10 Essential Updates: Fedora Atomic Desktops in Fedora 44
Fedora Linux 44 has arrived, bringing a host of changes to its Atomic Desktop variants—Silverblue, Kinoite, Sway Atomic, Budgie Atomic, and COSMIC Atomic. This release focuses on infrastructure improvements, security enhancements, and phasing out legacy components. Whether you’re a long-time user or new to the Atomic experience, these updates will shape your workflow. From a revamped issue tracker to unified documentation and the removal of outdated FUSE libraries, here are the ten most important things you need to know about Fedora Atomic Desktops 44.
1. Issue Tracker Moves to the New Fedora Forge
The cross-variant issue tracker for all Atomic Desktops has been migrated to the new Fedora Forge platform. This central hub is now the primary place to file bugs or coordinate work that affects multiple variants. For issues specific to a single desktop environment, the respective Special Interest Group (SIG) trackers remain the best option—check the README on the Atomic Desktops organization for links. This change streamlines collaboration and makes it easier to track progress across the entire Atomic ecosystem.
2. Unified Documentation Goes Live
After much anticipation, the unified documentation for all Atomic Desktops is finally available on the new Forge. This single resource replaces separate guides for each variant, making it simpler to find installation, configuration, and troubleshooting information. However, translations have not yet been migrated; the community is encouraged to help re-translate content once the translation setup is ready. For now, the English version is fully functional—see the tracking issue atomic-desktops#10 for details.
3. FUSE Version 2 Libraries Removed
Fedora 44 Atomic Desktops no longer include FUSE version 2 libraries, as they have been deprecated and unmaintained. This removal affects two main areas: AppImages that rely on the old runtime and legacy backends for Plasma Vaults on Kinoite. The change aligns with upstream decisions and improves system security. Users should prepare for the transition by checking their applications and migrating data where necessary. See the Fedora Change and tracking issue for full details.
4. AppImages: What the FUSE 2 Removal Means for You
If you use AppImages, some may stop working after upgrading to Fedora 44. This is because older AppImage runtimes depend on FUSE 2 libraries that are no longer present. To check whether an AppImage uses the old runtime, refer to the discussion thread in the Fedora community. Recommended steps: first, try to find a Flatpak version of the application—many have been packaged. Second, report the issue to the upstream developer, encouraging them to update to a newer runtime. If you rely heavily on an affected AppImage, consider helping upstream with Flatpak packaging.
5. Plasma Vaults: EncFS and CryFS Backends Removed
KDE upstream has deprecated the EncFS and CryFS backends for Plasma Vaults, largely because they depend on the removed FUSE 2 libraries. On Fedora 44 Atomic Desktops (Kinoite), these backends are no longer available. If you use either backend, you must migrate your data to a new vault using the only remaining backend, gocryptfs. The recommended timeline is to migrate before updating to Fedora 44. If you have already updated and need access, you can temporarily layer the needed packages with rpm-ostree install cryfs fuse-encfs, migrate, then reset layers with rpm-ostree reset.
6. Migrating Your Plasma Vault Data: A Step-by-Step Guide
To avoid data loss, follow these steps for migrating from EncFS or CryFS to gocryptfs: First, create a new vault using the gocryptfs backend from the Plasma Vault settings. Unlock both the old and new vaults. Copy your files from the old vault to the new one. Once verified, delete the old vault. If you updated to Fedora 44 before migrating, use the temporary layering method mentioned above. This process ensures your encrypted data remains accessible under the maintained backend. For additional support, check the KDE documentation or the Atomic Desktops issue tracker.
7. Dropping Compatibility for pkla Polkit Rules
Support for the legacy pkla format for Polkit rules has been removed in Fedora 44 Atomic Desktops. This format was deprecated in favor of the newer JavaScript-based rules. It’s unlikely that many users were relying on pkla files, but if you have custom rules in that format, they will no longer be honored. Convert any pkla files to the current format using the pkla-check-ignore or similar tools. This change simplifies administration and aligns with upstream Polkit development.
8. What’s New for Silverblue and Kinoite Specifically?
While most changes in Fedora 44 are common to all Atomic Desktops, Silverblue and Kinoite users benefit from the unified documentation and streamlined issue tracking. Silverblue (GNOME) and Kinoite (KDE) also receive the latest upstream updates for their desktop environments. The removal of FUSE 2 affects Kinoite more directly due to Plasma Vaults, but both variants see improved stability from the infrastructure upgrades. No major variant-specific features were added in this release, but the overall experience is more consistent.
9. Sway, Budgie, and COSMIC Atomic: Highlights for Alternative Desktops
For users of Sway Atomic (tiling Wayland), Budgie Atomic (budgie desktop), and COSMIC Atomic (System76’s desktop), Fedora 44 brings the same foundational changes: the new Forge, unified docs, and FUSE 2 removal. These variants are maintained by their respective SIGs and benefit from tighter integration with the Atomic tooling. Budgie Atomic, in particular, sees improved theming consistency. COSMIC Atomic remains experimental but benefits from the unified documentation. As always, report variant-specific issues to the appropriate SIG tracker.
10. Preparing for the Future: What to Do Next
To make the most of Fedora 44 Atomic Desktops, take these actions: migrate any Plasma Vault data away from EncFS/CryFS, check your AppImages for compatibility, and update any custom pkla rules. Explore the new unified documentation to familiarize yourself with common procedures. If you encounter issues, file them on the new Forge issue tracker. The Atomic Desktops community is active and ready to help. With these changes, Fedora 44 sets the stage for a more maintainable and secure desktop experience across all variants.
From infrastructure modernization to deprecation of outdated components, Fedora 44 Atomic Desktops represent a significant step forward. By understanding each of these ten updates, you can ensure a smooth transition and continue enjoying the reliability and flexibility of Fedora’s Atomic variants. Stay tuned for further improvements as the community builds on these foundations.