Exciting Updates: Xfce 4.20 and Linux Mint 22.1 Coming This December!

The anticipation is building as we approach a monumental release in the world of open-source software: Xfce 4.20 is slated to launch on December 15, marking the anniversary of its predecessor Xfce 4.18, which was introduced two years prior. This latest version promises to bring preliminary, "minimally usable" support for Wayland, a major step for the long-standing desktop environment that has been serving users since the days of the XForms toolkit.

Xfce, a beacon of stability in the landscape of Linux desktop environments, isn't hurrying to embrace Wayland fully. The initial release will not be a complete native Wayland experience, as the developers plan to retain X11 support, ensuring compatibility across various operating systems, including all BSD variants and even Dragonfly BSD. As outlined in Xfce’s roadmap, while not every feature available in Xfce sessions will be present in the Wayland support for this major update, they aim to provide a functional experience for users eager for new technology.

But that’s not all—Linux Mint 22.1 is also on the horizon! Project lead Clement Lefebvre has confirmed a release scheduled for December alongside the new Cinnamon desktop environment version 6.4. This updated release boasts a dramatic dark theme with enhanced contrast, revamped dialog boxes, and on-screen displays utilizing the Clutter library. While Mint utilizes its own set of themes—Mint-X and Mint-Y—Cinnamon has gained a foothold in various other distributions, highlighting its growing popularity beyond just the Mint ecosystem.

A significant change in Mint 22.1 includes its shift away from older Ubuntu toolsets to new in-house alternatives for managing Debian packages. Users will be introduced to Captain, which takes over the graphical installation of .deb packages, replacing Gdebi and apturl, and aptkit, which will manage background activities in place of aptdaemon. These updates signal Mint’s commitment to enhancing the user experience by tailoring software that better meets user expectations.

Complications arise with the transition to Gtk 4, the latest iteration of the GIMP Toolkit, which aims to unify GNOME theming at the risk of alienating some users. As Xfce and MATE navigate this changing landscape, there are voices within the community advocating for collaboration to maintain the now-outdated Gtk 3 codebase, a necessity as technology rapidly evolves.

As December approaches, the buzz surrounding Xfce 4.20 and Linux Mint 22.1 culminates in an exciting time for users eager to experience new functionalities and improvements. Stay tuned for these releases that promise to bring both innovation and continuity in the open-source arena!