Immutable Linux: Fedora combines different spins as Fedora Atomic Desktops

So-called "immutable systems", where the operating system itself is read-only, are nothing new in the Linux world, and a similar system has always been used for mobile operating systems. The semi-rolling Linux distribution Fedora is now simplifying its various editions, which Fedora calls "spins", and combining four immutable spins under one name: Fedora Atomic Desktops.

Specifically, Fedora Silverblue with the Gnome desktop environment, Fedora Kinoite with the KDE desktop environment, Fedora Sway Atomic (formerly Fedora Sericea) and Fedora Budgie Atomic (formerly Fedora Onyx) have been merged under the new name. Strictly speaking, the "immutable" Linux systems with write-protection of the root filesystem are not entirely immutable, which is emphasised by the designation as "Atomic" spins.

"There are ways to get around the read-only aspects of the implementation even though it is much harder. The nature of the OS, where updates are only implemented when they successfully build and you can rollback or rebase between core host systems, is better described by atomicity than immutability," explains Fedora Magazine in its article on the renaming to "Fedora Atomic Desktops".

In the future, there may be other Atomic variants of Fedora Spins that are not yet available. The Fedora Magazine mentions Xfce, the Pantheon desktop and System76's COSMIC desktop. The Fedora Atomic Desktops are not the only Linux distributions that rely on an immutable root filesystem. openSUSE, for example, offers Aeon and Kalpa immutable versions with GNOME and KDE desktops.