Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS is a free and open-source Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu, and featuring a customized GNOME desktop environment known as COSMIC. The distribution is developed by American Linux computer manufacturer System76. Pop!_OS is primarily built to be bundled with the computers built by System76, but can also be downloaded and installed on most computers.
Pop!_OS 21.10, with the COSMIC desktop | |
| Developer | System76 |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open source |
| Initial release | October 27, 2017 |
| Latest release | 22.04 LTS / 25 April 2022 |
| Repository | https://github.com/pop-os |
| Update method | APT (+ Pop!_Shop User Interface) |
| Package manager | |
| Platforms | x86-64 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux kernel) |
| Userland | GNU |
| Default user interface | GNOME (COSMIC) |
| Official website | pop |
Pop!_OS provides full out-of-the-box support for both AMD and Nvidia GPUs. A 2020 review in Foss BYTES described it as an easy distribution to set up for gaming, mainly due to its built-in GPU support. Pop!_OS provides default disk encryption, streamlined window and workspace management, keyboard shortcuts for navigation as well as built-in power management profiles. The latest releases also have packages that allow for easy setup for TensorFlow and CUDA.
Pop!_OS is maintained primarily by System76, with the release version source code hosted in a GitHub repository. Unlike many other Linux distributions, it is not community-driven, although outside programmers can contribute, view and modify the source code. They can also build custom ISO images and redistribute them under another name.