The arrival of Budgie 10.10 It marks a turning point in the evolution of this desktop for GNU/Linux. The new version marks the end of an era, both as it is the last release of the 10 branch and as it signifies the definitive abandonment of X11 in favor of Wayland, a move that is being adopted by more and more desktop environments.
Budgie 10.10 introduces more new features, but the abandoning X11 and betting on Wayland It is, without a doubt, the most outstanding. It's not to everyone's liking, but it's undeniable that it represents both the present and the future of what we see in Linux.
Budgie 10.10: end of series 10 and final goodbye to X11
This version is presented as the last big update Budgie 10 and, at the same time, the first to run solely on Wayland. This marks the end of the gradual transition that began more than twelve months ago, during which a large part of the desktop's internal components have been adapted step by step to the new windowing system.
The developers make it clear that Budgie 10.10 seals the deal. official migration from X11From now on, the path is oriented towards Budgie 11, which will be the next big leap and will put the 10 series into a sort of "maintenance mode", focusing mainly on bug fixes and security patches, leaving behind significant new features.
A Wayland session supported by multiple protocols
To deliver a seamless experience under Wayland, Budgie 10.10 relies on a wide range of specific protocols of the Wayland ecosystemThese include ext-workspace-v1, wlr-foreign-toplevel-management-unstable-v1, wlr-layer-shell-unstable-v1, wlr-output-management-unstable-v1 and xdg-output-unstable-v1, which allow you to manage desktops, windows, panels, video outputs and other critical elements of the environment.
The goal of integrating so many protocols is none other than to achieve that everything works with the same naturalness than in the X11-based session. For the average user, this means that their panels, keyboard shortcuts, desktop icons, and the Raven sidebar should continue to behave as usual, with the added benefit of the security, screen management, and efficiency improvements typically associated with Wayland.
Composer recommendation: go for Labwc and wlroots
Although the Budgie team is working on their own composer Wayland In the long term, for now, it clearly recommends using a wlroots-based compositor, with explicit mentions of Labwc as a particularly finely tuned option for this desktop.
To facilitate this integration, a “labwc bridge” or bridge with Labwc which runs automatically upon login. This small component is responsible for copying and adapting the Labwc configuration used by Budgie to the directory ~/.config/budgie-desktop/labwcminimizing conflicts with previous user configurations. The idea is that you shouldn't have to manually wrestle with configuration files to enjoy a fully functional desktop.
Thanks to this bridge, key functions are activated under Wayland, such as default keyboard shortcuts For fast action, optimized acceleration for mice and touchpads, consistent visual theme (fonts, shadows, title bar design), specific window rules, and various window management options. On paper, the intention is that those coming from X11 will notice as little change as possible in their daily use.
Wayland tools included by default in Budgie 10.10
To cover common tasks such as taking screenshots, managing inactivity, or locking sessions, Budgie 10.10 incorporates a number of utilities designed specifically for WaylandAmong the most notable are grim and slurp for taking image captures, which rely on Wayland's infrastructure instead of depending on the old X11 mechanisms.
In the session locking and management section, the new version can work with swayidle, gtklock or swaylock To control idle time and screen lock, wlopm is used, as well as wlopm for regulating monitor shutdowns. Swaybg is used for the desktop background, while multi-display and multi-resolution setups can be fine-tuned with wdisplays, a tool that facilitates fine-tuning video output on desktops and laptops.
Improvements to Budgie applets and panels
The applet Night Light It's one of the fastest-evolving features, now integrating with Gammastep to control the screen's color temperature. This reduces the blue tint at night, making it easier on the eyes—something many users in Europe appreciate when working or studying for long periods in front of a computer.
In turn, the The Notifications applet makes it easy to quickly turn Do Not Disturb mode on or off. through a middle mouse click, a small usability improvement that can make a difference for those who receive many alerts while working.
The Tasklist applet has also been revised with a more modern implementation, designed for scales better when many applications are openThis helps keep the panel organized on both small screens and ultrawide monitors, which are increasingly common in offices and homes.
Budgie 10.10 introduces new capabilities for Budgie Panel and Budgie Desktop View
Another key aspect of the update lies in how Budgie Panel and Budgie Desktop View take advantage of layer-shell, a Wayland-specific mechanism that allows you to define which elements should remain anchored to the edges of the screen or stay below open windows.
Specifically, Budgie Panel uses layer-shell To firmly attach to the monitor's edges, preventing overlaps or unexpected behavior when changing resolutions or connecting new displays, Budgie Desktop View uses the same system to remain below the windows, Raven, and the panel itself, ensuring that desktop icons stay in place without interfering with the rest of the interface.
Budgie Control Center and accessibility under Wayland
System configuration also receives attention with improvements in Budgie Control Center (BCC)Visibility checks have been introduced in several panels, meaning that some options only appear when they make sense depending on the window manager or compositor being used.
The Multitasking panel has been updated with specific support for Wayland, and the following features have been incorporated: configuration files ("keyfiles") These features allow control over exactly what the BCC displays based on the underlying environment. This way, distribution manufacturers and advanced users can better tailor the experience to their needs.
Additionally, Budgie Control Center now features a separate panel for the function Night LightThis makes it easy to adjust the screen's brightness from warm to cool with a single click. Several accessibility options have been introduced, most notably the inclusion of a magnifying glass, which is especially useful for people with vision problems or for working with minute details on high-pixel-density screens.
Distributions and availability
Budgie 10.10 is available immediately, but its actual rollout will depend on each distribution. The developers indicate that the new version will arrive coming soon to stable repositories from popular projects like openSUSE Tumbleweed or Arch Linux, widely used in the community for their modern approach and fast update cycles.
One step closer to Budgie 11
All this movement surrounding Budgie 10.10 is best understood by viewing it as a preparation for Budgie 11The next major chapter of the project. The complete transition to Wayland in the 10 series lays a solid foundation on which to build the future of the desktop, with room to introduce profound changes without compromising X11 compatibility.
Although the specific date for Budgie 11 is not set, the roadmap indicates that the development efforts will become more concentrated progressively in this new version. Budgie 10 will remain as a stable option for those who prefer not to change anything beyond the switch to Wayland, while the next iteration of the desktop could bring a wave of more significant features and adjustments.
With this release, the Budgie 10.10 positions itself as a key version: it's the one that closes a decade of the 10 series, adopting Wayland as the only graphic base It also updates applets, panels, and configuration tools to adapt to the new era. For users and distributions in Spain and the rest of Europe, it represents an opportunity to upgrade to a modern desktop environment that strives to maintain a familiar feel, but is supported by a more up-to-date infrastructure and prepared for what Budgie 11 will bring.
