DistroWatch Weekly |
DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 30, 5 January 2004 |
Content:
- Hardened Linux From Scratch
- JAMD and Xdefine Linux
- Most visited pages in 2003
- Released last week
- Upcoming releases: Knoppix 3.4
- New additions: Tilix, Shabdix, SCI.Linux, Overclockix, Tao, ZENIX, Polar Bear, Slix, WOMP!
- New on the waiting list: Litrux, Lineox, Rocks Cluster, Vermillion, Routix, Kanotix, LIVUX, Dave/Dina, Bluewall
- Reader feedback: TurboUpdate
Welcome to this year's first edition of DistroWatch Weekly. If pages seem to load slower than usual, that's because the Knoppix review published here yesterday proved extremely popular with the Slashdot crowd for much of today. Things should be slowly coming back to normal now, so let's get on with the programme.
Hardened Linux From Scratch
The 4th quarter of 2003 brought us a surprisingly high number of successful attacks on servers hosting high-profile Linux projects. Some of the compromised machines included servers running the Debian project, GNU, MPlayer, Savannah and others, and there was even an attempt to sneak a Trojan Horse into the Linux kernel development tree. While none of these attacks caused any serious damage to the affected projects, they have succeeded in making parts of the projects' web sites inaccessible for a prolonged period of time, causing annoyance to many of us. They have also highlighted the need to take security issues more seriously than ever.
One of the new projects aiming to educate Linux users about various methods of preventing common exploits is the newly launched Hardened Linux From Scratch (HLFS) project. This is part of the growing family of Linux From Scratch (LFS) projects, which includes the original LFS, as well as Automated Linux From Scratch (ALFS), Beyond Linux From Scratch (BLFS) and other subprojects. What is HLFS all about? Let the developers explain:
"Over the past few weeks, a discussion about a security-oriented LFS book has dominated the lfs-security list. Some clear ideas about the form and content of this initiative are crystalizing, and it was decided to give the initiators of this project a decent platform to work on. So far, a mailinglist (hlfs-dev) has been created for Hardened Linux From Scratch, as it was dubbed. HLFS will become a book that provides the reader with a fundamental understanding of security that can be used as a base for further research. Part of the process in teaching this will be to build a hardened system step-by-step."
The security of Linux servers is something that, quite frankly, most of us would rather not deal with: an unexciting world of buffer overflows, hardened kernel patches and mandatory access control policies. Yet, that's the price to pay for the convenience of the World Wide Web of interconnected computers. And if the other LFS projects are anything to go by, Hardened Linux From Scratch will not only provide great educational value for absolutely free, it will do so in a hands-on and fun way for the benefit of all of us. Interested? Then join the mailing list and start learning.
JAMD and Xdefine Linux
Some of you might recall the good words we have put in for the JAMD Linux project, based on positive reviews and user feedback on the distribution's forums. Unfortunately, the project's future has become somewhat uncertain, due to the continued absence of the project's developer Jim Lucha from the forums, as well as a lack of any development roadmap. Upon some investigation, it turned out that Jim's name had resurfaced somewhere else, on a web site belonging to a new commercial Linux company called Xdefine. This is from the Xdefine's about pages:
"James Lucha, Chief Technical Officer, Xdefine, Inc. Graduated from University of California, Mr. Lucha who has extensive knowledge of Linux operating system joined Xdefine to take over the whole development of Xdefine Linux 2003. His feeling was that the customer has to always get 100% satisfaction and know they got a fair deal. Mr. Lucha met Mr. Sultani online, after talking for a while, he decided to join Xdefine as Chief Technical Officer."
The above note has since been removed from Xdefine's web site, but you can find a discussion about it on the JAMD Linux forums.
This brings up a question: do Free Software developers have some kind of responsibility towards the users of their products? Should they inform us about the project's status and any major changes to it? After all, many of them make no money from it and we are not paying customers, so why bother? On the other hand, there are human considerations - honesty and openness, especially in what we often perceive as our more honest and open world of Linux development, free of commercial considerations. Or is it all a lie? If a successful developer of Free Software is suddenly offered a regular paycheck to continue his or her work for a commercial company, can we really complain that we, the non-paying users, are suddenly abandoned?
If you are using one of the smaller distributions, how do you feel about it? Do you have a backup plan in case the developer gives up? Do you feel comfortable using one of the "one-man" distributions? Please discuss below.
Most visited pages in 2003
With the year 2003 behind us, let's take a quick look at the ranking of 20 most visited distribution-specific pages on this site and compare it to year 2002. The figures represent HPD or "Hits Per Day". Mandrake and Red Hat have retained their top two spots for the second year in a row, while some might be surprised by a rapid climb of Knoppix to the third position. You can view the 100 most visited pages of 2003 on the right column of the main index page.
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Released Last Week |
LRs GNU/Linux Creme-13
A new version, Creme-13, of the recently revived LRs GNU/Linux distribution is out: "Merry Christmas and happy LRs with our brand new release Creme-13. Includes LFS-5.0, Linux-2.4.23, KDE-3.1.4 and much more. Some people don't need a full-blown LRs, so we will release three more ISO images in the next few days: LRs_with_X_and X-stuff (without KDE); LRs_Only_Console_tools; LRs_Pure_LFS." Visit the distribution's web site to learn more.
CollegeLinux 2.5
The long awaited CollegeLinux 2.5 has been released: "We are glad to announce the long awaited release of CollegeLinux 2.5 'Obi Wan'. Once again we did a release taking the necessary 6 months to bring something new, exclusive and never seen within the Linux community. Whilst there is a growing trend to release as often as possible, we have chosen to implement some important and innovative features and release only when there is something worth your time and bandwidth." Among the more interesting new features are a server robot which automatically installs and configures Apache, PHP, MySQL, SQLite, Webmin and PHPMyAdmin, and a slapt-get based auto-update engine integrated into Konqueror. See the full announcement for details. CollegeLinux is a Slackware-compatible Linux distribution designed for desktop and development workstations with many user-friendly enhancements.
Gibraltar Firewall 1.1
A new version of the Debian-based Gibraltar Firewall has been released. From the changelog: "Version 1.1, published 2003-12-23. This is the Christmas release, with only a few new features, but being a lot more resistant against buffer overflows and thus more secure due to the use of the PAX kernel patch. Updated the kernel to 2.4.23, which fixed the recently discovered brk() vulnerability. In addition to the update, the context patch (for virtual servers), the PAX patch and support for the zorp transparent proxy suite were added. Minor additions are an AES optimization and cryptoloop." Read the rest of the changelog for full details.
Openwall GNU/*/Linux 1.1
Openwall GNU/*/Linux 1.1 has been released: "After another year of development and many public Owl-current snapshots, Openwall GNU/*/Linux (Owl) release 1.1 is finally out. Owl 1.1 is currently available for purchase on a CD and will also be available for download after January 7, 2004. The major changes made since 1.0 are documented." Read the announcement on the distribution's web site and the complete changelog for further details. The product can be ordered from the distribution's online store for US$9.35. Openwall GNU/*/Linux is a security-enhanced operating system with Linux and GNU software as its core, intended as a server platform.
Ankur Bangla 1.0
FootNotes reports that Ankur Bangla 1.0 has been officially released: "The Ankur Bangla Project is proud to release version 1.0 final of the Ankur Bangla Live CD, running GNOME 2.4 localized into the Bangla (Bengali). The Live CD is based on Morphix and runs off the CD drive itself with little invasiveness to the existing setup. It is designed to be primarily a tool for collecting end user feedback on usability (especially of the translations of the GUI messages)." Read the rest of the announcement and release notes.
Aurox Live 1.2.0
This is a new release of Aurox Live CD, based on Aurox Linux 9.2. Changes: "This edition has NVIDIA binary drivers 44.96 and Macromedia Flash plugin installed. Aurox Live 1.2.0 contains: KDE 3.1.4 (default graphical desktop); web browsers Mozilla 1.5 and KDE's Konqueror; Office suites (KOffice 1.2.1, OpenOffice.org 1.1.0); multimedia support: sound and movie players Kaboodle, Xine (libs 1.0.0 RC2), non-accelerated games (KDE games); examples of games using hardware acceleration (Chromium, GLaxium); graphical e-mail clients (KMail, Evolution 1.4.5)..." Read the rest of the release notes.
Buffalo Linux 1.0.5
A new version of Buffalo Linux has been released: "This is a new bug-fix/update release in the 1.0.x series. Current version 1.0.5. Changes include: more cleanup of install procedure, includes patch for some hangs in AUTOSETUP. Improved integration with Codeweavers Crossover Office. Upgraded to latest version of Sylpheed (0.9.8a) mail client. Added more internal help files. Bug squashing and file cleanup." Buffalo Linux is a derivative distribution based on Vector and Slackware; it is targeted at the small business workstation market.
Damn Small Linux 0.5.2
Version 0.5.2 of Damn Small Linux has been released. From the changelog: "New for 0.5.2: mkisofs; cdrecord; bashburn (easy to use text mode CD burning utility); gTuxnes (interactive GUI for tuxness); smbclient; smbtree; a working /opt that is writable from the CD; midnight commander (many features stripped); skel now works for root when installed."
SLAX - Live CD 3.0.24
The honour of the first release of 2004 goes to SLAX - Live CD (formerly known as Slackware - Live CD), with the release of version 3.0.24 only a few hours into the new year. From the changelog: "v 3.0.24 (1th of January 2004): SLAX is the new name for Slackware-Live; now created by Linux Live scripts. Using KDE 3.2beta2 and KOffice 1.3beta2; removed quanta; configsave and configrestore doesn't work; added glut, libid3tag; added Linux kernel 2.4.23; removed printing and PDF/PS applications; sound volume is set to 88% automatically; rc.6 script modified, removed swap unmounting because of ovlfs..." Find out more on the distribution's new web site at slax.org.
Feather Linux 0.3.0 and 0.3.1
Feather Linux 0.3.1 has been released. From the distribution's changelog: "Fixed a known bug of LinNeighborhood; fixed HD install so that X starts automatically; removed mkcfm and mkfontdir, both extraneous with Kdrive; added script to save configuration to a USB pendrive and some bootup code to restore it." Feather Linux is a light-weight desktop Linux distribution based on Knoppix.
CRUX 1.3 (PowerPC edition)
A PowerPC edition of CRUX 1.3 is now available for download: "Port for PowerPC platform of CRUX 1.3. Uses kernel 2.4.23-ben1 with improved support for iBook G4 PowerMAC G5 and CPU Frequency Scaling. The distribution is source-based and uses the same ports tree from CRUX Linux Community available for CRUX x86." The project's web site has more information about the release (in Italian).
Development releases
Unannounced releases
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Upcoming Releases and Announcements |
Knoppix
Klaus Knopper has published information about the upcoming releases of the Knoppix live CD, with an updated version 3.3 expected this week and a brand new version 3.4 with kernel 2.6 before the end of March: "Preliminary release plan: update to Kernel 2.4.23 for the download edition of Knoppix 3.3, should be finished next week. ... Parallel working on version 3.4 with some major changes: switching to ISOLinux plus a 2 floppy boot option in order to allow inclusion of more drivers in the kernel and initrd (USB and Firewire, possibly), since the space on the 1.44 MB floppy is used up by the kernel 2.6 alone." Read the rest of the plan on the developers' mailing list.
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Web Site News |
New additions
New on the waiting list
- Litrux. "What is Litrux? Litrux is a brand new Linux distribution, running completely from CD. No installation needed, just boot from CD. It automatically recognizes all supported types of network cards, graphic cards, sound cards, SCSI devices and other hardware devices."
- Lineox Enterprise Linux. "Lineox Enterprise Linux 3.0 contains all freely distributable packages from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 Advanced Server ($1499), Red Hat Cluster Suite ($499), and Red Hat Developer Suite (free as an introductory offer for RHEL subscribers). Lineox Enterprise Linux 3.0 does not contain any support. Lineox is however preparing a separately offered program package update option. Support option pricing and availability will be announced later."
- Rocks Cluster Distribution. Rocks is a specialist Linux distribution designed for clustering and cluster management.
- Routix. Routix is a Linux-based distribution for routers (web site in German).
- Vermillion. Vermillion is a custom Linux distribution based on Red Hat Linux.
- KANOTIX is a new Linux live CD based on Knoppix.
- Fermi Linux is a Linux distribution based on Red Hat Linux.
- LIVUX is a new Linux live CD based on Knoppix (web site in Spanish).
- The Dave/Dina Project. "The Dave/Dina Project was created to satisfy all the home entertainment needs of the average hacker. A Dave/Dina box is a computer connected to your TV screen, stereo, phone, and other stuff, running open-source software."
- Bluewall GNU/Linux. "Bluewall is a GNU/Linux distribution that allows you to install a system from a small set of preconfigured binary packages based on Debian Linux. Bluewall doesn't have any specific installation procedure, the idea behind it is that you can get installed Linux in the way you want, using command line tools."
Removed from the waiting list
- Zynot Linux. Zynot was a high-profile Gentoo fork when it started over 6 months ago, but now it seems to concentrate on development of embedded Linux solutions, rather than a general purpose distribution. As such, Zynot has been listed under Embedded Linux Distributions on the links page. Please let me know if my conclusion is incorrect.
- Momonga Linux. This is one of those never ending development projects, sprouted from the ashes of the discontinued Kondara MNU/Linux in July 2002. But despite its having been around for over 16 months and a promised final release by October 2002, we have yet to see any release.
DistroWatch database summary
- Number of distributions in the database: 230
- Number of discontinued distributions: 26
- Number of distributions on the waiting list: 66
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Reader Feedback |
On Turbolinux's TurboUpdate
"Turbolinux update utility seems to try to go to ftp.turbolinux.com. It has been down since I purchased the desktop 10D two weeks ago. Just thought I'd let someone know."
I have Turbolinux 10D installed and have had no problems using the TurboUpdate program to download and install all updates since the product release. Is there anybody else having the same problem as the reader above?
That's all for this week, see you next Monday :-)
Ladislav Bodnar
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Reader Comments • Jump to last comment |
1 • Ankur Bandgal Screenshot (by AMD on 2004-01-06 01:33:01 GMT)
Wishes for the New Year !
Had to search quite a few mirrors before I could read this issue of DW.
It seems like the screenshot shown as the one for Ankur Bangla is not in Bengali language :) Could you make the correction please?Btw, one can view screenshots of Ankur Bangla at http://bengalinux.sourceforge.net/screenshots/gnome
--AMD
2 • JAMD Linux and XDefine (by PastorEd at 2004-01-06 01:56:02 GMT)
Hello, fellow readers of Distrowatch.
The reason I'm writing today - to clear up any misconceptions about my thoughts on JAMD vs. XDefine Linux.
Why am I posting this here? Because I was the one who first brought up the subject on the JAMD forums... so in a way, this whole topic of conversation is my *fault/baby/thread/whatever*.
The history - I'm an avid user of JAMD in its original concept - I've installed it onto my wife's computer (and I *accidentally* wiped out her Windoze drive in the process...), and SHE is the one who actually uses JAMD on a daily basis. I put it on there so that I wouldn't have to worry about her computer... and she is by no means a Linux guru (neither am I). However, she's been running it for about a half a year without any major problems. In fact, the ONLY problems she's had with JAMD have been when I tried to "help" her. On her own, she's been fine.
I also happen to subscribe to a mailing list that mentioned a new distro one day... XDefine Linux. Out of curiosity, I went to their website, and I was very surprised to find the name of JAMD's developer listed as "Chief Technical Officer".
I wasn't sure if it was the same person or not... so I asked the JAMD community if anybody knew anything.
No one did.
it turns out that Jim's name WAS listed for a while... but was then removed. I ALSO noticed that the person listed as the "Chief Design Officer" was mentioned on kde-look.org... so, I asked HIM if he could tell me anything about XDefine.
It turns out that HE wasn't working for XDefine EITHER. He had been contracted to do some graphics work for them (a neat icon set at kde-look.org - search for XDefine to find it)... but he definitely stated that he was NOT working for them.
Hmm. Two people, listed as "Chief Officers", neither of which actually seem to work for the company? Which, it turns out, doesn't actually HAVE a distro of Linux available for purchase?
I can conclude only one thing: VAPORWARE.
I am very sorry for ever having brought up the question in the first place, because I certainly don't want to malign one of my favorite distributions of Linux, one that taught me more about running Linux than any other.
In answer specifically to Ladislav's comment above: "Should they inform us about the project's status and any major changes to it? After all, many of them make no money from it and we are not paying customers, so why bother? On the other hand, there are human considerations - honesty and openness, especially in what we often perceive as our more honest and open world of Linux development, free of commercial considerations."
Now, as far as I know, Jim has not released an "official project roadmap". However, I HAVE read his comments over and over again - JAMD is NOT intended for the bleeding-edge Linux power user. It was designed so that Jim, who was affiliated with an Open Source consulting group, could give people a distro which WORKED for average computer users.
I have also seen him comment on a number of occasions to people who wanted newer, better, shinier, prettier packages... "perhaps JAMD is not for you."
I have said this on the JAMD forums, in internet chat rooms, and to people face to face: if you want to tinker around with Linux, there are lots of different distributions you can play with. But when you actually want to USE Linux to get your everyday work done... try JAMD.
This is me, stepping off my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
G.B.Y.L.B.T., PastorEd
3 • Do you feel comfortable using one of the "one-man" distributions? (by J. J. Ramsey at 2004-01-06 02:02:41 GMT)
Not really. I'm arguably using one at the moment, since I'm running Slackware, but that there is no clear answer to the question "What happens if Patrick Volkerding gets hit by a bus?" does bug me a bit.
(I suppose that's part of why I've been interested in UserLinux, but that's another story.)
4 • Ankur Bangla screenshot (by ladislav at 2004-01-06 02:18:50 GMT)
You are right - I think I uploaded a wrong screenshot. I'll see if I can find the correct one.
5 • JAMD, Slackware (by Benjamin Vander Jagt at 2004-01-06 17:10:29 GMT)
Ahh, news about two of my all time favorites. (I saw the name PastorEd and was a bit surprised, hehe.)
I never really thought of Slackware as a one-man distro. To me, it seems just as spread out as all the other distros. I mean, Patrick Volkerding doesn't make these programs, he just compiles the source. Linux is quite a different animal in that way. But as for comfort? With the GPL, there's never any reason to worry. Now the real question is this: What if you're using some Windows software and support is dropped for it?
6 • me and JAMD (by PastorEd at 2004-01-06 22:37:09 GMT)
I thought I'd better clear something up: I don't know why anyone would be surprised at my posting here... but I'm not officially affiliated with JAMD in any way. I'm just an avid fan of it (it's converted my wife to a regular Linux user).
Just so you know.
G.B.Y.L.B.T., PastorEd
7 • Re: JAMD, Slackware (by J. J. Ramsey at 2004-01-07 00:29:04 GMT)
"I never really thought of Slackware as a one-man distro. To me, it seems just as spread out as all the other distros. I mean, Patrick Volkerding doesn't make these programs, he just compiles the source."
By that standard, JAMD isn't a one-man distro either!
Let's face it; just because the source is out there doesn't mean it's in a form usable to us, especially when it comes to low-level and/or complex things like the Linux kernel, glibc, Mozilla, KDE, and GNOME. That's why Linux distributions exist; we rely on another party handle compilation*, choosing what software to distribute, design of the installer, and quality control. If that other party is a single person, then he/she can get hit by a bus, retire, burn out, and so on. If the other party is a group, then, all other things being equal, there is less chance that the distro it makes will go defunct.
*This applies even to Gentoo. Even though it is source-based, a Gentoo user needs *some* precompiled binaries to bootstrap things.
8 • JAMD and Xdefine Linux (by gabbman at 2004-01-07 01:19:34 GMT)
Good question Ladislav. Jim's explaination of how he wanted to financially suplement his persoanl out of pocket expenses to carry on developing his 'dream' (my words), Shows the greatest downfall of the 'free' software licensing.
It's not free folks, it costs money, whether your a corporation like Xandros, or Mandrake, or a one man show like Jim Lucha, it costs money to put out a good product.
It's time more linux users started clicking paypal links rather then download iso links, or very soon all we will be left with is the Lindow's , Xandros, or other pay first distro's.
9 • Costs (by John Lowell at 2004-01-07 02:29:16 GMT)
Not to be contentious, but I find the noisy solicitation of funds to support Linux undertakings largely self-serving, frankly. If someone has something they feel moved to bring to the community, let them do so without the self-pity I see showcased on too many occasions. I mean who's to know what it's going to take to get one's project off the ground better than the person doing it, eh? If it requires money and you know that going in why kvetch later because it does? If you have something to offer by all means offer it, but be mature enough not to make public all of your "sacrificing". I don't think any of us are enlarged by that kind of thing, least of all the giver.
John Lowell
10 • Mandrake 10 Preview (by Leo on 2004-01-07 16:37:01 GMT)
It shouldn't be a surprise, it is OSNews after all. But the Mandrake 10 preview is just nosense: Cooker is not even in beta stage. There are still fundamental changes to be applied (as seen in the TODO list in the Wiki). Despite all of this, the reviewer complains for lack of polish and what not. Doh !
To me (I upgraded KDE to and XFree to current cooker), the fact that I can upgrade to the dev branch without screwing things up seriously speeks tons about reliability, and this is all I can expect at this point ...
11 • Linux CD (by David on 2004-01-08 15:12:31 GMT)
Hi,
what about linuxcd.org on your site ... TuxCDS.com is too expensive And it's a real che.....at !!!!
David
12 • LitruX downloads (by John Korb at 2004-07-13 21:11:40 GMT)
LitruX doesn,t offer any downloads. The ? is if they have it at all?
Number of Comments: 12
Display mode: DWW Only • Comments Only • Both DWW and Comments
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Archives |
• Issue 1046 (2023-11-20): Slackel 7.7 "Openbox", restricting CPU usage, Haiku improves font handling and software centre performance, Canonical launches MicroCloud |
• Issue 1045 (2023-11-13): Fedora 39, how to trust software packages, ReactOS booting with UEFI, elementary OS plans to default to Wayland, Mir gaining ability to split work across video cards |
• Issue 1044 (2023-11-06): Porteus 5.01, disabling IPv6, applications unique to a Linux distro, Linux merges bcachefs, OpenELA makes source packages available |
• Issue 1043 (2023-10-30): Murena Two with privacy switches, where old files go when packages are updated, UBports on Volla phones, Mint testing Cinnamon on Wayland, Peppermint releases ARM build |
• Issue 1042 (2023-10-23): Ubuntu Cinnamon compared with Linux Mint, extending battery life on Linux, Debian resumes /usr merge, Canonical publishes fixed install media |
• Issue 1041 (2023-10-16): FydeOS 17.0, Dr.Parted 23.09, changing UIDs, Fedora partners with Slimbook, GNOME phasing out X11 sessions, Ubuntu revokes 23.10 install media |
• Issue 1040 (2023-10-09): CROWZ 5.0, changing the location of default directories, Linux Mint updates its Edge edition, Murena crowdfunding new privacy phone, Debian publishes new install media |
• Issue 1039 (2023-10-02): Zenwalk Current, finding the duration of media files, Peppermint OS tries out new edition, COSMIC gains new features, Canonical reports on security incident in Snap store |
• Issue 1038 (2023-09-25): Mageia 9, trouble-shooting launchers, running desktop Linux in the cloud, New documentation for Nix, Linux phasing out ReiserFS, GNU celebrates 40 years |
• Issue 1037 (2023-09-18): Bodhi Linux 7.0.0, finding specific distros and unified package managemnt, Zevenet replaced by two new forks, openSUSE introduces Slowroll branch, Fedora considering dropping Plasma X11 session |
• Issue 1036 (2023-09-11): SDesk 2023.08.12, hiding command line passwords, openSUSE shares contributor survery results, Ubuntu plans seamless disk encryption, GNOME 45 to break extension compatibility |
• Issue 1035 (2023-09-04): Debian GNU/Hurd 2023, PCLinuxOS 2023.07, do home users need a firewall, AlmaLinux introduces new repositories, Rocky Linux commits to RHEL compatibility, NetBSD machine runs unattended for nine years, Armbian runs wallpaper contest |
• Issue 1034 (2023-08-28): Void 20230628, types of memory usage, FreeBSD receives port of Linux NVIDIA driver, Fedora plans improved theme handling for Qt applications, Canonical's plans for Ubuntu |
• Issue 1033 (2023-08-21): MiniOS 20230606, system user accounts, how Red Hat clones are moving forward, Haiku improves WINE performance, Debian turns 30 |
• Issue 1032 (2023-08-14): MX Linux 23, positioning new windows on the desktop, Linux Containers adopts LXD fork, Oracle, SUSE, and CIQ form OpenELA |
• Issue 1031 (2023-08-07): Peppermint OS 2023-07-01, preventing a file from being changed, Asahi Linux partners with Fedora, Linux Mint plans new releases |
• Issue 1030 (2023-07-31): Solus 4.4, Linux Mint 21.2, Debian introduces RISC-V support, Ubuntu patches custom kernel bugs, FreeBSD imports OpenSSL 3 |
• Issue 1029 (2023-07-24): Running Murena on the Fairphone 4, Flatpak vs Snap sandboxing technologies, Redox OS plans to borrow Linux drivers to expand hardware support, Debian updates Bookworm media |
• Issue 1028 (2023-07-17): KDE Connect; Oracle, SUSE, and AlmaLinux repsond to Red Hat's source code policy change, KaOS issues media fix, Slackware turns 30; security and immutable distributions |
• Issue 1027 (2023-07-10): Crystal Linux 2023-03-16, StartOS (embassyOS 0.3.4.2), changing options on a mounted filesystem, Murena launches Fairphone 4 in North America, Fedora debates telemetry for desktop team |
• Issue 1026 (2023-07-03): Kumander Linux 1.0, Red Hat changing its approach to sharing source code, TrueNAS offers SMB Multichannel, Zorin OS introduces upgrade utility |
• Issue 1025 (2023-06-26): KaOS with Plasma 6, information which can leak from desktop environments, Red Hat closes door on sharing RHEL source code, SUSE introduces new security features |
• Issue 1024 (2023-06-19): Debian 12, a safer way to use dd, Debian releases GNU/Hurd 2023, Ubuntu 22.10 nears its end of life, FreeBSD turns 30 |
• Issue 1023 (2023-06-12): openSUSE 15.5 Leap, the differences between independent distributions, openSUSE lengthens Leap life, Murena offers new phone for North America |
• Issue 1022 (2023-06-05): GetFreeOS 2023.05.01, Slint 15.0-3, Liya N4Si, cleaning up crowded directories, Ubuntu plans Snap-based variant, Red Hat dropping LireOffice RPM packages |
• Issue 1021 (2023-05-29): rlxos GNU/Linux, colours in command line output, an overview of Void's unique features, how to use awk, Microsoft publishes a Linux distro |
• Issue 1020 (2023-05-22): UBports 20.04, finding another machine's IP address, finding distros with a specific kernel, Debian prepares for Bookworm |
• Issue 1019 (2023-05-15): Rhino Linux (Beta), checking which applications reply on a package, NethServer reborn, System76 improving application responsiveness |
• Issue 1018 (2023-05-08): Fedora 38, finding relevant manual pages, merging audio files, Fedora plans new immutable edition, Mint works to fix Secure Boot issues |
• Issue 1017 (2023-05-01): Xubuntu 23.04, Debian elects Project Leaders and updates media, systemd to speed up restarts, Guix System offering ground-up source builds, where package managers install files |
• Issue 1016 (2023-04-24): Qubes OS 4.1.2, tracking bandwidth usage, Solus resuming development, FreeBSD publishes status report, KaOS offers preview of Plasma 6 |
• Issue 1015 (2023-04-17): Manjaro Linux 22.0, Trisquel GNU/Linux 11.0, Arch Linux powering PINE64 tablets, Ubuntu offering live patching on HWE kernels, gaining compression on ex4 |
• Issue 1014 (2023-04-10): Quick looks at carbonOS, LibreELEC, and Kodi, Mint polishes themes, Fedora rolls out more encryption plans, elementary OS improves sideloading experience |
• Issue 1013 (2023-04-03): Alpine Linux 3.17.2, printing manual pages, Ubuntu Cinnamon becomes official flavour, Endeavour OS plans for new installer, HardenedBSD plans for outage |
• Issue 1012 (2023-03-27): siduction 22.1.1, protecting privacy from proprietary applications, GNOME team shares new features, Canonical updates Ubuntu 20.04, politics and the Linux kernel |
• Issue 1011 (2023-03-20): Serpent OS, Security Onion 2.3, Gentoo Live, replacing the scp utility, openSUSE sees surge in downloads, Debian runs elction with one candidate |
• Issue 1010 (2023-03-13): blendOS 2023.01.26, keeping track of which files a package installs, improved network widget coming to elementary OS, Vanilla OS changes its base distro |
• Issue 1009 (2023-03-06): Nemo Mobile and the PinePhone, matching the performance of one distro on another, Linux Mint adds performance boosts and security, custom Ubuntu and Debian builds through Cubic |
• Issue 1008 (2023-02-27): elementary OS 7.0, the benefits of boot environments, Purism offers lapdock for Librem 5, Ubuntu community flavours directed to drop Flatpak support for Snap |
• Issue 1007 (2023-02-20): helloSystem 0.8.0, underrated distributions, Solus team working to repair their website, SUSE testing Micro edition, Canonical publishes real-time edition of Ubuntu 22.04 |
• Issue 1006 (2023-02-13): Playing music with UBports on a PinePhone, quick command line and shell scripting questions, Fedora expands third-party software support, Vanilla OS adds Nix package support |
• Issue 1005 (2023-02-06): NuTyX 22.12.0 running CDE, user identification numbers, Pop!_OS shares COSMIC progress, Mint makes keyboard and mouse options more accessible |
• Issue 1004 (2023-01-30): OpenMandriva ROME, checking the health of a disk, Debian adopting OpenSnitch, FreeBSD publishes status report |
• Issue 1003 (2023-01-23): risiOS 37, mixing package types, Fedora seeks installer feedback, Sparky offers easier persistence with USB writer |
• Issue 1002 (2023-01-16): Vanilla OS 22.10, Nobara Project 37, verifying torrent downloads, Haiku improvements, HAMMER2 being ports to NetBSD |
• Issue 1001 (2023-01-09): Arch Linux, Ubuntu tests new system installer, porting KDE software to OpenBSD, verifying files copied properly |
• Issue 1000 (2023-01-02): Our favourite projects of all time, Fedora trying out unified kernel images and trying to speed up shutdowns, Slackware tests new kernel, detecting what is taking up disk space |
• Issue 999 (2022-12-19): Favourite distributions of 2022, Fedora plans Budgie spin, UBports releasing security patches for 16.04, Haiku working on new ports |
• Issue 998 (2022-12-12): OpenBSD 7.2, Asahi Linux enages video hardware acceleration on Apple ARM computers, Manjaro drops proprietary codecs from Mesa package |
• Issue 997 (2022-12-05): CachyOS 221023 and AgarimOS, working with filenames which contain special characters, elementary OS team fixes delta updates, new features coming to Xfce |
• Issue 996 (2022-11-28): Void 20221001, remotely shutting down a machine, complex aliases, Fedora tests new web-based installer, Refox OS running on real hardware |
• Issue 995 (2022-11-21): Fedora 37, swap files vs swap partitions, Unity running on Arch, UBports seeks testers, Murena adds support for more devices |
• Issue 994 (2022-11-14): Redcore Linux 2201, changing the terminal font size, Fedora plans Phosh spin, openSUSE publishes on-line manual pages, disabling Snap auto-updates |
• Issue 993 (2022-11-07): Static Linux, working with just a kernel, Mint streamlines Flatpak management, updates coming to elementary OS |
• Full list of all issues |
Star Labs |

Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.
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Shells.com |

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Random Distribution | 
Burapha Linux Server
Burapha Linux Server was a free Linux distribution. It was a descendant of Burapha Linux 5.5, which in turn was a descendant of Slackware 10.x. Burapha Linux Server does not have any packages taken directly from Slackware; the project builds their own packages and have their own package manager. The primary purpose of development was for the computer science students to learn the infrastructure of a UNIX system, and to apply the acquired knowledge in research and projects.
Status: Discontinued
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TUXEDO |

TUXEDO Computers - Linux Hardware in a tailor made suite Choose from a wide range of laptops and PCs in various sizes and shapes at TUXEDOComputers.com. Every machine comes pre-installed and ready-to-run with Linux. Full 24 months of warranty and lifetime support included!
Learn more about our full service package and all benefits from buying at TUXEDO.
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Star Labs |

Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.
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