Rhino Linux 2023.1 was the distribution’s first full release after beta, announced on August 8, 2023. It combines an Ubuntu base with a rolling-release update model, the customized XFCE desktop called Unicorn, and package tools including Pacstall and rhino-pkg. The release offered images for x86_64, ARM, Pine64 and Raspberry Pi devices.
What is Rhino Linux 2023.1?
Rhino Linux is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that delivers continuous updates rather than following Ubuntu’s conventional fixed-release schedule. The project says it uses Ubuntu’s devel branch rather than an LTS or interim snapshot as its base. In a rolling-release system, packages are updated continuously instead of being bundled primarily into large, infrequent major upgrades. See the Rhino Linux homepage and the official wiki for the project’s description of its model.
The 2023.1 announcement marked the project’s move out of beta. Its desktop is Unicorn, a customized XFCE environment designed to combine traditional and modern desktop approaches. The release article describes its desktop and first-login setup flow. Read the Rhino Linux 2023.1 release announcement.
How Rhino Linux uses Ubuntu
Rhino Linux is genuinely Ubuntu-based, but it is not simply an Ubuntu LTS or interim release with a different desktop. The Ubuntu base provides the foundation, while Rhino’s rolling approach, Unicorn desktop and additional package tools shape the user experience. That distinction matters if you expect the slower, major-version upgrade cadence associated with fixed Ubuntu releases.
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How Pacstall and rhino-pkg work
Pacstall
Pacstall is an AUR-like package manager for Ubuntu that Rhino Linux uses for many customizations and default applications. It works from package build instructions called “pacscripts” to build executable packages, which helps the project provide newer software while retaining its Ubuntu base. The Pacstall documentation in the official wiki explains the project’s approach.
rhino-pkg (rpk)
The release also includes rhino-pkg, abbreviated rpk, as a unified interface for common package operations. It can install, remove, search and upgrade software through apt, Pacstall, Flatpak and Snap. This provides one command-line entry point across several package sources; it does not make those sources identical or replace their underlying package systems.
How to download and install Rhino Linux 2023.1
The 2023.1 release announcement provides the image download and installation workflow. The basic process is to write the downloaded image to a bootable USB drive, start the computer from it, run the graphical installer and complete the initial setup.
- Get the image: Open the official 2023.1 announcement and use its download link to choose the image for your device.
- Create installation media: Write the image to a bootable USB flash drive using an image-writing utility. The release article does not specify a required drive capacity or brand.
- Start the live environment: Boot the target device from the USB drive. On the desktop, select the Install Rhino Linux icon.
- Install the system: Follow the custom-themed Calamares graphical installer.
- Complete first-run setup: After installation, reboot and use the Rhino Setup Wizard to choose a light or dark theme, package-manager options and optional utilities.
Exact device compatibility and image guidance can change after the 2023.1 release, so check the project’s current download and hardware information before installing on a specific machine.
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The release article gives these commands for upgrading an earlier Rhino Linux installation:
- Run
rpk update -y. - Run
pacstall -PI rhino-core.
Pine64 users are directed to use pacstall -PI rhino-pine-core in place of the rhino-core command. These are the instructions documented for the release; consult current project guidance before applying them to a later installation.
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Which devices can run Rhino Linux 2023.1?
The 2023.1 announcement lists images for x86_64, ARM, Pine64 and Raspberry Pi devices. Those are the release’s stated image targets, not a guarantee that every individual device using one of those processor families is supported. Check the official download information for the correct image and any model-specific instructions.
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