All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio) - Untitled Linux Show 179: Shape Up or Compile Out

Release Date: November 25, 2024
Host: TWiT (Jonathan Bennett)
Participants: Jeff Massey, Ken, Loquatius

1. Introduction

In Episode 179 of the Untitled Linux Show, host Jonathan Bennett welcomes his co-hosts Jeff Massey, Ken, and Loquatius to discuss the latest developments in the Linux and open-source ecosystems. The episode, aptly titled "Shape Up or Compile Out," promises a mix of software updates, hardware reviews, and critical discussions pertinent to the Linux community.

2. Product Review: CroVue Note ([02:47])

Jonathan Bennett introduces a new segment called "Reviewing Stuff," where he and the hosts evaluate the CroVue Note, a hybrid device integrating a keyboard, monitor, and a Raspberry Pi 5.

• Pros:

  • Portable Design: Combines essential laptop features with the flexibility of a Raspberry Pi.
  • Battery-Powered: Features a built-in battery, allowing it to function without being tethered to a power source.
  • Expandability: Equipped with an NVME carrier board, eliminating the reliance on SD cards.

• Cons:

  • Build Quality: Issues with the fit of the Raspberry Pi cooler due to design oversights.
  • Aesthetic Concerns: The Raspberry Pi hanging off the side gives it a cobbled-together appearance, raising concerns about long-term durability.
  • Fragility: Reliance on a few USB and HDMI connections may pose durability issues over time.

Notable Quote:

Jeff Massey ([06:35]): "It doesn't look good in a kid household."

Despite the drawbacks, Jonathan is enthusiastic about the device's potential and envisions future iterations incorporating the upcoming Raspberry Pi CM5 for a more integrated design.

3. Software Updates: Blender 4.3 ([09:58] – [25:00])

The discussion shifts to the Blender 4.3 release, extensively covered by Marius Nestor. Blender, a free and open-source 3D graphics and modeling software, introduces several significant updates:

• Experimental Vulkan Backend: Enhances UI rendering on Linux and Windows, though currently slower than OpenGL with limited feature support.
• New Features:
  • Fast GI Approximation: Speeds up global illumination calculations.
  • Improved Light and Shadow Linking: Achieves feature parity with Cycles.
  • New Shader Nodes: Includes a metallic BSDF and Gaber noise texture node.
  • Hardware Accelerated Ray Tracing on Linux: Boosts rendering performance.
  • Revamped Grease Pencil: Enhances functionality and performance for 2D animation.
  • Volume Scattering Node: Supports more phase functions.
  • Minimum Stretch Iterative Unwrapping Method: Improves UV mapping accuracy.

Jonathan Bennett expresses interest in Blender's video editing capabilities, considering it as a potential alternative to Kdenlive and OpenShot, despite Blender not traditionally being a non-linear video editor.

Notable Quote:

Loquatius ([14:05]): "So kind of like programming yourself in a corner, you could design yourself in a corner."

4. Software Updates: Wine 9.22 and Proton Enhancements ([25:00] – [49:00])

Jonathan Bennett delves into the Wine 9.22 release, highlighting the shift to a Wayland backend by default, marking a significant move from the traditional X Wayland approach. This change is expected to address various bugs and performance issues, although it may take several months to integrate fully into platforms like Proton.

• Wayland Backend: Aims to enhance compatibility and performance for running Windows applications on Linux.
• Display Mode Virtualization: Important for supporting older games that require specific display modes.
• Network Sessions in Direct Play: Expands networking capabilities for multiplayer gaming.

Proton GE (Glorious Eggroll) is mentioned as an avenue for early access to Wine updates, with tools like Proton Up QT facilitating easy installation.

Notable Quote:

Jeff Massey ([48:50]): "So that's kind of a strong indicator that this really is a good change that everybody's going to benefit from."

5. CAD Software: FreeCAD 1.0 Release ([49:00] – [66:38])

Jeff Massey introduces the FreeCAD 1.0 release, marking a decade since its inception. FreeCAD is an open-source Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D modeling tool built upon the Open Cascade Code Coin 3D library and the Qt toolkit, ensuring cross-platform compatibility.

• Key Features:
  • Parametric Environment: Allows shape definitions based on properties and dependencies.
  • Integrated Assembly Workbench: Supports bottom-up design approaches.
  • New Material System: Enhances material appearance and editing.
  • Hardware Compatibility: Includes support for 3D printing and CNC machining.

Challenges:

• Complexity: FreeCAD's advanced features come with a steep learning curve, comparable to mastering a programming language.
• User Feedback: While many improvements are welcomed, some users find the software confusing, highlighting the inherent complexity of high-level CAD tools.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan Bennett ([62:03]): "But so much as, with the subscription changes how, with the E wraps, one of the things that interests me is every benchmark he ran shows an improvement."

Note: The timestamp here seems mismatched. It likely refers to a later part of the transcript.

6. Linux Foundation and Leadership ([37:35] – [49:00])

An in-depth discussion on the Linux Foundation and Jim Zimlin's leadership is prompted by Stephen Vaughn Nichols' article. The Linux Foundation, under Zimlin's direction, has expanded its scope beyond hosting the Linux kernel to overseeing over 1,000 open-source projects, further cementing its influence in the tech industry.

• Origins: Formed from the merger of the Free Standards Group and the Open Source Development Labs to standardize and promote Linux.
• Expansion: The Foundation now supports diverse projects across sectors like high-performance computing, automotive embedded systems, mobile devices, and cloud computing.
• Leadership: Zimlin is credited with effectively steering the Foundation’s broadening mission while maintaining its core objectives of promoting open-source standards and collaboration.

Notable Quote:

Loquatius ([29:07]): "This current release is dedicated to a former FreeCAD developer who passed away a few weeks before the release."

7. Red Hat Enterprise Linux on WSL ([49:00] – [66:38])

Jonathan Bennett reports on the collaboration between Red Hat and Microsoft to streamline the integration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) into the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). This partnership simplifies the distribution process by utilizing TAR files instead of AppX bundles, potentially paving the way for other distributions like Fedora to be easily deployed on WSL.

• Enhanced Integration: RHEL on WSL will benefit from improved compatibility and ease of installation.
• Future Prospects: The shift to TAR files lowers barriers for additional Linux distributions to appear on WSL, fostering greater flexibility for developers who operate across both Windows and Linux environments.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan Bennett ([54:05]): "I don't really have a machine to put this on. But that said, it would be handy from time to time to be able to get Fedora on Windows."

8. Code of Conduct in the Linux Kernel: Kent Overstreet's Case ([66:38] – [93:59])

A contentious topic arises surrounding the Code of Conduct (CoC) within the Linux kernel development community. Kent Overstreet, a key developer, faced penalties after making publicly offensive comments during a patch submission for the bcashfs filesystem.

• Incident Summary:

  • Kent submitted patches that included profanity and derogatory remarks, violating the updated CoC guidelines.
  • The Linux Code of Conduct Committee responded by barring Kent from contributing to the kernel for the current development cycle and requiring a public apology for lifting the ban.
  • Jonathan Bennett expresses strong dissent against this enforcement, emphasizing that withholding critical bug fixes due to personal conduct undermines the kernel's reliability and broader technological infrastructure reliant on Linux.

• Community Reactions:

  • Debates ensue over the balance between maintaining professional conduct and ensuring the continuous development and stability of the kernel.
  • Jonathan advocates for handling misconduct without impeding essential contributions, arguing that technical merit should prevail over personal behavior unless it directly disrupts collaboration.

Notable Quotes:

Jonathan Bennett ([78:26]): "And the Code of Conduct Committee could require a public apology as a condition for lifting the ban."

Jonathan Bennett ([86:47]): "Keeping bug fixes out of the kernel because of code of conduct violations is not okay."

9. Command Line Tips: Pipewire ([93:59] – [100:18])

Ken shares advanced command-line techniques for managing audio with Pipewire, specifically using the pwcontainer command. This tool allows users to simulate container-like environments for Pipewire clients, enhancing security and customization.

• Key Commands:

  • pwcontainer help: Displays available options and usage guidelines.
  • Creating a Container: Simplifies the creation of isolated Pipewire instances with specific properties.

• Use Cases:

  • Running audio applications in isolated environments to prevent interference and enhance performance.
  • Managing complex audio setups, such as integrating with plugin hosts like Carla for audio processing.

Notable Quote:

Loquatius ([94:28]): "That's how you create a remote host and how you can access it."

10. Software Updates: Digicam 8.5 ([100:18] – [112:43])

Jeff Massey presents the Digicam 8.5 release, an advanced open-source digital photo management application tailored for Linux and other platforms.

• New Features:

  • Enhanced Face Management: Integration of deep learning models (U Net) for improved face detection and recognition.
  • Color Label Usability: Refined UI with narrow linear gradient color bars around thumbnails for better visual management.
  • Bug Fixes: Over 160 bugs addressed, ensuring more stable and reliable performance.
  • Library Upgrades: Updates to internal RAW decoder libraries and various drivers for better hardware compatibility.

• User Experience:

  • Improved Interface: Less intrusive labels and more intuitive tagging make photo organization more seamless.
  • Community Support: Active collaboration with users to validate and implement bug fixes enhances reliability.

Notable Quote:

Jeff Massey ([100:09]): "I do have something here that also really intrigues me. You talk about it. I'm going to get a piece of hardware and show you why it intrigues me."

11. Community Engagement: Poetry and Debian Artwork Voting ([112:43] – [122:43])

The hosts engage with the community through creative segments:

• Poetry: Jeff shares a verse appreciating IT professionals:

  "Give thanks to co workers,
  Tech savvy and smart IT pros.
  If this hardworking bunch
  Fixed your laptop at lunch,
  Buy them a beer and let the gratitude show.
  Thank you everybody. Have a great week."

• Debian 13 Artwork Voting: Loquatius encourages listeners to participate in shaping the desktop artwork for Debian 13 ("Trixie") by casting votes for their favorite desktop themes. This interactive segment fosters community involvement in open-source projects.

12. Final Remarks and Plugs

Jonathan Bennett wraps up the episode by promoting related content and the TWiT network:

• Hackaday and Floss Weekly: Encourages listeners to follow these platforms for additional tech insights.
• Club TWiT: Highlights benefits of joining Club TWiT, including ad-free access and supporting the network.
• Upcoming Content: Mentions a security column on Hackaday and weekly recordings of Floss Weekly.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan Bennett ([122:35]): "Just make sure there's not a code of conduct over that conversation or else they'll be afraid to be honest with you."

Conclusion

Episode 179 of the Untitled Linux Show offers a comprehensive exploration of recent advancements and challenges within the Linux and open-source communities. From software releases like Blender 4.3 and FreeCAD 1.0 to hardware integrations with tools like CroVue Note, the hosts provide valuable insights for both novice and seasoned users. The episode also delves into the sensitive topic of Code of Conduct enforcement in kernel development, sparking critical discussions on maintaining professionalism without hindering essential contributions. Engaging segments on command-line tips, photo management with Digicam, and community-driven initiatives like Debian artwork voting further enrich the episode, making it a must-listen for tech enthusiasts seeking in-depth analysis and community connectivity.

Links and Resources:

• Blender 4.3 Release Notes
• FreeCAD 1.0 Release Details
• Wine 9.22 Official Release
• Marius Nestor's Articles
• Docker on Wayland Guide
• Digicam 8.5 Release Page
• Debian 13 Artwork Voting
• Club TWiT Signup

Note: Replace "#" with actual URLs as appropriate.