Skip to main content

CatOS October 2026 Update — Welcome App, Desktops, and Installer

· 2 min read

October's updates make CatOS easier to use: a redesigned welcome app, previews before switching desktop configurations, improved software management, and a smoother online installation process.

CatOS Hello 0.1.2​

The welcome app has been reorganized so the tools you need are easier to find.

  • On installation media, launch the standard or advanced installer, open disk tools, or check installation logs.
  • On an installed system, find separate pages for software and desktops, maintenance, and system information.
  • For maintenance, manage mirrors, inspect failed services or Pacman history, and collect diagnostic logs.
  • When switching desktops, preview which packages will be installed and which configuration files may change.

See the CatOS Hello guide.

Catdot: see the changes before switching desktops​

You can now preview a desktop Profile without applying it:

catdot plan catos-niri-dms

The preview shows missing packages and files that would be changed or removed, without changing your system. When ready, use catdot select PROFILE to switch. You can update an existing configuration with catdot update; Catdot backs up existing files before replacing them. CatOS Hello also offers a graphical preview.

See the Catdot guide.

Software and desktop updates​

  • Shelly is now available in the CatOS repositories as a graphical app for finding, installing, and updating software. You can still use pacman, paru, or yay from the terminal.
  • Noctalia v5 adds desktop configurations for Niri and Hyprland.
  • KDE fixes the issue where Plasma Welcome would start unnecessarily.
  • Hardware support receives updated CHWD and NVIDIA driver packages.

Related guides: Shelly · Desktop environments.

Online installation improvements​

The installer handles unreliable networks better:

  • Loading remote package lists now has a 10-second timeout, so it won't hang indefinitely.
  • An initial network check no longer blocks entry to the installer. Steps that need to download packages still check the network as needed.
  • Package selections have been adjusted for several desktop options.

See the online installation guide.