Hi all you #freebsd #linux experts: what *nix should I install on a spare MacBook Air I have? I last installed RedHat and Ubuntu over 10 yrs ago on an old PC desktop. I'm comfortable on the cmdline and can do sysadmin stuff, but would like to not have to do much. Will use for general home office tasks and some dev projects, but not a gamer. Looking to this as baby-step in larger move away from big-tech, extractive software.

Hehe, what do you think? 😜

#linux

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Linux is not magic, it's sudo-science. There is a penguin dabbing, with a magical hat near it.

I have a fanless thin client arriving in the next couple of days (snagged it for $35!). The original plan was to port over my existing OpenBSD desktop, but I’ve been eyeing elementaryOS for a while now.

I remember playing with version 6 back in the day and quite enjoying it. Might test it out first before fully committing to OpenBSD right away 😛

#openbsd #linux #elementaryos

As part of our volunteer-driven accessibility initiative in GNOME Calendar, and for the first time in the 10+ years of Calendar's existence, we finally completed and merged the first step needed to have a working calendar app for people who rely on keyboard navigation. This merge request in particular makes the event widgets focusable with navigation keys (arrow left/up/right/down) and activatable with space/enter. This will be available in GNOME 49.

Most of GNOME Calendar's layout and widgets consist of custom widgets and complex calculations, both independently and according to other factors (window size, height and width of each cell, number of events, positioning, etc.), so these widgets need to be minimal to have as little overhead as possible. This means that these widgets also need to have the necessary accessibility features reimplemented or even rethought, including and starting with the event widgets.

We also hope to get other parts of GNOME Calendar accessible before GNOME 49, but I can't promise anything at the moment. We did start working with making the month view accessible: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-calendar/-/merge_requests/564

#GNOME #Calendar #GNOMECalendar #GTK4 #GTK #Libadwaita #Accessibility #a11y #Linux

Continuing our volunteer effort to make GNOME Calendar fully accessible with a keyboard (see thread for context), we fixed a major bug that was causing the focus to disappear into the abyss when the user tried to tab into the month view in merge request !576. This means, as of this commit, events should now be completely functional and accessible within the month view. Additionally, the merge request changes the keyboard and focus behavior within the month view: Events can only be cycled using arrow buttons, the focus can't escape the month view with arrow buttons, and entering/exiting the month view can only be done with tab. These improvements will be available on GNOME 49.

#GNOME #Accessibility #a11y #GNOMECalendar #Calendar #FOSS #FreeSoftware #Linux

After two weeks of writing, revising, and trying to make everything as digestible as possible, I finally published "GNOME Calendar: A New Era of Accessibility Achieved in 90 Days", where I explain in detail the steps we took to turn GNOME Calendar from an app that was literally unusable with a keyboard and screen reader to an app that is (finally) accessible to keyboard and screen reader users as of GNOME 49!

https://tesk.page/2025/07/25/gnome-calendar-a-new-era-of-accessibility-achieved-in-90-days/

#GNOMECalendar #GNOME #Accessibility #a11y #DisabilityPrideMonth #Linux #FOSS #OSS #OpenSource #FreeSoftware #GTK #libadwaita

At last, all the accessibility improvements on GNOME Calendar are finally available as a stable release. Get it on Flathub while it's hot!!!

https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.gnome.Calendar

#Accessibility #GNOME #GTK #GTK4 #libadwaita #a11y #calendar #GNOMECalendar #Linux #GNU #OpenSource #FOSS #FreeSoftware #OSS

I am looking for laptop hardware recommendations for **#Qubes OS** (or it could be a **#NixOS**-based alternative) with serious battery life.

Ideally:
✅ **5-6h+ battery life** (with virtualization running)
✅ **32GB RAM**
✅ **1080p screen** (minimum)
✅ **Pro-grade quality** (durable, reliable)

What’s your go-to setup for a secure, mobile workstation? Bonus points if it’s not a pain to carry.

#Linux #QubesOS #NixOS #HardwareRecs

🚨LIVE NOW!🚨 DevOps/SRE Instructor Livestream

On this lovely Tuesday, let's chat about #Linux #SystemAdministration, #SelfHosting, or any other topic in the #DevOps and #SRE space you're interested in!

Owncast: https://live.monospacementor.com/

#Nikon people, does anyone know if:

* metadata in JPGs or NEFs include the settings used to "develop" the photo?
* if they can be extracted with anything, in particular under #Linux?
* if they can be used by any FOSS software like #DarkTable or #RawTherapee ?

#photography

Q4OS 6.1 "Andromeda" released, based on Debian 13.1 "Trixie", with KDE Plasma 6.3.6 and Trinity desktop 14.1.5

https://q4os.org/blog.html#news250912

#q4os #debian #linux #kdeplasma #trinitydesktop #linuxdesktop #debiantrixie

Use `journalctl -f -u servicename` for real-time service logs. The `-u` targets specific service units, `-f` follows live output. Add `-p err` for errors only.

🔗 Learn more in my course: https://monospacementor.com/courses/linsys-1/

#Linux #SystemAdministration

🙅 Goodbye Forever OPNsense 🙅

It displeases me to finally and heartily say GTFO to OPNsense; to abandon a solid decade of use.

I've had it on everything from embedded arm64 experiments to baremetal with ranges of 10, 25, 40, and 100GbE NICs. I've used all of the core features, built complex global service meshes, H/A systems, etc. I used to love it. I used to pay for it.

OPNsense was great, until it wasn't (starting around the time they axed their use of HardenedBSD), and with each release it gets more convoluted, out of date, tedious to debug, and generally a source of disappointment. The command line controls are anemic, inconsistent, and the lack of unified and useful system state tracking is a source of sailor level obscenities. Also, dear gods get rid of XML configs, no one can parse it without going blind! What is this, SOAP and XML-RPC era nonsense, really? 😠

I do not have time to waste, and I do not say that lightly.

I am never debugging OPNsense ever again, especially not for four hours on a (yesterday) Saturday, and especially not putting off updates in a colo for TWO YEARS because their team decided to break admin group SSH controls, hamper CARP flapping controls, breaking IPMI fencing, and the list goes on. I am done.

What now? Three realistic options.

1) BSD Router Project: I've built custom BSD-RP releases with Poudriere, loved just about everything it offers.
2) VyOS: configurable via CLI in a fraction of the time that was wasted on debugging OPNsense. Solid product, enjoying it more every day.
3) OpenWRT: I build custom releases for NanoPi and Meraki rooted WAPs and SOHO boxes, it's fun, though it's not running my 100G infra.

#opnsense #bsd #freebsd #linux #networking #engineering #homelab

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟬𝟵/𝟭𝟱 (Valuable News - 2025/09/15) available.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/valuable-news-2025-09-15/

Past releases: https://vermaden.wordpress.com/news/

#verblog #vernews #news #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #linux #unix #zfs #opnsense #ghostbsd #solaris #vermadenday

Interesting article from The Register on Friday about alternative kernels. As per the article, the topic of other kernels surface again after #Linux developers continue to clash over certain tech like Rust, SystemD, and bcachefs.

The three kernels discussed are Managarm, Asterinas, and Xous. Until stumbling across this article today, I've not heard of any of them. I guess I have some reading ahead of me. The article also mentioned the idea of disgruntled devs possibly forking the Linux kernel - a fascinating and probably confusing experience for a lot of people.

Would certainly be an interesting thought experiment, now giving a valid reason to explicitly list the userland and kernel with which OS you happen to be using, ie Debian GNU/Fork-this, openSUSE GNU/Linux, Gentoo GNU/Asterinas, or whatever.

It also might just be easier and more straightfoward to use #FreeBSD instead. 🤷‍♂️

https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/12/three_new_microkernels/?td=rt-3a

#tech #technews

tag2upload in the first month of Debian forky via @fanf https://lobste.rs/s/4v5sqd #linux
https://diziet.dreamwidth.org/20143.html

I have finally moved over to Linux as my primary platform. In many ways it is like coming home, as I loved working on UNIX machines in the past. Of course, I have been using Linux as a secondary OS for a long time, but I finally made the switch. Microsoft cancelling Windows 10 and the direction Windows 11 is going was just too much for me.

@ruario helped the transition, by making it easy for me to work with multiple concurrent @Vivaldi installs.
That is a must for me as I test a lot of builds at the same time.

#Windows #Linux #computing #Technology #AI #Vivaldi

New article published:
Arch Linux Install Guide - 2025/09

Hello guys, we've published a detailed guide on how to install Arch Linux on amd64 devices with UEFI firmware.

NOTE: This guide will be updated from time to time when things change or when we want to add something new.

https://r1os.com/sites/articles/arch-install-guide-2025-09.php

#r1os #archlinux #linux

I haven't played in some 20 years. Some 2 weeks ago I saw #Machinarium for free in #EpicGames's store and went and picked it up, it looks gorgeous. I also bit because it said 'windows #Linux etc'.

Now I'm trying to run it and find out that what I downloaded was a Windows EG launcher. I tried #Wine and some frontends but nothing seemed to work.

Then I tried #Lutris, through which I found there seems to be a Linux version! https://lutris.net/games/machinarium/ But I can't get it from EGS?

Help from #games!

I found this screenshot again and I still think it's brilliant. The best OS overview I've ever read.
#Linux #FreeBSD

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Screenshot of a Reddit comment saying this: Time for my OS opinion that's guaranteed to be unpopular with someone... Sun Solaris used to be the OS that required overpriced proprietary hardware and still couldn't compete with Linux. That OS is now MacOS. MacOS used to be the colorful and friendly walled garden OS that your non-techie parents would enjoy but was completely useless to you as a power user. That OS is now Windows. Windows used to be the OS that could run a lot of apps, but was a headache to setup and maintain correctly and would sometimes blow up for no reason. That OS is now Linux. Linux used to be the techie and developer oriented command-line OS that was lacking in desktop apps and might not support your hardware, but once you got it going, was rock solid and had no limits. That OS is now FreeBSD.

25 Years of Linux Magazine: This week, we look back to 2013 and one of the most-read articles from Tim Schürmann: Generating QR Codes in Linux
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Features/Generating-QR-Codes-in-Linux?utm_source=mlm
#QRCode #Linux #OpenSource #tools #Qrencode #utilities #FOSS

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Outputting QR codes in ASCII characters just for fun. Each # corresponds to a dot

We're live!

Answering your DevOps/SRE questions | !officehour

#owncast #streaming #linux #ruby #sysadmin #systemadministration #unix #devops #development #livecoding #codestream #tech

https://live.monospacementor.com

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Live stream preview

🚨LIVE NOW!🚨 DevOps/SRE Instructor Livestream

On this lovely Friday, let's chat about #Linux #SystemAdministration, #SelfHosting, or any other topic in the #DevOps and #SRE space you're interested in!

Owncast: https://live.monospacementor.com/

Tip for Linux shell beginners: Execute a second command only if the first one failed.

`command_1 || command 2`

Background: This compound command uses the result code returned by `command_1` with the "shortcircuit" behaviour of the "logical OR" `||` operator.

#Linux #Shell #Terminal

Restoring data from backups due to my current desktop failing to power off cleanly on Tuesday evening and not starting up on Wednesday morning. Everything seems to be okay so far.

Remember: Backups need to be Automated, Distributed, Secure and Tested, otherwise they're not backups (and use multiple backup software - I have Borg, Restic and tar).

My wrapper scripts are open source:

https://github.com/pwaring/backup-scripts

#linux #backups

Alpha Release: @kde Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/News/KDE-Linux-Alpha-Available-for-Daring-Users?utm_source=mlm
#KDE #Linux #OpenSource #alpha #distro #FOSS

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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS: Linux Magazine News

🚨LIVE NOW!🚨 DevOps/SRE Instructor Livestream

On this lovely Thursday, let's chat about #Linux #SystemAdministration, #SelfHosting, or any other topic in the #DevOps and #SRE space you're interested in!

Owncast: https://live.monospacementor.com/

OS-level sandboxing provides kernel-enforced isolation that restricts processes, filesystems, and resources, ensuring applications run in contained and controlled environments

Here is a comparison of sandboxing support across different OS 😎👇 #infosec #linux #macos #freebsd #windows

Find a high-res pdf book with all my #cybersecurity related infographics from https://study-notes.org/cybersecurity-ebook.html

# Sustainable Free and open source software... but not like that

Perhaps I am just an ungrateful grumpy git.

(Yes, this is about Mozilla.)

https://neilzone.co.uk/2025/09/sustainable-free-and-open-source-software-but-not-like-that/

#FOSS #Linux #Firefox #Mozilla

🚨LIVE NOW!🚨 DevOps/SRE Instructor Livestream

On this lovely Wednesday, let's chat about #Linux #SystemAdministration, #SelfHosting, or any other topic in the #DevOps and #SRE space you're interested in!

Owncast: https://live.monospacementor.com/

If you want to raise your shell scripts to a new level, give `shellcheck` a try! It'll give you valuable feedback on the style of your shell code and on possible issues with it.

https://www.shellcheck.net/

(Also: Know when to switch to a proper programming language.)

#Linux #SysAdmin #SystemAdministration #Shell

The October issue has been released! This month, we show you how to configure and manage kernel auditing to help protect you from an attack. This month's DVD includes #antiXLinux 23.2 Full and @ubuntu Mate 25.04
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2025/299?utm_source=mlm
#Linux #OpenSource #auditing #kernel #security #SparkyLinux #strace #Falco #Nix #Meshtastic #Android #Python #PipeWire #Commodore #Koel

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LINUX MAGAZINE ISSUE 299 - OCTOBER 2025 | Auditing: Keeping watch with the Linux kernel auditing system | Commodore OS Vision 3: Run your Commodore emulators on a Commodore 64 Lookalike | DVD INSIDE: antiX FULL 23.2 and Ubuntu MATE 25.04

Use `sudo !!` to repeat your last command with root privileges. Try `cd $(dirname !!)` to change to the directory of the last command's target. Saves retyping long commands.

🔗 Learn more in my course: https://monospacementor.com/courses/linsys-1/

#Linux

New AMD update for Linux kernel 6.18 focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/News/AMD-Initiates-Graphics-Driver-Updates-for-Linux-Kernel-6.18?utm_source=mlm
#AMD #Linux #kernel #display #graphics #driver #hardware #Radeon #GPU #desktop #server

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Celebrating 25 Years: Linux Magazine News

If your terminal ever gets confused by random control sequences, for example after you accidentally output binary data, there's a good chance you can restore order with the `reset` command.

#Linux #Shell #SystemAdministration #SysAdmin

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟬𝟵/𝟬𝟴 (Valuable News - 2025/09/08) available.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/valuable-news-2025-09-08/

Past releases: https://vermaden.wordpress.com/news/

#verblog #vernews #news #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #linux #unix #zfs #opnsense #ghostbsd #solaris #vermadenday

Setting up Ap-Cacher-NG on #Debian to cache packages in your #homelab - Great if one has multiple #Debian systems around!
(Let alone saving to download everything all the time on every system)

On #youtube 📹

https://youtu.be/In-Uf-DUlhM

#linux #debian #foss

🚨LIVE NOW!🚨 DevOps/SRE Instructor Livestream

On this lovely Friday, let's chat about #Linux #SystemAdministration, #SelfHosting, or any other topic in the #DevOps and #SRE space you're interested in!

Owncast: https://live.monospacementor.com/

With a choice of several desktop environments, @AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system
https://www.linux-magazine.com/index.php/Online/News/AerynOS-Alpha-Release-Available?utm_source=mlm
#AerynOS #Linux #distro #OpenSource #OperatingSystem #VirtualMachine #FOSS

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Linux Magazine News

Speaking of Matrix global services occasionally exacerbating one's propensity for migraines, oh look a total outage for the malignant design... oh but they tell everyone a fantastic story:

> "Matrix is a distributed fault tolerated encrypted network of disaggregated nodes!" 😐

except that they deployed via an active/passive two node PostgreSQL backend which just crashed both nodes and took 55TB of network data offline. also their TLS termination is fronted by CloudFlare (anything in back of TLS termination is not TLS encrypted).

- https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/03/matrixorg_raid_failure/

#matrix #chat #networking #linux #encryption #thisIsNotHighAvailability

Codeberg - We stay strong against hate and hatred

https://blog.codeberg.org/we-stay-strong-against-hate-and-hatred.html

Discussions: https://discu.eu/q/https://blog.codeberg.org/we-stay-strong-against-hate-and-hatred.html

#linux #opensource #unix

UPDATE: I haven't seen Recall in action there. I was just asking the doctor how they'll deal with it.

This morning, I went to the doctor for a scheduled appointment. While she was looking at the results of blood tests from two years ago on the screen (and suggested repeating them for a follow-up), I realized she was using Windows 11. A detail came to mind. The doctor is extremely polite and friendly, so I asked her, "How do you handle the feature called Recall?" The doctor was taken aback and had no idea what I was talking about. I was about to drop the conversation, but she, being a serious professional, immediately called the technicians who manage their PCs to ask for clarification. They downplayed it, saying it's not an issue and that it's a feature "on all PCs, so we can't do anything about it." She started to express that she didn’t like it and wanted it deactivated. No luck: they won’t proceed because, according to them, even deactivating it is "a hack that could compromise future updates." She’s furious and will talk to her colleagues and the decision-makers. She wants secure systems because "there’s patient data involved."

In reality, patient data is stored on servers (which I haven't investigated), but everything that appears on the screen is, in my opinion, at risk.

I’ve offered to help them find a solution—because, if I'm right, all they need is LibreOffice and a browser. In that case, I’ll suggest one of the *BSD or Linux systems and do it for free.

I don’t want to make money off my doctor. I just want patient data to be (sufficiently) secure.

#IT #Recall #Windows #OwnYourData #Security #Privacy #RunBSD #Linux

If you are thinking of moving from Windows to Linux and are not sure where to start, here's the software that I am using day to day:

https://decoded.legal/blog/2024/09/running-a-law-firm-on-free-software-2024-edition/

(Work-focus, as that is where I spend most of my (computing) time, but I am Linux-only for personal computing too.)

And don't forget that many Free software programs have Windows versions too, so you can test before you leap.

Good luck!

#Linux #FOSS

https://wddashboarddownloads.wdc.com/wdDashboard/config/devices/lista_devices.xml

So open up your drive model like this:
https://wddashboarddownloads.wdc.com/wdDashboard/firmware/WD_BLACK_SN770_2TB/731130WD/device_properties.xml

And change the "device_properties.xml" in the URL to the ".fluf" file given in the XML, like this:

https://wddashboarddownloads.wdc.com/wdDashboard/firmware/WD_BLACK_SN770_2TB/731130WD/731130WD.fluf

then, for FreeBSD follow the commands given in the manual:
https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=nvmecontrol&sektion=8&format=html

ie.

nvmecontrol identify nvme0 | grep -i 'firmware'
nvmecontrol firmware -s 1 -f 731130WD.fluf nvme0
nvmecontrol firmware -s 1 -a nvme0
nvmecontrol reset nvme0