Fedora Linux is a popular, community-driven Linux distribution that is sponsored by Red Hat. It is known for being a cutting-edge, yet stable and reliable platform that focuses on innovation and open-source software. Here are some key features and details about Fedora Linux:
Bleeding Edge Software: Fedora is known for providing the latest versions of software and technologies, often before other distributions. It’s one of the first Linux distros to adopt new technologies such as Wayland, systemd, and PipeWire.
Multiple Editions:
Security: Fedora is often at the forefront of incorporating the latest security features like SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), making it a preferred choice for security-conscious users and developers.
Rolling Release Model: While Fedora isn’t a rolling-release distribution in the strictest sense, it is updated frequently with new technologies and packages, providing users with a very up-to-date experience without being as bleeding-edge as some rolling-release distros like Arch Linux.
Red Hat Connection: Fedora serves as a sort of testing ground for technologies that eventually make their way into Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). This means Fedora users often experience new Red Hat technologies first.
Package Manager: Fedora uses the DNF package manager, which provides fast and reliable package handling. DNF (Dandified Yum) replaces the older Yum and is known for its performance and improved dependency resolution.
Free and Open-Source: Like many Linux distributions, Fedora is free to download, use, and modify. The Fedora Project is committed to promoting free and open-source software.
Fedora is supported for approximately 13 months, which allows users to skip one release while staying on a supported version.
| Version | Status | Release Date | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fedora 43 | 🟢 Stable | 2025-10-28 | ~2026-11-30 |
| Fedora 42 | 🟢 Supported | 2025-04-15 | ~2026-05-30 |
| Fedora 41 | 🔴 EOL | 2024-10-29 | 2025-12-15 |
| Fedora 44 | 🟡 Beta | 2026-03-10 (Beta) | ~2027-05-30 (expected) |
| Version | Release Date | Status | Release Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fedora 44 | Expected 2026-04 | Beta (2026-03-10) | https://fedoramagazine.org/ |
| Fedora 43 | 2025-10-28 | Stable | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-43/ |
| Fedora 42 | 2025-04-15 | Supported | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-42/ |
| Fedora 41 | 2024-10-29 | EOL (2025-12-15) | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-41/ |
| Fedora 40 | 2024-04-23 | EOL (2025-05-23) | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-40 |
| Fedora 39 | 2023-11-07 | EOL (2024-11-15) | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-39/ |
| Fedora 38 | 2023-04-18 | EOL | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-38/ |
| Fedora 37 | 2022-11-15 | EOL | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-37/ |
| Fedora 36 | 2022-05-10 | EOL | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-36/ |
| Fedora 35 | 2021-11-02 | EOL | https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-35/ |
Fedora 44 Beta was released on March 10, 2026, with the final release expected in mid-to-late April 2026.
| Component | Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel | Linux 6.19 | Latest stable kernel with hardware improvements |
| GNOME | 50 “Tokyo” | Major GNOME release with new features |
| KDE Plasma | 6.6 | Latest Plasma desktop with refinements |
| Budgie | 10.10 | Updated Budgie desktop environment |
| Tool | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GCC | 16.1 | GNU Compiler Collection |
| Binutils | 2.46 | Binary utilities |
| glibc | 2.43 | GNU C Library |
| LLVM | 22 | Compiler infrastructure |
| Go | 1.26 | Go programming language |
| RPM | 6.0 | Package manager update |
| Ruby | 4.0 | Ruby programming language |
| PHP | 8.5 | PHP scripting language |
| MariaDB | 11.8 | Database server |
| Ansible | 13 | Automation tool |
| Boost | 1.90 | C++ libraries |
| CMake | 4.0 | Build system |
/boot as a Btrfs subvolume| Edition | Description | Desktop/Environment |
|---|---|---|
| Fedora Workstation | Desktop/laptop focused | GNOME (default) |
| Fedora Server | Server deployments | Command-line, Cockpit |
| Fedora IoT | IoT and edge devices | Minimal, OSTree-based |
| Fedora Silverblue | Immutable desktop | GNOME, OSTree-based |
| Fedora Kinoite | Immutable KDE desktop | KDE Plasma, OSTree-based |
| Fedora Cloud | Cloud images | Minimal, optimized for cloud |
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| DNF | Primary package manager (DNF 4 in F43, DNF 5 in F44) |
| DNF5 | Next-generation DNF (F44+) |
| RPM | Low-level package format |
| Flatpak | Universal application packaging |
| Toolbox/Distrobox | Containerized development environments |
| Phase | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Development | ~6 months | Rawhide development |
| Beta | ~4-6 weeks | Feature freeze, testing |
| Stable | ~13 months | General availability |
| EOL | After ~13 months | End of support |