Get a sneak peek into the upcoming Cosmic desktop environment from System76, built with Rust for improved performance and safety. Discover its user-friendly features and customization options that set it apart from traditional desktops. The discussion also touches on the security landscape in tech, highlighting new solutions for organizational access. Enjoy a comparison of Cosmic with existing environments and hear some humorous anecdotes about personal tech experiences in the Linux community.
System76's Cosmic desktop emerged from challenges with GNOME extensions, ultimately opting for a new environment focused on user experience.
Cosmic offers extensive theming capabilities for customization, encouraging a community of users to share unique themes and designs.
Built in Rust, Cosmic prioritizes performance with low external dependencies, aiming for efficient operation on diverse Linux distributions.
Deep dives
The Genesis of Cosmic Desktop
The Cosmic Desktop project originated from System76's decision to ship GNOME after Canonical's announcement to transition away from Unity. System76 initially implemented a custom version of GNOME utilizing extensions, but they encountered challenges due to the lack of a standardized extension API. This prompted a critical decision about whether to continue down the path of extensions or to create an entirely new desktop environment. Ultimately, System76 opted to develop Cosmic, leading to significant advancements in user experience and functionality over the course of two years.
Features and User Experience
Cosmic is currently in its alpha phase, designed to offer a minimal yet fully functional desktop experience comparable to established environments like XFCE and LXQt. Users will find familiar features such as window snapping, workspaces, and an app launcher that handles command-line execution and quick access to applications. While it may not yet match the complexity of GNOME or KDE Plasma, Cosmic provides a recognizable interface with smooth interactions and intuitive gestures. The performance during testing on low-end systems indicates promise for broader usability.
Customization and Theming
Cosmic includes extensive theming capabilities that allow users to customize the appearance of their desktop environment significantly. Users can easily switch between light and dark modes, adjust accent colors, and create personalized themes through a built-in theme editor. This level of customization is accessible and user-friendly, encouraging a community where users might share their unique themes. System76 has clearly invested in making the user experience rich and adaptable, reflecting contemporary design expectations.
Performance and Technology Stack
Built entirely in Rust, Cosmic's performance is enhanced through modern programming practices, ensuring fast and efficient operation, even on devices with modest specifications. The technology stack employs libraries tailored for high-performance graphics and UI interactions, facilitating a responsive user experience. The development process has emphasized low external dependencies, making it easier for the desktop to be ported to other Linux distributions. This forward-thinking approach positions Cosmic favorably against legacy desktop environments burdened by outdated architectures.
Future Outlook and Roadmap
The developers of Cosmic have outlined ambitious plans for ongoing feature enhancements and refinements post-launch. There are various areas targeted for improvement, including accessibility features, compositor upgrades, and integration with other software solutions. Following the release of Cosmic's 1.0 version, the team anticipates maintaining a consistent annual release cadence, which will keep the desktop updated without overwhelming existing users with constant changes. The groundwork laid now suggests a promising trajectory toward establishing Cosmic as a strong contender in the Linux desktop space.
System76 tips Fedora Cosmic spin for 2025 release with Fedora 42 β It looks like System76's exciting new Rust-based Cosmic DE will get an official Fedora spin in the upcoming Fedora 42, potentially giving Linux users with bleeding-edge hardware an official way to try Cosmic.
Pop!_OS Mattermost β An excellent place to engage if you want to bring COSMIC to a distro near you.
Portal:Kalpa - openSUSE Wiki β openSUSE MicroOS Desktop Gnome was renamed to openSUSE Aeon, and the Plasma Desktop version is being renamed to openSUSE Kalpa.