The developers of the experimental distribution Opensuse Slowroll have unveiled the January update, offering users a modified edition of the continuously updated Opensuse TumbleWhed distribution. This version is aimed at users who do not wish to wait for the conservative Opensuse release AP but are concerned about stability due to insufficient testing of new program versions. The presentation of this update was made in a recent news post.
Opensuse Slowroll serves as an intermediate option between Opensuse Tumblewhed and Opensuse Leap, providing access to fresh program versions after undergoing an additional stage of stabilization. In comparison to Tumblewhed, the Slowroll repository experiences a delay in stabilization of 5-10 days. Unlike Opensuse Leap, system components are not based on the SUSE ENTERPRISE Linux conservative package base but are built using a fresh code base.
The January release of Opensuse Slowroll brings several changes, including advanced features to ensure multiple package builds. Improvements have been made in handling dependencies, layering of the assembly, and resolving race conditions in large packages like Python and Qt. Updated package versions include Linux kernel 6.12.6, XFCE 4.20, KDE GEARS 24.12, KDE Frameworks 6.9.0, Qemu 6.2.0, SQLite 3.47.2, Flatpak 1.15.12, Systemd 256.10, LLVM 19.1.6, GStreamer 1.24.10, VIM 9.1.0908, and AppStream 1.0.4. The GPG package has been updated to version 2.5.2, offering the capability to generate ECC+Kyber keys and improved smart card support.