This new Linux desktop runs like an app - and launches in 4 steps

Source: ZDNet

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• A new Linux desktop is in the works.
• This portable desktop can be run like an app.
• Orbitiny is free to use and runs on any Linux distribution.

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The Linux community never ceases to amaze with its creativity and ingenuity. One of the latest examples is a brand‑new desktop environment called Orbitiny. Built from scratch with Qt and C++, Orbitiny aims to feel both familiar and unique.

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What makes Orbitiny different?

• Modular design: If one component fails, the rest of the desktop continues to function.
• No built‑in window manager: Orbitiny runs on top of any existing window manager, giving users the freedom to choose their preferred setup.

The project is open‑source, free to use, and works across all Linux distributions. It’s a promising glimpse of what the future of Linux desktops could look like.

Runs on Top of Your Desktop

You read that right: Orbitiny runs on top of your existing desktop environment (such as KDE Plasma or GNOME), just like any other application. This unique desktop layer adds a host of useful features:

• Powerful file manager – search for files and the contents of files directly from the desktop.
• Desktop panel with plugins – extend functionality and enjoy full drag‑and‑drop support.
• Built‑in clipboard manager.
• Device manager for quick hardware overview.
• Comprehensive start menu – includes a sidebar and full drag‑and‑drop support.
• Dashboard – shows running tasks and installed applications at a glance.
• Desktop gestures – draw patterns on the desktop to launch actions (e.g., start a program).
• Icon folder emblems – indicate copied, cut, or newly added items.
• Text utilities – join two text files or paste text directly into a file.

Portable Use

Orbitiny can be run as a portable desktop. Simply copy the required files to a USB drive, plug it into a Linux computer, and execute the start command:

./orbitiny-start.sh   # example command – replace with the actual script name

The desktop will appear and be ready for use.

Note: Orbitiny is still a work in progress. At the moment, it’s best suited for curious users who want to explore its capabilities. Once it reaches a stable 1.0 release, it’s expected to gain wider popularity.

How do you use Orbitiny?

Using Orbitiny is quite simple. Follow these steps:

1. Download the compressed archive from the Orbitiny SourceForge page.

2. Unpack the file:

   tar xvzf orbitiny-bin-release.tar.gz

3. Enter the newly created directory:

   cd orbitiny-bin-release/orbitiny

4. Launch Orbitiny:

   start-orbitiny

The Orbitiny desktop will open, presenting you with an entirely new environment to work in.

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My First Impressions of Orbitiny

I was fully expecting to encounter lots of issues and very slow performance. To my surprise, Orbitiny felt quite stable and performed well. Even when running on top of another desktop environment, it behaved as if it were running natively—everything was snappy and functioned as expected.

Opening the file manager impressed me because it accessed files and folders on the host desktop. This is great; you don’t have to keep track of two different folder hierarchies.

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The Orbitiny file manager has plenty of cool features. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.

From within the Settings app (accessible by right‑clicking anywhere on the desktop), you can manage features such as:

• Appearance
• Audio
• Context menus
• Empty‑area clicks
• General configuration
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Left‑button gestures
• Startup applications
• …and more.

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Orbitiny impressed me. I can see numerous use cases for this portable desktop, and given its current stability and speed, I can only imagine how it will perform when it reaches 1.0.

If you’re looking for something only the Linux operating system can do, I highly recommend trying Orbitiny. You might even put it on a USB drive so you always have a familiar desktop to use, regardless of the Linux distribution you’re running.