The GNOME project has released a public preview version of GNOME OS, which features the GNOME 51.1 desktop environment. Unlike standard distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, GNOME OS is a custom Linux system built by the project team to showcase and test the entire GNOME software stack, including desktop components and update mechanisms.
The system architecture differs from traditional Linux distributions by omitting standard package managers like apt or dnf. Instead, it utilizes systemd-sysupdate for system-level updates and relies on Flatpak for managing graphical applications. This design allows the development team to maintain a unified environment for testing core components.
The project offers two distinct versions: the new public preview, which uses stable components, and the nightly builds, which continue to integrate the latest development code. The preview version is intended for non-developers, while nightly builds remain focused on testing and active development.
GNOME OS is available for download as x64 and Arm64 images. Users can install the system on physical hardware or run it via the GNOME Boxes virtualization software. The project team advises users to test the preview on secondary hardware, as the software has not undergone extensive testing across diverse hardware configurations.
