Hands on: openSUSE Tumbleweed review
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This comment first appeared in issue 354 PC Pro.
This is not uncommon Linux Distributions are available in several builds. Ubuntu With long-term support and cutting-edge versions, Zorin has a core and professional version, Opensuse has rolling and leaps. Tumbleweed, which we view here, is an evolving build that includes the latest stable version of each component that is updated when new code appears. LEAP is based on SUSE Enterprise Linux and is a stable version that can be updated regularly.
The version we installed is running the 6.6.3-1 kernel (the latest version is 6.6.4 at the time of writing) and the desktop manager is available, including GNOME, XFCE, XFCE, CINNAMON, MATE, MATE, and KDE PLASMA 5, the latter most importantly the list of options for the installer. So, that’s what we chose for the test. In our installation, this sits on top of the X11 window system, not Wayland.
As well as regular 64-bit and 32-bit builds for desktop use, there are other builds armIBM Z Home Mainframe, RISC and POWERPC. It will continue Raspberry pi.
The installer is logical, but not the most friendly test. set up Wifi You are asked to know which security protocol your network uses, and our first three attempts to start to OpenSuse at the end of the process failed. Although the installer is obviously completing, our test machine still tries to start the operating system we previously tested. We solved this by forcing the installer to delete all partitions on the internal drive, even if it thinks it is not necessary.
But once up and running, everything was more logical, with only ten updates ready to download, reflecting the fact that the installer was still fresh, downloaded just the day before. Later that day, 11 more appeared.
It’s not just the core components such as Samba, Git, and the kernel that receive rolling updates in Tumbleweed: bundled applications are also cutting-edge. So, at the time of writing, we found that Libreoffice 7.6.3.1 and Firefox 120 are pre-installed. e-mail Handled by Kmail, but if you prefer Thunderbird, the version that can be accessed through Opensuse’s software manager Discover is version 115.5. GIMP and inkscape Available through the manager, both of which are options, rather than pre-installed software, can match the latest version available through their respective sites.
KDE plasma should be familiar to anyone who switches from Windows, as it has a traditional taskbar and menu. Commonly used applications can be pinned to the bar for easy access and filtered menu options as input to reduce the number of matching applications.
Plasma allows you to add auxiliary toolbars, also has widgets, and has a spacious option preinstalled but dormant. We see this implementation in Nitrux, which also uses KDE plasma, albeit in a significantly tailored form. For our money, the version seen here (the window control remains on the window itself) feels more logical.
The integrated setup application is complemented by yast (again, another setup tool), which provides password protection for more sensitive options such as configuring bootloaders, management printer and manage users. Tumbleweed scored 1,167 in the single-core Geekbench test and 3,241 in multiple benchmarks. This usually matches other distributions in the test, suggesting that deployment decisions are better based on factors other than performance. OpenSuse is one of the oldest Linux distributions still actively developing, but with Rolling you will always run one of the latest versions available. This is its main attraction because of other factors (such as choice) Desktop Managerand pre-installed applications are common to many competitors. Although we initially had some difficulties with installation, your mileage may vary and once up and running, it will be updated regularly as promised and will be as stable as any other distribution in the test.
If your preference is KDE rather than Gnome, that will be our choice.
