Linux Mint, one of the most popular and user-friendly Linux distributions, is gearing up for the release of its latest version, Linux Mint 22. This new release, built atop Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, is currently in the beta testing phase. However, this time around, the developers have encountered more bugs than usual, leading to a busier period of bug fixing. Despite these challenges, Linux Mint 22 is still on track for a July release, promising exciting new features and improvements.
Beta Testing and Bug Fixing
Last week, Linux Mint 22 entered the beta phase, marking an important milestone in its development cycle. Typically, the beta phase for Linux Mint lasts about two weeks before the stable release. However, the increased number of bugs reported during this beta testing has necessitated a longer beta period.
Clement Lefebvre, the lead developer of Linux Mint, provided a brief status update in their monthly news bulletin. He mentioned, “Linux Mint 22 looks like a solid base for the future, but there are many bugs in this BETA. Some of the issues are important (apparmor security changes leading to application crashes, HW acceleration playback libs making Xorg crash, Flatpak/mintinstall issues…etc.) so we’re really happy to get this feedback before the stable release. We’re fixing them bit by bit and sending updates as we go along. It’s exciting, the release gets better every day, but it takes time.”
Key Features and Improvements
Linux Mint 22 brings in all the packages from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, along with updated Cinnamon desktop packages and more. This version of Linux Mint continues the trend of jumping between Ubuntu LTS versions, which ensures a stable and reliable base. Some of the key features and improvements in Linux Mint 22 include:
- Updated Cinnamon Desktop: The latest Cinnamon desktop environment offers a more polished and user-friendly experience with numerous bug fixes and performance enhancements.
- PipeWire by Default: PipeWire, a server for handling multimedia, is now included by default, promising better audio and video handling capabilities.
- Enhanced Security: The inclusion of updated AppArmor security profiles helps protect the system from various vulnerabilities.
- Improved Hardware Support: Enhanced hardware acceleration and updated drivers ensure better compatibility with modern hardware.
Release Timeline
Despite the longer-than-usual beta testing phase, Linux Mint 22 is still expected to be released later this month. Lefebvre explained, “It’s hard to give a precise ETA for the Stable release. We will release this month, but this BETA phase will take longer than the traditional 2 weeks.”
Linux Mint 22 is shaping up to be a significant release, building on the solid foundation of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and bringing numerous enhancements and new features. While the increased number of bugs has extended the beta testing period, this thorough process ensures a more stable and reliable final release. Keep an eye out for Linux Mint 22’s debut later this month, and get ready to experience one of the most user-friendly Linux distributions available.
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