> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # NebiOS is an Ubuntu-based Distro With a Brand New DE Written for Wayland from Ground Up - URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/nebios/ - Published: 2025-10-19T04:58:43.000Z - Updated: 2025-10-19T04:58:43.000Z - Description: Exploring a new Ubuntu-based distro. By the way, it's been some time since we had a new distro based on Ubuntu. - Author: Sourav Rudra - Tags: First Look, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15 The Linux ecosystem thrives on diversity. While major distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE are known names, there is **a sizeable collection of independently developed projects** that offer something novel. Every so often, a one-person endeavor emerges that catches our attention. Not because it's competing with the big-name distros, but because it offers something genuinely different. That brings us to [NebiOS](https://nebios.org/?ref=itsfoss.com), a Linux distribution from Turkey that has been in development since 2023\. It's been quietly building toward its next major release. In this first look, I am exploring what makes this independently developed project stand out. ## NebiOS: Overview ⭐ ![this picture shows a filled desktop view of nebios x, it has some handy widgets on the left, and the about system dialog on the right](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebi-os-desktop-view.jpg) NebiOS is the work of [Sarp Mateson](https://mateson.site/?ref=itsfoss.com), a developer building this Ubuntu-based distribution under the [NebiSoft](https://nebisoftware.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) umbrella. They began it as a personal project and now it has evolved into a complete operating system with an entire ecosystem surrounding it. It features a custom desktop environment called **NebiDE** that was built from the ground up for [Wayland](https://wayland.freedesktop.org/?ref=itsfoss.com). The upcoming Ubuntu 24.04 LTS-based release, **NebiOS X "Cappadocia"**, is scheduled for November 1, 2025\. This marks the fourth public release under the NebiOS name. Before this, the distro had its beginning under the "[*Spez Linux*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwQY8Hf2U9M&ref=itsfoss.com)" moniker, which started as a personal [SUSE Studio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUSE%5FStudio?ref=itsfoss.com) experiment back in 2014. Some **key highlights** of NebiOS include: - [Linux kernel 6.14](https://itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-14/) with NTSYNC support. - Privacy indicators and Bluetooth battery status displayed in the top panel. - The "Cappadocia" codename comes from [a historic region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia?ref=itsfoss.com) in central Turkey. ## Initial Impressions 👨‍💻 I tested the NebiOS X "Cappadocia" RC4 release on a [virtual machine](https://itsfoss.com/virtual-machine/) using GNOME Boxes on [Fedora 42](https://itsfoss.com/fedora-42-release/). Sadly, there was noticeable lag and visual glitches; bare metal installations should deliver much better performance. Right away, the first thing I noticed was the close button on the left side of app windows. I am used to it being on the right, but it was fine. The installation experience, on the other hand, was quite familiar and straightforward. ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-hardware-check.jpg) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-live-iso-nebicloud-setup.jpg) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-live-iso-phone-setup.jpg) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-live-iso-welcome-dialog.jpg) **System configuration before the live ISO boots.* NebiOS uses the [Calamares](https://calamares.io/?ref=itsfoss.com) installer for system installation, which offers a clean and straightforward setup process with all the standard options like disk partitioning, user account creation, and timezone selection. ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-calamares-installer-1.jpg) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-calamares-installer-2.jpg) **The Calamares installer works well on NebiOS!* Post-installation, **the lock screen greets the user with a clean interface** and some interesting options. Beyond the standard login bits, you can switch the desktop session to [Wayfire](https://wayfire.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) or access a debug mode to troubleshoot issues. ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-lockscreen-desktop-session-switcher.jpg) Moving on to the desktop experience, **the overall interface feels familiar with Windows 7 Aero-like elements mixed in**, and that's not a bad thing. There are cool pre-configured widgets like a music player, clock, RSS reader, and sticky notes. These remind me of a simpler time. ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-desktop-view-display-settings.jpg) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/nebios-application-launcher.jpg) **The app launcher (right) needs some scaling tweaks; the icons are too big!* Other than that, there's a top panel with some applets, a dock for quick app launches, and an app launcher accessible via the *Super* key. Everything works as expected. **Changing the display resolution was a bit clunky, though**. I had to open the "*Displays*" menu and manually type in the resolution I wanted. This feels unnecessarily complicated. A simple dropdown with resolution options would be much better. On a personal note, The **pre-installed applications are what you'd expect** from a modern Linux distro. You get LibreOffice, Firefox, a terminal app, and other essentials. Nothing surprising here, but all the bases are covered for daily use. Plus, there is workspace functionality; it's called "*Expo*" and works well. It allows for easy multitasking across different virtual desktops without any hiccups. I could even drag/drop applications to move them around. In the end, **I liked what I saw in NebiOS**. There are many things done well, like the widgets and the top panel layout. Of course, there's room for improvement in many areas, but I am sure Sarp will continue polishing the distro with future releases. ## 📥 Get NebiOS You can get NebiOS from the [official website](https://nebios.org/download/?ref=itsfoss.com). At the time of writing, the RC4 release of NebiOS X was available for download alongside the older stable NebiOS 3\. If you would like to explore the code or contribute to the project, the source is hosted on [GitLab](https://gitlab.com/nebisoft/nebios-cslb?ref=itsfoss.com). [NebiOS](https://nebios.org/download/?ref=itsfoss.com) **Suggested Read** 📖 [13 Independent Linux Distros That are Built From ScratchUnique and independent Linux distributions that are totally built from scratch. Sounds interesting? Check out the list here.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-298.png)It's FOSSSreenath![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/independent-linux-distros-3.png)](https://itsfoss.com/independent-linux-distros/)