elementary OS is MORE than a Linux distribution...

I feel that elementary OS is at a specific point between a distro, and a full on platform, so let's take a look at the reasons why I feel elementary OS is more than just another Linux distribution.

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Pantheon is elementary OS's desktop environment. It might make you think about Mac OS, although in use, it doesn't have much in common with that system. It sports a dock, a top panel, and a set of applications, just like any other desktop environment. But there is something special here: Pantheon is mostly exclusive to elementary OS, and isn't really available anywhere else, with all its bells and whistles.

This is very peculiar on a Linux distro, since most of them use either GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon or MATE. elementary OS is basically the only distro, that develops its own desktop, and its own default applications.

Now Pantheon does use GTK, so they do depend on that technology, but they add plenty of widgets and elements through Granite, their own library, that allows them to offer guidelines to create elementary OS applications.

The AppCenter is elementary OS's app store, similar to GNOME software, or KDE's Discover. On the surface, it's just another graphical application install software, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve. Since elementary OS is based on Ubuntu, it allows you to install all of the software available in Ubuntu's repos, but elementary also adds its own repository with the elementary OS specific apps.

Developers that distribute their apps through the AppCenter can set an asking price for their work, which is already fantastic in itself, and doesn't really exist anywhere else on Linux. The most interesting thing here is that users can decide how much they want to pay for the app, from 0 to whatever they want. This lets users try an app, and pay for it later, or just reward the developer immediately for their hard work.

This brings us to the application ecosystem on elementary OS. There are almost 2 hundred apps that have been specifically developed for elementary OS, or at least using their guidelines. These are all distributed through the appcenter, in the "curated apps" list, and they are generally pretty awesome.

They're mostly single purpose apps, in true Unix fashion, but with carefully developed user interfaces, and generally look and feel super good. I often compare them to Mac OS applications, that tend to take advantage of every feature the OS offers, and I mostly rely on these to get my work done.

These apps rely on the elementary OS SDK. Well, SDK is a big word, since it's basically a metapackage that lets you get started quickly by installing everything you need to start coding your own elementary OS app.

elementary OS is also apart in the way it works: much like KDE Neon, it is a semi rolling release: the base is stable, using the latest Ubuntu LTS, but the desktop and applications shipped by the elementary team are updated all the time, like a rolling release would.

This means your desktop will keep evolving and changing, you'll get new features, bug fixes, and every improvement the team wants to bring you, as soon as it's ready. Compare this to Ubuntu or Fedora, where you're basically locked to a single version of GNOME or KDE until you upgrade to a newer release of your distribution, and you'll see how that might be an advantage.

You get the stability of a well tested base that gets security updates, and hardware enablement patches to let you use newer hardware, and you get new features every month. The elementary OS team does a great job detailing all these changes in their blog, in beautiful articles that list all the new stuff you get each month, it's always a great read.

So, elementary has its own desktop environment, its own appstore and pay what you want model, its own app ecosystem and SDK. What does it mean? Well it means elementary OS is a platform in itself. Developers can choose to develop for elementary OS, and not just for "Linux". This distro is in a unique position to ensure that its users get the most coherent and smooth experience possible.

The best thing is, developers that choose to code for the elementary OS platform are not locked in, they can just as easily release their apps for any other distro, thanks to flatpak or snap, which limit the risk of library incompatibilities.

[ThePressurizer]

I love eOS and the ideas behind it. But the fact that the current iteration still runs on a Ubuntu 18.04 base might really hurt adoption. I myself can't use it on my new PC due to the relatively old kernel.

[NeptuneSega]

Elementary is more than a distro, it's a delayed as hell distro

[iodreamify]

I think their focus on the pay-what-you-want model is really important for the linux app ecosystem. I hope more distros will follow suit and i also wonder if enough people really pay so the devs feel at least a little bit compensated for their work.

[kuhluhOG]

Yeah, that's true.
I think that if a Linux distribution will become mainstream, elementaryOS has the best chance because of they way they work, even though I prefer KDE.

[Keyshooter]

in my experience, elementary OS is a really solid complete system, i love how they try to cover the needs of everyone with all the tools and whistles a common user need, i wish pantheon was officially support on arch, and no, i won't be installing it via aur

[tunatezer]

I wonder when they will make middle OS and high OS

[carlosescobar]

Just for note, Fedora has Pantheon in their repos, and I'm using it without problems, I've compiled AppCenter, and yes the experience isn't the same as with ElementaryOS but hey we can't gave everything hahah.

[sisyphushappy]

I am a newcomer to Linux. I find the videos on this channel extremely helpful. Fantastic content.

[stephen]

I loved Elementary OS until I discovered the dark side...


I use Arch btw

[JogieGlenMait]

I'm so happy that Elementary OS lasted this long. I've used this before. I can't wait to have a machine that can run this distro.

[nathanlamaire]

Elementary OS is one of the most fascinating OS I've ever used. All elements are well-polished and useful, especially PIP which helps me a lot to snap a drawing reference on the screen. I lived with it for around 5 years of my entire Linux life. I quit recently because I broke the kernel and just wanted to give KDE a try. I literally recommended this OS for anyone who are just a new user to a computer, or a simple operating system that just works right out of the box (internet required though), and you'll never regret!

[hiiaminfi]

I am thinking of buying a MacBook later this year and I am almost 100% positive that my current Laptop will get the elementary OS treatment once I made the switch. Thank you for covering this awesome project for such a long time Nick!

[Alex_Dumitrache]

Love this video. Just yesterday I installed Hera. I've tried Elementary when I was a Linux newbie in December 2018. I really liked it but being a distro hopper at the time I forgot about how great of an experience it was. Thank you.

[fahimzahir]

I think its great that they can charge for their apps. Free open source should not mean that everything on the platform should be free of charge. If people want linux to gain market share then you need to support the ideas, and lively hood of those devs and paying a small amount now in order to see massive linux growth in the future is great. We use Linux not just because of its open-source but also because of the privacy so I would say that paying the devs for those apps is the price of privacy!

If more people got off the mindset of everything must bee free on Linux maybe...the OS will reach a greater market share because currently, 2% is pathetic and no major business will be interested to do consumer-side software compatibility if they cannot at least make money. SO if they can make money...linux can ask that if you want to tap into our market share..then please adhere to our privacy guidelines.

That would be the business strategy going forward but I don't know if the Linux community is as business-oriented as say MS or Apple.

You forgot to mention that the pay what you want mentality is also applied to the download of the distro, and this helps to fund the bugfixing initiatives as well as a dedicated team without going into "support" work. I love elementary. It is my daily driver... when I use linux. Even helped on the website translation to pt_PT some time ago.

[antoinebalaine]

After following your channel for a month, I ended up adopting elementary on my macbook. Though the out-of-box product had some deficiencies (no native minimize button?!), I really love it. Merci pour toutes ces recommendations!

[rickbhattacharya]

Elementary needs 2 things
1. true System wide dark mode, which will probably be added in version 6
2. New set of icons the current one looks flat and out of date in my opinion .


BTW one distro that ships pantheon as a de it's called geko Linux

[ffkkinos]

using KDE Plasma on Fedora also is kinda "semi-rolling", Plasma will get the latest updates until EOL! And great video as always Nick!

[vietthanhnguyen]

I prefer gnome with dash to dock. On top of arch btw.

[samdyer]

Hello, you always make great videos and I can never wait for the next!