elementary OS

Also known as eOS, elementary

Linux distribution

Key facts

Developer: elementary, Inc
Os family: Linux ( Unix-like )
Working state: Current
Source model: Open source
Initial release: 31 March 2011 ; 15 years ago ( 2011-03-31 )
Latest release: 8.1.1 / 26 February 2026 ; 3 months ago ( 26 February 2026 )
Repository: github .com /elementary
Update method: Long-term support
Package manager: APT ( command-line frontend), dpkg (backend), Flatpak
Supported platforms: AMD64
Kernel type: Monolithic ( Linux kernel )
Userland: GNU
Default user interface: Pantheon
License: GPLv3
Official website: elementary .io

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Instance of: Linux distribution
Subclass of: Linux
Has part: GNOME
Series: Linux
Based on: Ubuntu
Platform: Intel 80386
Official website: elementary.io

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social media followers: 6190
inception: 2011-03-31
Commons category: Elementary OS
software version identifier: 8.1.1
issue tracker URL: github.com/elementary/triage/issues
source code repository URL: github.com/elementary
copyright license: GNU Lesser General Public License
IRC channel URL: irc://chat.freenode.net/elementary-de
GUI toolkit or framework: GTK
language of work or name: multiple languages
package management system: Flatpak
programmed in: Vala
inspired by: macOS
Stack Exchange site URL: elementaryos.stackexchange.com
official shop URL: store.elementary.io
official blog URL: blog.elementary.io
web feed URL: blog.elementary.io/feed.xml

Sources (12)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Encyclopedic overview

Elementary OS (stylized as elementary OS) is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu LTS. It promotes itself as "thoughtful, capable, and ethical computing" and has a pay-what-you-want model. The operating system, the desktop environment (called Pantheon), and accompanying applications are developed and maintained by elementary, Inc.

Design philosophy

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “elementary OS” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.