A big release for the Linux world is here. Fedora Linux 42 has arrived bringing with it the latest and greatest in open source software and a good choice to run on your desktops, laptops and more.
One of my favourite changes that came with this release is the promotion of the KDE Plasma Desktop to "Edition" status, giving it a front-row seat to show it has great support. Giving a true flagship status to my personal pick for the best desktop environment, and the same one used on the Steam Deck Desktop Mode.
Pictured - The official Fedora website
Additionally, the enhancement of running x86 programs on ARM systems out of the box on Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 42. Using some of the work originally developed for Fedora Asahi Remix for Apple systems.
You'll be getting GNOME 48 or KDE Plasma 6.3 depending on which edition you pick, each desktop release bringing with it plenty of enhancements covered here in previous articles.
Some other general changes they highlighted:
- Fedora default wallpapers are now delivered in the JXL format instead of PNG, reducing file sizes while maintaining quality.
- More laptop cameras used in recent models will work out-of-the-box, following up on work done in Fedora Linux 41
- System boot times should be faster, as the plymouth system component will no longer load the full graphics driver before showing the system splash screen.
- With the Anaconda installer running as a native Wayland application, language selections now sync between the live environment and installed system.
- Executable file placement is simpler, as anything previously in /usr/sbin is now merged into /usr/bin.
See more in the release announcement and the what's new pages for Fedora Workstation 42, Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 42 and Fedora Asahi Remix 42.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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ShadowXeldron 3 days ago
I guess I'll update then. Fedora 41 will probably still be supported for a while but I'd like to get the new stuff.
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Redje 3 days ago
I’ve used Ubuntu and unity/GNOME for over 10 years. But I was kind of done with GNOME DE, to much nice stuff that getting removed for no good reason. That and snaps… that can be hit or miss.
I’m using fedora41 KDE for 6 months now. And it feels like a mixed bag for me. I have an Nvidia laptop. And Nvidia panel doesn’t have prime menu, which is very annoying. Also getting the Nvidia driver and other proprietary software is unnessesary complicated. Also I had some very annoying bug with steam flakpak, with my Nvidia driver not working in games in the steam flakpak.
Because of this Fedora feels like mixed bag…
But the very possitive is KDE, such an awesome DE.
PS: I consider myself a very casual Linux user. I can fix easy stuff, but i rather have it just working out of the box.
I’m using fedora41 KDE for 6 months now. And it feels like a mixed bag for me. I have an Nvidia laptop. And Nvidia panel doesn’t have prime menu, which is very annoying. Also getting the Nvidia driver and other proprietary software is unnessesary complicated. Also I had some very annoying bug with steam flakpak, with my Nvidia driver not working in games in the steam flakpak.
Because of this Fedora feels like mixed bag…
But the very possitive is KDE, such an awesome DE.
PS: I consider myself a very casual Linux user. I can fix easy stuff, but i rather have it just working out of the box.
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Pyrate 3 days ago
Upgrading to 42 on my Kinoite work laptop is too easy it's basically boring. Suffering from success 
.
Last edited by Pyrate on 16 Apr 2025 at 6:17 pm UTC
.Last edited by Pyrate on 16 Apr 2025 at 6:17 pm UTC
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Hooly 3 days ago
Upgrading to 42 on my Kinoite work laptop is too easy it's basically boring. Suffering from success ."Boring" is a very positive description in this case.
4 Likes
R Daneel Olivaw 3 days ago
posting this comment from librewolf on f42 right now! I decided for a full wipe/start from scratch since I was having issues with my kde plasma install on f41. I tried plasma edition of 42 thinking it might have fixed my issues but nope, so I decided to go with the regular workstation (gnome) install and it's running nice and smooth with absolutely zero issues thus far. I prefer the plasma de, but that's okay, gnome is fine once I install some extensions and get it customized to my liking.
2 Likes
Pyrate 3 days ago
"Boring" is a very positive description in this case.
Yep. I remember the first time I updated from 40 to 41 on Kinoite, I was like "wait that's it ?". Upgrading to a major version was like any other regular system update; happened in the background, and when I rebooted I found myself seemingly on 41, no downtime, no waiting to install anything, same story this time. Atomic is the future for sure.
Last edited by Pyrate on 16 Apr 2025 at 7:44 pm UTC
2 Likes
damarrin 2 days ago
Fedora with Gnome on my laptop, POP on my desktop, Ubuntu with KDE on my office computer. I love them all Linuxes equally. :-)
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dziadulewicz a day ago
Videos don't work out of the box on most sites. Not good 
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R Daneel Olivaw a day ago
^ is that because of 3rd party repo stuff? rpmfusion?
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jens a day ago
I just completed the upgrade and it was indeed butter smooth and totally boring ;).
For NVIDIA users, I can really recommend https://negativo17.org/multimedia/ as an alternative to RPM-Fusion.
For NVIDIA users, I can really recommend https://negativo17.org/multimedia/ as an alternative to RPM-Fusion.
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Fedora has a built-in Steam repo. You just need to enable it. Why would you use the flatpack? Due to flatpack adding a "obfuscation" / "security" layer they will have wierd issues when really needing to talk to your hardware. Sure, for wierd 3rd party programs it's one thing, but I wouldn't use them for something as driver dependent as Steam with Proton and the games. Same for NVIDIA drivers. Just enable the RPM fusion repo that's included with the install and just install the driver.
https://itsfoss.com/install-nvidia-drivers-fedora/
note: that's for GNOME. KDE should have similar or just edit /etc/yum/repos.d/rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver.repo and rpmfusion-nonfree-steam.repo and change "enabled=0" to "enabled=1"
Last edited by rhavenn on 18 Apr 2025 at 2:34 pm UTC
https://itsfoss.com/install-nvidia-drivers-fedora/
note: that's for GNOME. KDE should have similar or just edit /etc/yum/repos.d/rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver.repo and rpmfusion-nonfree-steam.repo and change "enabled=0" to "enabled=1"
Last edited by rhavenn on 18 Apr 2025 at 2:34 pm UTC
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