MEET THE TEAM

This issue we’re diving into the kernel’s graphic

New world order!

It can feel like desktop Linux users are

The complete history of Unix commits

Want to feel old? A project on GitHub gathers together over 50 years of Unix commits for your delectation

AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution goes open source

AMD’s performance-enhancing upscaling technology is now open source with version 2.0.

HP launches Linux laptop

HP Dev One comes with Linux Pop!_OS preinstalled.

SEE YOU IN VALHALL!

Alyssa Rosenzweig is a software engineer at Collabora.

CRITICAL THINKING

Keith Edmunds is MD of Tiger Computing Ltd,

Microsoft gives Gnome a boost

Thanks to Microsoft staff and its FOSS Fund.

Thunderbird 102 now available

Big update for the open source email client.

Distro watch

What’s down the side of the free software sofa?

THANKS ADMINS!

Matt Yonkovit is the head of open source

GO RUST!

Jon Masters is a kernel hacker who’s been

Kernel Watch

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

Answers

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

Mailserver

Is there a lowlatency kernel for the Jellyfish?

LETTER OF THE MONTH

We’re not sure this is a punishment or

Mayank Sharma

After being given an offer he couldn’t refuse,

Speek

Version: 1.6.0 Web: https://speek.network S peek

zuluCrypt

Version: 6.1.0 Web :https:// mhogomchungu.github.io/zuluCrypt/ Use zuluCrypt

Bpytop

Version: 1.0.68 Web: https://github . com/aristocratos/bpytop You

Converseen

Version: 0.9.9.5 Web: https:// converseen.fasterland.net Besides

SYSTEM PROFILER inxi

Version: 3.3.16 Web: https://github . com/smxi/inxi While

Qrencode

Version: 4.1.1 Web: https://fukuchi.org/ works/qrencode Remember that

Espanso

Version: 2.1.5-beta Web: https://espanso.org Espanso has some

nudoku

Version: 2.1.0 Web: https://github.com/jubalh/nudoku If you

Powder Toy

Version: 96.2 Web: https://powdertoy.co.uk It might not

Cerebro

Version: 0.5.0 Web: https://cerebroapp.com While Cerebro is

Flatseal

Version: 1.8.0 Web: https://github.com/ tchx84/flatseal While most

CODE, SCRIPT AUTOMATE!

Make your Linux life easier with hacks, scripts and coding secrets to automate your world.

LINUX Format

The #1 open source mag Future Publishing Limited,

Backblaze B2

A simple pricing model makes it easy to migrate to, says Jonas DeMuro.

Intel Core i3-12100

A lowly quad-core serves up big performance gains, finds Paul Alcorn.

GeckoLinux Static 153

Michael Reed takes a close look at GeckoLinux, a distro with a wide variety of editions that puts a friendly face on openSUSE.

MakuluLinux Shift

Michael Reed is wowed by the visual bling of MakuluLinux, a distro that claims to be ‘game ready’ thanks to its many pre-installed components.

EasyOS 4.2

Michael Reed tries a Linux distribution that’s suitable for extremely limited hardware, and finds that it breaks with conventions in some areas.

Inscryption

We’re not trapped in here with The Management, they’re trapped in here with Jody Macgregor. And that’s just the way we like it.

Software whiteboards

If you’re starting a project you’ll need to take notes, possibly for presentation down the line. Mats Tage Axelsson helps you to organise your thoughts.

Installation options

How you choose to install will make a difference when you want to upgrade.

Whiteboard or notepad?

Do you need to take notes or capture your audience’s attention?

Day-to-day usability

Choose a program to meet your needs.

File export and import options

Combining files for pleasing visuals requires more than one file format.

Variety of modules

Tools that can visualise objects are invaluable for demonstrating concepts.

Development maturity

To evaluate these packages we need to know how far along the project is.

Making live presentations

Use these programs to create a presentation or interactive discussion.

The Verdict

Software whiteboards

HACK YOUR GRAPHICS

Join pixel-eyed Jonni Bidwell on a quest to demystify the world of graphics on Linux.

In the beginning…

Linux still talks to LCD monitors via a CRT controller interface. Find out where that came from!

Into a third dimension

We add some depth to the story and learn about the first, bona fide, GPU.

MESA TODAY

OpenGL remains the biggest API supported by Mesa

Querying your 3D stack

Intel’s numbering systems make no sense, but whatever your card there’s plenty of demos to play with…

Hack your graphics

Switch drivers, interrogate GPU memory, try and keep the magic smoke from escaping into the atmosphere…

Of GPUs and APIs…

And leave us nought but grief and pain… isn’t thankfully something Linux users have to experience these days!

DOING MORE WITH LESS

Les Pounder works with groups such as the

Raspberry Pi Pico W

Solid hardware, good software and Wi-Fi access see this incremental update elevate the Pico to a truly versatile dev board – just how Les Pounder likes it!

Adding distance sensors to projects

Les Pounder merges two low-cost, yet complex ultrasonic sensors to create one must-have Pi-powered gadget that anyone can use.

Build light shows with multi-coloured LEDs

Use WLED firmware and a string of LEDs to create eye-catching light shows to display around your home, with Matthew Holder.

Build a “rubber ducky” device from a Pi Pico

Discover why the classic fake keyboard hacking device is ideal for the Raspberry Pi Pico and Matthew Holder’s very particular set of skills…

LOCAL LINUX FOR LOCAL USERS

You’re not from around here, says Aaron Peters but that’s fine! As he’s here to explain how your distro of choice gets to work in any language.

Feature-rich music players for minimalists

Simplicity, elegance, usefulness and sheer fun are all qualities that describe Shashank Sharma. They’re also features he values most in applications.

Enhance your photos quickly and easily

Nick Peers tracks down an image editor that strikes the right balance of features and user-friendliness for making quick-fire edits.

Relive the classic ARM-based RISC OS

RISC OS is an operating system with a fascinating history that dates back decades. Michael Reed tries it out in its current incarnation.

GIMP batch processing

Tackling mass image processing is a walk in the park when you have Karsten Günther on your side and BIMP installed alongside GIMP.

Using WordPress with OnlyOffice

With OnlyOffice Docs connected to WordPress, authors are able to insert documents into online posts. Kseniya Fedoruk explains how it works.

Online reproducible dev environments

Stuart Burns is your guide to Gitpod, a new ‘work from anywhere’ development platform that could revolutionise test environments.

Host your own secure VPS-based WireGuard

David Rutland takes the LXF VPS server for a final spin. This month, he’s protecting his privacy and watching Mexican TV with a self-hosted VPN.

AWOOGA, AMIGA

Jonni Bidwell’s desk has become a retro gaming station, thanks to Dimitris Panokostas and his Amiberry emulator.

How to develop multi-threaded code

Mihalis Tsoukalos explains all you need to know about Rust and concurrency so you can assemble efficient multi-threaded tools.

Adding gamepad support to Tetris

Andrew Smith likes nothing better than fitting oddly shaped blocks into oddly shaped holes, and a gamepad makes that much easier…