This Immutable Linux Distro Has A Killer Tool That Sets It Apart - And Makes Ditching Windows Easy

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Aurora is different Fedora spin-off that mightiness beryllium nan champion distribution for those migrating from Windows
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET cardinal takeaways

  • Immutable operating systems are nan measurement of nan future.
  • Aurora is an immutable distribution based connected Fedora.
  • Aurora is free to download and install.

I've gone connected and connected astir immutable operating systems complete nan past twelvemonth aliases so. There's a bully logic for that.

Also: 5 Linux distros that return a small activity retired of nan box, but are truthful worthy nan effort

Immutable operating systems are a melodramatic displacement distant from nan accepted OS, wherever users tin entree and alteration everything connected nan OS... moreover strategy files. All you request is sudo entree aliases nan administrator password, and there's thing you cannot do pinch nan operating system. In nan incorrect hands, that tin extremity successful disaster.

That's wherever immutability comes into play. With an immutable OS, nan halfway of nan strategy is mounted successful read-only mode, truthful it cannot beryllium changed. To that end, immutable operating systems are exponentially much unafraid than those that travel nan accepted model.

In different words, immutable equals good. There are plentifulness of immutable Linux distributions connected nan market. Some of those distributions are awesome options for caller users. One specified distro is Aurora.

Also: How to tally a Windows app connected Linux pinch Wine

What is Aurora?

Aurora is based connected Fedora and focuses chiefly connected Flatpak apps. The superior features of Aurora include:

  • Immutability
  • KDE Plasma
  • Sensible defaults
  • Atomic updates
  • Unified app store
  • Expanded hardware support

The first mobility that comes to mind is "What are sensible defaults?" When nan developers create and package Aurora, they've configured nan distribution specified that it is instantly usable (by immoderate personification type) retired of nan box. In different words, you shouldn't person to walk overmuch clip pinch configurations aliases customizations. Install Aurora, log in, and commencement utilizing it.

There is only 1 caveat to those sensible defaults. If you unfastened nan desktop menu, you'll announcement nan deficiency of an agency suite. In fact, nan only entries successful nan Office submenu are Kontact and Okular.

The large mobility would past be: Is an agency suite essential?

Also: I tried a Linux distro that promises free, built-in AI - and things sewage weird

Given that truthful galore are utilizing cloud-hosted agency suites (such arsenic Google Workspace and Office 365), it makes consciousness not to see specified an app by default. Fortunately, it's very easy to instal an agency suite, acknowledgment to nan Bazaar Flatpak package head GUI. Open nan app store, and you'll find LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors, WPS Office, and more.

Bazaar is an outstanding instrumentality for managing Flatpak apps.

Bazaar.

The Bazaar app shop allows you to instal each sorts of Flatpak apps.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Another bully characteristic recovered successful Aurora is nan offline docs app. This is not truthful overmuch a dedicated app arsenic it is simply a shortcut to nan Okular archive spectator that opens to nan Aurora docs. Within those docs, you'll find thief for basal usage, installation help, rebasing, and overmuch more. Within nan Basic Usage section, you'll find accusation connected really to instal and negociate package and updates.

Also: This is my favourite Linux distro of each clip -- and I've tried them all

The KDE Plasma Help Center.

This thief strategy should beryllium considered a must.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You mightiness deliberation an operating system's archiving mightiness incorporate much accusation than that. Think astir it this way: If you're caller to Linux, nan first point you'll want to cognize astir is installing apps. Maybe, astatine immoderate constituent on nan way, you mightiness want to study much astir nan operating system. When/if that's nan case, there's plentifulness of thief connected nan net to support you moving guardant pinch your Linux journey. Until then, instal each nan apps you request and usage nan OS.

To me, that makes cleanable sense. Why confuse group who are caller to Linux pinch excessively overmuch information? To debar intimidating caller users, support it basic.

It's still KDE Plasma

Aurora uses nan KDE Plasma desktop environment, which is simply a awesome choice, arsenic it is very welcoming to caller users. And moreover though Aurora is an immutable distribution, it doesn't forestall you from customizing nan desktop truthful it looks and feels precisely really you want it. Don't for illustration nan sheet astatine nan bottom, move it to either broadside aliases nan top.

Don't for illustration nan theme, download arsenic galore arsenic you like.

For those who've ne'er utilized Linux, KDE Plasma is 1 of nan champion desktops to motorboat your journey. Out of nan box, it is group up to thief you win and shouldn't origin you immoderate problems.

How is Aurora different?

This is nan tricky question. Given location are respective immutable Linux distributions, what sets Aurora apart?

If I could find 1 point that sets this distribution apart, it's nan inclusion of a instrumentality called Distroshelf.

Distroshelf

Add arsenic galore distributions arsenic you need.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

This app is akin to GNOME Boxes, wherever you tin easy rotation up a different Linux distribution arsenic a virtual machine, without having to spell done nan analyzable steps of utilizing a virtual instrumentality application. From Distroshelf, you tin adhd distributions specified arsenic Fedora, Amazon Linux, Arch, Debian, openSUSE, and galore more.

Distroshelf makes it easy for users to research different varieties of Linux and moreover research and learn.

Also: I instal these 11 apps connected each caller Linux system, and you should, excessively - here's why

Other than Distroshelf, Aurora is very overmuch for illustration different immutable distributions: It's secure, reliable, and user-friendly capable for conscionable astir anyone.

For those who want to time off Windows, Aurora is 1 action that tin person you up and moving pinch Linux, without worrying that you mightiness break nan OS.

If you're willing successful Aurora Linux, download an ISO and either rotation it up arsenic a virtual instrumentality aliases instal it connected a spare computer.

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