Untitled Linux Show 237: "Get Better Mice"

TWiT.tv | January 12, 2026
Panelists: Jonathan Bennett (host), Ken, Jeff

Episode Overview

This week’s Untitled Linux Show delivers a lively and in-depth roundtable on recent Linux desktop, hardware, and kernel developments. The hosts debate the future of core Linux features (like middle-click paste), discuss cutting-edge hardware, evaluate kernel bugs and project funding, and explore major desktop and gaming advances—especially those impacting the transition to ARM and gaming on Linux. Expect passionate opinions, classic rants, and command-line tips. The panel’s tone is geeky, warm, and humorously irreverent, with a penchant for tangents and memorable one-liners.

Key Topics & Discussions

1. Framework Laptop 16 Hands-On Review

• Jonathan’s Hardware Review (03:16)
  • Recently bought a Framework 16 DIY Edition: Ryzen AI 9 HX370, Radeon RX 7700, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and 240W adapter.
  • Impressed by its speed (compiles faster than his desktop), modularity, and fun features like RGB LED strips with modes including Conway’s Game of Life.
  • Complication: Forgot to order an audio module, so sound is routed via USB-C and HDMI to his monitor, then to headphones—a hacky but functional workaround.
  • Quote:
    “The most fun thing about those [RGB LED strips] is when you first turn it on, it's got several different things it can do. One of them is Conway's Game of Life… I really enjoy that.” – Jonathan (05:32)
  • Discussed Linux install (prefers Fedora on his, wife uses Framework 13 with her own flavor).
• Mice Preferences: Spirals into a debate about nice vs. cheap mice and the love/hate for trackballs vs. traditional mice.
  • Quote:
    “Oh, I hate trackballs… I'm a trackball aficionado.” – Jeff (25:24), Jonathan (25:30)

2. AI-Generated Code in the Kernel: The Linus Torvalds Rant

• Context: Ongoing debate on the kernel mailing list about handling AI-generated code and “AI slop.”
• Linus’ Rant: Linus Torvalds opposes adding rules about AI per se, insisting it’s merely a “tool,” and documentation won’t stop bad actors sneaking in poor AI code.
  • Quote:
    “There is zero point in talking about AI slop. That’s just plain stupid... Documentation is for good actors and pretending anything else is pointless posturing.” – (10:05)
• Panel Discussion:
  • Jonathan sees value in documentation for enforcing standards against “AI slop,” even if it’s largely symbolic.
  • Jeff: Does it matter if code is bad because of AI or a bad human? The review process should catch both.
  • Ken: Agrees with Linus that documentation alone won’t fix anything—but it can set baseline expectations.
  • All agree: Prompt engineering and treating AI like a junior developer yield the best results.
  • Humorous aside on AI “hallucinations,” especially Gemini being more unreliable than Copilot (19:00).

3. The Middle-Click Paste Controversy in GNOME/Firefox

• Background: GNOME dev Jordan Petridis proposes disabling UNIX/X11 middle-click paste in GNOME and Firefox.
  • Reason: Potential for accidental paste, confusion, security, and being a non-discoverable “Easter egg.”
  • Some, like Bobby Borisov, view it as muscle memory and an essential UNIX feature.
• Hosts’ Opinions:
  • Jeff: “Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. I love the middle click!” (23:26)
  • Jonathan: Doesn’t like middle click for ergonomic reasons, prefers keyboard shortcuts.
  • Ken: Reluctantly accepts both sides, but doesn’t use it much.
  • Running Joke: If you’re having accidental middle-click issues, “You guys need better mice.” – Jeff (25:07)

4. Budgie 10.10 & The Move to Wayland

• Budgie Desktop’s First Wayland Release:
  • Budgie 10.10 migrates from X11 to Wayland, with legacy 10.x in maintenance.
  • Highlights: Uses utilities like Grim, Slurp, Sway Lock, Sway Idle; screensaver replaced by screen dim and lock.
  • Jonathan laments the death of real screensavers, both for nostalgia and OLED burn-in prevention. (29:00)
  • Short history of Budgie: Originated as Solus’s desktop, now available on various distros.

5. Linux Foundation’s 2025 Finances Unpacked

• Where’s the Money Going? (33:16)
  • $311M revenue, $285M spent:
    • $133M memberships/donations, $84M project services (admin/legal/marketing for projects), $59M events, $30M training, $6M other.
  • $8.4M spent directly supporting the Linux kernel.
  • 1,500+ projects supported; cloud/virtualization, network/edge, and AI/analytics are major slices.
  • Hosts note the Foundation’s transparency and the huge roster of corporate sponsors.

6. Kernel Bugs: How Long Do They Lurk?

• Research: Ginny Guaniq analyzed 125k+ bugs over 20 years in the Linux kernel (from git history).
  • Findings:
    • Average bug lives 2.1 years before discovery(!), with the longest at 20.7 years (buffer overflow in networking).
    • GPU bugs handled fastest; CAN bus drivers last the longest.
    • Few bugs actually receive CVEs; many fixes are incomplete.
  • Jonathan points out that the “every bug is a CVE” policy inflates perceptions of severity and timeframes.
  • Discussion on whether all bugs should really be classified as vulnerabilities. (44:54+)

7. Licorix (Liquorix) Low-Latency Kernel Review

• Phoronix Benchmarks:
  • Licorix kernel is optimized for desktop responsiveness and low latency—favors interactive tasks, not pure throughput.
  • Beats the stock kernel in latency under load, but not in raw I/O performance.
  • Several distros (like Ubuntu Studio) use similar low-latency kernels.

8. Desktop Roundup: Cosmic Desktop on Ubuntu

• Trying Cosmic (System76’s Rust-based Desktop) Without Reinstalling:
  • Community PPA now enables Cosmic on Ubuntu 24.04+ as an option alongside GNOME. Not an official repo; proceed with caution.
  • Use GNOME’s login manager for easy switching and avoid removal of core GNOME components.
  • Panelist notes: Multiple desktops can coexist, but users should beware of DE-specific quirks.

9. Gaming & ARM64 Milestone: Steam Snap + FEX

• Steam Snap for ARM64 in Testing:
  • Canonical develops a snap for Steam on ARM, bundling the FEX emulator to run x86 games on ARM processors.
  • Screenshots show Steam running on Dell Pro Max GP10 and planned testing on Snapdragon x1 Lite.
  • Panel excited at how Steam + Proton are simplifying Linux gaming across architectures:
    • “It can be used on so many different things and it, it's just so easy to use…” – Jeff (59:41)
• Benefits of GPL: Ensures derivatives like Proton remain open.
• “Steam on Linux is probably the only way you can play some of those Windows 98 games.” – Ken (62:55)
  • Discussion includes nostalgia for running Windows 95/98 in emulators and fun with old titles.

10. Graphics: RADV Patch Greatly Improves Unreal Engine 5 Ray Tracing

• Massive RADV Ray Tracing Fix:
  • Patch merges “swizzling logic” to fix edge-case performance with Unreal Engine 5’s hardware lumen.
  • Delivers 4–8x speedup, boosting some titles’ frame rates by 30% (68:42).
  • Intel is also improving their gaming stack (esp. for Intel XE GPUs).
  • Panel muses on Linux gaming advances, DirectX’s role, stability of translation layers, and the importance of not “breaking userland.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Linus Torvalds (via mailing list, read by Jeff):
  “There is zero point in talking about AI slop. That's just plain stupid... Documentation is for good actors and pretending anything else is pointless posturing.” (10:05)
• Jeff on middle-click removal:
  “I think that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I love the middle click.” (23:26)
• Jonathan’s hardware hack:
  “So it's kind of a miracle it works at all.” [remarking on his convoluted audio setup] (06:05)
• Ken wryly summarizes the Budgie project’s desktop split:
  “So Evolve lost its soul when it got Budgie.” (32:24)
• Jeff, poetic send-off:
  “Roses are red, screens of death are blue. Thinking about trying Linux or maybe GNU. Have a great week everybody.” (91:34)
• Jonathan, on wanting screensavers back:
  “Why are we living in a world that hates screensavers? What happened? I miss my screensavers. Bring the screensavers back…” (29:41)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Framework 16 Review & Hardware Talk: 03:16 – 08:35
• AI in Kernel Debate / Linus Rant: 08:47 – 15:26
• Discussion: AI Coding Tools in Practice: 15:45 – 19:00
• Middle-click Paste Controversy: 19:33 – 26:07
• Wayland & Budgie 10.10 Release: 26:10 – 33:16
• Linux Foundation & Money in FOSS: 33:16 – 38:13
• Kernel Bugs: Longevity & CVEs: 39:14 – 47:41
• Licorix Kernel Benchmark: 47:51 – 52:16
• Cosmic Desktop on Ubuntu: 52:16 – 56:30
• Steam Snap for ARM64 & FEX: 58:10 – 63:36
• RADV/Unreal Engine Ray Tracing Fix: 65:34 – 69:09
• Industry Trends / CES Reactions: 69:34 – 75:36

Command Line Tips Segment

• Fresh Editor (command-line text editor):
  • Offers Nano-like simplicity with mouse support, conventional clipboard shortcuts (CTRL+C/V), split-pane layouts, built-in file tree, and markdown preview.
  • Ken demonstrates live; both say it’s now their Nano replacement (78:58).
• Ken’s Tip – ALSA Info:
  • Shows how to gather detailed ALSA and hardware audio data useful for support and troubleshooting.
  • alsa-info, alsa-info --about, uploading logs for help.
  • “That's a good way to find out your firmware version if you need to.” – Ken (82:14)
• Jonathan’s Simple Classic – clear
  • Using clear to wipe the terminal or clear -x for scrollback control.
  • “Super, super useful, actually, for messing with the terminal and the command line.” (88:05)

Final Notes, Tips, and Links

• End of Life Reminder: Ubuntu 25.04 support ends Jan 15, move to 25.10 or downgrade to 24.04 (90:58).
• Floss Weekly Plug: Jonathan continues co-hosting the show at Hackaday, with an upcoming deep-dive into Elixir and Nerves.
• Show Culture:
  • Playful back-and-forth, “trap” segues, and organic tangents enrich the technical discussion.
  • Listeners are encouraged to read linked articles for deeper dives into segment topics.

This episode is perfect for Linux fans who want informed debate, laughs, and up-to-the-minute practical guidance.