GhostBSD 26.2 takes the fright out of FreeBSD with a friendlier installer
Full-disk encryption joins the toolkit, MATE and Xfce stay while Gershwin sits this one out
GhostBSD 26.2-R15.1p6, a user-friendly variant of FreeBSD, has released an updated version based on FreeBSD 15.1. This new edition introduces a more accessible installer, full-disk encryption support, and a reduced installation image size. The original plan was to include KDE Plasma at first boot, but it was postponed due to delays.
However, GhostBSD's unique Omarchy-derived desktop might still seem unfamiliar even to experienced Linux users. GhostBSD aims to provide Linux-like convenience to FreeBSD users, making it more accessible for those interested in trying FreeBSD without the typical setup hassles. The project currently offers MATE and Xfce desktop environments, with a dock for the MATE desktop as the sole module available.
Despite the absence of Gershwin, the project lead mentioned that its development is ongoing and may become the default desktop in the future. GhostBSD 26.2 is well-received, offering a dark theme and classic GNOME 2 desktop layout, making it an appealing option for those seeking an alternative to proprietary Linux distributions.
Written by urgent.news from The Register's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
