Podcast Summary: Untitled Linux Show 187: Don't Fear the Copilot

Release Date: January 26, 2025
Host: Jonathan Bennett
Co-Hosts: Rob, Ken, Jeff
Platform: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)

1. Introduction and Episode Overview

Jonathan Bennett kicks off the episode by highlighting the main topics of discussion:

• Wine 10 and x86 Emulation on ARM
• Linux Kernel 6.14 Updates
• Nvidia RTX 5090 Reviews on Linux

Quote:
“There's a bunch of Linux 6.14 news and there's the Nvidia RTX 5090 reviews on Linux. It's a lot of fun and you don't want to miss it, so stay tuned.”
[00:00]

2. Wine 10: Major Milestones and Features

The hosts delve into the latest release of Wine 10, emphasizing its transition to native Wayland support:

• Wayland by Default: Wine now defaults to Wayland, with fallback to X11 if necessary.
• Enhanced Graphics Support: Improved OpenGL support, proper positioning of pop-up windows, and auto-repeat key functionality.
• ARM Support: Implements x86 emulation interface for ARM builds, leveraging ARM 64 EC support to run Wine codes natively, with only x86_64 application code emulated.
• Additional Features: Initial Bluetooth driver, full Dvorak keyboard support, direct 3D support enhancements, and FFmpeg-based backend as an experimental alternative to GStreamer.

Ken explains the significance:
"The devs say it **'takes advantage of the ARM 64 EC support to run all the Wine codes as native with only the applications x86_64 code requiring emulation.'”
[05:56]

Jonathan Bennett raises questions about the practical applications of ARM support:
“...probably games, but just in general Windows binaries on ARM 64 targets... Maybe it's for the Raspberry Pi...”
[06:33]

3. Nvidia RTX 5090 on Linux: Performance and Implications

Jeff provides an in-depth analysis of Nvidia's RTX 5090, focusing on its reception and performance on Linux:

• Target Audience: Geared towards prosumers and computational workloads rather than pure gaming, despite offering superior gaming performance compared to the RTX 5080.
• Performance Gains: Approximately 30% faster than the RTX 4090 in CUDA, OptiX, OpenCL, and Vulkan Compute benchmarks.
• Cost and Power Consumption: Priced around $2,000 for the Founders Edition with higher costs expected from partner brands. Peak power consumption recorded at 584 watts, placing it high in performance-per-watt efficiency but also categorizing it as power-hungry.
• Driver Status: Early beta drivers (version 50.70.86.10) available, supporting CUDA but not yet optimized for gaming workloads.

Jeff summarizes:
“30% sounds like a decent improvement. But the downside is the 5090 costs about 20% more or more for this generation of card.”
[14:45]

Jonathan Bennett comments on Nvidia's market strategy:
“It is good enough that Nvidia has yet another money printer... For those that need legit hardware, it's going to be an instant buy.”
[15:31]

4. GNOME 48 Alpha: New Features and Improvements

Jeff transitions the discussion to the GNOME 48 Alpha release, outlining its enhancements:

• Software Package Manager: Introduction of an experimental plugin for improved update performance.
• User Experience: Enhanced upvoting/downvoting reviews, dependency inclusion in download size estimates, and better uninstallation of snaps.
• Accessibility and Notifications: On-screen display notifications for headphone connections, screen time limits, and improved keyboard backlight toggles.
• Application Updates: Epiphany web browser improvements, battery charge limitation support in the Control Center, and upgrades to Oranges screen reader functionality.

Jeff elaborates:
“There's support for microphone permissions, and on-screen display notifications for headphone connections... Orca now has better handling of events and can speak digits in telephone numbers independently of user settings.”
[29:57]

Ken highlights the refinement nature of the release:
“48 is going to be a lot of polishing and kind of refinement and not any major earth-shaking. But that's probably good because a lot of times that's when they break the API and make everybody mad.”
[34:00]

5. Ventoy 1.1: Enhancements for Bootable USB Drives

Rob discusses the latest updates to Ventoy 1.1, a popular multiboot utility:

• Shim Updates: Fixes for verifying shim SVAT data and secure boot issues, ensuring a more secure boot process.
• Bug Fixes: Resolved boot issues affecting System Rescue 11.02+, minor bug polishing for enhanced user experience.
• OS Support Expansion: Added support for Musl-based lightweight rolling release distributions, broadening Ventoy's compatibility.
• User Tips: Utilizing F2 allows users to browse and boot files directly from the local disk.

Rob shares:
“Ventoy 1.1 expanded its support to MUSL-based lightweight general-purpose rolling release Distro.”
[39:01]

Jonathan Bennett cautions users about updating ISOs:
“If you go to update your ISOs on Ventoy, test them before you need them... you might end up in desperate times.”
[42:48]

6. BcacheFS Merge into Linux Kernel 6.14

Jonathan Bennett provides an update on the BcacheFS filesystem:

• Merge Success: After previous delays due to policy disputes, BcacheFS changes have been successfully merged into Linux Kernel 6.14.
• Impact: Users will benefit from new fixes and enhancements without the previous administrative hurdles.
• Future Prospects: Optimistic outlook on BcacheFS’s continued development and integration.

Jonathan Bennett expresses relief:
“They're back and you can push things forwards and hopefully we won't ever have to have a story like that one again.”
[60:46]

Jeff adds technical details:
“The disk format version goes from 1.13 to 1.20 and they're saying that should be the last format change.”
[62:25]

7. Command Line Tips: Ignition and LSSC

Ken and Jeff introduce helpful command line utilities:

• Ignition: An alternative startup application manager for Linux, offering a user-friendly UI to add, remove, or modify startup entries effortlessly.

  Ken demonstrates:
  “Ignition can add apps, scripts, and arbitrary commands to login... It's a lot better than Ubuntu's basic startup applications.”
  [66:18]

• LSSC: A command (lsscsi) to list information about SCSI devices in Linux, which also encompasses ATA, PCIe, SAS, and USB drives. Useful for identifying and managing connected storage devices.

  Jeff explains:
  “It's lsscsi, which is a command that lists information about SCSI devices in Linux... I found it very helpful, so I highly suggest it.”
  [66:03]

Jonathan Bennett reflects on the terminology:
“sdA does not stand for SATA, it stands for SCSI Disk A in Linux.”
[70:19]

8. Steam Client Updates on Linux

Jeff reviews the latest Steam client update for Linux:

• Global Settings: Improved management of game updates with per-game exception panels.
• Library Enhancements: Better caching of soundtrack album covers and faster asset loading for large libraries.
• Streaming Fixes: Resolved issues where Steam would prefer streaming from another PC on the local network unnecessarily.
• Linux-Specific Fixes: Addressed crashes related to screensavers, game recording, Pipewire integration, VAAPI drivers, and hot-plugging peripherals.

Jeff summarizes:
“Valve added a global setting for improved management of game updates... There are also fixes for Linux-specific crashes and performance issues.”
[49:49]

Jonathan Bennett plans to implement the fixes:
“I have to look into the fix where it blocked your screensaver.”
[52:45]

9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Jonathan Bennett wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to support the podcast and stay engaged:

• Additional Content: References to Hackaday, Floss Weekly, and the security column.
• Support Options: Promotion of Club TWiT for ad-free access and supporting the network.

Jonathan Bennett concludes:
“We will be back next week and we will see you then on the untitled Linux show.”
[88:02]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jonathan Bennett:
  “Don't fear the copilot.”
  [29:04]

• Ken:
  “Copilot is here and it is here to stay.”
  [26:18]

• Jeff:
  “30% sounds like a decent improvement. But the downside is the 5090 costs about 20% more or more for this generation of card.”
  [15:07]

• Rob:
  “Ignition provides a simple UI to add or remove modify startup entries on your computer.”
  [66:18]

• Jonathan Bennett:
  “It's good to have them back and that we can push things forwards and hopefully we won't ever have to have a story like that one again.”
  [60:46]

Conclusion

Untitled Linux Show Episode 187 offers comprehensive insights into the latest developments in the Linux and open-source ecosystem. From the significant updates in Wine 10 and Linux Kernel 6.14 to the performance analysis of Nvidia's new RTX 5090 on Linux, the episode provides valuable information for both casual users and tech enthusiasts. Additionally, the discussion on GNOME 48 Alpha, Ventoy 1.1, and BcacheFS integration underscores the continuous evolution and improvement within the Linux community. Practical command line tips and updates on the Steam client further enhance the episode's utility, making it a must-listen for anyone keen on staying abreast of Linux advancements.