How immutable Linux can save libraries thousands on Windows 11 upgrades

A practical look at using Fedora Silverblue with Cosmic Atomic to extend hardware life and reduce costs for libraries.

In our small public library, where I volunteer weekly, we have several ten-year-old all-in-one desktops with i5 CPUs and 8 GB of RAM. They’re currently running Windows 10, and the library needs to upgrade to Windows 11, according to the IT folks at the library system. Those of us who are regular Linux users know that there is almost no such thing as a computer too old for Linux. Why should these libraries be forced to purchase new computers, especially now that memory prices are skyrocketing, when a different operating system could keep the computers secure, extend their lifetime, and save these libraries thousands of dollars?

What is immutable Linux?

The search for a solution led me to consider Fedora Silverblue, which is an immutable Linux desktop. I’ve been reading about immutable Linux distributions for a couple of years, but I hadn’t explored them until recently. Immutable Linux distributions use a read-only root filesystem. That means it cannot be changed the way a typical Linux filesystem can. This means that every installation is identical to every other installation of the same version.

Immutable systems like Silverblue can be configured for kiosk mode in libraries and other public spaces. Patrons can use them for internet access and other tasks, but they cannot change the core system in any way. The operating system remains locked down and secure.

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Testing Cosmic Atomic on aging hardware

I downloaded Silverblue and gave it a try in VirtualBox. After it was installed and running well, I looked at other Atomic Desktops on the Fedora Project website. Cosmic Atomic caught my eye as I have been running Cosmic from System76 on my laptop for a couple of weeks. I downloaded the ISO, created a bootable USB drive, and installed it on my Dell Latitude 7410.

The laptop has a quad-core Intel Core i7-10610U processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. It’s about four years old. I purchased it for projects like testing distributions. I connected the USB drive to the laptop, pressed the power button, then pressed F12 to boot from USB and started the install, which took some time. I was prompted to choose an install location and provide a username and password.

Once the installation was complete and the computer restarted, I logged in to Cosmic Atomic for the first time. The initial login looked identical to my experience with Cosmic on Pop!_OS, but then I noticed some changes from my past experiences with traditional Linux distributions. LibreOffice was not installed by default. Firefox was installed by default, so I had access to a browser.

Read more: System76’s COSMIC desktop: A hands-on tour of Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS

How software installation works differently

I learned from reading that immutable distributions like this one use Flatpak to install other programs, such as the Brave browser, Chrome, LibreOffice, Visual Studio Code, and more. Applications are easily installed from the Cosmic Store for Cosmic Atomic. Click the application you want to install, and in short order, it is added and ready to use. No need to remember to use:

$ sudo dnf install application

Once the application is installed, it appears in your library. The applications seemed to run faster on their Flatpak installs, but that might be an illusion. In any event, I am impressed at how easy application installation is and how well the Cosmic Store is appointed.

I opened a terminal to use inxi and discovered that it was not installed by default. I tried using dnf to install inxi, but that doesn’t work on an immutable system. Some research showed me that to install system utilities like that, I needed to use a different command:

$ rpm-ostree install inxi

Follow that command with:

$ systemctl restart

Once the laptop rebooted, I was ready to look at my system.

Why this matters for libraries

I can see distinct advantages to immutable systems. They are reliable and easy to maintain. The core system is locked down so it cannot be compromised by malware. Applications install easily through the Cosmic Store or Flatpak, making it simple for library staff to manage software without deep technical knowledge.

Exploring Fedora Silverblue and Cosmic Atomic reminded me that aging hardware doesn’t have to be a burden, especially for places like public libraries, where every dollar matters. Immutable Linux desktops offer a modern, secure, and low-maintenance alternative that can extend the life of capable machines while reducing costs and complexity.

As libraries face pressure to upgrade to Windows 11, it’s worth asking whether the real solution lies not in replacing computers, but in rethinking the operating systems we rely on. Embracing Linux could empower libraries to stay secure, stay functional, and stay within budget, a win for staff, volunteers, and the communities they serve.

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This article is adapted from “How Immutable Linux Could Save Libraries Thousands” by Don Watkins, and is republished with permission from the author.