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Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) 5 is Here with Debian 11 ‘Bullseye’
The next version upgrade for Linux Mint’s Debian variant is here!
With all the goodness of Mint 20.3 and Debian 11.
Linux Mint’s offering with Debian is always an exciting release to look forward to.
In case you did not know, LMDE is meant to act as a replacement if Ubuntu ever disappears.
So, whether you like or hate Ubuntu as a base, you have an impressive alternative without
compromising the Linux Mint experience on your desktop.
With the latest LMDE 5 “Elsie”, the Linux Mint team has included all the goodies introduced
in Linux Mint 20.3 and Debian 11 “Bullseye” as its base.
Let me highlight the essential details regarding the new upgrade.
Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 “Elsie”: What’s New?
As you can guess, Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 comes loaded with Cinnamon as its desktop
and looks exactly the same as Linux Mint’s primary offering with Ubuntu as its base.
Cinnamon 5.2.7
Unlike Linux Mint’s main edition, you do not get the option for other desktop environments.
So, you will have a Cinnamon desktop out-of-the-box with LMDE 5.
The latest Cinnamon version includes plenty of improvements to give you a good user experience.
32-bit Support Still Exists
If you are looking for Linux distributions supporting 32-bit systems, LMDE 5 is yet another
option that you can opt for.
While it may be irrelevant for most modern desktop users, it is still essential for Linux
distributions to support 32-bit systems.
And, it is a good thing that Linux Mint’s Debian edition still includes support for
it.
Linux Kernel 5.10 LTS
Linux Kernel 5.10 may not be the latest LTS release but it should be great for most hardware
configurations (unless you have the latest and greatest from Intel/AMD).
Linux Mint 20.3 Improvements
With LMDE 5, the Linux Mint team has tried their best to add all the improvements introduced
in Linux Mint 20.3, with a new Debian base.
You can notice the availability of new wallpaper backgrounds and get the latest app additions
like “Thingy” or “Library” to manage documents.
In addition to the features, you also get to experience the same visual refresh to the
theme with round edges, and slight changes to the theme color.
Download LMDE 5
Before proceeding to install it, you may want to go through the official release notes to
know about some common issues.
You can download the 64-bit or 32-bit ISO file from the official site.
If you were using LMDE 5 beta, you do not need to upgrade, but type in a few commands,
as per the instructions in the release announcement:
:: More ::
LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) 5 “Elsie” Is Now Available for Download
After more than two months of hard work, the LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) 5 “Elsie”
distribution is now available for download for those who prefer a Debian-based Linux
Mint.
As I reported during the beta phase, LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) 5 is based on
the Debian GNU/Linux 11 “Bullseye” operating system series.
More precisely, it is using the packages included in the Debian GNU/Linux 11.2 point release
that arrived last year in December.
This means that Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 is powered by the long-term supported Linux
5.10 LTS kernel series, which will be supported until October 2023.
On top of that, LMDE 5 “Elsie” comes with all the applications and packages included
in the Linux Mint 20.3 “Una” release.
The default desktop environment of LMDE 5 is Cinnamon, and users will enjoy the latest
and greatest Cinnamon 5.2 release, which comes with lots of great improvements and some new
features.
Cinnamon 5.2.7 is included by default.
But, besides the Debian GNU/Linux 11 “Bullseye” base and the newer Linux 5.10 LTS kernel (Linux
Mint 20.3 comes with Linux kernel 5.4 LTS), there’s literary no difference between LMDE
5 “Elsie” and Linux Mint 20.3 “Una”.
LMDE is maintained mostly for Linux Mint developers to test the compatibility of their own software
stack with Debian GNU/Linux in preparation for the next major Linux Mint release (e.g.
Linux Mint 21).
I was asked before why choose LMDE over the Ubuntu-based Linux Mint.
Well, the short answer is that you are getting access to newer packages compared to those
in the Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) operating system series.
Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 is available for download right now via the direct download
links below as live ISO images for newer 64-bit systems, as well as older 32-bit systems.
:: More ::
Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 is now available
Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 (LMDB) is now available.
The Linux Mint team has released the new version of the distribution after months of testing
to the public.
Linux Mint Debian Edition is a fallback option for the entire project.
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu by default and the last release of the Ubuntu version dates
back to January 2022.
The team released Linux Mint 20.3 to the public in January 2022.
All three flavors of Linux Mint -- Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce -- were released with Linux
kernel 5.4 and an Ubuntu 20.04 package base.
The new release introduced improvements across the board, including a new document manager
Thingy, search functionality in the Sticky Notes application, an updated look and more.
The main goal of Linux Mint Debian Edition is to guarantee that Linux Mint continues
to be available if something happens to Ubuntu.
While that seems unlikely, the team wants to be prepared for all eventualities.
Linux Mint Debian Edition is that fallback.
The team aims for feature-parity with the Ubuntu-based Linux Mint versions.
LMDE is a Linux Mint project which stands for “Linux Mint Debian Edition”.
Its goal is to ensure Linux Mint would be able to continue to deliver the same user
experience, and how much work would be involved, if Ubuntu was ever to disappear.
LMDE is also one of our development targets, to guarantee the software we develop is compatible
outside of Ubuntu.
LMDE aims to be as similar as possible to Linux Mint, but without using Ubuntu.
The package base is provided by Debian instead.
The blog post on the Linux Mint website lists download links for 64-bit and 32-bit ISO images.
Systems that do run LMDE 5 Beta may be upgraded to the final version in the following way:
apt install network-manager-config-connectivity-debian plymouth-label pipewire plocate
apt remove mlocate brltty sudo updatedb
Upgrade instructions for upgrading earlier versions of LMDE will be posted at a later
point, as the team is working on improvement the upgrade tool that both Linux Mint and
LMDE use.
Linux Mint users may not upgrade their systems to use LMDE instead.
A new installation is required to do that.
The release notes list known issues only at the time of writing, but the new version should
match the features that Linux Mint 20.3 supports or introduced.
The new version is using Debian GNU/Linux 11.2 as the package base and the Linux 5.10
LTS kernel.
Now You: do you use Linux Mint?
If so, which version and flavor, and why?
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Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) 5 'Elsie' now available for 32-bit and 64-bit PCs
Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) exists in case Ubuntu ever stops being developed.
You see, the "regular" Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, so if Canonical ever closed its
doors, things would be quite disastrous for Linux Mint.
Will Ubuntu actually die one day?
While Ubuntu's demise is unlikely to happen anytime soon, the reality is, nothing lasts
forever.
So I suppose it makes sense for the Linux Mint developers to have a contingency plan.
With all of that said, you don't have to wait for Ubuntu to die to use Linux Mint Debian
Edition.
LMDE is a perfectly fine operating system, and it can absolutely be used as your daily
distribution.
If you fancy giving Linux Mint Debian Edition a try, today is your lucky day.
The newest version of the distro, LMDE 5, is finally available for download.
Code-named "Elsie," Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 uses the Cinnamon 5.2 desktop environment
which is beautiful and well-designed.
Cinnamon should feel familiar to Windows users, making it a good option for those switching
from Microsoft's operating system.
LMDE 5 is based on Debian Bullseye and utilizes the fairly modern Linux kernel 5.10.
Should you choose Linux Mint Debian Edition over the "normal" Ubuntu-based variant?
Probably not.
While both variants are good choices, the developers seem more focused on the latter.
Ultimately, however, you can't go wrong either way.
Ubuntu-based or Debian-based, Linux Mint is great.
Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) 5 "Elsie" can be downloaded right now here.
Believe it or not, there are versions for both 32-bit and 64-bit PCs, so make sure you
choose the correct one.
Most modern computers (from the last decade or longer) are 64-bit capable, so only those
with ancient PCs will need the 32-bit version.
Thanks for watching,
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If you did hit that thumbs up button, it helps me to make good content for you, other then
that, I will see you in tomorrow's video, peace out.