Netrunner (operating system)
Netrunner is a free operating system for desktop computers, laptops or netbooks, and arm-based device-types like the Odroid C1 microcomputer[3] or the Pinebook.
Netrunner 17.01 Desktop Screenshot | |
Developer | Blue Systems |
---|---|
OS family | Linux |
Working state | Active |
Source model | Open source |
Initial release | 18 March 2010 (Netrunner 1 Albedo) |
Latest release | Netrunner 20.01 / 23 February 2020[1][2] |
Available in | Multilingual (more than 55) |
Package manager | dpkg (Debian GNU/Linux Package Manager) |
Platforms | x86, amd64, armhf |
License | Free software licenses (mainly GPL) |
Official website | www |
It comes in two versions: Netrunner and Netrunner Core, which are both based on Debian Stable.
The Core versions features KDE Plasma plus a minimal selection of applications, multimedia codecs and some Firefox browser plugins.
Overview
Blue Systems, the company that sponsored Kubuntu,[4] offers Netrunner as a desktop system for everyday use based on Plasma Desktop by KDE. It targets new users as well as users experienced with Linux. Netrunner is aimed at users who want an operating system to work "out-of-the-box", reducing the time to add codecs and enhancements manually after installation.
Netrunner Desktop is only available as 64-bit version, while Netrunner Core also features Pinebook and Odroid C1 ARM images.[5]
Default software
Among the default software selection of Netrunner Desktop are many applications such as:
- KDE Plasma Desktop
- Mozilla Firefox (including Plasma integration)
- Mozilla Thunderbird (including Plasma integration)
- VLC media player
- LibreOffice
- GIMP
- Krita
- Gwenview
- Kdenlive
- Inkscape
- Samba Mounter (easy NAS setup)
- Steam
- VirtualBox
Features
Netrunner comes with the following features:[6]
- Installation: Calamares Installer (Graphical GUI)
- Default Desktop: KDE Plasma Desktop
- Software: popular mix of desktop applications
- Codecs: support for many multimedia codecs
- Package Management: dpkg + APT + the APT-front ends: Synaptic Package Manager (pre-installed)
- Processor Architecture: amd64, armhf, arm64
- Multilingual: Yes
Release history
The following is the release history for Netrunner Core and Desktop:
Version | release date | based on |
---|---|---|
Netrunner Desktop 20.01[7] | 2020-02-23 | Debian Stable 10.3 (buster); Plasma 5.14.5 |
Netrunner Desktop 19.08[8] | 2019-08-20 | Debian Stable 10.0 (buster); Plasma 5.14.5 |
Netrunner Desktop 19.01[9] | 2019-01-12 | Debian Testing Snapshot; Plasma 5.14.3 |
Netrunner Desktop 18.03[9] | 2018-03-11 | Debian Testing Snapshot; Plasma 5.12.2 |
Netrunner Desktop 17.10 Voyager[10] | 2017-11-12 | Debian Testing Snapshot (20170923) |
Netrunner Desktop 17.06 Daedalus[11] | 2017-07-01 | Debian Testing |
Netrunner Desktop 17.03 Cyclotron[12] | 2017-03-31 | Debian Testing |
Netrunner Core 17.01[13] | 2017-01-01 | Debian Testing Snapshot (20161211); Plasma 5.8.2 |
Netrunner Desktop 17.01[14] | 2017-01-01 | Debian Testing Snapshot (20161211) |
Netrunner Desktop 16.09[15] | 2016-11-05 | Debian Jessie 8 |
Netrunner Core 16.09[5] | 2016-10-23 | Debian Jessie 8 |
The following is the release history for previously Kubuntu based Netrunner versions (discontinued):[16]
Version | release date | based on |
---|---|---|
Netrunner 17 Horizon[17] | 2015-11-23 | Kubuntu "wily" |
Netrunner 16 Ozymandias[18] | 2015-05-16 | Kubuntu "vivid" |
Netrunner 15 Prometheus[19] | 2015-02-15 | Kubuntu "utopic" |
Netrunner 14.2 Frontier[20] | 2015-09-16 | Kubuntu "trusty"(LTS) |
Netrunner 14.1 Frontier | 2015-01-24 | Kubuntu "trusty"(LTS) |
Netrunner 14 Frontier | 2014-06-22 | Kubuntu "trusty"(LTS) |
Netrunner 13.12 Enigma II | 2014-01-13 | Kubuntu "saucy" |
Netrunner 13.06 Enigma | 2013-07-05 | Kubuntu "raring" |
Netrunner 12.12 Dryland - Third Edition | 2012-12-22 | Kubuntu "quantal" |
Netrunner 4.2 Dryland-2 | 2012-06-20 | Kubuntu "precise" |
Netrunner 4.0 Dryland | 2011-12-29 | Kubuntu "oneiric" |
Netrunner 3 Chromatic | 2011-04-14 | Kubuntu "natty" |
Netrunner 2 Blacklight | 2010-07-15 | Kubuntu "lucid" |
Netrunner 1 Albedo | 2010-03-18 | Linux Mint "karmic" |
The following is the release history for the Netrunner Rolling, which has been discontinued in favor of Manjaro collaboration efforts:[21]
Version | release date | based on |
---|---|---|
Netrunner Rolling 2019.04[22] | 2019-04-20 | Kernel 4.19.32 LTS, KDE Plasma 5.15.5 |
Netrunner Rolling 2018.08 | 2018-08-05 | Kernel 4.17, KDE Plasma 5.13.3 |
Netrunner Rolling 2018.01 | 2018-01-26 | KDE Plasma 5.11.5 |
Netrunner Rolling 2017.07[23] | 2017-07-18 | Kernel 4.11.8, KDE Plasma 5.10.3 |
Netrunner Rolling 2016.01[24] | 2016-02-27 | KDE Plasma 5.5.4 |
Netrunner Rolling 2015.11[25][26] | 2015-11-13 | Manjaro KDE 15.09 (Update 6) |
Netrunner Rolling 2015.09[27] | 2015-10-03 | Manjaro KDE 15.09 |
Netrunner Rolling 2014.09.1[28] | 2014-09-25 | Manjaro KDE 0.8.10 |
Netrunner Rolling 2014.04 | 2014-04-04 | Manjaro KDE 0.8.9 |
Reception
Jack M Germain reviewed Netrunner 19.01.[29]
Hectic Geek reviewed Netrunner 14.[30]
LinuxInsider wrote a post.[31] Its review of Netrunner 13:
One of the best features is Netrunner's clever integration with Web applications. I was impressed with the fluidity and ease of access to those apps.
Jesse Smith from DistroWatch Weekly wrote review of Netrunner 4.2:[32]
While trying Netrunner it crossed my mind that this distribution is, in a way, the opposite of the Peppermint project. Both projects have a focus on cloud services, but where Peppermint is small, fast and minimal, Netrunner comes fully loaded with a big desktop, lots of local software and extras. I would guess the Netrunner developers want people to be able to experience the best of both worlds, local and cloud. At any rate, Netrunner is an interesting distro, it is trying something different and, while it didn't quite fit my style, I think what they are doing they are doing well.
Dedoimedo reviewed Netrunner 4.2 "Dryland" with following words:[33]
From the purely technical perspective, you get crashes in the live session, crashes during the installation, a package manager with unsigned repositories that ends up crippling some of the apps, programs branded with personal choices unsuitable for mass use, slow network performance, missing help files, incomplete Touchpad functionality, no desktop effects, missing icons, WebAccounts is broken, and there's still more to point out and complain about.
References
- Team, Netrunner (2020-02-23). "Netrunner 20.01 – "Twenty" released".
- "Netrunner Release Schedules". Netrunner. Blue Systems GmbH. 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
- Nestor, Marius. "Netrunner Core 16.09 "Avalon" Is Based on Debian GNU/Linux 8, KDE Plasma 5.7.5". softpedia.
- "Kubuntu 12.10 gains Blue Systems as sponsor, Canonical waves farewell". Engadget.
- "Netrunner Core 16.09 "Avalon"". 23 October 2016.
- Download Netrunner Rolling / Desktop 2018.01 / 18.03, Softpedia Linux
- https://www.netrunner.com/netrunner-20-01-twenty-released/
- https://www.netrunner.com/netrunner-19-08-indigo-released/
- "Release Schedules". 5 April 2014.
- http://www.netrunner.com/netrunner-17-10-released/
- http://www.netrunner.com/netrunner-17-06-released/
- http://www.netrunner.com/netrunner-desktop-17-03-released/
- "Download". 13 January 2014.
- Team, Netrunner (1 January 2017). "Netrunner Desktop 17.01 released".
- Team, Netrunner (4 November 2016). "Netrunner Desktop 16.09 released".
- http://www.amuilinux.org
- Team, Netrunner (23 November 2015). "Netrunner 17 released".
- "Netrunner 16 - Ozymandias released". 16 May 2015.
- "Netrunner 15 - Prometheus (64bit)". 15 February 2015.
- "Netrunner 14.2 LTS - Update Release". 1 September 2015.
- https://www.netrunner.com/rolling-vs-supporting-manjaro/
- https://www.netrunner.com/netrunner-rolling-2019-04-released/
- Team, Netrunner (18 July 2017). "Netrunner Rolling 2017.07 released".
- Team, Netrunner (27 February 2016). "Netrunner Rolling 2016.01 released".
- anachronox (13 November 2015). "Netrunner Rolling 2015.11 released".
- Netrunner Rolling 2015.11 - Downhill, Dedoimedo
- "Netrunner Rolling 2015.09 - 32 & 64bit released". 3 October 2015.
- llectronics (25 September 2014). "Netrunner Rolling 2014.09.1".
- Netrunner's Unique Blackbird Soars to New Heights, LinuxInsider
- Netrunner 14 Frontier Review - Buggy Installer, But Delivers a Good KDE Experience, Hectic Geek
- "Netrunner Sprints Ahead of the Linux Distro Pack - Reviews - LinuxInsider". www.linuxinsider.com.
- "DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD". distrowatch.com.
- Netrunner 4.2 Dryland review - Ugh, Dedoimedo