 | |
 Nova 7.0 | |
| Developer | University of Information Science |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Active |
| Source model | Closed source with someopen-source components (5.0 and up) |
| Initial release | February 2009; 16 years ago (2009-02) |
| Latest release | 9.0[1]  / 2 October 2023; 19 months ago (2 October 2023) |
| Available in | Multilingual |
| Platforms | x86-64 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| License | GNU GPL |
| Official website | https://www.nova.cu/ |
Nova is a Cuban state-sponsoredLinux distribution launched in February 2009.[2][3] It was developed inHavana at theUniversity of Information Science (UCI) by students and professors to providefree and open-source software (FOSS) to inexperienced users and Cuban institutions. While the initial version wasGentoo-based, the developers switched toUbuntu beginning with Version 2.1.[4]
In May 2016, discussions about a new version 6.0 were underway.[5] However, by 2016,Distrowatch had marked Nova as discontinued.[6] and its website, www.nova.cu had been taken down. Nova re-entered development later, and version 8.0 was released in January-March 2022.[7]
In early 2018, its repositories and download server (repo.nova.cu) was shut down temporarily, with users being told to switch toCentOS, after which Nova resumed development a couple months later. By early 2019, the distribution website was again active and DistroWatch listed it as under active development.[6] As of February 2025, the distribution's website seems to be poorly maintained or abandoned, with web browsers displaying an alert to visitors about an expired TLS certificate from August 2024.
The goal of Nova was to achieve "sovereignty and technological independence"[4] and to have it installed on all computers in Cuba whereMicrosoft Windows is still the most widely usedoperating system.[8][9] The system was central to the Cuban government's desire to replace Windows.[2] Hector Rodriguez, Director of UCI, said that "[t]he free software movement is closer to the ideology of the Cuban people, above all for the independence and sovereignty."[8] Other cited reasons to develop the system include theUnited States embargo against Cuba which made it hard for Cubans to buy and update Windows, as well as potential security issues feared by the Cuban government because of theU.S. government's access to Microsoft's source code.[2][9]
Cuba was planning to convert to Nova as its main operating system; once the migration is complete it was intended to be installed in 90% of all work places.[10][11] In early 2011, the UCI announced that they would migrate more than 8,000 computers to the new operating system.[12] Beginning in 2011, new computers were intended to come installed with both Windows and Nova.[11]
As of 2025, Microsoft Windows remains the predominant desktop operating system on almost every Cuban computer, either government- or privately-owned.[citation needed]
The first version of Nova, called Baire, was based onGentoo Linux, while Nova 2.1 Desktop Edition was based onUbuntu.[2][13] Nova Escritorio is UCI's office suite meant to replaceMicrosoft Office.[11]
Versions History
Nova 1.1.2 (Baire)
Nova 2.1 Desktop Edition
Main applications:
The minimal system requirements are recommended to allow you to install and run Nova Linux with good performances, even if it is possible to install it on worse hardware, with worse performances.
Nova 3.0
For the first time, Nova Linux has been released in two versions:Nova Desktop for standard computers andNova Ligero for older computers.
Nova 4.0
Nova 5.0
| Version | Codename | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Old version, not maintained: 1.1.2 | Baire | 20 February 2009 |
| Old version, not maintained: 2.0 | 2 December 2009 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 2.1 | 4 June 2010 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 2011-beta3 | 12 February 2011 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 3.0 (2011) | 2011 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 4.0 (2013, long term support) | 7 May 2014 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 5.0 (2015) | 22 March 2015 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 5.1 (2017) | 21 September 2017 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 6.0 (2018)[7] | 13 March 2018 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 7.0 (2020) | 20 June 2020 | |
| Old version, not maintained: 8.0 (2021) | January 2022 | |
| Latest version:9.0 (2022) | 2 October 2022 |
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Media related toNova (operating system) at Wikimedia Commons
