XLibre is a modern fork of the old x11 server, in active development. Will PureOS replace the old X server with XLibre in the future or maybe provide a parallel package? Any of these would be great because they have so many security patches and other bug fixes not merged into the old X server:
Sorry, XLibre can not be on Gnu PureOS, Purism is already obsesioned with Wayland and SystemD which make me unhappy to use Gnu PureOS as not much pure Gnu.
Thanks to you I’m learning new stuff about Gnu/Linux! With help of AI, of course
So it seems that the best distro that preserves pureness and avoids systemd is PostmarketOS that uses openRC, right?
But it seems more difficult to install and set, isn’t it?
Here AI:
- ## The state of postmarketOS on the Librem 5 - **Official support:** Yes, the Librem 5 is among the “mainlined” devices (meaning most kernel support is upstream). postmarketOS can boot and run **Phosh**, the same environment Purism designed. - **Telephony:** Calls and SMS *do work*, but they’re not as reliable as on PureOS/Mobian. You may encounter bugs like delayed notifications or occasional modem hiccups that need manual workarounds. - **Mobile data:** Generally functional, but often not configured “out of the box.” Sometimes you’ll need to step in with scripts or manual settings. - **Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth:** Supported, though glitches are more frequent (e.g., reconnection quirks or difficult pairing). - **Power management (a big Librem 5 topic):** - With **PureOS/Mobian + systemd/logind**, suspend/resume receives more focused work and integration. - With postmarketOS + OpenRC, suspend/resume exists, but orchestration is rougher: you may find the phone doesn’t always wake cleanly or that services don’t restart smoothly after resume. - **Waydroid (running Android apps):** More complex to integrate than on PureOS/Mobian, since much documentation presumes systemd. Not impossible, but definitely not plug‑and‑play. - **Updates:** postmarketOS has a smaller but very enthusiastic and experimental community. That means you sometimes get fixes quicker, but also more occasional regressions. — ## Balance - **Philosophically:** postmarketOS on Librem 5 is the dream for those who want FSF alignment *and* to avoid the systemd “monolith.” - **Practically:** it’s much more “DIY and artisan‑style.” Yes, it runs — but not with the everyday dependability of PureOS/Mobian. You can use it, but you also become your own sysadmin and debugger. - **Daily use?** Honestly, it’s best suited if you view the Librem 5 as a **sovereign playground**: a device to learn on, contribute to, and experiment with — not primarily as a personal phone you absolutely must rely on for calls and messages at all times. — **Final metaphor:** - With **PureOS/Mobian**, your Librem 5 is like an alternative electric car that’s already certified: you just get in and drive. - With **postmarketOS**, you get the bare chassis and all the tools: it moves, but only because *you* are the mechanic every weekend. Philosophically beautiful, technically demanding. — Would you like me now to give you a **clear bullet list of the exact features where postmarketOS still lags behind PureOS/Mobian on the Librem 5** (e.g. audio in calls, modem quirks, power management), so you can judge which drawbacks matter to you?
OK, let’s try and keep this topic factual and to the question. If anyone wants to go “ideological”, Round Table is your friend.
The question is: Will PureOS replace the old X server with XLibre in the future or maybe provide a parallel package?
The problem that I have with this question is that I suspect that noone in the community would know the answer (and really the OP would need to Contact Purism and ask); and that I thought basically PureOS uses Wayland and that’s the direction that relevant distros are going.
I am not really across the differences between X11 and Wayland, other than that it has been a messy transition with various applications not working with one or not working with the other. But I suppose we will get there in the end. And I don’t have a strong opinion either way as long as the software “just works”.
Here’s the English version of the explanation I just gave about Wayland vs XLibre on the Librem 5:
What a device like the Librem 5 needs
Energy efficiency → small battery, no high‑end GPU. It needs a lean graphics system, avoiding wasted redraws and overhead.
Security → Purism puts privacy first: reduce the ways a malicious app could intercept input or screen data.
Software compatibility → you want traditional Linux desktop apps, but adapted to a phone screen.
Modern support for touch and scaling → gestures, high DPI, screen rotation.
Wayland on the Librem 5
Pros:
Modern architecture, always paired with a compositor (Phosh uses Mutter on Wayland, developed by Purism itself).
Security: natural sandboxing, apps cannot snoop on others’ input (very important for privacy).
Efficiency: lightweight protocol = less battery drain.
Future‑oriented, in line with where Linux graphics and mobile are heading.
Cons:
Some traditional apps are not ready; you need Xwayland as a compatibility layer.
Legacy debugging and developer tools are more limited.
XLibre on the Librem 5
Pros:
Full native compatibility with all legacy Linux desktop apps.
Provides a “cleaned up” X11: security patches + bugfixes that stagnant Xorg hasn’t absorbed.
Softer transition: keeps the X11 ecosystem alive and maintained.
Cons:
Still X11 underneath, with its structural flaws: weaker isolation between apps → higher chance for applications to spy on each other’s input or window content (something Purism dislikes strongly).
Heavier architecture: more overhead → worse battery life compared to Wayland.
Doesn’t integrate as cleanly with Librem 5’s Phosh, which is already built around Wayland.
Verdict for the Librem 5
Wayland is the better choice.
On a mobile device where privacy and energy efficiency come first, Wayland is practically tailor‑made.
Purism already develops and promotes it (Phosh = “Phone Shell” runs entirely on Wayland).
XLibre is promising, but more valuable for desktops and servers where backward compatibility with X11 still matters. On the Librem 5, the future is already Wayland.
Plain and simple
Wayland on Librem 5: the best custom‑fit suit: secure, modern and light on resources.
XLibre on Librem 5: like wearing a refurbished elegant 1980s suit: it still works and looks refined, but you’re going to sweat more.
what do you think?
[Formatting fixed up by moderator by user request]
In that case, can you format it decently? It almost seems as if it comes with Markdown formatting built in but then the formatting is getting seriously messed up.
That’s clearer but you are still breaking the formatting i.e. Markdown displaying literally in post rather then displaying properly. Probably just remove all backslash characters (assuming you are using the two-window version of the Discourse post editor).
The state of postmarketOS on the Librem 5 - **Official support:** Yes, the Librem 5 is among the “mainlined” devices (meaning most kernel support is upstream). postmarketOS can boot and run **Phosh**, the same environment Purism designed. - **Telephony:** Calls and SMS *do work*, but they’re not as reliable as on PureOS/Mobian. You may encounter bugs like delayed notifications or occasional modem hiccups that need manual workarounds. - **Mobile data:** Generally functional, but often not configured “out of the box.” Sometimes you’ll need to step in with scripts or manual settings. - **Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth:** Supported, though glitches are more frequent (e.g., reconnection quirks or difficult pairing). - **Power management (a big Librem 5 topic):** - With **PureOS/Mobian + systemd/logind**, suspend/resume receives more focused work and integration. - With postmarketOS + OpenRC, suspend/resume exists, but orchestration is rougher: you may find the phone doesn’t always wake cleanly or that services don’t restart smoothly after resume. - **Waydroid (running Android apps):** More complex to integrate than on PureOS/Mobian, since much documentation presumes systemd. Not impossible, but definitely not plug‑and‑play. - **Updates:** postmarketOS has a smaller but very enthusiastic and experimental community. That means you sometimes get fixes quicker, but also more occasional regressions. — ##
Balance - **Philosophically:** postmarketOS on Librem 5 is the dream for those who want FSF alignment *and* to avoid the systemd “monolith.” - **Practically:** it’s much more “DIY and artisan‑style.” Yes, it runs — but not with the everyday dependability of PureOS/Mobian. You can use it, but you also become your own sysadmin and debugger. - **Daily use?** Honestly, it’s best suited if you view the Librem 5 as a **sovereign playground**: a device to learn on, contribute to, and experiment with — not primarily as a personal phone you absolutely must rely on for calls and messages at all times. —
**Final metaphor:** - With **PureOS/Mobian**, your Librem 5 is like an alternative electric car that’s already certified: you just get in and drive. - With **postmarketOS**, you get the bare chassis and all the tools: it moves, but only because *you* are the mechanic every weekend. Philosophically beautiful, technically demanding. — Would you like me now to give you a **clear bullet list of the exact features where postmarketOS still lags behind PureOS/Mobian on the Librem 5** (e.g. audio in calls, modem quirks, power management), so you can judge which drawbacks matter to you?
