Release of Fedora Linux 41: new features after six months of development

The version includes Fedora Workstation, Server, CoreOS, Cloud Base, IoT Edition, Silverblue, Kinoite with desktop environments KDE Plasma, Xfce, MATE, Cinnamon, and others. Architectures x86_64, Power64, and ARM64 (AArch64) are supported. Details are below.

Main innovations and key updates

Package Manager DNF5: Performance and Dependency Reduction

In Fedora 41, the standard package manager became DNF5. The components were rewritten in C++ instead of Python. This allowed the package manager to work faster and reduce the amount of dependencies and system resources required for its operation. The basic management functionality has been moved to the libdnf5 library. In addition, the DNF5 toolkit got rid of PackageKit, instead, DNF Daemon is used to manage packages in graphical environments. The result is improved operation indication, support for local RPM packages, and the ability to display transaction information.

Updates to graphical environments and interface innovations

• GNOME 47 and improved performance. The GNOME desktop environment in Fedora Workstation has been updated to version 47. The update provides a new style of dialogs. Additionally, performance on small-screen devices has been improved, and hardware-accelerated video encoding is enabled when recording screencasts.

• New terminal Ptyxis. Fedora 41 includes the Ptyxis terminal emulator, which replaces the standard GNOME Terminal. Ptyxis supports container integration and offers more flexible customization options using Toolbox, Distrobox, Podman, and JHBuild, as well as fast rendering.

• Wayland by default and abandonment of X11. Components related to X11 have been removed from the base distribution. If X11 is needed, it can be installed from the repositories. The main reason for discontinuing X11 support in Fedora is the transition of the X.Org server to the deprecated category in RHEL 9 and the decision to completely remove it in a future major release of RHEL 10.

Development of KDE Plasma and new features for mobile devices

KDE Plasma 6.2 and mobile edition. Fedora 41 includes an edition with KDE Plasma 6.2, providing enhanced personalization and performance capabilities. There is also a version of KDE Plasma Mobile, optimized for mobile devices, which expands the potential applications of Fedora.

Hardware support and driver updates

• Support for Nvidia and Secure Boot. For users using Nvidia drivers, Fedora developers have restored the ability to install proprietary drivers with Secure Boot enabled. Now the installation of the MOK (Machine Owner Key) digital signature is simplified, which facilitates working with secure boot and improves integration with Nvidia graphics cards for gaming and professional applications.

• MIPI cameras and Pipewire media server. Fedora 41 has added support for MIPI cameras, which are gradually replacing UVC-compatible cameras on laptops. Video from MIPI cameras is now transmitted through Pipewire.

Network subsystem and network configuration changes

• Removal of network-scripts and support for NetworkManager. Fedora 41 has finally gotten rid of network-scripts based on the old ifup and ifdown commands. It is now recommended to use NetworkManager and its nmcli utility. This decision is related to the discontinuation of ISC DHCP support. NetworkManager provides a more modern and flexible approach to network configuration.

• Changes in NetworkManager and new connection profiles. As part of the update, NetworkManager has removed support for connection profiles in the ifcfg format.

Security enhancements and cryptographic changes

• OpenSSL update and SHA-1 deprecation. Fedora 41 has stopped trusting signatures using the outdated SHA-1 to enhance security. OpenSSL has disabled the use of SHA-1 hashes by default. This is an important step to align the system with modern security standards.

• Use of kTLS in GnuTLS. Fedora has added support for kernel-level TLS (kTLS), which improves the performance of GnuTLS. This is especially useful for servers requiring high bandwidth and low latency.

Performance and optimization for developers

• Developer tool updates. Fedora 41 has updated many key developer tools, including GCC 14, glibc 2.40, Python 3.13, and Node.js 22.0. These updates make Fedora a convenient platform for modern applications and research, including machine learning and web development. Perl 5.40 and Go 1.23 have also been updated, allowing developers to work with the latest versions of programming languages and libraries.

• Optimization mode in GCC for CPython. Fedora now uses the -O3 optimization mode for building CPython, which provides a 4% performance boost. This setting will be especially useful for Python application developers as it reduces task execution time and increases overall efficiency.

Power consumption and resource management

• Switching to tuned instead of power-profiles-daemon. Fedora now uses tuned to manage power profiles, providing finer tuning of performance modes. This innovation allows flexible energy consumption regulation, extending battery life.

Additional changes and improvements

• Composefs and transactional updates in Fedora CoreOS and IoT. The Composefs file system has been added to Fedora CoreOS and Fedora IoT, allowing the root partition to be used in read-only mode and ensuring system integrity. The bootc utility has also been added for transactional system updates, making the update process more stable and secure.

• fedora-repoquery. The new fedora-repoquery utility allows you to search for packages in Fedora repositories and other related projects such as EPEL and CentOS Stream. This makes package management easier, especially for users working with server and cloud versions of Fedora.

• Support for OPAL2 SED drives. Support for self-encrypting drives with the OPAL2 interface has been added to the installer, allowing the use of hardware encryption to enhance data security. This feature is especially useful for corporate users who need to protect confidential information.

• Repositories RPM Fusion. Fedora 41 continues to support "free" and "nonfree" RPM Fusion repositories, offering additional multimedia applications, drivers, and codecs. This allows users to easily install proprietary drivers and expand the multimedia capabilities of the system.

You can download the distribution at this link. It offers a number of innovations that may be useful to many tekkix users. If you have already had a chance to work with the new product, share your impressions in the comments.