Bharat Operating System Solutions is an Indian Linux distribution derived from Debian. BOSS Linux is officially released in four editions: BOSS Desktop, EduBOSS, BOSS Advanced Server and BOSS MOOL. The latest stable version 8.0, was released on 15 October . It is developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing in order for enhancing and gain benefit from the usage of Free and Open Source Software throughout India. BOSS Linux is a key deliverable of National Resource Centre for Free and Open Source Software. It has enhanced desktop environment integrated with Indian language support and other software. The software has been endorsed by the Government of India for adoption and implementation on a national scale. BOSS Linux is an "LSB certified" Linux distribution. The software has been certified by the Linux Foundation for compliance with the Linux Standard Base standard. It supports Intel and AMD IA-32/x86-64 architecture till version 6. From version 7, the development shifted to x86-64 architecture only. BOSS Linux has upgraded from entry-level server to advanced server. BOSS Linux advanced server has unique features such as web server, proxy server, database server, mail server, network server, file and print server, SMS server, LDAP server. BOSS Linux advanced server comprises administration tools such as webmin which is a web-based interface, Gadmin, PHP myadmin, PHP LDAP admin, PG admin. The accessibility of BOSS Linux will have a constructive impact on the digital divide in India as more people can now have access to software in their local language to use the Internet and other information and communications technology facilities. Community Information centers and internet cafes will also benefit from BOSS Linux as this software can be utilized to power these outlets and is affordable and easy to install, use and support. As of 2019 Link . There are very few institutions and individuals in India who use BOSS. BOSS and LibreOffice is included in the school syllabus but only few schools teach these open source software to the students.
Version history
BOSS 5.0 (Anokha)
This release came with many new applications mainly focused on enhanced security and user friendliness. The distribution includes over 12,800 new packages, for a total of over packages. Most of the software in the distribution has been updated: over software packages. BOSS 5.0 supports Linux Standard Base version 4.1. The new version features XBMC to allow the user to easily browse and view videos, photos, podcasts, and music from a hard drive, optical disc, local network, and the internet.
BOSS 6.0 (Anoop)
There are several major updates in BOSS Linux 6.0 from 5.0. Notable changes include a kernel update from 3.10 to 3.16, a shift for system boot from init to systemd, the full support of GNOME Shell as part of GNOME 3.14, an update to the GRUB version, Iceweasel being replaced by Firefox and Pidgin replacing Empathy, and several repository versions of available programs being updated as part of the release. BOSS Linux 6.0 also shipped with various application and program updates, such as updates to LibreOffice, X.Org, Evolution, GIMP, VLC media player, GTK+, GCC, GNOME Keyring, and Python. Related specifically to the localisation support, language support got even better with the replacement of SCIM with IBus with the Integrated System Settings. Now Indic languages enabled with ″Region and Languages″ are directly mapped to the IBus and the OnScreenKeyboard layout is provided for all layouts. This release is fully compatible with LSB 4.1.
BOSS 7.0 (Drishti)
Biggest change over previous releases is that support for x86 version has been dropped and now it is only available for x86-64. Other noticeable changes include a linux kernel update to 4.9.0, GNOME update from 3.14 to 3.22 and software updates to various applications and programs with wide Indian language support & packages. This release aims more at enhancing the user interface with more glossy themes and is coupled with latest applications from the community. BOSS 8.0 Biggest change over previous releases is that the Desktop Environment is changed from GNOME to Cinnamon Desktop Environment. BOSS Linux has had seven major releases.
