distribution release , positioned as a fast, open, and privacy-respecting alternative to Windows and macOS. The project focuses on quality design aimed at creating a user-friendly system that consumes minimal resources and provides high boot speed. Users are offered their own desktop environment, Pantheon. For download, bootable ISO images (1.5 GB) available for the amd64 architecture (when booting from , free download in the donation field requires entering 0).
The original components of Elementary OS are developed using GTK3, the Vala language, and the proprietary Granite framework. The distribution is based on the developments from the Ubuntu project. At the package and repository support level, Elementary OS 5.1.x is compatible with Ubuntu 18.04. The graphical environment is based on the custom Pantheon shell, which integrates components such as the Gala window manager (based on LibMutter), the WingPanel top panel, the Slingshot launcher, the Switchboard control panel, and the bottom taskbar. (a reworked version of the Docky panel written in Vala) and the Pantheon Greeter session manager (based on LightDM).
The environment includes a set of tightly integrated applications necessary for user tasks. Among the applications, a large portion consists of the project's own developments, such as the Pantheon Terminal emulator, the Pantheon Files file manager, the text editor and the music player Music (Noise). The project is also developing the Pantheon Photos photo manager (a branch of Shotwell) and the Pantheon Mail email client (a branch of Geary).
Key innovations:
- The capabilities of the AppCenter have been expanded. Users are allowed to install updates without administrator rights (it is assumed that the administrator only approves the installation, while updates from the official repository can be installed without them). Moreover, the set of applications developed by the Elementary OS project and offered by default in Flatpak format is already installed as user applications (installed in the user directory rather than the system), and the installation and updates of such applications do not require administrator rights. Other changes include the implementation of caching previously viewed content on the application's home page and displaying cached content in case of a lack of network access.
- The file manager has improved image copying and pasting to other applications via the clipboard (previously, it only transferred the file path, not the image itself). In list view mode, a tooltip with file information is now displayed, which allows for quick evaluation of image resolution without opening the viewer. Added the ability to cycle through search results using the 'tab' key. When attempting to open a file from the trash, a dialog has been added to prompt for the file's recovery.
- In the network settings section, improved support for encryption types has been implemented, providing more accurate information about the encryption in use. The freezing issue when attempting to change settings from multiple panels has been resolved.
- Significantly increased the performance of month switching in the time indicator when there are active events in the scheduler.
- System icons have been updated to use a new palette compatible with Bubblegum and Mint. New icons have been added to indicate emergency updates and data synchronization. Additional sizes for window close and settings icons have been proposed.
Source: opennet.ru
