It's interesting, and I really love the revival of DDE 15.
However, there are four big issues putting me off switching to this:
1. LUKS encryption seems to be broken at the moment, after reboot cryptsetup repeatedly returns the "bad password" error before then outputting "maximum tries exceeded". I have quadruple checked it is absolutely positively the same password (I even tried 123456, same issue).
2. WiFi does not work for me, I use one of those external Intel WiFi adapters which work with everything except GXDE seemingly. I can detect networks but when trying to connect, it just says I have the wrong password (again, I entered the password in visible mode, I've entered this same password probably thousands of times due to my distrohopping addiction from two years ago, it's definitely the right one).
3. The distro is currently pretty much unusable out of the box if not a Mandarin speaker, the built-in Firefox and Spark Store are both in Mandarin. You also need to switch from American English to British English in order for some other things to not be in Mandarin.
4. There doesn't really seem to be a proper upgrade path like Deepin does from 25 onwards, I imagine you'd have to reinstall every time the developers make a big upgrade. Which I'd rather not do if possible. Also, the documentation in general is really lacking and does not inspire confidence in me.
The only reason I don't give this a 1, 2 or a 3 is that the project has had a lot of time invested in it, and it's primarily developed by a group of high school students. It's about time someone brought back DDE 15.
Version: 25.1 Rating: 2 Date: 2025-06-16 Votes: 2
To use it, you need to know the Chinese language. I couldn't even log in to Firefox, everything is in Chinese, even though I chose English. So I can't add much, the installation went fine.
I'm sure it's my fault, but it's worth pointing out that without a Chinese language exam, you'll end up cursing and gnashing your teeth.
So those who don't know Chinese should treat this attempt with caution. In my opinion, Distrowatch could try it out before adding it to the list, but at least they could put it there as "only for those who know Chinese".
GXDE OS is built on Debian Testing and features the unique DDE 15 desktop environment. It evolved from the deepin 15 era, retaining the classic elements that Chinese deepin users adore. For Linux enthusiasts with a nostalgic streak, it offers a welcome return to familiar territory, while its extensive components and refined experience add a modern twist.
The system benefits from Debian's ecosystem, attracting numerous community-driven open-source projects. The Spark app store enables one-click installations, making it accessible even to newcomers who aren't comfortable with CLI. Replacing apt with aptss can also boost download speeds.
Though there's still room for improvement in certain edge cases, such as multi-language support and compatibility with some legacy hardware, these minor flaws don't overshadow its strengths. It has established a robust foundation.
It's a rising star in the Linux world, distinguished by its good looks, strong performance, and user - friendly nature. Should it continue to enhance its attention to detail and expand its ecosystem, GXDE OS is poised to attract a larger user base in the near future.
PS. it's incredible to note that this impressive distro is developed by a group of Chinese students.
It's interesting, and I really love the revival of DDE 15.
However, there are four big issues putting me off switching to this:
1. LUKS encryption seems to be broken at the moment, after reboot cryptsetup repeatedly returns the "bad password" error before then outputting "maximum tries exceeded". I have quadruple checked it is absolutely positively the same password (I even tried 123456, same issue).
2. WiFi does not work for me, I use one of those external Intel WiFi adapters which work with everything except GXDE seemingly. I can detect networks but when trying to connect, it just says I have the wrong password (again, I entered the password in visible mode, I've entered this same password probably thousands of times due to my distrohopping addiction from two years ago, it's definitely the right one).
3. The distro is currently pretty much unusable out of the box if not a Mandarin speaker, the built-in Firefox and Spark Store are both in Mandarin. You also need to switch from American English to British English in order for some other things to not be in Mandarin.
4. There doesn't really seem to be a proper upgrade path like Deepin does from 25 onwards, I imagine you'd have to reinstall every time the developers make a big upgrade. Which I'd rather not do if possible. Also, the documentation in general is really lacking and does not inspire confidence in me.
The only reason I don't give this a 1, 2 or a 3 is that the project has had a lot of time invested in it, and it's primarily developed by a group of high school students. It's about time someone brought back DDE 15.
To use it, you need to know the Chinese language. I couldn't even log in to Firefox, everything is in Chinese, even though I chose English. So I can't add much, the installation went fine.
I'm sure it's my fault, but it's worth pointing out that without a Chinese language exam, you'll end up cursing and gnashing your teeth.
So those who don't know Chinese should treat this attempt with caution. In my opinion, Distrowatch could try it out before adding it to the list, but at least they could put it there as "only for those who know Chinese".
GXDE OS is built on Debian Testing and features the unique DDE 15 desktop environment. It evolved from the deepin 15 era, retaining the classic elements that Chinese deepin users adore. For Linux enthusiasts with a nostalgic streak, it offers a welcome return to familiar territory, while its extensive components and refined experience add a modern twist.
The system benefits from Debian's ecosystem, attracting numerous community-driven open-source projects. The Spark app store enables one-click installations, making it accessible even to newcomers who aren't comfortable with CLI. Replacing apt with aptss can also boost download speeds.
Though there's still room for improvement in certain edge cases, such as multi-language support and compatibility with some legacy hardware, these minor flaws don't overshadow its strengths. It has established a robust foundation.
It's a rising star in the Linux world, distinguished by its good looks, strong performance, and user - friendly nature. Should it continue to enhance its attention to detail and expand its ecosystem, GXDE OS is poised to attract a larger user base in the near future.
PS. it's incredible to note that this impressive distro is developed by a group of Chinese students.
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