Gnome Developers in Discussion to End Support for X.Org
In a move that should surprise no one, the team behind the GNOME desktop environment is hinting at removing support for X.Org so they can focus on Wayland.
In this merge request, the GNOME development team stated, "This is the first step towards deprecating the X11 session, the gnome-xorg.desktop file is removed, but the X11 functionality is still there so you can restore the X11 session by installing the file in the appropriate place on your own."
That was then followed by the suggestion to remove the rest of the X11 session code for the next cycle, which could then be followed by removing the X11 code altogether.
This makes perfect sense, as X11 has been getting less and less testing over the last few years and Wayland development continues to go full steam. On top of that, Wayland is far more secure than X11 and offers features better suited for modern displays and interfaces.
Of course, not every developer is keen on dropping X11 so soon. One commenter in the thread mentioned how Wayland isn't ready for graphics professionals (as it has yet to implement basic color management).
However, the GNOME team isn't pulling the plug on X11 just yet. This proposal only removes one 8-line text file that can be added back if a user wants to continue with X11.
Removing support for X11 is an inevitability, as Wayland is the future of the Linux desktop. Chances are good that X11 will be fully deprecated by the end of 2024.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Juno Tab 3 Launches with Ubuntu 24.04
Anyone looking for a full-blown Linux tablet need look no further. Juno has released the Tab 3.
-
New KDE Slimbook Plasma Available for Preorder
Powered by an AMD Ryzen CPU, the latest KDE Slimbook laptop is powerful enough for local AI tasks.
-
Rhino Linux Announces Latest "Quick Update"
If you prefer your Linux distribution to be of the rolling type, Rhino Linux delivers a beautiful and reliable experience.
-
Plasma Desktop Will Soon Ask for Donations
The next iteration of Plasma has reached the soft feature freeze for the 6.2 version and includes a feature that could be divisive.
-
Linux Market Share Hits New High
For the first time, the Linux market share has reached a new high for desktops, and the trend looks like it will continue.
-
LibreOffice 24.8 Delivers New Features
LibreOffice is often considered the de facto standard office suite for the Linux operating system.
-
Deepin 23 Offers Wayland Support and New AI Tool
Deepin has been considered one of the most beautiful desktop operating systems for a long time and the arrival of version 23 has bolstered that reputation.
-
CachyOS Adds Support for System76's COSMIC Desktop
The August 2024 release of CachyOS includes support for the COSMIC desktop as well as some important bits for video.
-
Linux Foundation Adopts OMI to Foster Ethical LLMs
The Open Model Initiative hopes to create community LLMs that rival proprietary models but avoid restrictive licensing that limits usage.
-
Ubuntu 24.10 to Include the Latest Linux Kernel
Ubuntu users have grown accustomed to their favorite distribution shipping with a kernel that's not quite as up-to-date as other distros but that changes with 24.10.