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![]() Q4OS 4.8 (Gemini) running the Trinity Desktop Environment version R14.0.11 | |
Developer | Q4OS development team |
---|---|
OS family | Linux |
Working state | Current |
Source model | Open source |
Latest release | Q4OS 4.11 (Gemini)[1] / December 24, 2022 |
Available in | Multilingual |
Update method | APT |
Package manager | dpkg |
Platforms | x86-64, i386, armhf, arm64 |
Kernel type | Linux kernel |
Userland | GNU |
Default user interface | TDE, KDE Plasma |
License | Free software licenses (mainly GPL) + some proprietary |
Official website | q4os |
Q4OS is a light-weight Linux distribution, based on Debian, targeted as a replacement for operating systems that are no longer supported on outdated hardware.[2] The distribution is known for being similar in appearance to Microsoft Windows operating systems with some of its pre-installed themes inspired by the look and feel of Windows 2000 and Windows XP.[3][4]
History
Development of Q4OS began in 2014 to coincide with Windows XP's end of extended support in the same year.[5]
LXQt Desktop Environment was included from April 2014 to June 2015.
In 2018 TDE (Trinity Desktop Environment) was included.
In 2019, version 3.8 was released which was based on Debian Buster.[6]
The original KDE based version has been discontinued since around 2018.[7]
As of April 2020, the core developers of Q4OS, initially starting the project in Germany,[8] are now operating in Prague, Czech Republic.[9][10]
Features
It comes with either the Trinity Desktop Environment, which is a fork of K Desktop Environment 3.[11] or KDE Plasma 5
LookSwitcher, which lets the user switch visual themes
Desktop Profiler, which automatically installs some packages and programs that may be ideal for the user according to the profile that they choose
Q4OS Software Centre, which lets the user install some recommended packages and programs from a list
Q4OS Welcome Screen, which helps the user with some initial tweaks
Releases
Stable versions of Q4OS are derived from Debian's Stable release branch with long-term support that lasts five years after their initial release.[12] Developmental "testing" versions of future releases are derived from the Debian Testing branch.[13]
Version[14] | Codename | Release date | End-of-life | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
0.5.17 | 2014-07-17 | "Development" version | ||
1.1-RC2 | 2015-04-14 | Second release candidate of Q4OS 1.1 | ||
1.2 | Orion | 2015-04-27 | Initial version to be specified under codename Orion | |
1.2.3 | 2015-06-08 | The LXQt desktop environment is now supported | ||
1.4 | 2015-09-04 | Initial version to support devices running on ARM architecture[15] | ||
1.6.3 | 2016-08-05 | Implemented UEFI support | ||
1.8.4 | 2017-04-26 | Icedove is replaced with Mozilla Thunderbird, LXQt is unsupported[16] | ||
2.0.2 | Scorpion | 2016-01-06 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Scorpion | |
2.3.6 | 2017-10-04 | "Final beta" release | ||
2.4 | 2017-10-04 | 2022-10 | Initial stable release of Q4OS Scorpion and to provide long-term support | |
2.5 | 2018-06-03 | 2023-06 | TDE is now bundled with KDE Plasma | |
3.1 | Centaurus | 2018-01-29 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Centaurus | |
3.8 | 2019-07-15 | 2024-07 | Initial stable release of Q4OS Centaurus | |
3.10 | 2020-01-04 | 2025-01 | TDE and KDE Plasma have been split into separate installation images | |
3.13 | 2020-12-19 | 2025-12 | The Snap daemon has been removed from default installation | |
4.0 | Gemini | 2020-02-16 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Gemini | |
4.6 | 2021-09-27 | 2026-09 | Initial stable release of Q4OS Gemini | |
4.7 | 2021-11-22 | 2026-11 | ||
4.8 | 2022-04-05 | 2027-04 | ||
4.10 | 2022-08-01 | 2027-08 | ||
4.11 | 2022-12-24 | 2027-08 | Latest stable release of Q4OS | |
5.0 | Aquarius | 2023-03-27 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Aquarius | |
Legend: Old version Older version, still maintained Latest version Latest preview version Future release |
Reception
SourceForge featured Q4OS as "Community Choice" Project of the Month in April 2020.[10]
In January 2022, TechRadar considered Q4OS as one of the best light-weight Linux distributions of the year for its Windows installer and support for older hardware, notably systems running on 32-bit processors.[17]
Forks
The Linux distribution Quark is Q4OS with Ubuntu as the base instead of Debian.[18]
See also
References
- ^ "Q4OS 4.11 Gemini, stable". q4os.org.
- ^ Wallen, Jack (2018-02-16). "Q4OS Makes Linux Easy for Everyone". Linux.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ Germain, Jack M. (2015-03-18). "Q4OS Is a Bare-Bones Business Tool". TechNewsWorld. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ Stahie, Silviu (2014-09-09). "Q4OS 0.5.18 Is an Almost Exact Linux Replica of Windows XP – Gallery". Softpedia. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ^ Ranchal, Juan (29 November 2017). "Q4OS: nunca ha sido más fácil usar Linux junto a Windows". MuyComputer (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ Nestor, Marius (28 July 2019). "Q4OS Operating System Brings the Trinity Desktop to Debian GNU/Linux 10 "Buster"". Softpedia. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
- ^ Apfelböck, Hermann (2018-12-02). "Linux auf dem Stick: 10 Ideen für den Einsatz". PC-WELT (in German). Retrieved 2021-09-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Germain, Jack. "Fresh bit o' Linux to spruce up that ancient Windows Vista box? Why not, we say..." The Register. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ a b "April 2020, "Community Choice" Project of the Month – Q4OS". SourceForge Community Blog. 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ Thommes, Ferdinand. "Das Design von Windows XP lebt in Linux weiter". ComputerBase (in German). Retrieved 2021-09-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Paul, John (2019-05-26). "Q4OS Linux Revives Your Old Laptop with Windows' Looks - It's FOSS". It's FOSS. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Development Release: Q4OS 4.2 Testing (DistroWatch.com News)". DistroWatch. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
- ^ "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ Nestor, Marius (2017-04-25). "Debian-Based Q4OS 1.8.4 Operating System Lets Users Select Alternative Desktops". Softpedia. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- ^ Sharma, Shashank; Peers, Nick; Cox, Alex; Drake, Nate; Sharma, Mayank (2022-01-17). "Best lightweight Linux distros of 2022". TechRadar. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ February 2021, Mayank Sharma 26 (2021-02-26). "Quark 20.04 review". TechRadar. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
External links