It will be possible to configure COSMIC to look like Unity out of the box. There’s only a few panel applets that need to be implemented to make the experience 1:1.
It will be possible to configure COSMIC to look like Unity out of the box. There’s only a few panel applets that need to be implemented to make the experience 1:1.
The compositor and its applications have been developed bottom up with a full Rust stack, so stability hasn’t been a concern. We spend very little time debugging since the logic usually works if it compiles.
There’s only a handful of applications slated for the first release, and they’re almost finished. Besides core applications, we need only develop a couple additional settings pages to be ready for release, and integrate COSMIC versions of the remaining desktop portals. Altogether, that’s really not that much compared to all the work in the last two years.
Besides feature development, the main focus will be ironing out theming issues in the toolkit to adhere to our design files, and writing documentation for developers interested in building apps for cosmic. As well as the necessary work to enable a smooth upgrade from Pop 22.04 to 24.04.
Don’t get me wrong: I didn’t want to downplay the work or doubt the progress. Quite the contrary. I think the current state is alpha and once the first sets of apps are finished it should be beta. Then polishing until release, a few weeks of release candidate phase and then release.
Basically I think it’s too far along already to call it pre-alpha.
(Unless the intention is to “release” it as beta with 24.04 to emphasize the missing apps… then consider what I said pointless.)
Our internal testing won’t begin until the first ISO is ready, which marks the alpha. As it is open source, our internal testing is also publicly available to everyone interested in downloading the ISO and testing it. The Alpha will not include all features that are planned for release. Then we will switch to Beta after all featues are implemented, where QA will begin reviewing every PR to ensure that no regressions make it to release. Then it releases after we deem the beta free of oustanding issues on the board.
Thanks for the clarification. Seems sensible.