GdNewHat GNU/Linux-libre For Linux

GdNewHat GNU/Linux-libre (also known as Hatrack) is an open source distribution with the main goal of promoting only free (libre) software. It uses the traditional and lightweight MATE desktop environment on top of a stable Fedora Linux base.

The operating system can be downloaded from Softpedia or from its official website (see link above) as two Live DVD ISO images, one for each of the supported architectures (64-bit and 32-bit). Keep in mind that you must write these ISO images to DVD discs or USB flash drives in order to boot them from the BIOS of a computer.

A minimal boot prompt is implemented on the Live DVDs, identical in functionality with the one used in official Fedora Linux distributions. It allows you to start the live environment with default drivers or in safe graphics mode, boot an existing operating system from the first drive, run a RAM diagnostic test, as well as to perform a disc integrity check (only if booting from a DVD media).

As mentioned, this special Fedora spin uses MATE as its default and only desktop environment, which uses a two-panel layout à la GNOME Classic. The distribution can be permanently installed on a local drive by using the graphical installer provided on the desktop.

Default applications include the Xfburn CD/DVD burning software, Midori web browser, Sylpheed email client, LibreOffice office suite (Writer, Impress and Calc), GXMMS2 music player, Parole media player, as well as MATE-specific utilities.

Being based on free software community's accomplishments, GdNewHat GNU/Linux-libre does not include closed source, binary-only drivers and proprietary software. In order to make GdNewHat GNU/Linux-libre more stable and a completely free Linux distribution, the developers will use the CentOS Linux operating system as a base, instead of Fedora, for future releases.