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Do a presentation at NTLUG.
What is the Linux Installation Project?
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Providing ready to run platforms on Linux
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(Two Column)
- A critical GnuPG security update
There is a new GnuPG update for a "critical security bug" in recentGnuPG releases.
A crafted CMS (S/MIME) EnvelopedData message carrying an oversized wrapped session key can cause a stack buffer overflow in gpg-agent during the PKDECRYPT--kem=CMS handling. This can easily be used for a DoS but, worse, the memory corruption can very likley also be used to mount a remote code execution attack. The bug was introduced while changing an internal API to the FIPS required KEM API.
Only versions 2.5.13 through 2.5.16 are affected.
- The GNU C Library is moving from Sourceware
GNU C Library maintainer Carlos O'Donell has announcedthat the project will be moving its core services away from Sourceware in favor of services hostedat the Linux Foundation.
While it was clear to the GNU Toolchain leadership that requirements were coming to improve the toolchain cyber-security posture, these requirements were not clear to all project developers. As part of receiving this feedback we have worked to document and define a secure development policy for glibc and at a higher level the GNU Toolchain. While Sourceware has started making some critical technical changes, the GNU Toolchain still faces serious, systemic concerns about securing a global, highly available service and building a sustainable, diverse sponsorship model.
This has been a long-running discussion; see this 2022 article for some background.
- [$] Implicit arguments for BPF kfuncs
The kernel's "kfunc" mechanism is a way of exporting kernel functions sothat they can be called directly from BPF programs. There are over 300kfuncs in current kernels, ranging in functionality from string processing(bpf_strnlen())to custom schedulers (scx_bpf_kick_cpu())and beyond. Sometimes these kfuncs need access to context information thatis not directly available to BPF programs, and which thus cannot be passedin as arguments. The implicitarguments patch set from Ihor Solodrai is the latest attempt to solvethis problem.
- Xfwl4: the roadmap for a Xfce Wayland compositor
The Xfce team has announced thatit will be providing funding to Brian Tarricone to work on xfwl4,a Wayland compositor for Xfce:
Xfwl4 will not be based on the existing xfwm4 code. Instead, itwill be written from scratch in rust, using smithay buildingblocks.
The first attempt at creating an Xfce Wayland compositor involvedmodifying the existing xfwm4 code to support both X11 and Wayland inparallel. However, this approach turned out to be the wrong pathforward for several reasons:
Xfwm4 is architected in a way that makes it very difficult to put the window management behavior behind generic interfaces that don't include X11 specifics. Refactoring Xfwm4 is risky, since it might introduce new bugs to X11. Having two parallel code bases will allow for rapid development and experimentation with the Wayland compositor, with zero risk to break xfwm4. Some X11 window management concepts just aren't available or supported by Wayland protocols at this time, and dealing with those differences can be difficult in an X11-first code base. Using the existing codebase would require us to use C and wlroots, even if a better alternative is available.
Work has already commenced on the project, and the project hopes toshare a development release in mid-2026.
- Security updates for Tuesday
Security updates have been issued by AlmaLinux (kernel, kernel-rt, python-urllib3, python3.11-urllib3, and python3.12-urllib3), Debian (imagemagick, openjdk-11, openjdk-17, and openjdk-21), Fedora (bind, bind-dyndb-ldap, chromium, ghostscript, glibc, mingw-glib2, mingw-harfbuzz, mingw-libsoup, mingw-openexr, and qownnotes), Mageia (kernel-linus), Red Hat (osbuild-composer), SUSE (go1.24-openssl, go1.25-openssl, govulncheck-vulndb, kernel, nodejs22, openCryptoki, openvswitch3, python-pyasn1, python311, and qemu), and Ubuntu (git-lfs, node-form-data, and screen).
- [$] Fedora and GPG 2.5
The GNU Privacy Guard (GPG)project decided to break from the OpenPGP standard for emailencryption in 2023, and instead adopted its own homegrown LibrePGP specification. The GPG 2.4branch, the last one to adhere to OpenPGP, will be reaching the end oflife in mid-2026. The Fedora project is currently having a discussionabout how that affects the distribution, its users, and what to offeronce 2.4 is no longer receiving updates.
- Stenberg: The end of the curl bug-bounty program
Curl creator Daniel Stenberg has written a blogpost explaining why the project is ending its bug-bountyprogram, which started in April 2019:
The never-ending slop submissions take a serious mental toll tomanage and sometimes also a long time to debunk. Time and energy thatis completely wasted while also hampering our will to live.
I have also started to get the feeling that a lot of the securityreporters submit reports with a bad faith attitude. These "helpers"try too hard to twist whatever they find into something horribly badand a critical vulnerability, but they rarely actively contribute toactually improve curl. They can go to extreme efforts to argue andinsist on their specific current finding, but not to write a fix orwork with the team on improving curl long-term etc. I don't think weneed more of that.
There are these three bad trends combined that makes us take thisstep: the mind-numbing AI slop, humans doing worse than ever and theapparent will to poke holes rather than to help.
Stenberg writes that he still expects "the best and our mostvalued security reporters" to continue informing the project whensecurity vulnerabilities are discovered. The program will officiallyend on January 31, 2026.
- Security updates for Monday
Security updates have been issued by AlmaLinux (gimp, glib2, go-toolset:rhel8, golang, java-17-openjdk, java-21-openjdk, kernel, net-snmp, pcs, and thunderbird), Debian (apache2, imagemagick, incus, inetutils, libuev, openjdk-17, php7.4, python3.9, shapelib, taglib, and zvbi), Fedora (mingw-glib2, mingw-harfbuzz, mingw-libsoup, mingw-openexr, pgadmin4, python3.11, python3.12, python3.9, and wireshark), Gentoo (Asterisk, Commons-BeanUtils, GIMP, inetutils, and Vim, gVim), Mageia (kernel), Oracle (glib2, java-17-openjdk, java-21-openjdk, and libpng), Red Hat (java-17-openjdk, java-21-openjdk, kernel, and kernel-rt), SUSE (azure-cli-core, bind, buildah, chromium, coredns, glib2, harfbuzz, kernel, kernel-firmware, libheif, libvirt, openCryptoki, openvswitch, podman, python, python-urllib3, rabbitmq-server, and vlang), and Ubuntu (cjson).
- Kernel prepatch 6.19-rc7
The 6.19-rc7 kernel prepatch is out fortesting.
So normally this would be the last rc of the release, but as I've mentioned every rc (because I really want people to be aware and be able to plan for things) this release we'll have an rc8 due to the holiday season.
And while some of the early rc's were smaller than usual and it didn't seem necessary, right now I'm quite happy I made that call. Not because there's anything particularly scary here - the release seems to be going fairly smoothly - but because this rc7 really is larger than things normally are and should be at this point.Along with the usual fixes, this -rc also includes a newdocument describing the process to replace the kernel projectleadership should that become necessary in the absence of an arrangedtransition. The plan largely follows what was decided at the Maintainers Summit in December.
- GNU C Library 2.43 released
Version 2.43 of theGNU C Library has been released. Changes include support for the mseal() and openat2()system calls, experimental support for building with the Clang compiler,Unicode 17.0.0 support, a number of security fixes, and much more.
- Dabao Evaluation Board to Showcase Open-RTL Baochip-1x RISC-V MCU
Baochip has previewed the Baochip-1x, a mostly open RTL, RISC-V–based microcontroller fabricated on TSMC’s 22 nm process. Designed with openness and verifiability in mind, the MCU integrates a VexRiscv application core running at up to 350 MHz, alongside a quad-core I/O accelerator cluster clocked at 700 MHz. The Baochip-1x uses a VexRiscv RV32IMAC processor with […]
- Just the Browser is just the beginning: Why breaking free means building small
Privacy tools are a start, but real freedom lives in the digital outskirts of the webOpinion The Net is born free, but everywhere is in chains. This is a parody of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 1762 book The Social Contract where he said the same about humans, but it's nonetheless true. The Net is built out of open, free protocols and open, free code. Yet it and we are bound by the rulemakers who build the services and set the laws of the places we go and the things that we do, not to our advantage.…
- Seven Years After, Stallman Is Still Stallman
Nearly seven years after Richard Stallman left MIT under pressure and resigned the presidency of the Free Software Foundation he founded, he’s back on a U.S. campus giving a talk that is pure RMS — and fundraising for FSF in the process.
- France To Ditch US Platforms Microsoft Teams, Zoom For 'Sovereign Platform' Amid Security Concerns
France will replace the American platforms Microsoft Teams and Zoom with its own domestically developed video conferencing platform, which will be used in all government departments by 2027, the country said. From a report: The move is part of France's strategy to stop using foreign software vendors, especially those from the United States, and regain control over critical digital infrastructure. It comes at a crucial moment as France, like Europe, reaches a turning point regarding digital sovereignty. "The aim is to end the use of non-European solutions and guarantee the security and confidentiality of public electronic communications by relying on a powerful and sovereign tool," said David Amiel, minister for the civil service and state reform. On Monday, the government announced it will instead be using the French-made videoconference platform Visio. The platform has been in testing for a year and has around 40,000 users.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Microsoft Was Routing Example-Domain Traffic To a Japanese Cable Company for Five Years
Microsoft has quietly suppressed an unexplained anomaly on its network that was routing traffic destined for example.com -- a domain reserved under RFC2606 specifically for testing purposes and not obtainable by any party -- to sei.co.jp, a domain belonging to Japanese electronics cable maker Sumitomo Electric. The misconfiguration meant anyone attempting to set up an Outlook account using an example.com email address could have inadvertently sent test credentials to Sumitomo Electric's servers. Under RFC2606, example.com resolves only to IP addresses assigned to the Internet Assigned Names Authority. Microsoft confirmed it has "updated the service to no longer provide suggested server information for example.com" and said it is investigating. Security researcher Dan Tentler of Phobos Group noted the company appears to have simply removed the problematic endpoint rather than fixing the underlying routing -- "not found" errors now appear where the JSON responses previously occurred. Tinyapps.org, which noted the behavior earlier this month, said the misconfiguration had persisted for five years. Microsoft has not explained how Sumitomo Electric's domain entered its configuration. The incident follows 2024's revelation that a forgotten test account with admin privileges enabled Russia-state hackers to monitor Microsoft executives' email for two months.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Doomsday Clock Ticks To 85 Seconds Before Midnight, Its Closest Ever
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on Tuesday set their symbolic Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds before midnight -- the closest the timepiece has ever been to the theoretical point of annihilation since scientists created it during the Cold War in 1947. The clock now stands four seconds nearer than last year's setting, and this marks the third time in four years that the Bulletin has moved it closer to midnight. The Chicago-based nonprofit pointed to aggressive behavior by nuclear powers Russia, China and the United States, fraying nuclear arms control frameworks, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, unregulated AI integration into military systems, and climate change. "In terms of nuclear risks, nothing in 2025 trended in the right direction," said Alexandra Bell, the Bulletin's president and CEO. The last remaining nuclear arms pact between the US and Russia, the New START treaty, expires on February 5.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Amazon To Shut Down All Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh Stores
Amazon is closing all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores in a shift to focus on its online same-day delivery service and new big-box retail stores. From a report: The e-commerce giant said Tuesday that some of its shuttered Amazon-branded brick-and-mortar stores would be converted into Whole Foods Market locations. Amazon said its branded stores failed to deliver the right economic model and distinctive customer experience necessary for large-scale expansion. Amazon's same-day delivery service for groceries is currently available in more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns. The company said it plans to expand the service to more communities in 2026 but didn't specify where. Amazon said it planned to open over 100 new Whole Foods Market stores over the next few years.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- OpenAI's Science Chief Says LLMs Aren't Ready For Novel Discoveries and That's Fine
OpenAI launched a dedicated team in October called OpenAI for Science, led by vice president Kevin Weil, that aims to make scientists more productive -- but Weil admitted in an interview with MIT Technology Review that the LLM cannot yet produce novel discoveries and says that's not currently the mission. UC Berkeley statistician Nikita Zhivotovskiy, who has used LLMs since the first ChatGPT, told the publication: "So far, they seem to mainly combine existing results, sometimes incorrectly, rather than produce genuinely new approaches." "I don't think models are there yet," Weil admitted. "Maybe they'll get there. I'm optimistic that they will." The models excel at surfacing forgotten solutions and finding connections across fields, but Weil says the bar for accelerating science doesn't require "Einstein-level reimagining of an entire field." GPT-5 has read substantially every paper written in the last 30 years, he says, and can bring together analogies from unrelated disciplines. That accumulation of existing knowledge -- helping scientists avoid struggling on problems already solved -- is itself an acceleration.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Pinterest Cuts Up To 15% Jobs To Redirect Resources To AI
Pinterest said on Tuesday it would trim its workforce by less than 15% and reduce office space, as the social media company looks to reallocate resources to AI-focused roles and initiatives. From a report: The announcement comes as the company competes with TikTok and Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram for digital advertising budgets, as these platforms continue to draw marketers with their extensive user base. Pinterest had 5,205 full-time employees as of September 2025. The latest job cut would translate to less than 780 positions. Top executives at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting said while jobs would disappear, new ones would spring up, with two telling Reuters that AI would be used as an excuse by companies which were planning layoffs anyway. Last week, design software maker Autodesk also announced a 7% job cut to redirect investments to its cloud platform and AI efforts.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold Will Cost $2,900 in the US
Samsung said today that its Galaxy Z TriFold, the first tri-fold smartphone to ship in the U.S., will be available starting January 30 at a price point of $2,899 -- substantially more expensive than any other phone on the U.S. market, including Samsung's own $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a fully loaded 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max. The company will only sell the device through its website and Samsung Experience Stores; mobile carrier partners including Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T won't be offering it directly. The TriFold unfolds into a 10-inch tablet, measures 3.9mm at its thinnest point, and is rated for 200,000 folds over its lifetime. Samsung launched the TriFold in South Korea on December 12 at 3.59 million won, about $2,450 at the time. Early reviews have praised the expansive inner screen for video but noted the 309-gram weight, thick folded dimensions, and half-baked software as significant drawbacks.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- How Anthropic Built Claude: Buy Books, Slice Spines, Scan Pages, Recycle the Remains
Court documents unsealed last week in a copyright lawsuit against Anthropic reveal that the AI company ran an operation called "Project Panama" to buy millions of physical books, slice off their spines, scan the pages to train its Claude chatbot, and then send the remains to recycling companies. The company spent tens of millions of dollars on the effort and hired Tom Turvey, a Google executive who had worked on the legally contested Google Books project two decades earlier. Anthropic bought books in batches of tens of thousands from retailers including Better World Books and World of Books. A vendor document noted the company was seeking to scan between 500,000 and two million books. Before Project Panama, Anthropic co-founder Ben Mann downloaded books from LibGen, a shadow library of pirated material, over 11 days in June 2021. He later shared a link to the Pirate Library Mirror site with colleagues, writing "this is awesome!!!" Meta employees similarly downloaded books from torrent platforms after approval from Mark Zuckerberg, court filings allege, though one engineer wrote that "torrenting from a corporate laptop doesn't feel right." Anthropic settled for $1.5 billion in August without admitting wrongdoing.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Microsoft Is Refreshing the Xbox Cloud Gaming Web Experience
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Thurrott: Microsoft is testing a refresh of the Xbox Cloud Gaming web experience in public preview. "This preview is a first look at our new web interface on your browser and lets you try the updated design and product flow before it is rolled out broadly," Microsoft's Patrick Siu explains. "Players who opt in to this preview will see some changes to their experience including updated navigation features and a refreshed look and feel. As this is a preview, some functions may not yet be available or may behave differently than the current web experience. We will continue iterating during the preview period and changes may be made over time." [...] There's no real info about what's in the new experience, oddly. Microsoft notes only that it "lays the foundation for accelerating [their] ability to build new experiences for players," and that it "helps [them] validate the new web platform and refine the experience for everyone." The public preview can be found at xbox.com/play.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- ReactOS Celebrates 30 Years
jeditobe writes: ReactOS, the open-source operating system aimed at binary compatibility with Windows, recently marked its 30th anniversary. Launched in 1996, ReactOS has focused on providing a free alternative to Windows, with compatibility for Windows applications and drivers. Though still in development, it has made significant progress in recent years, including improvements to USB support, better hardware compatibility, and enhanced performance with the release of version 0.4.15. The upcoming 0.4.16 release is set to introduce UEFI support, KMDF and WDDM graphics driver support, marking a major step forward in ReactOS's development.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Clawdbot sheds skin to become Moltbot, can't slough off security issues
The massively hyped agentic personal assistant has security experts wondering why anyone would install it
Security concerns for the new agentic AI tool formerly known as Clawdbot remain, despite a rebrand prompted by trademark concerns raised by Anthropic. Would you be comfortable handing the keys to your identity kingdom over to a bot, one that might be exposed to the open internet?…
- European firms push on with AI pilots even as payoff doubts grow
IDC and Lenovo say enterprises are pressing ahead with pilot deployments despite mixed evidence on returns
Despite a growing number of reports that AI is not benefiting many businesses, Lenovo and IDC say that firms in EMEA are pushing ahead with pilot deployments and still expect it to drive growth and transform how they operate.…
- Micron continues fab spending spree with $24B NAND storage plant in Singapore
No salvation from the memory winter, though - plant won't start churning out chips until 2028
Flush with cash from skyrocketing memory prices, Micron continued its fab expansion this week, this time breaking ground on a $24 billion manufacturing complex that will eventually produce chips used in storage devices.…
- Watchdog says US weather alerts are getting lost in translation
GAO urges NWS to firm up its AI language plans as policy shifts slow multilingual warnings
US spending watchdogs have called on the National Weather Service (NWS) to deliver an updated plan for its AI language translation project to reduce the risk posed by extreme weather events to people not proficient in English.…
- Security: Why Linux Is Better Than Windows Or Mac OS
Linux is a free and open source operating system that was released in 1991 developed and released by Linus Torvalds. Since its release it has reached a user base that is greatly widespread worldwide. Linux users swear by the reliability and freedom that this operating system offers, especially when compared to its counterparts, windows and [0]
- Essential Software That Are Not Available On Linux OS
An operating system is essentially the most important component in a computer. It manages the different hardware and software components of a computer in the most effective way. There are different types of operating system and everything comes with their own set of programs and software. You cannot expect a Linux program to have all [0]
- Things You Never Knew About Your Operating System
The advent of computers has brought about a revolution in our daily life. From computers that were so huge to fit in a room, we have come a very long way to desktops and even palmtops. These machines have become our virtual lockers, and a life without these network machines have become unimaginable. Sending mails, [0]
- How To Fully Optimize Your Operating System
Computers and systems are tricky and complicated. If you lack a thorough knowledge or even basic knowledge of computers, you will often find yourself in a bind. You must understand that something as complicated as a computer requires constant care and constant cleaning up of junk files. Unless you put in the time to configure [0]
- The Top Problems With Major Operating Systems
There is no such system which does not give you any problems. Even if the system and the operating system of your system is easy to understand, there will be some times when certain problems will arise. Most of these problems are easy to handle and easy to get rid of. But you must be [0]
- 8 Benefits Of Linux OS
Linux is a small and a fast-growing operating system. However, we can’t term it as software yet. As discussed in the article about what can a Linux OS do Linux is a kernel. Now, kernels are used for software and programs. These kernels are used by the computer and can be used with various third-party software [0]
- Things Linux OS Can Do That Other OS Cant
What Is Linux OS? Linux, similar to U-bix is an operating system which can be used for various computers, hand held devices, embedded devices, etc. The reason why Linux operated system is preferred by many, is because it is easy to use and re-use. Linux based operating system is technically not an Operating System. Operating [0]
- Packagekit Interview
Packagekit aims to make the management of applications in the Linux and GNU systems. The main objective to remove the pains it takes to create a system. Along with this in an interview, Richard Hughes, the developer of Packagekit said that he aims to make the Linux systems just as powerful as the Windows or [0]
- What’s New in Ubuntu?
What Is Ubuntu? Ubuntu is open source software. It is useful for Linux based computers. The software is marketed by the Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu community. Ubuntu was first released in late October in 2004. The Ubuntu program uses Java, Python, C, C++ and C# programming languages. What Is New? The version 17.04 is now available here [0]
- Ext3 Reiserfs Xfs In Windows With Regards To Colinux
The problem with Windows is that there are various limitations to the computer and there is only so much you can do with it. You can access the Ext3 Reiserfs Xfs by using the coLinux tool. Download the tool from the official site or from the sourceforge site. Edit the connection to “TAP Win32 Adapter [0]
- 9front GEFS SERVICE PACK 1 released
9front, by far the best operating system in the whole world, pushed out a new release, titled GEFS SERVICE PACK 1 . Even with only a few changes, this is still, as always, a more monumental, important, and groundbreaking release than any other operating system release in history. Everything changes, today, because exec() now supports shell-scripts as interpreter in #!, improved sam scrolling, TLS by default in ircrc, and more. Youre already running 9front, of course, but if youre one of the few holdouts still using something else, download GEFS SERVICE PACK 1 and install it.
- Remotely unlocking an encrypted hard disk
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to sneak into the earliest parts of the boot process, swap the startup config without breaking anything, and leave without a trace. Are you ready? Lets begin. ↫ Jynn Nelson Genius.
- Microsoft gave FBI BitLocker keys to unlock encrypted data, because of course they did
Encrypting the data stored locally on your hard drives is generally a good idea, specifically if you have use a laptop and take it with you a lot and thieves might get a hold of it. This issue becomes even more pressing if you carry sensitive data as a dissident or whistleblower and have to deal with law enforcement. Or, you know, if youre an American citizen fascist paramilitary groups like ICE doesnt like because your skin colour is too brown or whatever. Windows offers local disk encryption too, in the form of its BitLocker feature, and Microsoft suggests users store their encryption keys on Microsofts servers. However, when you do so, these keys will be stored unencrypted, and it turns out Microsoft will happily hand them over to law enforcement. “This is private data on a private computer and they made the architectural choice to hold access to that data. They absolutely should be treating it like something that belongs to the user,” said Matt Green, cryptography expert and associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute. “If Apple can do it, if Google can do it, then Microsoft can do it. Microsoft is the only company thats not doing this,” he added. “Its a little weird… The lesson here is that if you have access to keys, eventually law enforcement is going to come.” ↫ Thomas Brewster Microsoft is choosing to store these keys in unencrypted fashion, and that of course means law enforcement is going to come knocking. With everything thats happening in the United States at the moment, the platitude of I have nothing to hide! has lost even more of its meaning, as people even toddlers are being snatched from the streets and out of their homes on a daily basis by fascist paramilitaries. Even if times were better, though, Microsoft should still refrain from storing these keys unencrypted. It is entirely possible, nay, trivial to address this shortcoming, but the odds of the company fixing this while trying to suck up to the current US regime seem small. Everybody, but especially those living under totalitarian(-esque) regimes, should be taking extra care to make sure their data isnt just encrypted, but that the keys are safe as well.
- Firefox on Linux in 2025
Last year brought a wealth of new features and fixes to Firefox on Linux. Besides numerous improvements and bug fixes, I want to highlight some major achievements: HDR video playback support, reworked rendering for fractionally scaled displays, and asynchronous rendering implementation. All this progress was enabled by advances in the Wayland compositor ecosystem, with new features implemented by Mutter and KWin. ↫ Martin Stransky Its amazing how the adoption of Wayland is making it so much easier for application developers to support modern features like these. Instead of having to settle for whatever roadblocks and limitations thrown up by legacy X11 cruft, the Linux desktop can now enjoy modern features like HDR, and much more easily support features like fractional scaling. The move to Wayland, as long as it may have taken, has catapulted the Linux desktop from its 90s roots right into the modern era. Its great to see Firefox implementing improvements like these for Linux users, but of course, they come with Mozillas push to make Firefox an AI! browser, something few Firefox users seem to want. Luckily, the various Firefox variants like Librewolf and Waterfox will get these same features while removing all the AI! bloat, so as long as Mozilla remains committed to Firefox for Linux or Firefox in general Linux users can rest safe. Sadly, Im afraid Mozillas massive pivot to AI! isnt going to work out, so I have no idea how long Mozilla will be able to afford Firefox on Linux development specifically, and Firefox development generally.
- Microsoft announces winapp to simplify Windows application development
Developing for Windows seems to be a bit of a nightmare, at least according to Microsoft, so theyre trying to make the lives of developers easier with a new tool called winapp. The winapp CLI is specifically tailored for cross-platform frameworks and developers working outside of Visual Studio or MSBuild. Whether you are a web developer building with Electron, a C++ veteran using CMake, or a .NET, `Rust or Dart developer building apps for Windows, the CLI can streamline the complexities of Windows development – from setting up your environment to packaging for distribution. This makes it significantly easier to access modern APIs – including Windows AI APIs, security features and shell integrations – directly from any toolchain. Windows development often involves managing multiple SDKs, creating and editing multiple manifests, generating certificates and navigating intricate packaging requirements. The goal of this project is to unify these tasks into a single CLI, letting you focus on building great apps rather than fighting with configuration. While the CLI is still in its early days, and there are many Windows development scenarios still in the works, we’re sharing this public preview now to learn from real usage, gather feedback and feature requests, and focus our investments on the areas that matter most to developers. ↫ Nikola Metulev at the Windows Blogs For instance, run the command winapp init at the root of your project, and winapp will download the proper SDKs, create manifest files, etc., all automatically. You can also generate the correct certificates, easily create MSIX packages, and more. The tool is available through winget and npm (for Electron projects), but is still in preview, with the code available on GitHub.
- Against Markdown
So Markdown is this Lightweight Markup Language. Everyone (relative; among programmers, writers, and other “power-users”) uses it. LLMs use it. So it’s destined to eat the world. But it doesn’t mean Markdown is good. ↫ Artyom Bologov We have these crazy fast and complex computers, but Im still supposed to style text with obscure, arbitrary symbols, like an animal? We invented WYSIWYG decades ago, and our computers should be able to figure out how to properly share styled/unstyled text without us users having to learn markup languages using arcane symbols that require weird claw grips to type. The widespread use of Markdown is not indicative of its merits; it merely underlines the utter failure of the computing industry to fix basic problems.
- ReactOS turns 30
ReactOS is celebrating its 30th birthday. Happy Birthday ReactOS! Today marks 30 years since the first commit to the ReactOS source tree. It’s been such a long journey that many of our contributors today, including myself, were not alive during this event. Yet our mission to deliver “your favorite Windows apps and drivers in an open-source environment you can trust” continues to bring people together. Let’s take a brief look at some of the high and low points throughout our history. ↫ Carl Bialorucki at the ReactOS website OSNews has been following ReactOS since about 2002 or so (the oldest reference I could find, but note that our 1997-2001 content isnt available online, so we may have mentioned it earlier), so you can definitely say we all grew up alongside ReactOS growth and development. All of the events the team mentions in their retrospective on 30 years of ReactOS were covered here on OSNews as well, which is wild to think about. Personally, I dont really know how to feel about the project. On the one hand, I absolutely adore that dedicated, skilled, and talented individuals dedicate their precious free time to something as ambitious as creating a Windows NT-compatible operating system, and theres no denying theyve achieved incredible feats of engineering few people in the world are capable of. ReactOS is a hobby operating system that survived the test of time where few others have AtheOS, Syllable, SkyOS , and so many others mentioned in that oldest reference I linked to are long dead and gone and that alone makes it a massively successful project. On the other hand, its sheer ambition is also what holds the project down. If you say youre going to offer a Windows NT-compatible operating system, you set expectations so insanely high youll never even come close to meeting them. Every time Ive seen someone try ReactOS, either in writing or on YouTube, they always seem to come away disappointed not because ReactOS isnt impressive, but because its inevitably so far removed from its ambitious goals. And thats a real shame. If you take away that ambitious goal of being Windows NT-compatible, and just focus on what theyve already achieved as it stands now, theres a really impressive and fun alternative operating system here. I really hope the next 30 years will be kind to ReactOS.
- Nekoware resurrected: freeware and open source repository for IRIX
If you have any interest in SGIs IRIX or used IRIX back when it was still current, youre undoubtedly aware of Nekoware, a collection of freeware for IRIX, maintained and kept up-to-date as much as possible. After stagnating in 2015 and a few failed restarts and some infighting (apparently), the project finally relaunched somewhere last year, and a new quarterly release was pushed out. Nekoware 2025Q4 is a clean break from previous releases, and requires that users fully remove any traces of previous installations. It contains the kinds of packages these freeware/open source collections for classic UNIX tended to contain: tons of common open source libraries, command-line tools, and more, including a few emulators. Youll need IRIX 6.5.21 or newer, running on at least a MIPS R5000 processor-equipped SGI machine. Planning for and work on the next release is already underway, and a brand new Nekoware SDK has been released as well, which provides bootstrap functionality and addresses the problem of having to build Nekoware on unstable IRIX environments. Seeing Nekoware resurrected is great news for the surprisingly active IRIX community. As a HP-UX user, I feel some envy.
- KIM-1 turns 50
In January 1976, MOS Technologies presented a demonstration computer for their recently developed 6502 processor. MOS, which was acquired by Commodore later that year, needed to show the public what their low-cost processor was able to. The KIM-1 single board computer came fully assembled with an input keypad, a six-digit LED display, and complete documentation. It was intended for developers, but it turned out that at a price of only $249 the computer was the ideal playground for hobbyists, who could now afford a complete computer. The unforgettable Jim Butterfield described it like this back in 1999: But suddenly there was the KIM-1. It was fully assembled (although you had to add a power supply). Everybody’s KIM-1 was essentially the same (although the CPU added an extra instruction during the KIM-1’s production life). And this created something that was never before part of the home computer phenomenon: users could quite happily exchange programs with each other; magazines could publish such programs; and people could talk about a known system. We knew the 6502 chip was great, but it took quite a while to convince the majority of computer hobbyists. MOS Technology offered this CPU at a price that was a fraction of what the other available chips cost. We faced the attitude that “it must be no good because it’s too cheap,” even though the 6502, with its pipelined architecture, outperformed the 8080 and the 6800.! ↫ Jim Butterfield Even though there would soon be better equipped and faster home computers (mostly based on the 6502) and the KIM-1 vanished from the collective minds, the home computer revolution started 50 years ago in Jan 1976. Hans Otten keeps the memory alive on his homepage, where you can find a full collection of information about single-board computers and especially the KIM-1.
- Can you slim macOS down?
Howard Oakley answers a very interesting question is it possible to slim macOS down by turning off unneeded services and similar tricks? The answer is obviously no, you cannot. Classic Mac OS was more modular, with optional installs that the user could pick and choose, as shown above in Mac OS 9.1. These days with the SSV, choice is more limited from the start, with the only real options being whether to install the cryptexes used in AI, and the x86 code translator Rosetta 2. The latter is transient, though, and likely to go away next year. Like it or not, modern macOS isn’t designed or implemented to give the user much choice in which processes it runs, and architectural features including the SSV and DAS-CTS prevent you from paring its processes down to any significant degree. ↫ Howard Oakley Thats because macOS is not about creating the best experience for the user, but about creating the most value for shareholders. Giving users choice, allowing them to modify their operating system to suit their needs, removing unneeded components or replacing them with competing alternatives just isnt in the interest of shareholders, and thus, its not allowed by Apple. Thats exactly why theyre fighting the EUs very basic and simple consumer protection legislation tooth and nail with lies and propaganda, while giving Trump millions of dollars and silly plaques in bribes. Youre as much a user of macOS as a passenger on a ferry is its captain. If you just want to get from Harwich to Hoek van Holland, thats a fine arrangement, but if you want to explore beyond the bounds of the path laid out by those more wealthy than you, youre going to have to leave macOS behind and find a different ship.
- Linux Mint 22.3 ‘Zena’ Delivers a Polished, Familiar Desktop Experience
by George Whittaker
The Linux Mint project has unveiled Linux Mint 22.3, carrying the codename “Zena”, the latest point release in the popular Mint 22 series. This new version continues Mint’s reputation for delivering a comfortable, user-friendly desktop experience while remaining stable and reliable. As a Long Term Support (LTS) release, Linux Mint 22.3 will receive updates and security patches through April 2029.
Built on a Solid Ubuntu Base
Zena is built on top of Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS (“Noble Numbat”), bringing Mint’s traditional desktop approach together with Ubuntu’s well-tested foundation and extensive software repositories. It ships with the Linux kernel 6.14 and benefits from the Ubuntu Hardware Enablement stack, which improves support for newer hardware such as recent AMD and Intel chips.
What’s New in Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena”
Rather than revolutionize the distro, the Mint team focused on thoughtful refinements and quality-of-life improvements that make everyday usage smoother and more intuitive.
Redesigned Application Menu
One of the most noticeable visual changes is the revamped Mint Menu in the Cinnamon edition. It now includes a sidebar showing your avatar, favorite applications, and commonly used locations, along with customizable search bar placement and icon styles for a cleaner look.
Upgraded Cinnamon Desktop (6.6)
Linux Mint 22.3 ships with Cinnamon 6.6 on the flagship edition, which delivers a range of subtle improvements:
Better handling of keyboard layouts and input methods, especially under Wayland
Improved support for traditional XKB and IBus input methods
A more graceful on-screen keyboard
Refined behavior and visuals throughout the desktop environment
These changes aim to polish the experience without introducing disruptive UI changes.
New System Management Tools
To help users understand their hardware quickly and troubleshoot issues without entering the command line, Zena introduces two new utilities:
System Information ' consolidates details about your machine’s hardware, including USB devices, the GPU, BIOS, and PCI devices
System Administration ' provides an easy interface for configuring low-level system settings, starting with the ability to adjust the boot menu
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- Linux Rescue and Repair Distros in 2025: Your Safety Net When Things Go Wrong
by George Whittaker
No matter how reliable Linux systems are, failures still happen. A broken bootloader, a corrupted filesystem, a failed update, or a dying disk can leave even the most stable setup unbootable. That’s where Linux rescue and repair distributions come in.
In 2025, rescue distros are more powerful, more hardware-aware, and easier to use than ever before. Whether you’re a system administrator, a home user, or a technician, having the right recovery tools on hand can mean the difference between a quick fix and total data loss.
What Exactly Is a Linux Rescue Distro?
A Linux rescue distro is a bootable live operating system designed specifically for diagnosing, repairing, and recovering systems. Unlike standard desktop distros, rescue environments focus on:
Disk and filesystem utilities
Bootloader repair tools
Hardware detection and diagnostics
Data recovery and backup
System repair without touching the installed OS
Most run entirely from RAM, allowing you to work on disks safely without mounting them automatically.
When Do You Need a Rescue Distro?
Rescue distros are invaluable in scenarios such as:
A system fails to boot after a kernel or driver update
GRUB or systemd-boot is misconfigured or overwritten
Filesystems become corrupted after a power failure
You need to copy important files from a non-booting system
Passwords or user accounts are inaccessible
Malware or ransomware locks access to a system
In short: if your OS won’t start, a rescue distro often still will.
Top Linux Rescue and Repair Distros in 2025SystemRescue
SystemRescue remains the gold standard for Linux recovery.
Why it stands out:
Ships with a modern Linux kernel for wide hardware support
Supports ext4, XFS, Btrfs, NTFS, ZFS, and more
Includes tools like GParted, fsck, testdisk, and ddrescue
Offers both CLI and lightweight GUI options
Best for: advanced users, sysadmins, and serious recovery tasks.
Rescatux
Rescatux focuses on simplicity and guided recovery.
Key strengths:
Menu-driven repair tasks
Automatic GRUB and EFI boot repair
Windows and Linux password reset tools
Beginner-friendly interface
Best for: home users and newcomers who want step-by-step help.
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- Zorin OS 18 Crosses 2 Million Downloads, Cementing Its Appeal to New Linux Users
by George Whittaker
Zorin OS has reached an important milestone. The team behind the popular Linux distribution has announced that Zorin OS 18 has surpassed two million downloads, underscoring the growing interest in Linux as a practical alternative to mainstream operating systems.
The achievement highlights not only Zorin OS’s steady rise in popularity, but also a broader trend: more users, especially those leaving Windows, are actively seeking operating systems that are modern, approachable, and familiar.
A Distro Built for Accessibility
Zorin OS has long positioned itself as a distribution designed to reduce the friction of switching to Linux. Rather than targeting power users first, it focuses on:
A clean, intuitive desktop layout
Familiar workflows for users coming from Windows or macOS
Simple system tools that avoid unnecessary complexity
With Zorin OS 18, that philosophy continues. The interface feels polished out of the box, applications are easy to install, and most hardware works without manual configuration. For many newcomers, that “it just works” experience is what turns curiosity into long-term adoption.
Why Zorin OS 18 Resonates With Users
Several factors help explain why Zorin OS 18 has attracted millions of downloads:
A Comfortable Transition Away From Windows
As Windows 11 introduces stricter hardware requirements, more system telemetry, and UI changes that frustrate some users, Zorin OS offers a calmer alternative. Its desktop can closely resemble Windows layouts, easing the learning curve for first-time Linux users.
Strong Performance on Modest Hardware
Zorin OS runs well on both modern systems and older machines. This makes it appealing to users who want to extend the life of existing hardware rather than replace it.
Thoughtful Design Choices
Instead of overwhelming users with customization options, Zorin OS focuses on sensible defaults. Everything from system menus to app selection feels deliberate, helping users stay productive without constant tweaking.
A Broader Shift Toward Beginner-Friendly Linux Distros
The success of Zorin OS 18 reflects a wider change in the Linux ecosystem. Projects like Zorin OS demonstrate that Linux no longer needs to be intimidating or niche to be powerful.
This shift has been reinforced by:
Improved hardware compatibility
Better gaming support through Proton and Vulkan
More polished desktop environments
Clearer documentation and onboarding tools
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- Introducing Loss32: A New Lightweight Linux Distro With a Focus on Legacy Hardware
by George Whittaker Introduction
A fresh entry has just appeared in the world of Linux distributions: Loss32, a lightweight operating system built from scratch with one goal in mind — giving old and low-resource computers a new lease on life. Announced by its small but passionate development team, Loss32 aims to be fast, respectful of older hardware, and friendly to users who want simplicity without sacrificing modern usability.
Whether you’re rediscovering an old laptop in a drawer or building a tiny home server, Loss32 promises to deliver a capable computing experience with minimal overhead.
A Distribution Born from a Simple Idea
Loss32 began as a personal project by a group of open-source enthusiasts frustrated with how quickly modern software has moved past older machines. They noticed that even relatively recent hardware can struggle with mainstream operating systems, leaving many devices underutilized.
Their solution: build a distro that boots fast, uses minimal RAM and disk space, and still provides a complete desktop environment for everyday tasks.
The name Loss32 stems from its focus on “losing” unnecessary bloat — keeping only what’s essential — and the fact that it targets 32-bit and low-resource systems that many other distros are abandoning.
Key Features of Loss321. Runs on Older CPUs and Low Memory
Loss32 supports:
32-bit and 64-bit CPUs
Machines with as little as 512 MB of RAM
Hard drives and SSDs down to 4 GB usable space
These minimums open the distro up to machines that newer Linux distros won’t even install on.
2. Lightweight Desktop — Fast and Simple
Instead of heavy desktop environments, Loss32 ships with a customized Xfce/XF-Lite hybrid:
Classic panel layout for easy navigation
Small memory footprint for snappy response
Simple app launchers and taskbars
This ensures a familiar feel while staying lean.
3. Essential App Suite Included
Out of the box, Loss32 includes a careful selection of applications:
Web browsing — light browser with Web standards support
Email and calendar — basic, responsive client
Media playback — audio and video codecs included
Simple document editing and PDF viewing
File manager optimized for speed
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- Linux Kernel 6.19-rc4 Released as Development Marches On
by George Whittaker
The Linux kernel development cycle continues with the release of Linux 6.19-rc4, the fourth release candidate in the lead-up to the final 6.19 stable kernel. As with previous RC builds, this release is aimed squarely at developers, testers, and early adopters who help identify bugs and regressions before the kernel is finalized.
Release candidates are not feature drops — they are checkpoints. And rc4 reflects exactly that role.
What Does rc4 Mean in the Kernel Cycle?
By the time the fourth release candidate arrives, the merge window is long closed. That means all major features for Linux 6.19 are already in place, and the focus has shifted entirely to:
Fixing bugs introduced earlier in the cycle
Addressing regressions reported by testers
Refining drivers, subsystems, and architecture-specific code
In other words, rc4 is about stability and correctness, not surprises.
What’s Changed in Linux 6.19-rc4
While rc releases don’t usually headline major features, they do include a steady stream of important fixes across the kernel tree.
Driver and Hardware Fixes
Many of the changes in rc4 focus on hardware support, including:
GPU driver fixes for stability and edge-case behavior
Networking device driver cleanups
Updates for input devices and platform-specific drivers
These changes help ensure Linux continues to run reliably across a wide range of systems, from desktops and laptops to servers and embedded hardware.
Filesystems and Storage
Several filesystems see incremental fixes in this release, addressing corner cases, error handling, and consistency issues. Storage-related updates also touch block-layer code and device-mapper components, helping improve reliability under load.
Architecture-Specific Updates
As usual, rc4 includes fixes tailored to specific CPU architectures, such as:
x86 refinements
ARM and ARM64 cleanups
RISC-V and other platform-specific adjustments
These changes may not affect all users directly, but they’re crucial for maintaining Linux’s broad hardware compatibility.
Regression Fixes and Testing Feedback
A large portion of rc4 is dedicated to resolving regressions reported by testers running earlier release candidates. This includes:
Fixes for boot issues on certain configurations
Corrections for performance regressions
Cleanup of warnings and build errors
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- Top 6 B2B Software Comparison Websites for Software Vendors (2026)
by George Whittaker
As a software vendor, getting your product in front of the right audience is crucial. One of the best ways to reach business buyers is by leveraging B2B software comparison and review platforms. These websites attract millions of in-market software buyers who rely on peer reviews and ratings to make purchasing decisions. In fact, 88% of buyers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations [1]?. By listing your software on these platforms, you can gather authentic user feedback, build credibility, and dramatically improve your visibility to potential customers. Below we rank the top six B2B software comparison websites – and highlight what makes each one valuable for vendors looking to boost exposure and win more business. Now updated for 2026.
1. SourceForge
SourceForge tops our list as a powerhouse platform for software vendors. Why SourceForge? For starters, it boasts enormous traffic – over 20 million monthly visitors actively searching for software solutions [2]?. In fact, SourceForge drives more traffic than any other B2B software directory (often more than all other major sites combined!) [2]?. Semrush even estimates SourceForge's November 2025 traffic at 27.51 million visitors[3]?. This means listing your product here can put you in front of a vast pool of potential business buyers. SourceForge offers a complete business software and services comparison platform where buyers can find, compare, and review software. As the site itself says: “Selling software? You’re in the right place. We’ll help you reach millions of intent-driven software and IT buyers and influencers every day.” For a vendor, this translates into incredible visibility and lead generation opportunities.
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- Looking Ahead: What 2026 Holds for the Linux Ecosystem
by George Whittaker
Linux has always been more than just a kernel, it’s a living, breathing world of innovation, community collaboration, and divergent use cases. As we roll into 2026, the landscape is poised for exciting growth. From continuing evolution of core kernel infrastructure to newfound momentum in areas like gaming, AI-augmented tooling, hardware support and security, the coming year promises both refinement and transformation. Whether you’re a developer, system administrator, gamer, or casual user, here’s what you can expect from the Linux world in 2026.
1. Kernel Evolution: Performance, Security, and AI-Driven Behavior
The Linux kernel remains the beating heart of the OS. In 2026, we’ll likely see:
New Long-Term Support (LTS) Baselines: With releases like 6.18 already declared LTS and successor branches maturing, distributions will rally around kernels that offer both performance gains and security longevity.
AI-Driven Infrastructure: Kernel subsystems may start experimenting with machine-learning-informed scheduling, resource management, or dynamic power/performance tuning, not via heavy inference at runtime, but via control-plane advice integrated at build or boot time.
Security Innovation: Hardware vulnerabilities like VMScape and speculative execution side channels have taught us that kernel mitigations remain crucial. Expect continued work on microarchitecture hardening, pointer tagging, and improved isolation.
The overall trend points to a kernel that is both more performant and more robust, without compromising the modularity that makes Linux adaptable across systems from supercomputers to handhelds.
2. The Desktop Experience: Polished, Consistent, and Accessible
For desktop users, 2026 should bring visible improvements to everyday workflows:
Wayland Maturity: Wayland adoption continues to solidify across distributions, with fewer fallbacks to legacy X11 backends. Compositors and toolkits will refine scaling, multi-monitor behavior, and screen capture APIs.
Accessibility Gains: Distros will invest more in accessibility, bringing improved screen reader support, better keyboard navigation, and wide internationalization.
Distribution Diversity: More polished newcomers and revitalizations of existing distros will continue, especially projects aimed at lowering the barrier to entry for users migrating from Windows or macOS.
The promise here is a Linux desktop that feels friendly without diluting depth for advanced customization.
3. Cloud, Edge, and Server Infrastructure: Linux Everywhere
Linux powers the backbone of the modern server and cloud world. In 2026:
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- Top Linux Distributions for Beginners: Friendly, Stable, and Easy to Learn
by George Whittaker Introduction
Linux has long been known as the operating system of developers and power users, but today it’s far more accessible than ever before. Thanks to user-friendly distributions that prioritize simplicity, stability, and support, even someone who’s never used Linux can get up and running quickly. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best Linux distributions (distros) for beginners, what sets them apart, and who each one is best suited for.
Whether you’re switching from Windows or macOS, using a PC for the first time, or simply curious about Linux, there’s a distro here that fits your comfort level and workflow.
1. Ubuntu: The Standard for New Users
Why it’s great: Ubuntu is one of the most recognizable Linux distributions, and for good reason. It offers a polished graphical interface, a massive community, and extensive documentation. If you’ve ever wanted a desktop that “just works,” Ubuntu delivers with minimal setup.
Key Features:
Intuitive GNOME desktop environment
Regular releases and a Long-Term Support (LTS) version with five years of updates
Large software repository and excellent hardware support
Strong community forums and extensive official documentation
Good for: Users completely new to Linux or those switching from Windows or macOS.
Best for: Desktops, laptops, beginners.
2. Linux Mint: Familiar Feel for Former Windows Users
Why it’s great: Linux Mint focuses on a familiar desktop experience. Its Cinnamon edition resembles the classic Windows layout, making the transition easier for users coming from that platform. Mint is stable, fast, and comes with many tools that simplify daily tasks.
Key Features:
Traditional desktop layout (like Windows)
Comes bundled with multimedia codecs and essential apps
Excellent performance on older hardware
Multiple desktop options (Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce)
Good for: Windows switchers looking for a gentle introduction.
Best for: Desktops, older machines, learners.
3. Zorin OS: A Windows-Like Experience With Style
Why it’s great: Zorin OS is designed with newcomers in mind. It’s polished, modern, and “comfortable” for users who may find traditional Linux desktops intimidating. Its interface can mimic Windows or macOS out of the box, and Zorin includes tools to effortlessly install popular applications.
Key Features:
Look-and-feel switcher (Windows, macOS styles)
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- What’s New in KDE Gear 25.12 — A Major Update for KDE Software
by George Whittaker Introduction
The KDE community has just published KDE Gear 25.12, the newest quarterly update to its suite of applications. This refresh brings a mix of enhancements, bug fixes, performance refinements, and new features across many popular KDE apps, from Dolphin file manager and Konsole terminal to Krita and Spectacle. With this release, KDE continues its tradition of incremental yet meaningful upgrades that make everyday use smoother and more productive.
KDE Gear updates are not limited to the KDE Plasma desktop; they also benefit users of other desktop environments who install KDE apps on their systems. Whether you’re running KDE on Linux, BSD, or even Windows via KDE Windows builds, Gear 25.12 delivers improvements worth checking out.
Highlights from KDE Gear 25.12Dolphin: Better File Browsing and Thumbnails
Dolphin, KDE’s file manager, receives several enhancements in this update:
Improved thumbnail generation for more file types, making previews quicker and more dependable.
UI polish in the sidebar for easier navigation between folders and mounted drives.
Better handling of network shares and remote locations, improving responsiveness and reducing hangs.
These changes combine to make everyday file exploration more responsive and visually informative.
Konsole: Productivity Boosts
The KDE terminal emulator, Konsole, gets attention too:
Search field improvements help you find text within long terminal scrollbacks faster and with fewer clicks.
Tab and session indicators are clearer, helping users manage multiple tabs or split views more easily.
Stability fixes reduce crashes in edge cases when closing multiple sessions at once.
For developers and power users who spend a lot of time in a terminal, these refinements are genuinely useful.
Krita: More Painting Power
Krita, KDE’s professional painting and illustration application, also benefits from this release:
Improvements to brush performance, reducing lag on large canvases and complex brush sets.
Better color management and palette handling, smoothing workflows for digital artists.
Fixes for certain configuration edge cases that previously caused settings not to persist across sessions.
Artists and digital illustrators should notice fewer interruptions and smoother performance when working on large projects.
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- Linux Kernel 5.4 Reaches End-of-Life: Time to Retire a Workhorse
by George Whittaker
One of the most widely deployed Linux kernels has officially reached the end of its lifecycle. The maintainers of the Linux kernel have confirmed that Linux 5.4, once a cornerstone of countless servers, desktops, and embedded devices, is now end-of-life (EOL). After years of long-term support, the branch has been retired and will no longer receive upstream fixes or security updates.
A Kernel Release That Defined a Generation of Linux Systems
When Linux 5.4 debuted, it made headlines for bringing native exFAT support, broader hardware compatibility, and performance improvements that many distributions quickly embraced. It became the foundation for major OS releases, including Ubuntu LTS, certain ChromeOS versions, Android kernels, and numerous appliance and IoT devices.
Its long support window made it a favorite for organizations seeking stability over bleeding-edge features.
What End-of-Life Actually Means
With the EOL announcement, the upstream kernel maintainers are officially done with version 5.4. That means:
No more security patches
No more bug fixes or performance updates
No regressions or vulnerabilities will be addressed
Some enterprise vendors may continue backporting patches privately, but the public upstream branch is now frozen. For most users, that makes 5.4 effectively unsafe to run.
Why This Matters for Users and Organizations
Many devices, especially embedded systems, tend to run kernels for much longer than desktops or servers. If those systems continue using 5.4, they now risk exposure to unpatched vulnerabilities.
Running an unsupported kernel can also create compliance issues for companies operating under strict security guidelines or certifications. Even home users running older LTS distributions may unknowingly remain on a kernel that’s no longer protected.
Upgrading Is the Clear Next Step
With 5.4 retired, users should begin planning an upgrade to a supported kernel line. Today’s active long-term support kernels include more modern branches such as 6.1, 6.6, and 6.8, which provide:
Better CPU and GPU support
Significant security improvements
Enhanced performance and energy efficiency
Longer future support windows
Before upgrading, organizations should test workloads, custom drivers, and hardware, especially with specialized or embedded deployments.
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