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AerynOS Docs

COSMIC

The COSMIC Desktop from System76 is a highly popular choice with AerynOS users. Despite early alpha status, it is notable for being written in Rust and using a modern multiprocess architecture, while being Wayland-only. For many, this makes AerynOS and COSMIC an ideal partnership.

Installing COSMIC on AerynOS

AerynOS currently only offers one iso with a GNOME live environment. However, lichen is a net based installer that allows users to select their Desktop Environment at install time. As such, you can install AerynOS COSMIC edition directly from the GNOME based AerynOS installer iso.

If you are already using GNOME, you are able to install Cosmic Desktop side by side and select which Desktop Environment to use in GDM at login. You do this by installing one of three package sets:

Terminal window
sudo moss install pkgset-aeryn-cosmic-minimal
sudo moss install pkgset-aeryn-cosmic-recommended
sudo moss install pkgset-aeryn-cosmic-full

The names are fairly self explanatory:

  • Minimal: The minimum number of packages required for a Cosmic Desktop session
  • Recommended: The minimal Cosmic Desktop session plus additional recommended applications
  • Full: The recommended Cosmic Dekstop session plus additional optional applications

Controlling the display manager

If you’ve installed COSMIC over the top of a GNOME install, you can still log into your COSMIC session from gdm. You can also safely remove gdm and have cosmic-greeter take over. Note: GNOME Shell still expects gdm for full functionality.

Installing cosmic-greeter

Terminal window
sudo moss install cosmic-greeter

Removing gdm

If you wish to remove gdm, you would use the following command:

Terminal window
sudo moss remove gdm