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1 • Canonical drops its support (by jg on 2026-06-01 00:40:27 GMT from United States)
Canonical introduces some proprietary service/software, tries to herd everyone onto that bandwagon, and then completely abandons it later on.
Who would have predicted that?
2 • 25 Years (by Linux User NZ on 2026-06-01 01:20:21 GMT from New Zealand)
Congratulations on 25 years of Distrowatch!
3 • Global readers (by Arve Eriksson on 2026-06-01 01:22:20 GMT from Sweden)
Swedish readership, making noise!
4 • I don’t have a tablet (by Watching Sassy the Sasquatch on 2026-06-01 01:25:18 GMT from Canada)
I have a pinephone that came with postmarket os and phosh originally but now it is running mobian for better software support (as I was still new enough to Linux). I like Lomiri for sure from Ubuntu touch but I feel the obligation to use postmarket os.
Congrats on 25 years!
5 • Beginner vs. expert distros. (by Brad on 2026-06-01 01:26:01 GMT from United States)
Hit the nail on the head for the most part.
Beginners will get the most bang for the buck by starting (as I did) with easy distros like Ubuntu (back before Unity) or Linux Mint.
I think the "hard" or "expert" distro advocates do a disservice to beginners by somehow suggesting that the "only" way to learn Linux is to build it from the ground up - this is little more than a self-serving ego trip, and probably scares potential users away from something simpler and better than proprietary commercial OS's.
If there are beginners reading this post, ignore the "nay-sayers", and pick something easier, as Jesse suggests.
Years ago, when I first started my Linux journey, I found Distrowatch's Major Distributions page to be an invaluable resource, and I tried most of them before settling on Ubuntu/Linux Mint.
Thanks for 25 years of service to the community!
6 • 25 Years of DW (by Guido on 2026-06-01 01:53:32 GMT from Philippines)
Congratulations! I've been using Linux myself since 2007. DW helped me figure out what distributions were available besides Ubuntu. I started with Ubuntu back then. Generally, I also prefer distributions that are quick and easy to install. Therefore, some examples are immediately ruled out.
7 • Beginner vs. expert distros (by Devlin7 on 2026-06-01 02:06:21 GMT from New Zealand)
First, Happy birthday, that is an incredible milestone!
Second, The nature of duality is that there is good and bad in everything.Dumbing the install of linux distros down is both good and bad. I have seen a lot of Corporate companies now running linux (good) and (bad) having no idea that their server has SSH open, or an active VPN connection for support. They have an appliance or docker deployed because it was easy and then not realising their issues with their Corporate network were because it clashed with the internal network range of docker. I have tried virtually all distros over the years, I find some of the text installers are easier and faster than the graphic ones to install. Treat each as opportunity to learn Linux and you will learn a lot about life in the process. (We are all different, the fact they you tinkering with Linux and not Windows is proof)
8 • Bravo Distrowatch (by Geo. on 2026-06-01 02:18:07 GMT from Canada)
Happy 25th. <3
And Congrats Murena too.
9 • Beginner advice (by Keith S on 2026-06-01 02:31:12 GMT from United States)
Great points for beginners! I have been using Linux and/or BSD for almost 20 years now. I agree that it is much, much better and easier today to get Linux running on a home computer or laptop. Even laptops that are 10 years old or more can easily run many distros.
All of that is great and I for one am thankful for how much easier it is to get going with Linux. I have never understood the attitude of difficulty for its own sake in installing and using a system. It can be terribly frustrating and exhausting. I admit that I personally tend to prefer a couple that have that reputation (especially OpenBSD), but the reasons for those preferences are more philosophical than practical, and I certainly don't encourage people who are just trying to get work done to join my sometimes quixotic journey. Much of the time I use one of the easiest distros (MX Linux) very happily.
Congratulations and thank you for 25 years!
10 • Congrats on 25 years! (by DivestOS on 2026-06-01 03:31:25 GMT from Canada)
Way to go and being a foundation of support for the community.
11 • OS for tablet (by Jyrki on 2026-06-01 03:45:16 GMT from Czechia)
Actually, I don't use tablet anymore. It's too big for use when I am not at home, mobile was always sufficient for me. And when I am at home, I have a proper notebook or PC. After years of having tablet I realised I don't have use case for it and just got rid of it.
12 • Happy Anniversary! (by Friar Tux on 2026-06-01 03:51:28 GMT from Canada)
Again, Happy 25th Anniversary! (I been with you for half of that and enjoyed every minute of it.) It was DW that pointed me in the direction of my daily driver OS - Linux Mint/Cinnamon. I toyed with a few dozen others, also through DW, but Mint worked best. Keep it up, guys, you're a great team. I also enjoy all the return commenters each week, and the passion they bring with their respective opinions. I love the banter, and the opposing views.
Here's to 25 more great years, ahead.
13 • Happy Birthday! (by jmmtsb5 on 2026-06-01 04:26:01 GMT from United States)
Happy 25th Birthday to DistroWatch!
Today I found out that I not only share my birthday with Clint Eastwood & Walt Whitman, I also share it with DistroWatch.
14 • Congratulations!! (by misha on 2026-06-01 06:54:06 GMT from Germany)
Wow, 25 years is a great milestone. I applaud and respect the dedication to maintain this great cornerstone of open source information exchange!
15 • Аnniversary (by ZKjorvezir on 2026-06-01 07:05:08 GMT from North Macedonia)
Happy 25th anniversary!
16 • Thank you! (by Udo on 2026-06-01 07:24:16 GMT from Germany)
I've read distrowatch for so many years, I can't remember. Thank you for the continuous gathering of this very useful information :-)
17 • Beginners (by Dave on 2026-06-01 08:56:46 GMT from Australia)
Depending on your personality, but beginners should definitely start with something easy, and that just works for their use case.
Over time they'll get curious, or have to fix issues, then they can start something more advanced. Learn in chunks, don't start from the ground up, it's too much all at once for most people.
If you're learning to cook, you don't start a 1000 step recipe that needs advanced techniques. You get the basics right and get more complex and adventurous as you go.
18 • Tablet and Information (by rhtoraS on 2026-06-01 09:01:12 GMT from Greece)
Ovios used systemD two years ago as your database also tells so i don't know why you post this about the adoption of it right now. I stropped using this distro for this reason and also i am not suggesting it anymore.
As for a tablet there is also movuan which is very nice https://gitlab.com/l2385/movuan/movuan-recipes
My best option is Void linux because it is the only one offering both glibc and musl and many archotectures. systemD does not work with musl and also is lagging when used in tablets.
19 • Happy birthday & Beginner vs. expert distros (by 0323pin on 2026-06-01 09:34:55 GMT from Sweden)
Congrats on the 25th anniversary.
I have to agree with the comments on beginner friendly distros. On the other hand, I wish more distros would offer an alternative, base only installation images, as I find stripping things off annoying and prefer to add stuff to a clean base.
Not that it matters that much, though, as the only usable distros (i.e. non-systemd) already do this :)
20 • Which OS do you prefer for a tablet? (by JakeI on 2026-06-01 09:36:57 GMT from United States)
I don't run a tablet and probably never will. I prefer a laptop.
21 • Congratulations & Thanks (by Horseshoe-Nails on 2026-06-01 10:46:59 GMT from United Kingdom)
Time's flying faster these days. The years are zipping by. 25 years? Sheesh, where'd that go?!!
Nope, there's no psychics, none of us. But at least you've actively help plant seeds which are still growing and maturing. Chaotic butterfly wing-beats and horseshoe-nails... who knows how you've tipped the scales for good (and even for The Good).
Congratulations and thanks for the website and all your labours. Keep up the good work.
22 • (Canonical also now maintains Flutter on (all) desktop.) About tablets: (by Huzid on 2026-06-01 10:53:21 GMT from France)
As phones got bigger (screen) and more powerful, tablets have became less popular, and laptop are now got lighter and got much better battery time. It's also never been a good productive tool (even with external keyboard, mouse and such) so devs don't really care, but many elderly people uses tablets because it's more intuitive (i.e. big colorful icons and big fonts on large screen) and they're already familiar with their phone that shares the same interface.
So tablets (despite the initial marketing) didn't replace computers, books or TV, and now there is apps for everything on phones and TV, and even watches, cars and fridges, and that paperback books are still a popular thing, and new generations are used to watch hours of video on phones, there is not much market share left for tablets.
So yes, Distrowatch weekly issue is much older than tablets, and has even lived on, proving that new is not always better!
23 • Happy Anniversary DW & Newcommers (by kc1di on 2026-06-01 11:50:10 GMT from United States)
Happy 25th anniversay DW. I've been here most of those years and always enjoyed reading it.
Its been a source of info and help for 25 years. Thank you for the efforts. :)
As to the Newbie advise I would say your pretty much on target with that. Only thing I would add is Choose the Distro that 1. please your senses and 2. Get the job done you need to do. Don't listen to unneeded advise from some. Most distros today allow for live boot and you can try out several before making up your mind which one fits you the best. Then begin learning it's ins and outs and become proficient in it's use. And help others along the way.
24 • Congratulations and great summary! (by Original Reader on 2026-06-01 12:52:39 GMT from Canada)
Congratulations on the 25 years! That's eons in computer terms lol. I've been reading since the start and always found Distrowatch to be a great resource! Thank you for all the guides and tools and access you've provided!
As for your Q&A about new users - very well said. Linux is linux - doesn't matter how many steps it took to get to a working system, if you're happy with it and it works for you - perfect! Personally I'd rather use my system than spend all my time configuring it.
25 • Happy Anniversary! (by Peter on 2026-06-01 13:36:34 GMT from United Kingdom)
Wow how time flies! I started using Linux, Mandrake Linux in fact, in 2000 and have happy memories of viewing Distrowatch on dialup to begin with. Still find Distrowatch fascinating reading and look forward to Mondays! So glad you keep going. Thank you.
26 • Longvevity of DW, steady as she goes..... (by Jerry B on 2026-06-01 13:37:38 GMT from United States)
25 years ago I was still floundering as I looked for more Linux in the stores.
Then I found this distrowatch website, and man what a difference it has made in my Linux journey!
Congratulations to Jesse Smith for his involvement expertise, and to all who keep this place THE place to be for Linux and BSD and all Open Source operating systems.
27 • Happy Birthday! (by JD on 2026-06-01 13:51:14 GMT from Italy)
Best wishes for the next 25 years!
28 • Q&A Section "Involvement" (by Slappy McGee on 2026-06-01 14:36:17 GMT from United States)
Some of us don't have the ability to gather and understand technical aspects of anything, including computing operating systems and coding and all that. We barely are able to make sense about this or that aspect of Linux/BSD and what we're experiencing, and then trying to express something about it in a comments area such as this one. We just don't have the education or the thinking apparatus that some have that have the abilities for those things.
We cannot understand the reviews here when the technical things are spoken of, and we scroll until we can fine something mentioned that we can grasp.
But we're not stupid. We're not uncaring about the Linux community. And we're not selfish. We bring money to dozens of distro projects, and yeah we do our best in bug reporting and these discussions in comments areas.
My money comes from savings and investments I have made for 66 years of "blue collar" working. In my full time work years not one single week went by that I did not work 6 days, 8 to 10 hours per day. So...now I'm okay and I share my money spread around quite a bit to areas of the community I have feeling connections with; open source (non-Microsoft/Apple) operating systems is one of those feeling connections.
We do our best, and yeah we use the great software that comes along in all this. But no, we do not understand with much depth how it's made and now to make deep changes to it etc.
29 • Happy birthday! (by greenjeans on 2026-06-01 15:04:16 GMT from United States)
1. Congrats and happy birthday!! I've been a regular reader since I first tried Linux back in 2008, and reading Weekly has been a Monday-morning ritual for me for a long time.
2. Great post in Q&A, couldn't agree more.
Here's to another 25 years, cheers!
30 • Happy 25th! (by John Shafely on 2026-06-01 15:18:14 GMT from United States)
Happy 25th anniversary, I discovered Distrowatch in 2003 and visit at least 3 times a week to check out new releases and news.
31 • Fun (by Allan Vázquez on 2026-06-01 17:03:10 GMT from Mexico)
"Put the fun back into computing"
If I can say something about my Linux system running on a Raspberry Pi, it is that it is fun!
Congratulations!!
32 • Happy 25th! (by Werewolfc on 2026-06-01 18:11:00 GMT from Romania)
Congrats on 25 years!
33 • Congratulations (by Mihai on 2026-06-01 20:26:26 GMT from United States)
Happy anniversary!
34 • 25 yrs (by grindstone on 2026-06-01 21:39:43 GMT from United States)
Thanks for all the work for so long!
35 • live cd (by Bob on 2026-06-01 21:43:26 GMT from Australia)
> [in 2001] ... The concept of a "live CD" did not even exist!
I do remember using yggdrasil in the 90's. Also knoppix in 2000.
36 • Q&A ease of use, tablets (by Tasio on 2026-06-02 02:00:01 GMT from Philippines)
Enjoyed the Q&A. Twenty years ago my XP expired. Refused to boot, bitching about the BIOS. No fix. No reinstall. I'd tried Linux before, not seriously, so I gave it a shot. Got Ubuntu. Easy install, live, same as today. But I could only get Internet on WiFi, and the laptop needed the XP driver. Catch-22: I had to be connected to connect and download ndiswrapper. So then came Linux Mint, ndiswrapper and a nice simple GUI included. Copied the XP driver, and off to the races. Stayed with Mint for some years. I don't use it now because I prefer KDE or Gnome. Tried others, but after all these years I'm back to Ubuntu and its children. I have installed Linux for several people, always Mint, and if KDE or Gnome were provided, I'd probably go back for my own PC.
I couldn't agree more with Jesse on ease of installation. Had it not been so easy, I may just have canned the laptop and gotten a newer one. As it was, that laptop served for some more years. Ease of use is also important to me. Example: I run QEMU VMs using virt-manager. On Ubuntu: "sudo apt install virt-manager", reboot, and done. On Debian and many others I need to find out what else I need to install, and add myself to the group. Still, sometime later I'll be trying to do something and I'll find out I'm still missing some things. I'm lazy that way, so I'll take Ubuntu.
Tablets: We have two, running Android. One goes on the exercise machines for videos or music while sweating. The other my wife uses to watch movies and TV programs in bed. That's all they're used for.
Happy 25th!
37 • Congratulations (by linux_user on 2026-06-02 06:36:08 GMT from Greece)
Congratulations to Distrowatch for the 25 years! Stay strong! Continue the fine work you are doing. You are a grate help for us the linux comunity.
38 • Congratulations (by snap dragon on 2026-06-02 08:00:16 GMT from United States)
I discovered Distrowatch back in 2016 after I quit Windows cold turkey instead of upgrading to Win 10. It's wild to think that I've followed this website for 10 years. I remember when you had the link to the online store that allowed people to purchase CD's and USB's with Linux burned onto them. Congratulations on your 25th birthday, and thanks for everything that you do! An aside: My very first distro was pure spartan Debian KDE with nothing pre-configured on it. There were many hilarious moments such as trying to figure out why double clicking on a .RPM file wouldn't launch an install wizard like back on Windows. I didn't want to pick something that was easy, I wanted to pick something that forced me to learn because it was a new OS and I needed to learn all that I could so that I could manage it effectively. Fast forward to today, and I've patched and compiled my own Kernel versions, rolled my own distros via LFS, and find Slackware, Arch, and Gentoo to be boring and easy to get up and running. I don't say that to brag, but rather to demonstrate that choosing the more difficult path is not always a bad thing. Currently at home on OpenBSD with no gui, and thoroughly enjoying tmux + tui/cli apps.
39 • 25 years - oh my (by crayola-eater on 2026-06-02 11:15:39 GMT from United States)
When I read about your 25 glorious years, it was a nice feeling even if it did make me feel a little bit old. Don't remember when I ran across you, but boy was it a easy bookmark to make. It for sure opened up the range of my distro-hopping, and of my knowledge of what I was getting into. Even now, Monday mornings are not complete without a DistroWatch fix, often even before my tea cools enough to sip..
Your take on beginner/expert seemed pretty spot on (as is usual for you, that's why we keep coming back). The distros that helped me make the move to full-time Linus were indeed turn-key ready distros - Slax and Mepis. Those got me solidly up and running, so I could then take the time to delve into what was going on under the hood and what not. Now, while far from expert I be, I am one of those who enjoy just a base cli install (generally anti-X these days), and building from there. Yes it certainly does take longer, but I learn so much more. Then I visit here to see what I am missing from the full installs :-)
40 • Congratulations (by biopsin on 2026-06-02 12:55:31 GMT from Norway)
Happy happy 25th, hope distrowatch last another 25 :)
41 • Run software suited to your hardware (by Kazlu on 2026-06-02 15:11:49 GMT from France)
"Run software suited to your hardware, not the other way around.'
If I agree with the general idea, I strongly (and sadly) disagree with the assertion saying "While each of these apps can be convenient, none of them are necessary". I will expand on the proposed examples:
- "People can use credit cards and web portals for their banks": more and more banks are now enforcing the use of applications as a "safety measure", because it's safer than SMS to identify the user. I hate that, but it becomes more and more difficult to go around it. Web portals are no longer enough, now you have to pick not your app, but your bank accordingly... And how long until that bank also caves in?
- "We can use taxis instead of Uber": highly depends on where you live.
- "there are many alternative messaging platforms to Whatsapp": Sure, but few people care. I have more than one example where I wanted to join a messaging group related to daily IRL activities but they ALL use whatsapp. When I try to raise concerns they make strange faces, think I have weird concerns and ignore them. So no, the choice is not to pick another application, it's wether or not to keep in touch with said community.
- "There are thousands of games in the world, most of them do not require kernel-level hacks to work and many of them are open source.": True, but then again, good luck convincing the community you would like to play with to change games...
My point: you cannot always pick another, more virtuous software. Sometimes it's just "submit or walk away". And it's not easy to walk away from all. Pick your battles.
As for me, I allow a few exceptions in a contained environment (extra Android user, Apps via aurora store, VPN). But this is not convenient.
42 • Happy Anniversary! (by Derek on 2026-06-02 16:10:48 GMT from United States)
Crazy that its been 25 years! After discovering Linux in the late 1990's, I remember the early days of Distrowatch. I've always enjoyed it. Thank you and congrats!
43 • 25 years (by Bernhard on 2026-06-02 16:52:23 GMT from Germany)
Wow, you've really come a long way.
Congrats and see you next week, and the week after, and the week after that!
44 • Congratulations Distrowatch (by StephenC on 2026-06-02 17:36:24 GMT from United States)
1. Congratulations! You have been a great service to us all and well worth the time to read every week. Distrowatch is one of the top websites I refer new Linux users too.
I started with in 1998 with RedHat on floppies and dial up. So frustrating that I didn't try Linux again until Xandros Linux a few years later. I then found I could use the Knoppix CD to test the hardware before installing Xandros... which led me to Distrowatch to figure out if there was something better. I've been reading the weekly almost steadily since then.
2. The comment in the Q&A, "There is no need to limit ourselves to games produced by companies with bad engineering practices." should have been in bold, underlined, and in blinking red all-caps large print font. A couple of times that I've been asked for help in this regard I could only shake my head sadly and say "start over with a clean system".
45 • Congratulations! (by Moy on 2026-06-02 15:36:50 GMT from United States)
Congratulations on 25 years, Ladislav, Jesse, and everyone else! I don't remember when I discovered DW, but your Monday morning reviews have been part of my schedule for years!
46 • DW 25 Years (by dolphin oracle on 2026-06-03 12:00:34 GMT from United States)
Congratulations on the big 25 year anniversary. It makes me happy :)
47 • Distrowatch Turns 25! (by Huckleberry Hiroshima on 2026-06-03 12:38:00 GMT from United States)
That DW Turns 25 section in this week's "Weekly" is chocked full of great information, including this gem that really tells the story:
"Each month we receive visitors from around 1.5 million unique IP addresses..."
Wow. Not two thousand or fifty thousand people clicking in and then clicking several more times to read more here, but a million and a half UNIQUE IP ADDRESSES every month.
For many of us DW is quite the clearing house for distros; not just a list, but front to back information about every single one of them, plus the links to their sites and to reviews of each one from different sources (not just DW's reviews).
Thank you for all of that, and for all that you do here and in the background, Jesse et al.
48 • Purity and the real world (by r_a_trip on 2026-06-03 13:09:52 GMT from The Netherlands)
@41. I fully agree. From an ideological standpoint these recommendations are fine. However there is this thing called the real world and some decision are made for you. External decisions like a government login app that only works on Android. A bank that increasingly forces you to use their closed source phone app. Simple network effects that tether you to a certain communication silo.
I've heard a lot of "helpful" advice with such cases over the years. Like, switch banks. Run an Android emulator for your government login. Find better friends. It's easily said, but practically it's just too much hassle for absolutely no gain. I have given up on jumping through hoops to be ideologically "pure". My Android phone is used for banking, government login and communicating with friends. Friends for which I have absolutely no intention to abandon.
What is the point of emulating Android on a FOSS system, when that just means running Android with more aggravating steps? Why do I need to abandon my friends for the "crime" of not wanting to switch to an obscure messaging alternative? It's these kinds of tone deaf recommendations that keep the majority far away from FOSS. No one wants to join the purity priesthood if that means living in 1990. FOSS should connect to the world of today, not making people go back in time.
49 • other option of poll (by poll on 2026-06-03 13:26:27 GMT from Türkiye)
I use mx linux for surface pro
50 • Purity and the real world (by Jan on 2026-06-03 18:05:30 GMT from Germany)
@48. This doesn't mean that you should not even try to resist these decisions that are imposed on you. You still can switch the bank and politely ask your friends to consider communicating with you using a freedom-respecting messaging app. You can do some political advocacy to convince the government app developers to support GNU/Linux.
> What is the point of emulating Android on a FOSS system, when that just means running Android with more aggravating steps?
It is not the same Android, it can be free from Google services and you are in control.
> Why do I need to abandon my friends for the "crime" of not wanting to switch to an obscure messaging alternative?
Don't abandon your friends.
> No one wants to join the purity priesthood if that means living in 1990.
Yes, sometimes compromises can be necessary, but perhaps the world had more freedom in 1990 or in 2000 than today. Actually, the overall cultural landscape was more "alive" and genuine, in my opinion.
51 • n00bs and the real world (by Carl Commenter on 2026-06-03 23:47:29 GMT from United States)
The main advice n00bs need is to avoid systemd. This tip no n00b guide will give. Just explain that avoiding systemd strips millions of lines of code, simplifying and hardening the distro.
Anyone who needs systemctl is not a n00b. The idea that n00bs can grok the inter-dependencies of unit files, or know when to write them, or how to utilize them, is miles from reality. And since n00bs just want things to work, any plumbing will do. Simpler is better for them.
What n00bs *do* need is a good installer. The distinction between "expert" and "beginner" distros is just the installer or lack thereof. Any systemd-free distro with a decent one is fine. Any recent Artix desktop ISO with runit or dinit beats Mint or Ubuntu. PCLinuxOS also works. As Jesse says, the post-install difference between distros, from a beginner standpoint, is nil. What really matters then is community support and package selection/freshness. These issues are culture and management.
Now the remarks on FOSS alternatives and compromises with the "real world" are whacked. People who think they need to bank electronically *at all* give me shivers. It's one of the last things I would ever migrate from paper mail or branch visits to a mobile device. The addictive nature of mobile phones is the problem here, not FOSS. Even if the bank offered a FOSS app, I would opt for paper statements, asking the bank to disable all electronic logins over the Internet, whether web-based or mobile app. That's security 101.
And security here defends against bank malfeasance as much as hacking. The future will bring "bank holidays" or "earth calamity" in which the computers will "crash," and the banks will call force majeure, saying they lost all databases. Then you're SOL without paper statements. You read it here first. Visit paypalsucks.com for some idea how financial firms rip people off. The only banking I would do on a mobile phone is FOSS crypto, because it is network-based from the start.
Most people I know babble over SMS text. They don't even know WhatsApp exists. If I had to join a WhatsApp group, then I would install the app. More than one app can exist on a phone.
My friends are always excited to find out about SimpleX.chat, because it replaces SMS text and e-mail, while allowing them to utilize their PC as a "link-to-mobile" terminal. It supports groups, replaces Skype, Facetime, WiFi calling, yada yada; really fantastic.
52 • Happy anniversary (by pepa65 on 2026-06-04 04:08:03 GMT from Thailand)
I have been reading Distrowatch for some 25 years now, in the beginning from a Windows98SE installation, never made it to XP, soon I was using RedHat, Debian, SuSE and later Arch. When Ubuntu appeared it made sense, and I used it for many years (still do on servers), but in the last few years I had to settle on Mint with Mate. I has been an epoch! Up to the next 25 years Distrowatch!
53 • My favorite mobile distro is Droidian (by Elcaset on 2026-06-04 04:21:36 GMT from The Netherlands)
I've tried several different mobile Linux distros, & my favorite is Droidian. If your device is supported by the UBports easy installer, then you can use it to install Droidian or Ubuntu Touch. A safe & easy way to install.
54 • n00bs and the real world (by Tasio on 2026-06-04 06:19:50 GMT from Philippines)
@52, "Even if the bank offered a FOSS app, I would opt for paper statements, asking the bank to disable all electronic logins over the Internet, whether web-based or mobile app. That's security 101." Bank branch halfway across the world, and mail can take 6 months to arrive it at all. That's reality101.
55 • Online banking (by Kazlu on 2026-06-04 14:31:41 GMT from France)
@51 "Even if the bank offered a FOSS app, I would opt for paper statements, asking the bank to disable all electronic logins over the Internet, whether web-based or mobile app. That's security 101."
And if your house burns down, all your paper statements go with it. So much for security.
Online does not necessarily mean mobile. Smartphones are just one way to access the Internet, which is the key part. The web is still open and you can chose any browser on any OS of your chosing (well, often enough) to access a web portal. If it's for banking, you can access all your documents in PDF format, dowload them so YOU keep copies, make backups in different places so at least one or two copies that you control keep living somewhere in every scenario. Beats paper statements without demanding to make 3 paper copies of everything and rent a warehouse for your paperwork.
Now sure, a computer can still be hacked. Paper cannot. But paper can be stolen and is easier to read than a stolen encrypted data storage. Again, bonus security points for a digital solution. As long as you control it, which requires trustworthy software, that you can chose and not one that is imposed by your bank. And we're back to my original point.
56 • Distrowatch (by Same As Last Time on 2026-06-04 22:35:32 GMT from United States)
'Grats on 25 !
57 • Online banking (by Tasio on 2026-06-05 01:05:19 GMT from Philippines)
@55, It's not so simple. Website logins these days require 2FA, and usually they want push notification on your phone. Quite often, logging in requires a calI to customer service. I use 2 banks here and one in the US, and my wife has more. Without Android apps it would be a pain. I transfer money with apps. I pay all bills with apps. My phone saves me time, money and hassles. I don't share the angst of some here.
Convenience? My air conditioned car is a convenience. There's an expat here who goes everywhere on a bicycle, even midday in the tropical heat. He's happy with that. But no way in hell I would do that, never mind "save the planet" and all that jazz.
58 • Online banking (by Kazlu on 2026-06-05 08:06:52 GMT from France)
@57 Yes, I agree, and that's my point: In theory, a web browser on any device is enough, but more and more banks *enforce* the use of their application at least for 2FA. Offering the possibility is totally fine. Making it mandatory, therefore forcing you to buy a smartphone with the Google or Apple ecosystem and to use their own app, is not. There are other solutions. Ok fine, SMS+email is not secure enough, I can hear that. Then you can use third party open source authentication apps, hardware USB identification keys, custom hardware the bank validates... The point is to have a choice a a user and client, not to lock the user in the bank's choice.
59 • Online banking (by Yasio on 2026-06-05 10:12:07 GMT from Philippines)
@59, "forcing you to buy a smartphone with the Google or Apple ecosystem" Forcing? Just about everyone has a smartphone and effectively 100% are on iOS or Android, China excluded. Huawei lost just about all its market-share when they were not allowed to use Google Plat Store. The little they have left is because they still use Android and stores will side-load the Play Store when you purchase. I'm in a poor country, and just about everyone has a smartphone. I see toddlers playing with smartphones in stores and restaurants. I've seen beggars with children holding smartphones. You don't buy and Android or Apple phone because you want use bank apps. You use bank apps because you have an Android or Apple phone. You really think that banks or other businesses are going to spend resources on an insignificant to non-existent slice of the market? Swimming against a rip current is futile.
60 • Banks (by Jesse on 2026-06-05 10:48:09 GMT from Canada)
@58: "but more and more banks *enforce* the use of their application at least for 2FA"
Is this an American thing, a European thing? None of the banks in Canada do this. In fact, I'm pretty sure they are not legally allowed to do this in Canada.
61 • Banks (by Tasio on 2026-06-05 11:14:38 GMT from Philippines)
@60, I doubt any bank will "enforce" the use of their app, whether or not there's a law. There's such a thing as losing your phone or having it stolen, broken phone or getting new one, which might make it impossible to log in with the app. There can be codes sent by email or text, or calls in some cases. However, it can become difficult. I had a case where I was locked out and was sent to the "forgot password" page. No joy. Talked to customer service and they said it was fixed. It wasn't. I was in a loop for quite a while, yet I could log in on my app. Go figure.
There are also newer strictly online banks, which require an app, customer service is available, but no web log in. They are in several countries. Whether they're allowed in Canada, I have no idea.
62 • @55 kazlu: (by dragonmouth on 2026-06-05 11:33:37 GMT from United States)
You can make your end of the transactions 100% bullet-proof. However, you have absolutely no control over the bank''s end. In spite of all the blather about individual identity theft. the vast majority of it occurs because banks do not or are unable to secure their databases. A week doesn't go by that a data breach at some financial institutions not announced. In seventy years of banking, I have not had any of the disasters that you mention and I do all my banking in person and on paper. Ever since the popularization of the PC and the smart phone. it has become de rigeur to do EVERYTHING online. What is forgotten in all the rush to convenience is that the price of convenience is PRIVACY and SECURITY. People put their entire lives online and the bitch and moan when their most intimate data is stolen..
63 • Tablet OS (by pwplant on 2026-06-05 11:35:17 GMT from Bulgaria)
I vote for Mobian. Plasma on Debian would be my second very close choice (and very possibly better working at current state). Generally I believe it should be distribution that follows conventional stable release model. I don't like immutable OS's, Android based even less. Fedora, Arch, Void will be good, but the user will not be happy as the way they updates and that updates are more or less enforced.
Generally it must be some conventional LTS distribution, but with better handling of updates and very polished GUI, especially in relation with packages manipulation, updates and migrations. Something like what they try to accomplish ~20 years ago, but never finish completely, despite good progress. And then come "rolling" and "immutable" concept shortcuts and everything about good design, improvements and integration was abandoned.
In relation with previous question about tablets and GUI development. Yes, I strongly believe that tablet is very good and practical concept. Also it really can help with GUI development of free software on such platforms, especially better than smartphones. But in order to please users and be more popular, they need to be way more supported in time, way more open and compatible, because are expensive devices and contribute to environment pollution. But current tech companies will not support such practices.
I used to have iPad Air - it was amazing device, but generally limited because of software and manufacturer. And Yes it is mostly consumer and entertaining device, but in most respects not comparable with readers and smartphones.
64 • @62, Bank security (by Tasio on 2026-06-05 11:47:29 GMT from United States)
Your point about bank database security is well-made. I've been wandering around the world for at least 40 years and have been online, including banking, since it was available, No disasters here either. I had my credit card used to buy plane tickets once, long ago in Colombia. I found out when I logged in to check accounts. otherwise I would not have known until I returned. Turned out to be a clerk at my hotel. That's when they swiped the cards on a machine and kept a paper copy. The bank sent me a new card and all was well.
65 • 25 years (by Jan on 2026-06-05 17:25:44 GMT from Germany)
Congratulations on the anniversary! Thanks to Jesse, Ladislav and all the people involved with this site!
Number of Comments: 65
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| Archives |
| • Issue 1176 (2026-06-08): Redcore Linux 2601, the problem with minimal system requirements, Red Hat account linked to compromised npm repositories, COSMIC to get frosted glass effect, openSUSE shows off system extension manager, Origami merges with RakuOS |
| • Issue 1175 (2026-06-01): PineTab2 with various distros, less common words of wisdom, Canonical shutting down Ubuntu's Pastebin, Murena nears 100k users, DistroWatch turns 25 |
| • Issue 1174 (2026-05-25): Solus 4.9, Linux tablets, Haiku boots on Apple M1 machines, Fedora drops Deepin packages, Mint improves Nemo performance |
| • Issue 1173 (2026-05-18): Sylve on FreeBSD, the benefit of BleachBit, Debian commits to reproducible builds, Debian publishes updated install media, Haiku introduces SMP support on ARM64 processors, Rocky Linux creates opt-in security repository, Fedora reconsiders AI tools, KDE receives generous donation |
| • Issue 1172 (2026-05-11): Fedora 44, dealing with extra fonts, Fedora plans to provide AI tools, problems with Ubuntu's new coreutils, TrueNAS extends its development cycle, postmarktetOS improves the boot splash screen, Redox ports tmux |
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| • Issue 1170 (2026-04-27): ENux 5.2.1, picking a second distro, AlmaLinux expands CPU support, FreeBSD publishes Status Report, Ubuntu MATE skips 26.04 release |
| • Issue 1169 (2026-04-20): Lakka 6.1, free software and source-based distributions, FreeBSD Foundation publishes compatible laptop list, Debian holds Project Leader election, Haiku progresses ARM64 port, Mint to extend development cycle, Linux 7.0 released |
| • Issue 1168 (2026-04-13): pearOS 2026.03, EndeavourOS 2026.03.06, which distros are adopting age verification, Arch adjusts its firewall packages, Linux dropping i486 support, Red Hat extends its release cycle, Debian's APT introduces rollbacks, Redox improves its scheduler |
| • Issue 1167 (2026-04-06): Origami Linux 2026.03, answering questions for Linux newcomers, Ubuntu MATE seeking new contributors, Ubuntu software centre is expanding Deb support, FreeBSD fixes forum exploit, openSUSE 15 Leap nears its end of life |
| • Issue 1166 (2026-03-30): NetBSD jails, publishing software for Linux, Ubuntu joins Rust Foundation, Canonical plans to trim GRUB features, Peppermint works on new utilities, PINE64 shows off open hardware capabilities |
| • Issue 1165 (2026-03-23): Argent Linux 1.5.3, disk space required by Linux, Manjaro team goes on strike, AlmaLinux improves NVIDIA driver support and builds RISC-V packages, systemd introduces age tracking |
| • Issue 1164 (2026-03-16): d77void, age verification laws and Linux, SUSE may be for sale, TrueNAS takes its build system private, Debian publishes updated Trixie media, MidnightBSD and System76 respond to age verification laws |
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| • Issue 1162 (2026-03-02): AerynOS 2026.01, anti-virus and firewall tools, Manjaro fixes website certificate, Ubuntu splits firmware package, jails for NetBSD, extended support for some Linux kernel releases, Murena creating a map app |
| • Issue 1161 (2026-02-23): The Guix package manager, quick Q&As, Gentoo migrating its mirrors, Fedora considers more informative kernel panic screens, GhostBSD testing alternative X11 implementation, Asahi makes progress with Apple M3, NetBSD userland ported, FreeBSD improves web-based system management |
| • Issue 1160 (2026-02-16): Noid and AgarimOS, command line tips, KDE Linux introduces delta updates, Redox OS hits development milestone, Linux Mint develops a desktop-neutral account manager, sudo developer seeks sponsorship |
| • Issue 1159 (2026-02-09): Sharing files on a network, isolating processes on Linux, LFS to focus on systemd, openSUSE polishes atomic updates, NetBSD not likely to adopt Rust code, COSMIC roadmap |
| • Issue 1158 (2026-02-02): Manjaro 26.0, fastest filesystem, postmarketOS progress report, Xfce begins developing its own Wayland window manager, Bazzite founder interviewed |
| • Issue 1157 (2026-01-26): Setting up a home server, what happened to convergence, malicious software entering the Snap store, postmarketOS automates hardware tests, KDE's login manager works with systemd only |
| • Issue 1156 (2026-01-19): Chimera Linux's new installer, using the DistroWatch Torrent Corner, new package tools for Arch, Haiku improves EFI support, Redcore streamlines branches, Synex introduces install-time ZFS options |
| • Issue 1155 (2026-01-12): MenuetOS, CDE on Sparky, iDeal OS 2025.12.07, recommended flavour of BSD, Debian seeks new Data Protection Team, Ubuntu 25.04 nears its end of life, Google limits Android source code releases, Fedora plans to replace SDDM, Budgie migrates to Wayland |
| • Issue 1154 (2026-01-05): postmarketOS 25.06/25.12, switching to Linux and educational resources, FreeBSD improving laptop support, Unix v4 available for download, new X11 server in development, CachyOS team plans server edtion |
| • Issue 1153 (2025-12-22): Best projects of 2025, is software ever truly finished?, Firefox to adopt AI components, Asahi works on improving the install experience, Mageia presents plans for version 10 |
| • Issue 1152 (2025-12-15): OpenBSD 7.8, filtering websites, Jolla working on a Linux phone, Germany saves money with Linux, Ubuntu to package AMD tools, Fedora demonstrates AI troubleshooting, Haiku packages Go language |
| • 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 |
| • Full list of all issues |
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