System76 Launches First Stable Release of COSMIC Desktop and Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS (9to5linux.com)
(Saturday December 13, 2025 @10:44PM (EditorDavid)
from the KDE's-competition dept.)
- Reference: 0180380503
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/12/14/0112231/system76-launches-first-stable-release-of-cosmic-desktop-and-popos-2404-lts
- Source link: https://9to5linux.com/system76-launches-first-stable-release-of-cosmic-desktop-and-pop_os-24-04-lts
This week System76 launched the first stable release of its [1]Rust-based COSMIC desktop environment . Announced [2]in 2021 , it's designed for all GNU/Linux distributions — and it shipping with Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS (based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS).
An anonymous reader shared [3]this report from 9to5Linux :
> Previous Pop!_OS releases used a version of the COSMIC desktop that was based on the GNOME desktop environment. However, System76 wanted to create a new desktop environment from scratch while keeping the same familiar interface and user experience built for efficiency and fun. This means that some GNOME apps have been replaced by COSMIC apps, including COSMIC Files instead of Nautilus (Files), COSMIC Terminal instead of GNOME Terminal, COSMIC Text Editor instead of GNOME Text Editor, and COSMIC Media Player instead of Totem (Video Player).
>
> Also, the Pop!_Shop graphical package manager used in previous Pop!_OS releases has now been replaced by a new app called COSMIC Store.
"If you're ambitious enough, or maybe just crazy enough, there eventually comes a time when you realize you've reached the limits of current potential, and must create something completely new if you're to go further..." [4]explains System76 founder/CEO Carl Richell :
> For twenty years we have shipped Linux computers. For seven years we've built the Pop!_OS Linux distribution. Three years ago it became clear we had reached the limit of our current potential and had to create something new. Today, we break through that limit with the release of Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with the COSMIC Desktop Environment. Today is special not only in that it's the culmination of over three years of work, but even more so in that System76 has built a complete desktop environment for the open source community... I hope you love what we've built for you. Now go out there and create. Push the limits, make incredible things, and have fun doing it!
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyXzjnd6q3g
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/21/11/08/0154240/system76-engineer-confirms-work-on-new-rust-written-desktop-not-based-on-gnome
[3] https://9to5linux.com/system76-launches-first-stable-release-of-cosmic-desktop-and-pop_os-24-04-lts
[4] https://blog.system76.com/post/pop-os-letter-from-our-founder
An anonymous reader shared [3]this report from 9to5Linux :
> Previous Pop!_OS releases used a version of the COSMIC desktop that was based on the GNOME desktop environment. However, System76 wanted to create a new desktop environment from scratch while keeping the same familiar interface and user experience built for efficiency and fun. This means that some GNOME apps have been replaced by COSMIC apps, including COSMIC Files instead of Nautilus (Files), COSMIC Terminal instead of GNOME Terminal, COSMIC Text Editor instead of GNOME Text Editor, and COSMIC Media Player instead of Totem (Video Player).
>
> Also, the Pop!_Shop graphical package manager used in previous Pop!_OS releases has now been replaced by a new app called COSMIC Store.
"If you're ambitious enough, or maybe just crazy enough, there eventually comes a time when you realize you've reached the limits of current potential, and must create something completely new if you're to go further..." [4]explains System76 founder/CEO Carl Richell :
> For twenty years we have shipped Linux computers. For seven years we've built the Pop!_OS Linux distribution. Three years ago it became clear we had reached the limit of our current potential and had to create something new. Today, we break through that limit with the release of Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with the COSMIC Desktop Environment. Today is special not only in that it's the culmination of over three years of work, but even more so in that System76 has built a complete desktop environment for the open source community... I hope you love what we've built for you. Now go out there and create. Push the limits, make incredible things, and have fun doing it!
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyXzjnd6q3g
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/21/11/08/0154240/system76-engineer-confirms-work-on-new-rust-written-desktop-not-based-on-gnome
[3] https://9to5linux.com/system76-launches-first-stable-release-of-cosmic-desktop-and-pop_os-24-04-lts
[4] https://blog.system76.com/post/pop-os-letter-from-our-founder
Decent look (Score:5, Informative)
The article is sadly impoverished of screenshots; [1]here's a video of the desktop [youtube.com]. It looks mostly clean. I hope it's not using too many resources, I couldn't tell, but it seems snappy.
"Material Design" on the desktop.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyXzjnd6q3g
Re: (Score:3)
Thanks for spotting the video. I added it to Slashdot's story...
Re: (Score:2)
I wasn't aware the world needed another desktop front end. Regardless, as soon as everything from the other desktop environments gets ported, it'll lose all of the consistency that ends up occurring with Linux.
Re: (Score:3)
Ported is the wrong word. Everything built on other libraries.
Re: (Score:2)
> I wasn't aware the world needed another desktop front end.
The world always needs another desktop front end...until we get a good one.
Re: (Score:2)
Linux is the guy's day job.
Redox is Jeremy's weekend project - rust from the ground up, on which Cosmic will stand.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, but which desktop is flashy? None.