 is planned for next month, which is July, 2025.
Your feedback is important as development continues. You can join the AlmaLinux Atomic SIG or use the HeliumOS bug tracker to share your thoughts and get help.
