Solus project

Solus

Screenshot of Solus 1.2.1 Desktop
Developer	Ikey Doherty
OS family	Unix-like
Source model	Open source
Initial release	May 9, 2012
Latest release	1.2.1 / October 19, 2016
Available in	multilingual
Update method	Semi-rolling
Package manager	eopkg
Platforms	AMD64eopkg
Kernel type	Monolithic (Linux)
Userland	GNU
Default user interface	Budgie
License	Free software licenses (mainly GPL), and other licenses
Official website	solus-project.com

Solus is an independent desktop Linux distribution using the Budgie desktop environment and eopkg for package management.^[1]

History

Solus was started in 2011 as "SolusOS" and initially used Debian as its codebase.^[2] Later versions of Solus are built upon a from-scratch system with a focus on desktop usability and optimization.^[3]

Releases

SolusOS 1.0

SolusOS 1.0 desktop

In 2012, SolusOS 1.0, code-named "Eveline" was released. It originally featured the GNOME 2 desktop and came with a complete set of multimedia plugins by default and extended selection of default applications for everyday tasks.^[4][5]

SolusOS 1.1

Version 1.1 was released on June 1, 2012 and brought an updated custom kernel as well as newer software versions for the applications.^[6]

SolusOS 1.2

August 17, 2012 saw the point release of version 1.2 and introduced a non-PAE edition for older computers with less random-access memory.^[7]

SolusOS 2

The next release, SolusOS 2, was planned to be built from-scratch using GNOME 3.10 as its default desktop environment.^[8] It was previously reported that it was going to be using Consort, a forked and patched version of GNOME Flashback (the GNOME 3 Fallback Mode) first introduced with the Alpha 7 version of SolusOS 2.^[9][10] that behaves like GNOME 2, thus enabling existing users a smooth transition to the new desktop.^[11] SolusOS 2 was developed as a Long Term Support release,^[12] so several alpha releases were issued and tested for stability and usability. Testers were encouraged to request applets and utilities.^[11]

In 2013, SolusOS was "put down".^[13]

"Evolve OS"/Solus 1.0

In 2014, development was resumed under the name "Evolve OS", which due to trademark issues was changed to "Solus".^[14] Solus 1.0 "Shannon" was released 27 December 2015.^[15]

Solus 1.1

Solus 1.1 was released February 2, 2016.^[16]

Solus 1.2

Solus 1.2 was released on Jun 20th 2016. ^[17]

Solus 1.2.1

Solus 1.2.1 was released on October 19, 2016. This is the last fixed point release of Solus and all future releases will be based on the snapshot model (the OS is now following the rolling-release model). ^[18]

Features and software

Solus comes pre-installed with a wide range of software that includes the latest Firefox, Thunderbird, Transmission and VLC. Additional software that is not installed by default can be downloaded using the included Software Center. Wireless chips and modems are supported through non-free firmware packages. Package management is done through eopkg.^[19]

Software developed by Solus

• Budgie desktop environment: a GTK+ 3 desktop that tightly integrates with the GNOME software stack, employing the underlying technology.^[20]
  • Raven a sidebar interface that serves as an applet panel, notifications center and houses the desktop customization settings.
  • Budgie Menu a quick category and search-based application launcher.
• eopkg a fork of the PiSi package manager.^[21]
• ypkg a tool to convert the build process into a packaging operation.^[22]
• Software Center, a graphical frontend to install software in Solus.^[23]

Popularity

As of November 12, 2016, Solus ranked 20th in the 6-month page hit rankings of Distrowatch.^[24]

External links

• Official website
• Solus project at DistroWatch

References

1. Solus OS interview with founder Ikey Doherty, Gavin Thomas, 2016-02-08.
2. "About | SolusOS". 2013-01-15. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
3. "About Solus | Solus". solus-project.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
4. "SolusOS Eveline review". Linux and Life. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
5. "SolusOS Eveline released". Official website. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
6. "SolusOS 1.1 released". Official website. Archived from the original on August 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
7. "SolusOS 1.2 Arrives, Updates Eveline". OStatic. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
8. SolusOS 2 Will Use a Custom GNOME 3.10 Desktop, Softpedia, October 8, 2013
9. SolusOS 2 Alpha 7 Previews Its GNOME Fork, Phoronix, January 22, 2013
10. Consort Desktop: A New Fork Of GNOME Classic, Phoronix, January 17, 2013
11. "Bringing Back GNOME". SolusOS. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
12. SolusOS: A New Linux Distro with a Focus on the Familiar, PCWorld, Jul 30, 2012
13. , Solus OS interview with founder Ikey Doherty, February 8, 2016
14. The New Solus: Putting the Pieces Together Again. LinuxInsider.
15. Solus 1.0 Release announcement. Softpedia Linux News.
16. "An Everyday Linux User Review Of Solus 1.1 « Everyday Linux User". www.everydaylinuxuser.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
18. https://solus-project.com/2016/10/19/solus-1-2-1-shannon-released/
19. Everyday Linux User Review Of SolusOS, Everyday Linux User, Feb 2013
20. "How To Install Budgie Desktop In Ubuntu 16.04 Or 15.10 Via PPA". WebUpd8. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
21. "Solus Project: No Longer Just A Chrome OS Alternative". Linux.com | The source for Linux information. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
22. "solus-project/ypkg". GitHub. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
23. "Solus OS | Linux distro review". Linux distros. 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
24. "DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.". 2016-11-12. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-12.