Skolelinux 8.0 Beta 1 is now available for download

Apr 27, 2015 03:42 GMT  ·  By

The Debian Edu / Skolelinux project, through Holger Levsen, announced the general availability for download and testing of the first Beta release of the upcoming Debian Edu 8.0 distribution.

Also known as Skolelinux, the Debian Edu 8.0 Beta 1 distribution includes all the new features of the Debian GNU/Linux 8.0 (Jessie) operating system, such as Linux kernel 3.16.7-ctk9, the KDE Plasma Workspaces 4.11.13 as the default desktop environment, Iceweasel 31 ESR and Chromium 41 web browsers, as well as LibreOffice 4.3.3 office suite.

In addition, users will be able to choose between several other open-source desktop environments, including GNOME 3.14, Xfce 4.12, LXDE 0.5.6, and MATE 1.8. The Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) 5.5.4 software is also available in this first Beta release of Debian Edu 8.0.

"The Debian Edu / Skolelinux project is pleased to announce the first *beta* release of Debian Edu "Jessie" 8.0+edu0~b1, which for the first time is composed entirely of packages from the current Debian stable release, Debian 8 "Jessie"," says Holger Levsen.

Debian Edu 8.0 will be released in the coming weeks

In addition to the features mentioned above, Debian Edu 8.0 Beta 1 also comes with GOsa 2.7.4,  CUPS 1.7.5 printing system, GCompris 14.12 educational suite, Rosegarden 14.02 music creator, GIMP 2.8.14 image editor, Stellarium 0.13.1 virtual stargazer, golearn 0.9 Machine Learning for Go, and Tux Paint 0.9.22 drawing program.

The good news is that the final version of the Debian Edu 8.0 operating system, which is heavily used in all sorts of educational institutions around the world, such as schools and universities, will be unveiled in the coming weeks, when the first point release of Debian GNU/Linux 8.0 (Jessie) will be announced.

You can download Debian Edu 8.0 Beta 1 right now from Softpedia, but keep in mind that this is a pre-release version that might contain unresolved issues. Thus, we do not recommend installing it on production machines where stability is extremely important.