Fedora Linux, the popular community-driven operating system, is known for its cutting-edge features and its commitment to open source software. Now, the Fedora community is planning to create an official Fedora Linux spin using the COSMIC desktop environment.
The Fedora COSMIC spin is planned to be included in Fedora Linux 42. Please note that this is still a proposal, and it must be approved by the Fedora Engineering Steering Committee (FESCo).
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What is COSMIC?
COSMIC is a new desktop environment built using the Rust programming language. As you may already know, COSMIC is developed by System76, the creators of the popular Pop!_OS distribution.
COSMIC DE promises to be a modern and innovative desktop experience with unique features like:
- Hybrid window management: This allows users to seamlessly switch between traditional window management and tiling window management, offering the best of both worlds.
- Window stacks with tabs: Similar to tabs in web browsers, this feature allows for easy organization and switching between windows within an application.
- Robust customization: COSMIC will provide users with powerful tools to personalize their desktop experience, integrating well with both GTK and Qt applications.
The COSMIC desktop draws inspiration from the familiar GNOME environment, with a touch of KDE's customisation capabilities and Wayland protocol support. This blend aims to deliver a user-friendly and highly configurable desktop experience.
Why a Fedora COSMIC Spin?
Fedora has always been a popular choice for those wanting to try out new and innovative Linux desktop environments.
In fact, Fedora is already one of the most popular distributions for running COSMIC, second only to System76’s own Pop!_OS. This makes a Fedora COSMIC spin a natural next step, offering several benefits:
- Streamlined experience for COSMIC users: A dedicated spin would provide a more polished and integrated experience for users who prefer the COSMIC desktop.
- Leveraging Fedora's strengths: The spin would benefit from Fedora's robust infrastructure, including its well-established package management system and its reputation for stability and security.
- Showcasing COSMIC's potential: A Fedora spin would give COSMIC greater visibility and help it reach a wider audience.
Current Status of the Proposal
The Fedora COSMIC spin is currently a proposal that has been submitted to the Fedora Engineering Steering Committee (FESCo). The proposal outlines the key details of the spin, including its intended scope, the team behind it, and the proposed timeline.
Here’s what we know so far:
- Targeted release: The proposal aims to include the COSMIC spin in Fedora Linux 42.
- Development progress: The proposal has already made significant strides, with the creation of a dedicated Special Interest Group (SIG) and the necessary software components.
- Testing: The proposal provides instructions on how interested users can install and test the COSMIC desktop environment on existing Fedora 41 or later installations.
What’s Next?
The Fedora community is currently reviewing and discussing the proposal. If approved by FESCo, work will continue on developing the spin, with the aim of having it ready for the Fedora 42 release.
The Fedora COSMIC spin has the potential to be a game-changer in the Linux desktop landscape. By combining Fedora's stability and reliability with the innovative features of the COSMIC desktop environment, this new spin will offer a compelling and user-friendly experience for Linux users of all levels.
How to Try COSMIC in Fedora
While the Fedora COSMIC Spin is still under consideration, you can get a taste of the COSMIC experience on any Fedora release from version 41 onwards.
Simply install the COSMIC desktop environment group:
dnf install @cosmic-desktop-environment
Note: For optimal performance, especially in virtual machines, ensure that graphical hardware acceleration is enabled as COSMIC's compositor doesn't currently support software acceleration.
COSMIC is also available in COPR, so you can install COSMIC DE in Fedora 40 and newer versions using commands:
sudo dnf copr enable ryanabx/cosmic-epoch
sudo dnf install cosmic-desktop
Community Reaction
The community reaction to the Fedora COSMIC proposal is generally positive, with many users expressing excitement and interest in the new spin. Here are some insights from the community discussion on Reddit:
- Several users express their enthusiasm for the COSMIC desktop environment and welcome its inclusion as a Fedora spin.
- Some users praise COSMIC as a "breath of fresh air" in the Linux desktop landscape, particularly compared to GNOME, which some perceive as "stale".
- Some highlight COSMIC's innovative features, such as hybrid window management and robust customisation options.
- Many users express willingness to participate in testing the new spin.
- Some acknowledge that COSMIC is still in alpha and expect some instability and bugs. However, some who have already tried COSMIC on Fedora report a positive experience, finding it relatively stable.
Overall, the community response suggests that the Fedora COSMIC Spin proposal is well-received and generates excitement among users.
What are your thoughts on this proposal? Please share your valuable opinions in the comment section below.
