14 DAY TRIAL // Chakra Linux, a distribution specifically built to take advantage of KDE Software Compilation and the Plasma desktop, has reached version 2014.05.
Chakra Linux 2014.05 is the first one in a new series called “Descartes” that will be following the KDE 4.13 releases, although the team will not settle for just a simple implementation of this desktop environment.
Unlike other developers who are using KDE as their desktop solution, the guys from Chakra didn't want a run-of-the-mill experience for users. They tried to give it a unique feel so that users know two things right from the start: they are using Chakra and a KDE variation.
“We are excited to include the new artwork set by Malcer, codenamed Sirius. The whole Chakra experience has been improved in every detail, from the GRUB theme to the KDE Desktop.”
“Furthermore, Chakra has in the meantime moved to a new server. This choice has had a huge impact on our users and also on our internal infrastucture. A lot of effort has been put into improving our tools, resulting in them being now both more functional as well as easier to maintain. Our buildsystem received several improvements and our repositories are being prepared for a move to Akabei, the new package manager we plan to introduce in the near future,” reads the installer.
This version of Chakra Linux comes with a huge number of changes and improvements. For example, KDE SC 3.13.1 has been implemented in the operating system, users now have the option do disable Baloo (the replacement for the Nepomuk search function), the tools have been translated in more than 30 languages, a new logo has been added, a default theme called “Sirius” has been added for GRUB, KDM, KSplash, and Yakuake, and a new desktop wallpaper is now used.
Also, some of the latest drivers have been implemented in the distribution, ensuring that most of the newer hardware will work. Users will have by default NVIDIA 331.38, Catalyst 13.12, xf86-video-nouveau 1.0.10, xf86-video-ati 7.2.0, xf86-video-intel 2.21.15, and Mesa 10.0.5.
The system is also based on Linux kernel 3.12.15, xorg-server 1.14.5, and systemd 212, and a number of new applications have been implemented, such as octopi, kcm-pacman-repoeditor, kcm-about-distro, Kupm (backup software), and kcalc.
Unfortunately, the installer used by this Linux distribution, Tribe, doesn't have support for UEFI, RAID, LVM, and GPT, which might be a problem for some of the potential users.
You can download Chakra Linux 2014.05 right now from Softpedia.