Dear Liya Linux Community,

I’m ecstatic to announce that Liya Linux has been acquired by the Ashini Group, led by Sayed Madarvali, marking a pivotal moment for our lightweight, Arch-based distribution! With an interim bug-fix release coming in two weeks, a major release planned for early August 2025, and a firm commitment to user privacy, we’re poised to take Liya Linux to new heights. Here’s the full scoop on what’s next and how you can help shape our future!

What the Acquisition Means

The Ashini Group’s backing provides resources to accelerate development, enhance stability, and grow our community, all while preserving my autonomy as the lead developer. This ensures Liya Linux remains true to its core: a bloat-free, high-performance distro optimized for modest hardware (4GB RAM, 2 GHz Dual Core CPU, 15GB disk space). With this support, we’re ready to make Liya a leading choice for Linux users worldwide.

Unwavering Commitment to Privacy

We understand concerns about corporate involvement. Let me assure you: Liya Linux will never engage in snooping or undermine your privacy. Our commitment to user trust is ironclad, with features like LUKS encryption and secure defaults at our core. The Ashini Group fully supports this privacy-first approach, and I retain complete control to ensure no data collection or invasive practices are introduced. We’ll maintain transparent development practices, with open-source code and clear changelogs, so you always know what’s in Liya Linux. Your trust is our priority.

Clear Vision for Liya Linux

Our mission is to make Liya Linux the ultimate lightweight Arch-based distro, balancing ease of use for beginners with flexibility for advanced users. We’re focused on:

Long-Term Sustainability: Robust updates, community engagement, and funding models like donations or custom ISO services.Accessibility: Simplified setup and tools to make Liya welcoming for all skill levels.Educational Outreach: Tailored versions for schools and colleges to bring Linux to new users.Security and Performance: A lean, secure experience that excels on modest hardware.

Interim Bug-Fix Release (Within 2 Weeks)

We’re rolling out an interim release by mid-June 2025 to address all known bugs in Liya Linux 2.1 (kernel 6.11.0-1). This release will:
Fix reported issues, including package installation errors, Cinnamon/MATE desktop glitches, and update-related crashes (based on forum feedback at https://liyalinux.freeflarum.com/).Improve Pamac package manager performance for smoother software installation.Enhance system stability with tested updates, including rollback options via Timeshift integration.Add basic welcome screen prompts to guide new users through initial setup.

We need beta testers to ensure this release is flawless! Sign up on the forum to test and report issues, helping us deliver a rock-solid update.

Major Release in Two Months (Early August 2025)
By early August 2025, we’ll launch a major release packed with transformative features:
Latest Kernel: Optimized for performance, with improved support for newer hardware and power efficiency for laptops.
New Settings Manager: A graphical tool to simplify network configuration, desktop theming, driver installation, and system tweaks, reducing reliance on command-line setup.
Expanded Documentation: Detailed guides for installation, troubleshooting, and advanced configuration, hosted on our revamped website (https://liyalinux.gitlab.io/).
Potential Budgie Edition: We’re exploring adding Budie alongside Cinnamon, maintaining Liya’s lightweight ethos (targeting <500MB RAM usage at idle).
Security Enhancements: Strengthened LUKS encryption options and updated security patches for peace of mind.

This release will leverage the Ashini Group’s resources to ensure stability and polish, making Liya Linux a top-tier choice for lightweight computing.

Corporate Backing with Full Autonomy

The Ashini Group provides financial and logistical support to enhance testing, documentation, and outreach. As the lead developer, I retain full control over Liya Linux’s direction, ensuring we stay true to our lightweight, secure, and user-driven vision. Sayed Madarvali’s team shares our open-source values, making this partnership a perfect fit to scale Liya without losing its soul.

Long-Term Sustainability and Educational Impact

With the Ashini Group’s support, Liya Linux is built to thrive for years. We’re implementing rigorous testing (e.g., beta phases, delayed Arch updates) and exploring funding through donations (e.g., Patreon) and custom ISO services (available at https://liyalinux.gitlab.io/). A key focus is developing embedded versions for schools and colleges, optimized for low-resource devices (e.g., old PCs or Chromebook-like hardware). These versions will include:

Pre-installed educational tools (e.g., OnlyOffice, GIMP, code editors).Simplified interfaces for students and teachers.Offline functionality for classrooms with limited internet.

This initiative aims to introduce Linux to a new generation, expanding Liya’s impact in education.

Get Involved!

Your contribution is crucial to Liya Linux’s success. Here’s how you can help:

Beta Test the Interim Release: Sign up at https://liyalinux.freeflarum.com/ to test the upcoming bug-fix release and report issues.
Contribute to Documentation: Help write guides or tutorials for our website, especially for beginners.
Share Feedback: Post ideas, bug reports, or feature requests on the forum.
Spread the Word: Follow our upcoming X account (details soon) and share Liya Linux with friends, schools, or tech communities.Volunteer for Translations: Help translate Liya’s interface or docs to reach a global audience.

A Bright, Privacy-First Future

The Ashini Group acquisition, our unwavering privacy commitment, an interim bug-fix release in two weeks, and a major update by August 2025 position Liya Linux for greatness. We’re dedicated to delivering a lightweight, secure, and accessible distro that empowers users and thrives long-term. Thank you for being part of this journey—let’s make Liya Linux the best it can be!

Stay tuned for the interim release announcement, and share your thoughts below!

Best regards,
SAYED M. Hisham
Liya Linux Developer

P.S. Visit https://liyalinux.gitlab.io/ for updates and join the conversation at https://liyalinux.freeflarum.com/!