As mentioned several weeks ago, on May 1, 2025, following the announcement of the discontinuation of Plasma’s LTS releases, we had to delay the release of the next version of Nitrux while proceeding with an action plan.
Our action plan included a meticulous resolution process that considered multiple available options, one of which was to utilize Plasma 6 in an AppImage bundle and reimplement NX Desktop over the new version of Plasma. This would have been a reversal of our previous decision not to use Plasma 6 and to continue working on Maui Shell. However, an ever-changing landscape, coupled with development efforts that are stretched thin and a lack of interest in code contributions from community contributors, means that we will put Maui Shell on hold. It’s not dead, but its development is stalled, and unless there is a change in this situation is no longer a priority.
Given this state of affairs, we opted for a different path: Start with a renewed focus on simplification and downsizing.
These will be the fundamental changes in the distribution moving forward:
- Desktop: Plasma → Hyprland and its utilities + Waybar + Wlogout.
- Effective June 10, 2025, all components of NX Desktop are no longer maintained, and our nx-desktop organization on GitHub has been archived.
- Therefore, we have decided to use Hyprland and its utilities, along with Waybar and Wlogout, to put together the default desktop in Nitrux.
- Kernel: Liquorix → Cachy.
- The Liquorix kernel still does not include the patch for enabling PSI. This patch is important because it enables Waydroid to function. We intend to use Nitrux outside of a personal computer, and using Waydroid is vital for this purpose. The Cachy kernel enables PSI, and we want to utilize their configuration this time around, along with their many other changes and differences in the Linux kernel configuration.
- Display Manager: SDDM → greetd + QtGreet.
- As with other components from NX Desktop, our SDDM theme no longer works, since it was built with Plasma UI components. Given our continued use of Qt and QML, as seen in MauiKit Apps, QtGreet seems like a perfect replacement.
- Even though greetd and QtGreet support X11 sessions, we decided not to; therefore, we only support a Wayland session (Hyprland).
- Prioritize our NX AppHub and AppBox distribution method over AppImage.
- TL;DR: NX AppHub is a solution for Nitrux designed by Nitrux for use on Nitrux. Refer to the project’s wiki for additional information.
- We will phase out FUSE 2 from Nitrux; therefore, any AppImage that does not use a FUSE 3 runtime will cease to function.
- Bi-monthly updates through NUTS.
These are wishlist changes in the distribution:
- ISO: SquashFS → DwarFS.
- Our use case with AppBox has demonstrated that DwarFS is a superior solution for archiving compared to SquashFS. We want to replicate this success with our ISO.
- Distribution: Target ARM64 in addition to x86_64.
- We’ve acquired knowledge on how to build images for some SBCs. However, our infrastructure does not build packages for ARM64, so we’d like to change that.
Everything else remains the same.
Since this is a transitional period, it will take some weeks before we complete it. This also includes updating our documentation where necessary. Either way, we will keep users informed.