Fedora 41 launches with Linux kernel 6.11, DNF 5, GNOME 47, KDE Plasma 6.2, and much more

The Fedora team has announced an early release of Fedora 41, based on the Linux Kernel 6.11. This release introduces DNF 5, a major update to the command-line package management tool, which is faster, smaller, and requires fewer supporting packages. This change makes microdnf obsolete for containers and memory-constrained systems, allowing the same DNF to be utilized across various platforms including containers, servers, desktops, and devices.

Fedora 41 Workstation is now based on GNOME 47, featuring accent colors, enhanced support for small screens, new style dialogue windows, and Ptyxis as the new terminal application. Fedora KDE 41, on the other hand, includes KDE Plasma 6.2, which brings updated KDE applications, improved drawing tablet support, better color management, and accessibility enhancements.

The release also introduces image-based Fedora variants — like Atomic Desktops, CoreOS, and Fedora IoT — with a new tool named bootc. This tool is the successor to rpm-ostree, offering a more flexible approach and enabling container patterns to define personalized Fedora flavors.

Additional features in Fedora 41 include support for Intel IPU6 attached MIPI cameras, Firefox with PipeWire for video enabled by default, and the ability to install NVIDIA drivers with Secure Boot. The release also includes several important bug fixes and security updates.