The newest FreeDesktop SDK is now available for this collection of components used for Flatpak runtimes as well as for building out of containers and other software stacks.

Flatpak 26.08 incorporates many updated software packages including Flatpak 1.18.2, the Linux 7.2.2 kernel, Intel Media Driver 26.3.2, WirePlumber 0.5.16, variouys Python updates, CMake 4.4.3, Bubblewrap 0.12, BuildStream2 2.28, and other updates for new software releases and for some just carrying new security patches.

One fundamental change in FreeDesktop SDK 26.08 is runtime-minimal.bst no longer including GNU Bash or Cureutils. The intent is on allowing the replacement of userland tools in bootstrap with alternative implementations. There is runtime-gnu.bst for what was runtime-minimal.bst . The [1]request for replacing userland tools in bootstrap with alternative implementations comes down to wanting the likes of BusyBox, Toyboy, or Rust Coreutils instead. It's on allowing more flexibility without changing the FreeDesktop SDK defaults.

FreeDesktop SDK 26.08 also got rid of Snap support as it was "not really in use" but will be re-added if there ends up being demand.

[2]

The new SDK also comes with overhauled documentation available at [3]the documentation site .

Downloads and more details on the updated SDK via [4]GitLab .



[1] https://gitlab.com/freedesktop-sdk/freedesktop-sdk/-/work_items/1950

[2] https://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?id=2026&image=freedesktop_sdk_2608_lrg

[3] https://freedesktop-sdk.gitlab.io/documentation/

[4] https://gitlab.com/freedesktop-sdk/freedesktop-sdk/-/releases/freedesktop-sdk-26.08.0