The free operating system GeckoLinux is not a derivative, but a structure (“spin”) of the Linux distribution openSUSE, which is very popular especially in Germany, and yet in many ways the better alternative for beginners. GeckoLinux made a lot of friends with its pronounced “out-of-the-box usability”.
openSUSE made easy
While the GeckoLinux “STATIC” distribution, which follows a traditional release cycle, is based on openSUSE Leap 15.2, GeckoLinux “ROLLING” is based on the latest spin of openSUSE Tumbleweed at the time. But unlike openSUSE, GeckoLinux provides installation media with seven different graphical desktops for both release models.
The rolling release of GeckoLinux also comes for the first time with the completely redesigned Gnome 40 desktop environment, which recently premiered in Fedora Workstation 34, and the current KDE Plasma 5.21.5 with KDE Gear April 21st.
The official release notes for the current release of the distribution based on Linux 5.12.3 read comparatively clearly, as is typical for a rolling release:
This set of GeckoLinux ROLLING spins also includes a plethora of new software directly from the openSUSE Tumbleweed repositories.
The Linux kernel is currently at version 5.12.3, and all GeckoLinux editions feature Firefox 88. Current desktop environment versions include the following:
- Gnome 40
- Cinnamon 4.8.6
- Plasma 5.21.5/KF5 5.82/KDE apps 21.04
- Budgie Desktop 10.5. 3
- LXQt 0.17
- Xfce 4.16
- Mate 1.24
- Pantheon (different component versions)
GeckoLinux (“ROLLING”) – Release Notes
openSUSE for beginners
GeckoLinux wants even less experienced users to install an alternative desktop and the associated one Make packages and applications as simple as possible and for this reason offer a separate installation medium for each desktop environment.
The system images can be written to a USB stick with an appropriate tool such as Ventoy or Rufus and tested as a live system.
If you like, the distribution can be quick and uncomplicated Install on the SSD or hard drive using a graphical installation routine.
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GeckoLinux also comes with all relevant multimedia codecs and makes it particularly easy for beginners and those switching to get started with Linux. For legal reasons, openSUSE does not include them, even if they are available as a finished package via the package management.
The makers of GeckoLinux have more information and documentation on the project page of GitHub developer platform summarized. The helpful community in the GeckoLinux forum answers open questions.