I usually avoid writing reviews for alpha releases because the final product often changes a lot. However, there are exceptions when something important is involved.
For instance, I covered the Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 releases of the new COSMIC desktop environment. In that same category of significant news, today’s announcement of the first pre-alpha release of openSUSE Leap 16 stands out, with the final release scheduled in late October 2025.
Why is this edition so important? Over the past year, openSUSE has undergone so many changesโnew variants, new abbreviations, logo redesigns, and even name tweaksโthat even the most loyal fans have trouble keeping up. But many just want two things: the rock-solid Leap or the cutting-edge Tumbleweed.
With rumors swirling about what Leap 16 will bring, Iโll say it plainly: openSUSE Leap 16 has all the familiar features youโve grown to love, plus some great new updates, without any sharp turns from the concept you already know. Here’s what to expect.
Leap 16: Coming Home
I’ll start with what caught my attention right away โ the name. In mid-July, there was some buzz about SUSE’s friendly, polite request to openSUSE to change their product branding. The news spread quickly, but both sides denied any pressure for a rebrand.
So far, so good. The image below is from the KDE Control Panel’s “About” section in the latest openSUSE Leap 15.6 and the pre-Alpha version of Leap 16. In the latter, you can clearly see that the word “openSUSE” is missing. Of course, it could just be a missed string by the developers.
Still, it’s probably not a coincidence that the official announcement again only refers to the version as “Leap 16.” Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it does leave an impression. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter because Leap 16 is shaping up to be another great release, raising the bar for reliability and stability. Itโs sure to impress Linux users, whether they need it for desktop or server use.
Next stop – the installer. I love it! As we informed you earlier, openSUSE is developing a brand new web-based installer called Agama to replace the one used so far. It sports a new modern UI that adopts a classic design approach with a sidebar for improved navigation.
I had a great experience using itโconfiguring everything took me only two minutes. The installation was smooth and hassle-free, too. And all this, in a pre-Alpha. What can I say except, well done, openSUSE!
The installer currently offers three main options: Base, GNOME, and KDE. Users who want to experiment with this early release can download the Agama install images from here. However, the development team strongly recommends using a virtual machine for this release, as it is not intended for daily use.
The new Leap 16 will maintain the traditional openSUSE distribution model, combining binaries from the latest SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 16 and community-contributed packages from the Factory development codebase. Keep in mind, though, that the roadmap for this development is subject to change based on any updates to the SLES 16 schedule.
It’s also a bit early to review the software included in the distribution since it will undergo major version changes before the final stable release. At the same time, you can expect no big surprises under the hood.
You’ll still use familiar tools like Zypper and Yast for system management, with Flatpak support coming out of the box. In short, it’s the same time-proved and reliable Leap you’re used to, but better and more up-to-date. Call me old-fashioned (I won’t argue), but I like that.
openSUSE’s initiatives in the past 1-2 years, like MicroOS, Aeon, and Kalpa, are also great options. However, their reliance on immutability makes them rather niche and more suited for developers and cloud computing than for adoption by the average Linux user, who will continue looking for his well-known and rock-solid Leap or to ride the edge of the wave with Tumbleweed.
And no, I don’t mind the immutable Linux distros. In fact, I use them almost every day for certain projects where the immutability can unleash its potential and take advantage of the benefits behind this concept. However, Leap is a home many users will happily switch to because of predictability, stability, and the absence of sharp turns on a conceptual level.
Finally, be warned that the current Leap 16 pre-Alpha is aimed at early adopters and contributors who want to participate actively in the development process. Most users are advised to wait until the beta release in late spring 2025.
As we said, the final stable Leap 16 release is expected to reach General Availability in Fall 2025, giving users sufficient time for a smooth migration from openSUSE Leap 15.6. Notably, there will be no Leap 15.7, but existing community packages for Leap 15 will still be supported through Package HUB for the upcoming SLES 15 SP7.
