The EndeavourOS development team has unveiled the “Mercury” release, introducing significant improvements to the Arch Linux-based distribution. This update focuses on refining the installation process, enhancing desktop theming, and resolving previous system issues.
A notable enhancement in Mercury is the inclusion of a memory test feature for EFI systems, addressing a previously unfulfilled need. Additionally, challenges associated with BIOS/Legacy installations have been effectively resolved, ensuring a smoother setup experience for users operating on older hardware configurations.
The Calamares installer has been updated to version 25.02.1.4-3, bringing several key improvements. Notably, the “Replace Partition” option now correctly manages empty disk space, and the issue of duplicate entries in the EFI selection dropdown has been addressed, streamlining the installation process.
In terms of aesthetics, the Mercury release introduces a default dark theme across multiple desktop environments, including KDE, GNOME, XFCE4, MATE, Budgie, and Cinnamon. For GNOME users, the system now automatically switches between dark and light wallpapers in response to mode changes, enhancing visual coherence. The XFCE4 theme has been adjusted to more closely align with the environment’s default setup, catering to user preferences for a familiar interface.
The Mercury ISO is equipped with the following package versions for both the live environment and the offline installation option:
– Calamares 25.02.1.4-3
– Firefox 135.0-1
– Linux kernel 6.13.1.arch2-1
– Mesa 1:24.3.4-1
– Xorg-server 21.1.15-1
– Nvidia 570.86.16-3
The EndeavourOS team has indicated that future release schedules may become more irregular due to team members’ personal commitments, such as developer Joe Kamprad’s pursuit of programming certification. Despite this, the team remains dedicated to delivering timely updates and maintaining the system’s rolling release model.
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