System76 are continuing to expand and improve their new Linux desktop environment, COSMIC, with a second Alpha release now available for testing. Their goal with it, they said, is to "create the best, most consistent and flexible experience for users".
COSMIC started off live as a replacement for GNOME, used in previous Pop!_OS releases (and Ubuntu, Fedora). Some of the differences they've highlighted are the comprehensive theming system with shareable themes, an option for either vertical or horizontal workspaces, integrated and easily accessible tiling system and highly customizable panels (dock and top bar).
Pictured - COSMIC Alpha 2, traditional windows and floating tiles (click to enlarge)
Some of what's new in COSMIC Alpha 2 includes:
- Power & Battery settings.
- More Sound settings.
- New Networking settings.
- New Display settings.
- New Window Management features including focus following the cursor and cursor follows focus.
- Interface density settings to change how spaced-out UI elements are.
- Bluetooth settings.
- Improvements to the file manager.
- + lots and lots of smaller fixes and improvements.
You can download it from their website, which also has links to try it directly on your favourite distro. Read all about what's new in their blog post.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Last edited by Minux on 27 September 2024 at 9:32 pm UTC
officernice Sep 28
ElectricPrism Oct 1
I found this feature to be intuitive and groundbreaking ( https://github.com/YaLTeR/niri )
NewM is interesting in this regard too doing "Scrolling" ( https://invidious.privacyredirect.com/watch?v=dCHtwyD1wzo )
After nearly a decade I finally understand what Gnome was "trying to" accomplish with Gnome 3. The only problem is that windows needed to not just tile left, right, and fullscreen and then scroll vertically between workspaces -- they needed more complex tiling and minimum window sizes with sizes declared by each app, and to use that in combination with tiling and scrolling.
In any case I really hope System76 and Cosmic do more groundbreaking and exciting stuff -- their work so far is impressive, refreshing and interesting
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