Introduction
The COSMIC desktop environment, a free and open-source project spearheaded by System76, is nearing its first stable release. Originally conceived as a modified version of GNOME for the Pop!_OS distribution, COSMIC has evolved into a standalone desktop environment built from scratch using Rust. Development began in 2021, driven by limitations encountered with GNOME extensions and disagreements with GNOME development directions. This report provides an overview of COSMIC’s development, key features, current status, and known issues, based on available research data.
Background
System76 initiated the COSMIC project to address perceived shortcomings in the GNOME desktop environment, particularly concerning customization and workflow. The project aimed to provide a more tailored and efficient user experience for Pop!_OS users. Instead of forking GNOME, System76 opted for a ground-up rewrite, affording greater control over design and functionality. This new desktop environment utilizes the Rust-based iced graphics toolkit and a custom theming system. The first alpha version, “Epoch,” was released on August 8, 2024.
Development Progress
Since the initial alpha release, COSMIC has seen consistent development, with subsequent alpha versions introducing a range of new features and improvements. COSMIC Alpha 5, released in January 2025, includes an early version of the COSMIC Media Player, Users Settings, and updates to Alt+Tab and variable refresh rates. This release also contains numerous bug fixes, demonstrating a focus on stability and user experience. User feedback has been actively solicited and incorporated into the development process. Some user-suggested features have already been implemented since initial reports in May 2024.
Key Features
COSMIC distinguishes itself with several key features:
Core Components
- Rust-based Architecture: Built from the ground up in Rust, COSMIC aims for improved performance, security, and maintainability.
- Custom Theming System: Provides a unique and customizable visual experience.
- Streamlined Window Tiling: Enhances productivity through efficient window management.
Applications
COSMIC includes several custom-built applications designed to integrate seamlessly with the desktop environment:
- COSMIC Edit: A text editor supporting bidirectional text, ligatures, emoji, line highlighting, and Git integration.
- COSMIC Terminal: Based on Alacritty, it features bidirectional text support, theming options, GPU rendering, and the ability to divide a terminal window into multiple areas. Opens links via left-clicking.
- COSMIC Files: A file manager offering standard file management functionality, keyboard shortcuts, built-in file archiving, and a file preview feature. Includes “Open Item Location” right-click menu option in Recents folder, and fixes for saving new files to new folders, and renaming files during search.
- COSMIC Media Player: Employs Vulkan for rendering and VA-API for decoding.
User Interface Improvements
- Alt+Tab: Now cycles through applications in order of last use.
- Variable Refresh Rates (VRR): Refined to account for display minimum refresh rate.
- ContextDrawer navigation: Includes header buttons for cycling through images and viewing them in Gallery view.
Known Issues and Limitations
While COSMIC has made significant progress, some issues remain:
- High CPU Usage: Some users have reported high CPU usage in virtualized environments, particularly with
cosmic-applet-aandcosmic-osd. This is linked to the lack of OpenGL support, as COSMIC primarily supports Vulkan. - Performance on Asahi Linux: Users on Asahi Linux have experienced high CPU usage with COSMIC apps due to the reliance on Vulkan and the use of a software renderer when Vulkan is unavailable. The
cosmic-settingsapp can exhibit constant high CPU load even without interaction. - Virtualization Issues: Lack of OpenGL support causes issues in virtualized environments.
Future Development
User feature requests suggest areas for future development, including:
- Customizable touchpad gestures
- Graphical mouse cursor customization
- Panel and dock applet customization
- Animated wallpapers with .gif support
- Touchscreen gestures and on-screen keyboard for touchscreen users.
Conclusion
The COSMIC desktop environment represents a significant undertaking by System76 to create a tailored and performant user experience for Linux users. With a focus on Rust-based architecture, custom applications, and user-centric design, COSMIC is poised to offer a compelling alternative to existing desktop environments. While some performance and compatibility issues remain, active development and community involvement suggest a promising future for COSMIC as it approaches its first stable release.