@MelodicDinosaur This is such a charming introduction. No wonder you have a tonne of responses!

I jumped into say that if you post #Linux, you'll get loads of people who want to talk about how to use it. I make sure not to only use it as tech support, but it can be light tech support.

year of the desktop pajamas

#unix_surrealism #technomage #openbsd #fvwm #comic #linux #runbsd

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Girl and Puffy on bed. Puffy is sleeping zzz(8). Girl is on her laptop. It's running FVWM. She's wearing the coveted pajamas with many puffer fish. Girl looks at you: "They're all like: 'YEAR OF THE LINUX DESKTOP!' Then they see Fish pajamas and now they don't know what to think."

We had an event last night at a low income housing community here in Olympia. We brought some Nixbooks, gave them away and showed people how to use them.

These people are NOT technical and still all said that Nixbook was far easier to use than any other computer they had used in the past.

All these laptops were headed for the scrapyard, but now thanks to Linux are out there changing peoples lives. :)

#linux #nixbook #recycling #ewaste

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80 year old woman in wheel chair getting a demo of nixbook

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Two men around an HP laptop running nixbook browsing the web

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One of our volunteers showing a woman how to use Nixbook

To this day, the personal server that I use and depend on in my daily life runs a LAMP stack on #Fedora #Linux from primarily secondhand hardware. No Kubernetes, Ansible, etc, etc. Just old school bash automations via cron, and it's been going for well over a decade now like that. I manually upgrade the Fedora version twice a year, which usually requires me running two commands. Most everything else is automated with plain old bash.

California just put FOSS devs on the financial hook for your kids "safety"

So California finally did it. They passed Assembly Bill 1043. And now your OS is legally required to collect your birthdate and report it to every app developer... so they can verify you're not a baby....

#Enshittification #Linux #AgeVerification #DigitalSovereignty

https://gardinerbryant.com/california-just-put-foss-devs-on-the-financial-hook-for-your-kids-safety/?utm_campaign=brsharewidget&utm_source=mastodon

GIMP v3.04

It was this early morning, when I tried to fire up GIMP, I noticed that I had forgotten to install this magnificent gfx tool kit.

I ran apt install gimp immediately

I've been using GIMP ever since it came out, decades ago (spawn 1995). Even though the UI was totally different from what I was used to, adaptation was fast and my fluency in use of GIMP increased fast. I like working in GIMP

The GIMP is 31 years old

Quote

In 1995, Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis began developing GIMP as a semester project at University of California, Berkeley for the eXperimental Computing Facility.[8] The software was originally named the General Image Manipulation Program

GIMP v0.54 was first released in 1996

Over the decades I've seen a lot of users emitting futile complaints about the GUI, the use of many windows / viewports, while I can easily transition from closed source software on client's machines, to the GIMP, just by switching the mindset regarding the UI. The logic behind UI decisions is easily traceable.

GIMP has so many functions, I know of nobody who knows how to use all of them.

You should learn what you need to do, get fluent into those tasks, and learn more when you need more. This mind set also works in VIM, which has a massive ammount of functions and commands to make not only your programming in different languages more pleasant, it also has subtle assist functions which makes your source entries even more enjoyable.

GIMP always gives me consistent performance and I can rely on the keyboard shortcuts without having to use the mouse to select functions brushes, et all.
GIMP is for me a must have in my photo correction work flow. I've never relied on closed source software for those tasks, GIMP always has similar functions, many working even more efficient with your computer's CPU / GPU resources.

For the Love of GIMP

next section moved to seperate toot

Note:
I've always known that Open Source programs can be trusted better than closed source equivalents, something you all know when it comes down to the big photo manupilation suite, which enshittifies everything for its paying users.

GIMP shall always have its users back

You can trust GIMP

Sources:
Mea
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP

#GIMP #Photograph #Photo #correction #image #manipulation #OpenSource #TheGiMP #programming #keyboard #shortcuts #Linux #POSIX

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GIMP splash

Back in 2022, surrounded by colleagues who were infused with "open source scepticism", I wrote "Open Source in Enterprise Environments - Where Are We Now and What Is Our Way Forward?" https://nxdomain.no/~peter/opensource_enterprise_notes.html as an explainer.

Hopefully a useful thing for others too, with links therein #freesofware #opensource #enterprise #openbsd #freebsd #netbsd #linux

"This Week in Plasma" brings the news that...

The Digital clock widget gets the Vietnamese lunar calendar, highlighted items get rounded corners, and the Favorites section in the app launcher menu gets all flashy 📸... Among many other things.

https://blogs.kde.org/2026/02/28/this-week-in-plasma-vietnamese-lunar-calendar-and-rounder-highlights/

#Plasma6 #desktop #linux #haiku #FreeBSD #OpenBSD #FreeSoftware #OpenSource

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This animation shows a user selecting an app from their app launcher menu, adding it to "Favorites" from the contextual popup menu. The Favorites section then flashes several times, indicating the operation has been successful.

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This screenshot shows elements of the Vietnamese lunar calendar in the popup calendar the digital clock shows when you click on it.

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These "before" and "after" screenshots show a highlighted option in the Dolphin sidebar with square corners in the "before" image, and with rounded corners in the "after" image.

Time for the #Linux and #OpenSource News video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGUU1mfq-40

A Day in the Life of an Enshittificator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Upf_B9RLQ

#Enshittification #FOSS #OpenSource #Linux #Forbrukerrådet

Local food bank needed a decent desktop computer at their warehouse. This is all donated hardware revived with #linux #nixbook

I love this work!

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Lenovo think centre desktop setup running nixbookos

Heya folks! It's sync day, and that means it's time for the weekly Solus roundup! This week brings @kde #Plasma 6.6 to all Solus users!

Read all about it on our forums: https://discuss.getsol.us/d/12495-week-9-2026

#FOSS #Linux #Solus #OpenSource

- Evan

For anybody wondering why I prefer #NetBSD over #Linux, compare the code for a small tool like whois(1):

NetBSD:
https://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/src/usr.bin/whois/whois.c?annotate=HEAD

372 lines, easy to read

Linux:
https://github.com/rfc1036/whois/blob/next/whois.c

1617 lines in the main program; unchecked malloc(3), misc buffer overflow opportunities, magic numbers, "/* This function has multiple memory leaks.*/", mixed spaces and tabs, another 2K of glue code, ...

KISS, man, KISS.

Zirconium review!

#linux

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0YJYKicMKk

https://www.pcgamer.com/software/operating-systems/a-new-california-law-says-all-operating-systems-including-linux-need-to-have-some-form-of-age-verification-at-account-setup/

#Desktop #Laptop #Phone #OperatingSystem #Windows #Android #iPhone #iMac #Linux #OpenBSD #FreeBSD #GavinNewsom #AgeVerifcation

#Shotcut 26.2 Open-Source Video Editor Is Out with Various Improvements and Bug Fixes https://9to5linux.com/shotcut-26-2-open-source-video-editor-with-various-improvements-and-bug-fixes

#OpenSource #Linux #FreeSoftware

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Screenshot of Shotcut 26.2 showing the main window while editing a video file and the About Shotcut dialog.

Random, but do I know any Linux tech folks in Florida (I think Miami area, ideally) who would be open to a quick freelance gig? It would involve running some Linux/laptop hardware compatibility tests for a nonprofit.

I don’t know all of the details, but can connect you with the people at the nonprofit. :)

#Linux #Florida

The end of Windows 10 and the terrible state of Windows 11 are driving more and more people to Linux. How do we help people actually manage the switch and stay with Linux?

https://linuxafterdark.net/linux-after-dark-episode-116/

#podcast #linux #opensource

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Linux After Dark artwork

[$] The troubles with Boolean inversion in Python

The Python bitwise-inversion (or complement) operator, "~", behaves pretty much as expected when it is applied to integers—it toggles every bit, from one to zero and vice versa. I [...]

https://lwn.net/Articles/1059177/ #LWN #Linux #Python

The OrangePi Neo gaming handheld with Manjaro Linux is now "on ice" due to component prices https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/02/the-orangepi-neo-gaming-handheld-with-manjaro-linux-is-now-on-ice-due-to-component-prices/

#OrangePiNeo #OrangePi #Manjaro #HandheldGaming #Linux

And it runs #Fedora!

XDA: I replaced Android with a full Linux desktop on my old phone, and it's shockingly usable
https://www.xda-developers.com/replaced-android-full-linux-desktop-old-phone/

#Linux #kde

Two new stable kernels, possible regression

https://lwn.net/Articles/1060646/ #LWN #Linux #kernel

Security updates for Friday

https://lwn.net/Articles/1060645/ #LWN #Linux #security

Ohh, what's this? A real #Linux for smartphones?

Running a recent mainline kernel, even though the hardware is almost 10 years old?

An alternative to #Android that's gaining a lot of traction?

Developed in the open by an international community? Sounds too good to be true!

@postmarketOS

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A smartphone is booting "postmarketOS", running Linux kernel 6.16.7.

Gambonanza is the best Balatro-like version of chess yet and you have to try the demo https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/02/gambonanza-is-the-best-balatro-like-version-of-chess-yet-and-you-have-to-try-the-demo/

#Gambonanza #IndieGames #Linux #Demo

I think once I get caught up on my work and get some free time, I want to check out KaOS. I appreciate the project being true to their values. It is respectable to distance themselves from Systemd and KDE, which is not an easy task.

#KaOS #OpenSource #Linux #Systemd #KDE

Heroic Games Launcher v2.20.1 brings more essential bug fixes https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/02/heroic-games-launcher-v2-20-1-brings-more-essential-bug-fixes/

#HeroicGamesLauncher #Linux #SteamOS #PCGaming #SteamDeck

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS ends a 40 year old sudo tradition – and some folks aren't happy.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/02/ubuntu-26-04-sudo-password-asterisks?v1

#ubuntu #sudo #linux

I just published a new version of the #DankLinux Workd Clock Plugin.

A Plugin for the DankBar allowing multiple clocks to show with reasonable settings and visuals.

• Show multiple clocks
• Use flags as labels
• Control Visibility
• Reorder
• Show icon only
• Cycle clocks

Future plans:

• Add weather report to each place
• Add a Desktop Widget
• Show the day offset
• Show the TZ code
• Track Daylight Saving Time

#niri #hyperland #wayland #dms #danklinux #linux

[$] IIIF: images and visual presentations for the web

The International Image Interoperability Framework, or IIIF ("triple-eye eff"), is a small set of standards that form a basis for serving, displaying, and reusing image data on the [...]

https://lwn.net/Articles/1059565/ #LWN #Linux

I only do these tier lists once a year for Desktop environments, and once a year for #Linux distros, but I felt it was time to take a look at how things stand, and I ended up with pretty strange rankings...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiluQ6dJyL8

Security updates for Thursday

https://lwn.net/Articles/1060391/ #LWN #Linux #security

Topdeck Automat blends the worlds of roguelike deckbuilder and autobattlers https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/02/topdeck-automat-blends-the-worlds-of-roguelike-deckbuilder-and-autobattlers/

#TopdeckAutomat #IndieGames #Linux #SteamDeck

Longterm supported Linux kernels get a longer life https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/02/longterm-supported-linux-kernels-get-a-longer-life/

#Linux #OpenSource #kernel

I thought it would be easier to have #Linux up and running on my daughter’s #Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 laptop.
#Ubuntu and #LinuxMint work perfectly out of the box. Even the touch screen! But Ubuntu bricks completely after a couple of days of connecting and disconnecting an external display. And Mint crashes on every display manipulation, like changing the resolution or connecting an external one.

I’ll surely jump into this hole of troubleshooting. There’s no way I’ll bring back #Windows on it.

I do like a bit of bling 👀.

Dynamic Music Pill GNOME extension embeds a visually slick media controller in your desktop panel (or dock), with album art, waveforms and track info.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/02/dynamic-music-pill-gnome-panel-media-controller?v

#gnome #Linux #Ubuntu

We will be having Fedora Hatch at @socallinuxexpo this year! On Friday, March 6, join us for our dedicated track!

What are we talking about?

* Getting started in open source
* @centos and Fedora collaboration
* RPM packaging workshop
* And more!

➡️ https://fedoramagazine.org/hatch-scale-23x/

#Fedora #SCaLE #Linux #OpenSource

#Linux containers were just getting in the way. Hey #OmniOS - It's been a minute! Let's go create some zones.

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OmniOS bootup.