COSMIC, the Linux desktop that can look and work however you dang well like, is adding more bling.
System76 co-founder Carl Richell has given us our first look at the ‘Frosted Glass’ effect coming to the COSMIC desktop in Epoch 2 (as the desktop releases are named):
Images: Carl Richell/System75
System76’s engineering team is opting to use a ‘more performant’ Dual Kawase blur, commonly used in gaming, to handle the dynamic effect. This apparently offers a ‘close approximation’ of Gaussian blur, but is not as resource intensive.
That’s important.
Flashy UI effects often involve a performance hit and, more keenly, a knock-on effect in battery life as the CPU and GPU handle the drawing and computing.
A more recent screenshot image shared in the comments section by System76’s Michael Aaron Murphy gives a closer look:
Image: System76
Pop!_OS is a popular distro choice among Linux gamers, so carefully balancing a sexy UI without souring its appeal is a sound approach.
Like most features available in the COSMIC desktop, users will be able to control this frosted blur effect – intensity, amount of transparency, etc. Those who don’t like it, won’t have to put up with it since it’s fully optional.
Frosted Glass Effect isn’t Finished
Code to implement the frosted glass look in the COSMIC desktop and the Iced-based toolkit is underway, so Richell’s images are design mockup, i.e., the aim, not a WIP sneak-peek status shot. It will be a while longer before this is finished and available on COSMIC desktop.
The technical feat in crafting an entirely new desktop environment, compositor and suite of apps from scratch is impressive, especially given the use of languages and toolkits less commonly used to do it.
Having a rock-solid technical foundation is important, but it matters not if people don’t like what sits on top. Usability and interface design matter; they are the part of the OS people see.
On a selfish note, it’s also great to see System76 and the COSMIC team openly sharing and discussing their plans for the desktop. Taking on feedback early usually results in an end result that pleases more people. Transparency in the UI, and transparency in building the UI.
COSMIC Desktop (Epoch 1) ships as the default desktop in Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS, which is available to download now. That remains the best way to try the desktop out since it’s coming direct from the people who make it.
If you use Ubuntu and you don’t want to switch or install distro you can install COSMIC desktop on Ubuntu from a PPA instead.
Thanks Daren!
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