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| NebiOS 10.2 teaser image |
After a decade of evolution from its humble beginnings as "Spez Linux," the Ubuntu-based NebiOS has reached a significant milestone with version 10.2. This release delivers a ground-up rewrite of two core components—the Bundle Store and napp-runtime—while introducing experimental NVIDIA support and polishing the distinctive NebiDE desktop environment.
The NebiOS project, which has matured into a full-fledged operating system with its own ecosystem centered around the Wayfire-based NebiDE Wayland compositor, announced version 10.2 earlier today. Developer Sarp M. broke a two-week silence to deliver what he describes as a stable release with "only a few minor rough edges."
Bundle Store and napp-runtime: Complete Overhaul
The most transformative changes in NebiOS 10.2 lie beneath the surface. Both the Bundle Store application management system and the napp-runtime portable app containerization framework have been completely rewritten from scratch.
According to the official NebiOS 10.2 announcement, napp-runtime has undergone significant architectural changes. Most of its codebase has migrated to Python and compiled with Nuitka, bringing it in line with other NebiOS userspace components. The rewrite introduces several critical security and performance enhancements:
A manifest signing and verification system now uses Ed25519 and SHA256, enabling signed manifest verification against registered Bundle Store repositories. Cold-start times have dropped by approximately half—from 400–500ms down to 200–300ms—making frequently used applications noticeably more responsive.
The binary cache has been relocated from /Applications/.My_App to ~/.cache/napp-runtime/binaries, while a new "no sandbox mode" allows advanced users to bypass the bubblewrap (bwrap) isolation layer for applications verified by the system repository—though developers cannot enable this by default for security reasons.
The introduction of NINF 2.0 brings native support for application identifiers and configurations, though backward compatibility ensures packages built with the old SDK (NINF 1.0) continue functioning. Out-of-store installation has been streamlined with automatic launcher creation—users can now install applications by simply dragging them into ~/Applications, provided they're online with the relevant repository configured.
Bundle Store: Redesigned for Multi-Platform Future
The accompanying Bundle Store rewrite reflects NebiOS's ambitious "one OS, all devices" vision. The interface has been redesigned with adaptive UI principles, accommodating multiple form factors while introducing several requested features:
Third-party repository management now sits alongside the official repository, while parallel download support accelerates large application installations. The store now handles direct .deb package installation and recognizes Flatpak install links from browsers, redirecting installations through Bundle Store.
A beta update channel has been added for NebiOS itself, and previously non-functional buttons including "App Info," "Show on FlatHub," and "Report App" now work properly. Signed manifest files are automatically saved after download, enabling offline launching for first-time installations.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the new app recommendation algorithm prioritizes quality and recency over download counts—leveling the playing field between indie developers and large software companies. The developer has indicated the code will be available on GitLab for those curious about its inner workings.
NebiDE Desktop Environment Refinements
The NebiDE desktop environment receives substantial attention in this release. The Wallpaper Engine's widget system has been overhauled with an improved moving and editing system, while the widget add screen has been redesigned to source icons from the system theme.
Critical fixes address several user-reported issues. A multi-monitor lock screen problem—where only the primary monitor would lock—has been resolved. The client minimize animation now functions correctly, and Control Center custom keyboard shortcuts can be properly assigned. During initial setup (OOBE), the language selection list now automatically scrolls to the selected language, with keyboard language defaulting to the system language while maintaining separate selection for users with different preferences.
Experimental NVIDIA Support Debuts
NebiOS 10.2 marks the first release offering a separate ISO for systems with NVIDIA GPUs. Labeled "Generic PC (64 bit) with Latest NVIDIA Drivers," this experimental image comes with important caveats.
The ISO ships with NVIDIA driver 590, which notably lacks support for Pascal architecture cards including the GTX 1080 Ti and 1050 Ti—users with these cards should opt for the regular ISO and manually install driver 580. Additionally, a temporary workaround replaces the Cage compositor with Weston to address login screen freezes on NVIDIA hardware. Users encountering a password prompt at login should simply press Enter, as no password is set.
Known Issues and Workarounds
Two known issues accompany this release. Users may experience flickering in NebiDE when using software rendering—a problem the developer believes originates in either Wayfire or wlroots damage tracking differences. More critically, installing updates through Bundle Store may trigger a session logout as the system replaces the legacy firedecor client decoration plugin with cosmodecor. Users are strongly advised to save all work before updating.
Download and Availability
NebiOS X 10.2 is available through three channels: the official website at nebios.org/download, SourceForge (where the experimental NVIDIA ISO appears with the "amd64+nvidia" suffix), and directly through Bundle Store for existing installations. The standard ISO weighs in at 4.8 GB, while the experimental NVIDIA image is larger at 5.5 GB.
The developer has indicated that comments, stories, and in-app reporting features are planned for upcoming point releases, with email-based reporting serving as the interim solution. Server-side code for Bundle Store repositories will be released later once the HTML frontend reaches completion.
For users invested in the NebiOS ecosystem or those curious about a Wayland-native, Ubuntu-derived distribution with its own distinctive desktop environment and application framework, version 10.2 represents both a refinement of existing features and a foundation for future growth.