September 2025 marks an exciting time for Linux distribution enthusiasts, as both Fedora and Ubuntu have released beta versions of their upcoming major releases. Fedora 43 Beta dropped on September 16, while Ubuntu 25.10 “Questing Quokka” Beta became available around September 20. Here’s what’s new in both distributions.
Fedora 43 Beta: Modern Installation and Package Management
Fedora 43 is scheduled for official release on October 28, 2025 (potentially November 11 if critical issues arise during testing). This release focuses heavily on improving the installation experience and modernizing package management.
Anaconda WebUI Becomes Default
The most significant change is the adoption of Anaconda WebUI for all Fedora Spins. Previously, different desktop variants had inconsistent installation experiences. Now, users installing Fedora KDE, XFCE, MATE, or any other spin will encounter the same modern, web-based installer interface.
This unified approach offers several benefits:
- Consistent user experience across all Fedora variants
- Easier maintenance for the Fedora team
- Modern, responsive interface that adapts to different screen sizes
- Faster development of new installation features
DNF5 Replaces DNF4 in Installer
Fedora 43 takes another step toward deprecating the older DNF4 package manager by switching to DNF5 within the Anaconda installer. DNF5 offers:
- Better debugging capabilities – More detailed error messages help troubleshoot installation problems
- Improved performance – Faster dependency resolution during installation
- Enhanced reliability – More robust error handling prevents installation failures
While DNF4 will remain available in user space for now, this transition signals its eventual complete replacement by DNF5 in future releases.
Automatic Updates for Fedora Kinoite
Fedora Kinoite, the immutable KDE variant, now enables automatic background updates by default. This feature brings Kinoite in line with modern ChromeOS and mobile operating systems, where updates happen transparently without user intervention.
Users can still manually control updates if preferred, but the default experience now ensures systems stay secure and current without requiring conscious effort.
Development Environment Updates
Fedora 43 includes cutting-edge programming language versions:
- Python 3.14 – Beta testing in Fedora helps identify critical bugs before Python’s final 3.14.0 release
- Golang 1.25 – Latest Go version with performance improvements and new language features
These updates make Fedora 43 an excellent choice for developers who need access to the latest programming tools.
Ubuntu 25.10 “Questing Quokka” Beta: Security and Modernization
Ubuntu’s October 2025 release, codenamed “Questing Quokka,” brings security enhancements and continues Ubuntu’s transition to Rust-based core utilities.
Rust-Powered Coreutils
Ubuntu 25.10 introduces new coreutils implemented in Rust, part of a broader industry trend toward memory-safe system software. Commands like ls, cat, cp, and others are being gradually rewritten in Rust to eliminate entire classes of security vulnerabilities.
Benefits include:
- Memory safety without garbage collection overhead
- Elimination of buffer overflow vulnerabilities
- Maintained compatibility with existing GNU coreutils behavior
- Similar or better performance compared to C implementations
TPM-Backed Full Disk Encryption
One of the most significant security improvements in Ubuntu 25.10 is Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip-backed full disk encryption. This feature leverages the TPM hardware present in most modern laptops and desktops to:
- Automatically unlock encrypted drives – No password needed on trusted hardware
- Protect against offline attacks – Encryption keys remain sealed inside the TPM chip
- Detect boot tampering – TPM measurements prevent booting if firmware or bootloader is modified
- Simplify secure boot – Integration with UEFI Secure Boot for end-to-end verified boot chain
This brings Ubuntu’s encryption capabilities closer to BitLocker on Windows and FileVault on macOS, but with the transparency and auditability of open-source software.
Desktop Environment Updates
While specific GNOME version details weren’t mentioned in the beta announcement, Ubuntu 25.10 includes numerous new accessories and components that improve the overall desktop experience. Expect refined settings panels, updated default applications, and polish across the user interface.
Debian 13.1 “Trixie” Update
While not a major release, Debian 13.1 (released September 6, 2025) deserves mention as an important stability update to Debian 13 “Trixie,” which launched in August 2025.
Recent security updates addressed:
- Denial-of-service vulnerabilities
- Privilege escalation bugs
- SQL injection flaws
- Heap buffer overflow issues
Debian continues to be the rock-solid foundation for countless servers and the base for distributions like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and hundreds of others.
Testing the Betas
Fedora 43 Beta
# Download from official Fedora website
# https://getfedora.org/
# Verify ISO checksum
sha256sum Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-43-*.iso
# Create bootable USB
sudo dd if=Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-43-*.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
Ubuntu 25.10 Beta
# Download from Ubuntu releases
# http://releases.ubuntu.com/25.10/
# Verify ISO
sha256sum ubuntu-25.10-beta-desktop-amd64.iso
# Create bootable USB with recommended tool
sudo apt install usb-creator-gtk
usb-creator-gtk
Important: Beta releases are not recommended for production systems. Test in virtual machines or on dedicated hardware only.
Should You Upgrade?
If you’re currently running:
- Fedora 42 – Wait for the stable Fedora 43 release in late October unless you enjoy testing and reporting bugs
- Ubuntu 25.04 – Ubuntu’s interim releases are supported for 9 months, so no rush to upgrade until the stable 25.10 drops
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS – Stick with it. LTS releases receive 5 years of support; there’s no compelling reason to upgrade unless you need specific features
The Future of Linux Distributions
Both Fedora 43 and Ubuntu 25.10 showcase important trends in Linux distribution development:
- Memory-safe languages – Rust adoption for system components improves security
- Immutable systems – Fedora Kinoite and similar variants gain traction
- Improved user experience – Modern installers and automatic updates lower barriers to entry
- Hardware security integration – TPM and Secure Boot become first-class features
These releases demonstrate that desktop Linux continues to mature while maintaining the flexibility and power that attracted users in the first place.
Conclusion
Both Fedora 43 and Ubuntu 25.10 bring meaningful improvements to their respective distributions. Fedora focuses on modernizing the installation experience and package management, while Ubuntu emphasizes security through TPM integration and Rust-based core utilities.
For enthusiasts eager to test the bleeding edge, now is the perfect time to download the betas and contribute bug reports. For everyone else, stable releases are just around the corner—late October for Fedora 43 and mid-October for Ubuntu 25.10.
The Linux ecosystem continues its steady progress, offering users more choice, better security, and improved usability with each release cycle.