A new cloud-focused Linux flavor launched recently; known as Peppermint, the operating system is currently a small, private beta and will open up to more testers over the next two to four weeks.

The Peppermint OS is aimed at the cloud. Indeed, the Peppermint homepage describes the OS as: "Cloud/Web application-centric, sleek, user friendly and insanely fast! Peppermint was designed for enhanced mobility, efficiency and ease of use. While other operating systems are taking 10 minutes to load, you are already connected, communicating and getting things done. And, unlike other operating systems, Peppermint is ready to use out of the box."

In an April 14 blog post, the Peppermint team announced the closed beta of the new operating system. The Peppermint team said the OS is "designed specifically for mobility."

According to a description of the technology on Launchpad, Peppermint is "a fork of Lubuntu with an emphasis on cloud apps and using many configuration files sourced from Linux Mint. Peppermint uses Mozilla Prism to create single site browsers for easily accessing many popular Web applications outside of the primary browser. Peppermint uses the LXDE desktop environment and focuses on being easy for new Linux users to find their way around in."

The Lubuntu project homepage describes Lubuntu as a faster, more lightweight and energy-saving variant of Ubuntu using LXDE, the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment.

The core Peppermint team consists of two developers in North Carolina: Kendall Weaver and Shane Remington. "Weaver is the maintainer for the Linux Mint Fluxbox and LXDE editions, the lead software developer for Astral IX Media in Asheville, N.C., ... and the director of operations for Western Carolina Produce in Hendersonville, N.C. ... Remington is based in Asheville, N.C. ... and is the project manager and lead Web developer for Astral IX Media," the Peppermint site said. Remington "provides the Peppermint OS project support with Web development, marketing, social network integration and product development."