LINUX FORMAT

The #1 open source mag Future Publishing Limited,

MEET THE TEAM

This issue, we’re all about taking Linux on the move, so what is the oddest place where you’ve found yourself using Linux?

Linux on the move

Just as Windows Mobile wasn’t Windows, and Apple’s

Rust drama gets more corrosive

KERNEL

Firefox T&Cs revision sparks controversy

Mozilla tries to back-pedal after backlash to changes concerning ownership and resale of user data.

Steam beats Amazon

Amazon’s gaming ambitions fail to topple Steam.

SOVEREIGN STANDARDS

OPINION

Chromium loses uBlock Origin

Google’s Manifest V3 pushes users to alternative, less powerful ad blockers.

Brother firmware kerfuffle

Brother denies blocking third-party ink cartridges.

Matrix could shut down

Hosted bridges face imminent closure unless urgent funding is secured.

Distro watch

What’s behind the free software sofa?

ZINK OR SWIM

OPINION

RUST BUCKET

OPINION

Kernel Watch

Jon Masters summarises the latest happenings in the Linux kernel, so that you don’t have to.

ONGOING DEVELOPMENT

Confidential Compute patches continue to hit the kernel

Answers

Got a burning question about open source or the kernel? Whatever your level, email it to answers@linuxformat.com

Mailserver

Wise-Fise I just read through the last edition

Helpdex

shane_collinge@yahoo.com

LETTER OF THE MONTH

AI AI oh!

FreeFileSync

Version: 14.0 Web: https://freefilesync.org

GPU Screen Recorder

Version: 5.1.4 Web: https://git.dec05eba.com/gpu-screen-recorder

Picocrypt

Version: 1.46 Web: https://github.com/Picocrypt/Picocrypt

Vieb

Version: 12.2.0 Web: https://vieb.dev

Beaver Notes

Version: 3.9.0 Web: https://beavernotes.com

Ignition

Version: 1.1.1 Web: https://github.com/flattool/ignition

Gaia Sky

Version: 3.6.6 Web: https://zah.uniheidelberg.de/gaia/outreach/gaiasky

ET: Legacy

Version: 2.83.2 Web: www.etlegacy.com

PySolFC

Version: 3.2.0 Web: https://pysolfc.sourceforge.io

Darktable

Version: 5.0.1 Web: www.darktable.org

Tangram

Version: 3.3 Web: https://apps.gnome.org/Tangram/

INSTALL UBUNTU!

How fast can you install Ubuntu 25.04? Take our challenge and beat our install speed demons!

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

There’s anew king in town, same as the last, says Jarred Walton

Netrunner 25

Nate Drake catches the latest Netrunner just in time. Will this Debian-based distro be able to keep up with his demands?

NuTyX 25.02.5

Nate Drake is crossing the Channel with this independently developed French Linux distro inspired by LFS. Will he sink or swim?

Rhino Linux 2025.2

Nate Drake takes the Rhino by the horns to discover whether this Ubuntu-based rolling distro is worth charging up.

Tails 6.12

Nate Drake dives into the murky world of the darknet with this Debian-based distro that routes connections through Tor.

Dwarf Fortress – Steam

Imploring Management not to tunnel too far, Lincoln Carpenter fears they’ll dig too greedily and too deep, and awake what lies in the darkness.

Ubuntu spin-offs

Michael Reed examines five desktop distributions that use Ubuntu as a base and take things off in five unique directions.

Installation

The first job is to get the distro up and running.

First-run experience

A first run needs useful signposting, particularly for beginners.

Desktop design and use

The base home environment.

Support and community

When you get stuck, can you get help?

Quality of documentation

Where these distros differ from Ubuntu, what information is available?

Adding software

The built-in applications will get you started, but you’ll always have to add more.

Base software

Included apps and utilities steer the distro in an initial direction.

Ubuntu spin-offs

he Linux Mint desktop doesn’t attempt to reinvent

MAKE LINUX MOBILE

Your Android phone is supporting the Google empire. Jonni Bidwell wants to help set it free, through the wonders of open source.

Android problems…

There are privacy, security, philosophical and environmental reasons to FOSSify your phone. As well as plain whimsy.

Reasons to deGoogle

It’s difficult to see where the free bits of Android stop and the Googley bits begin, so allow us to elucidate.

Installing LineageOS

Time to take off the gloves and jump straight into freeing your phone. It’s time to install LineageOS.

Full-fat mobile Linux

For that full Linux experience, we take a look at two of the finest non-Android mobile OSes – Ubuntu Touch and PostmarketOS,

The Pi 5 gets pseudo interlace support

Your old CRT can keep on ticking with a bit of digital magic.

The Argon40 Upton One laptop

Case maker expands into Pi-powered laptops.

DEEPSEEK SLOW DIVING

Les Pounder works with groups such as the

AlmaLinux 9.5

Les Pounder takes a look at a stunning Linux distro that offers a clean user interface, and is snappy even on a Raspberry Pi 5 4GB.

Argon One V5

If Scotty had a Raspberry Pi, he would probably also have this case to put it in, ponders Les Pounder.

Control a world of lights with CheerLights

Bringing cheer and joy wherever he goes, Les Pounder once again creates an illuminating project with a global reach.

Into the BLACKWELL

What lurks at the bottom of Nvidia’s deepest GPU technology? Jarred Walton is our man for technological spelunking.

Draw in the terminal

Shashank Sharma’s takeaway from years of writing is that if it’s to be done, it can be done from the terminal.

Safe and secure backups to any cloud

Nick Peers takes a deep dive into Duplicati, a backup tool that ensures anything you store in the cloud remains completely private.

Auto-generate ODF documents

Marco Fioretti demonstrates how you can create the same office files that you can make with LibreOffice – but without LibreOffice!

Custom open source health monitoring

Deciding to spy on himself for once, Michael Reed examines the ways we can keep a record of our activities using various pieces of software.

The hardware that made Linux great

Part Two! Don’t miss part three in next month’s issue!

Upgrade it: Home hobbyist 3D printers

Amateur wanderer, part-time teacher and hardcore 3D printerist Alastair Jennings offers his advice for those looking to buy.

Creality K1C

High-quality prints and superb material choice.

Original PRUSA MK4S

Serious about 3D printing? This is a beast.

Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo

Great for accurate multi-filament 3D printing

Snapmaker Artisan

A very versatile machine for hobbyists.

QIDI Plus4

Perfect for those do-it-yourself home improvements.

Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro

Top pick for finely detailed 3D printing.

HACKING SKILLS AND THRILLS

Nate Drake is a technology journalist specialising in

GitHub hides malware disguised as games

Threat actors are targeting children with new campaign.

Badbox is back!

Million devices affected.

Malvertising

GitHub involved again.

N600 (PAU09) Wi-Fi N USB

Nate Drake heads up to the roof to test whether Panda’s Wi-Fi adaptor offers the best range and performance for budding hackers.

Juicing your hacks up

JUICE SHOP

Kali Linux laid bare

Nate Drake speaks to two of the leading lights of the most famous Linux hacking distro of all time.

Coding Cosmic Invaders in BBC Basic

Nate Drake invites you to stave off the alien menace by coding your very own Space Invaders clone in Basic, because it’s 2025!

Quickly evaluate poker hands in Rust

David Bolton introduces some more Rust concepts and explains how his poker hand evaluation program works.