OpenSUSE 12.1 Release Launched

Board members yesterday announced the launch of the latest openSUSE Linux release, version 12.1.

The Linux version, developed by an international community of programmers, includes a range of new functionality and features, according to a statement by the openSUSE board.

Fully loaded release

Featured improvements range from desktop functionality and cloud control, to better back-end control and the first in industry inclusion of the Go programming language, Google’s new open development language.

Go is a fast, easy-to-use language that helps programmers handle multi-core, networked machines with the convenience of garbage collection and run-time reflection, according to openSUSE.

This release includes the much improved Gnome 3.2 desktop, which has received a make-over with many bugs being squashed, notifications made nicer, the shell more comfortable to use and handling of multiple-screen setups improved. Another front-end improvement is in colour management, with openSUSE being the first to integrate the Oyranos color management system.

Another highlight is the support for the ownCloud document and file synchronisation feature with its own Mirall desktop client integration which OpenSUSE says, “Makes the difference between thinking that ownCloud is interesting and being able to actually use it.”

The release also includes a virtualisation and cloud repository offering the latest versions of Eucalyptus, OpenNebula and OpenStack for openSUSE 12.1, while supporting other virtualisation technologies including Xen 4.1, KVM and VirtualBox which can be managed with the latest virt-manager and open-vm-tools.

SUSE Studio users can already build unique versions of openSUSE 12.1, with custom package selections, artwork, scripts, etc. that can be deployed directly to Amazon EC2 or onto a variety of other cloud platforms, according to the statement.

“While the big updates include Snapper, systemd and ownCloud, there are also many smaller enhancements like the improvements to YaST or the work on zypper. And that is only what our own community did,” said Bryen Yunahsko, member of the openSUSE Board. “We’re standing on the shoulders of the gigantic open source community. I would not be surprised if openSUSE’s latest update has over 300,000 improvements that resulted from efforts in the open source community.”

For more information on openSUSE 12.1 or to download it, visit the  openSUSE Website.