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Untitled Linux Show 229: Full Steam Ahead

Date: November 16, 2025
Host: Jonathan Bennett
Panelists: Rob Campbell, Jeff, Ken Bacon

Episode Overview

This week's Untitled Linux Show dives deep into a landmark set of Valve hardware announcements, covers new developments with browser AI features, Linux desktop support life cycles, Rust in Ubuntu, benchmarks for new AMD EPYC chips, highlights distro and bootloader news, and sprinkles in thoughtful discussions on AI's growing role in open source. The hosts maintain the show's classic balance of informed banter and geeky delight, making even the densest topics engaging.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Valve’s “Steam Trifecta”: Steam Machines, Steam Frames VR, and Steam Controller

(08:59–26:36)

• Rob Campbell introduces the “biggest news”: Valve’s major new hardware push, with three new Linux-powered products.
  • Quote: “This week Valve announced three new products including the Steam machines, a VR headset called Steam Frames and a new Steam controller.” (09:45 - Rob)
• Steam Machines: Arch Linux-based (KDE Plasma) gaming console/PC hybrid, high-end AMD Zen 4 CPU and semi-custom RDNA 3 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, up to 2TB NVMe, extensive connectivity, customizable RGB lighting, designed as an open platform.
• Steam Frames (VR headset): ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, high-res LCD per eye, Wi-Fi 7, dual batteries for balance, ships with new controllers, runs SteamOS 3 (and could potentially run other Linux distros).
• New Steam Controller: Magnetic thumbsticks, haptics, capacitive touchpads, 35-hour battery life, USB-C support.
• Panel banter:
  • Debate over preferred gaming input (controller vs. mouse/keyboard), and the “analog feel” for racing/flight games.
  • Discussion of rumor that next Xbox could run Steam—possibly leading to two “Steam consoles.”
  • Speculation over pricing, business model, and Valve's unique success in hardware.
  • Quote: “Anything that grows Linux usage is good for all Linux users.” (09:23 – Rob)

2. Firefox Developments: Dropping 32-bit, Advancing AI, and Privacy Features

(26:52–41:43)

• End of 32-bit x86 support on Linux: Firefox will now only build and support 64-bit Linux versions; 32-bit Windows remains supported for now.
  • Quote: “The very biggest change is they've dropped 32 bit support.” (26:56 – Jeff)
• Upcoming features:
  • Greater anti-fingerprinting privacy
  • Preview of “Labs” for beta-testing features like link previews and AI-generated summaries
  • Compression improvements for translation/local storage
• Introduction of AI features in Firefox:
  • Planned “AI window”—opt-in only, with strong transparency promises from Mozilla.
  • Community and panel skepticism around browser-integrated AI, user-facing prompt poisoning risks, and privacy.
  • Quote: “Mozilla understands that some of us are not thrilled about AI infiltrating our web browsers. In fact, every AI feature in Firefox is opt in.” (33:18 – Ken)
  • Broader reflection: “I can’t make a sandwich without AI being mentioned in it.” (37:50 – Jeff)
• Panel:
  • General agreement that opt-in is necessary
  • Caution over agentic AI running in the background, even if not user-invoked

3. AI’s Cautious Welcome in Linux Kernel Development

(43:30–48:48)

• Kernel guidelines are being drafted for AI-generated patches.
  • Submitters must disclose use of AI and prove understanding/testing of the code.
  • Maintainers given wide latitude to reject or scrutinize AI-generated contributions.
  • Panel shares anecdotes about “AI slop” flooding open source projects with poor-quality contributions.
  • Quote: “Any sort of reasonably popular open source project, you're going to have to deal with this.” (44:10 – Jonathan)

4. Rust in Ubuntu & Challenges to “Rewrite for Security” Mantra

(49:43–54:13)

• Ubuntu’s interim 25.10 release features Rust-based sudo (sudo-rs), but not without bugs:
  • Password leak bug (could reveal password fragments on session timeout)
  • Timestamp bug with credential reuse
  • Fixes rolled out quickly upstream, but the panel points out—memory safety ≠ flawless security.
  • Quote: “Rust is memory safe, but that doesn’t mean it’s always secure.” (51:36 – Rob)
• Takeaway: The cutting edge can be bumpy—use LTS for production.

5. AMD EPYC HBM3 Benchmarks & High-Performance in the Cloud

(54:23–60:09)

• Jeff summarizing Phoronix benchmarks: Azure’s custom AMD EPYC CPUs with HBM3 memory show up to 2x performance boost over previous generation.
• Tests run on Ubuntu, focus on high-bandwidth workloads; Zen 5 vs. Zen 4+HBM3 comparisons pending.
• Discussion of potential and limits of this tech—most consumers won’t notice the difference, but for large-scale cloud and HPC, it’s huge.
  • Quote: “6.7 terabytes a second memory bandwidth. Yes, terabytes. Not bits.” (55:13 – Jeff)

6. Distro News: MX Linux 25 Infinity and Ubuntu LTS Support Wars

(62:59–77:44)

• MX Linux 25 “Infinity” drops 32-bit support, now offers 7 ISOs (different DEs, kernels, init systems), new install features including ZRAM, home preservation, systemd/ SysV options. Special mention for thoughtful XFCE layout.
  • KDE Plasma now defaults to Wayland.
  • Quote: “XFCE’s configuration in MX is one of the best in the business.” (66:24 – Ken, paraphrasing Liam Proven)
• Ubuntu LTS extends support to 15 years (with Ubuntu Pro + paid Legacy add-on), prompting jokes about “trending toward Infinity”.
  • Takeaway: Ordinary users get 5-10 years, but regulated industries can now park on one LTS for a decade and a half.
  • Quote: “Who is going to announce the 16-year life cycle next?” (77:03 – Rob)
  • Quote: “At the rate that the support is growing, are we tending towards Infinity here?” (77:23 – Jonathan)

7. Benchmarks: OpenSUSE Tumbleweed Races CacheOS & Tumbleweed Updates Bootloader

(80:01–89:51)

• OpenSUSE Tumbleweed added to recent performance benchmarks: Outperforms Fedora/Ubuntu, but still trails CacheOS (which is built with CPU-specific compiler flags).
  • Quote: “I did not think that Tumbleweed was going to be on top of some of those benchmarks … pretty cool.” (84:36 – Jonathan)
• Tumbleweed now defaults to Grub2.bls (BootLoaderSpec) when installed UEFI via YaST—simplifies management, brings parity with Fedora and makes future features easier (e.g., full-disk encryption with TPM/FIDO2).

8. Security & Open Source Maintenance: The FFMPEG vs. Google CVE Debate

(89:54–102:17)

• Google’s “Big Sleep” AI found a bug in FFMPEG’s obscure “smush” codec.
  • FFMPEG’s reaction: dismissive, because the code is only used in Rebel Assault II (1995).
  • Jonathan and panel: That doesn’t matter—if the code’s in a widely deployed binary, it’s a potential attack vector.
  • Raises wider issues of vulnerability reporting in open source—volunteer projects becoming overwhelmed by CVEs. Suggestion: security researchers (especially large companies) should provide patches, not just bug reports.
  • Quote: “If Google really wanted to be helpful to the FFMPEG project, they would not just find CVEs, they would also pay a couple of engineers to help fix them.” (95:43 – Jonathan)

9. Command Line & Admin Tools Corner

(105:07–124:21)

• Webmin 2.600: Rob revisits this classic Perl-based server admin GUI from the 1990s, surprised to see it’s still actively developed and modernized.
• btrfs rescue tips (Jeff): Deep-dive on file system recovery (rare, but invaluable).
• Fun with Bash: Ken demonstrates a prettified “Merry Christmas” shell function using tput and printf—optimized with AI’s code suggestions.
• ipmitool and server PSU status (Jonathan): Real-life debugging scenario with co-located server losing power, leading to a new monitoring habit for redundant power supplies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Anything that grows Linux usage is good for all Linux users.”
  — Rob Campbell (09:23)

• “Mozilla understands that some of us are not thrilled about AI infiltrating our web browsers. In fact, every AI feature in Firefox is opt in.”
  — Ken Bacon (33:18)

• “Rust is memory safe, but that doesn’t mean it’s always secure.”
  — Rob Campbell (51:36)

• “6.7 terabytes a second memory bandwidth. Yes, terabytes. Not bits.”
  — Jeff (55:13)

• “At the rate that the support is growing, are we tending towards Infinity here?”
  — Jonathan Bennett (77:23)

• “If Google really wanted to be helpful to the FFMPEG project, they would not just find CVEs, they would also pay a couple of engineers to help fix them.”
  — Jonathan Bennett (95:43)

• “Everything’s better with butter. Can’t believe it’s not butterfs.”
  — Rob Campbell & Jonathan Bennett (114:39)

• Jeff’s poetry corner:
  “All your data are belong to us.” (127:06)

Important Timestamps

• 08:59: Valve “Full Steam Ahead” hardware news explodes
• 26:52: Firefox drops 32-bit support, leans into privacy & AI
• 43:30: AI-generated code in the Linux Kernel—rules and realities
• 49:43: Rust Sudo lands in Ubuntu, but is it really safer?
• 54:23: AMD EPYC HBM3 benchmarks in cloud environments
• 62:59: MX Linux 25’s modern features and layout
• 71:26/73:24: Ubuntu LTS enters the 15-year era
• 80:01: Distro speed wars—OpenSUSE vs. CacheOS
• 87:43: OpenSUSE jumps to Grub2.bls bootloader spec
• 89:54: Vulnerability triage—FFMPEG, AI fuzzers, and open source stress
• 105:07: Tools Corner: Webmin, btrfs rescue, festive shell scripts, server PSU pro tips

Episode Tone/Style

A blend of deep technical knowledge, accessible explanations, and friendly banter. Each panelist brings both expertise and humor, fostering a welcoming space for Linux newcomers and pros alike. Frequent callbacks to past shows, historical context, and self-aware geekiness (e.g., jokes about “infinity support” and old-school admin tools) make for a lively, recognizably TWiT podcast experience.

Quick Takeaways

• Valve’s new hardware trifecta could meaningfully shift Linux gaming.
• AI is “invading everything”—browser features, kernel development, security audits—but the community remains wary.
• Distro and platform support life cycles are now measured in geological ages.
• Cloud CPUs are shockingly fast, but ordinary users may not notice.
• “Just rewrite it in Rust” is not a silver bullet for security.
• The push for longer support and better performance continues, but administrative basics (like monitoring your server’s power!) still matter.
• Classic admin tools like Webmin never die—they just get updated.