elementary OS 0.4, codenamed Loki, entered beta on June 13, 2016. It was a pre-release for testing—not a recommended download for a current computer or a production system. Loki later reached stable release on September 9, 2016, but its Ubuntu 16.04 LTS base is no longer maintained.
What is elementary OS Loki?
Loki is the codename for elementary OS 0.4, a Linux distribution release built on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. BetaNews reported the beta announcement on June 13, 2016. At that point, Loki was still under development, and the release was intended for testing rather than dependable everyday use.
The beta’s technical foundation included Gtk 3.18, Vala 0.32, and Linux 4.4, according to details attributed by BetaNews to Cassidy James, elementary cofounder and UX architect. These versions brought updated toolkit features and libraries; they describe the 2016 beta, not current elementary OS software.
What was new in elementary OS 0.4?
The beta combined its Ubuntu 16.04 LTS base and updated components with changes to the desktop and applications. In the contemporary report, Cassidy James said: “Loki is being built with the Ubuntu 16.04 LTS repository, which means it comes with Gtk 3.18, Vala 0.32, and Linux 4.4 as well as a multitude of other updated libraries. This most notably brings new toolkit features, like GtkPopoverMenu, and you’ll notice that apps now benefit from native overlay scrollbars. The latest Granite comes with two new widgets: AlertView and Avatar.”
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Those details are specific to the June 2016 beta announcement. They should not be confused with features later reported for elementary OS 0.4.1: a May 2017 BetaNews follow-up cited Linux 4.8, improved Kaby Lake support, and AppCenter for that point release.
What problems did the Loki beta have?
BetaNews listed several known problems, which made the beta a poor choice for a computer that needed to work reliably:
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- Application-menu search could ignore keywords.
- Notification areas could become unclickable.
- PackageKit could sometimes use 100% CPU.
- Some users with multiple displays could encounter regressions.
The report cautioned readers not to install the beta on production machines and suggested using a virtual machine for testing. That advice applied to the pre-release build described in June 2016.
When did Loki become stable, and is it still supported?
The elementary project’s release-cycle page records the stable release of Loki as September 9, 2016. The page associates Loki with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and lists maintenance updates for that Ubuntu base through April 2021. That maintenance period has ended.
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Elementary OS has moved on: the project announced elementary OS 8 on November 26, 2024. Loki is therefore a historical release, not a current project download recommendation. An old beta installer may still be discoverable elsewhere, but that does not make it supported or suitable for a connected everyday computer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can I use Loki as my main operating system?
No—not if you need a supported, secure system for regular use. The June 2016 build was explicitly a beta with documented usability and performance problems, and the Ubuntu 16.04 maintenance period associated with Loki ended in April 2021. For a current installation, use a release the elementary project currently provides and supports rather than seeking out the Loki beta.
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Sources: BetaNews’s June 13, 2016 Loki beta report; the elementary OS release-cycle page; and the elementary OS 8 announcement.
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