Introduced release of elementary OS 8.1, positioned as a fast, open and privacy-conscious alternative to Windows and macOS. The project focuses on quality design, aimed at creating an easy-to-use system that consumes minimal resources and provides high startup speed. Users are offered their own Pantheon desktop environment. To download prepared bootable ISO images (3.1 GB) available for amd64 architecture for free download from site of the project, you must enter 0 in the field with the donation amount.
When developing original components of elementary OS, GTK3, the Vala language and its own Granite framework are used. The developments of the Ubuntu project are used as the basis of the distribution. At the package and repository level, elementary OS 8.x is compatible with Ubuntu 24.04. All additional applications offered for installation through AppCenter, as well as some default applications, are packaged using the Flatpak format. The graphical environment is based on Pantheon’s own shell, which combines components such as the Gala window manager (based on LibMutter), the Slingshot launcher, the Switchboard control panel, the Wing top panel, the Dock taskbar, and the Pantheon Greeter session manager (based on LightDM).
The environment includes a set of applications tightly integrated into a single environment that are necessary to solve user problems. Among the applications, most are the project’s own developments, such as the Pantheon Terminal terminal emulator, the Pantheon Files file manager, the Code text editor and the Music (Noise) music player. The project also develops the photo manager Pantheon Photos (a fork from Shotwell) and the mail client Mail (a fork from Evolution).
Key innovations:
- By default, a secure session is enabled (Secure Session),