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By Zayden R., August 20, 2026
X.Org Server 26.1 RC1 has been released, marking the first major feature update in five years. Engineers should note the switch to Meson build system, security improvements, and support for new X Server capabilities.
X.Org Server 26.1 RC1 has been officially tagged, marking a significant milestone as the first major feature release in five years. This release follows the xorg-server 21.1 series and introduces a number of notable changes that Linux engineers should be aware of. While it may not be as feature-rich as the concurrent XWayland 26.1 development, it brings crucial updates to the table.
One of the most significant changes in this release is the removal of the Autoconf/Automake build system, which has been replaced with Meson. This transition is expected to streamline the build process and improve maintainability. Additionally, the release introduces support for several new X Server capabilities, such as the DPMSInfoNotify event from DPMS 1.2 and XFixes 6.1, along with the AllowForceTerminate option in the xorg.conf.
Security has also seen improvements, with byte-swapped clients now being disallowed by default and font server connections disabled by default. These changes aim to enhance the security posture of the X.Org Server, addressing long-standing concerns within the community.
For those utilizing Xvfb, the new release supports multiple CRTCs and up to 13 mouse buttons, which could prove beneficial for complex display setups and testing environments. The addition of a DRM platform for BSD users and the relocation of non-root-user log files to $XDG_STATE_HOME/xorg further indicate the developers' focus on broadening compatibility and improving system integration.
While the feature list may not be extensive, the updates present in X.Org Server 26.1 RC1 are solid improvements that address both usability and security. Engineers maintaining systems with the X.Org Server will find these changes relevant, and should consider testing the RC1 in their environments to anticipate any integration needs before the final release.
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