Legacy OS for Raspberry Pi officially released
Major operating system updates are tricky and often cause compatibility issues, which is what many Raspberry Pi users unfortunately experienced after updating the popular single-board computer to the latest OS version, which is also known under the name "Bullseye". This Raspberry Pi OS update brought many improvements like a free performance boost, but at the same time caused serious head aches for some users.
The aforementioned OS update apparently made the Raspberry Pi (from US$53 on Amazon) incompatible with certain HAT interfaces, video drivers and camera modules. In order to resolve these issues, the company has now released the Raspberry Pi Legacy OS, which utilizes the previous Debian version also known as "Buster". This downgrade also means that Legacy OS cannot offer certain features like the new hardware acceleration for Chromium based browsers, which will now be reverted back to software-based acceleration.
However, the Raspberry Pi Legacy OS is also based on the older Linux kernel 5.10, which means that it should once again be compatible with older drivers and interfaces. This additional Legacy OS version for the Raspberry Pi will be adequately maintained and receive security patches and updates in the future. All further technical details on the new/old OS for the Raspberry Pi are discussed in the according official blog post, which also includes download links to the Legacy OS for the Raspberry Pi.
Raspberry Pi OS (Legacy) Launches to Offer Long-Term Stability
For anyone who desires stability over the latest features (and hardware-accelerated Chromium).
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Raspberry Pi users now have the option of running a legacy version of the Raspberry Pi OS, allowing them to rely on a stable platform for several years.
The new version of the operating system is called Raspberry Pi OS (Legacy) (Opens in a new window) , and it’s based on the Debian Buster release. Hardware-accelerated Chromium has been removed and replaced with the upstream software-accelerated browser. This removes a lot of the headaches around supporting hardware-accelerated Chromium, which always requires the latest version of Debian due to security patches.
Legacy will also use the 5.10 Linux kernel and only take security patches. The same is true for the Raspberry Pi firmware, which has been branched and will only receive security and hardware support patches for existing products.
So why is there a need for a legacy operating system? The team at Raspberry Pi realized that certain sets of users benefit from having a stable environment to work in with years of support guaranteed, rather than having to scramble to ensure their Pi hardware/software projects still work when a new OS version rolls out. The education and industrial sectors are two good examples of this.
Raspberry Pi OS Versions: All Your Questions Answered
When I started using a Raspberry Pi, picking the correct operating system was straightforward. Raspbian was only available in 3 versions: Lite, Desktop, and Full. Now, when you go to the official website or open Raspberry Pi imager, there are more versions listed, so how do you pick one for yourself?
The recommended Raspberry Pi OS version is Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye (32-bit). It includes a desktop environment and a few essential applications. It works on all Raspberry Pi models.
But why is there so much choice? That’s what I’ll explain in this article, where I’ll answer all your questions on this topic.
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What is the latest version of Raspberry Pi OS?
Raspberry Pi OS is based on Debian and follows the same versions. Currently, the latest Raspberry Pi OS version available is Bullseye.
Debian distribution codenames are based on characters from the Toy Story movies. Raspberry Pi OS follows the same names and versions, while generally being a few months behind:
| Version | Codename | Debian release date | RPI OS release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Stretch | June 2017 | August 2017 |
| 10 | Buster | July 2019 | July 2019 |
| 11 | Bullseye | August 2021 | November 2021 |
| 12 | Bookworm | June 2023 | Expected in 2023 |
| 13 | Trixie | Expected in 2025 | – |
Currently, Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye (32-bit) is still the one that is put forward in Raspberry Pi Imager and on the website.
In Raspberry Pi Imager, the codename is mentioned in the image description:
So, you have to be careful when you pick your system version. The latest versions are listed at the beginning of the list, but it’s not intuitive when you have no idea what “Bullseye” or “Buster” means.
Well, now that you know this, let’s move forward, as there are several other things to consider.
Differences between Raspberry Pi OS, Lite, and Full
Raspberry Pi OS has always been available in 3 versions:
- Lite: No desktop environment, terminal only.
Typically, to use it for a server, a robot, or any project where a monitor is not required. - Desktop (default): Desktop environment included, with a few basic apps.
If you need a desktop environment, but want to keep control of the programs installed.
It’s also recommended for older Raspberry Pi models. - Full: Desktop environment with all the recommended apps.
Get started directly, with everything pre-installed for you. The installed applications are validated by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and are available directly (desktop usage, programming, entertainment, etc.).
In Raspberry Pi Imager, the version is mentioned in the image title:
What I call the “Desktop” version has no mention in the title, it’s the default option in the main menu.
As you can see in the screenshot, there is also a big difference in the download size for each version. The Lite version is only 300 MB, while the Full version is 2.6 GB. It might be something to consider too if you have a slow Internet connection.
You are making good progress! You know the difference between Buster and Bullseye, and between the 3 versions: Desktop, Full, and Lite. But there are still a few more things to clarify in this list, let’s move forward.
Should I use Raspberry Pi OS 64 bits or 32 bits?
A 64-bit operating system improves performance if the processor is compatible. Only recent Raspberry Pi models can run a 64-bit version of Raspberry Pi OS.
In May 2020, the Raspberry Pi announced a new variant of the Raspberry Pi 4, with 8 GB RAM.
Simultaneously, they announced the name change from Raspbian to Raspberry Pi OS and the release of an early beta for a 64-bit operating system for this new Raspberry Pi model.
The 64-bit version of Raspberry Pi OS is compatible with the Raspberry Pi 3, 3B+, 3A+, 4, 400, and Zero 2W. Try it if your model is compatible, but if you are not using one of these, you can just forget about it, and keep using the 32-bit edition.
That’s the reason why the Raspberry Pi Foundation is not pushing this version by default. It’s now considered a stable edition, but the first choice in Raspberry Pi Imager is still the 32-bit edition:
There are also some known issues with the 64-bit version. They are fixing them progressively, but it’s not perfect yet.
I wrote a complete article on this topic, so if you want to learn more about the differences between Raspberry Pi OS 32-bit and 64-bit, I recommend clicking on the link to get the full story.
What is Raspberry OS Legacy?
The legacy version is the Buster equivalent of Raspberry Pi OS. It has been kept in the list of systems available because not all applications were compatible with Bullseye (especially the camera libraries for Python).
After releasing Bullseye, the Raspberry Pi Foundation removed all the links to the old version, even if not everything was ready for production. This created a lot of dissatisfaction in the community, forcing them to create a “Legacy” edition, that is still available today.
Most bugs have been fixed, and Picamera2 is now available in Bullseye. But it still requires significant effort to switch from one version to another, depending on which applications and python scripts you are using.
When installing a new system, you should only need Raspberry Pi Legacy (Buster), if you code in Python or use apps that haven’t been updated for a while. In most cases, Raspberry Pi Bullseye should work just fine now.
In short, which version should I use?
The safer choice, in terms of security and features, is to install Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye (32-bit). It’s the default option, works on any Raspberry Pi model, and includes essential applications.
Use the Lite version only if you are an advanced user who will use the Pi as a server. You can always install a Desktop environment later if needed.
And in my opinion, the Full version is rarely useful. Only, maybe, if you don’t have Internet on the Raspberry Pi and want everything set up directly. In other cases, I doubt you’ll need everything, it will just slow down your system.
Then, you can try the 64-bit equivalent if you have a recent model (especially a Raspberry Pi 4 with 8 GB), but you won’t notice any major boost in day-to-day use.
The issue is that most apps on Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit are still built for a 32-bit system. So even with a 64-bit processor on a recent Raspberry Pi model, you might not see a major improvement in performance.
If you know that you will install applications that are not necessarily well-maintained or code a lot in Python, especially with camera modules and other sensors, then it might be safe to use Raspberry Pi Legacy instead.
According to the Raspberry Pi Imager stats, most users are still using Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit), which is still the safest choice currently:
So, to sum up your options:
- First-time users and most people ⇒ Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye (32-bit).
- No Internet on the Pi ⇒ Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye Full (32-bit).
- Advanced users without monitor ⇒ Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye Lite (32-bit).
- Adventurous users with a recent model ⇒ 64-bit equivalent.
- Cautious users ⇒ Legacy equivalent.
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Is Raspbian the same as Raspberry Pi OS?
In May 2020, the Raspberry Pi Foundation renamed Raspbian to Raspberry Pi OS. For the end user, it’s basically the same thing. So, Raspberry Pi OS is the new name, and Raspbian should no longer be used.
It was a change that makes sense internally, for their developers, but not really for Raspberry Pi users. The goal was to make a distinction between the Raspbian project (which is an independent entity, with different releases) and the Raspberry Pi Foundation version of Raspbian.
For us, it’s still the same operating system that has been upgraded since then and hosted on the official website directly. On your side, don’t overcomplicate this, you can just consider that Raspbian and Raspberry Pi OS are the same thing.
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You Can Now Install a Legacy Version of the Raspberry Pi OS
Bullseye is here, but a Legacy version of the older Buster branch of Raspberry Pi OS is available if you need it.
The latest iteration of the official Raspberry Pi OS, based on Debian 11 ‘Bullseye’, adds a lot of new features and improvements. However, some Raspberry Pi users have asked for an option to roll back certain parts of the operating system to restore some functionality required for certain projects.
Therefore the Raspberry Pi Foundation has made a ‘Legacy’ version of the OS available. Let’s take a look at it and why you might need it.
What’s Changed in Bullseye?
As a major update, the Bullseye version of Raspberry Pi OS features quite a few changes. Most notably, all of the desktop components and applications now use version 3 of the GTK+ user interface toolkit instead of version 2.
On Raspberry Pi models with 2GB or more RAM, a new Mutter window manager is used instead of the previous Openbox, resulting in a more modern and appealing desktop user interface. There’s also a switch to the KMS video driver for controlling the connection to a display.
For users of Raspberry Pi Camera Modules, Bullseye has dropped support for the old raspistill and raspivid tools for shooting stills and video in favor of libcamera.
A Bullseye bonus is that it can even make your Raspberry Pi 4 run faster.
What’s the Problem?
As noted by Raspberry Pi Chief Product Officer Gordon Hollingworth in the official blog post, moving to a new upstream branch of the OS can cause significant problems for some users.
“With the new branches come new versions of libraries and new interfaces. Old software and interfaces become unsupported, and the way to do specific things changes,” says Hollingworth.