14 DAY TRIAL // This came from nowhere! System76 today announced that they've been working lately on their own GNU/Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu and the GNOME desktop environment.
Entitled Pop!_OS, the Ubuntu spin is in fact Ubuntu Linux with System76's Pop GTK and icon themes, drivers for the laptops and desktops that the hardware manufacture usually ships pre-loaded with the latest version of Ubuntu, and many of the GNOME improvements developed by System76's devs.
"Pop!_OS is designed for people who use their computer to create; whether it’s complicated, professional grade software and products, sophisticated 3D models, computer science in academia, or makers working on their latest invention," reads the distro's page. "Built on Ubuntu, you have access to vast repositories of open source software and development tools."
Also included are System76's boot logo, login screen logo, and default gsettings for the GNOME desktop environment. System76 is not the first, nor the last, Linux hardware manufacturer to offer a highly modified version of Ubuntu, which is usually known as a remix or spin.
First Pop!_OS stable release arrives October 19, 2017
Pop!_OS is currently in development, based on the upcoming Ubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark) operating system, which later today will get its first Alpha milestone. System76 also announced today that a Pop!_OS Alpha release is now ready for those who want to see what the fuss is all about.
Just like Ubuntu 17.10, which will also launch with the GNOME desktop environment by default, the Pop!_OS stable release arrives October 19, 2017. The development of the Pop!_OS Ubuntu spin is open and takes place over at GitHub if you want to report bugs during the Alpha and Beta testing, or help System76 improve the code and make it the modern and powerful OS they want it to be.