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openSUSE Leap 16 Beta Now Available for Public Testing with Key Enhancements and New Installation Method

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The openSUSE Release Team has announced the availability of the Leap 16 Beta for public testing. This version continues the tradition of providing a stable, classic Linux distribution while being built from SUSE Linux Enterprise 16 and its new base, SUSE Linux Framework One.

Users can download both online and offline Agama installer images from get.opensuse.org. Leap remains the project’s full-featured Linux distribution, while Leap Micro offers a modern, immutable system tailored for containerized and virtualized workloads.

Roadmap Overview #

The release schedule for Leap Micro 6.2 aligns with the roadmap of Leap 16.0, marking it as a specialized image going forward. Key dates include:

  • Leap Micro 6.2 Beta release in the coming days
  • Leap 16.0 Release Candidate (RC) expected in July 2025
  • Final releases for both Leap 16.0 and Leap Micro 6.2 are planned for October 2025

Key Features in the Beta #

Leap 16.0 introduces a number of enhancements:

  • A transition to a Wayland-only system, although some Xorg remnants remain
  • Removal of SysV init support
  • The Agama installer is now the default installation method
  • Replacement of the traditional YaST stack with:
    • Cockpit for system management
    • Myrlyn as a replacement for the YaST Software GUI

Notably, Leap 16.0 will no longer support machines that do not meet the x86_64-v2 architecture requirements.

Notable Versions #

The Beta includes several updated components:

  • Kernel: 6.12 (from SLES 16.0)
  • GNOME: 48.0
  • KDE Plasma: 6.3.4
  • AppArmor: 4.1
  • GIMP: 3.0
  • RPM: 4.20 (upcoming)
  • Cockpit: 334.1

Repository Management #

Leap 16.0 adopts RIS-based repository management, enabling smaller metadata sizes and faster refresh rates. The Beta version also introduces experimental support for parallel package downloads in Zypper, which aims to enhance installation and update speeds.

Migration Recommendations #

For optimal testing, a fresh installation is recommended to utilize the new Agama installer. Users wishing to upgrade from Leap 15.6 can do so manually with zypper dup, ensuring to update their distribution repositories. Detailed guidance for migration can be found here.

Community Involvement #

As part of the testing phase, feedback from users is crucial for identifying and resolving issues. Participants are encouraged to report bugs on bugzilla.opensuse.org.

For more information and updates regarding the Leap 16 Beta, visit the official openSUSE website.

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