Summary of Untitled Linux Show 191: Linux, Like Sausage...
Release Date: February 23, 2025
Hosts and Guests:
- Jonathan Bennett (Host)
- Rob Campbell
- Jeff Massey
1. Rust Integration in the Linux Kernel [00:00 - 07:57]
The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion about the ongoing integration of the Rust programming language into the Linux kernel. Rob Campbell highlights recent developments where Linus Torvalds and Greg Cage have provided decisive input on the matter.
Notable Quotes:
- Rob Campbell [01:18]: "Linus told him privately that he would override maintainers vetoes on Rust code within the kernel."
- Greg Cage [05:10]: "The majority of bugs we have are due to the stupid little corner cases in C that are totally gone in Rust."
Key Points:
- Maintainer Concerns: Christopher Holloway, a kernel maintainer, expressed worries that Rust bindings could make the kernel harder to maintain due to constant updates and complexity.
- Linus's Clarification: Linus Torvalds clarified that maintainers can choose their level of involvement with Rust but cannot object to Rust code that doesn't directly affect their maintained areas.
- Greg Cage’s Support for Rust: Greg emphasizes that Rust can help reduce bugs related to memory safety and other C-related issues, although he admits it's not a complete solution.
2. Asahi Linux Project Updates [07:57 - 18:03]
Rob and Jeff discuss significant changes within the Asahi Linux project, including leadership shifts and a strategic move towards a Fedora-based governance model.
Notable Quotes:
- Jeff Massey [16:32]: "Things will continue to happen and it looks like code will continue to go upstream into the kernel as well."
- Rob Campbell [17:10]: "I didn't realize that the Asahi was now based on Fedora. I thought they still had their Arch and that the Fedora there was now a Fedora spin."
Key Points:
- Governance Changes: Asahi has transitioned from a single leader to a panel of experts, including Fedora developers, to ensure project continuity.
- Future Milestones: Upcoming features include DisplayPort alt modes, internal microphone support, and Vulkan driver enhancements.
- Community Support: The project remains active despite leadership changes, promising ongoing support for Apple’s M-series machines.
3. KDE Plasma Desktop Releases [18:03 - 22:27]
Jeff Massey provides a comprehensive update on the KDE Plasma desktop’s latest releases, covering bug fixes and upcoming features.
Notable Quotes:
- Jeff Massey [21:05]: "There are currently 3015 minor Plasma bugs, up from 27 last week, but overall 129 bugs were fixed over the last week."
- Jonathan Bennett [22:27]: "I must say I'm genuinely excited for the future of KDE and even bigger with the Cosmic Desktop on the horizon."
Key Points:
- Recent Fixes: Plasma 6.3 and 6.3.1 address issues like black screens on login and crashes in the application launcher.
- Upcoming Features: Plasma 6.4.0 aims to improve user experience by handling desktop crashes more gracefully and reducing frame drops with a more precise render loop timer.
- Community Effort: Continuous bug fixes demonstrate the active development and dedication to refining the Plasma desktop environment.
4. Gaming on Linux and CodeWeavers Hiring [28:08 - 44:56]
Rob Campbell and Jeff Massey explore the evolving landscape of gaming on Linux, spotlighting CodeWeavers' initiatives to enhance compatibility and performance.
Notable Quotes:
- Rob Campbell [35:00]: "CodeWeavers is looking to hire multiple Windows Wine developers as well as their crossover products being Vals, Proton Downstream for Steam Play and related Wine based tech."
- Jeff Massey [38:50]: "Supporting these initiatives is crucial for improving gaming experiences on Linux platforms."
Key Points:
- Job Opportunities: CodeWeavers is actively hiring developers skilled in Wine and Proton to support Wine-based technologies like Steam Play.
- Enhancing Compatibility: These efforts aim to make more Windows games seamlessly playable on Linux, addressing a significant demand within the gaming community.
- Community Impact: Improved gaming support reinforces Linux’s position as a viable platform for gamers, potentially attracting more users.
5. UK Government's Encryption Backdoor Order on Apple [30:26 - 39:53]
The hosts discuss the UK government's recent mandate requiring Apple to create a backdoor for accessing iCloud backups, impacting Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature.
Notable Quotes:
- Jonathan Bennett [36:19]: "Apple has made the choice to just not provide ADP this advanced privacy the end-to-end encryption in the UK."
- Jeff Massey [39:25]: "It's an issue that if you understand what's going on, regardless of which side of the aisle you're on, it really seems like there should be a big crossover between privacy and national security mindsets."
Key Points:
- Apple’s Response: Instead of implementing a backdoor, Apple has chosen to disable ADP for UK users, preserving overall encryption integrity while complying with local laws.
- Legal and Ethical Implications: The move raises questions about the balance between user privacy and government access, highlighting the complexities of international tech regulations.
- Community Reaction: The decision has sparked debate about the enforceability and potential consequences of such laws on global tech companies.
6. Handling Hung GPUs in Linux Kernel 6.15 [41:21 - 46:56]
Jeff Massey introduces a new feature in the upcoming Linux kernel 6.15 that standardizes the handling of unresponsive GPUs, initially supporting AMD and Intel GPUs.
Notable Quotes:
- Jeff Massey [42:30]: "This will allow the user to intervene and take actions to possibly be able to recover from this bad hardware state."
- Jonathan Bennett [44:56]: "This update is particularly beneficial for gamers and users running beta or pre-beta software."
Key Points:
- Standardized Interface: The new kernel feature allows user space to manage and recover from GPU hangs, enhancing system stability.
- Driver Support: Initially compatible with AMD and Intel GPUs, with potential future support for Nvidia.
- User Benefits: Facilitates automated recovery scripts and improves the overall user experience during GPU failures, crucial for gaming and intensive computing tasks.
7. Meta's Legal Troubles Over AI Training with Pirated Books [59:30 - 66:00]
Jonathan Bennett sheds light on a high-profile legal case involving Meta (formerly Facebook), which is accused of using pirated books to train its AI models.
Notable Quotes:
- Jonathan Bennett [60:10]: "Meta torrented a huge data set of pirated books for AI training and they got caught."
- Jeff Massey [65:19]: "I think you've got to have the money to be able to pay court fees and lawyer fees."
Key Points:
- Legal Claims: Authors are suing Meta for unlawfully copying and distributing their works through AI training processes.
- Copyright Implications: The case poses significant questions about the legality of using copyrighted material in AI training and the extent to which it constitutes copyright infringement.
- Community Impact: The outcome could set important precedents for AI development and the use of copyrighted content, influencing future technological advancements and legal frameworks.
8. Mozilla’s Strategic Changes [66:43 - 83:43]
Jeff Massey discusses Mozilla Corporation's recent strategic shifts aimed at strengthening Firefox, diversifying revenue streams, and maintaining relevance in the tech landscape.
Notable Quotes:
- Jeff Massey [68:50]: "Firefox is named a few times, but it's not the central focus even though it brings in the most revenue because of the deal with Google."
- Rob Campbell [71:08]: "Make Firefox great. Thunderbird. Spin that off. Go, give that to LibreOffice or something."
Key Points:
- Leadership Changes: Departure of Michelle Baker, Firefox co-founder, amidst controversies over compensation and company direction.
- New Council Formation: A diverse group of executives from various Mozilla entities will guide the company forward.
- Focus Areas: Emphasis on enhancing Firefox and Thunderbird, investing in privacy-respecting technologies, and expanding fundraising initiatives.
- Community Feedback: Hosts advocate for Mozilla to concentrate on core projects like Firefox and Thunderbird, suggesting a streamlined focus away from less critical endeavors.
9. Command Line Tips: killport [94:51 - 97:00]
Jeff Massey introduces "killport," a command-line tool designed to terminate processes based on the network ports they occupy, simplifying system management tasks.
Notable Quotes:
- Jeff Massey [95:15]: "killport is basically like how it sounds. It's a command-line tool that lets a person kill a process based on the port it's using."
Key Points:
- Functionality: Users can specify ports to identify and kill associated processes without manually tracking process IDs.
- Installation: Available for Linux, Windows, and macOS, with various installation methods including package managers and scripts.
- Usage Example:
sudo killport 80 88– Kills processes using ports 80 and 88 with optional verbose and signal flags for detailed control.
10. Terminal Audio Player 'Q' [89:17 - 93:42]
Rob Campbell showcases "Q," a terminal-based audio player reminiscent of Winamp, offering a lightweight alternative for audio playback directly from the command line.
Notable Quotes:
- Rob Campbell [90:10]: "If you run Q, I put a few, I grabbed a few MP3s, slapped them in a folder here to demonstrate."
Key Points:
- Features: Simple playlist management, keyboard shortcuts for navigation, and a visual equalizer within the terminal.
- Installation: Available via package managers like
aptanddnf, with easy setup pointing to the user's music directory. - User Experience: Ideal for users who prefer managing music without a graphical interface, providing a nostalgic yet functional tool for audio playback.
Conclusion: The episode of Untitled Linux Show 191 offers a comprehensive dive into various facets of the Linux ecosystem, from programming language debates and project updates to legal battles and tool introductions. The hosts provide insightful commentary and practical advice, making the complex discussions accessible to both seasoned Linux enthusiasts and newcomers alike.