the community of Alpine Linux has presented la version 3.22, marking another significant advance for this operating system known for its security and its commitment to lightness. This distribution, renowned for its efficiency in container and server environments, is also making significant strides in the desktop space, which will undoubtedly appeal to both veteran users and those seeking a more agile and customizable environment.
With a security-oriented base and modern tools, Alpine Linux 3.22 is positioned as one of the most complete and current alternatives for those who prefer to maintain control over their system, whether on servers, embedded environments or as a primary desktop.
Refreshed desktop environments
Among the main changes in this edition, the official support for the most recent versions of GNOME 48, KDE Plasma 6.3 y LXQt 2.2Thanks to these additions, Alpine Linux strengthens its presence as an option for the end user who needs a modern desktop, without sacrificing the minimalist philosophy that has always characterized it. Furthermore, XFCE It also receives updates to key packages such as xfce4-panel 4.20.4 and thunar 4.20.3.
Updated internal components
Under the hood, Alpine 3.22 integrates a wide catalog of tools and languages the last one, like LLVM 20, Rest 1.87, Go 1.24, Ruby 3.4 y Node.js 22.16 LTS. Other relevant updates include nginx 1.28, docker 28, xen 4.20, Crystal 1.16 y BIRD 3.1This ensures robust and highly up-to-date development and production environments.
Technical news: bootloader change
One of the most striking technical changes is the Gummiboot replacement (also formerly known as systemd-boot) by systemd-efistub as the preferred method for EFI booting, especially on systems with Secure Boot. It's important to note that Alpine hasn't adopted systemd entirely, but only this small stub to facilitate booting without adding the complexity characteristic of systemd. If no major customizations have been made to the EFI configuration, users won't need to make any additional changes.
More improvements and details
Among other highlights, Alpine 3.22 removes some packages Deprecated Python such as py3-numpy1 and improves security with timely updates to tools such as kead and new compilation options for Node.js. In addition, new features include GNOME Text Editor 48.3, Evolution Data Server 3.56.2 y LibreSSL 4.1.0, demonstrating constant maintenance and a commitment to stability without neglecting innovation.
Download and update to Alpine Linux 3.22
The new version can be obtained from the official website in different editions (Standard, Extended, Netboot, Raspberry Pi, Generic ARM and Mini Root Filesystem) and is compatible with a wide variety of architectures, ranging from x86_64 y AArch64 to ARMv7, PowerPC 64-bit Little Endian (ppc64le), IBM System z (s390x) y LoongArch64. Users who already have Alpine installed can proceed with the update by running the command APK upgrade – available from the terminal, thus following the usual and recommended method.
Who is Alpine Linux 3.22 for?
Alpine Linux 3.22 is an ideal choice for experienced users looking for a highly customizable, secure, and lightweight environment. Its focus on modularity and optimization makes this distribution an attractive option for those looking to migrate from heavier systems, such as Windows 11, to a more efficient and modern environment.
This operating system continues to reaffirm its commitment to the efficiency, safety and constant updating, establishing itself as a reliable option for use in servers, embedded environments or desktop, especially for those who value flexibility and controllability in their configuration.
