KaOS 2024.11 released with Linux kernel 6.11, Phonon sound backend, and bcachefs support
KaOS has unveiled its latest iteration, version 2024.11, of its independent Linux distribution, emphasizing its commitment to Qt and KDE technologies. This release is underpinned by the Linux 6.11.9 kernel and integrates the most recent KDE Plasma 6.2.3, KDE Gear 24.08.3, and Frameworks 6.8.0, all based on Qt 6.8.0.
The update introduces a refreshed system base, featuring a new toolchain with GCC 14.2.0, Glibc 2.40, and Binutils 2.43.1. Other key updates include Glib2 2.82, LLVM/Clang 19.1.3, Poppler 24.11.0, Systemd 253.26, ZFS 2.2.6, KMod 33, OpenSSL 3.4, Botan 3.6.1, Protobuf 28.3, and Mesa 24.2.7. A notable addition to the software suite is Harper, an open-source grammar and spellchecker.
The distribution now supports the experimental bcachefs filesystem, with the necessary tools available in the repositories. A new Phonon sound backend replaces VLC, which lacks a Qt6 port. KaOS has also removed GTK2 from its repositories, four years after its end of life.
Additionally, SDDM 0.20.0 now includes the option to operate in Wayland mode, signaling KaOS's gradual transition away from X11. The Calamares installer now offers automated partitioning with support for XFS, EXT4, BTRFS, or ZFS, eliminating the need for manual partitioning. Additionally, Kjournald provides a GUI for viewing logs, simplifying the process with various filter options.
