Podcast Summary: Untitled Linux Show 190: A Fedoraish Direction

Release Date: February 16, 2025

Hosts:

• Jonathan Bennett
• Rob Campbell
• Ken MacDonald

1. Rust in the Linux Kernel: Community Feud and Policy Developments

Discussion Overview: The episode opens with a heated discussion about the ongoing disputes surrounding the integration of Rust into the Linux kernel. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by maintainers and the community's efforts to establish a clear policy to navigate future conflicts.

Key Points:

• Asahi Linux Leadership Changes: Hector Martin, the founder and lead developer of Asahi Linux, announced his resignation, citing burnout and increasing frustrations from users regarding unsupported features like M3 and M4 chips. His departure is seen as a significant blow to the Asahi project, though plans are in place to continue its development without him.

• Rust Kernel Policy Introduction: Miguel Ojeda, a Rust for Linux contributor, introduced a new policy aimed at regulating Rust's integration into the kernel. This policy clarifies that Rust for Linux is separate from the Rust project and Foundation, outlines maintainers' support levels, and restricts the introduction of changes that may disrupt Rust-enabled builds.

Notable Quotes:

• Hector Martin's Resignation Statement (Timestamp 07:50):
  "I'm resigning as lead of the Asahi project effective immediately. The project will continue without me."

• Ken MacDonald on the Rust Policy (Timestamp 09:04):
  "It sounds like Miguel is trying to balance support while maintaining the integrity of the kernel."

Implications: The introduction of the Rust policy is a step towards mitigating future disputes and fostering a more collaborative environment. However, some hosts express skepticism about the policy's origin and its effectiveness without broader community endorsement.

2. Nouveau Driver Maintainer Resignation and Political Controversy

Discussion Overview: The conversation shifts to the resignation of Carol Herbst, the maintainer of the Nouveau driver. Herbst's departure is intertwined with a politically charged statement he made, sparking debate among the hosts.

Key Points:

• Resignation Details: Herbst stepped down, stating his lack of active involvement and moving on to other interests. His exit coincided with a controversial remark referencing the "thin blue line," which has varied interpretations and connotations in different regions.

• Community Reaction: The use of politically loaded language led to divided opinions. While some hosts empathize with Herbst's intent to emphasize the role of maintainers as protectors of the project, others critique the choice of wording for potentially alienating contributions.

Notable Quotes:

• Herbst's Statement (Timestamp 14:30):
  "We are the thin blue line. Those words can't be kept."

• Jonathan Bennett on Political Statements in Open Source (Timestamp 22:01):
  "We do not make political statements as part of our official projects."

Implications: Herbst's resignation highlights the delicate balance between personal expression and professional responsibilities within open-source communities. The episode underscores the importance of maintaining an inclusive and apolitical environment to foster collaboration.

3. Fedora vs. OBS Studio: Flatpak Maintenance Battle

Discussion Overview: A significant portion of the episode focuses on the conflict between Fedora maintainers and OBS Studio developers over the maintenance of an unofficial OBS Flatpak. The dispute escalated to legal threats, showcasing the tensions that can arise in package management and distribution.

Key Points:

• Issue Origin: Fedora's unofficial OBS Studio Flatpak was poorly maintained, leading to user-reported issues. OBS Studio developers requested its removal, emphasizing the need for accurate branding and reliable performance.

• Legal Threats: OBS Studio lead Joel Bethke threatened legal action against Fedora if branding issues weren't resolved by a specific deadline, prompting Fedora's Engineering Steering Committee member Neil Gampa to initiate the removal of the problematic Flatpak.

• Community Standards: The discussion touches on previous similar conflicts, such as OpenSUSE's issues with "bottles," highlighting recurring challenges in maintaining unofficial packages.

Notable Quotes:

• Joel Bethke on Legal Action (Timestamp 28:10):
  "If Fedora doesn't remove all of OBS branding from the unofficial Flatpak by February 21, we will pursue legal action."

• Jonathan Bennett on Conflict Resolution (Timestamp 32:49):
  "It's unfortunate to see two open-source projects threatening legal action against each other."

Implications: The Fedora-OBS Studio dispute emphasizes the critical role of maintenance and proper branding in package distributions. It serves as a cautionary tale for maintainers to ensure the reliability and accuracy of unofficial packages to prevent conflicts.

4. HandBrake 1.9.1 Release: Enhancements and Fixes

Discussion Overview: Shifting to positive news, the hosts discuss the release of HandBrake 1.9.1, highlighting its new features and improvements.

Key Points:

• New Features: Enhanced support for SRT files with OpenLAD subtitles, updated video decoding libraries (LibDAV1.D v1.5.1), and improvements in AC3 and EAC3 data handling in MKV files.

• Bug Fixes: Addressed issues related to chapter titles not being UTF8, FFV1 pixel format selection with hardware decoders, GCC14 build failures on Arch64 or ARM64, and updated LibJPEG Turbo to version 3.1.0 for better preview image compression.

Notable Quotes:

• Rob Campbell on HandBrake Improvements (Timestamp 23:08):
  "HandBrake 1.9.1 also fixes an issue that could happen when chapter titles are not UTF8."

Implications: The HandBrake update underscores the ongoing commitment to enhancing open-source tools, ensuring better performance, compatibility, and user experience for digital video transcoding.

5. Linux Kernel Updates: NTSync and HDR Protocol for Wayland

Discussion Overview: The hosts delve into recent Linux kernel developments, focusing on the integration of NTSync and the HDR protocol for Wayland.

Key Points:

• NTSync Integration: NTSync, a synchronization primitive from the Windows NT kernel, has been incorporated into Linux to improve Wine's performance. Despite its potential, usability is hindered by permission issues, which are being addressed through patches to adjust default file permissions.

• HDR Protocol for Wayland: After a prolonged development period, the HDR protocol was finally merged into the Wayland project. While this is a significant milestone, widespread adoption is pending browser support and further integration in desktop environments like KDE and the upcoming Gnome release.

Notable Quotes:

• Jonathan Bennett on NTSync Usability (Timestamp 24:54):
  "There are a couple of problems, which is why we're talking about it. One, it's a character device, which means it's in dev, it's a char device dev. NTSync was only read write to users by default and it is new enough that systemd doesn't know to change the permissions on it."

• Ken MacDonald on HDR Adoption (Timestamp 42:26):
  "You need to get a new monitor. Yes. Go invest in like an OLED, some big 4k HDR OLED monitor."

Implications: The integration of NTSync promises enhanced performance for Wine, benefiting users running Windows applications on Linux. Meanwhile, the HDR protocol's inclusion in Wayland marks a step forward for high dynamic range support, though broader ecosystem adoption remains to be seen.

6. KDE Plasma 6.3 Release: Enhancements for Digital Artists and General Improvements

Discussion Overview: The latest KDE Plasma 6.3 release introduces several features aimed at improving the user experience, particularly for digital artists.

Key Points:

• Drawing Tablet Enhancements: Revamped settings for drawing tablets, allowing comprehensive screen mapping, tilt and pressure information, and customizable stylus buttons.

• KWin Improvements: Elements now snap to the screen's pixel grid for sharper visuals, and fractional scaling has been overhauled to enhance high-resolution display experiences.

• Additional Features: Cloning panels, remembering active virtual desktops per activity, improved window scaling for small screens, and battery cycle count visibility in Infocenter.

Notable Quotes:

• Rob Campbell on Plasma 6.3 Features (Timestamp 43:10):
  "Plasma 6.3 ships with a revamped drawing tablet page in the system settings app that allows artists to easily map the entire screen area of a drawing tablet."

Implications: Plasma 6.3's updates cater to both general users and specific groups like digital artists, offering tools that enhance productivity and visual fidelity. These improvements reinforce KDE's commitment to creating a versatile and user-friendly desktop environment.

7. Systemd's New HTTP Boot Feature: Advancing Network-Based Booting

Discussion Overview: A brief but exciting discussion about systemd's new feature that allows booting Linux directly from an HTTP source.

Key Points:

• HTTP Boot Functionality: Systemd introduces a feature akin to PXE boot but utilizes HTTP, enabling systems to load the kernel and root file system over the internet seamlessly.

• Future Extensions: Plans to support NVMe over TCP and other enhancements are in the pipeline, potentially revolutionizing network-based booting and system deployment.

Notable Quotes:

• Ken MacDonald on HTTP Boot (Timestamp 48:13):
  "Systemd is adding a feature similar to PKCE boot, except it is allowing us to boot from HTTP as in boot from the Internet."

Implications: This advancement in systemd facilitates more flexible and scalable deployment strategies, particularly beneficial for cloud infrastructures and environments that demand rapid provisioning and scaling of systems.

8. Linux Kernel Timer Frequency Proposal: Evaluating Performance Impacts

Discussion Overview: The hosts explore a proposal to increase the Linux kernel's default timer frequency from 250 Hz to 1000 Hz, examining its potential effects on system performance.

Key Points:

• Current vs. Proposed Timer Frequency: The standard 250 Hz timer leads to more frequent context switches, which can benefit highly interactive applications but may hinder CPU-intensive tasks. Increasing to 1000 Hz could improve responsiveness but might negatively impact applications that perform long computations.

• Benchmark Results: Initial benchmarks show mixed results, with some applications like AI benchmarks and Nginx performing better at 1000 Hz, while others like Darktable saw improvements at 250 Hz.

Notable Quotes:

• Jonathan Bennett on Timer Frequency Impact (Timestamp 51:08):
  "Some games do better with one, some games do better with the other, and for some things it seems like it's basically a dead heat."

Implications: Adjusting timer frequency presents a trade-off between responsiveness and computational efficiency. The proposal's adoption may depend on the balance the community seeks between these competing priorities.

9. OpenSUSE Tumbleweed Updates: SELinux as Default Security Framework

Discussion Overview: OpenSUSE Tumbleweed is transitioning to SELinux as its default mandatory access control system, marking a significant shift in its security posture.

Key Points:

• SELinux Integration: SELinux will be the default security framework for new Tumbleweed installations, offering enhanced security by strictly controlling application and user permissions.

• User Options: Existing installations remain unaffected, and users can opt for AppArmor during fresh installations if preferred.

• Performance Considerations: Initial system boot post-installation may experience delays due to system labeling processes essential for SELinux's operation.

Notable Quotes:

• Ken MacDonald on SELinux Boot Time (Timestamp 60:02):
  "The first boot after installing Selinux can take a little extra time to complete system labeling a little."

Implications: Adopting SELinux strengthens OpenSUSE Tumbleweed's security framework, aligning it with practices that prevent unauthorized access and potential system compromises. Users will benefit from increased security, albeit with minor initial performance trade-offs during setup.

10. Etckeeper: Version Control for System Configuration

Discussion Overview: The hosts introduce Etckeeper, a tool designed to implement version control for system configuration files, enhancing system administration and troubleshooting.

Key Points:

• Functionality: Etckeeper integrates with version control systems like Git, automatically committing changes to the /etc directory daily and during package installations.

• User Commands: Users can manually commit changes, view commit logs, and check the status of configuration files, facilitating easier tracking of configuration history and rollback if necessary.

• Benefits: Provides a reliable method to monitor and revert system configuration changes, proving invaluable for system administrators seeking to maintain system integrity.

Notable Quotes:

• Ken MacDonald on Etckeeper Use (Timestamp 63:22):
  "It's a version control for your system configs or your etc folder."

Implications: Etckeeper empowers users to maintain a historical record of system configurations, simplifying the management of complex systems and reducing the risk of configuration-induced issues.

11. PipeWire and JQ: Enhancing Audio Management and JSON Parsing

Discussion Overview: The episode concludes with a technical deep dive into PipeWire commands and the utilization of JQ for JSON data parsing within system configurations.

Key Points:

• PipeWire Debugging: Introduction to the pw-config command for troubleshooting PipeWire server and client configurations, showcasing various options for listing and modifying configuration paths.

• JQ for JSON Parsing: Demonstration of using JQ to parse and filter JSON output from PipeWire, enabling streamlined data extraction for specific configurations and system monitoring.

Notable Quotes:

• Jonathan Bennett on JQ Usage (Timestamp 73:54):
  "You can pipe the output from pwdump into JQ and then you can do something like this and it will give you."

Implications: Mastering tools like PipeWire and JQ enhances system administrators' ability to manage audio configurations effectively and handle complex JSON data, leading to more efficient and automated system management processes.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode of the Untitled Linux Show provides an in-depth exploration of current events and developments within the Linux and open-source ecosystems. From community disputes and policy changes to significant software releases and technical advancements, the hosts offer valuable insights and practical knowledge for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Join the Conversation: For listeners looking to stay updated and engage with the hosts, follow Jonathan Bennett on Hackaday, Rob Campbell on RobCampbell.com, and Ken MacDonald through their respective channels.

Support TWiT: Consider joining Club TWiT to support the shows and gain access to exclusive content by visiting Club TWiT.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the transcript provided and indicate where notable discussions and quotes occur.