The Fedora Project announced the release of Fedora Linux 41 Beta! This beta release is code-complete and offers a sneak peek into the exciting features that will be available in the final release in about a month.
Fedora Linux 41 beta ships with Linux Kernel 6.11, GNOME 47 on Workstation edition, KDE Plasma 6.1 on Fedora KDE edition, DNF5 and many new features.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the most notable changes and features in Fedora Linux 41 Beta.
Table of Contents
Key Changes and Improvements
Valkey Replaces Redis:
Due to Redis's recent shift to a proprietary license, Fedora has replaced it with Valkey, ensuring that all software shipped by Fedora remains open source and free. Migration help from Redis to Valkey is also available.
Farewell to Python 2:
Fedora Linux 41 will no longer include Python 2, except for PyPy. Packages depending on Python 2.7 at runtime must upgrade or be retired.
Developers needing Python 2 for testing or users with software that cannot be updated can utilise containers with older Fedora releases.
Nvidia Driver Installation with Secure Boot:
GNOME Software now supports the installation of the proprietary Nvidia binary driver with Secure Boot. Thanks to the Fedora developers, it will benefit users who rely on it for gaming, CUDA, and AI/LLVM workloads.
Introducing DNF 5:
Fedora Linux 41 introduces DNF 5, a faster, smaller, and more efficient package management command. While the basic syntax remains similar to previous versions, DNF 5 introduces some incompatible changes.
Refer to the DNF 5 documentation for detailed information.
RPM 4.20 Upgrade:
The underlying package management tool, RPM, has been updated to version 4.20. While users may not see an immediate impact, this update brings new features for Fedora development and contributes to the overall improvement of the distribution over time.
Advancements in Reproducible Builds:
Most Fedora packages are now reproducible, thanks to the integration of a post-build cleanup into the RPM build process. This enables rebuilding a package from source and achieving identical package contents.
New Fedora-Repoquery Tool:
The fedora-repoquery command line tool provides enhanced functionality for querying Fedora, EPEL, eln, and Centos Stream package repositories.
By wrapping dnf repoquery and caching repo data separately, it significantly speeds up cached queries, benefiting both Fedora developers and users.
KDE Plasma Mobile Spin:
Fedora 41 introduces a KDE Plasma Mobile Spin, bringing the KDE Plasma Desktop experience to a mobile format. Designed to work seamlessly on phones, tablets, and 2-in-1 laptops, it promises greater flexibility.
LXQt Upgrade to 2.0:
LXQt in Fedora is being upgraded to version 2.0. This major update includes a complete port of the desktop to Qt 6 and introduces experimental Wayland support.
New Fedora Miracle Spin:
Fedora 41 welcomes the "Fedora Miracle" spin, featuring the Miracle tiling window manager. Built on the Mir compositor library, Miracle offers a range of features, including a manual tiling algorithm, floating window manager support, Wayland protocol support, proprietary Nvidia driver support, and more. This spin aims to provide a high-quality Wayland experience across various platforms.
Spins Not Included in the Beta Release
Due to a technical issue, the Robotics, Jam, Design Suite, and ARM live image spins were not built correctly for the beta release. But, these spins are still expected to be included in the final release.
Try Fedora Linux 41 Beta
Users can download the Fedora 41 beta version from the following links:
- Fedora Workstation 41 Beta
- Fedora Server 41 Beta
- Fedora IoT 41 Beta
- Fedora Cloud 41 Beta
- Fedora CoreOS “next” stream
As this is a beta release, users may encounter bugs or missing features. Reporting any issues encountered during testing is highly encouraged.
The Fedora QA team can be contacted through the test mailing list or the #quality:fedoraproject.org channel on Fedora Chat (Matrix). The "Common Issues" category on Ask Fedora will track common problems as testing progresses.
Install Fedora Linux 41
If you want to try out the latest features in Fedora 41, the following guide will walk you through the steps to install Fedora Linux 41 Workstation Edition on your computer.
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