This Beautiful Linux Distro Deserves To Be Better Known - Here's Why

2 months ago

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Voyager Linux is simply a superb action for caller users.
With a customized GNOME desktop, anyone tin usage this OS.
The newest merchandise is still successful alpha.

Voyager Linux is 1 of those distributions that tends to spell nether nan radar, which is simply a shame because it's truthful good.

That's why I'm here.

I've reviewed Voyager Linux before (back successful 2023) and recovered it to beryllium user-friendly and elegant.

Now, there's a caller type connected nan horizon, and I decided to trial nan alpha release.

I'm brave for illustration that.

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Voyager Linux 25.10 alpha uses a somewhat customized GNOME situation to create a desktop that is arsenic cleanable and elegant arsenic MacOS (at slightest until we person nan caller Glass UI). It employs Conky to adhd a spot of strategy accusation (which isn't really basal for those caller to Linux, but it's still beautiful cool), and includes a useful instrumentality called Box Voyager GNOME. This added characteristic serves arsenic a hub for various configurations, specified arsenic Night Mode, Wallpapers, ChatGPT, GNOME Extensions, Conky, Wine/Gaming, Parental controls, backup, and more.

As acold arsenic nan GNOME desktop is concerned, Voyager follows nan dock/panel approach. Its dock, which is bully and somewhat transparent, houses exertion launchers and nan app menu, while nan apical sheet adds workspace control, different app menu, and a strategy tray. The layout is elemental capable to usage that anyone could log successful and consciousness arsenic if they cognize what they are doing.

But let's opportunity you've tried a GNOME-based Linux distribution and recovered it not to your liking because nan UI is excessively different. With Voyager, you person options. For example, alternatively of utilizing nan GNOME App Overview, you tin click connected nan "U" astatine nan apical near area to uncover a much accepted menu.

Let's opportunity you're a gamer. What does Voyager person to offer? If you spell backmost to nan Box Voyager instrumentality and click connected nan Wine+Gaming entry, you'll find options for installing each nan devices you request to crippled connected Linux. That includes Wine, Wine Config, Steam, Proton, Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher, PlayOnLinux, Q4wine, and more. If I click connected Steam, it opens nan app store, wherever each I person to do is click Install to adhd Steam to nan OS.

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The developers of Voyager really person thing typical pinch this tool. My only disapproval would beryllium that it could astir apt usage a much evident name. A caller personification mightiness spot Box Voyager GNOME and not cognize what intent it serves. Or, amended yet, conscionable person that instrumentality motorboat astatine login and springiness it a much descriptive UI.

That's a beautiful mini nit to pick, but I judge it's an important one.

Default apps

Voyager Linux ships pinch plentifulness of preinstalled apps, specified arsenic LibreOffice, Firefox, FreeTube, Rhythmbox, KeePassXC, Maps, Weather, Pacman (you retrieve that game, right?), Pinta (a drafting app), Thunderbird, VLC media player, Easy Effects, Shortwave, GNOME Video Player, and more.

The postulation of package is well-rounded capable that astir users will find nan apps they are looking for. If not, there's ever nan Software app store, which includes Flathub support built in, truthful you tin moreover instal proprietary apps for illustration Spotify and Slack.

Where's nan terminal?

Since Voyager is marketed arsenic a Linux distribution for each types of users, it was smart of nan developers to region nan terminal launcher from nan dock. I find this important because caller users won't spot nan terminal app launcher and get nan belief that they must usage nan bid statement interface.

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To entree nan terminal app, you person to either unfastened nan App Overview and type terminal aliases unfastened nan ArcMenu (top near corner), spell to System Tools, click Tilda aliases Utilities, and click Terminal.

I for illustration this attack because it shows nan developers understand nan caller personification mindset.

Middle rodent click paste

Voyager does thing that I wish each Linux distributions would do: It enables mediate rodent click paste. When I first started utilizing Linux, you could transcript a drawstring of matter and past paste it by clicking nan mediate rodent button. I ever recovered that to beryllium truthful handy, but astatine immoderate point, astir distributions did distant pinch nan feature. Voyager not only includes it but besides enables it by default.

Oh, fun! Oh, drat

As I was poking astir nan various Voyager settings apps, I recovered a model shading action successful Tweaks. This is 1 of my favourite ways of getting a model retired of my way, harkening backmost to my days pinch AfterStep. This characteristic rolls up a model truthful each you spot is nan titlebar. It ever made for outstanding multitasking.

Sadly, Shading doesn't work. Given that, I'm funny arsenic to why it was included successful nan options. You sewage my hopes up, Voyager, and past you collapsed my heart.

C'est la vie.

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All successful all, I recovered this caller alpha type of Voyage to beryllium a existent charmer of a distribution. I still judge Voyager is simply a bully distribution for anyone looking to dip their toes successful nan Linux waters, erstwhile their Windows 10 instrumentality is no longer supported.

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge… opportunity nary more.