14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just updated Skype for Linux to version 1.15, which is the very first set of improvements that the company ships for the Linux client in 2017.
Judging from the changelog, this is quite a minor release, but it does bring some neat improvements for Linux users who want to stick with Skype as their main messaging and VoIP platform.
For instance, this version of Skype updates to Electron 1.4.10, but also enables context menu with copy and paste commands in the message input area. This is one of the highly-requested features that you’d normally expect to have in a messaging app, but it’s probably better to get it later than not having it at all.
Additionally, Skype 1.15 for Linux (DEB and RPM links) also comes with one new option to add the application to autostart, and this is placed in Tools > Launch at login. You can also start Skype minimized, which once again is a feature that comes in handy to most users (go to Tools and enable the setting called “Launch minimized”).
Microsoft says that it also introduced many smaller improvements and bug fixes, but the firm also reminds that the client continues to be part of the alpha development stage and other issues are still very likely.
More features needed
While the Skype for Linux client is evolving, the user community still needs more essential features, such as contacts renaming, screen sharing, and others. Furthermore, there still are plenty of bugs in the app, and at first glance, they are fixed at a rather slow pace.
The “new” Skype for Linux was launched in July 2016, and although the app has received several important improvements since then, it continues to be part of the alpha development stage and still lacks other essential features.
There’s plenty of criticism from the open source community, with some users claiming that development advances way too slowly and if the same pace is maintained, it could take years to bring the Linux client in line with the Windows sibling.