On August 26 (Beijing Time), the openKylin community – China’s leading open-source Linux desktop OS project – officially released openKylin 2.0 SP2. This version comes with the stable Linux 6.6 kernel by default, developed collaboratively by more than 16,000 contributors, 1,200 community members, and 135 SIG groups. Focusing on system reliability, intelligent user experience, and open ecosystem development, the release delivers significant breakthroughs in system architecture, desktop AI capabilities, stability, and cross-platform compatibility.
1. Building a Versatile AI Desktop Hub
Intelligent desktop experiences take center stage in this update. openKylin 2.0 SP2 positions itself as a comprehensive AI hub, integrating multiple large language models (LLMs) including DeepSeek, Tongyi Qianwen, and SenseTime’s models. By simply binding an API key, users can easily access various AI functions tailored to office work, data analysis, and more.
For privacy-conscious users, the system also supports local deployment of the qwen2.5-3B model via the App Store, enabling fully offline AI operations – balancing efficiency with data protection.
The revamped AI assistant introduces major interface and interaction upgrades:
- Dual-mode UI with both windowed and sidebar views.
- Multimodal interaction for drag-and-drop analysis of images, documents, and other files.
- Custom shortcut commands to streamline workflows.
- Personal knowledge base support, where local documents can be imported for context-aware, precise Q&A – enhancing private data utility and protection.
2. “Boulder Architecture” for Reliability and Security
For the first time, openKylin 2.0 SP2 ships with the “Boulder Architecture”, strengthening system stability and privacy from the ground up.
- Based on an immutable system design, core components such as the kernel and base libraries are sealed in read-only images.
- All user operations and applications run in separate writable layers, preventing accidental file deletions, dependency conflicts, or malicious tampering with critical areas.
- This architecture significantly improves resistance to malware, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
Through KARE container technology, the system provides a consistent runtime environment across different Linux distributions, breaking software compatibility barriers and enabling seamless execution of multi-version applications.
The newly introduced “Kaiming package format” supports conversion from deb, exe, appimage, and more, while offering sandboxed application isolation and cross-distribution compatibility. This both strengthens privacy protection and expands distribution options for developers.
3. A Leap in Desktop Experience
The desktop environment sees a major upgrade with UKUI 4.20, designed around a “lightweight perception” principle. It incorporates a dynamic light-and-shadow engine and a Theme Factory for richer visuals and more natural interaction.
At the system level, newly integrated AI middleware elevates efficiency tools such as file search into cognitive assistants, further boosting intelligent service capabilities.
Other highlights include:
- 46 refined interactive animations across windows, app groups, and desktop icons, delivering smoother feedback.
- Away-from-desk Lock 2.0, which leverages human presence sensors for precise distance detection, enhancing automatic device security.
4. Stronger Developer Ecosystem
openKylin 2.0 SP2 enhances its native developer environment with full-stack capabilities:
- The openKylin SDK is now upgraded to v3.0, adding 15 new modules and 273 APIs, supporting deeper adaptation to UKUI and Wlcom.
- The AI SDK introduces 20+ dedicated APIs, reinforcing native AI development on openKylin.
- The openKylin embedded build tools enable development for robotics, smart devices, and compact computing hardware.
Developers also benefit from KylinCode IDE, which offers one-stop coding and debugging, plus full automation on the openKylin developer platform – from repo creation and code compilation to image publishing – lowering entry barriers and accelerating innovation.
5. Conclusion
The release of openKylin 2.0 SP2 highlights the maturity of China’s open-source desktop OS ecosystem. From the foundational “Boulder Architecture” that redefines system reliability, to the deep integration of LLMs and local AI assistants, the update addresses global concerns about security and stability while reflecting localized innovation. Cross-distribution compatibility and upgraded developer toolchains position openKylin not only as a domestic solution but also as a strong participant in global open-source collaboration.
For more details, visit the official site: www.openKylin.top
