EasyOS is an experimental Linux distribution that uses many of the technologies and package formats pioneered by Puppy Linux.
Barry kauler, founder of the Puppy Linux project, recently announced the launch of the new version of their experimental linux distribution, "Easy OS 5.0" which combines Puppy Linux technologies with container isolation to run system components.
The desk is based on the JWM window manager and the ROX file manager and each application, as well as the desktop itself, can be launched in separate containers, which are isolated by their own Easy Containers mechanism. The distribution package is managed through a set of graphical configurators developed by the project.
Main novelties of EasyOS 5.0
In the new released version of EasyOS 5.0, Application versions have been updated. Almost all packages are rebuilt from source using the OpenEmbedded 4.0 project metadata.
Besides that, removed support for langpack language packs and assemblies specific to certain languages. While the translations associated with the selected language have been placed in separate downloadable files. The choice of the interface language is now done after the first boot.
Another change that was made is that MoManager app was rewritten used to translate user elements into different languages.
This latest version is mentioned to be maturing, although Easy is an experimental distro and some parts are under development and still considered beta quality.
Of the other changes that stand out from this new version:
- Now mount-img asks read-only or read-write
- Fix for Firefox getting killed when SFS layers change
- Improved FF Download
- Improved Chromium, more OE-compiled packages
- Escape characters in translation strings in initrd
- xloadimage and xserver-fb added to Kirkstone build
- Recovery of running GTK applications in the initrd
- Automatic translation added to MoManager
- EasyOS advances to the Kirkstone series
- You no longer have /usr/share/locale.in
- Upgraded Global IP TV Panel
- openssl updated to 3.0.8
- Contribution of French translations
- youtube-dl downloader update fixed
It should be noted that the distribution is installed in a separate subdirectory and can coexist with other data on the drive (system is installed in /releases/easy-5.0, user data is stored in /home directory and additional application containers are placed in the /containers directory).
Encryption of individual subdirectories (for example, /home) is supported.
It is possible to install SFS-format meta-packages, which are Squashfs-mountable images that combine several regular packages and essentially resemble the appimages, snaps, and flatpak formats.
The system is updated in atomic mode (the new version is copied to another directory and the active directory is changed with the system) and supports rollback of changes in case of problems after the update.
If you are interested in knowing more about this new release, you can consult the details In the following link.
Get EasyOS 5.0
For those who are interested in being able to try this Linux distribution, they should know that the size of the boot image is 825 MB and that they can obtain it from its official website. The link is this.
The basic package includes applications such as Firefox, LibreOffice, Scribus, Inkscape, GIMP, mtPaint, Dia, Gpicview, Geany text editor, Fagaros password manager, HomeBank personal finance management system, DidiWiki personal wiki, Osmo organizer, project manager Planner, Notecase system, Pidgin, Audacious music player, Celluloid, VLC and MPV media players, LiVES video editor, OBS Studio streaming system.
For easy file and printer sharing, it offers its own EasyShare app.
The distro runs as root by default with privileges reset at each app launch, as EasyOS positions itself as a single-user Live system.
In the same way, a guide is also offered on how to install the distribution on your computers, you can consult the guide at the following link.