Jul 21, 2024 at 12:35 PM KaOS Linux 2024.07 released with Plasma 6.1.3, bcachefs support, new Phonon backend & more
KaOS Linux 2024.07 has been released, incorporating the latest Plasma 6.1.3, KDE Gear 24.05.2, and Frameworks 6.4.0, all built on Qt 6.7.2. The update also includes the Linux kernel 6.9, enhancing performance and stability. Notable visual changes include a desktop zoom-out animation in Edit Mode, making customization more intuitive. Additionally, the release introduces support for bcachefs, an experimental copy-on-write file system, available during manual installation, and Wayland users can now enjoy session recall, a feature previously exclusive to X11.
The system base has been updated with transitions to LLVM / clang 18.1.8, Libgcrypt 1.11.0, and Linux kernel 6.9.9. Key components like systemd, dracut, PipeWire, OpenSSL, OpenCV, OpenSSH, and Mesa have been upgraded for improved stability and security. Due to the lack of a Qt6 port for VLC Media Player, phonon-mpv has become the default sound backend, ensuring full Qt 6 compatibility. GTK2 has been removed, and applications such as Ardour now use an internal toolkit. The Calamares installer has been updated to support automated partitioning for XFS, EXT4, BTRFS, ZFS, and Bcachefs.
The release also introduces a new Phonon sound backend and the Marknote application, fully integrated into Plasma 6, enhancing the user interface. Custom icon themes for both light and dark modes create a unified aesthetic from boot-up to logout. Users can now start a remote desktop directly from the System Settings app using KRDC.
