Bodhi Turns Two, Looking Back and Forward

Bodhi Linux is an Ubuntu-based distribution that features the Enlightenment desktop and a noticeably lack of included applications. It's main goal is to offer a light-weight high-performing base on which to build your ideal desktop system. It recently turned two years old and founder Jeff Hoogland is looking back.

It was two years ago November 16 that Hoogland announced his new project. Because he couldn't find an E17 desktop system to meet his needs, he figured he'd have to make his own. After cutting his teeth on a kitchen-sink Pinguy E17 Remix, which is now defunct, he struck Linux gold with Bodhi. Five point-0 releases were tested by users and by the time version 1.0.0 was released in March 2011 it had some high profile fans and hit about number 21 on Distrowatch's Page Hit Ranking. Although not all was in agreement, Hoogland had a hit on his
hands. 1.0.0 was based on 10.04 and arrived with Linux 2.6.35 and little else.

After a few 1.x updates, Bodhi 2.0.0 was released in July of this year in 32 and 64-bit architectures. It shipped with Linux 3.5 and Enlightenment's very own terminal emulator. By then Bodhi had moved up to number 17 in the PHR and was being described as "unique" and offering "performance with pizzazz".

The most recent stable release is version 2.1.0. It remained true to the minimalistic nature that had come to characterize Bodhi, but offered apps like LibreOffice 3.6.1, Firefox 15, games, and much more in its official Appcenter. According to the release schedule hammered out last year, 2.2.0 is due next month with additional 2.x releases coming every few months next year and the first half of 2014. Version 3.0.0 is projected to appear around July 2014.

Bodhi Linux 2.1.0 includes Synaptic Package Manager set up with Ubuntu and Bodhi repositories.