Untitled Linux Show 209: Riding Off Into The Sunset

Release Date: June 29, 2025
Host: TWiT
Guests: Rob Campbell, Ken MacDonald, Michael

1. Introduction and Episode Overview

Timestamp: [00:00] - [19:38]

The episode kicks off with Rob Campbell previewing the topics for discussion, including advancements in Linux gaming performance, potential changes in the Linux kernel concerning BcacheFS, the emergence of affordable Linux-compatible phones, and upcoming updates in various Linux-related projects.

2. Linux Gaming Performance and Proton Benchmarks

Timestamp: [03:46] - [13:37]

Ken MacDonald shares his longstanding belief that gaming on Linux, especially using Proton, outperforms native Windows counterparts. He references an Ars Technica benchmark study that validates his claims, highlighting superior Frames Per Second (FPS) on Linux for several titles.

• Ken MacDonald:
  “[...] Returnal on SteamOS had 33 FPS while Windows 11 with Lenovo drivers only had 18 FPS.”
  [08:20]

Rob Campbell adds historical context, recalling Valve’s early efforts in porting games like Left 4 Dead to Linux using OpenGL, which significantly improved performance metrics such as frame rates and latency.

• Rob Campbell:
  “[...] It's fascinating that even with the Proton layer in between, Linux can still outperform.”
  [10:11]

Key Insights:

• Proton and SteamOS are enhancing Linux's gaming capabilities.
• Some games still face compatibility issues or require tweaks.
• The Linux gaming ecosystem is growing stronger, but support from game developers remains crucial.

3. Wine 10.11 and Upcoming Kernel Features

Timestamp: [13:37] - [16:53]

Rob Campbell discusses the new Wine 10.11 release, which introduces significant improvements, including a synchronization primitive tailored for Wine's operation within the Linux kernel. This advancement promises enhanced performance and stability for running Windows applications on Linux.

• Rob Campbell:
  “[...] Wine 10.11 has laid the groundwork for better synchronization, which will significantly speed up certain titles.”
  [14:45]

Additionally, the RADV Vulcan driver in Mesa is updated to optimize ray tracing for AMD’s latest RDNA3 and RDNA4 GPUs, offering noticeable performance boosts in compatible games.

• Rob Campbell:
  “[...] In some cases, ray tracing times have improved by up to 20%, making gaming on Linux even more appealing.”
  [16:35]

4. KDE Plasma 6.4.1 Enhancements

Timestamp: [19:51] - [26:53]

Michael provides an overview of the latest KDE Plasma 6.4.1 release, highlighting improvements in text contrast, readability, and accessibility compliance. Nate Graham emphasizes updates like disabling the highlight window effect for Task Manager thumbnails and enhancing the Discover graphical package manager.

• Michael:
  “[...] KDE Plasma 6.4.1 improves text contrast to meet the WCAG AA standard, enhancing accessibility.”
  [20:30]

Rob Campbell expresses interest in the changes, particularly the tone mapping adjustments, though he admits to needing to delve deeper into the specifics.

5. Introduction of Cosmo Classic: A New C UI Library

Timestamp: [34:13] - [38:37]

Ken MacDonald introduces Cosmo Classic, a modern C user interface library aimed at recreating the BeOS API on top of the Linux kernel. Liam Proven outlines its capabilities, emphasizing its lightweight nature and potential as a competitor to established toolkits like Qt and GTK.

• Ken MacDonald:
  “[...] Cosmo Classic could be a contender in the FOSS UI toolkit space, challenging giants like Qt and GTK.”
  [37:00]

Michael speculates on the library's future, suggesting that large companies might adopt it due to its clean codebase and absence of technical debt.

6. Canonical’s 2024 Annual Report and Business Performance

Timestamp: [39:25] - [43:53]

Ken MacDonald reviews Canonical’s 2024 financial performance, noting a revenue increase from $251 million in 2023 to $292 million in 2024. Despite occasional criticism, he acknowledges Canonical’s success in maintaining one of the most popular Linux distributions.

• Ken MacDonald:
  “[...] Canonical’s operating profits reached $15.5 million in 2024, showcasing their growth and stability.”
  [41:00]

Michael muses about Canonical’s potential IPO, recognizing that their strong financials could support such a move.

7. BcacheFS and Kernel Merge Window Drama

Timestamp: [43:57] - [53:07]

A significant portion of the episode delves into the contentious relationship between BcacheFS maintainers and Linus Torvalds. The disagreement centers on whether certain BcacheFS updates qualify as bug fixes or new features, leading to Linus’s decision to possibly exclude BcacheFS from the upcoming Linux kernel 6.17 merge window.

• Ken MacDonald:
  “[...] Linus has made it clear that feature updates are off the table for this kernel release, leading to a parting of ways with BcacheFS.”
  [49:53]

Kent Overeem from the BcacheFS team responds to Linus, expressing frustration over the restrictions and emphasizing the importance of data integrity and necessary bug fixes.

• Kent Overeem:
  “[...] I’m just not going to have any sense of humor where user data integrity is concerned.”
  [49:17]

Rob Campbell summarizes the situation, indicating that BcacheFS may be removed from the kernel in the 6.17 release, highlighting the ongoing challenges in kernel development and feature integration.

8. PipeWire 1.4 Maintenance Update

Timestamp: [53:19] - [60:32]

Michael reports on the latest PipeWire 1.4 maintenance release, which addresses critical bugs related to the filter chain, device provider reference counts, and latency reporting. These fixes aim to enhance audio stability and performance on Linux systems.

• Michael:
  “[...] PipeWire 1.4.5 addresses crashes in the filter chain and improves latency reporting, making audio handling more robust.”
  [54:30]

Rob Campbell contemplates switching his Linux distribution to leverage the latest PipeWire improvements, indicating the practical impact of these updates on daily usage.

9. Blender 5.0 and HDR Support on Wayland

Timestamp: [56:03] - [58:37]

Rob Campbell introduces the alpha release of Blender 5.0, which now includes High Dynamic Range (HDR) support on Wayland. Although currently experimental, this feature allows for more vibrant and realistic rendering within Blender scenes on Linux.

• Rob Campbell:
  “[...] Blender 5.0 introduces HDR support on Wayland, enhancing visual fidelity for users willing to experiment with the alpha release.”
  [56:12]

Ken MacDonald and Michael discuss the significance of this development, with potential implications for creative professionals using Linux.

10. Command Line Tips and Arch Linux Firmware Update Issue

Timestamp: [73:02] - [81:53]

Rob Campbell shares a valuable command line tip about using grep with PipeWire to display contextual lines around search results, enhancing the utility of command-line searches.

• Rob Campbell:
  “[...] Using grep with context flags can help you display lines before and after your search term, providing better insight into your data.”
  [76:11]

Ken MacDonald addresses a critical issue affecting Arch Linux users regarding the linux-firmware package update. The update requires manual intervention to resolve file conflicts between split firmware packages and upstream reorganizations.

• Ken MacDonald:
  “[...] If you're upgrading past version 2025.0613, you’ll need to manually remove linux-firmware before reinstalling it to avoid Pacman errors.”
  [74:45]

Notable Quotes

• Ken MacDonald at [08:20]:
  “Returnal on SteamOS had 33 FPS while Windows 11 with Lenovo drivers only had 18 FPS.”

• Rob Campbell at [14:45]:
  “Wine 10.11 has laid the groundwork for better synchronization, which will significantly speed up certain titles.”

• Kent Overeem at [49:17]:
  “I’m just not going to have any sense of humor where user data integrity is concerned.”

• Rob Campbell at [56:12]:
  “Blender 5.0 introduces HDR support on Wayland, enhancing visual fidelity for users willing to experiment with the alpha release.”

Conclusion and Community Engagement

Timestamp: [76:44] - [81:53]

The episode wraps up with the hosts encouraging listeners to engage with their platforms, support the show through Club Twit, and explore additional resources like Rob Campbell’s work on Hackaday. They emphasize the importance of community support and invite listeners to participate in upcoming discussions and events.

Key Takeaways

• Linux Gaming: Significant strides have been made in enhancing gaming performance on Linux through Proton and SteamOS, but developer support remains essential.
• Kernel Development: The ongoing drama with BcacheFS highlights the complexities of kernel feature integration and maintainers' challenges.
• Software Updates: Continuous improvements in projects like PipeWire and KDE Plasma are making Linux more robust and user-friendly.
• Creative Tools: Blender’s experimental HDR support on Wayland signifies growing support for professional-grade creative tools on Linux.
• Community Support: Engaging with the Linux community through platforms like Club Twit and contributing to open-source projects remains crucial for sustained growth and innovation.

For more detailed discussions and updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the Untitled Linux Show and engage with the TWiT community.