This is the first preview of GoboLinux 017. This alpha snapshot is being released primarily so that the new boot process and the installer can be tested ahead of time - this means that the ISO image still features several outdated packages that were carried over from 016.01 (Firefox included). Those will be reviewed and refreshed over the coming weeks. Some of the changes that GoboLinux 017-alpha brings over 016.01 include: incorporation of an Initramfs for improved hardware compatibility; deprecation of Python 2, all GoboLinux tools featured in this ISO image have been ported to Python 3; removal of Libtool '.la' files for better source-based package management; support for the Meson build system on Compile; update toolchain to glibc 2.30, GCC 9.2.0, Binutils 2.33.1, and the kernel to version 5.4.15.

Recent Related News and Releases

Distribution Release: GoboLinux 017 Lucas Villa Real has announced the release of GoboLinux 017, a new stable build of the project's independently-developed Linux distribution which departs from the standard UNIX filesystem hierarchy by replacing it with an database-like structure. The new GoboLinux also introduces a Homebrew-style package management and the latest version of the Awesome window manager: " We are pleased to present release 017 of GoboLinux, the Linux distribution featuring a re-thought file system structure. GoboLinux was created out of a desire to try new approaches in the Linux distribution design space. GoboLinux 017 continues this journey, with a focus on the exploration of novel ideas aiming to make the system simpler yet functional. The GoboLinux ISO image serves both as an installation disc and a Live environment, with a graphical desktop featuring Awesome WM. In fact, due to the modular nature of the GoboLinux filesystem, every program available in the image can be used directly from the Live environment - the work of the installer is to simply copy the user's selection to the destination partition (respecting dependency chains). " See the release announcement and the release notes for further details. Download (SHA256): GoboLinux-017-x86_64.iso (1,931MB, torrent, pkglist).

Development Release: GoboLinux 017 Beta Lucas Villa Real has announced the availability of the first beta snapshot of GoboLinux 017, an independently-developed Linux distribution whose most interesting feature is the complete rewrite of the UNIX filesystem hierarchy. The new release upgrades numerous base packages, while it continues to use the Awesome window manager as the preferred graphical user interface: " This is the second preview of GoboLinux 017. It updates several system packages and features the following improvements over 017 alpha: a new model for recipe management based on Git - users can now submit pull requests on GitHub or use the revamped ContributeRecipe tool to automate that process; recipes contributed that way are made available to other users as soon as PRs are approved and the Compile tool is fully aware of that new workflow; migration of AbsTk (our widget toolkit) to Qt 5 - we have a graphical installer again; removal of FiboSandbox, as we have been depending on UnionSandbox for a long time; massive simplification of Scripts and Compile along with assorted bug fixes. " Please visit the project's GitHub resource to read the full release announcement. Download (SHA256): GoboLinux-017_beta-x86_64.iso (1,999MB, torrent, pkglist).

Distribution Release: GoboLinux 016.01 Lucas Villa Real has announced the release of GoboLinux 016.01, an updated build of the project's independently-developed distribution with a custom file system hierarchy: " We are pleased to announce GoboLinux 016.01 after roughly 3.5 months since the release of 016. While it features some essential package upgrades, this revision aims at providing a more stable foundation for those who want to try it out. The list of improvements over 016 is extensive. The following is a high level summary of what's new since 016: enabled support for Core2 processors; improved support for UEFI systems and virtualized platforms; improved detection of other operating systems when creating the GRUB configuration file; support for installation to external hard drives; fixes the SSL certificate paths; fixes SSL support in our Compile tool; fixes the /usr/libexec compatibility link; inclusion of CryptSetup to enable mounting of encrypted partitions from the live ISO image; inclusion of Listener, a daemon that automatically cleans up broken links when entries from /Programs are removed.... " Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement and see also the release notes for further details. Download: GoboLinux-016.01-x86_64.iso (1,005MB, pkglist).

Distribution Release: GoboLinux 016 Lucas Villa Real has announced the release of GoboLinux 016, an independently-developed distribution characterised by a custom (and very un-UNIX-like) file system hierarchy. This release of GoboLinux, the first stable version in over 2.5 years, ships with a minimalist desktop based on the Awesome window manager: " We are pleased to present release 016 of GoboLinux, the Linux distribution featuring a re-thought file system structure. GoboLinux was created out of a desire to try new approaches in the Linux distribution design space. GoboLinux 016 continues this journey, with a focus on the exploration of novel ideas aiming to make the system simpler yet functional. The GoboLinux ISO image serves both as an installation disc and a live environment, with a graphical desktop featuring Awesome WM. In fact, due to the modular nature of the GoboLinux file system, every program available in the image can be used directly from the Live environment. " Read the detailed release notes for further information. Download: GoboLinux-016-x86_64.iso (958MB, MD5, pkglist).

Development Release: GoboLinux 016 Beta Lucas Villa Real has announced the availability of the beta release of GoboLinux 016, an independent distribution with a custom file system hierarchy. As was also the case with the earlier alpha release, GoboLinux provides a minimalist desktop based on the Awesome window manager. From the release announcement: " I'm happy to announce the release of the second preview of GoboLinux 016 for x86-64. Thanks to your feedback, we have made this snapshot more smooth and robust. Major changes since 016 alpha: kernel - new version with support for generic x86-64 processors; Runner - many improvements and new features for /System/Index virtualization; GoboHide - major rewrite and bug fixes, now using generic netlink sockets; installer, kernel - included preliminary support for MacBooks; live CD - improved support for booting off from USB. Fixes performed based on user feedback: Gimp - package fix; Firefox - pages are now rendered as expected (/dev/shm fix); Python, compile: missing Python files are back.... " Download: GoboLinux-016-beta-x86_64.iso (932MB, MD5, torrent, pkglist).

Development Release: GoboLinux 016 Alpha Lucas Villa Real has announced the availability of the first alpha release of GoboLinux 016. GoboLinux is an unusual distribution as it comes with a highly customised (and perhaps more logical) file system hierarchy which differs substantially from the traditional UNIX layout. This new release is the project's first made for the x86_64 architecture and it features a minimalist desktop based on the Awesome window manager. " We are happy to announce the first preview of GoboLinux 016, the distro's first 64-bit release since its creation back in 2002. Some of the highlights include: Runner, our filesystem virtualization tool that dynamically changes the processes' view of /System/Index based on the program's Dependencies file - with that tool, one does not need to worry about which version of a given dependency is currently linked (or activated) on /System/Index; a minimalistic desktop based on the Awesome window manager; a focus on the exploration of novel ideas. You may find this snapshot less packed with packages, but it should be more fun to run! " Here is the full release announcement as published on the gobolinux-users mailing list. Download: GoboLinux-016-alpha.iso (1,442MB, MD5, torrent, pkglist).

Distribution Release: GoboLinux 015 Lucas Villa Real has announced the release of GoboLinux 015, a distribution with a custom file system hierarchy that differs considerably from the traditional UNIX layout. This is the project's first stable release since March 2008. From the release announcement: " It is with pleasure that I announce the release of GoboLinux 015 - the alternative Linux distribution. After a hiatus of 6 years, we have returned with an updated set of packages and some infrastructure changes that have come for the better. Some of the major points of this release are: migration from the /System/Links hierarchy to /System/Index; embracing 'root as super user name - that should make recipes more simple to write and soften the task of preparing new releases; live USB support off the shelf; adoption of Enlightenment as the desktop environment for the first time. " The live image is available for download from here: GoboLinux-015-i686.iso (1,486MB, MD5, torrent).