The developers of LInux Mint in a short blog post this week previewed what’s coming, including a new default kernel and a new version of LMDE. The kernel is going to make it easier to use brand new, cutting edge PCs and peripherals when you install Mint on your PC.
Linux Mint 22.2, nicknamed “Zara,” will apparently use by default an alternative Linux kernel called HWE, which stands for HardWare Enablement. It’ll bring with it the latest drivers and patches that enable the use of brand new hardware, from CPUs to monitors to mice. It’s good news people for who like Mint and also like to buy the latest tech.
While manufacturers might be releasing their devices with full support for Windows and maybe Mac, they might not necessarily be ensuring their gear will work for Linux folks. Even when they do, the code may not make it into Linux kernels being used by popular distros for some time. Distros like Mint have traditionally stuck with well-tested LTS versions of the kernel for the sake of stability. As of Mint 22.2, the HWE kernel will make it more likely you can use your cutting-edge tech on the popular Linux distro.
The kernel itself isn’t new, neither in the Linux world nor to Mint itself. Ubuntu has been shipping the HWE kernel for over a decade, and Mint has actually provided HWE in its special “EDGE” images as far back as 2022 for those who wanted a more cutting-edge experience.In March 2024, Mint developers saidthey “didn’t observe significant differences in terms of stability between LTS and HWE series. Both were pretty stable.” So it sounds like the community is happy enough with the HWE experience that it’s going to be available by default in all Mint releases going forward.
I have fond memoriesinstalling Linux Minton my laptop that had gotten too decrepit to run Windows in a way that was usable anymore. Even though my experience was enabling use of old hardware, I’m happy to see Mint pushing forward with hardware support. The increasing interesting in Linux desktops in recent years means more people are going to be expecting their hardware to “just work” andMint has a reputationfor being a Linux desktop that does just that.
More Mint World Updates
The beta release for Zara we’re expecting later this month. In addition to the HWE kernel, it’s also going bring with it support for authenticating through fingerprint sensors, plus some theme improvements including support for libAdwaita. The Cinnamon desktop environment, which is developed by the Mint team, is also getting better functionality in Wayland, another sign of Mint keeping up with the times.
The Mint team also briefly previewed version 7 of LMDE, its variation that’s based on Debian Linux instead of Ubuntu. It’ll be nicknamed “Gigi” and based on Debian 13 while also promising feature parity with Mint 22.2. LMDE 7 will also support OEM installations, meaning Linux PC makers will be able to easily install LMDE on their devices before shipping them to you and me.
