Introduction to Solutions
Solus is an independent Linux distribution that focuses on offering a polished, modern and user-friendly desktop experience for everyday and enthusiastic users.
Only many disciples that are based on Debian or Arch, Solutions builds its own foundation from scratch, which allows the development team to have full control over the system's components and update cycle.
History and philosophy
The project was born in 2015 under the leadership of Ikey Doherty, who sought to create an operating system that would prioritize aesthetics and functionality without sacrificing performance.
Since its inception, Solus has adopted a rolling release launch model, which means that users receive continuous updates without the need to reinstall the system.
This philosophy is reflected in the choice of its default desktop environment, Budgie, designed to be intuitive and visually attractive.
The Budgie desktop environment
Budgie is the desktop environment developed by the Solus team, although it is also available in other distributions.
It combines GNOME elements with a customizable panel, a simple application menu and a series of apps that facilitate access to system settings.
- Lower panel with launchers and notification tray.
- "Budgie Menu" application menu that allows you to search and launch programs quickly.
- Climate Applets, music player and integrated volume control.
Thanks to its light design, Budgie consumes less resources than heavier environments like KDE Plasma or GNOME Shell, which makes it ideal for moderate hardware.
Software management with eopkg
Solus uses its own package manager called eopkg, which is a PiSi fork designed to be quick and simple.
The basic commands are similar to those of apt or pacman, but with a syntax of its own:
sudo eopkg install nombre-paqueteto install software.sudo eopkg remove nombre-paqueteto remove packages.sudo eopkg upgradeto update the entire system.
The official repositories contain a carefully curated selection of applications, ensuring compatibility and stability.
Hardware and controller compatibility
Solus includes proprietary drivers for NVIDIA and AMD graphics from the first start, which facilitates installation in play equipment or workstations.
In addition, the kernel is kept up to date with the latest LTS versions, providing good support for modern devices such as 4K screens, print readers and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
Community and support
Although the development team is small, the Solus community is active and collaborative.
Users can participate in the official forum, the Discord channel and the GitHub repository to report errors, suggest improvements or contribute to translations.
The documentation is well structured and covers topics from installation to advanced desktop customization.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Polished and modern desktop experience.
- Rolling model releases that prevents frequent reinstallations.
- Total control over the system thanks to its independent base.
- Good performance on modest hardware thanks to Budgie.
- Easy and fast eopkg package manager.
Disadvantages
- Less packages in the repositories compared to Debian or Arch.
- Learning curve for users used to apt or dnf.
- Limited development equipment, which can result in longer response times for certain errors.
Conclusion
Solus represents an attractive option for those looking for a Linux distribution that combines aesthetics, performance and autonomy.
Your focus on the Budgie desktop and your rolling release model make it particularly suitable for desktop users who want a system always updated without the complexity of the larger distributions.
If you value a nearby community and a system built from scratch to offer the best user experience, it is worth testing Solus on your machine.
