 DistroWatch Weekly |
| Tip Jar |
If you've enjoyed this week's issue of DistroWatch Weekly, please consider sending us a tip.
(Tips this week: 0, value: US$0.00) |
|
|
|
 bc1qxes3k2wq3uqzr074tkwwjmwfe63z70gwzfu4lx  lnurl1dp68gurn8ghj7ampd3kx2ar0veekzar0wd5xjtnrdakj7tnhv4kxctttdehhwm30d3h82unvwqhhxarpw3jkc7tzw4ex6cfexyfua2nr  86fA3qPTeQtNb2k1vLwEQaAp3XxkvvvXt69gSG5LGunXXikK9koPWZaRQgfFPBPWhMgXjPjccy9LA9xRFchPWQAnPvxh5Le paypal.me/distrowatchweekly • patreon.com/distrowatch |
|
| Extended Lifecycle Support by TuxCare |
|
|
| Reader Comments • Jump to last comment |
1 • Smartphone as a workstation (by Daniel Martinez on 2024-03-11 00:24:06 GMT from United States)
I voted "No and I don't plan to try it". I want to see a Linux smartphone work as a full featured smartphone on par with iOS or Android before I try to use it for other purposes.
2 • Smartphone has workstation (by Earth Hawk on 2024-03-11 01:43:09 GMT from United States)
I have a Z Fold 4. I use DeX all the time.
3 • Mobile Workstation Experience (by Vinfall on 2024-03-11 02:17:02 GMT from Hong Kong)
A few weeks ago I did a similar thing as my DIY monitor uses miniHDMI whereas rpi uses microHDMI and cannot use type-C as video input, so I ended up using Termux as a mobile workstation.
The DIY monitor supports touch screen and type-C video input (dunno what's the official name, the function is to omit a power cable), and my phone has OTG support so I can use an external keyboard.
The setup almost works, despite the annoying behavior of Termux software keyboard or whatever would randomly kill the IME with certain key combinations or even single key press, which makes abandon this idea and uses another annoying tiny wireless keyboard mouse gadget (Rii RK707)...
4 • Smartphone dominance (by Ankleface Wroughtlandmire on 2024-03-11 06:29:04 GMT from United States)
I think the elephant in the room here is the phenomenon of users that exclusively use a smartphone *without* an external monitor or keyboard. There is an incredibly large and constantly increasing number of users that have switched to using their smartphone for absolutely everything. In many cases they do so because all of their "personal" data is tied up in a jumbled mess of messages and attachments in proprietary messaging apps like Whatsapp. But I also blame Windows for becoming increasingly more annoying and unreliable with its forced updates and poor security track record that leads users to think they need to run antivirus and antimalware programs with the abysmal performance hit that these bring. So despite the frustrating limitations and inefficiency of trying to accomplish important tasks by poking/swiping fingers against a relatively small smartphone screen, many users discount real computers as unreliable and unsafe, and they just put up with the limitations of using their smartphone for absolutely everything.
5 • JuiceSSH + automated Tasker plugin on Mobile (by Jimbo on 2024-03-11 06:41:11 GMT from New Zealand)
While I don't use that many desktop applications on the Mobile - I definitely recommend JuiceSSH for managing servers remotely.
6 • Phone-PC link (by Someguy on 2024-03-11 08:27:54 GMT from United Kingdom)
What kind of joke is this?! Coupling well-protected private data with a mobile phone? No prizes for all those spammers, scammers, pen-pushers and ne'er-do-wells rubbing their hands with glee...
7 • Smartphones as a Workstation (by bassplayer69 on 2024-03-11 09:14:12 GMT from United States)
Microsoft tried this years ago with the Windows Phone and look where it is now.
8 • Docking station (by gerald on 2024-03-11 10:42:43 GMT from Austria)
It is possible to use the smartphone as a desktop computer, but not every smartphone supports this technology via the usb port. What works in most cases is a docking station with DisplayLink support. DisplayLink works with any usb port.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayLink
9 • Restarting services on a schedule (by Henrique Rodrigues on 2024-03-11 10:54:01 GMT from United Kingdom)
The nice thing about systemd is that it already supports this feature, there's no need to mess around with crontabs. You can either use systemd timers for that or, the easiest is to just use "RuntimeMaxSec", which stops a service after X amount of seconds.
Another good thing about systemd is that you don't need to mess around with the original unit files, you can simply create an override by doing something like:
$ sudo systemctl edit
Then add the following and save:
[Service]
RuntimeMaxSec=86400s
Restart=always
I don't think the "Restart" directive is needed, but it doesn't hurt.
You can have as many override files as you want and you can even have unit files that are set up at the user level, not at the system level.
I really don't understant the hate against systemd, it made my life as a sysadmin so much better.
10 • Smartphone as a workstation : Galaxy Z Fold and Dex (by LapiGNU on 2024-03-11 11:58:41 GMT from France)
@#2, tried it with my Fold and the same "dock" as Jesse a few months ago. The hardware is no problem, Dex is quiet coll, but for me, the applications keep to much of an "Android touch" for me. Firefox, Collabora Office, Solid Explorer...
11 • smartphones (by dr.j on 2024-03-11 12:11:23 GMT from Romania)
a smartphone as a desktop replacement? Never.
I prefer to go the other way, in which I install the Messenger as a desktop version on the computer and always delete everything on the smartphone.
Word processing, online banking, etc. on a smartphone. Never.
Even if one day a Linux phone allows full control of a smartphone and all the programs I need on the desktop are available. Why? It doesn't make any sense. Then you'd rather have a mini-PC
12 • Smartphones as a Wrokstation (by Tamas on 2024-03-11 13:11:59 GMT from Hungary)
I also have a Z Fold 4, and I am typing this on it via DeX.
Samsung made DeX available in the S8 phone in about 2017, and it stayed.
Hopefully, multi-monitor support and faster usb-c ports might be around the corner...
Currently, S/Note/Z Fold series phones and Tab S series tablets can be used with DeX, but only one external monitor can be attached/used (or on some docks, multi-monitor is a possibility, however, only mirrored output is available on them), so at maximum two separate screens (the internal and one usb-c / wirelessly connected external screen) can be used.
However, the docks tend to include several usb-A ports, probably, some usb-c ports, as well as ethernet and some even has Displayport output.
As for tasks: I am a sysadmin, so ssh (Termius) and Teamviewer, RDP, VNC (bVNC) all can be done on both screens (because of the tablet-like inner screen of my phone), but usually, ssh and Chrome is started on DeX screen and RDP is (currently) usable on the inner screen of the phone.
13 • Smartphone fusion (by to_lose_letrec on 2024-03-11 16:28:52 GMT from United States)
I really wish I completely understood the increasing desire to bring mobile devices together with desktop.
It's something that has boggled my mind ever since desktop interfaces started looking more like mobile (as with, say GNOME), or literally running the same software (as with Windows 8).
While I understand the unity being conceptually attractive, what is wrong with having interfaces that are for fundamentally different things? It shouldn't be too hard to wrap one's head around that. After all, most of us use more than one program and more than one operating system literally every day without tension. If they can share information somehow, that's about the only level of overlap I personally need or even want.
So no, I am not using a mobile phone for a desktop, because they serve profoundly different purposes for me. If the only cost is having to carry a laptop AND a phone, that cost is not very high.
14 • Smartphones (by Vukota on 2024-03-11 16:49:38 GMT from Serbia)
While, I answered No to use it as a desktop, I may consider it for running as a server, as it has battery (thus not requiring UPS or extra brick for short outages), does not need extra cooling (i can put it in the closet/drawer) and finally is super quiet (so it can live in my bedroom). I can use it as a 5G router as well.
15 • Smartphones as a Wrokstation (by Mike W on 2024-03-11 16:55:10 GMT from United States)
While this technology is not ready for prime time today, its definitely around the corner. I have a Chormebook that can do double duty as a laptop when my needs are modest. So, its not hard to envision a smart phone that a user can drop into a charging cradle, where that cradle also allows the connection of a keyboard, mouse and external monitor.
Given the advancing power of cell phone processors, in the future a user could easily catchup on email and news while on the train heading for the office on their cell phone. Then, once they arrive at the office, drop their smart phone into a cradle and get to work on their spreadsheet, planning software, etc.,
16 • @4 Windows Cliches (by GT on 2024-03-11 16:56:34 GMT from United States)
"But I also blame Windows for becoming increasingly more annoying and unreliable with its forced updates and poor security track record that leads users to think they need to run antivirus and antimalware programs with the abysmal performance hit that these bring."
I know Windows-bashing is a favorite pastime of Linux users, but the criticisms have not seem to have changed since Windows 95/98 and XP. Windows has definitely become more reliable over the years, and I haven't installed antivirus software since Windows 7, which is the version where Defender was built into the OS. Windows security is constantly improving while Linux is seeing more successful attacks due to its increased ubiquity and motivation for hackers to find vulnerabilities. I would still say Linux is more secure than Windows, but for the average desktop user, the difference is pretty negligible these days. I have not had an instance of malware making it's way onto Windows since XP.
I think it is pretty obvious that the increased usage of phone-only computer users has much more to do with how much more one can do with a phone these days than consumers getting 'fed up with Windows'. I have never heard that opinion come from anyone other than Linux users. In fact, I haven't heard any Windows user complain about Windows for the last decade. The only Windows-bashing I hear today comes from Linux users who seem to think people who actually use Windows feel the same way.
That being said, I love tinkering with Linux and have a niche reason for always having a distro installed and ready to go. It's a wonderful OS, but it doesn't have to be "Linux or Windows". For me, it is "Linux and Windows".
17 • What, and lose everything at once? (by RedQuine on 2024-03-11 17:05:32 GMT from United Kingdom)
I know people who use their phones for everything. When I say I can't access my emails on mine, they stare at me like I'm crazy. But they're the ones who end up in a mad panic when they drop their phones, and there's always the risk of loss or theft.
The few apps on my phone are normally disabled or muted, and linked to a separate email account. I can use WhatsApp on my laptop to download & back up data, plus it's far easier to type URLs on a physical keyboard. I resent the fact that so many online accounts now require apps and/or SMS but use an old phone for those. All I carry around - and all I *want* to carry around - is the bare minimum. Even that is grudging; until 7 years ago, I only took my phone out of the house when travelling long distance.
Just because you *can* do something, doesn't automatically make it sensible. Especially if its only advantage is convenience, although I realise YMMV.
18 • missing poll option (by Steve on 2024-03-11 17:47:14 GMT from United States)
There is a choice missing from the poll today:
"I don't have/use/want a smartphone"
....and won't have one until I can no longer get and use a flip phone. But then I also use a landline for my home phone so folks that don't know my life and work experience might be tempted to label me as a luddite. They would be wrong, of course, as I'm not a luddite, I just have a lot of experience, starting with analog computers. Besides, I already have a couple of home built desktop computers so I don't need to use a smartphone as a desktop workstation.
But that's just me, if all you have is a smartphone then the idea might have appeal, leaving off the question of whether it has merit.
19 • "No but I plan to try" (by Jacob Alexander Tice on 2024-03-11 18:39:10 GMT from United States)
I have a Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, which has a feature called Ready For that creates a desktop environment thing when plugged into a dock. I'm wondering if it's usable for basic tasks but I don't have said dock.
20 • A PinePhone as a mobile desktop computer? (by migos on 2024-03-11 18:56:09 GMT from Portugal)
Thats what I want!
A smartphone that works like a phone by itself and that works like a desktop / workstation when connected to an external monitor, mouse and keyboard. Different but simultaneous interfaces for each one. I should be able to talk on the phone while I work. That would be the maximum flexibility and mobility!
Taking my PC (Linux box) with me everywhere, including to my work? Yes! Yes! Yes!
I hope some distro takes this seriously and implement it on a smartphone, and they will have a user!
21 • systemd timers (by Walter on 2024-03-11 18:57:09 GMT from Canada)
@9: > "I really don't understant the hate against systemd, it made my life as a sysadmin so much better."
I think the above post perfectly illustrates why some people dislike systemd and people who push it in situations that don't make sense.
In the Weekly's QA a solution is presented for restarting services on a schedule which just requires the user to write one line. Just edit one line in one file, knowing just the name of the service and the time when they want to restart it. This solution works on virtually ever Linux, BSD, and Unix system in the world.
Then the comment in post @9 comes up with the equivalent systemd solution which involves editing or creating a file, editing multiple lines, and not only knowing the name of the service, but also the number of seconds the user wants the service to run between restarts. Ignoring what happens if the user is more interested in restarting at a set time rather than how long the service has run. And this solution only works on around 2/3rds of Linux distributions, ignoring a third of Linux distros, BSDs, and traditional Unix. And this is presented by the systemd fan as being better.
It's worse for the user at every step of the process, requires more resources, and doesn't work in half the environments as the solution in the QA. How can systemd be considered a step forward in this situation?
22 • phone as a desktop (by MK on 2024-03-11 19:13:50 GMT from Israel)
It is a great idea, if done right. I'd really like to have a fanless PC/phone with decent performance. Apparently, it is no easy to do, and the hardware is not there yet.
23 • Phone as desktop (by Nifty on 2024-03-11 22:57:42 GMT from United States)
Unfortunately, due to circumstances, my phone is an iPhone. I have no desire whatsoever to expand its role in my life. I‘ll stick with raspberry pi’s and live USBs.
24 • systemd (by Jerry on 2024-03-11 23:49:42 GMT from United States)
@21 Thank you!
25 • Phone as a desktop (by Lupus Lunarum on 2024-03-12 08:20:39 GMT from Germany)
There already exists a little german startup trying to sell a bundle.
It´s called Shiftphone and they are for the longest time only preselling Shift Phone mu
for about 1200-1300,-€
If that ever comes to fruition IDK. Been watching their website for a long time might be a scam. See for yourselves.
Bye Lupus
26 • Smartphone (by Gram on 2024-03-12 17:31:12 GMT from United Kingdom)
Not for me, using a smartphone in this way. However for 30-40 UK pounds/US dollars, why not get a raspberry pi? All scenarios listed will work easily.
27 • phones as desktop (by Dave Postles on 2024-03-12 18:53:08 GMT from United Kingdom)
Not for me, I'm afraid. I'd still need a keyboard and a mouse. I might as well just carry my Gigabyte small form factor unit with me. In any case, I wouldn't want to pay more than £100 for a smart phone.
28 • phone desktop (by chetco on 2024-03-12 21:48:47 GMT from United States)
It's an interesting idea and this was one of the main reasons people were interested in the Ubuntu Phone. DeX and some other Android phones have this now, but last time I tried it it was not ready for heavy daily work yet, the usb transfer is pretty slow and there's no multi-monitor support yet. The applications are also just blown up mobile layouts, but that's not a dealbreaker to a lot of people considering things like GNOME and similar projects are popular. I think it'll mature in this decade or early in the next. People who are hardcore mobile gamers (which cant be that many people) also like stuff like this because emulating Android can be a PITA sometimes.
I could see this becoming popular a way to get basic tasks done as desktop sales among people who aren't gamers, video editors and 3D modelers continue to decline.
29 • systemd (by Johnny on 2024-03-12 23:00:07 GMT from United States)
@9 Thank you!!
30 • smartphone as desktop (by Jerry on 2024-03-13 11:50:33 GMT from United States)
When I travel, I commonly use my Samsung Galaxy S23 paired with a portable Wimaxit 12" monitor and a Waherfo foldable keyboard with touchpad. Works great and very comfortable, though I don't see it as a daily setup.
31 • Dex was so-so (by Moe on 2024-03-13 20:16:39 GMT from United States)
I'm surprised Google hasn't (yet) modded ChromeOS for phones.
32 • systemd (by ThomasAnderson on 2024-03-13 22:27:46 GMT from Australia)
Continuing from the previous weekly discussion about systemd is good. So many times here on the comments section, a good discussion starts only to be stopped when the comments close at the end of the week.
In light of the systemd infiltration of Linux I have been testing some systemd "free" linux distros such as Devuan, Void, Artix and PCLinuxOS, however the issue is that all have shortcomings and compromises, such as adding Elogind or other systemd components into supposedly systemd-free distros.
I tested NomadBSD, going away from Linux seems to be the next logical step, especially considering the issue of Wayland and Xorg battles taking place, with Fedora opting to not have it installed in the next release (although it can be installed from repo).
Seems to me too many things are going in the wrong direction with Linux. I did touch on the kernel bloat also and the fact the Linus, although lead dev, does not in anyway care about the issue. Sure, sometimes old hardware gets pruned, like support for SUN Sparc cpu's, but that is not the bloat that is the issue.
NomadBSD so far seems to offer everything I need, including the ability to install to disk with encryption and it also has a compatibility layer for running Linux apps and choice of shell including Bash Shell. Seems to be the way to go, as it is based on FreeBSD but better.
I guess the migration away from Linux happens to those who are dissatisfied with the state of Linux and the the path it is taking. RedoxOS isn't ready yet for a main stable, so in the meantime, NomadBSD it is. No more Systemd, everything works on a nicely maintained secure system.
33 • phone as a desktop (by paul on 2024-03-14 00:32:58 GMT from United Kingdom)
The idea that a small gadget will replace everything is a nice thought but impractical, my phone has so much personal stuff on it that I don't want to plug it in anywhere else apart from my house..... Whereas I already own a laptop, desktop, and raspberry pi's which already are attached to a display and human interfacing devices!
Maybe for a damaged phone to still use it 'headless' would make sense though.
I dunno, not for me but If that's how you want to get your Linux on then who am I to judge.
34 • systemd, BSD (by Jan on 2024-03-14 00:46:51 GMT from The Netherlands)
@32
I tested GhostBSD in live-usb, the XFCE-version (I could not get the Mate-version (the flagship) in a usable way on my external monotor, no option to change which monitor to use).
It looks nice.
However it has a small management-team.
And I wonder who is in control of keeping Mate and XFCE up-to-date (in general). It seems only Gnome and KDE and Cinnamon have a clear maintaining team.
35 • @34 (by ThomasAndersin on 2024-03-14 04:11:17 GMT from Australia)
Yes, GhostBSD is maintained by one person, perhaps 2. This was discussed briefly a few weeks ago where i was pointing out the lack of disk encryption option using GELI which is available in FreeBSD, MidnightBSD and NomadBSD.
Mate and XFCE have a proper group of maintainers. Perhaps the issue was with your graphics card. NomadBSD uses Openbox by default.
36 • smartphone as desktop (by Richard Palmer on 2024-03-14 12:27:28 GMT from France)
This is an interesting idea that I've explored with my LG G5 (running Android), but I've not used it for serious work.
I prefer to use a full Linux install on an external ssd, that I carry with me when I travel.
That said, if I had a Linux phone I would be happy to use it instead of the external disk; it appears however that even the Pinephones and other such devices have limitations.
37 • Smartphone as a computer (by Fox on 2024-03-14 20:23:40 GMT from Canada)
I tried DeX on a Galaxy S8 and S20 with a dock, and it worked very well. I was only interested in trying it, though, not actually using it to do any useful work. But I was impressed with how well it worked.
38 • smartphone as desktop (by Jerry on 2024-03-14 21:57:15 GMT from United States)
(correcting my post @30) When I travel, I commonly use my GT-I7500 paired with a portable WalkWatch 2" monitor and a Waheegit foldable keyboard with touchpad. Works great and very comfortable, though I don't see it as a daily setup.
39 • Phone (by Romne on 2024-03-15 07:08:31 GMT from Australia)
Have absolutely no intention of ever using a phone as my computer.
Yes, yes, I know that these devices are becoming capable of such uses.
But phones have to small an interface for me to work comfortably with. And, phones are prone to being lost - news item recently about someone who lost their phone, and as a result lost about $12,000.
No, I refuse to keep my life on any mobile device, such as the younger generation seem to do. Too much risk, lack of any real security, and too prone to loss (eg. if your life is on it, what happens to your life?). Likewise, suffers the Windoze syndrome - commonly used, and thus a prime target for scammers and spammers.
A phone is, to me, just that - a phone.
40 • @39 (by ThomasAnderson on 2024-03-15 23:46:16 GMT from Australia)
Care to elaborate on how that person who lost their phone also lost $12,000?
I am still waiting for an affordable, capable, Linux phone under $300, so that i can ditch android. I know it may seem hypocritical given my stance on systemd but we have to pick and choose our battles. A linux phone is still more secure and desirable than an android phone even one running Calyx or another secured android rom.
Using a Linux phone as a desktop replacement in an emegency is handy but not for daily use case.
Number of Comments: 40
Display mode: DWW Only • Comments Only • Both DWW and Comments
| | |
| 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.
|
| 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 |
| • Issue 1129 (2025-07-07): GLF OS Omnislash, the worst Linux distro, Alpine introduces Wayback, Fedora drops plans to stop i686 support, AlmaLinux builds EPEL repository for older CPUs, Ubuntu dropping existing RISC-V device support, Rhino partners with UBports, PCLinuxOS recovering from website outage |
| • 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 |
| 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.
|
| Random Distribution | 
postmarketOS
postmarketOS is an Alpine-based Linux distribution for mobile devices and desktop computers. The project offers several mobile interfaces - including GNOME Mobile, Phosh, Plasma Mobile and Simple X Mobile (Sxmo). The distribution also offers a range of popular desktop environments, window managers and Wayland compositors for x86_64 and AArch64 computers, such as COSMIC, GNOME, KDE Plasma and Sway. The project aims to provide long-term support for a range of mobile devices, key among them the Librem 5 and the PinePhone, though others, traditionally Android devices, are also supported.
Status: Active
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
|
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
