Released yesterday, SDesk 2024.09.16 updates multiple components, adding a comprehensive set of drivers with a focus on touch interfaces (including fingerprint readers), but the most obvious change lays in the installer. After using Calamares for the new user creation and initial setup stage until now, SDesk is now shifting to the GNOME first-run wizard, which is a natural move since this distro has always been using the GNOME desktop environment.

Although less known than many Linux distributions that simply bring together open source components and add some visual twist and some functional optimizations, SDesk has quite a few unique attributes. While based on Arch Linux, it packs a few proprietary pieces of code, including the Swirl web browser, and, for those interested, the Blue programming languageis available for sale as a digital download, priced at $178.52. A physical edition of SDesk can also be acquired, and its price tag currently reads $192.25.

In addition to the changes mentioned earlier, SDesk 2024.09.16 comes with an updated interface and several new features for the Swirl browser, as well as support for fractional scaling. Although the list of downloadables is not as rich as it happens with other distros, SDesk is available in a single ISO file for 64-bit x86 processors, which works with BIOS and UEFI platforms. Additionally, Swirl for Mac can be downloaded as a DMG file, which is compatible with Apple processors. Those who want to know a few key facts about the Blue programming language should check out this 35-second videobefore anything else.

SDesk users or not, most of those interested in Linux might want to check out Mark Reed's Linux: The Complete Linux Crash Course for Beginners - From Zero to Hero (2024), which is currently available for just $4.99 on Kindle (also free with Kindle Unlimited) or in paperback form, with a price tag of $28.49.