Summary of "Untitled Linux Show 207: Distro-Hopping Distro"

Release Date: June 16, 2025
Hosts: Jonathan, Rob Campbell, Ken McDonald
Platform: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio) by TWiT

1. Apple's New macOS Container Tool

The episode kicks off with a discussion about Apple's latest announcement at WWDC—the introduction of a new tool named Container. This tool is Apple's answer to Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), aiming to provide macOS developers with a seamless way to create and run Linux containers.

Notable Quote:

Ken McDonald: "Apple users must have been a little jealous of those developers over on Windows... this tool actually creates an isolated lightweight Linux virtual machine with some strictly enforced security around it." [01:18]

Jonathan humorously refers to the tool as "Container" and speculates it might be better nicknamed "WSL for macOS," highlighting the parallel to Microsoft's offering.

Key Points:

• Container is built using Apple's Swift language.
• It supports OCI (Open Container Initiative) compliant containers, ensuring compatibility with Docker.
• Unlike Docker's single kernel approach, each Container instance uses a dedicated Linux kernel, potentially impacting performance and resource usage.
• Rob Campbell points out that Docker still offers more flexibility compared to Apple's Container, emphasizing the differences in their approaches.

2. Audacity 3.7.4 Release

The hosts shift focus to the latest updates in the open-source audio editing software, Audacity. Version 3.7.4 addresses several critical bugs and enhances the user experience.

Notable Quote:

Rob Campbell: "Audacity 3.7.4 also addressed an issue where the Studio fade out feature would create a new clip when it was applied at the end of a video clip." [10:53]

Improvements Include:

• Crash fixes related to large unsaved projects.
• Enhanced real-time effects with improved delay compensation.
• Better effect previews, especially when tracks are muted.
• Resolved compilation issues on legacy macOS systems, benefiting users on older hardware.

Jonathan appreciates the stability brought by the latest release, noting that Audacity has become more reliable after previous forks and community challenges.

3. Transition from X11 to Wayland

A substantial portion of the episode delves into the ongoing transition from the X11 display server to Wayland within the Linux ecosystem, particularly among Red Hat's distributions like RHEL and Fedora.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan: "It's ridiculous to think that the free desktop GitLab should have any responsibility to host the code and issues of their somewhat hostile fork, and that's what XLIBRE is." [21:28]

Discussion Highlights:

• Wayland has matured to the point where major distributions are adopting it over X11.
• Ex Libre emerges as a potential maintainer for X11, but its effectiveness is questioned due to limited developer support and security concerns.
• The hosts express concerns over how a single maintainer could impact the maintenance and security of X11, especially given its deprecated status in many distributions.
• Ken McDonald emphasizes the complexities in decision-making within democratic distributions like Fedora, where any maintainer can influence package inclusion.

4. Librex Launches More Affordable Linux Phone

The panel reviews Librex's latest initiative to introduce a more affordable Linux phone, aiming to broaden accessibility beyond niche hobbyists.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan: "If you're making a phone that's comparable to the higher-end Android iOS phones...the cost in and of itself might be okay, but for most people, it's still a niche product." [35:12]

Key Details:

• Librex NEX Community Edition is priced around $900 on Indiegogo, a significant reduction from the original NEX model's ~$1,500.
• Features include a RockChip RK3588S processor, 32GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a 6.34-inch 2K OLED display, dual USB-C ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
• The discussion touches on the challenges of competing in the highly saturated smartphone market, especially against established players like Apple and Android manufacturers.
• The hosts express skepticism regarding mass adoption due to cost, support infrastructure, and carrier partnerships, which are crucial for widespread usage.

5. Big Linux Distribution Overview

Rob Campbell introduces Big Linux, a Brazilian-developed distribution notable for its extensive pre-installed software suite tailored to diverse user needs.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan: "This is distro hopping at the core." [43:55]

Features of Big Linux:

• Based on Manjaro with KDE Plasma as the desktop environment.
• Includes applications like Deezer, Spotify for music lovers; Lutris and Steam for gamers; Microsoft Office 365 web app shortcuts for productivity.
• Other tools encompass Telegram, Jitsi Meet for communication, Dolphin File Manager, Kate Text Editor, LibreOffice Suite, Brave Browser, and a document scanner.
• The distribution aims to provide a comprehensive out-of-the-box experience, catering to both general users and specific niches like gaming and music.

Rob shares an amusing anecdote from Larry's article about playing a Pong game built into the installer, emphasizing Big Linux's unique approach to user engagement during installation.

6. Formalizing the Linux Kernel API

Jonathan explores recent developments aimed at formalizing the Linux kernel's user-space API, a departure from Linus Torvalds' longstanding principle of "not breaking user space."

Notable Quote:

Jonathan: "It can help you avoid spaghetti code too." [47:51]

Key Insights:

• A developer has proposed a series of patches to formalize the existing kernel API without altering its compatibility.
• The initiative includes features like automatic generation of API bindings and comprehensive documentation, potentially streamlining development processes.
• While initially skeptical, Jonathan acknowledges that this could be a positive step towards more structured interactions between user applications and the kernel.
• The discussion underscores the balance between maintaining backward compatibility and introducing necessary formalizations to support modern development workflows.

7. Danish Government's Shift to Linux and LibreOffice

The hosts highlight a significant move by Denmark's Ministry of Digital Affairs to transition half of its employees from Windows and Office365 to Linux and LibreOffice, respectively.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan: "Score one for open source." [45:xx]

Discussion Points:

• The shift is part of Denmark's broader digitization strategy emphasizing digital sovereignty—prioritizing control over national digital infrastructure and data.
• Other major Danish municipalities, like Aarhus and Copenhagen, have already adopted LibreOffice, citing concerns over reliance on US-based technology companies.
• The panel discusses potential challenges, referencing past instances where governments reverted such migrations due to compatibility and support issues.
• Jonathan expresses hope that standardized, well-supported Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora will facilitate this transition smoothly.

8. Command Line Tools: Uptime Kuma and DataDog Alternatives

Ken McDonald shares his experience with Uptime Kuma, a self-hosted monitoring tool, demonstrating its capabilities in tracking server uptime, performance metrics, and providing real-time alerts.

Notable Quote:

Ken McDonald: "Uptime Kuma... monitor all things." [63:51]

Features Highlighted:

• Monitoring Capabilities: HTTP/HTTPS, TCP ports, ping, keyword search on websites, SSL certificate expiration, and more.
• Alerting: Integrates with various notification services like Email, Slack, and Home Assistant for immediate alerts.
• Public Status Pages: Allows users to create publicly accessible status pages to inform clients about system statuses and maintenance schedules.

Jonathan introduces DataDog as a comparable tool, noting its strengths in handling large-scale log data and offering a free tier suitable for small setups, despite it not being open-source.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan: "DataDog... extremely good at crunching large amounts of log lines." [56:12]

9. Pipewire and GNU Nano Enhancements

Rob Campbell delves into Pipewire, focusing on managing object parameters through its API. He demonstrates commands like Enum-params and siparam for viewing and modifying Pipewire object parameters.

Notable Quote:

Rob Campbell: "Parameters are the key that allow Wireplumber to negotiate data formats and port configurations with nodes." [75:14]

Additionally, the hosts discuss the latest features in GNU Nano 8.5, dubbed "Sigourney," which includes:

• Position Logging: Saves anchor positions when closing files, allowing users to resume editing from where they left off.
• New Commands: Introduction of new key sequences to enhance user experience and error handling.
• Undocumented Options: Exploration of hidden features like whitespace visualization for better code clarity.

Jonathan humorously speculates about potential undocumented features, likening them to easter eggs in software development.

10. Enterprise Linux Updates: Rocky Linux 10, AlmaLinux 10, and RHEL10's LightSpeed AI

The episode concludes with updates in the Enterprise Linux landscape:

• Rocky Linux 10 ("Red Quartz"):

  • Features: Support for RISC-V architectures.
  • Hardware Support: Dropped support for Raspberry Pi models older than the Pi 4, focusing on 64-bit systems.

• AlmaLinux 10:

  • Unique Offering: Compiled specifically for x86_64v2 architectures, catering to older yet serviceable server hardware.
  • Based on CentOS Stream: Receives updates and fixes slightly faster than CentOS, sometimes even before CentOS Stream itself.

• RHEL10:

  • LightSpeed AI Integration:
    • An AI-powered large language model (LLM) built into the command line.
    • Users can query LightSpeed for command assistance (e.g., "how do I see how much free disk space I've got?").
    • Caution Advised: Rob Campbell warns that since LightSpeed relies on an online service, sensitive data should not be shared.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan: "Lightspeed is C, which is a fun joke and I approve of that." [62:44]

The hosts express intrigue and caution regarding the integration of AI tools like LightSpeed, highlighting both their potential benefits and risks.

Conclusion

The episode of "Untitled Linux Show" provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the Linux and open-source ecosystem, from major corporate moves like Apple's Container tool and the Danish government's shift to Linux, to niche projects like Big Linux and upcoming Linux phones. The hosts balance technical insights with practical considerations, offering listeners valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of Linux distributions, tools, and enterprise adoption.

Final Notable Quote:

Ken McDonald: "Join our incredible Discord community to watch live show productions, chat with hosts and participate in exclusive members only activities." [86:22]

Note: Timestamps correspond to the provided transcript and are indicative of when each topic was discussed.