Released yesterday, SDesk 2024.09.16 brings a variety of updates, enhancing several components and introducing a robust set of drivers with an emphasis on touch interfaces, including fingerprint readers. The most noticeable modification is in the installer, which has transitioned from using Calamares for user creation and initial setup to the GNOME first-run wizard. This shift aligns well with SDesk's long-standing use of the GNOME desktop environment.
Unique Features of SDesk
SDesk may not be as widely recognized as other Linux distributions that simply combine open-source components with visual enhancements and functional tweaks, but it has several distinctive features. Built on Arch Linux, SDesk includes proprietary software, such as the Swirl web browser. Additionally, the Blue programming language is available for purchase as a digital download, priced at $178.52. Users can also opt for a physical edition of SDesk, currently available for $192.25.
New Interface and Features
Along with the previously mentioned changes, SDesk 2024.09.16 boasts an updated interface and introduces several new features for the Swirl browser, along with support for fractional scaling. Although its selection of downloadable content is not as extensive as that of other distributions, SDesk is provided as a single ISO file tailored for 64-bit x86 processors, compatible with both BIOS and UEFI systems. Furthermore, Swirl for Mac can be downloaded as a DMG file suitable for Apple processors. For those interested in the Blue programming language, a brief 35-second video offers key insights.
Recommended Reading
Whether you are a SDesk user or not, anyone interested in Linux might benefit from Mark Reed's "Linux: The Complete Linux Crash Course for Beginners - From Zero to Hero (2024)," which is currently priced at just $4.99 on Kindle (also available for free with Kindle Unlimited) or in paperback for $28.49.
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