Testing has begun for the beta version of Fedora Linux 38, marking the transition to the final stage of testing where critical errors can only be corrected. The release is scheduled for April 18 and will cover fedora workstation, Fedora Silverblue, Fedora IoT, Fedora Coreos, Fedora Cloud Base, and Live-Sobe. Spins with user environments KDE Plasma 5, XFCE, MATE, CINNAMON, LXDA, PHOSH, LXQT, BUDGIE and SWAY are also included. Assemblies are formed for architectures X86_64, Power64, and ARM64 (AARCH64).
The most significant changes in Fedora Linux 38 include the implementation of a modernized loading process proposed by Lennart Pottering. The first stage transition reduces the differences from the classical load to use a unified image of the UKI nucleus (Unified Kernel Image) instead of the INITRD image, which is formed on a local system when installing a package with a core. UKI combines the processor for loading a nucleus from UEFI (UEFI Boot Stub) in one file, the image of the Linux nucleus, and the Initrd system environment loaded in memory. At the first stage, UKI support was added to the bootloader, the tool for installing and updating the UKI is implemented, as well as the UKI experimental image, focused on loading virtual machines with a limited set of components and drivers.
Furthermore, in the packet manager of RPM for analyzing the keys and digital signatures involved SEQUOIIA package, offering the implementation of Openpgp in RUST. Earlier, RPM used its own code to analyze OpenPGP, having unresolved problems and restrictions. Among direct dependencies to RPM added a package RPM-sequoia, in which support for cryptographic algorithms is based on the library nettle written in the language of SI (plans to provide the possibility of using opensl).
Lastly, Fedora Linux 38 has implemented a major upgrade to MicroDNF. All components of the DNF package manager are now consolidated into a single executable binary file, which reduces overhead and prevents the call of external components.
The Fedora Project invites users to test out the beta release and report any critical errors.