distribution release , positioned as a fast, open and privacy-respecting alternative to Windows and macOS. The main focus of the project is on quality design, aimed at creating an easy-to-use system that consumes minimal resources and provides high startup speed. Users are offered their own Pantheon desktop environment. For loading bootable iso images (1.5 GB) available for amd64 architecture (when booted from , for a free download, enter 0 in the field with the amount of the donation).
The original Elementary OS components are developed using GTK3, the Vala language, and the proprietary Granite framework. As the basis of the distribution, the developments of the Ubuntu project are used. At the level of packages and repositories support, Elementary OS 5.1.x is compatible with Ubuntu 18.04. The graphical environment is based on its own Pantheon shell, which combines components such as the Gala window manager (based on LibMutter), the WingPanel top panel, the Slingshot launcher, the Switchboard control panel, the bottom taskbar (an analogue of the Docky panel rewritten in Vala) and the Pantheon Greeter session manager (based on LightDM).
The environment includes a set of applications tightly integrated into a single environment that are necessary to solve user problems. Among the applications, most of them are the project's own developments, such as the Pantheon Terminal emulator, the Pantheon Files file manager, a text editor and Music (Noise) music player. The project also develops the photo manager Pantheon Photos (an offshoot of Shotwell) and the email client Pantheon Mail (an offshoot of Geary).
Key innovations:
- The capabilities of the Application Installation Center (AppCenter) have been expanded. Users are given the opportunity to install updates without administrator rights (it is assumed that the administrator confirms only the installation, and updates from the regular repository can be installed without him). In addition, the set of applications in the Flatpak format developed by the Elementary OS project and offered by default is already installed in the form of user applications (placed in the user's directory, not in the system) and installation and updating of such programs does not require administrator rights. Other changes include caching previously viewed content on the App Catalog home page and displaying cached content when network access is not available.
- In the file manager, copying and pasting images into other applications via the clipboard has been adjusted (previously, not the image itself, but the path to the file was transferred). In the file list view mode, a tooltip with information about the file is displayed, which allows, for example, quickly assessing the resolution of an image without opening the viewer. Added the ability to cycle through search results using the tab key. When trying to open a file from the trash, a dialog was added with a suggestion to restore this file first.
- The network settings section has improved support for encryption types and provides more accurate information about the encryption used. Fixed a hang when trying to change settings from multiple panels.
- Significantly improved the performance of switching months in the time indicator when there are active events in the scheduler.
- Updated system icons to use a new palette compatible with Bubblegum and Mint. Added new icons to inform you when an emergency update and data synchronization is available. Additional sizes of icons for closing windows and settings have been proposed.
Source: opennet.ru