Mageia runs 2 versions, development and release.
most users run release, which has an approx 2 year life, and is ultra stable.
current kernel on this machine :
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uname -r
5.7.19-desktop-1.mga7
current plasma is 5.15.4.
development version (or Cauldron) is a truly rolling release, use with care.
but it does give the pretty late versions of (lts or esr )packages
kernel is 5.8.14
plasma 5.19.5
plasma framework 5.74.0
I understand that these will be updated soon.
System is available in 32 and 64 bit versions, and has proven quite easy to install on a variety of hardware, including 32bit EFI devices.
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upgrading:
upgrading from one release to the next is straight forward, no need for complex CLI incantations.
3 options,
1/ wait for the icon in the system tray, usually occurs within a week of the new current release.
2/ just change your repos to the new current release and run the normal update command,
3/ download the new current release Classical Install media and use to upgrade your ssytem.
after your first reboot, you are likely to be presented with a large update package set as the medium used is only has room for a subset of a usual system.
these 3 upgrade paths are perfected before the new current release is available.
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Daily use.
this machine
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top - 16:20:22 up 11 days, 9:23,
last boot would have been for a kernel update.
does everything I need / want to do.
adding or removing packages via GUI is much simpler than synaptic. preset filters are easy to use
adding or removing packages via CLI is a simple 2 word command
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urpmi package_name
or
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urpme package_name
.
you can even "tab" the command after the first few letters of the package name and it will provide available "auto-fill" of packages. you then complete the command if more than one option presented
currently with 17 firefox browser tabs, 6 terminal windows open and 5 other applications open
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MiB Mem : 7894.2 total, 2558.5 free, 3456.5 used, 1879.3 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 10000.0 total, 10000.0 free, 0.0 used. 3593.2 avail Mem
.
not the fasted to boot up as a lot of service are initialised during bootup, but once logged in to the desktop I have experienced no lag on multiple machines.
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systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 6.308s (kernel) + 16.726s (userspace) = 23.034s
graphical.target reached after 16.715s in userspace
this is a HP Probook 4520s (core i5, with SSD & no tweaking as I cant be bothered)
Mageia easily supports the multiple Desktop_At_Once feature, just choose your preferred one for this session at login.
What makes it special for me is that "really, it just works!"
I have tried other distros but TBH, they really dont work for me.