Bodhi Linux has long been my favorite operating system. This is partly because it has an Enlightenment-based desktop, but also because the development team has consistently delivered a rock-solid system that is as fun as it is easy to use. And while the changes in version 7.0 are sometimes subtle, they combine to make this version the best yet.
For those who don’t know, Bodhi Linux is an open-source operating system based on the latest LTS (Long Term Support) version of Ubuntu Linux i.e. Ubuntu 22.04. Bodhi Linux has remained true to a philosophy of desktop minimalism combined with deep customization. Once again, the developers have brought this idea to life, but this time giving users an even more seamless experience.
One of the first things I noticed with Bodhi 7.0 is that the onboarding experience has been simplified. In previous versions, during installation, users had to answer a few questions, such as whether to use the operating system on a laptop or desktop computer. With this new version, these questions no longer exist. Upon first login, users are simply presented with the Moksha desktop environment.
Some important apps are missing
Speaking of desktop, Moksha’s default theme is very green, with a beautiful (subtly) animated background. On this desk, pictured at the top of this page, you will find – clockwise from top left – an analog clock, the workspace pager (where you can switch between ‘one virtual desktop to another), a system tray, application launchers and the desktop menu. Of course, since this desktop is based on Enlightenment, you can also access the desktop menu by clicking on any empty space.
When you look at the desktop menu, the first thing you’ll probably notice is that it’s missing a few important apps. In the box you’ll find the Chromium web browser and a web browser manager (which lets you easily install other web browsers), Leafpad (a text editor), and not much else.
A little configuration is required
But this shortcoming is not serious because you can open the main menu and click Applications > System Tools > Bodhi AppCenter to open the GUI tool that allows you to install many software programs, such as LibreOffice.
The only thing missing is support for Snap and Flatpack. This gap is because neither package manager is installed in the box.
The Bodhi AppCenter actually opens in the Chromium web browser. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
When you install snapd (as you would with any Ubuntu distribution), you will find that it is not possible to perform this action straight away. However, you can enable snapd using the following commands:
sudo rm /et/capt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install snapd -yYou can install flatpak with the command:
sudo apt-get install flatpak -yOnce you have Snap or Flatpak installed, you can add these third-party proprietary software (from the command line).
Another very practical aspect of the Moksha desktop is the ability to add favorite applications, which are then quickly launched by right-clicking on the desktop.
To do this, you need to open the settings panel (Menu > Settings > Settings panel), go to Apps, click Favorite Applications, select the application you want to add, click Apply, and click OK to close the window.
Add apps to favorites so they are more easily accessible. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
At this point, right-click anywhere on the desktop and you will find the Favorites menu.
The list of improvements made to Bodhi 7.0
The main improvements of Bodhi 7.0 are as follows:
- A new version “s76”, which includes a core with “cutting edge” performance.
- Kernel updates are enabled by default
- Updated EFL and terminology (now matches the version in e-git)
- The Moksha desktop no longer relies on outdated libraries.
- The login screen now has an improved greeter with a password reveal feature.
- Moksha Green theme is now the default theme, which features an animated background, refreshed home screen, and many other improvements.
- Pre-installed Thunar archiving plugin
- The web browser management application, inspired by Zorin OS Browser Manager, makes it easy to install other web browsers.
- A new keyboard shortcuts viewer (accessible from the desktop menu)
- iBar module now supports app instances
- A completely restructured notification module now supports notification actions.
While these improvements may seem minor to the average user, when you put them all together (adding them to the already pleasant-to-use Moksha desktop), you’ll find a desktop operating system that is considerably easier to use than the previous iterations. And if you opt for the s76 version, you will find that its performance far exceeds your expectations.
Would recommend to anyone with even a little Linux experience
Bodhi Linux has always had a place in my heart. With this latest release, it solidifies its place as a Linux distribution that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone with even a little Linux experience.
Would I recommend Bodhi Linux to users who have never touched Linux? Probably not. But if you’re looking for a highly customizable desktop that’s fun, user-friendly, and can grow with your experience, you’d be remiss if you didn’t check out the latest version of Bodhi Linux. Download an ISO and install Bodhi Linux today.
Source: “ZDNet.com”