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Q4OS 4.8 (Gemini) running the Trinity Desktop Environment version R14.0.11
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| Developer | Q4OS development team |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open source |
| Initial release | 0.5.0[1] / 4 July 2013; 11 years ago (2013-07-04) |
| Latest release | 5.4[2]  / 27 November 2023; 7 months ago (27 November 2023) |
| Available in | Multilingual |
| Update method | APT |
| Package manager | dpkg |
| Platforms | x86-64, i386, armhf, arm64 |
| Kernel type | Linux kernel |
| Userland | GNU |
| Default user interface | TDE, KDE Plasma |
| License | Free software licenses (mainly GPL) + some proprietary |
| Official website | q4os |
Q4OS is a light-weight Linux distribution, based on Debian, targeted as a replacement for operating systems that are no longer supported on outdated hardware.[3] The distribution is known for an addon called XPQ4, which adds themes intended to replicate the look and feelofWindows 2000 and Windows XP.[4][5][6]
Development of Q4OS began in 8th April 2014 to coincide with Windows XP's end of extended support in the same year.[7]
LXQt Desktop Environment was included from April 2014 to June 2015.
In 2018 TDE (Trinity Desktop Environment) was included.
In 2019, version 3.8 was released which was based on Debian Buster.[8]
The original KDE based version has been discontinued since around 2018.[9]
As of April 2020, the core developers of Q4OS, initially starting the project in Germany,[10] are now operating in Prague, Czech Republic.[11][12]
It comes with either the Trinity Desktop Environment, which is a fork of K Desktop Environment 3.[13]orKDE Plasma 5
LookSwitcher, which lets the user switch visual themes
Desktop Profiler, which automatically installs some packages and programs that may be ideal for the user according to the profile that they choose
Q4OS Software Centre, which lets the user install some recommended packages and programs from a list
Q4OS Welcome Screen, which helps the user with some initial tweaks
Stable versions of Q4OS are derived from Debian's Stable release branch with long-term support that lasts five years after their initial release.[14] Developmental "testing" versions of future releases are derived from the Debian Testing branch.[15]
| Version[16] | Codename | Release date | End-of-life | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old version, no longer maintained: 0.5.0 | 2013-07-04 | Initial Release[17] | ||
| Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1-RC2 | 2015-04-14 | Second release candidate of Q4OS 1.1 | ||
| Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2 | Orion | 2015-04-27 | Initial version to be specified under codename Orion | |
| Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.3 | 2015-06-08 | The LXQt desktop environment is now supported | ||
| Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4 | 2015-09-04 | Initial version to support devices running on ARM architecture[18] | ||
| Old version, no longer maintained: 1.6.3 | 2016-08-05 | Implemented UEFI support | ||
| Old version, no longer maintained: 1.8.4 | 2017-04-26 | Icedove is replaced with Mozilla Thunderbird, LXQt is unsupported[19] | ||
| Old version, no longer maintained: 2.0.2 | Scorpion | 2016-01-06 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Scorpion | |
| Old version, no longer maintained: 2.3.6 | 2017-10-04 | "Final beta" release | ||
| Old version, no longer maintained: 2.4 | 2017-10-04 | 2022-10 | Initial stable release of Q4OS Scorpion and to provide long-term support | |
| Old version, no longer maintained: 2.5 | 2018-06-03 | 2023-06 | TDE is now bundled with KDE Plasma | |
| Old version, no longer maintained: 3.1 | Centaurus | 2018-01-29 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Centaurus | |
| Older version, yet still maintained: 3.8 | 2019-07-15 | 2024-07 | Initial stable release of Q4OS Centaurus | |
| Older version, yet still maintained: 3.10 | 2020-01-04 | 2025-01 | TDE and KDE Plasma have been split into separate installation images | |
| Older version, yet still maintained: 3.13 | 2020-12-19 | 2025-12 | The Snap daemon has been removed from default installation | |
| Old version, no longer maintained: 4.0 | Gemini | 2020-02-16 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Gemini | |
| Older version, yet still maintained: 4.6 | 2021-09-27 | 2026-09 | Initial stable release of Q4OS Gemini | |
| Older version, yet still maintained: 4.7 | 2021-11-22 | 2026-11 | ||
| Older version, yet still maintained: 4.8 | 2022-04-05 | 2027-04 | ||
| Older version, yet still maintained: 4.10 | 2022-08-01 | 2027-08 | ||
| Older version, yet still maintained: 4.11 | 2022-12-24 | 2027-08 | ||
| Older version, yet still maintained: 4.12 | 2023-05-03 | 2027-08 | Calamares installer has been polished | |
| Old version, no longer maintained: 5.0 | Aquarius | 2023-03-27 | Initial testing version of Q4OS Aquarius | |
| Current stable version: 5.2 | 2023-07-08 | 2028-06 | Initial stable release of Q4OS Aquarius | |
| Current stable version: 5.3 | 2023-10-14 | 2028-06 | ||
| Current stable version: 5.4 | 2023-11-28 | 2028-06 | ||
Legend: Old version Older version, still maintained Latest version Latest preview version Future release
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SourceForge featured Q4OS as "Community Choice" Project of the Month in April 2020.[12]
In January 2022, TechRadar considered Q4OS as one of the best light-weight Linux distributions of the year for its Windows installer and support for older hardware, notably systems running on 32-bit processors.[20]
Quarkos (formerly known as Quark) is an official fork of Q4OS that uses an Ubuntu base instead of Debian.[21] It describes itself as a 'user-friendly, desktop oriented operating system based on Ubuntu Linux'.[22] It comes in two variants, one of which uses the same desktop theme as Q4OS, while the other uses a visual theme similar to Windows 10.[23]
Quark 20.04 'Focal' was the first release, coming with the same base as Ubuntu 20.04. It was released on the September 25th 2020, featuring only the KDE Plasma 5 desktop.[22] On November 3, 2020, the development team announced that Microsoft Edge was now available for Linux, and users of Quark would be able to install it by downloading a .esh file from the Q4OS GitHub repository.[24]
Quark 20.04.4, released September 24, 2021 added bugfixes from upstream Kubuntu.[25] On October 9, 2021, the development team announced the general availability of the Windows installer for Quark 20.04 Focal.[26]
Quark 20.04.5 was made available on November 28, 2021, bringing bugfixes from Kubuntu and Trinity desktop environment R14.0.11.[27] An updated version of the Quark installer for windows was released on February 2, 2022.[28]
Quark 20.04.6 brought security bugfixes from upstream Kubuntu.
Quark 21.10 'Impish' testing was announced on October 9, 2021, based on Kubuntu 21.10 and tools backported from Q4OS 4 'Gemini'.[29] It was released with a stable version on October 18, 2021, with KDE Plasma 5.22 by default and the Windows and Q4OS themed variants. It also came with another edition with the Trinity 14.0.11 desktop backported from Q4OS.[30] Quark 21.10 was supported until August 2, 2022, following the end of support for Ubuntu 21.10.
Quarkos 22.04 'Jammy' was released on August 24, 2022, based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and Plasma 5.24. It will be supported until at least April 2027.[31]
Quarkos 22.04 changes the branding from simply Quark to Quarkos, bringing separate installation media for the Trinity desktop, which has been updated to R14.0.12, but with the KDE Plasma edition as the default.[31]
Quarkos 22.04.5 and 22.04.6 were released on December 29, 2022[32] and February 27, 2023[33] respectively, each bringing security updates and bugfixes from upstream Ubuntu.
Quarkos 22.04.7 was released on March 19, 2023, and brought updates from the latest release of Ubuntu 22.04. It also replaced much of the Q4OS branding with its own, including artwork, logos and branding integrated into the system.[34] The source code was made available on the Q4OS project GitHub.[35]
Quarkos 22.04-r8, released on June 23, 2023, brought the newest patches from Ubuntu 22.04 and Q4OS. It improves the Debonaire Plasma theme, updates the Trinity Desktop Environment to version 14.1.1 and includes fixes for the Trinity audio system.[36]
FreeXP is a system based Q4OS which included XPQ4. Users can set up the system using a .esh file to install the full set of features, or a live installer with the changes already made.[37] The purpose of the project is to provide an 'XP Simulation', similar to how FreeDOS emulates MS-DOS, making it easy to run legacy Windows XP applications and executables.[38] The standalone project has merged with the XPQ4 project, where users can download FreeXP, XPQ4 installer for the Plasma or Trinity desktop, and 'Free10', a project similar to FreeXP but emulating Windows 10.[37]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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