Sculpt OS release 21.10 Oct 14, 2021

Sculpt OS version 21.10 introduces GPU-accelerated graphics on Intel, media playback in the web browser, VirtualBox 6, and USB webcam support.

At the first glance, the just released Sculpt 21.10 looks and feels nearly identical to the time-tested previous version 21.03. However, a look at the installable packages reveals a firework of exciting new features.

First and technically most exciting, the new version enables the use of hardware-accelerated graphics on Intel GPUs, paving the ground for graphics-intensive applications and games. The GPU support is based on the combination of the Mesa library stack with our custom GPU multiplexer as featured in Genode 21.08. Note that this fresh new feature should best be regarded as experimental and be used with caution.

Second, our port of the Chromium-based Falkon web browser has become able to present media content like videos and sound. Look out for the browser in the tools menu of cproc's depot. It is accompanied with a ready-to-use audio driver and a mixer component. In cases where audio output is not desired, the browser - or any other component that requests audio output - can be connected to a new component called black hole, which merely mimics an audio driver without any audible effect.

Third, with the addition of the new file-vault component, Sculpt now provides an easy way to setup and use an encrypted file store using our custom CBE block encrypter as underlying crypto container. The file vault is especially useful in combination with the recall-fs component that provides each client with a distinct storage compartment.

Finally, the support for USB webcams as introduced with Genode 21.05 has entered Sculpt OS in the form of a new webcam package. The webcam support can best be combined with our new port of VirtualBox 6 that is available in addition to VirtualBox version 5. With Sculpt 21.10, both VirtualBox versions can be used in parallel.

Sculpt OS 21.10 is available as ready-to-use system image at the Sculpt download page and is accompanied with updated documentation. More details about individual new features of Sculpt 21.10 will be covered soon by dedicated articles at https://genodians.org.