This week's Linux and FOSS news:

LINUX NEWS

EndeavourOS Titan Neo Is Out with KDE Plasma 6.6.4 and KDE Gear 26.04:
https://9to5linux.com/endeavouros-titan-neo-is-out-with-kde-plasma-6-6-4-and-kde-gear-26-04

First Arch Linux ISO Powered by Linux Kernel 7.0 Is Now Available for Download:
https://9to5linux.com/first-arch-linux-iso-powered-by-linux-kernel-7-0-is-now-available-for-download

Shelly 2.2 Arch Linux GUI Package Manager Released with Major UI Revamp:
https://9to5linux.com/shelly-2-2-arch-linux-gui-package-manager-released-with-major-ui-revamp

CachyOS April 2026 release brings a new package manager and even more optimizations:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/04/cachyos-april-2026-release-brings-a-new-package-manager-and-even-more-optimizations/

Linux Mint monthly news: Hardware Enablement (HWE) ISOs, alpha phase in new release cycle, screensaver bug fix:
https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=5022

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS security support has ended – unless you pay:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/04/ubuntu-1604-lts-enters-legacy-support

Canonical is ‘ramping up’ AI in Ubuntu this year:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/04/ubuntu-ai-features

Attack knocks Ubuntu websites, services and Snap store offline:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/05/ubuntu-websites-ddos-attack

Fedora Linux 44 Is Now Available for Download, Here's What's New:
https://9to5linux.com/fedora-linux-44-is-now-available-for-download-heres-whats-new

Gaming-focused Linux distro Bazzite 44 brings Linux 6.19 kernel, GNOME 50 & KDE Plasma 6.6:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/4/gaming-focused-linux-distro-bazzite-44-brings-linux-6-19-kernel-gnome-50-and-kde-plasma-6-6/

AerynOS 2026.05 Released with Linux Kernel 7.0, New Logo, and More:
https://9to5linux.com/aerynos-2026-05-released-with-linux-kernel-7-0-new-logo-and-more

EasyOS Excalibur 7.3 milestone brings Xorg, ROX-Filer fixes and Nvidia driver:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/4/easyos-excalibur-7-3-milestone-brings-xorg-rox-filer-fixes-and-nvidia-driver/

Asahi Linux automates installer updates, adds VRR and Bluetooth fixes:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/4/asahi-linux-automates-installer-updates-adds-vrr-and-bluetooth-fixes/

This Week in Plasma: Background Apps and Zoom Up-Scaling:
https://blogs.kde.org/2026/05/02/this-week-in-plasma-background-apps-and-zoom-up-scaling/

Trinity Desktop Environment R14.1.6 Adds Support for Fedora 44, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS:
https://9to5linux.com/trinity-desktop-environment-r14-1-6-adds-support-for-fedora-44-ubuntu-26-04-lts

(more Linux and FOSS news in comments)

#WeeklyNews #News #Linux #LinuxNews #EndeavourOS #Arch #ArchLinux #Shelly #CachyOS #LinuxMint #Ubuntu #AI #Fedora #Fedora44 #Bazzite #AerynOS #EasyOS #AsahiLinux #KDE #KDEPlasma #TrinityDesktop #TDE #LinuxDistro #LinuxDistribution #DistroRelease #DistributionRelease #DesktopEnvironment #DesktopLinux #LinuxDesktop #FosseryTech

The simplest answer is "any of them".
A more complex answer is "depending on your skill level and how much you want to bother"

Let's assume limited skill so to make this reply possibly useful for as many people as possible.

The best part is that most distro nowadays are available as #LiveDistribution so you can put them on a USB stick and try them to see if you like them and they work well on your system, no strings attached.

The most popular answer is usually #LinuxMint: it's widely used, widely supported and available with an official Xfce version.
#Xfce is a #DesktopEnvironment (henceforth: DE), what manages the actual program windows(to simplify a bit), made with older systems(think Windows7 and older) in mind so less bell&whistles but lighter on CPU and RAM.
You can change it to a "cooler" one(i.e.: #GNOME, #KDE, #Cinnamon, #Mate) later anyway if you want: this is only the "starting look" so to say, to minimize\simplify impact.
Do note Mint is derived from #Ubuntu, with a number of changes(generally taken as improvements), and Ubuntu has been taking decision not everybody like(a #Debian based version is also available).

Another option is #OpenSUSE, currently enjoying a bit of extra popularity due it being developed mostly in the #EU and not derived from other pre-existing distributions. Multiple DEs are available at installation.

#Debian, with its Stable version, is THE paragon when talking about long term stability at cost of using older version of programs. You can manually install more recent ones but that increase the complexity perhaps beyond the scope of the request.
I haven't installed it in decade but I recall the installer not being the most user-friendly. Of course things can have changed wildly since then.

If you dislike having an invasive service manager, you can try out #AntiX, #MXLinux or #Devuan.
...but that might be beyond the complexity limit scope of the request.
Note: MX Linux and Devuan are specifically derived from Debian Stable.

This week's Linux and FOSS news:

LINUX NEWS

Colorado Age Attestation Bill May Exclude Open Source OSes and Apps:
https://9to5linux.com/colorado-age-attestation-bill-may-exclude-open-source-oses-and-apps

AlmaLinux Comments On California Age Verification Law:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/AlmaLinux-Age-Verification-Laws

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS released: GNOME 50, Wayland-only and Linux 7.0:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/04/ubuntu-26-04-lts-released

Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS Will Now Automatically Install HWE/OEM Kernel Packages:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Ubuntu-Server-26.04-HWE-OEM

Ubuntu 26.10 (Stonking Stingray) release date & schedule:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/04/ubuntu-26-10-release-date

Ubuntu Rust Coreutils Audit Revealed 113 Issues, Ubuntu 26.10 Aims For "100% Rust Coreutils":
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Ubuntu-Rust-Coreutils-Audit

Ubuntu Looks Toward More Snap-Based Devpacks Moving Forward:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Ubuntu-More-Devpacks-Future

Ghostty OpenGL-Accelerated Terminal Available On Ubuntu 26.04 LTS:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Ghostty-Ubuntu-26.04

Archinstall 4.3 Arch Linux Installer Adds Support for Installing Additional Fonts:
https://9to5linux.com/archinstall-4-3-arch-linux-installer-adds-support-for-installing-additional-fonts

CachyOS Rolls Out A Super-Charged Linux 7.0 Kernel:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/CachyOS-Super-Charged-Linux-7.0

Microsoft Reportedly Looking At Rebasing Azure Linux On Fedora:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/MS-Azure-Linux-Fedora-Based

Tails 7.7 Anonymous Distro Adds Detection of Outdated Secure Boot Certificates:
https://9to5linux.com/tails-7-7-anonymous-distro-adds-detection-of-outdated-secure-boot-certificates

Almalinux 9.8 beta released with expanded architecture and toolset support:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/4/almalinux-9-8-beta-released-with-expanded-architecture-and-toolset-support/

LXQt 2.4 Desktop Environment Released with More Wayland Improvements:
https://9to5linux.com/lxqt-2-4-desktop-environment-officially-released-with-more-wayland-improvements

Niri 26.04 Wayland Compositor Adds Much Sought After Blur Support:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Niri-26.04-Released

(more Linux and FOSS news in comments)

#WeeklyNews #News #Linux #LinuxNews #AgeVerification #AlmaLinux #Ubuntu #Ubuntu2604 #Ubuntu2604LTS #Ubuntu2610 #RustCoreutils #UbuntuServer #Ghostty #Archinstall #Arch #ArchLinux #CachyOS #AzureLinux #Tails #TailsOS #LXQt #Niri #Niri26 #LinuxDesktop #DesktopLinux #DistroRelease #DistributionRelease #LinuxDistro #LinuxDistribution #DesktopEnvironment #WindowManager #WaylandCompositor #FosseryTech

LXQt 2.4.0 Refines Its Lightweight Desktop Experience

LXQt 2.4.0 arrives with improvements to power management, audio controls, and Wayland support, plus a collection of bugfixes that make the lightweight desktop a bit more refined.

https://yoota.it/en/lxqt-2-4-0-refines-its-lightweight-desktop-experience/

Esce LXQt 2.4.0, il desktop minimalista per Linux usato anche da Lubuntu

LXQt 2.4.0 è disponibile: il desktop Linux leggero basato su Qt con miglioramenti alla gestione energetica, al pannello audio e al supporto Wayland, oltre a numerosi bugfix.

https://yoota.it/esce-lxqt-2-4-0-il-desktop-minimalista-per-linux-usato-anche-da-lubuntu/

LXQt 2.4 migliora Wayland e rifinisce l’esperienza desktop leggera

LXQt 2.4 introduce miglioramenti Wayland, fix e ottimizzazioni per un desktop leggero, stabile e moderno su Linux.

Linux Easy

I wonder how many desktop environments and projects of similar complexity have trans project leads/primary maintainers.

#trans #DesktopEnvironment