The Solus project has released version 4.8 of its independent rolling-release Linux distribution, codenamed Opportunity. This update, arriving ten months after Solus 4.7, features the Linux 6.17 kernel and updated desktop environments including GNOME 49.1 and KDE Plasma 6.5.3. Key changes include the removal of Python 2 and the retirement of the Solus Software Center.
Solus 4.8 introduces several significant updates to the distribution, which offers editions based on Budgie, GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce desktop environments. The release is powered by the Linux 6.17 kernel, marking an upgrade from previous versions. Desktop environments have been refreshed: Budgie to version 10.9.4, GNOME to 49.1 (without an X11 session by default), KDE Plasma to 6.5.3, and Xfce to 4.20.
A major backend change is the adoption of a new package repository named Polaris. This shift has enabled the removal of Usr-Merge compatibility symbolic links from packages and an update to the systemd package, now at version 257.10. Python 2 has been fully removed from the repositories and live ISO images, ending long-standing support for the deprecated language.
The Solus Software Center has been discontinued across all editions. Developers recommend using GNOME Software for the GNOME edition and Plasma Discover for the KDE Plasma, Budgie, and Xfce editions to manage applications.
Default applications in Solus 4.8 include Mozilla Firefox 145 as the web browser, LibreOffice 25.2.6 for office tasks, and Mozilla Thunderbird 140.5 for email. The Mesa graphics stack is updated to 25.2.6, and girepository has been brought to version 2.0 for packages relying on libgirepository.
As a rolling-release distribution, Solus 4.8 is available for download from the official website exclusively for 64-bit computers. Existing users can update their installations via the default package manager without needing a full reinstall.