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Links 11/04/2023: Budgie Desktop 10.7.x and Ubuntu Budgie 23.04



  • GNU/Linux

    • Server

      • Linux Links9 Best Free and Open Source PaaS Cloud Computing Stacks

        Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a category of cloud computing services which offers a way to support the complete lifecycle of delivering web applications and services via the cloud. Along with Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), PaaS is a service model of cloud computing.

        PaaS solution stacks offers a number of advantages. They provide significant benefits for the business with extensive savings in upfront cost of installing a development platform, improved productivity & profits, zero maintenance, decreased operational costs, global access to information using internet and many others. In essence, PaaS technologies enable creative developers to spend less time managing hardware and software.

        PaaS solution stacks provide all of the infrastructure to design or deploy general, business, social and enterprise level software applications without being concerned about the underlying infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, storage and all the programming tools & applications.

    • Instructionals/Technical

      • What is a Filesystem Mapping in Docker

        In Docker, a file system mapping refers to the process of associating a directory or a file from the host system with a directory or a file inside a Docker container.

      • What is a Port Mapping (Forwarding) in Docker

        In Docker, port mapping (also known as port forwarding) is the process of associating a port on the host system with a port on a Docker container, allowing network traffic to be directed to and from the container through the host system's network interface.

      • How to Create and Use a Private Docker Registry

        Using a private Docker registry offers several benefits: You can create a private Docker registry to host and distribute your own Docker container images within your organization or for specific projects.

      • What are Docker Networks

        Docker networks are virtual networks that provide communication channels for Docker containers to communicate with each other and with the host system, allowing containers to communicate securely and efficiently. Docker networks are used to isolate containers from the host system and from other containers, providing a controlled and secure environment for containerized applications.

      • What are Docker Volumes

        Docker volumes are a way to persist and manage data in Docker containers. A Docker volume is a directory or a named volume that is stored outside of the container’s file system and is used to store and share data between Docker containers and the host system.

      • What is Docker Compose

        Docker Compose is a tool that allows you to define, configure, and run multi-container Docker applications using a YAML file. It provides an easy way to define the services, networks, and volumes for your Docker containers in a single configuration file, which can be version-controlled and shared across teams.

      • What is Docker Swarm

        Docker Swarm is a native container orchestration solution provided by Docker for managing and scaling containerized applications across a swarm of Docker nodes.

      • What are Docker Image Registries

        Docker image registries are central repositories that store and distribute Docker container images. Docker container images are the building blocks of Docker containers, containing all the necessary files, libraries, and dependencies to run a containerized application.

    • Desktop Environments/WMs

      • K Desktop Environment/KDE SC/Qt

        • The road to KDE Connect 2.0

          KDE Connect was designed 10 years ago (!) with Android smartphones as one of our first supported platforms. Because of that, when designing the KDE Connect protocol we had to work around many technical limitations that Android had back in its infancy.

          This year I will be working on a project named “KDE Connect discovery and transport protocol improvements” that received a grant from the NLnet foundation as part of the NGI Assure fund. This grant will allow me to work full time in KDE Connect, with the goal of updating the protocol and apps to modern standards.

          Below are the 3 main areas that will improve thanks to this and become KDE Connect 2.0 (even though some changes will show up sooner, because we release early, release often).

          [...]

          Before Android 5, only TLSv1 and a limited set of cipher suites could be used. We always try to stay compatible with old devices and to fight the programmed obsolescence that plagues modern technology, but that meant keeping the KDE Connect protocol compatible with insecure encryption protocols.

          Starting with KDE Connect v1.22 for Android, we now require Android 5 or later so we can drop compatibility with insecure encryption in all the KDE Connect implementations (and not only Android). In addition to that, we are reviewing and updating the dependencies we bundle as part of the app to make sure we have the latest security patches.

          Later this year, and also thanks to NLnet, we will get a security audit by Radically Open Security. This will be the second time KDE Connect is audited, after the openSUSE security team did so in 2020.

  • Distributions and Operating Systems

    • LinuxiacRolling vs. Point Releases: Which Linux Distro is Right for You

      Thanks to its open-source nature and extensive community support, Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system that has gained immense popularity over the years. However, one of the key decisions that Linux users face is whether to opt for a rolling release or a point release distribution.

      Both have their pros and cons, and choosing the right one depends on various factors, such as your technical expertise, software needs, and personal preferences.

      So, if you are new to Linux or looking to switch to a different distribution, navigating through the plethora of options can be overwhelming. That’s where our comprehensive guide comes in. We’ve compiled all the information you need to decide on rolling vs. point releases on Linux.

  • Free, Libre, and Open Source Software

    • Web Browsers/Web Servers

    • Productivity Software/LibreOffice/Calligra

      • Report about policy related activities in the EU

        The Document Foundation, thanks to the widespread popularity of LibreOffice, is recognized as one of the largest FOSS organizations worldwide, and especially in Europe (where the project was born over 20 years ago).

    • Programming/Development

      • Linux GizmosNew ESP32 dev kit equipped with 6-axis IMU, 1.3” OLED and flexible wireless connectivity

        The SoftRF T-BeamSUPREME is a new small embedded device designed and produced by LILYGO and SoftRF. The new development board is compatible with U-blox MAX-M10S modules and Seemtech SX1262 LoRa modules.

      • UbuntuUbuntu Blog: Optimise your ROS snap – Part 2
        <img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/canonical/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto,fl_sanitize,c_fill,w_720/https://ubuntu.com/wp-content/uploads/ac53/Snap-optimization-3.gif" width="720" />

        Welcome to Part 2 of the “optimise your ROS snap” blog series. Make sure to check Part 1 before reading this blog post. This second part is going to present initial optimisations already used in the Gazebo snap. We will present the benefit that they could bring to our ROS snaps as well as the performance results.

        Before its release, the Gazebo snap was using two optimisations that we need to cover first.

      • MedevelBest 15 Open Source React SaaS Templates and Next.js SaaS Starters For Startups

        React and Next.js!

        React is a popular free and open-source JavaScript framework for building enterprise-class web apps, reactive user-interface, and fast end-results.

      • C/C++

      • Python

        • Linux HintGet a Class Name in Python

          To Get the class name of an object/variable in Python, the user can use the type() method, the __class__ attribute, or the __class__.__name__ attribute.

        • Linux HintPython Object is Not Callable Error

          This error is caused by calling a variable with parenthesis when it is neither a module nor a function. Also, due to an invalid call to imported module’s method

        • Linux HintConvert a List of Tuples to a Dictionary in Python

          To convert a list of tuples into a dictionary in Python, use the dict() constructor with either the list comprehension approach or the map() method.

        • Linux HintPython String Decode Method

          The decode() method is used to decode an already encoded string. To do this, you need to specify the encoding format that was used on the original string.

        • Linux HintPython Count Duplicate in the List

          The user can use various approaches to find duplicates in a list including the conversion of a list into a set, the use of the count() or the if-not condition.

        • Linux HintPython Encrypt String

          To encrypt strings in Python, you can use the fernet module from the cryptography library. Otherwise, you can utilize the rsa library.

      • Rust

        • LWNA draft Rust trademark policy

          RS can be used freely and without permission to indicate that software or a project is derived from or based on Rust, compatible with Rust, inspired by Rust, or can be used for the same purpose as Rust. We recommend using RS instead of ‘Rust’ if you have any concerns about your use falling outside of this policy, for example, naming your crate foo-rs instead of rust-foo.

  • Leftovers

  • Gemini* and Gopher

    • Personal

      • 🔤SpellBinding: CDEGUOH Wordo: TRAIL
      • Malta day 5

        Well I survived the wind from last night! It was pretty xrazy until around 3am. Today was a shifting aite day so the morning was spent packing up and cleaning. We were invited to the Presidental summer palace, Verdala Palace. The scout group we firet stayed with in Zurrieq were having a camp there and arranged a tour for us. It is an impressive palace which was built as a fortress in the 1500s. The building has been lovingly restored after some inexcusable vandalism in the form of British diplomat wives wanting to redecorate. After the palace, we had to get shifting to Ghajn Tuffeia. I was part of the car party for this one. Loading and unloading bita of kit. I spent the afternoon catching up on past issues of Private Eye in the sun. Once more people started arriving, I finally got my feet in the sea. It was chuffing freezing. Might paddle some more tomorrow. I also had the pleasure of meeting a friend from previous Scout adventures in Poland. We had a nice long catch up and might be meeting up for some lunch tomorrow.

    • Politics

      • Going down

        I think people are starting to realize that the situation in the US and elsewhere is going to get a lot worse before it's going to get better.

        The Russian troll army and the social rage media like Facebook and Twitter are just exacerbating the entire thing. They exploit every weakness, every fracture, every divide. It doesn't actually matter what we're divided over, as long as there is division to exploit, as long as there is rage to cultivate. Like a poisonous plant, it is encouraged to grow in every crack we leave.

    • Technical

      • Hyprland Test Drive

        I've spent a week now with Hyprland and I've decided I'm going to continue with it instead of Sway. It's a little more beta compared to Sway which has been rock solid for a while, but here are some of the things that have made the switch worth it to me.

      • And now for my next trick

        As of now, all of my personal side projects that I've shared are basically complete (I just have to add query support to Cosmarmot). Lately I've been playing with writing GTK4 apps in Common Lisp, my reasons being that I really enjoy the look of a well-designed GTK/Libadwaita application, especially one that supports responsive design for narrow windows and mobile, and fits in well in my Gnome desktop, and because the Common Lisp bindings are so good thanks to the very good GObject introspection bindings. I've done enough to start to get comfortable with writing GUI code, something that has never been my forté. The last time I dipped my toes in desktop GUI programming was writing panel widgets for Gnome 1 (!) in Python. I do feel like writing something fun in it, though.

        I have two ideas, and I'm only probably going to work on one. Both of them are kind of unnecessary for their respective ecosystems, but each would add something that hasn't appeared or hasn't become common yet.

      • Recently-hyped technologies

        Currently GPT 4 is all over the Hacker News main page, and I keep peeking into the threads, just to find that there is nothing actually informative there (while the linked articles are dull, and seem to be there primarily to serve as a subject for chatter), though there are many excited people. Some suggest that GPT 4 is intelligent and capable of reasoning now, while GPT 3 was simply regurgitating things, but still providing no evidence. Though not a long time ago, when GPT 3 was released, people were almost panicking that it is too good to release, that it will distort the coverage of reality in the news (more than people do, apparently). I guess major changes/advancements like that do happen sometimes, but much more often there is just this annoying hype. To add to the annoyance, perhaps the major "AI" application people run into these days are broken chat bots serving as a moat on the way to get help from human operators (which is needed when other, less sophisticated stuff malfunctions). And perhaps video surveillance (though that likely depends on the jurisdiction).

      • Yretek - My microblog.sh micro-blogging script

        So, this one seems to work. It is meant to facilitate keeping a micro-blog of sorts in my own gemini capsule. I don't get to like it a lot because BASH is out of my comfort zone, and besides, I'm not too happy about the way BASH syntax works with variables, concatenation and all that. But it seems to work, and that's good enough to share. Perhaps it might help somebody who knows even less than me, or, hopefully somebody can catch a bug lurking in it, and/or improve it.


* Gemini (Primer) links can be opened using Gemini software. It's like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter.



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