AerynOS 2025.12 Arrives like one of those versions that mark a before and after in a young but very ambitious distro. In this release, the team has gone all out: not only are there tons of updated packages and desktop improvements, but also profound changes to the infrastructure, the web, the documentation, and even the way they interact with the community.
The result is a development ISO image based on Linux 6.17.10, with GNOME 49.2 as the live environmentInstallation options include KDE Plasma and COSMIC, a very modern graphics stack also designed for gaming, and a rapidly professionalizing ecosystem of services. However, the developers themselves emphasize that it remains an alpha version, ideal for testing, experimenting, and collaborating, but not for production.
Key new features of AerynOS 2025.12 as a distribution
This version is presented as the latest development snapshot of this independent distribution, originally born as Serpent OS and created by Ikey Doherty, known for his previous work at SolusWith AerynOS the goal is to build a modern distro from scratch, with its own tools like Moss and a carefully designed repository architecture.
The AerynOS 2025.12 ISO focuses on providing an updated GNOME Live environment, from which its installer can be used in the development phase. prototype called lichenThis installer requires a network connection during the process, as the installation is based on downloading the latest "pkgsets" and dumping the system onto a disk dedicated to AerynOS.
The idea behind these alpha images is to provide those who want to try AerynOS with periodic snapshots of the most recent work: new desktop versions, key package updates, infrastructure changes, and feature testing such as future versioned repositories.
Featured package updates and versions
AerynOS 2025.12 represents a significant effort to keep the main desktop stacks and core system tools up to date. The list of new features includes: Very recent versions of environments, libraries, and utilities that target an audience that wants to be up-to-date:
- COSMIC Beta 9, the latest version of the desktop developed by System76.
- GNOME 49.2, default environment in the Live ISO.
- KDE Plasma 6.5.4, with KDE Framework 6.20.0 y KDE Gear 25.08.2 / 25.08.3 According to the source, covering the KDE application suite.
- Linux 6.17.10, the kernel that serves as the basis for the system in this release.
- Table 25.3 / 25.3.1, with the important addition of enabled Vulkan anti-lag support, designed for improve the gaming experience.
Alongside these central blocks, the following have been updated a good number of important packages for day-to-day use and for development or administration tasks. They stand out among them:
- bash 5.3.8
- buildah 1.42.2
- docker 29.0.4
- ffmpeg 8.0.1
- firefox 146.0
- gamemode 1.8.2
- llvm 21.1.7
- openvpn 2.6.17
- prism-launcher 9.4
- scx-scheds 1.0.17
- sudo-rs 0.2.10
- uutils-coreutils 0.4.0
- vim 9.1.1896
- vscodium 1.106.37943
- wine 10.19
- xwayland-satellite 0.8
- zed 0.210.4
- zlib-ng 2.3.2
All these updates come with many small tweaks and new packages which are not listed one by one, but which point to an increasingly solid and modern software base.
Desktop environments available in AerynOS 2025.12: GNOME, KDE Plasma, and COSMIC
One of the great strengths of AerynOS 2025.12 is its clear commitment to offering several well-crafted desktop experiencesIt's not just about "having many environments", but about dedicating time to packaging and polishing them.
GNOME 49.2 as the main environment in the Live ISO
In the case of GNOME, the developers acknowledge that There isn't much of a story to tell beyond the update.They've updated it to version 49.2 and it's working as expected, without any major surprises. GNOME is the default environment in the Live image, and it serves as the initial face of the distro.
This approach allows those who download the ISO to encounter A very modern, fluid and stable GNOME, all things considered. in a distro still in alpha phase, benefiting from all the recent improvements in this environment.
KDE Plasma 6.5.4 with improved support for high refresh rates
The KDE branch has also received a lot of attention. AerynOS 2025.12 includes KDE Plasma 6.5.4, KDE Frameworks 6.20.0, and KDE Gear Suite 25.08.x seriesThis makes it the second version of AerynOS to offer Plasma as a desktop option during installation.
In addition to the version update, the team has introduced Custom patches to improve support for monitors with high refresh ratesThis is especially interesting for those using gaming monitors with 120Hz, 144Hz or higher refresh rates, as it aims to refine the graphics experience and make it smoother and more consistent.
Thus, AerynOS not only “includes Plasma”, but also attempts to The KDE experience lives up to what is expected of a modern desktop environment., both in terms of fluidity and integration with the rest of the system.
COSMIC Beta 9: Automation and polishing of the experience
The third major environment is COSMIC, the System76 desktop environment, which is still in beta but is generating increasing interest. This version includes COSMIC Beta 9, with a strong focus on automating packaging based on the Git tags launched by System76.
Thanks to this automation, the AerynOS team can push new versions of COSMIC to your volatile repository faster and, after a while, move them to the unstable repository. This workflow is designed so that those testing the distro can keep up with COSMIC's development almost day by day.
Several specific problems with this desktop environment have also been resolved. One of the most notable was that USB devices were not automatically mounted in COSMIC sessionsThis flaw has been corrected by adding gvfs to the COSMIC package set, which is key to the basic usability of the environment.
Another important detail: a bug mentioned in a previous blog post has been fixed, where sudo-rs did not work properly in Cosmic Terminal or Ptyxis within COSMIC sessionsWith these patches, the COSMIC desktop in AerynOS gains strength and gets closer to a ready-to-use experience for everyday use… always within the context of a distro in alpha state.
Infrastructure improvements: Vessel, repositories, and new servers
Beyond the packages and desktops, AerynOS 2025.12 comes loaded with "Behind-the-scenes" changes that point to the future of the distroThe team has been working on several infrastructure fronts.
One of the most interesting new features is the addition of Auto-pruning logic in Vessel, the AerynOS repository managerThis functionality causes the system to periodically (currently daily) check which packages are stored on the server and which are accessible through the repository indexes.
When it is detected that Certain packages are no longer reachable from any indexThese are considered redundant and are automatically removed. This keeps the repository "light and clean," preventing disks from becoming filled with obsolete packages that no one uses anymore.
This type of automation frees the team from having to be on top of manual cleaning tasks And it reduces the risk of encountering storage problems by filling up unexpectedly. For a distro that wants to scale to more users by 2026, having this well-developed foundation is essential.
Main server migration to netcup
In parallel, the team has reconsidered what type of server the distro needed at this stage of the project. Over the last seven months, they have taken on a large part of the workload. four private ermo serversTherefore, the old main AerynOS build server was not being fully utilized.
After reviewing needs and costs, they have decided Remove that production server and switch to a netcup "root server" in GermanyThis new server is better geared towards repository hosting and infrastructure coordination functions, and features a 2,5 Gbit network interface.
According to the team, European users are noticing significantly faster download speedsThis is very much appreciated when downloading large ISOs or bulky updates. The initial experience with netcup support has also been positive, with quick and helpful assistance during the setup phase.
Changes in communication in AerynOS 2025.12 and external services
In addition to the technical changes, AerynOS 2025.12 comes with a shift in the tools the project uses to communicate and manage its servicesHere, too, the effort to professionalize management is evident.
From Matrix to Zulip: a new chat platform
For a long time, the project has used Matrix as its instant messaging platform, and the team makes it clear that They value Matrix's work as a federated and open-source solutionHowever, in practice, they had accumulated several problems.
Among the main drawbacks, there were administrative complications and federation problemsMessages that arrived late or users who saw certain messages in one room but not in others, which was confusing and made it difficult to follow conversations.
After studying alternatives and defining requirements, the team decided to test zulipAfter using it internally for a while, they saw that it offered Good real-time chat and, in addition, asynchronous conversations with topics/threadsThis allows users, collaborators, and team members to better focus on conversations related to their interests or responsibilities.
Zulip is also open-source software and has hundreds of integrationsThis greatly simplifies workflow automation and moderation. The AerynOS community's response to the change has been very positive, and the project is excited to continue growing in this area.
Interestingly, Zulip has a policy of supporting open source projects and has sponsored AerynOS with a free standard cloud instanceAnyone who wants to participate in the community can join the AerynOS Zulip server and start chatting with other users and developers.
Transition from mail to Migadu
Another change, less visible to the end user but important internally, has been the migration of email. The team reviewed the market options and decided switch to Migadutaking advantage of a discount for free software projects.
Although Migadu It requires a bit more initial setup than other more "plug and play" providers.It offers a clear advantage: you can create as many email addresses as you need within the account, without this implying an increase in the base cost.
For an expanding project, this is ideal, since It allows you to define specific mailboxes for different areas. (infrastructure, community, press, etc.) without skyrocketing the bill, while gaining administrative flexibility.
New AerynOS 2025.12 alpha ISO and lichen installer
The visible star of all this work is the new ISO alpha AerynOS 2025.12. This image captures all updates accumulated during November and the first week of Decemberconsolidating a large number of improvements into a single point.
As in previous snapshots, this is a ISO Live with GNOME which includes the installer in alpha/proof of concept state called lichenThis installer relies on an internet connection during the process, as it downloads the latest package sets to a disk dedicated entirely to AerynOS.
Although Lichen is still far from being the final installer, the project has the development of a revamped installer with improved disk management options: support for complete drive erasure, dynamic partitioning schemes and, in general, a more flexible and secure installation experience.
ISO 2025.12 can be downloaded from the AerynOS official download page, and it is designed so that those who closely follow the project can test the new features in kernel, desktops, graphics stack and system tools on real hardware.
AerynOS 2025.12 thus positions itself as a living, moving project where desktop and package updates, deep infrastructure improvements, branding and web redesigns, and a strong push towards documentation and community are all combined, leaving a feeling of a living, moving project eager to become, in the medium term, a benchmark option within the Linux world.