Ubuntu derivative Bodhi Linux was released in a version 1.2 that moves up to Linux 3.0. Bodhi Linux 1.2 advances to a fresh new version of the lightweight Enlightenment 17 window manager and version 0.4 of the lightweight Midori web browser, and features improved documentation and a variety of new desktop themes, says the project.

Interest in Ubuntu derivatives appears to be at an all-time high now that Ubuntu's controversial new Unity desktop environment is backed up on the latest version with the even more debate-inducing GNOME 3.x. While some major Ubuntu-derived distros such as Linux Mint have stayed with GNOME 2.32 instead of either of those options, other distributions have adopted more lightweight desktop alternatives.

One of those is Bodhi Linux, which according to the PCWorld item that alerted us to the release, ranked 22nd on a recent DistroWatch popularity list — an impressive stat for a project that's only about a year old.

Bodhi Linux uses the latest 09/06/11 build of the lightweight Enlightenment 17 desktop environment from SVN, based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries, according to the Bodhi Linux project. Enlightenment 17 is mostly notable for having added customizable plug-in modules.

Bodhi's Enlightenment desktop and Midori browser
(Click to enlarge)

Bodhi Linux also chooses to go lightweight — as in low storage and memory footprint — by choosing the Webkit-based, Xfce-related Midori web browser, updated here to version 0.4.0, according to Bodhi project leader Jeff Hoogland in his release notes.

Additional browsers are available as options, however, including Firefox 6.0, Chromium 13, and Opera 11.51, according to the project. There's also said to be an "Nvidia 280.13" driver. Other default packages are said to include the Leafpad text editor, LXTerminal terminal emulator, PCManFM file manager, and Synaptic package manager.

While Bodhi may be Ubuntu derived, this is no Ubuntu clone. The latest release is "loosely based" on Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx," dating from April 2010, according to Hoogland, responding to question in the comments section.

Bodhi's default profiles have been improved, with the most significant changes going into the "fancy" and "tablet" profiles, writes Hoogland. The latter has gained a "sleek, touch-friendly method of changing between applications," he adds. A new default profile called "Tiling" is said to help with windows organization.

Bodhi 1.2's Enlightenment 17 desktop also features seven new default desktop themes that PCWorld's Katherine Noyes calls "beautiful." The default "E" ("Enlightenment") theme provides new wallpaper. Also included are Angelic2, Blue Angel, Migeul, Mystery, Passion, and Smoke, according to Hoogland.

Bodhi Linux 1.2 is also promoted for offering vastly improved documentation, and this is now stored locally for offline use, according to the project. In addition, Dutch has been added to the localization options, bringing the total number of supported languages to 11.

Finally, Hoogland told Noyes that Bodhi 1.2 ships with a workaround to help combat some of the power consumption issues encountered in recent kernels starting with Linux 2.6.38.

Availability

The Bodhi Linux 1.2.0 release notes, with links to download options, which include torrent and SourceForge downloads, may be found on this Jeff Hoogland blog announcement.

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