COSMIC: A Rust-Based Desktop Environment from System76

TL;DR
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COSMIC is a new desktop environment from System76 built with Rust, offering optimized UI/UX, high customization, and excellent performance.

Introduction
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System76 & Pop!_OS
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System76 creates Linux-based hardware, including desktops, laptops, and workstations, and also develops the Pop!_OS distribution.

Pop!_OS is a secure, open-source OS designed to help professionals create and innovate.

System76’s mission is to empower creators with open-source tools, with a vision to transform the world through revolutionary software, reflected in the tagline: “UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL.”

What is COSMIC?
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COSMIC is a custom desktop environment built with Rust to enhance performance, security, and stability.

COSMIC was created to improve Pop!_OS based on user feedback. It introduces custom theming, auto-tiling, new core apps, and greater control over workflows.

Why Rust?
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Rust was chosen for its memory safety, speed, and security, ensuring a stable and responsive desktop.

Key Features of COSMIC
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Customization Options: Personalize your desktop.
Optimized UI/UX: Clean, efficient, and productivity-focused.
Performance & Efficiency: Rust ensures speed and lower resource usage.

Progress and Future Plans
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Current Development Stage
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COSMIC is in active development. The latest version, COSMIC Epoch (Alpha 5), introduces the COSMIC Media Player, User Settings, Alt+Tab improvements, and more.

You can view the latest developments and contribute on Github

Upcoming Features
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The upcoming Alpha 6 release is expected to be followed by a Beta version. The development roadmap includes more improvements and the addition of key features.

Installation
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For Pop!_OS
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Download the Alpha 5 ISO and install it.

For Other Distributions
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Example for Fedora:

# Installation (Tagged Releases)
sudo dnf install @cosmic-desktop-environment

# Installation (Nightly releases)
sudo dnf copr enable ryanabx/cosmic-epoch
sudo dnf install cosmic-desktop