All TWiT.tv Shows - Untitled Linux Show 249: "Do It On a Potato"

Date: April 6, 2026
Host: Bryan Lunduke
Co-host: Jeff Geerling

Episode Overview

This week, Bryan Lunduke and Jeff Geerling navigate a lively mix of topics relevant to the Linux world and broader tech community, including an April 1st (April Fool's) roundup, significant shifts in Linux distributions and kernel development, dramatic changes in Steam's Linux market share, soaring hardware prices, ongoing software supply chain insecurity, controversial U.S. router policy, and surprising drama in the world of open source office suites.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. April Fool’s Day in the Linux World

Timestamps: [00:00] – [13:13]

• Internet Hijinks: The hosts dissect recent April 1st pranks, including fake Linux kernel patches and distribution announcements.
• Notable Examples:
  • Emacs Kernel Patch (Joke): Added code to the kernel to intentionally block Emacs, resulting in the error "disgusting. Return emacs."
    • "The comment there being disgusting. Return emacs." — Bryan Lunduke [01:45]
  • Gentoo Herd Announcement (Half-Joke):
    • On April 1st, Gentoo announced a pivot from Linux to GNU Hurd as its primary kernel — not true, but they are genuinely porting Gentoo to run on GNU Hurd, though not making it their main distribution.
      • "Their original April Fool's post was we're proud to announce that Gentoo plans to switch to GNU Herd as its primary kernel. And then they've gone back and amended it to say, no, no, it's just a port." — Bryan Lunduke [02:36]
      • Discussion on microkernel (Hurd) vs. monolithic kernel (Linux).
  • Cloudflare’s “em-dash” (Real):
    • Unexpectedly real announcement of a Cloudflare project called “em-dash” as an open-source WordPress alternative.
      • "They are. They are doing a lot of this with, with AI. It is fully open. M Dash is fully open source, it's MIT licensed, it's available on GitHub." — Bryan Lunduke [06:06]

2. Hardware Pricing & Raspberry Pi Inflation

Timestamps: [07:10] – [12:31]

• Raspberry Pi Price Hikes:
  • Discussed increases up to $100-150 on higher-end Raspberry Pis.
  • Workaround: Raspberry Pi 4 now offers a 3GB variant at ~$83, still subject to further price volatility.
• AI & RAM Market:
  • Overlapping demand for AI workloads keeps RAM prices and single-board computer (SBC) costs high.
  • "SBCs are dead for hobbyists. And at this price... it's difficult to make this make sense for a hobbyist." — Bryan Lunduke [08:08]
  • Industry constraints: new fab capacity is slow to come online, leading to persistent shortages even as demand shifts.

3. Kernel News: AMD P-State, Preemption Issues, and 7.0/7.1

Timestamps: [13:13] – [31:09]

AMD P-State Driver Improvements

• Upcoming Kernel 7.0/7.1 Features:

  • New collaborative processor performance control (CPPC) allowing per-core minimum performance levels.
  • Dynamic energy performance preference (EPP) grants finer energy control.
  • "So now this feature allows user space to specify different floor performance levels for different CPUs..." — Jeff Geerling [16:06]

• Energy & Voltage Explanation:

  • Why high CPU speeds require higher voltage — "it's known as the slew rate..." — Jeff Geerling [19:41]

Linux 7.0 Regression & PostgreSQL Database Performance

• Performance Regression:
  • Kernel 7.0 introduces a major regression where PostgreSQL throughput drops by 50%; traced to preemption mode defaults.
  • "Request has been made, well, let's please re enable Preempt none so that we can fix this terrible, terrible problem." — Bryan Lunduke [26:22]
  • The fix is complex—Postgres needs to use a new kernel feature to restore performance, sparking debate about breaking user space.
    • "The response is maybe we should. But requiring the use of a new low level facility... seems not great." — Bryan Lunduke [29:31]
    • "I thought that was the kernel's whole thing. They don't break user space. They broke user space." — Bryan Lunduke [29:49]

4. Steam Linux Market Share Soars

Timestamps: [31:34] – [41:31]

• Unexpected Jump:

  • Steam’s reported Linux user share jumps from ~2% to 5.33%, an all-time high.
  • Attributed to a correction in over-counting of Chinese internet café users (who typically run Windows).
  • "This time though there was a big jump... Linux at 5.33%. Now this is an all time high." — Jeff Geerling [33:19]

• Distribution Breakdown:

  • SteamOS is the top Linux OS for Steam users; “zero space 64 bit” shows up as a mysterious new category.
  • Growth possibly propelled by influencers (e.g. Linus Tech Tips) and Windows 11 frustrations.
  • Ongoing skepticism: "Take it with a grain of salt... we'll see if things hold or if this was a weird anomaly..." — Jeff Geerling [36:58]

• Microsoft Woes:

  • Windows 11’s shortcomings, UI regressions, and intrusive features steer techies toward Linux.
  • "It's 2026 and I can't have a vertical taskbar. Really. Is this back in 1995 for the UI...?" — Jeff Geerling [38:02]
  • MS promises fixes, including taskbar customizations and less “AI slop.”

5. Open Source Software Supply Chain: Vulnerabilities & Attack

Timestamps: [42:31] – [57:03]

• Recent Attacks:
  • Popular JavaScript library Axios compromised; attacker got maintainer’s deploy token via social engineering and VS Code exploit.
    • "Don't clone random repositories and open them up in VS code is sort of the message there." — Bryan Lunduke [43:24]
  • Related attacks on vulnerability scanners (Trivy, KICS, etc.), believed linked to “Team pcp,” possibly North Korean.
• GitHub Actions as a Vector:
  • Misconfigured GitHub CI runs can also be abused for supply chain attacks.
  • Mitigation advice from GitHub: Avoid PR auto-execution and use full commit hashes to prevent brute force substitution.
• Broader Open Source Problem:
  • Reliance and trust in upstream contributors and their security; calls for a more “prescriptive” Software Bill of Materials (SBoM).
    • “An SBoM... is going to have to become prescriptive, meaning that ... only this software and only exactly these versions will be in there.” — Bryan Lunduke [52:09]
  • Pin your dependencies: Only use fully hashed, non-range-specific dependencies for safety.
  • AI and automated tooling may ultimately help vet supply chain trustworthiness.
  • "For so long now, we've just essentially said, I'm sure it'll be fine. And come to find out, sometimes it's not fine." — Bryan Lunduke [56:34]

6. Ubuntu Increases Minimum System Requirements

Timestamps: [57:40] – [64:43]

• Ubuntu 26.04:
  • Minimum memory requirement raised to 6GB for a good experience (previously 4GB), reflecting practical usage not just minimal boot.
    • "Now with 2604 they say you need 6 gigabytes of RAM... But actually this is like 1804 where there isn't anything, which is taking more resources. They're just being more honest." — Jeff Geerling [58:02]
  • Server or alternate installers (like Lubuntu, netboot) are available for low-spec hardware.
  • Discussion of lightweight Linux possibilities for older hardware.
    • "You can do it on a potato." — [64:42]

7. FCC Moves to Restrict Foreign-Made Home Routers

Timestamps: [64:43] – [81:59]

• Policy Shift:
  • FCC will no longer certify new home router models not made in the US.
  • Existing models remain legal to sell.
  • Ostensible reason: cybersecurity and possible supply chain threats.
  • "I've covered security stuff and it's amazing how terrible the security problems in some of these routers are." — Bryan Lunduke [68:56]
• Host Critiques & Hardware Insights:
  • US manufacturing doesn’t necessarily guarantee supply chain integrity or decrease vulnerabilities; even US-made hardware can have flaws.
  • Loopholes, such as “assembled in the US,” and lack of rules for enterprise routers undercut effectiveness.
  • Suggestions for better policy:
    • Mandatory long-term support and software updates
    • Open source firmware after end-of-life
    • Hardware validation, not just origin, and real update mechanisms for consumers.
    • "How can we pour gasoline on the stupid, you know, just, we need accelerant on it..." — Jeff Geerling [72:32]
  • Comparing to Europe’s more robust regulatory approach.
  • OpenWRT and enthusiast firmwares highlighted as mitigation alternatives.

8. Open Source Office Suite Showdown

Timestamps: [84:23] – [95:49]

• EuroOffice Launched:
  • NextCloud and European partners fork OnlyOffice to create “EuroOffice” for sovereignty and open development.
  • OnlyOffice responds by alleging AGPL license violations, mainly concerning branding/credit clauses.
  • EuroOffice asserts such conditions can't override AGPL.
  • "OnlyOffice says that its version of the software includes additional rules... According to OnlyOffice, these requirements must remain intact..." — Jeff Geerling [86:05]
• NextCloud–OnlyOffice Partnership Suspended:
  • Break due to the licensing spat.
  • Users may lose integrated office editing within NextCloud.
  • OnlyOffice’s Russian origin and presence of binary blobs a further point of concern for EuroOffice / European partners.
• LibreOffice vs Collabora Office Drama:
  • The Document Foundation (TDF) ejects 30+ Collabora staff/partners over legal/political rifts.
  • Collabora planning a split: “Classic” and “new” office suites focusing on different user bases.
  • Document Foundation criticizes EuroOffice for using Microsoft file formats by default, sparking debate over open standards vs. practical interoperability.
    • "Who knew that some of the more boring aspects of software would suddenly become one of the largest controversies in open source..." — Jeff Geerling [90:51]
    • "There’s one thing that’s really interesting here from a licensing standpoint, and that's that question about adding additional licensing terms..." — Bryan Lunduke [91:12]
  • Hosts ponder legality of AGPL extra terms and hope for legal clarification.

9. Good News: Wayland Protocols XDG Session Management Arrives

Timestamps: [96:06] – [98:27]

• Wayland Progress:
  • Wayland Protocols 1.48 introduces support for session management and window state restoration.
  • Will soon enable restoring window positions after restart in Chrome, Firefox, GNOME, KDE.
    • "This is something that the free desktop GitLab and the Wayland guys have been fighting there for years now... and finally it has all landed in 1.4.8." — Bryan Lunduke [96:21]

10. Command Line & DevOps Tips

Timestamps: [99:02] – [105:22]

• Tip: vmstat
  • Memory/process monitoring tool for Linux. Useful for in-depth performance and activity stats beyond basics.
    • “It gives information about process, processes, memory, paging block, IO traps, disk and CPU activity.” — Jeff Geerling [99:02]
  • Tips for further switches: -a (active/inactive memory), -d (disk), -f (forks), -m (slab info).
• Mosquitto (MQTT) + Grafana:
  • Demo of integrating MQTT messages into Grafana dashboards for live monitoring and analysis.
  • Upcoming enhancements to enable encrypted data processing and visualization.
  • “Part of what we're doing here is I'm actually stepping through building my live demo and you guys get to watch it as it comes together...” — Bryan Lunduke [104:56]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Linux/Tech April Foolery:
  "We're going to do a roundup, some that were completely jokes, some that were 50/50, and then there was at least one thing that I was quite sure was an April Fool's joke that turns out, I think, to be a real story."
  — Bryan Lunduke [01:15]

• Hardware Frustrations:
  "SBCs are dead for hobbyists. And at this price, ... it's difficult to make this make sense for a hobbyist."
  — Bryan Lunduke [08:08]

• On Kernel Stability:
  "I thought that was the kernel's whole thing. They don't break user space. They broke user space."
  — Bryan Lunduke [29:49]

• On the Software Supply Chain:
  "For so long now, we've just essentially said, I'm sure it'll be fine. And come to find out, sometimes it's not fine."
  — Bryan Lunduke [56:34]

• On the FCC Router Ban:
  "How can we pour gasoline on the stupid, you know, just, we need accelerant on it..."
  — Jeff Geerling [72:32]

• On Office Suite Drama:
  "Who knew that some of the more boring aspects of software would suddenly become one of the largest controversies in open source..."
  — Jeff Geerling [90:51]

• Wayland Win:
  "Finally something is landing that we can all be excited about, and that is Wayland Protocols 1.48 includes XDG session management."
  — Bryan Lunduke [96:06]

• On Stress Management:
  "Sometimes you just got to go outside and take a breath and... just, you know, be calm. That being said, I just have a little poetry login. Incorrect. Only perfect spellers may enter this system."
  — Jeff Geerling [105:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• April Fool’s Roundup: [00:00] – [13:13]
• Raspberry Pi & Hardware Costs: [07:10] – [12:31]
• AMD P-State & CPU Management: [13:13] – [18:37]
• Linux 7.0/PostgreSQL Regression: [24:22] – [31:09]
• Steam Linux Stats Shift: [31:34] – [41:31]
• Software Supply Chain Attacks: [42:31] – [57:03]
• Ubuntu Resource Requirements: [57:40] – [64:43]
• FCC Router Sales Ban: [64:43] – [81:59]
• Open Source Office Suite Wars: [84:23] – [95:49]
• Wayland Protocols Update: [96:06] – [98:27]
• Command Line Tips & Grafana: [99:02] – [105:22]
• Closing Remarks & Outro: [105:39] – end

Summary

This episode typifies the Untitled Linux Show's mix of humor, technical insight, and candid debate. Topics ranged from April Fool's shenanigans and serious news about kernel changes, to the economics of hardware pricing and the dangers of the open source software supply chain. The show highlighted both the steady forward march (Wayland protocols, Ubuntu honesty) and the turbulence (office suite drama, questionable public policy) of Linux and open-source communities. Listeners will walk away with both a comprehensive update on the Linux world and a reminder to keep both their bookmarks — and their systems — fresh and secure.