Untitled Linux Show 246: "Chasing the Sun"

Date: March 15, 2026
Host: Jonathan (with Ken and Jeff)
Theme: Latest updates in the Linux and open source ecosystem—software highlights, industry news, and community insights.

Episode Overview

This week's Untitled Linux Show dives deep into recent developments across the Linux and open source world. The team covers fresh releases and updates for key software (Calibre, GIMP, Handbrake, KeePassXC), delves into kernel, hardware, and file system benchmarks, unpacks Fedora’s issues with RISC-V, discusses the systemd project’s approach to AI contributions, and analyzes the business intrigue around SUSE and TrueNAS. Listener questions are addressed, and, as always, a set of practical Linux command-line tips close out the show.

Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Chasing the Sun: Embedded World & Jetlag Stories

• Jonathan opens with tales of his trip to Embedded World in Germany. Jetlag’s impact is real:

  “...you take off from Germany and it's morning time and you fly, but when you fly west, you're chasing the sun. So my day was long... I can't decide which one is better, driving at the beginning of a long trip or driving at the end of a long trip. They're both sort of terrible I think.” (01:30)

2. Calibre 9.5: Ebooks Get Smarter

[03:02]

• Ken summarizes the latest Calibre ebook manager update:
  • New "Edit Book" tool to remove unused images.
  • Option to display both paper book and current ebook page numbers.
  • Custom reading progress columns and annotation filtering by highlight style.
  • More intuitive menu tweaks and numerous bug fixes.
• Fun naming note: The 'libre' in 'Calibre' ("free" in Spanish/French) is intentional (03:00).
• Conversation shifts to sourcing DRM-free ebooks (Project Gutenberg, Humble Bundle).
• Panelists debate physical vs. digital reading and share stories of overflowing bookshelves.

3. GIMP 3.2 Released: Non-Destructive Editing Arrives

[09:20]

• Key Features:
  • Non-destructive layers for flexible editing.
  • Improved paintbrush tools and SVG export.
  • Faster development pace post-GIMP 3.0.
• Jonathan:

  "One of the big ones in 3.2 is non-destructive layers... I want to go try the SVG support. That sounds pretty cool." (09:34)

4. Linux Kernel 7.0 Filesystem Benchmarks

[11:42]
Jeff's rundown:

• File systems compared: XFS, EXT4, F2FS, Btrfs (CoW on/off).
• Benchmarks run on a beefy AMD EPYC 128-core server.
• XFS edges out EXT4; F2FS and Btrfs follow.
• Home users aren’t likely to notice much practical difference; stability/reliability should trump minor speed variances.
• Benchmarks reveal kernel version bumps (6.16, esp. for EXT4) offer substantial performance jumps in some tests.
• Quote:

  “For a home user, I would personally say… you’ll never really see it. I honestly would say stick with your default that your distribution recommends.” (16:52)

5. Kernel API Specification: A Move to Machine-Readability

[21:37]

• Draft spec aims to document kernel APIs in a structured, machine-readable way (parameter types, ranges, constraints).
• Facilitates robust user space compatibility and could enable smarter AI-driven kernel code interaction/generation.
• Jonathan:

  "It's the kernel, in some ways, growing up and becoming more of a standardized thing..." (21:54)

6. Handbrake 1.11: New Formats & Enhanced Audio

[23:29]
Ken’s quick take:

• Support for MOV containers, DNxHR, and ProRes encoding for pro video workflows.
• Enhanced AV1 support, new presets for latest AMD GPUs.
• Audio: PCM encoding/pass-through, custom channel ordering.
• GUI tweaks for Flatpak/sandboxed environments.
• Digression: Panelists nerd out about surround sound tracks and director’s commentary.

7. Fedora’s RISC-V Complaints & Embedded World Insights

[29:20]

• Performance headaches: Fedora engineer laments slow build times on RISC-V hardware - builds take ~143 min (vs. ARM 36 min, x86 29 min).
• Hardware bottleneck, not just software optimization.
• RISC-V's open nature means vendor fragmentation; difficult to standardize performance-enhancing instruction sets like AVX512.
• Jonathan:

  "RISC V is causing headaches for Fedora because the builds are slow... At least so far the various options that are out there for RISC V are kind of slow." (29:24)

• Jonathan previews an upcoming Floss Weekly episode possibly featuring RISC-V leadership.

8. systemd 260 RC3: AI Agents, File System Management & SystemV Script Retirement

[37:07]

• Deprecation: Old System V service script support is dropped.
• New feature ("mstack"): Simplifies overlay, bind mount management for containers.
• Dependencies raised: Requires newer OpenSSL, Python, and recent kernels.
• AI Documentation:
  • Adds dedicated guidance files (agents.md, claude.md) to help AI code generation/bots submit higher quality contributions, and to clearly flag AI involvement.
  • The panel discusses whether accommodating AI code contributions is a "middle ground" for projects.
  • Quote:

    “Why not lean into it and help the AI get better code output...” – Jeff (42:02)

9. SUSE for Sale? European Tech's Value and Strategic Suitors

[47:36]

• Swedish private equity owner EQT is seeking to sell SUSE, aiming to double its 2023 valuation—from ~$3B to ~$6B.
• Discussion: Who could/should buy SUSE?
  • Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, Walmart, Deutsche Bank, Siemens, SAP, AMD all mentioned.
  • Importance of European companies (and governments) seeking digital/software sovereignty.
  • Jeff:

    “I could see... Walmart being a little interested because then they get a complete Linux package that they can do whatever they want with...” (50:41)

  • Panel considers the larger context of US/European tech and government sensitivities.

10. TrueNAS Build Scripts Go Closed (for Now): Security vs. Openness

[65:37]

• iXsystems pulls TrueNAS build scripts from public repo—response to GPL violations by derivative commercial vendors (often in countries with weak recourse).
• Core code remains open, but the community can no longer build TrueNAS from scratch as before.
• Jonathan:

  “If you don’t have access to the build scripts, you really can’t build your own TrueNAS… the open-source part of me really kind of hates that, the business side of me understands...” (67:31)

• A necessary but regrettable move to protect commercial interests and the community.

11. KeePassXC 2.7.12: Password Import/Export and TOTP Upgrades

[61:17]

• Import: Full nested folder import support from Bitwarden.
• TOTP/OTP placeholder expansions for two-factor auth.
• Bug and security fixes, improved browser integration.
• The panel discusses the value of managing TOTP secrets in password vaults vs. on phones, and YubiKey/Titan-style hardware security keys.

12. Security Mitigations: 'Turning Off' No Longer Yields Big Gains

[74:21]

• Benchmarks (Phoronix): On recent Intel CPUs, security mitigation toggles show negligible performance impact.
• Only legacy CPUs show meaningful slowdowns when mitigations are enabled.
• “If performance is critical, upgrading hardware is the better solution than toggling mitigations.” (77:46)

Memorable Quotes

• Jonathan (on Calibre, 03:00):
  "It's not spelled like the word caliber is normally spelled, it's intentionally spelled with the word 'libre' at the end..."
• Ken (on physical books):
  "Maybe one day take a picture for us." (07:14)
• Jeff (on filesystems, 16:52):
  "The difference isn't going to be something that you'll really see... stick with your default that your distribution recommends."
• Jonathan (on systemd & AI, 43:38):
  "AI is going to disappear... the good parts of it are just going to get sort of absorbed into the fabric..."
• Ken (on SUSE's long list of owners, 52:49):
  "SUSE has got a history of being sold either all by itself or at... Along with whatever its parent company at the time was."
• Jonathan (on TrueNAS build controversy, 67:31):
  “If you don’t have access to the build scripts, you really can’t build your own TrueNAS… the open-source part of me really kind of hates that, the business side of me understands...”

Notable Timestamps

• Calibre update discussed: 03:02
• GIMP 3.2 release: 09:20
• Filesystem benchmarks: 11:42
• Kernel API spec: 21:37
• Handbrake 1.11: 23:29
• Fedora RISC-V gripes: 29:20
• Systemd 260 RC & AI docs: 37:07
• SUSE sale analysis: 47:36
• KeePassXC update: 61:17
• TrueNAS build controversy: 65:37
• Security mitigation benchmarks: 74:21

Command Line Tips

Ken:

• udevadm for querying device info, e.g., lookup all details about your NVMe/SATA drives (82:51+).

Jeff:

• Archdeckify: Turn your Arch-based system into a Steam Deck-like gaming platform for big-screen or HTPC setups (86:15+).

Jonathan:

• CTRL+R in Bash: Reverse-search your shell history for easy command recall (89:23+).

Closing & Reflections

• The episode ends with a discussion on the blurry borders of "AI" and its long presence in Linux kernel development—even predating current hype.
• The hosts express their appreciation for the community and look forward to upcoming events and conferences.
• Listener input and community sharing are encouraged—find more links and full details in the show notes.

This summary captures the core discussions, opinions, and notable moments for listeners who want a thorough yet digestible brief of this episode's content and tone.