The AerynOS team has announced the release of AerynOS 2026.01, the latest ISO snapshot of this independent Linux distribution originally developed by ex-Solus creator Ikey Doherty. This release is built on the Linux 6.18 LTS kernel, which is set to be supported until December 2027.
The default live environment includes the new GNOME 49.3 desktop, while users looking to install the KDE version can opt for the KDE Plasma 6.5.5 environment. This version also packages the latest KDE Frameworks 6.22 and KDE Gear 25.12.1 for improved functionality. Additionally, users can choose the COSMIC 1.0.3 desktop environment, designed by System76.
One significant update in this release is the adoption of a new policy that prohibits the use of large language models (LLMs) and generative AI in the distribution. AerynOS 2026.01 also introduces support for the MangoWC Wayland compositor, installable via the terminal-only option.
Developers have indicated that their new system-model approach simplifies the installation process by allowing users to declaratively specify which packages to install from any given repository.
This update includes several package upgrades, featuring Firefox 147, the Mesa 25.3.4 graphics stack, PipeWire 1.4.10 multimedia server, QEMU 10.2 virtualization software, Mozilla Thunderbird 147, and Wine 11.
More information can be found on the release announcement page. If you’re interested in trying AerynOS, the 2026.01 version is available for download from the official website, though users are cautioned that it is currently in an alpha state and may not be suitable for production use.