Pop!_OS Guide

Overview

Pop!_OS was created by System76, a Linux hardware manufacturer. First released in 2017, it's designed to make Linux excellent for creators, developers, and STEM professionals.

Quick Facts

Based On	Ubuntu LTS
Package Manager	APT / Flatpak
Default Desktop	GNOME with COSMIC extensions
Release Cycle	Following Ubuntu (6 months)
Support Period	Follows Ubuntu LTS
Init System	systemd

Who Should Use Pop!_OS?

Developers - Excellent development environment out of the box
NVIDIA users - Separate ISO with pre-installed drivers
Productivity fans - Built-in tiling window manager
Gamers - Good gaming support and GPU switching
Ubuntu users - Familiar base with better defaults

Tip

Download the NVIDIA ISO if you have an NVIDIA graphics card. Pop!_OS is one of the few distributions with seamless NVIDIA driver support out of the box.

Installation

Pop!_OS uses its own installer with disk encryption enabled by default:

Download the appropriate ISO (Intel/AMD or NVIDIA)
Create bootable USB with Popsicle or Etcher
Boot into the live environment
Click "Install Pop!_OS"
Choose encryption options and complete installation

bash

# Verify your download
sha256sum pop-os_24.04_amd64_nvidia_45.iso

# Compare with checksum from pop.system76.com

Package Management

Pop!_OS uses APT with the Pop!_Shop graphical store:

bash

# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

# Install a package
sudo apt install package-name

# Pop!_OS specific: System76 packages
sudo apt install system76-driver

# Flatpak (pre-installed)
flatpak install flathub app-name

# Pop!_Shop CLI
pop-upgrade release upgrade  # Upgrade to new release

Info

Pop!_OS uses Flatpak instead of Snap. Flathub is enabled by default, giving you access to thousands of applications.

Key Features

Pop Shell (Tiling)

Built-in tiling window manager extension. Press Super+Y to toggle auto-tiling. Organize windows automatically without manual arrangement.

Application Launcher

Press Super to open a powerful launcher. Search applications, run commands, do calculations, and more.

Hybrid Graphics

Easy switching between integrated and discrete graphics. Choose performance or battery life as needed.

Recovery Partition

Built-in recovery partition allows reinstallation without external media.

COSMIC Desktop

System76 is developing COSMIC, a new desktop environment written in Rust. It will eventually replace the GNOME-based desktop in Pop!_OS.

COSMIC Features

Written in Rust	Performance and memory safety
Native Tiling	Built-in tiling without extensions
Customizable	Extensive theming and configuration
Independent	Not dependent on GNOME stack

FAQ

What's the difference between Pop!_OS and Ubuntu?

Pop!_OS adds the Pop Shell tiling manager, better NVIDIA support, Flatpak instead of Snap, and a cleaner GNOME experience without Amazon integrations.

Do I need System76 hardware?

No! Pop!_OS works great on any compatible hardware. System76 hardware just gets extra features like firmware updates through the Settings app.

When will COSMIC be ready?

COSMIC is in active development. Alpha builds are available for testing. Check System76's blog for updates on the release timeline.

Summary

Pop!_OS is an excellent choice for developers and power users who want a productivity-focused Linux experience. Key takeaways:

Ubuntu-based with System76 enhancements
Excellent NVIDIA and hybrid graphics support
Built-in tiling window manager (Pop Shell)
Flatpak for applications, no Snap
COSMIC desktop coming soon