The Road Ahead: Bodhi Linux’s Future and Behind-the-Scenes Development
Bodhi Linux has always been more than just an operating system. It’s a statement—a commitment to efficiency, creativity, and individuality that sets it apart from the mainstream. As we move forward, we want to share what’s happening behind the scenes and what’s on the horizon for Bodhi Linux.
A New Look for Bodhi 8: The Zenithal Theme
With Bodhi Linux 8 in development, we decided it was time for a fresh new look. Recent releases have leaned towards darker themes, but for Bodhi 8, we wanted something different—something refined, modern, and visually distinct. That’s where Zenithal comes in.
Zenithal, developed by Štefan Uram and based on the Ice theme by Simotek, introduces a polished light aesthetic that brings a fresh energy to Moksha. It also marks a first for Bodhi: windows and dialogs with rounded edges, pushing the boundaries of Moksha’s traditional look. To complete the experience, we’re working on a matching GTK theme with a little extra flair and special effects, as well as selecting an icon set that complements the design. Currently, we’re exploring Delft-Gray, a continuation of the Faenza icon theme, featuring modern app icons with rounded edges to match Zenithal’s style.
Bringing Back the Classics: Restoring Legacy Moksha Modules
While Bodhi Linux is always moving forward, we’re also reviving some hidden gems from the past. Several Moksha modules that had fallen into obscurity or disrepair are being restored to bring more customization and functionality to the desktop experience.
- Moon – The classic Moon module is back, offering a dynamic, animated moon phase display for your desktop. A small yet stylish addition for those who appreciate a touch of astronomy in their workflow.
- Wallscape – A visually engaging wallpaper manager that provides a more intuitive and animated way to switch backgrounds. It offers a flashier alternative to the standard wallpaper settings.
- Drawer (Coming Soon) – An upcoming module that will introduce a configurable drawer for quickly accessing frequently used applications and files, further enhancing workflow efficiency.
Restoring these modules ensures that Moksha remains as feature-rich and customizable as ever, blending classic enhancements with modern refinements.
Under the Hood: Major Technical Developments
Beyond theming, a lot is happening behind the scenes. One of the biggest changes is the shift to Meson as the build system for all Moksha modules. This makes development cleaner and more maintainable, ensuring a smoother experience for users and contributors alike.
On the packaging side, we’re actively preparing for Debian Trixie while addressing challenges posed by the latest EFL versions, Terminology, and Py-EFL. There’s also ongoing discussion about potential E27 backports that could enhance Moksha’s capabilities.
Meanwhile, documentation and localization remain high priorities. A new team member has joined our documentation efforts, and we’re focused on making Bodhi more accessible to a wider audience through improved translations and guides.
The Bigger Picture: Where Bodhi Is Headed
We’re exploring the possibility of a Bodhi Linux 7.1 release to refine and polish the current version while laying the groundwork for Bodhi 8. As always, our goal remains the same: delivering a lightweight, efficient, and elegant Linux experience without unnecessary bloat.
Bodhi is more than just an OS—it’s a philosophy. It’s about working smarter, not harder. It’s about choice, control, and a computing environment that adapts to you, not the other way around.
With these upcoming changes, we’re continuing to push Bodhi forward while staying true to what makes it unique. The best way to stay up to date with new developments, upcoming features, and behind-the-scenes insights is by following or sponsoring Bodhi on Patreon. Recent posts have covered everything from customizing your desktop with Bodhi-Backgrounds and the Wallscape module to a deep dive into the upcoming Zenithal theme. Your support helps drive Bodhi’s development forward, and we truly appreciate our community’s involvement in shaping its future. Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being part of the Bodhi Linux journey!