FreeBSD 15.0 Released — A Fresh Chapter for the BSD Base System
FreeBSD 15.0 Released — A Fresh Chapter for the BSD Base System
Table of contents:-
Getting a Desktop: IceWM via pkg and Xfce/SDDM with desktop-installer
What’s new in FreeBSD 15.0
On 2 December 2025, the FreeBSD Project announced the release of FreeBSD 15.0-RELEASE, the inaugural release of the stable/15 branch. This marks a significant milestone — a version that introduces fundamental changes to how the base system is distributed and managed, alongside a host of under-the-hood improvements.
One of the biggest changes in 15.0 is the introduction of a “packaged base system” — sometimes referred to as “pkgbase”. Rather than installing the base system solely via traditional distribution sets, the installer (bsdinstall) now prompts users to choose between the classic method and a new approach that installs the base system as a set of packages from a dedicated repository, managed via the familiar pkg(8) package manager. While this is offered as a technology preview in 15.0, it is expected to become the default in future releases.
Beyond packaging, 15.0 brings several key upgrades and additions: a native inotify implementation — simplifying directory-watching and enhancing software porting; the inclusion of OpenZFS upgraded to version 2.4.0-rc4; and an update of OpenSSL to its latest LTS release (3.5.4), which adds support for QUIC and standardised quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms. The OpenSSH suite is likewise updated to 10.0p2, now with quantum-resistant key agreement enabled by default. Alongside these, a raft of improvements touches userland utilities, core libraries, and system performance — from SIMD-optimised memory and string operations on amd64, to enhanced math functions and richer cryptographic support. Several libraries and tools in base (like libarchive, libpcap, libfido2 among others) received upgrades as well.
FreeBSD’s hardware and driver support also got bolstered. 15.0 ships with improved drivers: enhanced Intel Wi-Fi support via updated iwlwifi, updated Ethernet drivers (ice and ena), broad USB support including improved mass-storage and peripheral support, and support for Universal Flash Storage (UFS) host controllers. On the virtualization front, the NVMM hypervisor is now detected, the bhyve VNC server shows correct colours in noVNC clients, and under Microsoft Hyper-V, TLB flushes now use hypercalls — yielding up to a 40% boost in TLB performance. Audio and sound-stack improvements include support for asynchronous device detach, which helps with hot-plugging devices like USB headsets and improves interaction with systems that suspend/resume.
Ports and package infrastructure have not been neglected either. A new repository, FreeBSD-kmods, is included by default for installation of kernel modules compiled specifically for 15.0, which helps ensure that drivers—particularly graphics drivers—compile against the correct kernel interfaces. Also, the installer now supports downloading and installing necessary firmware packages after the base installation completes — making post-install configuration easier.
15.0 is available for a wide array of architectures: amd64, aarch64, armv7, powerpc64, powerpc64le and riscv64. Installation can be done via bootable ISOs, network install, or USB/memory-stick images (on supported architectures). Virtual machine images, container / OCI images, and CI images are also provided, reflecting FreeBSD’s growing focus on cloud and container-based deployments.
Support for FreeBSD 15.0-RELEASE will continue until 30 September 2026; thereafter security updates and fixes may cease, as future stable releases take precedence.
Getting a Desktop: IceWM via pkg and Xfce/SDDM with desktop-installer
If you want a graphical desktop on FreeBSD 15.0, there are a couple of approachable paths — including a light window manager or a full desktop environment.
IceWM (lightweight window manager)
After installing FreeBSD 15.0 (via pkgbase or traditional sets), install IceWM using pkg:
pkg install -y xorg dbus avahi slim slim-themes xf86-video-vmware icewm sakura xterm
Configure .xinitrc in your home directory to start IceWM, for example by adding:
Launch the X server (e.g. via startx) — you’ll get a lightweight, efficient desktop suitable for older hardware or minimal VMs.
A helpful walkthrough for this setup can be found in the IceWM installation video guide referenced below.
Xfce + SDDM via desktop-installer
For those seeking a fuller desktop experience, using the community-maintained desktop-installer simplifies Xfce + SDDM deployment. Simply follow the instructions from the desktop-installer project to download and run its script — it automates package installation and configuration, sets up Xfce as desktop environment, and installs SDDM as the graphical login manager. Upon reboot or starting the display manager, you are greeted by a login screen, delivering a near “out-of-the-box Desktop OS” feel on FreeBSD.
Upgrading from 14.3 to 15.0
If you are running FreeBSD 14.3 and wish to move up to 15.0-RELEASE, the official upgrade path remains the simplest and safest — via the standard binary upgrade tool. Before you begin, ensure you have a full backup of all important data and configuration. Then:
Once the system reboots with the new kernel, run:
to update userland components. At that point, you should rebuild or reinstall all third-party applications (ports or packages) to match the updated libraries; afterwards run freebsd-update install again if prompted, and finally reboot to complete the upgrade.
Because 15.0 introduces the new “pkgbase” packaged base system (offered as a technology preview), administrators inclined towards that model may — after the upgrade — optionally transition the base to pkg-managed packages rather than traditional distribution sets.This approach currently applies for amd64, aarch64 (arm64) and other supported architectures, and mirrors the standard procedure documented by the FreeBSD project for binary upgrades to 15.0-RELEASE.
Conclusion
FreeBSD 15.0 is more than just another point-release — it’s a meaningful step forward in how FreeBSD distributes, manages, and modernises its base system. With the new pkg-based base, updated libraries, enhanced hardware and virtualization support, and improved driver coverage, 15.0 is well positioned for both server and desktop use. For those looking to experiment with FreeBSD on desktop hardware or virtual machines, adding IceWM or Xfce via desktop-installer offers a friendly and accessible entry point.
As always, trade names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. We endeavour to present information as accurately as possible based on the official documentation, but recommend readers verify critical details before deploying in production. Please use open-source software responsibly and legally.
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