Technology

Enlightenment Desktop Environment Receives Major Update: Version 0.27 Released

2025-01-28

Author: Arjun

In a significant boost for Linux users, the Enlightenment desktop environment, one of the longest-standing graphical interfaces for Linux, has just unveiled its latest version, 0.27.0, earlier this month. This update may not have the grandiosity of other software releases but promises a host of fixes along with some exciting new features, although the release notes humorously hint at their brevity: 'This is the latest release of Enlightenment. This has a lot of fixes, mostly with some new features.'

But there's more to this release than meets the eye. Enlightenment 0.27 is closely tied to the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL), a robust set of graphics programming libraries that have seen substantial updates in parallel with this new release. EFL 1.28 has arrived along with Enlightenment 0.27, featuring thousands of changes accumulated over 151 files, driving forward the project’s commitment to improvement and innovation.

Enlightenment has a rich and intricate history dating back to its first release in 1997, making it one of the oldest graphical environments still in active development today. Despite its complex version numbering system, which has earned it a spot on the ZeroVer list, users can trace its evolution through various versions, including the critically acclaimed DR16 and the subsequent development of DR17 in December 2012.

The project has seen fluctuating development speeds, with a 13-year hiatus during which the DR16 version was maintained. Today, this venerable version is known as E16, with its latest update 1.0.30 scheduled for August 10, 2024. What has set Enlightenment apart is its versatility—while it targets modern desktop needs, it also caters to older hardware, exemplified by its fork Moksha, which underpins Bodhi Linux, a lightweight Ubuntu remix aimed at running smoothly on aged computers.

Frequent updates have characterized the Enlightenment project since DR17, with ten additional releases emerging over 13 years. This newfound regularity mirrors the development pattern of the Wine project, proving that Enlightenment is not only surviving but thriving within the competitive Linux environment.

Interestingly, many mainstream Linux distributions have not overlooked Enlightenment. OpenSUSE and others include it as an optional desktop environment, while niche distributions like Elive continue to keep the spirit alive, indicating a sustained interest in this unique desktop flavor. The Tizen project, well-known for powering smart TVs, has also adopted Enlightenment, proving its adaptability across platforms.

Additionally, Enlightenment 0.27 comes alongside the announcement of Linux Kernel 6.12, which has been marked as a new long-term support kernel. Users can expect better power management, security updates, and performance enhancements in the upcoming 6.13 kernel—including Linux’s new association with Microsoft's Copilot technology.

Early test runs of Enlightenment 0.27 on Arch Linux show promising results: it exhibits a smooth user experience even as it retains a lightweight aura reminiscent of desktop environments from the 1990s. Even as it embraces modern visual effects and animations, it remains true to its roots, offering a visual appeal distinct from the more corporate blandness found in other Linux desktops.

In conclusion, while Enlightenment might not suit everyone’s needs, its latest update injects a spark of innovation and nostalgia into the Linux desktop landscape, reminding users that alternatives still exist beyond the mainstream offerings.