The COSMIC desktop may look similar to the old Pop!_OS, but it is completely different.
Jack Warren\ZDNET
ZDNET Key Takeaways
COSMIC Desktop is currently in alpha stage, but you can install and test it for free. All issues that occurred in previous versions of Pop!_OS have been fixed, and performance and reliability have been greatly improved. However, COSMIC Desktop is not ready for regular use.
Linux distributions come and go, and every imaginable approach to open source operating systems has been seen, many of which are twists on traditional approaches. But at the heart of every Linux distribution is a passion and dedication to creating something special: a reliable operating system that's free for anyone to use.
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Most Linux distributions are way above this challenge, so when System76 announced they were creating a new desktop environment on top of their Pop!_OS distribution, I knew they would create something that could challenge any desktop on the market.
I also knew not to try to fix what isn't broken. The GNOME-based Pop!_OS desktop was working fine. System76 has taken what's great about GNOME and tweaked it to make it extremely useful. So even before I downloaded the ISO and booted up my COSMIC desktop virtual machine, I knew what to expect.
The UI is very similar to the previous version.
Jack Warren\ZDNET
On the surface, it's the same as before. But underneath the GUI, it was quite different. How? System76 built the COSMIC desktop in the Rust language, which (according to System76) results in better performance and less freezing. As for the latter, I can attest to that as my Pop!_OS desktop was prone to freezing recently when trying to unlock the session. No problem, as I can remote in using SSH from another machine and run a script to restart my GNOME session. This always restores my desktop so I can log in and do what I need to do.
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But once COSMIC is officially released, you won't have to worry about that anymore.
And when it does launch, it will really take System76 to a new level.
I've said for some time that this company has become the Apple of the open source community. Before anyone gets infuriated by that statement, what I'm saying is that System76 has created an incredible cohesion between hardware and software. Apart from the current freezes, running Pop!_OS on the Thelio Desktop has performed better than any other OS/hardware combination I have. It's faster than MacOS/iMac and MacOS/MacBook Pro, and better than Windows/any computer you can think of. The combination of Pop!_OS and Thelio Desktop is amazing.
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So imagine my excitement at seeing even better performance, no more freezes, and the same efficient layout that the desktop already has.
Yeah…I can't wait.
Same as always, but better
As I said before, when you look at the current alpha version of COSMIC, you would think you were looking at just another distribution with the GNOME desktop. However, it doesn't take long to realize that it is something completely different. The developers and designers have come a long way to make the next version of Pop!_OS make sense. Any operating system (no matter who makes it) always makes you think “why did they do that?”, so you might wonder if you'll find something in the alpha version that makes you ask the same question.
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Or rather, my friends and I think so. Everything System76 did made perfect sense. There was not a single design choice that made us scratch our heads. That's why I believe Pop!_OS with COSMIC desktop can replace any distribution on the market as the best OS for all types of users.
I like that the COSMIC app store is much more trustworthy than the Pop!_OS app store.
Jack Warren\ZDNET
System76 has improved everything from its previous version: the app store opens almost instantly, freezes are a thing of the past, performance is phenomenal, and the look and feel is easy to customize. COSMIC is everything you expected from GNOME but never thought it would be possible.
I've been testing the alpha version of this release and I'm really impressed. It's stable even in alpha. Don't get me wrong, I never use alpha versions for anything other than testing purposes, but this baby bodes well for serious reliability and performance to come.
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That being said, we only recommend trying out alpha releases as a virtual machine or by installing them on a spare computer, and not using them for daily use, no matter how stable they may seem.
Benefits for new users
Simply put, the COSMIC Desktop takes everything that's great about GNOME and improves it to deliver a unified desktop that anyone can use, and given that the alpha version is already stable, the full version is only going to be even better.
Benefits for experienced professionals
If you're already a seasoned Linux user, you know that System76 understands your needs, which is why COSMIC is just as efficient and developer/admin friendly as Pop!_OS: there are tons of developer tools in the app store, Flatpak support, a great text editor (even with vim bindings), and more.
Also, I have tried countless desktop distributions and none work better than Linux Mint 22.
If you are looking for a new Linux distribution or want to migrate from MacOS or Windows, wait until System76 starts its official releases, you will be impressed.
For those who can't wait to see what System76 has to offer, an ISO of the alpha release is available to download now.
And remember, in space, no one can hear you scream for joy.
