System76, the company behind the Linux-based operating system Pop!_OS, has initiated the testing phase for the second alpha release of the desktop environment called Cosmic, developed in the Rust programming language. This new Cosmic version is distinct from the previous iteration, which was based on Gnome Shell. The testing phase involves ISO images for systems with NVIDIA GPUs and Intel/AMD processors, with separate downloads available for each. These images are derived from a test build of Pop!_OS 24.04. Additionally, pre-built packages are also accessible for Fedora, NixOS, Arch Linux, openSUSE, Serpent OS, Redox, and CachyOS.
Cosmic is being developed as a platform-agnostic project adhering to Freedesktop specifications. The interface in Cosmic is constructed using the Id library, which employs safe types, a modular architecture, and reactive programming principles, as well as embracing the declarative interface construction approach familiar to developers using the ELM language. Various graphical frameworks supporting Vulkan, Metal, DX12, OpenGL 2.1+, and OpenGL ES 2.0+ are provided. Developers can leverage a set of built-in widgets, create asynchronous handlers, and utilize adaptive interface layout elements that adjust dynamically based on window and screen size. Furthermore, the project is working on the development of a compositor server called cosmic-comp, based on Wayland.
The second alpha version of Cosmic introduces several key updates compared to the initial release:
- The configurator now includes a module for configuring sound, enabling users to select sound devices, adjust volume levels, and associate profiles with devices such as “analog stereo,” “digital stereo,” and “Pro Audio.” Furthermore, support for sound devices with Bluetooth interfaces has been added. View image here.
