Big Shot: OpenShot Video Editor Version 1.0 Released
Video clip editors have been in short supply under Linux. Jonathan Thomas is now trying to fill that gap with the first stable version of the OpenShot Video Editor.
As in many of the applications of the craft, a video editor works on a timeline in OpenShot with clips arranged on multiple tracks, edits them and adds effects. A preview then shows what's been accomplished.
Compared with its biggest competitor, Kdenlive, OpenShot provides fewer functions, but the user interface is thereby better organized to benefit new users.
The first stable version is now available after two years or so in development and a number of pre-versions. Apart from bugfixes the new version includes some new functions, among them 28 new transitions and 29 titles that self-adjust to the aspect ratio of the image. The time format now includes the frame number instead of the millisecond.
User interface themes provide variety; a selection four is included, with one specific to smaller screens with smaller icons. Screen functions were improved and simplified, including a "New Project" toolbar to replace "Open Project." Window resizing is persisted across window launches and transitions snap to the nearest clip or play-head.
OpenShot processes standard and also HD material, including HDV 720p in 24 frames per second common to movie quality video.
Download of OpenShot to try it before installation is available from the project page as an AV Linux 3.0 LiveDVD. Burn the ISO image to a DVD and boot off it. Complete packages are currently only for Ubuntu, so users of other distros need to rely on a source code tarball.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.
-
KaOS 2025.05 Officially Qt5 Free
If you're a fan of independent Linux distributions, the team behind KaOS is proud to announce the latest iteration that includes kernel 6.14 and KDE's Plasma 6.3.5.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 Now Available
The latest Linux kernel is now available with several new features/improvements and the usual bug fixes.
-
Microsoft Makes Surprising WSL Announcement
In a move that might surprise some users, Microsoft has made Windows Subsystem for Linux open source.
-
Red Hat Releases RHEL 10 Early
Red Hat quietly rolled out the official release of RHEL 10.0 a bit early.
-
openSUSE Joins End of 10
openSUSE has decided to not only join the End of 10 movement but it also will no longer support the Deepin Desktop Environment.
-
New Version of Flatpak Released
Flatpak 1.16.1 is now available as the latest, stable version with various improvements.
-
IBM Announces Powerhouse Linux Server
IBM has unleashed a seriously powerful Linux server with the LinuxONE Emperor 5.