Untitled Linux Show 231: Confused by Vowels

Date: November 30, 2025
Host & Panelists: TWiT (Leo Laporte), Rob, Jeff, Jonathan, et al.

Episode Overview

This episode of the Untitled Linux Show dives into a grab bag of hot topics in the Linux and open source ecosystem. The crew shares hardware migration experiences, debates current and future GPU drivers, discusses significant changes in desktop and patent law, explores new office alternatives, and closes with colorful poetry. The panel navigates the ever-changing open source landscape with their trademark mix of irreverence, history, and technical insight.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Rob’s Migration from Zigbee to Z-Wave for Home Automation

【02:10 – 11:18】

• Rob reviews his switch from Zigbee to Z-Wave devices for Home Assistant:

  • Frustration with unreliable Zigbee connections and setup.
  • Z-Wave (via the new ZWA2 antenna) offered seamless integration with Home AssistantOS (a Linux-based OS) and better coverage in his house.
  • Troubleshooting involved recognizing issues passing USB to Proxmox and needing a full VM reboot to detect the antenna.

• "[The setup process was] way better than Zigbee was. . .I highly recommend the Z-Wave antenna from Home Assistant. It reaches from the basement to the upstairs corner with no problem." – Rob (09:16)

• Fun sidenotes about antenna design, RF black magic, and playful ideas for mapping Home Assistant events to the antenna’s glowing LED tip.

2. Open Source NVIDIA Drivers: Nouveau's Bumpy Rise

【11:50 – 19:11】

• Discussion led by Jeff on the state of open-source NVIDIA GPU drivers (Nouveau/NVK):

  • Nvidia's history of minimal support for open drivers; recent partial opening of the code.
  • Current open driver about 50% slower than the proprietary one, but:
    • Rapid progress in supporting newer cards.
    • Significant (~20%) improvement from current to bleeding-edge (git) driver versions.
    • Compute workloads sometimes on par with closed source driver.
  • NVK (open source Vulkan driver) and MESA integration advancing the user experience.

• "Right now you can expect overall about a 50% less performance out of the open source driver than the proprietary driver. . .But if you look through where we were and where we're at, there's more working hardware and just from the official release, I mean there's a 20% increase improvement. . .the future is going to look pretty bright for the open source driver." – Jeff (13:02–18:39)

• Panel laments Nvidia’s slow progress while noting AMD’s open approach as a positive pressure.

3. Intel: Back to Hiring Linux Engineers

【19:50 – 23:53】

• After a period of layoffs and voluntary departures, Intel is again hiring, with two Linux kernel engineer roles open in Oregon. Kristina Accardi announced these on LinkedIn.

• Some reflection on career strategies during layoffs and the value of rest and sabbaticals in tech.

• "Not all is bad news. . .it's neat to see that Intel in at least some of their places are on the hiring path." – Host (21:41)

4. Kernel 6.18 & LTS, and the Coming of Linux 7.0

【23:53 – 25:42】

• Anticipation for Linux 6.18 as the year’s LTS kernel, with 7.0 looming next year.
• Lighthearted nostalgia about past kernel versioning schemes; even-numbered vs. odd-numbered historical customs.

5. Collabora Office for Desktop – A New Office Suite Challenger

【30:31 – 38:12】

• Rob demos Collabora Office’s debut as a desktop app for Linux, macOS, and Windows:

  • Longtime player in web-based Office suites (powered by LibreOffice core), now packaged as a standalone, modernized desktop app.
  • Advantages: No Java dependencies, smaller footprint, clean look, strong interoperability and privacy focus (tight Nextcloud integration).
  • Competitive with MS Office’s interface; claims good document compatibility.
  • Comments on interface polish and praise from partners (quote from Nextcloud CEO, 32:38).
  • Now a viable cross-platform alternative to LibreOffice – especially for users wanting a “cleaner” interface.

• "The look would be very comfortable to [Microsoft Office] users. . .a very comfortable alternative for Windows users." – Rob (34:18)

• Java dependency discussion and open source licensing headaches (with Rob’s legendary dislike for Java), but optimistic for Collabora’s design improvements and license clarity.

6. Valve’s HDR Linux Breakthrough and Color Pipeline

【39:21 – 44:22】

• Jeff reports on Valve submitting their Linux color pipeline API for upstream inclusion:
  • Enhances hardware-based HDR on AMD GPUs – key for gaming on Steam Deck/Steam Machines.
  • Support baked into GameScope, KDE Kwin, and Wayland compositors.
  • Not likely to hit kernel until v7.0 but lays groundwork for modern color management and cross-device color consistency.
  • Segment includes a thoughtful explanation of HDR’s complexity and why Linux is unlikely to get features like Dolby Vision due to patent/licensing barriers.

7. Patent Law & Open Source: Patent Office Changes

【46:32 – 51:56】

• Host explains recent changes at the US Patent Office, making it harder for individuals/small companies to use the IPR (Inter Partes Review) process to challenge bad software patents.

  • IPR now forfeits your right to litigate and can't be used if a court decision exists.
  • Open source has long been hurt by software patents (e.g., the years-long mp3 drama).

• "Software patents are such a terrible idea and have always been a problem. . .Hardware patents, not so bad. Software patents, garbage and need to go away." – Host (51:36)

8. ChromeOS’s Fate: Android to Replace Linux-Based Distros?

【54:39 – 62:40】

• Rob covers Google’s pivot toward “Aluminum” (Aluminium) OS:
  • An Android-based, AI-forward desktop OS to replace ChromeOS.
  • A significant unification of Android and ChromeOS development paths, with planned launches as soon as 2026.
  • Commentary on possible fragmentation and resistance among users clinging to “classic” Linux desktop paradigms, and tongue-in-cheek lamenting the branding confusion (“Al” for Aluminum, “AI” for Artificial Intelligence).

9. KDE Announces X11 Deprecation in Plasma 6.8

【64:52 – 77:45】

• Big news: KDE will officially drop X11 support after Plasma 6.7 (~early 2027).

  • Wayland is mature enough; long-standing technical debt and impeded progress with legacy X11 cited.
  • Most X applications will still run via XWayland, but native session will be Wayland-only.
  • KDE explicitly asks users to report accessibility needs so no user is left behind.

• Historical context: Dropping support comes faster than the community anticipated—driven partly by lack of paid maintenance for X11.

• "Nobody’s, you know, Everybody abandoned the X11 house." – Panelist (75:45)

10. Rust for Linux: Maintainer Drops Out, Fedora Gets Nix

【77:44 – 83:55】

• The ‘Rust for Linux’ project loses co-maintainer Alex Gaynor, leaving Miguel Ojeda as the sole official maintainer.
  • Raises concerns about project bus factor and future resourcing.
• Fedora 44 brings in the Nix package manager, enabling reproducible single-user package installs and broadening Fedora's versatility for Nix enthusiasts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Z-Wave hardware:
  “I highly recommend the Z-Wave antenna from Home Assistant. It reaches from the basement corner…to the upstairs corner, far end of the house. No problem.” – Rob (09:16)
• On open Nvidia drivers:
  “If you look through where we were and where we’re at, there’s more working hardware…and there’s a 20% increase…The future is going to look pretty bright for the open source driver.” – Jeff (13:02–18:39)
• On patent reform:
  “Software patents are such a terrible idea and have always been a problem…Hardware patents, not so bad. Software patents, garbage and need to go away.” – Host (51:36)
• On KDE dropping X11:
  “There’s just so many reasons to move on.” – Rob (73:35) “If you can’t believe the developers of X11 and Wayland, who are you gonna believe? … The Internet.” (75:45)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Z-Wave review & home automation odyssey: [02:10 – 11:18]
• Nouveau/NVK drivers, benchmarks: [11:50 – 19:11]
• Intel hiring Linux engineers: [19:50 – 23:53]
• Kernel 6.18 & LTS talk: [23:53 – 25:42]
• Collabora Office desktop debut: [30:31 – 38:12]
• Valve’s HDR color pipeline for Linux: [39:21 – 44:22]
• Patent law & open source woes: [46:32 – 51:56]
• ChromeOS to Android/AI desktop: [54:39 – 62:40]
• KDE drops X11 (Plasma 6.8 and forward): [64:52 – 77:45]
• Rust for Linux down to a single maintainer, Fedora gets Nix: [77:44 – 83:55]

Command Line Tips of the Week

• Podliner: Terminal podcast client with VI-like controls (Rob's pick) 【85:07+】
• ss (socket statistics): Powerful replacement for netstat with advanced filtering (Jeff's pick) 【88:57+】
• Running Linux on ESP32-S3 microcontrollers: (Host's pick)
  “It is indeed possible to compile Linux and run it on one of these, which blew my mind.” (91:32)

Closing: Community, Poetry, and Coffee

• As always, the panel winds down with jokes, poetry, and reminders to support creators (buy Rob a coffee for new Linux explorations or more on-the-spot verse).
• Final words remind listeners to keep exploring, learning, and contributing to the Linux and open-source communities.

For More

• Full show notes, code links, and referenced articles/live demos available via the TWiT website.
• Panelists can be reached at their respective websites, social media, or via Hackaday and other linked outlets.

Summary prepared for those who want the inside scoop on Linux news, trends, and colorful community discussion, straight from the experts.