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Links 30/07/2023: AMD-Based FreeBSD Desktop, Rocky Linux Targets Red Hat, PostgreSQL Barman 3.7.0 Released



  • GNU/Linux

    • Audiocasts/Shows

      • mintCast PodcastmintCast 417 – All Hail Avrecon

        First up in the news: Mint 21.2 Victoria released, Canonical’s Leading LXD Engineer Quits, Ubuntu Plans to Ditch its ‘Minimal’ Install Option, a new BlendOS v3, SUSE forks Red Hat

        In security and privacy, Avrecon malware affects 70,000 Linux servers, turns them into a botnet, and we meet RCE Flaw and PyLoose Malware

        Then in our Wanderings Joe has a bad reaction, Moss forgot to write something here, Bill more of the same, Majid pretends to be a socialist

        Download
    • Kernel Space

    • Instructionals/Technical

      • Beginner’s Guide: How to Install Java on Ubuntu in Easy Steps

        Some programs/tools/utility on Ubuntu required java/JVM, without java these programs are not working. Are you facing the same problem?

      • It's FOSSUnderstanding Ubuntu’s Repository System

        Learn the underlying mechanism of the repository system in Ubuntu to better handle the package management and avoid common update errors.

      • How To Remove Windows from UEFI Boot Menu After Installing Ubuntu

        In this article, we will walk you through the process of removing Windows from the UEFI boot menu after installing Ubuntu. This might be necessary if you have decided to completely switch over to Ubuntu and no longer need the Windows boot option.

        [...]

        To remove Windows from the UEFI boot menu after installing Ubuntu, you need to access the terminal, identify the Windows boot entry using the efibootmgr command, remove the boot entry using the efibootmgr -b -B command, delete the Windows folder from the EFI partition, and update GRUB to hide the GRUB menu.

      • APNICDon’t leave network blind spots

        In this post, I discuss recent research by Hassan Habibi Gharakheili, Vijay Sivaraman, and myself from the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, University of New South Wales that presents a solution for monitoring the enterprise hosts with fine-grained visibility into their network behavioural profiles.

        This research passively analyses network traffic from/to all connected hosts in an enterprise network, regardless of their SOE configuration status. By constructing specialized network behavioural profiles with AI-based classifications, real-time inference on the network behavioural patterns of hosts and potential anomalies are generated for IT departments.

      • Chris HannahI Use Neovim

        I usually tend to write about the tools that I use, whether it’s programming, or writing for my blog. Well, this time, I guess it’s a bit of both. As I’m now using Neovim for practically any task that involves writing text.

      • Terence EdenShakespeare Serif - an experimental font based on the First Folio

        Now, before setting off on a journey, it is worth seeing if anyone else has tried this before. I found David Pustansky's First Folio Font. There's not much info about it, other than it's based on the 1623 folio. It's a nice font, but missing brackets and a few other pieces of punctuation. Also, no ligatures. And the long s is in the wrong place.

        So, let's try to build a font!

      • MediumOperating a SOC Analyst Home Lab

        The cybersecurity industry is vast and entails many specialized topics. No one person can learn or know everything and the breadth of concepts to learn can seem overwhelming. Admittedly, I spent a considerable amount of time looking at the different types of cybersecurity career paths out there. On that note, one of the best decisions I’ve made regarding cybersecurity education and career insights was joining the WreckItmech Oxvmx TechHub server on Discord. It’s a safe supportive space where seasoned and aspiring cybersecurity professionals can communicate with each other.

      • Make Use OfHow to Fix the Ubuntu 23.04 Login Error on VMware

        Ubuntu 23.04 was released to the public in April 2023 with support until April 2024. Although an interim release, major updates such as a better GUI with GNOME 44, GPU support with Mesa 23 drivers, and overall faster performance through the Linux 6.2 kernel had many people trying it out as a virtual machine.

        However, if you try installing Ubuntu 23.04 on VMware, you'll likely face a login problem even if you've configured your machine correctly.

        If you're having trouble with the login screen when trying to install "Lunar Lobster" on VMware, below is a step-by-step on how to fix the problem.

    • Games

    • Desktop Environments/WMs

      • K Desktop Environment/KDE SC/Qt

        • KdenliveKdenlive 23.08 beta available

          After an inspiring participation to Akademy, where we presented some of the actions we want to take to improve Kdenlive’s stability and reliability, we are announcing the first beta version for the upcoming Kdenlive 23.08.0 version.

          The Kdenlive 23.04.x version was unfortunately affected by major regressions related to the new timeline nesting feature.

          We are now working on major improvements to our test suite pipeline to ensure such things don’t get unnoticed before a release. In the meantime, all major issues related to nesting, as well as many other bugs, are now fixed in this new beta and we encourage all interested users to test this version to ensure we have the best possible experience for the final release.

  • Distributions and Operating Systems

    • HaikuOS[GSoC 2023] VPN Support Project Update #4

      So we are just past the midway point for GSoC and last update I told you guys that I had a working (albeit somewhat buggy) TUN Driver working. I had gotten great feedback from Pulkomandy, Axel, and Korli to help with a more efficient driver and to make it more human-readable because it made no sense the way I had written it. I have very good news to bring to everyone in that all of the 3 main problems that I talked about last time are all solved! I think most of them got solved after I fully understood creating semaphores and imposed execution order by adding a write semaphore. While this new code made the driver much more efficient and less error-prone, there were two new errors that popped up during testing: [...]

  • Free, Libre, and Open Source Software

    • Jonathan RiddellJonathan Riddell: OpenUK Awards 2023 Open for Nominations

      The OpenUK Awards are open for nominations for 2023.

      • Nominations open 28th July 2023
      • Nominations close midnight UK 19th September 2023 (this will not be extended)
      • Shortlist of up to 3 nominees per category announced 18th October 2023
      • Winners Announced 20th November 2023: Black Tie Awards Ceremony and dinner at House of Lords sponsored by Lord Vaizey, 6-10.30pm, tickets limited€ 

      Self nominations are very welcome. If you know fit into the categories or have a project or company which does or know anyone else who does then fill in the form and say why it’s deserved. You might get fame and glory or at the least a dinner in the house of lords.

    • Web Browsers/Web Servers

    • SaaS/Back End/Databases

      • GeshanHow to Use PostgreSQL COALESCE effectively with examples

        In the world of database management systems, PostgreSQL (Postgres) is a popular choice due to its robust features and flexibility. One powerful function it offers is COALESCE, which allows you to handle null values effectively. In this blog post, you will explore what PostgreSQL COALESCE is, learn when it is useful, and see examples to demonstrate how to use it effectively. Let's get going!

      • PostgreSQLBarman 3.7.0 Released

        EDB is pleased to announce the release of Barman 3.7.0. This release expands support for the snapshot backup_method, which creates full backups by taking snapshots of cloud storage volumes, by adding support for AWS using EBS volume snapshots. Support for Google Cloud disk snapshot and Microsoft Azure managed disks were added in previous Barman releases.

        Highlights of this release

        Version 3.7.0 - 25 July 2023

    • Productivity Software/LibreOffice/Calligra

      • ccache for a 5 minute LibreOffice build!ccache for a 5 minute LibreOffice build

        If you have ever tried to build LibreOffice code, you know that it can take a lot of time. LibreOffice has ~6 million lines of C++ and some Java code (<280k). But, there are tools that can help you build LibreOffice from source code much faster, if you do it repeatedly! Here I discuss how.

        Even with a fast computer, compiling huge amount of C/C++ code takes a lot of time. Compiling 6 million lines of C/C++ code in LibreOffice will take you several minutes (if not hours) with a decent computer with fast CPU and a lot of RAM.

        But, people who work on developing LibreOffice need to build it from the source repeatedly. Because only a fraction of the code changes each time, there is a big chance that one can re-use the compiled objects, and that’s where ccache (and similar tools) come in. It caches the compiled objects, and before trying to re-compile the code, searches inside the cache to see if a previously compiled objects are usable.

    • Education

      • ArduinoUNO R4 Stars: Meet Greta Galli

        Greta Galli is a 20-year-old maker – as well as a content creator, student and teacher! – focusing her high energy levels on robotics and 3D printing. If you think that’s a lot, it is. But keep in mind she got her first taste of making at the young age of 11, when she took part in a kids’ workshop at a tech fair. Fast forward a few years and she heard her high school would start teaching with Arduino, so she jumped the gun and bought her first board.

    • Programming/Development

      • Linux Links10 Excellent R Natural Language Processing Tools

        Natural language processing (NLP) is a set of techniques for using computers to detect in human language the kinds of things that humans detect automatically.

      • Pedro Sader Azevedo: 1st Contribution Hackathon, by LKCAMP

        Thank you for coming to the the 1st Contribution Hackathon at GUADEC 2023. As the name implies, in this event, we’ll teach you how to make your first code contribution to GNOME. Buckle up!

        Setup

        There are three components that we need for making the contribution: flatpak, flathub, and GNOME Builder. Here’s how to get each of them:

        Flatpak

        Flatpak is a packaging format for graphical applications that works on any GNU/Linux distribution. It is the most widely embraced packaging format for GNOME applications. To get flatpak on your distro of choice, run:

        [...]
      • Matt RickardGit Merge Strategies and Algorithms

        How does git merge one or more branches? A look at the different merge strategies and algorithms.

      • Tim BradshawNumerical prediction

        In late 2018, when I still worked at the Met Office, I sent a document to some people there which explained why I thought AI would come to dominate weather forecasting, and why weather forecasting organisations should be looking at AI, urgently. Today, the 28th of July 2023, there is a leader on the subject in The Economist as well as an extended article in its Science and Technology section.

      • RlangQuantum programs

        Remember, quantum programming can seem daunting at first, but with practice and patience, you'll start to grasp these new concepts and begin to appreciate the immense potential that quantum computing offers. Happy coding!

      • Bruno RodriguesReproducible data science with Nix, part 3 -- frictionless {plumber} api deployments with Nix

        This is the third post in a series of posts about Nix. Disclaimer: I’m a super beginner with Nix. So this series of blog posts is more akin to notes that I’m taking while learning than a super detailed tutorial. So if you’re a Nix expert and read something stupid in here, that’s normal. This post is going to focus on R (obviously) but the ideas are applicable to any programming language.

        This blog post is part tutorial on creating an api using the {plumber} R package, part an illustration of how Nix makes developing and deploying a breeze.

      • Bruno RodriguesReproducible data science with Nix, part 1 -- what is Nix

        This is the first of a (hopefully) series of posts about Nix. Disclaimer: I’m a super beginner with Nix. So this series of blog posts is more akin to notes that I’m taking while learning than a super detailed tutorial. So if you’re a Nix expert and read something stupid in here, that’s normal. This post is going to focus on R (obviously) but the ideas are applicable to any programming language.



Recent Techrights' Posts

GNU/Linux at 4% "Market Share" (Even According to Steam Survey)
Another milestone
Ahead of Mass Layoffs Microsoft Tries to Rebrand or Redefine XBox (Because the XBox is Tentatively Dead)
2026 will be the last year of XBox in all likelihood
Richard Stallman (RMS) Announces His Georgia Talk 2.5 Weeks in Advance
A lot earlier than usual
 
Gemini Links 06/01/2026: Collective Responsibility, Pico2DVI, and TV Detox
Links for the day
Microsoft Loves Freedom, Democracy... and Linux? No, Microsoft Laying Off Because "Microsoft Loves Linux" Was Failed Posturing, Its Former Staff Moves to GNU/Linux
"What are the running totals for IBM and Microsoft layoffs?"
Mozilla's Assisted Suicide, Assisted by GNOME
Firefox is meant to get better all the time, but instead it gets worse
Links 06/01/2026: Neglect of the Elderly, Abandonment of International Laws
Links for the day
Links 06/01/2026: More Reports Point to Mass Layoffs at Microsoft (Later This Month), Greenland/Denmark Cautions the Dictator Who Illegally Invaded Venezuela
Links for the day
Internet Policy/Net Reality: You Must Never Ever Rely on Google (no "S.E.O." Either)
Stack Overflow is dying
Dr. Andy Farnell on Technology That Harms People (and Lack of Regulation Which is Needed to Address This Problem)
Dr. Farnell's article is long but well worth reading
GNU/Linux Rising to 5% in Cameroon and It's Hardly the Exception
"AI" is just a smokescreen as losses pile up
Rumours: Microsoft to Lay Off 12,500-25,000 Workers Soon (Tentatively Wednesday, 15 Days From Now)
"Layoffs are coming third full week of Jan. Likely 21st but these things can move around a bit based on last minute developments."
EPO People Power - Part XXVI - European Media Has Become Part of the Problem
it is as clear as daylight that Cocainegate is real
IBM 2026 "Organizational Change/s" Means Layoffs Resume Soon, Some Claim "Forever Layoffs."
It's about "narrative control"
Microsoft Layoffs in January 2026
Get ready
Google Still Boosting Slopfarms
Slopfarms will probably all perish as soon as Google News quits sending them visitors
Links 06/01/2026: Cryptocurrency Scam Emails and Greenland's Fear of Getting 'Venezuelad'
Links for the day
Links 06/01/2026: DIY Projects and Inertial Music
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, January 05, 2026
IRC logs for Monday, January 05, 2026
To The Register MS, ARM Means Microsoft Windows (Follow the Money)
the Free software community can campaign and run sites (like the one below), but it cannot afford to bribe so-called 'news' sites like Microsoft and its OEMs do
IBM's CEO Makes No Sense
"IBM CEO Aravind Krishna on what’s really driving tech layoffs"
Links 05/01/2026: Tensions in Korea, Ukrainians See "Double Standard" in a US Russia-Style Invasion
Links for the day
Gemini Links 05/01/2026: Farewell to CBS Reality, Being On-Call, Digital Ad Spendings
Links for the day
Remember That Nobel Prizes Are All Named After the Inventor of Explosives (Even a "Nobel Prize for Peace")
These rewards are only as valuable as the reputation they earn for themselves
Baidu and Yandex Have Overtaken Microsoft in Asia
how about all the Bing layoffs?
Googlebombing for Bill Epsteingate
Maybe the slopfarms too can help him cover up
Of Course GNU/Linux Has Reached All-Time High in Africa in 2026
Africa will, on average, gravitate towards Free software or whatever costs less
From GNU/Linux Boosting to Slop-Boosting Career
It is sad to see someone who devoted many years of his life producing GNU/Linux stories stooping down to this "AI" boot-licking
IBM Buys, Then Disposes/Sacks, the Staff (That It Paid For)
Any money gained is spent buying some more companies to add/join up their revenue, even if the debt surges and there's little integration going on (misfits absorbed)
Time for Microsoft to Rebrand to Fit the Vapourware (Ponzi Scheme)
something between Meta and Alphabet
Links 05/01/2026: Slop Ruining Children's Minds, "Complicity of the Press in US Violence"
Links for the day
Microsoft's Windows Falls Below 20% in the UK
After a lot of years of advocacy and hard work
The Real GNU Anniversary (Not Manifesto or Announcement) is Today
the development, not the manifesto
GNU/Linux Usage Said to Have Doubled in Oceania
it's hard to discount or dismiss Oceania as a bunch of "coconut islands"
There's No Such Thing as "AI Godfather", Stop Repeating This Pure Nonsense!
Infantile or corruptible media that plays along with slop or uses slop will perish
Gemini Links 05/01/2026: "Poverty and Hunger", "Entrepreneurial Family", "Abandoning Obsidian for Logseq"
Links for the day
Links 05/01/2026: A Shrinking Canadian Economy, Brigitte Bardot's Environmentalism Recalled, Unredacted Epstein Files
Links for the day
Microsoft Allegedly Uses Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) to Hide the Massive Scale of Company-Wide Layoffs
Just like IBM; they meanwhile talk a bunch of nonsense about "AI" to distract from their commercial calamity
Battles Are Won in the Court of Public Opinion
Many "systems" rely on the mere perception or appearance of legitimacy
No, Writing Isn't in Decline, Some of the Large and Centralised Platforms Are
Slop isn't really competition, just a passing fad and pure noise
GNU/Linux Share in Mongolia More Than Doubles
they probably lack any genuine excitement for "hey hi PCs"
Whistleblowing is About Understanding Boundaries and Risks
The bottom line is, people typically find out the truth at the end
EPO People Power - Part XXV - While EPO Managers Snort Cocaine the Staff Compiles 'Insurance Files' to Expose EPO Corruption
In this increasingly authoritarian world we need more whistleblowers
"The European Patent Reform" That Represents a Gross Violation of Laws, Constitutions, and Conventions (in Order to Make the Rich Even Richer, Mostly Outside Europe)
How far and how long will EPO corruption go?
The Reputation Issue Is Not Our Fault
Trying to squash words (and people) merely diverts more attention to them
GNU/Linux Distribution "Ultimate Edition" Fixes Its Web Site (Apparently Compromised Months Ago)
they dealt with the issue before media shame and a catastrophe of trust
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, January 04, 2026
IRC logs for Sunday, January 04, 2026
Gemini Links 04/01/2026: 64-bit Addressing and 39th Chaos Communication Congress
Links for the day
Windows Was Always the Punchline
What did we count to calculate taxes?
GNU/Linux Surges to About 4% in Peru This Year
one of the poorest counties in America
This Year Our Adoption of IRC Turns 18
We have used IRC for this site since 2008
The Doors Are Closing, Windows Closing Too
Microsoft wants more vendor lock-in, but at risk that this desire will simply alienate and drive away many users
The FSF's Program Manager, Dr. Miriam Sabrina Bastian, Left in October to Lead Climate School
We are not sure why Miriam Bastian decided to leave the Free Software Foundation (FSF)
Outline of Slop, LLMs, IBM, and Things to Come
This coming week and weekend will be very productive irrespective of how much "news" gets published by other sites
Links 04/01/2026: War Without Borders, "Large Hadron Collider Being Shut Down"
Links for the day
Links 04/01/2026: US Imperialism in Greenland and Venezuela, "Climate Protesters Face Greater Risk of Crackdown Amid Rising Authoritarianism"
Links for the day
2026 Should be the Year We All Stop Saying "AI" and Call Things What They Really Are
Don't give anyone the satisfaction of this misguided belief there's any intelligence there
Ponzi Schemes Are Useful (to Corrupt CEOs)
Pathetic, corruptible so-called 'media' is bagging bribes to perpetuate the lies about "AI" (slop)
GNU/Linux at All-Time High in Algeria
In 2026 it hit a new all-time high
Online Mobbing (and Worse) Disguised as 'Free Speech'
People who say they believe in "free speech" have been trying hard to silence RMS and squash the FSF
A 'Cancer That Attaches Itself' to Bulgaria?
"Cancer" is what Microsoft called GNU/Linux
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, January 03, 2026
IRC logs for Saturday, January 03, 2026
Body-Shaming Using Fakes
a lot of the people who casually claim "defamation" are themselves defaming loads of people every day
GNU/Linux "Market Share" in Switzerland More Than Doubled Last Year, Based on statCounter
GNU/Linux continues its considerable growth
EPO People Power - Part XXIV - Today or Tomorrow You Should Write to National Representatives (Delegates) at the EPO in Your Country
Keep up the pressure!
Red Hat and IBM Layoffs, Staff Kept Quiet About it, WARN Act Skirted/WARN Notices Avoided
What a terrible company to be in
XBox Layoffs Imminent, More Appalling Sales Figures Published
Expect many layoffs in the gaming division