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.[2] The distribution is known for being similar in appearance to Microsoft Windows operating systems with one of its pre-installed themes inspired by the look and feel of Windows 2000 and Windows XP.[3][4]

Q4OS
Q4OS 4.8 (Gemini) running the Trinity Desktop Environment version R14.0.11
DeveloperQ4OS development team
OS familyLinux
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source
Latest releaseQ4OS 4.8 (Gemini)[1] / April 5, 2022 (2022-04-05)
Available inMultilingual
Update methodAPT
Package managerdpkg
Platformsx86-64, i386, armhf, arm64
Kernel typeLinux kernel
UserlandGNU
Default
user interface		TDE, KDE Plasma
LicenseFree software licenses (mainly GPL) + some proprietary
Official websiteq4os.org

History

Development of Q4OS began in 2014 to coincide with Windows XP's end of extended support in the same year.[5]

In 2019, version 3.8 was released which was based on Debian Buster.[6]

The original KDE based version has been discontinued since around 2018.[7]

As of April 2020, the core developers of Q4OS, initially starting the project in Germany,[8] are now operating in Prague, Czech Republic.[9][10]

Features

It is using the Trinity Desktop Environment, which is a fork of K Desktop Environment 3.[11]

Releases

Stable versions of Q4OS are derived from Debian's Stable release branch with long-term support that lasts five years after their initial release.[12] Developmental "testing" versions of future releases are derived from the Debian Testing branch.[13]

Version[14] Codename Release date End-of-life Description
Latest preview version of a future release: 0.5.17 2014-07-17 "Development" version
Latest preview version of a future release: 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Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2 Orion 2015-04-27 Initial version to be specified under codename Orion
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.3 2015-06-08 The LXQt desktop environment is now supported
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4 2015-09-04 Initial version to support devices running on ARM architecture[15]
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.6.3 2016-08-05 Implemented UEFI support
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.8.4 2017-04-26 Icedove is replaced with Mozilla Thunderbird, LXQt is unsupported[16]
Latest preview version of a future release: 2.0.2 Scorpion 2016-01-06 Initial testing version of Q4OS Scorpion
Latest preview version of a future release: 2.3.6 2017-10-04 "Final beta" release
Older version, yet still maintained: 2.4 2017-10-04 2022-10 Initial stable release of Q4OS Scorpion and to provide long-term support
Older version, yet still maintained: 2.5 2018-06-03 2023-06 TDE is now bundled with KDE Plasma
Latest preview version of a future release: 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
Latest preview version of a future release: 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
Current stable version: 4.8 2022-04-05 2027-04 Latest stable release of Q4OS
Legend:
Old version
Older version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

Reception

SourceForge featured Q4OS as "Community Choice" Project of the Month in April 2020.[10]

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.[17]

Forks

The Linux distribution Quark is a fork of Q4OS.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  2. Wallen, Jack (2018-02-16). "Q4OS Makes Linux Easy for Everyone". Linux.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  3. Germain, Jack M. (2015-03-18). "Q4OS Is a Bare-Bones Business Tool". TechNewsWorld. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  4. Stahie, Silviu (2014-09-09). "Q4OS 0.5.18 Is an Almost Exact Linux Replica of Windows XP – Gallery". Softpedia. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  5. Ranchal, Juan. "Q4OS: nunca ha sido más fácil usar Linux junto a Windows". MuyComputer (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  6. Nestor, Marius (28 July 2019). "Q4OS Operating System Brings the Trinity Desktop to Debian GNU/Linux 10 "Buster"". Softpedia. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  7. Apfelböck, Hermann (2018-12-02). "Linux auf dem Stick: 10 Ideen für den Einsatz". PC-WELT (in German). Retrieved 2021-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. Germain, Jack. "Fresh bit o' Linux to spruce up that ancient Windows Vista box? Why not, we say..." The Register. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  9. "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  10. "April 2020, "Community Choice" Project of the Month – Q4OS". SourceForge Community Blog. 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  11. Thommes, Ferdinand. "Das Design von Windows XP lebt in Linux weiter". ComputerBase (in German). Retrieved 2021-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. Paul, John (2019-05-26). "Q4OS Linux Revives Your Old Laptop with Windows' Looks - It's FOSS". It's FOSS. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
  13. "Development Release: Q4OS 4.2 Testing (DistroWatch.com News)". DistroWatch. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  14. "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  15. "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  16. Nestor, Marius (2017-04-25). "Debian-Based Q4OS 1.8.4 Operating System Lets Users Select Alternative Desktops". Softpedia. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  17. Sharma, Shashank; Peers, Nick; Cox, Alex; Drake, Nate; Sharma, Mayank (2022-01-17). "Best lightweight Linux distros of 2022". TechRadar. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  18. February 2021, Mayank Sharma 26 (2021-02-26). "Quark 20.04 review". TechRadar. Retrieved 2021-09-06.


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