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1 • Portable packages (by bison on 2019-09-30 00:48:18 GMT from United States)
I use portable packages for games and music software -- when I can find them -- so that applications don't stop working when I upgrade to a newer distribution with libraries that are not backward compatible. I'm still looking for a AppImage or Flatpak for SuperTuxKart 0.7.3 so that I don't have to boot into an old (and unsupported) version of Ubuntu to play the game.
2 • Refreshed ISO files versus on-line updates (by 6r00k14n on 2019-09-30 01:22:14 GMT from United States)
Having dealt with Debian installs both from an image and from a netinstall disc, I prefer an image, because it will get the system up and running quickly, particularly with a slow connection. You can always run the updates while you are configuring the system.
3 • Refreshed ISO files versus on-line updates (by Titus_Groan on 2019-09-30 02:10:53 GMT from New Zealand)
or, unless the image is really old /stale, use both the image and online together. That way you get the relatively fast image install, and any updates that available on your nearest mirror.
(oh, that's right, not every Linux distro install support that hybrid option)
4 • Portable apps (by Unaspire on 2019-09-30 05:21:37 GMT from Indonesia)
Voted for 'a combination of the above', but IMHO the only true 'portable' here are either executable binaries built/released from the devs, or AppImages. I do not think it is possible to manually download, install ETC snaps/flatpaks so yeah, IMHO they are not that 'portable'. I have only used them a few times just to see what happens, and do not like them.
Thankfully everything I need usually releases an AppImage on their site. We can also find many more from other sources like bintray, appimagehub and so on.
5 • portable packages (by pin on 2019-09-30 05:35:47 GMT from Sweden)
Don't use them and won't use them. They are system bloat, a security concern and a wrong way of software distribution.
6 • freedombox (by matt on 2019-09-30 06:08:38 GMT from United States)
I first heard about freedombox years ago, I think it was a talk by Eben Moglen. It's great to see how it is developing. It looks pretty polished and easy to use.
7 • tried portable packages (by Dxvid on 2019-09-30 09:45:43 GMT from Sweden)
I have tried portable packages on a couple of Linux distros but have experienced problems with both snap and flatpak in the past. Apart from being unstable using portable packages also takes unnecessary space. I decided a year ago to take a pause and see if portable packages are more stable in a few years. Maybe I'll try again in a couple of years from now and like it. I think so far spotify is the only company forcing us to use snap. But I use the web browser instead to avoid snap or run spotify from my phone.
8 • Portable Package Formats (by kc1di on 2019-09-30 10:36:31 GMT from United States)
I've used all three of the major offerings and only one I currently use is Appimage. It works very well for the programs I need and seems to be reliable. And I can use the same image no matter which Distro is being used. I find Snap and Flatpak inconsistent and bloated most of the time. And not all that portable.
9 • Portable progs (by Roger on 2019-09-30 10:49:44 GMT from Belgium)
I use them mainly so that I have the same progs on different OS, including Win. D'ont use Mac. Portable apps is a nice tool tot have with you, 16 Gb stick and ready.
10 • Portable packages (by Kazlu on 2019-09-30 10:51:08 GMT from France)
My main reason to use portable packages is when I cannot get that package otherwise. Simple as that.
11 • Freedombox (by zcatav on 2019-09-30 10:57:57 GMT from Turkey)
I'm trying out Freedombox testing on Raspberry Pi 3B. And I can't able to run Cockpit. I wonder have you tried ejabberd service? Thanks for your detailed Freedombox review.
12 • Portable packages (by OstroL on 2019-09-30 12:37:48 GMT from Poland)
All web browsers are portable these days. Everything is included in the folder. What is missing can be pasted to that folder, if one wants. Then, keep that folder anywhere and click on the executive file in it, or have a symlink to it somewhere. I think Libre Office, Gimp and most other apps can be run that way.
13 • Refreshed ISO files versus on-line updates (by Michael on 2019-09-30 12:49:08 GMT from Germany)
@Jesse
I assume you refer to your example with Manjaro updates on the 32-bit version. That is very big indeed. From my point of view, this seems to be the exception, because if I look at the current 64-bit variants, I find at any time current ISO images, which offer only a few updates after the fresh installation.
In general, in this case of the big 32-bit update by the developers, it is also recommended to install the update procedure via tty instead of using a package manager via GUI.
14 • Refreshed ISO files (by dragonmouth on 2019-09-30 13:07:53 GMT from United States)
I agree with Jesse that it is highly impractical for developers to keep the ISO up-to-the-minute. PCLinuxOS which I use gets package updates at least 3 times a week, sometimes every day. The updates are usually small (less than 10 packages) so spending 5 or 10 minutes on applying them is no big deal.
After I do a fresh install of a distro, I fire up my package manager and uninstall any packages that I know I will never use. Then I apply any updates that may be available. I expect the entire process to take 2-3 hours, no matter what. So the size of the initial update is immaterial.
15 • AppImage (by pepa65 on 2019-09-30 13:35:45 GMT from Thailand)
Tried snaps, too resource intensive, all the mounting, it was burdensome. I haven't really gotten the point of flatpaks. But AppImages can be really handy, just a single binary that is supposed to contain all it needs to run. Doesn't clutter up the file system, so especially for packages you don't want to install, or that aren't available, or not in the version I want, but you can just run it. It does require fuse, so on tiny systems they might not work out of the box. I like the simplicity of a single binary, like a go application. And like a go application, you can even build them yourself (see lvml/makeaoi on Github).
16 • this week poll is too general (by artix_user on 2019-09-30 13:42:13 GMT from Moldova, Republic of)
I think that the poll in its current format was useless, ubuntu article did it more accurately. You simply cannot ask Arch and Debian users same questions, cause the answers will be very different. The power of *nix is that every one can find distributions suited for their needs.
17 • Portable Packages (by Dennis Ajeman on 2019-09-30 13:50:49 GMT from United States)
I am a Kubuntu user (KDE since the mid 90's) and use snaps of Firefox and Chromium as the standard packages have unbridled memory problems that consistantly crash the system forcing a hard reboot. The snap packages are also approximately 3 x's faster than the standard. I use an appimage of Digikam since the repository package has a beard longer than mine.
18 • Updates and such... (by Friar Tux on 2019-09-30 13:55:53 GMT from Canada)
Regarding updates... one of the things I like about updates on Linux is that the USER gets to pick when to install them. I do mine once a week, usually Fridays, then I do my backups. Most of the time they take about half an hour, together. While 'Dumputer' is updating and 'backupping', I'm enjoying a cup of tea. Then we all go to bed. As for Appimages, Flatpaks, or Snaps, I don't use them. First off, I have found that they are either older versions of the software, or limited versions, with some features locked or missing. Secondly, they seem to be quite large as they contain all the required libraries instead of using the libraries already in the system like their regular versions. This takes up quite a bit of disc/ssd real estate that could be used otherwise. If a particular app/programme only comes in the so called 'portable' format, I simply find an alternative.
19 • @ 17 Really? (by kaczor on 2019-09-30 14:37:54 GMT from Greece)
"The snap packages are also approximately 3 x's faster than the standard."
Really? Don't know what type of grass you've been smoking.
20 • Portable packages (by TheTKS on 2019-09-30 14:38:32 GMT from Canada)
Appimages only, and only one app at the moment. I like that you can use an application without actually installing it, and if you want to get rid of it, delete one file.
I have tried snaps and flatpaks, but I get no advantage from them. There’s a bit of extra work to set up snap & flatpak, and the packages loaded more slowly than the installed packages when I last used these a year+ ago.
If it becomes impossible or a big hassle to avoid using snap or flatpak, then I’ll use them. Ubuntu is already talking about making Chromium available as snap only. I don’t want to compile from source big packages like browsers just to avoid snap or flatpak.
A potential concern that’s been mentioned is security. I don’t know if it’s possible to use portable packages as securely as regular packages. I want to understand that before I would consider using them more.
I’m not concerned about bloat with just a couple of packages (the most I ever installed was 4 snaps, and never ran more than two at the same time.) If you start using a lot of them, maybe it would become a problem.
TKS
21 • FreedomBox (by gplcoder on 2019-09-30 14:46:06 GMT from Austria)
I have a FreedomBox up and running on the ARM hardware that the organization advocates (a no-blob computer). I have configured it with a domain name, a Lets Encrypt cert, Fail2Ban, ejabberd, infinoted (Gobby server), JSXC (Web jabber client), Mumble server and Privoxy. In addition, Cockpit is working (not the white-screen-of-death). Best I can figure, Cockpit worked for me after I configured the domain and added the Lets Encrypt cert. The FreedomBox also likes to be rebooted after the addition of a service (even though the web interface does not mention this). I have had lots of services give me errors only to go away after I rebooted.
Overall, a great distro but it is not as easy/transparent as the documentation says. Network configuration remains quite involved (as usual).
22 • Portable (potty) (by vern on 2019-09-30 14:57:17 GMT from United States)
Flatpaks, or Snaps = Bloat Beyond Belief. Not sure about Appimages, never used it.
23 • packages on thumb drive (by Otis on 2019-09-30 15:19:43 GMT from United States)
We take them with us instead of our computers when we visit friends/family not near us.
24 • Freedom Box (by Gary on 2019-09-30 15:45:02 GMT from United States)
Had been looking for a Home Server that, as someone not comfortable (yet) with the Command line, I can use with several different Distros at the same time. Since your review of FreedomBox was so good, I'm gonna give it a try. Thanks!! Also, never used Flat or Snap Paks. After reading the comments here, I think I'll wait for a while before I do.
25 • About portable packages (by JerareYoshi on 2019-09-30 17:14:13 GMT from France)
I use portable packages so i can use theme across differents distros. Also because softwares are apart of the system, we can reinstall easier.
26 • Portable Packages (by dragonmouth on 2019-09-30 18:08:54 GMT from United States)
When using AppImage, Snaps or Flatpak when different packages require different versions of the same library? Do we have the return of DLL Hell?
27 • Portable Packages (by StephenC on 2019-09-30 18:21:38 GMT from United States)
Debian, using AppImages for digikam and stellarium. Also using FireJail to contain them. Still way better than Windows random shareware binary downloaded with unknown capabilities...
#26, no with AppImages it is self-contained.
Regardless of the app type used (appimage/snap/flat pack/etc...), it should be combined with a container/permissions of some kind to limit damage if you get a rogue copy.
28 • Using a snap package on Ubuntu (by eco2geek on 2019-09-30 18:52:42 GMT from United States)
I've been using a Chromium snap on Ubuntu 19.04/19.10 because that's how Ubuntu packages it these days.
Since snaps are sandboxed, it turned out that if I wanted to be able to download anything to a partition on my hard drive, I had to change the snap's permissions. The easiest way to do this is, after installation, to go to the snap's page in the "Software" application and click the "Permissions" button, and enable "Read/write files on removable storage devices".
The snap doesn't follow the desktop environment's (Yaru) theme, either.
In the future, I'm probably going to just install Google Chrome instead.
29 • Portable Packages (by Martin on 2019-09-30 18:52:43 GMT from United Kingdom)
I have never tried any form of portable packages, I have no need for them and seek to keep my installations as slim as possible.
30 • Portable Packages (by Lupus on 2019-09-30 21:04:54 GMT from Germany)
Time and Development are funny things. Back in the days when I still was a disgruntled windows user I really got into the idea of portable apps. They do great work and I was able to have my working environment on a stick. I hated to search for every damn driver and software update on my own and all over the place. So the site portable apps really hit two birds with one stone. What little did I know of Free and open Source Linux. Once I got the concept of repositories and updating your System in the background without even having to boot several times I was hooked and nowadays my whole family with the exception of the deranged apple bunch uses it too. But low and behold there we are again portable apps for Linux WTF??? I understand there may be usecases but I have to say:" A small step for man.... a giant leap backwards for mankind." If you are an avid Linux user you don´t need that.
Just a thought BTW
31 • snaps (by ed on 2019-09-30 22:42:48 GMT from United States)
Only way I could get Foobar 2000, best music player available imho, was through snap. Hopefully it becomes part of distros someday or in software choices in software managers.
32 • Portable packages (by Romane on 2019-10-01 06:08:21 GMT from Australia)
I selected 'other reason', simply because no other answer aligned with my use case.
I use just one portable package, and that because it is not in the repositories of many distributions, and because the version packaged for Debian (actually, Ubuntu) by the developers won't run on my Debian Testing system.
Did try snap once, so probably not a fair test. But never tried again because it failed to properly install that one package I consider essential to my daily computer usage. Have tried AppImage with fairly good success for other packages. But my format of choice, as I have found it 100% reliable for installing that one package I need is Flatpak.
33 • portable packages (by portab on 2019-10-01 07:46:43 GMT from Norway)
I like to use appimages. I don't like flatpaks, however would use them if there are no other options. I run like hell from snaps, will never ever use snaps no matter what.
34 • Chromium Snap2 made me run away from Kubuntu (by Flavio on 2019-10-01 12:04:43 GMT from Brazil)
I have used Kubuntu since April 2009, and lately I was using 19.10 development branch.
But when regular updates automaticly replaced Chromium.deb with Chromium.snap2 ─ and I saw there would be no more option ─ I removed Kubuntu from my desktop forever.
Now, just KDE Neon and Mint 18 KDE, while still possible.
Using mostly Mageia, Fedora, openSUSE, PCLinuxOS ─ all KDE ─ with no portable package.
35 • Portable packages/ snaps (by Barnabyh on 2019-10-01 20:04:28 GMT from Germany)
I'm running only one snap and that is for Chromium, it appears well integrated in LMDE 3 and I had no issues when compared to the previous, older versions supplied in the repo. Snaps also appear to be sandboxed as someone already stated above and on top of that I added and enabled apparmor to this install of LMDE (essentially Debian 9 which does not include apparmor by default yet).
Currently also using Mageia as a stable base for a media centre where PCLOS as a rolling distro is updating way too often for my taste. Chromium there is still on 74 so snaps may be a way forward here too. But I've decided to standardize on Palemoon now. Only issue is carrying over all the saved passwords bit by bit. I've imported them all into a password manager and a protected spreadsheet but still, more painful to look up until they are all saved again into a new browser. So yes, convenience is a big part in staying with the same software, in particular after so many years of using computers. Sometimes it gets tiring reinventing the wheel.
36 • Snaps and why they are slow (by OstroL on 2019-10-02 06:38:10 GMT from Poland)
Ubuntu usually comes default with Gnome Calculator as a snap, and this app/snap starts slowly. It lives in snap/gnome-calculator/406/, bit too far to look for. Now, if you run snap/gnome-calculator/406/usr/bin/gnome-calculator in the terminal, it won't run, for "Settings schema 'org.gnome.calculator' is not installed." ow, install gnome-calculator through sudo apt install gnome-calculator, and the gschema would be installed.
You loo in the Gnome shell app grid, you have 2 calculators. One would start slowly, and the other immediately. The one that start slowly is the snap one.
Now, run snap/gnome-calculator/406/usr/bin/gnome-calculator in the terminal again, the calculator starts immediately. You are running, supposedly, the calculator in the snap, as the path shows.
In Linux, the exe file is in /usr/bin. In the snap too, but to go there, the signal must go to /snap/name folder/numbered folder/usr/bin/, but not to the "normal" /usr/bin. The path is longer, so snap is slow to start.
Check before commenting, please.
37 • snaps (by anticapitalista on 2019-10-02 09:44:08 GMT from Greece)
Just to point out that on Debian and Ubuntu based distros, snaps need systemd.
38 • @37 those fake dependencies again (by curious on 2019-10-02 11:27:29 GMT from Germany)
If snaps only "need" systemd on Debian and Ubuntu based distros, that is an obvious hint that the "need" for systemd is artificial.
To me, that kind of fake dependency is EVIL - and these fake dependencies that "require" the use of systemd even for software that shouldn't have anything to do with the init system are my main criticism about the way systemd was introduced, since they take away choice - not only from the users, but also from distro creators, for whom they make choosing any other init system than systemd much more difficult.
It looks as if some people are very afraid that systemd would not be adopted on the basis of technical (or any other) merits alone ...
39 • Snaps and Ubuntu (by kaczor on 2019-10-02 11:41:25 GMT from Greece)
Snaps are for IoT, which is what Cannonical is trying to move in, or already moved in to. Cannonical has no interest in the desktop, for it had become just a problem for it, not bringing in profit. Ubuntu is atm in the hands of amateurs, so called community, and without any real directions from the Cannonical owner.
Snaps in the desktop Ubuntu runs slowly. The same apps installed in the deb format runs faster. No other distro would touch snaps. Even, Linux Mint, offshoot of Ubuntu favours flatpaks.
40 • impossible to create an embedded environment with Debain and Systemd (by Mikael Palmkvist on 2019-10-02 14:44:39 GMT from Sweden)
You got very bad realtime performance using systemd if you ad t.ex. realtime platform in bottom using RTAI or other real realtime operative systems, then Linux itself become useless.
You just insteall the Realtime OS and skip Linux for all none realtime solutions above.
It complicate too much also on Servers there systemd is worthless.
It is sad that systemd is not an option as it is no a requirement to use debain.
I have to skip the Linux when I develope embedded software today.
41 • New Package Formats (by Thomas Taylor on 2019-10-02 15:00:20 GMT from United States)
I wish they would figure out the best and go with it. This is one area they shouldn't keep a bunch of different ones going. That way when they get all packages converted. We might see a package based Distro.
42 • extraneous package formats (by Ed Ktorp on 2019-10-03 22:57:19 GMT from United States)
Snaps, Flatpaks.. what's the difference? This is just the latest faux-choice to grease the skids for systemd/linux to end up with a 'universal' method of package management, even though (as was pointed out by #38) there is no technical reason why these 'portable' formats should require systemd. But they will.
43 • package missing library (by Li Huang on 2019-10-04 07:18:39 GMT from United States)
I never had any problem with slap packages. In GapImagination, I always fall flat. But, never had any problems so far.
I do have different problem here: I am trying swfdec working properly, but it says liboil 0.3.17-3 is missing.
My name is Li, and as it says li->boil 0.3.17-3, I already boiled 3 eggs sharp at 3.17, but swfdec still syas liboil is missing. I also put few deops of librizol's oil. but swfdec still syas liboil library is missing. Unfortunately, i do not have enough space to accommodate whole library.
Before I say-wf-decently to swfdec, Please, Can anyone help me out here? for what's going on.
Number of Comments: 43
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Archives |
| • Issue 1151 (2025-12-08): FreeBSD 15.0, fun command line tricks, Canonical presents plans for Ubutnu 26.04, SparkyLinux updates CDE packages, Redox OS gets modesetting driver |
| • Issue 1150 (2025-12-01): Gnoppix 25_10, exploring if distributions matter, openSUSE updates tumbleweed's boot loader, Fedora plans better handling of broken packages, Plasma to become Wayland-only, FreeBSD publishes status report |
| • Issue 1149 (2025-11-24): MX Linux 25, why are video drivers special, systemd experiments with musl, Debian Libre Live publishes new media, Xubuntu reviews website hack |
| • Issue 1148 (2025-11-17): Zorin OS 18, deleting a file with an unusual name, NetBSD experiments with sandboxing, postmarketOS unifies its documentation, OpenBSD refines upgrades, Canonical offers 15 years of support for Ubuntu |
| • Issue 1147 (2025-11-10): Fedora 43, the size and stability of the Linux kernel, Debian introducing Rust to APT, Redox ports web engine, Kubuntu website off-line, Mint creates new troubleshooting tools, FreeBSD improves reproducible builds, Flatpak development resumes |
| • Issue 1146 (2025-11-03): StartOS 0.4.0, testing piped commands, Ubuntu Unity seeks help, Canonical offers Ubuntu credentials, Red Hat partners with NVIDIA, SUSE to bundle AI agent with SLE 16 |
| • Issue 1145 (2025-10-27): Linux Mint 7 "LMDE", advice for new Linux users, AlmaLinux to offer Btrfs, KDE launches Plasma 6.5, Fedora accepts contributions written by AI, Ubuntu 25.10 fails to install automatic updates |
| • Issue 1144 (2025-10-20): Kubuntu 25.10, creating and restoring encrypted backups, Fedora team debates AI, FSF plans free software for phones, ReactOS addresses newer drivers, Xubuntu reacts to website attack |
| • Issue 1143 (2025-10-13): openSUSE 16.0 Leap, safest source for new applications, Redox introduces performance improvements, TrueNAS Connect available for testing, Flatpaks do not work on Ubuntu 25.10, Kamarada plans to switch its base, Solus enters new epoch, Frugalware discontinued |
| • Issue 1142 (2025-10-06): Linux Kamarada 15.6, managing ZIP files with SQLite, F-Droid warns of impact of Android lockdown, Alpine moves ahead with merged /usr, Cinnamon gets a redesigned application menu |
| • Issue 1141 (2025-09-29): KDE Linux and GNOME OS, finding mobile flavours of Linux, Murena to offer phones with kill switches, Redox OS running on a smartphone, Artix drops GNOME |
| • Issue 1140 (2025-09-22): NetBSD 10.1, avoiding AI services, AlmaLinux enables CRB repository, Haiku improves disk access performance, Mageia addresses service outage, GNOME 49 released, Linux introduces multikernel support |
| • Issue 1139 (2025-09-15): EasyOS 7.0, Linux and central authority, FreeBSD running Plasma 6 on Wayland, GNOME restores X11 support temporarily, openSUSE dropping BCacheFS in new kernels |
| • Issue 1138 (2025-09-08): Shebang 25.8, LibreELEC 12.2.0, Debian GNU/Hurd 2025, the importance of software updates, AerynOS introduces package sets, postmarketOS encourages patching upstream, openSUSE extends Leap support, Debian refreshes Trixie media |
| • Issue 1137 (2025-09-01): Tribblix 0m37, malware scanners flagging Linux ISO files, KDE introduces first-run setup wizard, CalyxOS plans update prior to infrastructure overhaul, FreeBSD publishes status report |
| • Issue 1136 (2025-08-25): CalyxOS 6.8.20, distros for running containers, Arch Linux website under attack,illumos Cafe launched, CachyOS creates web dashboard for repositories |
| • Issue 1135 (2025-08-18): Debian 13, Proton, WINE, Wayland, and Wayback, Debian GNU/Hurd 2025, KDE gets advanced Liquid Glass, Haiku improves authentication tools |
| • Issue 1134 (2025-08-11): Rhino Linux 2025.3, thoughts on malware in the AUR, Fedora brings hammered websites back on-line, NetBSD reveals features for version 11, Ubuntu swaps some command line tools for 25.10, AlmaLinux improves NVIDIA support |
| • Issue 1133 (2025-08-04): Expirion Linux 6.0, running Plasma on Linux Mint, finding distros which support X11, Debian addresses 22 year old bug, FreeBSD discusses potential issues with pkgbase, CDE ported to OpenBSD, Btrfs corruption bug hitting Fedora users, more malware found in Arch User Repository |
| • Issue 1132 (2025-07-28): deepin 25, wars in the open source community, proposal to have Fedora enable Flathub repository, FreeBSD plans desktop install option, Wayback gets its first release |
| • Issue 1131 (2025-07-21): HeliumOS 10.0, settling on one distro, Mint plans new releases, Arch discovers malware in AUR, Plasma Bigscreen returns, Clear Linux discontinued |
| • Issue 1130 (2025-07-14): openSUSE MicroOS and RefreshOS, sharing aliases between computers, Bazzite makes Bazaar its default Flatpak store, Alpine plans Wayback release, Wayland and X11 benchmarked, Red Hat offers additional developer licenses, openSUSE seeks feedback from ARM users, Ubuntu 24.10 reaches the end of its life |
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| • Issue 1128 (2025-06-30): AxOS 25.06, AlmaLinux OS 10.0, transferring Flaptak bundles to off-line computers, Ubuntu to boost Intel graphics performance, Fedora considers dropping i686 packages, SDesk switches from SELinux to AppArmor |
| • Issue 1127 (2025-06-23): LastOSLinux 2025-05-25, most unique Linux distro, Haiku stabilises, KDE publishes Plasma 6.4, Arch splits Plasma packages, Slackware infrastructure migrating |
| • Issue 1126 (2025-06-16): SDesk 2025.05.06, renewed interest in Ubuntu Touch, a BASIC device running NetBSD, Ubuntu dropping X11 GNOME session, GNOME increases dependency on systemd, Google holding back Pixel source code, Nitrux changing its desktop, EFF turns 35 |
| • Issue 1125 (2025-06-09): RHEL 10, distributions likely to survive a decade, Murena partners with more hardware makers, GNOME tests its own distro on real hardware, Redox ports GTK and X11, Mint provides fingerprint authentication |
| • Issue 1124 (2025-06-02): Picking up a Pico, tips for protecting privacy, Rhino tests Plasma desktop, Arch installer supports snapshots, new features from UBports, Ubuntu tests monthly snapshots |
| • Issue 1123 (2025-05-26): CRUX 3.8, preventing a laptop from sleeping, FreeBSD improves laptop support, Fedora confirms GNOME X11 session being dropped, HardenedBSD introduces Rust in userland build, KDE developing a virtual machine manager |
| • Issue 1122 (2025-05-19): GoboLinux 017.01, RHEL 10.0 and Debian 12 updates, openSUSE retires YaST, running X11 apps on Wayland |
| • Issue 1121 (2025-05-12): Bluefin 41, custom file manager actions, openSUSE joins End of 10 while dropping Deepin desktop, Fedora offers tips for building atomic distros, Ubuntu considers replacing sudo with sudo-rs |
| • Issue 1120 (2025-05-05): CachyOS 250330, what it means when a distro breaks, Kali updates repository key, Trinity receives an update, UBports tests directory encryption, Gentoo faces losing key infrastructure |
| • Issue 1119 (2025-04-28): Ubuntu MATE 25.04, what is missing from Linux, CachyOS ships OCCT, Debian enters soft freeze, Fedora discusses removing X11 session from GNOME, Murena plans business services, NetBSD on a Wii |
| • Issue 1118 (2025-04-21): Fedora 42, strange characters in Vim, Nitrux introduces new package tools, Fedora extends reproducibility efforts, PINE64 updates multiple devices running Debian |
| • Issue 1117 (2025-04-14): Shebang 25.0, EndeavourOS 2025.03.19, running applications from other distros on the desktop, Debian gets APT upgrade, Mint introduces OEM options for LMDE, postmarketOS packages GNOME 48 and COSMIC, Redox testing USB support |
| • Issue 1116 (2025-04-07): The Sense HAT, Android and mobile operating systems, FreeBSD improves on laptops, openSUSE publishes many new updates, Fedora appoints new Project Leader, UBports testing VoLTE |
| • Issue 1115 (2025-03-31): GrapheneOS 2025, the rise of portable package formats, MidnightBSD and openSUSE experiment with new package management features, Plank dock reborn, key infrastructure projects lose funding, postmarketOS to focus on reliability |
| • Issue 1114 (2025-03-24): Bazzite 41, checking which processes are writing to disk, Rocky unveils new Hardened branch, GNOME 48 released, generating images for the Raspberry Pi |
| • Issue 1113 (2025-03-17): MocaccinoOS 1.8.1, how to contribute to open source, Murena extends on-line installer, Garuda tests COSMIC edition, Ubuntu to replace coreutils with Rust alternatives, Chimera Linux drops RISC-V builds |
| • Issue 1112 (2025-03-10): Solus 4.7, distros which work with Secure Boot, UBports publishes bug fix, postmarketOS considers a new name, Debian running on Android |
| • Issue 1111 (2025-03-03): Orbitiny 0.01, the effect of Ubuntu Core Desktop, Gentoo offers disk images, elementary OS invites feature ideas, FreeBSD starts PinePhone Pro port, Mint warns of upcoming Firefox issue |
| • Issue 1110 (2025-02-24): iodeOS 6.0, learning to program, Arch retiring old repositories, openSUSE makes progress on reproducible builds, Fedora is getting more serious about open hardware, Tails changes its install instructions to offer better privacy, Murena's de-Googled tablet goes on sale |
| • Issue 1109 (2025-02-17): Rhino Linux 2025.1, MX Linux 23.5 with Xfce 4.20, replacing X.Org tools with Wayland tools, GhostBSD moving its base to FreeBSD -RELEASE, Redox stabilizes its ABI, UBports testing 24.04, Asahi changing its leadership, OBS in dispute with Fedora |
| • Issue 1108 (2025-02-10): Serpent OS 0.24.6, Aurora, sharing swap between distros, Peppermint tries Void base, GTK removinglegacy technologies, Red Hat plans more AI tools for Fedora, TrueNAS merges its editions |
| • Issue 1107 (2025-02-03): siduction 2024.1.0, timing tasks, Lomiri ported to postmarketOS, Alpine joins Open Collective, a new desktop for Linux called Orbitiny |
| • Issue 1106 (2025-01-27): Adelie Linux 1.0 Beta 6, Pop!_OS 24.04 Alpha 5, detecting whether a process is inside a virtual machine, drawing graphics to NetBSD terminal, Nix ported to FreeBSD, GhostBSD hosting desktop conference |
| • Issue 1105 (2025-01-20): CentOS 10 Stream, old Flatpak bundles in software centres, Haiku ports Iceweasel, Oracle shows off debugging tools, rsync vulnerability patched |
| • Issue 1104 (2025-01-13): DAT Linux 2.0, Silly things to do with a minimal computer, Budgie prepares Wayland only releases, SteamOS coming to third-party devices, Murena upgrades its base |
| • Issue 1103 (2025-01-06): elementary OS 8.0, filtering ads with Pi-hole, Debian testing its installer, Pop!_OS faces delays, Ubuntu Studio upgrades not working, Absolute discontinued |
| • Issue 1102 (2024-12-23): Best distros of 2024, changing a process name, Fedora to expand Btrfs support and releases Asahi Remix 41, openSUSE patches out security sandbox and donations from Bottles while ending support for Leap 15.5 |
| • Issue 1101 (2024-12-16): GhostBSD 24.10.1, sending attachments from the command line, openSUSE shows off GPU assignment tool, UBports publishes security update, Murena launches its first tablet, Xfce 4.20 released |
| • Issue 1100 (2024-12-09): Oreon 9.3, differences in speed, IPFire's new appliance, Fedora Asahi Remix gets new video drivers, openSUSE Leap Micro updated, Redox OS running Redox OS |
| • Full list of all issues |
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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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| Random Distribution | 
OpenGroupware.org Knoppix CD
The OpenGroupware.org (OGo) Knoppix CD was a bootable CD which contains a complete Debian GNU/Linux system, a fully configured OGo installation, a Cyrus server and some more Linux software. It's based on the original Knoppix CD created by Knopper.Net Consulting. It's certainly the fastest way to get a usable OpenGroupware.org demo up and running!
Status: Discontinued
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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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