Articles about Linux

Ubuntu 25.10 finally has a name, and it’s one that will probably leave you scratching your head. Canonical has decided to call the upcoming Linux-based operating system “Quizzical Quokka.” That’s not a joke. The announcement was made in a tweet from the official Ubuntu account, which you can see here.

The tradition of using animal-themed alliteration for Ubuntu releases is nothing new, but “Quizzical Quokka” might be one of the oddest yet. A quokka, in case you’re not familiar, is a small, marsupial from Australia -- I had to look it up. But what exactly makes Ubuntu “quizzical” this time around? That part hasn’t been explained.

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Windows 11 offers a familiar environment for users, but it’s not without its share of frustrations, particularly regarding performance issues and resource consumption on older hardware. Microsoft's updates frequently add new problems while fixing old ones, which is another annoyance.

If you’ve been considering a switch from Windows 11, Nitrux is the perfect alternative. The Debian-based distribution, known for its focus on simplicity and performance, has just been updated to version 3.9.1, codenamed “mk.” This release includes new features and a series of updates and fixes aimed at improving the overall experience for both new and existing users.

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CachyOS is back with a fresh March 2025 release for the Linux distribution. The development team focused heavily on hardware support this time around, and it definitely shows. There’s a ton packed into this update, with improvements aimed at both desktop and handheld users.

Let’s start with something big: Limine. CachyOS now supports this bootloader, which works with both BIOS and UEFI setups. It even offers theming, similar to Grub. On top of that, if you’re using BTRFS as your filesystem, you’ll get automatic snapshot support right out of the box. That’s huge for anyone who wants an easy rollback option without extra configuration.

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While Windows remains the most targeted operating system, Linux, once regarded as 'secure by default', has now emerged as the second-most infected OS, according to the 2024 Elastic Global Threat Report.

Linux's expanding use beyond servers has broadened its attack surface. Plus, its open-source nature, while great for developers, can also lead to mistakes and security holes. We spoke to Apu Pavithran, founder and CEO of Hexnode, to find out more about why Linux is being targeted and how it can be defended.

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Here we go again, folks! Canonical has pushed out the beta release of Ubuntu 25.04, and if you’re someone who lives on the bleeding edge of Linux life, you will want to pay attention. This one goes by the name “Plucky Puffin” and -- despite the typical silly codename -- it’s loaded with big under-the-hood changes and a few surprises baked in.

This new release is based on Linux kernel 6.14, so you’re getting the usual hardware enablement and driver updates. But there’s a lot more going on here than just kernel bumps. Ubuntu 25.04 ships with systemd 257.4, and in a move that may ruffle some feathers, support for utmp is gone. Canonical is also killing off SysV init support in a future systemd release, and cgroup v1 is officially on the chopping block too. Out with the old, in with the whatever-works-now, I suppose.

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It’s time to celebrate, fellow Linux fans. Zorin OS 17.3 is officially available, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 in October, millions of perfectly good PCs are about to be left in the dust. If your computer doesn’t meet Windows 11’s ridiculous hardware requirements, don’t toss it in the trash just yet. Zorin OS 17.3 wants to give it a second chance.

This Linux-based operating system is built with simplicity, speed, and security in mind. It’s especially appealing to folks who are fed up with Microsoft but still want something familiar. With version 17.3, Zorin OS is doubling down on helping Windows users feel right at home, while also embracing the power and freedom of Linux.

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If you’re comfortable using the command line on Unix or Linux but haven’t fully explored Bash, this book is for you. It’s designed for programmers familiar with languages like Python, JavaScript, or PHP who want to make the most of shell scripting.

This isn’t just another theory-heavy book -- you’ll learn by doing. Each chapter builds on the last, taking you from shell basics to writing practical scripts that solve real-world problems. With nearly a hundred interactive labs, you’ll gain hands-on experience in automation, system administration, and troubleshooting.

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The folks behind Serpent OS have completed their rebrand, and the result is something you must check out. Now called “AerynOS,” this Linux distribution just dropped a new ISO (AerynOS 2025.03) and it might soon be time to forget all about Windows 11. Seriously.

This isn’t some clunky science project or a quirky Linux offshoot that breaks every other week. AerynOS is shaping up to be a serious daily driver.

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deepin 25 Alpha has arrived (download here), promising an overhauled desktop experience, advanced personalization options, and improved system-level features. On the surface that sounds great, but there is a legitimate question that remains -- should users really trust an operating system developed in Communist China?

This is software coming from a Chinese developer, and while deepin is open source, not every part of its ecosystem is fully transparent. It has faced questions before about telemetry and potential data collection. For users who care about digital privacy, that’s not something to brush off. Especially when you’re dealing with an OS that touches everything on your computer.

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GNOME 48 is finally here, and as a longtime Linux user, I have to say -- it is my favorite desktop environment. I’ve tried KDE Plasma, as just one example, and while it’s packed with customization options, it always feels a little too cluttered for my taste. GNOME, on the other hand, is clean, modern, and just works. With version 48, the GNOME developers continue refining their vision with smoother performance, new features, and improved usability.

One of the best additions in this release is notification stacking. If you’ve ever been bombarded with notifications from the same app, you’ll appreciate this change. Instead of a never-ending list, notifications are grouped together, making it easier to find what’s important.

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When I suggest to someone that they switch to Linux, they often ask me the same question -- will I be able to run Adobe Photoshop? The answer, of course, is no (for the most part). However, I always follow up by suggesting the totally free (and open source) GIMP. For some people, GIMP isn’t just comparable to Photoshop -- it is superior.

And now, following an agonizing seven years of development, GIMP 3.0 has finally arrived for Windows, macOS, and Linux. This open-source program has been completely overhauled with a modernized interface, non-destructive editing, expanded file format support, and major performance improvements.

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St. Patrick’s Day is all about luck (plus corned beef and cabbage, of course), but when it comes to your Linux system, relying on luck isn’t exactly the best security strategy. Thankfully, Debian 12.10 has arrived just in time for the big Catholic holiday, bringing a fresh batch of security fixes and system updates to keep “bookworm” running smoothly.

If you’ve been keeping up with security updates from security.debian.org, you’re probably already covered on most of these fixes. But for those who haven’t, it’s time to update. Just point your package manager to a Debian mirror, and you’re good to go. New installation images will are available here if you’re starting from scratch.

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If you’re thinking of leaving Windows 10 or 11 but aren’t quite sure if you’re ready to jump ship permanently, the good news is you can try some excellent alternative operating systems without commitment, using tools like VMware Player. One of our top recommendations is the stunning Oreon 10.

We declared it had "arrived to replace Microsoft Windows" when it launched last December, but since then the OS has received a number of improvements, and a new build has just been released that makes Oreon 10 an even more compelling alternative.

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For many years now, Linux users looking to block ads have needed to piece together a mixture of browser extensions, DNS-based filtering, and network-wide tools (such as Pi-hole). While these solutions certainly help, none of them offer complete system-wide protection.

Yeah, with Windows and macOS users having access to various tools for years, Linux users have mostly had to rely on workarounds. That’s where AdGuard for Linux comes in! Yes, folks, we finally have a dedicated ad blocker that works across all browsers and applications!

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The developers behind AcreetionOS have a few questions for you. “Have you been wanting to switch away from Windows? Are you looking for something that just works?” If the answer to both of those is yes, their brand new operating system might be just what you’re after.

We’ve been using the Arch Linux based AcreetionOS for a few days now, and while the user interface could use a bit of polish (it’s still very new, so that’s understandable), it’s a solid OS that’s easy to use and, yes, it really does just work.

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