Starling

Overview

Starling pairs a Linux desktop environment with a Windows shell, built around a 2D workspace and an optional 3D city workspace. It suits people curious about a different desktop or shell who can tolerate preview software; its appeal is the breadth of the environment, not broad Linux compatibility or a finished experience.

Key features

The Linux desktop brings together a Wayland compositor, window manager, dock, spaces, and nine first-party apps. It includes its own X11 server alongside the compositor, so native Wayland clients and X11 apps can run in the same environment. Starling can launch applications installed on the machine, and its App Store can install more. That makes this a full desktop proposition rather than just a launcher, though expected rough edges, missing pieces, and bugs temper the promise.

The Linux session runs unprivileged, with DRM master and input provided through logind via libseat. Windows gets a shell, not the same Linux desktop environment, and Store apps keep working. The preview installer is per-user and needs no administrator privileges, but its unsigned status and first-run SmartScreen prompt are reasons for cautious users to pause before installing.

Starling is part of a wider open-source software effort that includes a terminal, browser-based office suite, and shared Swift SDK. The terminal offers local shells, remote workspaces, and sessions that persist after disconnection; the office suite covers documents, presentations, and spreadsheets in a browser. These broaden the project's ambitions, but they do not change the desktop's platform limits.

Pricing

Starling costs nothing. The free plan is open source under Apache 2.0, including Starling's shell, apps, build tools, documentation, and host code. There is no paid tier to weigh against the free offer, making it a straightforward option for people who want to inspect or build on the software as well as use it.

Platforms

The native desktop's only package target is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on amd64; newer Ubuntu versions may work but are not tested. It can also run through Ubuntu 26.04 on WSL2. The desktop has been exercised with AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA graphics, VirtIO-GPU/virgl in a virtual machine, and Windows through WSL2, but the preview label still matters for anyone relying on it every day. The Windows shell supports Windows 10 and 11 x64. The broader product pages list macOS and web among Starling's platforms, but that does not make the desktop itself a native macOS or web offering.

Who it's for

Starling is a reasonable choice for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS users who want to explore a different desktop, or Windows users interested in trying a shell replacement and comfortable with preview software. The Apache-2.0 licensing and GitHub Issues support route will also suit technically inclined users willing to engage with an evolving project. It is a poor fit for users who need a polished desktop, wide Linux distribution support, or a signed Windows installer.

Pros and cons

• Pro: A complete desktop foundation—compositor, window manager, dock, spaces, and nine first-party apps—offers more than a simple launcher.
• Pro: Native Wayland and X11 compatibility, plus an App Store and access to installed apps, gives users multiple routes to software.
• Pro: Apache-2.0 licensing covers the shell, apps, build tools, documentation, and host code, allowing people to read and build on it.
• Con: The native package target is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on amd64, a narrow base for Linux users on other distributions.
• Con: The early-preview status means rough edges, missing pieces, and bugs should be expected.
• Con: The unsigned Windows installer prompts SmartScreen on first run, a meaningful hurdle for cautious users.

Alternatives

For a Windows desktop environment rather than Starling's preview shell, Cairo Desktop Environment is a free Windows option. For a free, open-source Windows launcher, Flow Launcher is the more focused choice. LaunchMenu is another free, open-source option for macOS and Windows, while Fluent Search suits Windows 10 or 11 users who want a free search tool with x64 and ARM64 builds.

Launchy is a free launcher for Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with an optional pay-what-you-want contribution. Dawn Launcher offers a free Windows 10-or-later 64-bit version and a separate paid Pro tier. IObit Uninstaller is a Windows freemium option centered on batch uninstall, Windows app removal, drag-and-drop uninstall, and automatic leftover cleanup; choose it for software removal rather than desktop customization. Parkdale is a free-to-download option for Android, macOS, and Windows. Browse Start Menu Customization Software for more options in that category.

Verdict

Choose Starling if you want an open-source desktop environment for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS or are willing to try its Windows shell in preview, and value its combined Wayland/X11 support and broader workspace concept. Look elsewhere if you need a mature, widely supported Linux desktop or prefer not to install an unsigned Windows preview.