Untitled Linux Show 242: Syntactical Sugar

TWiT.tv | Recorded: Feb 14, 2026
Host: Jonathan
Panel: Rob, Ken, Jeff

Episode Overview

In this week's Untitled Linux Show, the panel discusses a rich lineup of major Linux and open source updates. Key topics include concerns (and optimism) around Linux Mint's slower release cadence, Ubuntu’s latest LTS maintenance update, major new Linux kernel and Mesa graphics driver releases, the evolution of Rust in the kernel, and innovations in modular Wayland window management. There's a healthy dose of banter, memorable jokes, and practical CLI tips, all delivered in the panel's trademark blend of expertise and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Linux Mint’s Future and Release Cadence

• The Mint team is contemplating slowing its 6-month release cycle. According to Rob, the current pace is "eating the team alive," with too much focus on releasing and not enough on innovating. (02:16)
• Possible shift to "ready when it's ready" releases, allowing more ambitious features.
• Wayland support is still considered "experimental." Screensaver rewrite for Wayland compatibility is underway (current is rooted in old X11/GTK).
• “They’ve run out of alphabetical codenames after the ‘Z’ release, so it’s a perfect excuse to reset the cadence and get creative.” – Rob (04:50)
• Ongoing debate on whether Mint should abandon Cinnamon in favor of something modern like KDE or GNOME.

“Mint has admitted it has a problem.” – Jonathan (07:45)
“When you thought Debian Stable was going too fast and reckless, then you had Mint.” – Jeff (08:21)

2. Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS Maintenance Update

• Ken details the fourth maintenance update in the Ubuntu 24.04 "Noble Numbat" LTS series (14:41).
• New kernel (6.17), updated Mesa (25.2) for gaming, new LibreOffice and Firefox, and Snapd updates.
• Supported until June 2029, or up to 15 years with paid options.

“Ubuntu 24.04 is going to be real crusty in 2039.” – Jonathan (15:21)

3. Linux Kernel 6.19 Released

• Jeff covers the highlights of kernel 6.19, noting its slightly delayed release due to holidays (16:03).
• Major changes:
  • AMD GCN 1.0/1.1 GPUs now default to modern drivers
  • Code for upcoming CPUs: Wildcat Lake, Nova Lake, AMD Zen 6
  • New security feature: Linear Address Space Separation (LASS)
  • EXT4 file system improvements: allows block sizes > page size, better performance, and error handling
  • Significant networking performance boost: “Sending twice the number of packets per second for half the CPU cycles.”
  • Rust language improvements
• Notable excitement around upstreaming GPU improvements, DRM color pipeline API, and Valve's contributions.

“One of the biggest overall improvements happened by replacing a busy lock at the transfer queuing layer with a lockless list to yield a 4x improvement in heavy transfer workloads.” – Jeff (18:13)

4. Vim 9.2: GUI and Wayland Support

• Jonathan explores Vim’s new version, which brings GUI (GVim) and native Wayland compatibility (24:33).
• Clipboard support for Wayland added, and "fuzzy matching for insert mode completion."
• Vi scripting advances: users have coded games like Battleship as scripts inside Vim.

“Vim is something we use on the command line. Why does it need to be able to talk to Wayland?” – Jonathan (24:33)
“Playing a game inside Vim seems more like an Emacs trick.” – Jeff (27:00)

5. Rust No Longer “Experimental” in Kernel 7.0

• Rob highlights that with kernel 7.0’s upcoming merge window, the Rust experiment is “officially concluded” and Rust is now a first-class citizen in kernel development (28:12).
• The move primarily signals long-term commitment for companies and maintainers.
• Rust code is shipping in production, including some distros and millions of Android devices.
• Transition isn’t fireworks—mainly documentation and incremental build improvements.
• Anecdotes about panelists learning Rust.

“Rust isn’t in limbo anymore… It’s in the building now.” – Rob (30:12)
“Linux 7 is mostly a version number, because Linus likes round numbers.” – Rob (28:27)

6. IPFire Launches DBL: Community-Driven Domain Blocklist

• Ken explains IPFire DBL, a “domain block list” project designed to categorize millions of domains for better network security filtering (36:47).
• Supports DNS RPZ, SquidGuard, adblock syntax, and integrates into firewall workflows.
• Discussed challenges in keeping domain blocklists fresh and funded.

7. Kernel 7.0 Merge Window Drama & Process Insights

• Jeff details a kernel MMC patch controversy: submission failed basic compilation, and Linus Torvalds refused to merge or even accept fixes for 7.0, emphasizing the necessity for testing in Linux-next (39:55).
• The maintainer took responsibility and plans to resubmit for 7.1.

“Stop sending me untested crap that hasn’t been in Linux Next and doesn’t even pass the most cursory smell test.” – Linus Torvalds (39:55, paraphrased by Jeff)

8. Pair OS 26.2: Mac-Like Linux Revived

• Rob brings news of Pair OS’s bold comeback (48:50):
  • Liquid Gel design mimics macOS, new Control Center, and visually cohesive enhancements.
  • Switch to Wayland by default.
  • Custom Safari-inspired browser and a Siri-like “Piri” voice assistant.
  • Privacy cues (e.g. mic/cam indicators), ring light emulation for video calls.
  • Ships with latest kernel and KDE Plasma.
• Panel debates the value of OSs copying macOS/Windows aesthetics.

“ParOS is flipping the [Wayland] switch… Not just a theme pack on top of Linux.” – Rob (51:01)

9. River: Modular Window Managers for Wayland

• Ken introduces the River compositor, which cleanly separates the compositor from window management for modularity—echoing X11's model (58:08).
• Users can swap window managers on the fly; River already supports ten options.

“River brings to Wayland the idea of a window manager as a separate program.” – Ken (58:08)

10. Kernel 7.0 Part II: Features to Watch

• Jeff covers new hardware support being merged for AMD RDNA3.5/4 and Intel discrete GPUs (61:51).
• Kernel gains revocable resource management (for hotplug safety), improved caching with the “sheaves” system, expanded hardware support (e.g. Asus, Framework laptops), and cleaning out old code (e.g. HIPPI, Intel 440BX).
• Human Interface Devices subsystem is gaining support for PlayStation’s Rock Band guitars.
• Panel imagines fun hacking applications (MIDI controllers, emulation).

“Can you map it to keyboard keys and just type?” – Rob (68:04)

11. Mesa 26 Released: Major Video Driver Boosts

• Jonathan announces Mesa 26 with much-improved AMD ray tracing, aligning closer to Windows and AMD’s closed drivers (69:37).
• Fedora, typically bleeding edge, is still a few months behind mainstream adoption.

“Mesa 26 is officially out, but it’s going to take a little bit before it lands in our actual desktop… Unless you take a drive on the bleeding edge.” – Jonathan (71:57)

12. Command Line Tips

1. Cull: Interactive terminal disk space analyzer. Delete files from a slick TUI.

   “Cull… scans directories...find what’s eating up your disk and delete it... all from within this TUI terminal.” – Rob (72:35)

2. systemd-detect-virt: Detects if you’re running in a VM or on bare metal.

   “If you ever wanted to determine if your script is running in a virtual environment, this command is what you need.” – Ken (75:42)

3. Preload & Go Preload: Programs to keep frequent apps hot in RAM for turbo start.

   “Preload is a program that tries to look ahead… so you can load them faster.” – Jeff (77:53)

4. new_script: A template generator for new scripts, “vibe coding without the LLM.”

   “So it’s vibe coding without the LLM involved!” – Jonathan (81:24)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Mint’s Direction:
  “The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Mint has admitted it has a problem.”
  — Jonathan (07:45)

• On Kernel Submissions:
  “Stop sending me untested crap that hasn’t been in Linux Next ... You can try again for 7.1, but only if it’s actually been in Linux Next and properly tested.” – Linus (as quoted by Jeff, 39:55)

• Jokes & Banter:
  “Playing a game seems more like an Emacs trick though.” – Jeff (27:00)
  “There's a lot of jabs in there. We're more brothers.” – Ken (15:45)
  “Donate $5 and tell me if I should keep this or shave it, because I may just shave it off.” – Rob (84:58)

• CLI Tip Humor:
  “If you want it to have different behavior, one or the other...” – Jonathan (77:16, on systemd-detect-virt)
  “If you’re supposed to be paying for a dedicated bare metal server... and you go run that thing – that’s not dedicated!” – Rob (77:29)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 02:06 – Linux Mint conundrum and Wayland future
• 13:01 – Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS details
• 16:03 – Kernel 6.19 release highlights
• 24:33 – Vim 9.2 GUI and Wayland support
• 28:12 – Kernel 7.0 and Rust’s non-experimental status
• 36:47 – IPFire’s new domain blocklist
• 39:55 – Kernel merge window controversy
• 48:50 – Pair OS 26.2 revival
• 58:08 – River: Modular window managers for Wayland
• 61:51 – Kernel 7.0: Big merges ahead
• 69:37 – Mesa 26 open source driver release
• 72:35 – Command line tips segment: Cull, systemd-detect-virt, preload, new_script

Closing Words & Plugs

• Rob: “Donate $5 and tell me if I should keep this [mustache] or shave it...” ([84:58])
• Jeff: Poetry corner (Aerosmith “Come Together” parody)
• Ken: “Linux from Scratch is dropping sysvinit... could be the death knell.” ([85:14])
• Jonathan: Find him on Hackaday and Floss Weekly, taping Tuesdays ([85:35])

Overall Tone:
Fun, geeky, informative—equal parts technical deep-dive and community banter, with classic TWiT dad joke energy.

For further reading:

• All articles, kernel change logs, and project updates mentioned are linked in the show notes of the episode’s page.