GhostBSD is a FreeBSD-based operating system that focuses on simplicity, ease of use, and providing a desktop-ready experience out of the box. With the release of GhostBSD 25.02-R14.3p2, the project has introduced a new desktop environment (DE) called Gershwin, which brings an OS X-like interface to the platform.
This offering aims to give users a modern and visually appealing desktop while maintaining the open source and lightweight principles of GhostBSD.
Gershwin Desktop Environment: What to Expect?
Gershwin Desktop is a community flavor DE built on top of GNUstep, which provides an intuitive interface that is simple and aesthetic. The environment includes a dock-style application launcher, a top panel with system indicators, and a workspace system that organizes running applications.
Furthermore, apps are managed through the dock rather than cluttering the desktop with separate icons or minimized windows. And both GNUstep and non-GNUstep applications can run seamlessly, maintaining a consistent interface while supporting a broader range of software.
Future plans include adding more native applications, new tools for browsing and installing software, an updated dock, and deeper system integrations. Currently, XFCE4-WM is used as the window manager, but a custom manager will most likely be developed later.
Getting Gershwin
The team mentions that prebuilt ISOs will be made available soon via GhostBSD for testing and evaluation purposes, with users being able to explore the Gershwin Desktop environment right out of the box.
For now, the desktop can be installed from the unstable package repositories after setting up GhostBSD, allowing early adopters to try the environment and provide feedback.
You can find the source code on GitHub.
Does it look like OS X?
To me, yes it does. If you focus carefully on the term 'OS X' that ceased to exist in 2016 when Apple replaced it with macOS.
In other words, while Gershwin aims to provide a modern desktop environment, it doesn't feel as modern as 2025. At least that's what I feel about it.
I don't see many screenshots of this new DE and didn't have time to test it out myself. Perhaps if I tried it, I might have a different opinion of it.
Your turn. What do you think of Greshwin? Does it provide a modern desktop experience similar to OS X or macOS? Please leave a comment below.
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