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SUSE has expelled Deepin from openSUSE due to security concerns related to poor code quality, design issues, and unapproved packaging. This move comes as a surprise to fans but reflects the company's commitment to user safety amidst an increasingly complex world of Linux distributions.
SUSE has expelled Deepin Desktop Environment from its flagship Linux distribution, openSUSE.The decision is rooted in issues with code quality, design decisions, and interactions with other Linux components.Concerns include the use of D-Bus and Polkit without oversight or approval.Poor coding practices, such as untested code snippets and lacking documentation, have been identified.The removal of Deepin poses security risks to users who unwittingly install the package.SUSE has left the Deepin repository intact, allowing users to manually add and configure it at their own risk.
SUSE, a prominent German-based open-source company, has recently expelled the Deepin Desktop Environment (DDE) from its flagship Linux distribution, openSUSE. This move comes as no surprise to fans and experts alike, given SUSE's security team had been vocal about their concerns over the DDE's packaging and functionality in recent months.
According to a blog post published by SUSE Security Team, the reasons behind this decision are multifaceted and deeply rooted in issues with the DDE's code quality, design decisions, and interactions with other Linux components. One of the primary concerns is the use of D-Bus and Polkit – technologies often used for user interface management and permissions handling, respectively – without adequate oversight or approval from SUSE.
Furthermore, the SUSE team has also identified several instances of poor coding practices, such as untested code snippets, lacking documentation, and generally subpar testing strategies. These issues have led to potential security vulnerabilities in various components of the DDE, including a module known as dde-api-proxy, which handles interactions with other system-level services.
The SUSE team has also expressed concerns over how Deepin has packaged its desktop environment for distribution within openSUSE repositories. While this packaging might seem innocuous at first glance, it poses significant security risks to users who unwittingly install the official-looking package without realizing that their systems are left vulnerable to attack.
Despite these findings, SUSE is not entirely unforgiving. The company has seen fit to leave the Deepin repository intact, allowing interested users to manually add and configure the environment at their own risk. This pragmatic approach seems a mix of mercy and realism – acknowledging that the DDE's allure lies in its polish and functionality while recognizing that this comes at the cost of security.
For those unfamiliar with the world of Chinese Linux distributions, it is worth noting that desktop environments like Deepin have gained significant traction on the Asian market. With millions of users and a reputation for polish and modernity, these desktops compete directly with their Western counterparts in terms of features, user experience, and integration with local applications.
The reason behind this relative success lies not only in the quality of the code but also in how it caters to local needs and preferences. In China, handwritten input recognition and facial recognition have become de facto standards for user interfaces, driving demand for polished, feature-rich desktops that can seamlessly integrate these capabilities.
In contrast, Western Linux distributions often lag behind in terms of polish and usability, partly due to historical factors but also because they tend to prioritize security features over aesthetics. SUSE, however, has long been a leader in the field of user interface management through its YaST toolset, providing users with an intuitive way to manage their systems without the need for arcane command-line interfaces.
Despite this tradition of innovation, SUSE's recent stance against Deepin serves as a sobering reminder that even seemingly minor issues can escalate into major security risks. It also underscores the ever-present tension between competing demands in the Linux community: between pushing the boundaries of usability and polish versus prioritizing security, stability, and integrity.
In conclusion, SUSE's decision to remove the Deepin Desktop Environment from openSUSE marks a significant moment for the company's stance on security and its commitment to protecting users. As the world of Linux continues to evolve with new technologies, distributions, and user interfaces emerging all the time, it is crucial that companies like SUSE prioritize transparency and vigilance in their assessments of potential threats.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Dark-Side-of-Deepin-A-SUSE-Backed-Expos-on-the-Security-Flaws-of-a-Promising-Chinese-Linux-Desktop-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/05/09/opensuse_ditches_deepin/
Published: Fri May 9 07:47:25 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
