They did some crazy stuff, also implementing core technologies from the ground up.
full changelog
- ABRoot v2: Complete rewrite using OCI images for reliable updates, improved support for atomic transactions, system state dumping, changing kernel flags, a built-in method to edit the configuration, ability to generate local images with extra packages (for drivers, codecs, and libraries), ability to rollback, and re-generate the initramfs.
- Hybrid Debian Base: Transition from Ubuntu to a hybrid base made of Debian packages and Vib modules for increased flexibility and control over updates and configuration.
- LVM Thin Provisioning: Efficient disk space usage with logical volumes, allowing virtual filesystems larger than the available physical storage and supporting the dynamic allocation of space as needed for the two roots.
- PolKit Policies: Replaces sudo for secure privileged operations.
- VSO v2: Acts as system shell, package manager, and supports Android apps via Waydroid integrated with F-Droid. Improved the tasks automation system to cover infinite scenarios.
- DEB/APK Sideloading: Install .deb and .apk packages with Sideload Utility.
- Apx v2: Custom environments, supports various package managers, and introduces stacks for replicating environment configurations. Includes package manager mapping, stack creation, and subsystem management. Distrobox updated to version 1.7.2.1.
- Apx GUI: Graphical interface for APX management with ease.
- FsGuard and FsWarn: Boot-time system integrity checks to ensure system security and reliability.
- Vanilla Installer: Uses a reduced GNOME session, a new Albius backend that replaces distinst, new configuration screens, OEM support, and support for encrypting the /var partition with LUKS2. Supports manual partitioning and network configuration during installation.
- First Setup: Uses a reduced GNOME session, added network configuration, user creation, hostname configuration, allows picking your browser of choice, and improved screens.
- PRIME Profiles: A new GUI for switching graphics cards, enhancing hardware compatibility.
- Vanilla Tools: Utilities for managing system features: cur-gpu to display the GPU in use, nrun to run a command using the NVIDIA GPU, prime-switch to switch PRIME Profiles.
- Kernel 6.9.8: Ensures compatibility with the latest devices and peripherals.
- GNOME 46: Updated GNOME to version 46, introducing the new pill icon to switch between workspaces plus all the UI and stability improvements.
- Vib (Vanilla Image Builder): Our new OCI recipe system. Recommended method for creating custom and derivative OCI images of Vanilla OS, facilitating modular and scalable system builds. We have created a template for users to easily create custom images for Vanilla OS.
- Recovery Mode: Integrated in the installer with recovery tools like terminal, GParted, and documentation access for system restoration.
- Prometheus: Container library/engine for OCI image management, enhancing deployment processes in Albius and ABRoot.
- Eratosthenes: Platform for browsing package details from our Debian repositories, providing detailed package information.
- Atlas: Platform for browsing our OCI image details, aiding in system transparency.
- Pico, Core, Desktop Images: Structured for modularity and flexibility, forming the base of Vanilla OS.
- VM and NVIDIA Images: Proposed at installation time if the right hardware is identified.
- Dev Image: Can be used in APX, and provides a large set of development libraries/SDKs and tools.
- Chronos: Unified documentation server and frontend combining all guides and documentation for easier access and management.
- Update Feedback and Control: A new icon now appears on the top right of the screen when an update is being installed, click on it to stop the ongoing operation.
- New Wallpaper: Designed by community member hrstwn.
- Build Provenance: We are attesting our OCI images using GitHub Actions to ensure build provenance.
- New Branding: Introduced a new refreshed brand. Plymouth updated using our new brand.
- Deprecation of Vanilla Control Center: We have deprecated Vanilla Control Center and implemented all our settings in GNOME Settings.
- Updated AdwDialog Utility: With many UI and UX improvements.
- New App Tour: Introduced a new Tour app that shows after the first setup process.
- New Differ Utility: Used to extract info between OCI images.
From the OS deployment method I still prefer rpm-ostree (Fedora atomic desktops) due to resetting, rebasing and having multiple images.
But the tooling is brilliant and can also work on other distros.
Apx is just using distrobox, so it is cross-distro.
Meanwhile their f-droid waydroid integration is really neat, while Waydroid is a pretty big security mess.
it is?
Yes it is. Waydroid is based on Android 11 and runs as a rootful container.
Also, Android uses SELinux as a core part of its sandbox. VanillaOS is based on Debian which uses Apparmor and not SELinux. So the Android container will run all apps and system process nearly unisolated (assuming that Android also has different sandboxing methods apart from SELinux, like namespaces)
The same goes for PostmarketOS or Ubuntu Touch, where people pretend relying on Waydroid would be fine. (Fun fact: Waydroid originally just supported Ubuntu, thanks aleasto!)