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Convert Linux to Windows
a year ago
- Linux lacks binary compatibility, making it difficult to run older or cross-distribution binaries.
- Windows' Win32 ABI is stable, allowing long-term binary compatibility, unlike Linux's libc-based userland.
- Proposal: Create a Linux distro that runs Windows binaries by default using Wine for compatibility.
- Wine provides near-perfect compatibility with Windows applications, including older 32-bit ones.
- The distro would include Wine pre-installed and kernel patches to seamlessly execute Windows binaries.
- A Windows-like desktop environment would ease transition for Windows users switching to Linux.
- Commercial OSs (Windows, macOS) are becoming more locked down, invasive, and subscription-based.
- A Linux distro mimicking Windows could offer an alternative for users seeking freedom and control.
- Economic and governmental incentives drive Apple and Microsoft toward restrictive practices.
- A 'Windows' Linux distro could solve compatibility issues and attract users leaving Windows 11.
DIY automation using only Linux
a year ago
- Automating website deployment using simple Linux tools.
- Prerequisites include a Gitea repository and an Ubuntu server.
- Step-by-step guide covering static and dynamic website deployment.
- Scripts for automatic deployment, logging, and issue creation on failure.
- Setting up Nginx for serving static content or proxying to a Node.js server.
- Creating a system service to handle deployment hooks.
- Adding webhooks in Gitea to trigger deployments on code pushes.
- Optional step to automatically create issues in Gitea on deployment failures.
- Conclusion emphasizing simplicity and avoiding vendor lock-in.
Aurora: Maintenance-free, reliable and fast OS, stable like a Chromebook
a year ago
- Aurora is a stable, privacy-respecting, and highly productive operating system built on KDE Plasma.
- It offers sensible defaults, a unified app store via Flathub, and automatic background updates with rollback capability.
- Aurora is designed for developers with preinstalled tools like Docker, Podman, VS Code, and Homebrew.
- It supports local AI workflows with included GPU drivers and utilities.
- Aurora features expanded hardware support, including Nvidia GPUs, game controllers, and printers.
- The OS is community-driven, with easy auditing and contribution opportunities through bash scripts and containerfiles.
- Documentation, forums, and a Discord server are available for community support.
- Different editions are available, including a developer version with additional tooling.
FUSE File-Systems to Support Much Longer Filenames with Linux 6.15
a year ago
- FUSE updates in Linux 6.15 kernel enable longer filenames, increasing from 1024 to 4095 characters (one less than PATH_MAX).
- The increase is necessary for handling Amazon/AWS S3 storage keys, which require encoding %xx escape characters.
- Other changes include server connection timeout support, returning 'EPERM' for unsupported hard links, and fixing a race condition.
The state of binary compatibility on Linux and how to address it
a year ago
- Linux binary compatibility is a significant challenge due to the diverse and evolving ecosystem of distributions, libraries, and services.
- Containerized solutions like Flatpak and AppImage attempt to address compatibility but introduce complexity and isolation issues, especially with system interactions like hardware-accelerated APIs.
- GLIBC's monolithic design is a core issue, tightly coupling system calls, memory management, threading, and the dynamic linker, making upgrades disruptive.
- Proposed solution: Decompose GLIBC into smaller, focused libraries (libsyscall, libdl, libheap, libthread, libc) to enable version coexistence and improve compatibility.
- Static linking and building against older system libraries (using tools like debootstrap) can mitigate compatibility issues without runtime containers.
- Challenges include shared resources (heap, TLS, threading) and global state (errno, locale), requiring careful architectural design to maintain compatibility.
- The article advocates for a fundamental redesign of Linux userspace with binary compatibility as a core principle, similar to Windows' approach.
I Want a Better Mac, So I'm Cheering for a Better Linux
a year ago
- Apple's hardware is highly regarded for its quality and integration, overshadowing its software issues.
- Users tolerate Apple's buggy software because of the superior hardware and seamless ecosystem integration.
- Linux desktop environments like GNOME offer a minimalist and consistent experience, appealing to some Apple users.
- The lack of high-quality, integrated hardware is a major barrier for Linux to compete with Apple.
- A major electronics manufacturer could disrupt the market by committing to a high-quality Linux hardware ecosystem.
- The article suggests that a 'Jobsian disruptor' could revitalize competition in the personal computing space.
- The integration of modern electronics ecosystems is crucial for any platform to compete with Apple.
- The author owns stock in Apple and Microsoft, disclosing potential conflicts of interest.
Install script does rm -RF /usr for Ubuntu
a year ago
- An extra space in the install.sh script at line 351 causes 'rm -rf /usr /lib/nvidia-current/xorg/xorg' to delete everything under /usr directory.
- This issue affects Ubuntu users, leading to complete loss of data under /usr, requiring a reinstall of Linux to recover.
- The fix involves removing the extra space in the script to prevent unintended deletion of the /usr directory.
- Urgent action is recommended to correct the script quickly to avoid further incidents.
An interactive-speed Linux computer made of only 3 8-pin chips
a year ago
- The author designed a minimal, easy-to-assemble Linux computer using only 8-pin chips.
- The goal was to create a kit that could run Debian Linux, vi, gcc, and make with minimal hardware: 8MB RAM, 1 MIPS CPU, SD card, and USB.
- The design uses 8-pin chips for simplicity, including a USB-to-serial bridge (PL2303GL) and an 8MB PSRAM chip.
- Pin limitations led to creative solutions, such as sharing pins between RAM and SD card using SDIO protocol.
- The STM32G031 microcontroller was chosen, with overclocking capabilities up to 148MHz for better performance.
- A custom bootloader was developed to update firmware via SD card and manage system configurations.
- The boot process mimics a PC, loading stages from the SD card to boot Linux.
- Assembly instructions are provided, emphasizing ease for beginners with minimal soldering experience.
- The final product boots Debian Linux, supports basic development tools, and includes a swap file for better RAM management.
- The project is open for DIY assembly or as a potential kit for sale.
Wine 10.5 Brings Vulkan H.264 Video Decoding, Mono 10.0 and Bluetooth Pairing
a year ago
- Wine 10.5 introduces Vulkan H.264 video decoding support.
- Includes Mono 10.0 engine update.
- Supports larger page sizes on ARM64, including Apple Silicon.
- Bluetooth pairing support has been improved in Wine's Bluetooth driver.
- Fixes 22 known bugs affecting software like Microsoft Edge and games such as Rally Trophy.
GoboLinux 017.01: the most experimental Linux's first new release in about 5Y
a year ago
- GoboLinux 017.01 is a bug-fix update addressing critical issues since the initial 017 ISO release.
- Hisham Muhammad, founder of GoboLinux, steps down after 25 years; Philip Pok (@nuc1eon) takes over.
- Key fixes include UnionFS-Fuse integration, loopback network interface boot-up, and SSL certificate updates.
- Updated core packages: Automake, Dracut, E2FSProgs, Firefox, GCC, GRUB, Linux kernel, SQLite, and more.
- Added packages: CA-Certificates, Cpio, Fuse 2.9.9, NumlockX, Tree, UnionFS-Fuse.
- GoboLinux tools updated: BootScripts, Compile GIT, ConfigTools, Dit, EnhancedSkel, GoboNet, Scripts.
- New tools added: BuildLiveCD, Freshen GIT.
- Known issues: GPT/UEFI bootloader installation fails in VM, copy-paste issues between VM and host, outdated documentation.
- GoboLinux encourages community contributions to solve bugs and improve the distribution.
- Future plans include another point release focusing on base package updates and bug fixes.
Linux Kernel Defence Map – Security Hardening Concepts
a year ago
- Linux kernel security is complex, involving vulnerability classes, exploitation techniques, bug detection mechanisms, and defense technologies.
- Defense technologies in Linux kernel can be mainline, out-of-tree (some commercial), or hardware-dependent.
- The Linux Kernel Defence Map provides a graphical representation of security relationships, aiding navigation of documentation and kernel sources.
- The map focuses on kernel security hardening, not attack surface reduction, userspace security, or Linux Security Modules (LSM) policies.
- The map is available on GitHub, Codeberg, and GitFlic, written in DOT language, and licensed under GPL-3.0.
- GraphViz is used to generate the map with the command: `dot -Tsvg linux-kernel-defence-map.dot -o linux-kernel-defence-map.svg`.
- Many security hardening options in Linux kernel are not enabled by major distros, requiring manual configuration.
- The kernel-hardening-checker tool helps verify security hardening options automatically.
- References include works by Kees Cook, Shawn C, MSRC, Matt Miller, Abhilash Raj, and Stéphane Lesimple.
Linux 6.15 Features Deliver a Lot for Intel and AMD, Many Other Changes
a year ago
- Linux 6.15 merge window ended with the release of Linux 6.15-rc1.
- Expected stable release by end of May or early June.
- New features include support for newer hardware, 'hugetlb_alloc_threads' option for faster server boot times, and initial Rust-written NVIDIA 'NOVA' kernel driver.
- Processor updates: AMD and Intel CPU support improvements, early Intel APX support, faster CRC code for AVX-512 CPUs, and more.
- Graphics updates: Primitive NOVA driver code merged, Intel Xe driver SVM support, AMDGPU OEM i2c interface support, and Apple Touch Bar display support.
- Storage/File-system updates: Block sizes greater than page size enabled, EROFS for larger data, Bcachefs on-disk format 'soft frozen', and FUSE filename length limit increased.
The chroot Technique – a Swiss army multitool for Linux systems
a year ago
- The chroot technique is a valuable tool for repairing non-bootable Linux systems.
- It involves mounting a broken system's hard drive and tricking the current session into treating it as the root file system.
- Special system folders like /sys, /proc, and /dev from the live system are mounted into the new file structure.
- The process requires identifying the correct partitions for the root and /boot folders.
- Commands like `mount` and `chroot` are used to set up and enter the new file system environment.
- Once inside the chroot environment, system repair commands like `apt upgrade` or `dpkg-reconfigure` can be run.
- The technique was successfully used to repair a Nanopore GridION device by fixing broken symlinks and empty initrd.img files.
GPD Pocket 4 Speaker DSP: Configuring PipeWire so laptop speakers sound better
a year ago
- Modern speakers use DSP to enhance sound quality.
- Traditional speakers required careful design for flat frequency response.
- Mobile devices use DSP tricks like psycho-acoustic bass enhancement and limiters.
- Asahi Linux project improves sound on Apple Silicon MacBooks running Linux.
- Frequency/impulse response measured using Room EQ Wizard.
- Identified a harsh peak at ~4kHz in the frequency response.
- Generated and applied a filter curve to correct the response.
- Used a convolution DSP filter with the corrected impulse response.
- Simplified MacBook Pro DSP setup for GPD Pocket 4.
- Links to GitHub repository, AUR package, and Room EQ Wizard.
Survey Says More Organizations Are Using Dead CentOS 7 Than RHEL
a year ago
- CentOS 7, a discontinued RHEL clone, has more installations than RHEL itself according to the 2025 State of Open Source Report.
- Ubuntu remains the most used Linux distribution, followed by Debian, with CentOS still in use despite being end-of-life.
- Red Hat's decision to discontinue CentOS as a downstream copy led to the rise of alternatives like AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux.
- Enterprises continue using CentOS 7 due to high migration costs, risks of upgrading, and resistance to change.
- Extended support services, like those from TuxCare, allow companies to mitigate risks while delaying migration.
- AlmaLinux's chairperson notes that companies running CentOS plan to migrate within five years as support contracts end.
Demystifying the (Shebang): Kernel Adventures
a year ago
- The shebang (#!) specifies the interpreter for executing a script.
- The Linux kernel handles the shebang functionality, not the shell.
- The `execve` syscall is used to start running a program from a file.
- The kernel checks for the shebang in the file's first line to determine the interpreter.
- If a script lacks a shebang, the shell may fall back to using `/bin/sh` as the interpreter.
- The `binfmt_misc` kernel feature allows invoking non-native programs by matching magic bytes or file extensions.
- Execute permissions are checked by the kernel during the `execve` syscall.
systemd ParticleOS
a year ago
- ParticleOS is a customizable immutable distribution where users build and sign their own images.
- Images are built using mkosi, supporting distributions like Arch and Fedora.
- Users can select profiles (e.g., KDE or GNOME) to add predefined sets of packages.
- System updates are performed via systemd-sysupdate by cloning the repository and running specific commands.
- ParticleOS often adopts the latest systemd features, requiring building systemd from source.
- Images are signed for Secure Boot with user-generated keys, which can be stored on smartcards.
- Installation involves building the image, burning it to a USB, and booting into the installer profile.
- Post-installation steps include configuring systemd-homed for optimal performance.
- In virtual machines, default credentials (username and password: 'particleos') are set automatically.
A Farewell to the ArcoLinux University
a year ago
- After 8 years, the founder of ArcoLinux is stepping down due to aging and decreased energy.
- Key achievements include over 5,000 educational videos, ArcoInstall, Carli, ALCI, and various tailored distributions.
- The project emphasized education, experimentation, and empowerment in the Linux community.
- All ArcoLinux projects will be discontinued, but resources will remain online for reference.
- Transition packages will help users convert ArcoLinux systems to Arch Linux with Chaotic-AUR support.
- Support will continue until July 1, 2025, after which all social media channels will close.
RNG and Cosine in Nix
a year ago
- NixOS is an immutable, atomic Linux distribution with a declarative and reproducible configuration system.
- Configuration in NixOS is done via a `configuration.nix` file, enabling easy system customization.
- Random number generation in Nix is challenging due to its purely functional nature, requiring creative solutions.
- A project called `rand-nix` was explored to implement RNG in Nix, leveraging system randomness sources.
- Nix's caching behavior complicates dynamic operations like RNG, requiring workarounds to bypass cache.
- Implementing cosine in Nix was demonstrated using infinite lists, showcasing Nix's functional capabilities.
- Nix's syntax quirks, like lambda function formatting and number interpretation, were highlighted.
- The post concludes with a successful implementation of cosine and sine functions in Nix.
- Additional resources on Nix overlays and the Nix store's design philosophy were recommended.
- Btrfs was praised for its flexibility in NixOS installations.
Show HN: ClipCapsule – A Clipboard Manager for Linux (Built with Go and Wails)
a year ago
- ClipCapsule is a minimalist clipboard manager for Linux built with Go and WailsJS.
- Keyboard-first workflow: Switch clipboard items instantly with CTRL + SHIFT + 1~9.
- Clipboard History: Automatically saves recent copies in an embedded database.
- Dynamic Reordering: Selecting an item with a shortcut moves it to the top of the stack.
- Local-Only: Your data stays on your machine, no cloud syncing or telemetry.
- Currently requires GUI to be open for shortcuts to work; background daemon in progress.
- Requires elevated privileges or manual setup for keyboard input device access.
- Future features include daemon mode, tray icon, configurable shortcuts, and more.
- Open-source under MIT License; contributions welcome via PRs and issues.

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#linux

Convert Linux to Windows

DIY automation using only Linux

Aurora: Maintenance-free, reliable and fast OS, stable like a Chromebook

FUSE File-Systems to Support Much Longer Filenames with Linux 6.15

The state of binary compatibility on Linux and how to address it

I Want a Better Mac, So I'm Cheering for a Better Linux

Install script does rm -RF /usr for Ubuntu

An interactive-speed Linux computer made of only 3 8-pin chips

Wine 10.5 Brings Vulkan H.264 Video Decoding, Mono 10.0 and Bluetooth Pairing

GoboLinux 017.01: the most experimental Linux's first new release in about 5Y

Linux Kernel Defence Map – Security Hardening Concepts

Linux 6.15 Features Deliver a Lot for Intel and AMD, Many Other Changes

The chroot Technique – a Swiss army multitool for Linux systems

GPD Pocket 4 Speaker DSP: Configuring PipeWire so laptop speakers sound better

Survey Says More Organizations Are Using Dead CentOS 7 Than RHEL

Demystifying the (Shebang): Kernel Adventures

systemd ParticleOS

A Farewell to the ArcoLinux University

RNG and Cosine in Nix

Show HN: ClipCapsule – A Clipboard Manager for Linux (Built with Go and Wails)