COSMIC Store Prototype Replacement for Pop Shop Unveiled
This year, Linux desktop computing has two significant highlights to look out for. First up, we’ve already seen the launch of Plasma 6 – a huge update setting the stage for the future, creating a solid foundation that will shape the development of this desktop environment for years ahead.
The next big thing on the horizon is happening in about six months. We’re going to see the debut of the COSMIC desktop environment developed by System76, built from the ground up, and it’s set to make its first appearance in the upcoming Pop!_OS 24.04 release.
Update
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COSMIC: More Alpha, More Fun!
In January, we set a goal to release the COSMIC alpha at the end of the first quarter. COSMIC application development had just started around that time; the initial plan was to release the alpha with the same GNOME apps found in the current Pop!_OS 22.04 and roll out COSMIC apps as they were completed.
Well…exciting news! COSMIC application development has gone much faster and smoother than anticipated. We’ve nearly completed Terminal and Edit (text editor), and have made significant progress on Files and the Application Store.
COSMIC apps showcase what’s possible with the libcosmic widget library, the iced toolkit, and the COSMIC theming system. They also help demonstrate the long-term vision for the platform. With how far they’ve come, we’ve decided to delay the alpha release until the core apps reach MVP (Minimum Viable Product) so that they may be included with the initial ISO. This puts us somewhere around late May for the alpha. However, this does not change our overall timeline! The completed release is still expected later this year along with Pop!_OS 24.04.
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System 76 Says Cosmic Desktop Is Late but on Schedule
Linux computer maker System 76 says that while its new Cosmic desktop is on schedule for it to be the default DE for Pop!_OS 24.04 which will release later this year, its first alpha release will be pushed back from the end of March to the end of May.
Although a desktop called Cosmic has been the default DE for Pop!_OS for many years, the version that will ship with Pop! 24.04 later this year will pretty much be the same in name only. While the version that ships now is based on Gnome, the version that the folks at System 76 are working on now will be scratch built from the ground up, with loads of new features and its own accompanying support applications.