Raspberry Pi OS has released a historic update, with the biggest novelty being labwc, a Wayland compositor to replace the previous Wayfire window manager. Tasked with the mission of boosting performance and enhancing security, labwc also improves user experience on Raspberry Pi devices. Wayland is a system for managing application windows that improves on the older X Window system used by Linux desktops for tasks like handling windows and mouse movement. Unlike X, which uses a two-step process with a display server and window manager, Wayland combines these into a single “compositor.” This setup is not only faster and more efficient but also more secure, as it keeps applications separate so they can’t monitor each other.
In addition to labwc, this new iteration brings noticeable enhancements for touch-screen users. The Raspberry Pi Desktop now automatically displays and hides the virtual keyboard when text input is required, thanks to integration with the Squeekboard virtual keyboard. This feature works with most applications, but users can toggle it manually if needed. The update has also introduced long-press and double-tap detection on touch screens, allowing you to simulate right-clicks and double-clicks, respectively. These improvements guarantee smoother interaction with touch displays, bridging the gaps left by previous versions.
Raspberry Pi Connect also gets better integration in this release, with the Connect icon now always visible in the taskbar, providing an easier way to manage remote access to Raspberry Pi devices. More updates include a revamped taskbar panel application for improved memory efficiency, and a new screen configuration tool, “raindrop,” which facilitates performance and adds native support for labwc and touch screens. If you’re interested in more insights on this fascinating release, check out this blog post by Simon Long, the company’s Senior Principal Software Engineer, who explains these significant changes in a detailed and engaging way!
