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While it covers the basics of note-taking, it also doubles down as a powerful task manager and journaling tool.
Logseq Desktop
What sets Logseq apart from traditional note-taking apps is its unique organization system, which forgoes hierarchical folder structures in favor of interconnected, block-based notes. This makes it an excellent choice for users seeking granular control and flexibility over their information.
In this article, we’ll explore how to install Logseq on Linux distributions.
Use the official AppImage
For Linux systems, Logseq officially provides an AppImage. You can head over to the downloads page and grab the AppImage file.
It is advised to use tools like AppImageLauncher (hasn't seen a new release for a while, but it is active) or GearLever to create a desktop integration for Logseq.
Fret not, if you would rather not use a third-party tool, you can do it yourself as well.
First, create a folder in your home directory to store all the AppImages. Next, move the Logseq AppImage to this location and give the file execution permission.
Go to AppImage properties
Right-click on the AppImage file and go to the file properties. Here, in the Permissions tab, select "Allow Executing as a Program" or "Executable as Program" depending on the distro, but it has the same meaning.
Here's how it looks on a distribution with GNOME desktop:
Toggle Execution permission
Once done, you can double-click to open Logseq app.
🚧
If you are using Ubuntu 24.04 and above, you won't be able to open the AppImage of Logseq due to a change in the apparmour policy. You can either use other sources like Flatpak or take a look at a less secure alternative.
Alternatively, use the 'semi-official' Flatpak
Logseq has a Flatpak version available. This is not an official offering from the Logseq team, but is provided by a developer who also contributes to Logseq.
First, make sure your system has Flatpak support. If not, enable Flatpak support and add Flathub repository by following our guide:
Now, install Logseq either from a Flatpak supported software center like GNOME Software:
Install Logseq from GNOME Software
Or install it using the terminal with the following command:
flatpak install flathub com.logseq.Logseq
Other methods
For Ubuntu users and those who have Snap setup, there is an unofficial Logseq client in the Snap store. You can go with that if you prefer.
There are also packages available in the AUR for Logseq desktop clients. Arch Linux users can take a look at these packages and get it installed via the terminal using Pamac package manager.
Post Installation
Once you have installed Logseq, open it. This will bring you to the temporary journal page.
You need to open a local folder for Logseq to start your work to avoid potential data loss. For this, click on the "Add a graph" button on the top-right, as shown in the screenshot below.
Click on "Add a graph"
On the resulting page, click on "Choose a folder" button.
Click "Choose a folder"
From the file chooser, either create a new directory or select an existing directory and click "Open".
Select a location
That's it. You can start using Logseq now. And I'll help you with that. I'll be sharing regular tutorials on using Logseq for the next few days/weeks here. Stay tuned.
There was a time when coding meant painstakingly writing every line, debugging cryptic errors at 3 AM, and pretending to understand regex. But in 2025? Coding has evolved, or rather, it has vibed into something entirely new.
Enter Vibe Coding, a phenomenon where instead of manually structuring functions and loops, you simply tell AI what you want, and it does the hard work for you.
This approach has taken over modern software development. Tools like Cursor and Windsurf, AI-powered code editors built specifically for this new workflow, are helping developers create entire applications without in-depth coding knowledge.
Gone are the days of memorizing syntax. Now, you can describe an app idea in plain English, and AI will generate, debug, and even refactor the code for you.
At first, it sounded too good to be true. But then people started launching SaaS businesses with nothing but Vibe Coding, using AI to write everything from landing pages to backend logic.
We thought, since the future of coding is AI-assisted, you’ll need the right tools to make the most of it.
So, here’s a handpicked list of the best code editors for vibe coding in 2025, designed to help you turn your wildest ideas into real projects, fast. 💨
🚧
NON-FOSS Warning: Not all the editors mentioned in this article are open source. While some are, many of the AI-powered features provided by these tools rely on cloud services that often include a free tier, but are not entirely free to use. AI compute isn't cheap! When local LLM support is available, I've made sure to mention it specifically. Always check the official documentation or pricing page before diving in.
1. Zed
If VS Code feels sluggish and Cursor is a bit too heavy on the vibes, then Zed might just be your new favorite playground.
Written entirely in Rust, Zed is built for blazing fast speed. It’s designed to utilize multiple CPU cores and your GPU, making every scroll, search, and keystroke snappy as heck.
And while it's still a relatively new player in the editor world, the Zed team is laser-focused on building the fastest, most seamless AI-native code editor out there.
You get full AI interaction built right into the editor, thanks to the Assistant Panel and inline assistants that let you refactor, generate, and edit code using natural language, without leaving your flow.
Want to use Claude 3.5, a self-hosted LLM via Ollama, or something else? Zed’s open API lets you plug in what works for you.
Key Features:
✅ Built entirely in Rust for extreme performance and low latency. ✅ Native AI support with inline edits, slash commands, and fast refactoring. ✅ Assistant Panel for controlling AI interactions and inspecting suggestions. ✅ Plug-and-play LLM support, including Ollama and Claude via API. ✅ Workflow Commands to automate complex tasks across multiple files. ✅ Custom Slash Commands with WebAssembly or JSON for tailored AI workflows.
Flexpilot IDE joins the growing league of open-source, AI-native code editors that prioritize developer control and privacy.
Forked from VS Code, it's designed to be fully customizable, letting you bring your own API keys or run local LLMs (like via Ollama) for a more private and cost-effective AI experience.
Much like Zed, it takes a developer-first approach: no locked-in services, no mysterious backend calls. Just a clean, modern editor that plays nice with whatever AI setup you prefer.
Key Features
✅ AI-powered autocomplete with context-aware suggestions ✅ Simultaneously edit multiple files in real-time with AI assistance ✅ Ask code-specific questions in a side panel for instant guidance ✅ Refactor, explain, or improve code directly in your files ✅ Get instant AI help with a keyboard shortcut, no interruptions ✅ Talk to your editor and get code suggestions instantly ✅ Run commands and debug with AI assistance inside your terminal ✅ Reference code elements and editor data precisely ✅ AI-powered renaming of variables, functions, and classes ✅ Generate commit messages and PR descriptions in a click ✅ Track token consumption across AI interactions ✅ Use any LLM: OpenAI, Claude, Mistral, or local Ollama ✅ Compatible with GitHub Copilot and other VSCode extensions
While GitHub Copilot isn’t a standalone code editor, it’s deeply integrated into Visual Studio Code, which makes sense since Microsoft owns both GitHub and VS Code.
As one of the most widely used AI coding assistants, Copilot provides real-time AI-powered code suggestions that adapt to your project’s context.
Whether you’re writing Python scripts, JavaScript functions, or even Go routines, Copilot speeds up development by generating entire functions, automating repetitive tasks, and even debugging your code.
Key Features:
✅ AI-driven code suggestions in real-time. ✅ Supports multiple languages, including Python, JavaScript, and Go. ✅ Seamless integration with VS Code, Neovim, and JetBrains IDEs. ✅ Free for students and open-source developers.
Pear AI is a fork of VSCode, built with AI-first development in mind. It’s kinda like Cursor or Windsurf, but with a twist, you can plug in your own AI server, run local models via Ollama (which is probably the easiest route), or just use theirs.
It has autocomplete, context-aware chat, and a few other handy features.
Now, full transparency, it's still a bit rough around the edges. Not as polished, a bit slow at times, and the updates? Eh, not super frequent.
The setup can feel a little over-engineered if you’re just trying to get rolling. But… I see potential here. If the right devs get their hands on it, this could shape up into something big.
Key Features
✅ VSCode-based editor with a clean UI and familiar feel ✅ "Knows your code" – context-aware chat that actually understands your project ✅ Works with remote APIs or local LLMs (Ollama integration is the easiest) ✅ Built-in AI code generation tools curated into a neat catalog ✅ Autocomplete and inline code suggestions, powered by your model of choice ✅ Ideal for devs experimenting with custom AI backends or local AI setups
If you've ever written Java, Python, or even Kotlin, chances are you’ve used or at least heard of JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, or WebStorm.
JetBrains has long been the gold standard for feature-rich developer environments.
Now, they're stepping into the future of coding with Fleet, a modern, lightweight, and AI-powered code editor designed to simplify your workflow while keeping JetBrains' signature intelligence baked in.
Fleet isn’t trying to replace IntelliJ, it’s carving a space of its own: minimal UI, fast startup, real-time collaboration, and enough built-in tools to support full-stack projects out of the box.
And with JetBrains’ new AI assistant baked in, you're getting contextual help, code generation, and terminal chat, all without leaving your editor.
Key Features
✅ Designed for fast startup and low memory usage without sacrificing features ✅ Full-Stack Language Support- Java, Kotlin, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, and more ✅ Real-Time Collaboration. ✅ Integrated Git Tools like Diff viewer, branch management, and seamless commits ✅ Use individual or shared terminals in collaborative sessions ✅ Auto-generate code, fix bugs, or chat with your terminal ✅ Docker & Kubernetes Support - Manage containers right inside your IDE ✅ Preview, format, and edit Markdown files with live previews ✅ Custom themes, keymaps, and future language/tech support via plugins
Cursor is a heavily modified fork of VSCode with deep AI integration. It supports multi-file editing, inline chat, autocomplete for code, markdown, and even JSON.
It’s fast, responsive, and great for quickly shipping out tutorials or apps. You also get terminal autocompletion and contextual AI interactions right in your editor.
Key Features
✅ Auto-imports and suggestions optimized for TypeScript and Python ✅ Generate entire app components or structures with a single command ✅ Context-gathering assistant that can interact with your terminal ✅ Drag & drop folders for AI-powered explanations and refactoring ✅ Process natural language commands inside the terminal ✅ AI detects issues in your code and suggests fixes ✅ Choose from GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, o1, and more
Windsurf takes things further with an agentic approach, it can autonomously run scripts, check outputs, and continue building based on the results until it fulfills your request.
Though it’s relatively new, Windsurf shows massive promise with smooth performance and smart automation packed into a familiar development interface.
Built on (you guessed it) VS Code, Windsurf is crafted by Codeium and introduces features like Supercomplete and Cascade, focusing on deep workspace understanding and intelligent, real-time code generation.
Key Features
✅ SuperComplete for context-aware, full-block code suggestions across your entire project ✅ Real-time chat assistant for debugging, refactoring, and coding help across languages ✅ Command Palette with custom commands. ✅ Cascade feature for syncing project context and iterative problem-solving ✅ Flow tech for automatic workspace updates and intelligent context awareness ✅ Supports top-tier models like GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, LLaMA 3.1 70B & 405B
It’s still new but shows a lot of promise with smooth performance and advanced automation capabilities baked right in.
I’ve personally used GitHub Copilot’s free tier quite a bit, and recently gave Zed AI a spin and I totally get why the internet is buzzing with excitement.
There’s something oddly satisfying about typing a few lines of instruction and then just... letting your editor take over while you lean back.
That said, I’ve also spent hours untangling some hilariously off-mark Copilot-generated bugs. So yeah, it’s powerful, but far from perfect.
If you’re just stepping into the AI coding world, don’t dive in blind. Take time to learn the basics, experiment with different editors and assistants, and figure out which one actually helps you ship code your way.
And if you're already using an AI editor you swear by, let us know in the comments. Always curious to hear what other devs are using.
It's been a tradition of sort to prank readers on 1st of April with a humorous article. Since we are already past the 1st April in all time zones, let me share this year's April Fool article with you. I hope you find it as amusing as I did while writing it 😄
And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!
This edition of FOSS Weekly is supported by Typesense.
❇️ Typesense: Open Source Search Engine
Typesense is the free, open-source search engine for forward-looking devs. Make it easy on people: Tpyos? Typesense knows we mean typos, and they happen. With ML-powered typo tolerance and semantic search, Typesense helps your customers find what they’re looking for—fast.
In KDE Plasma, you can edit copied texts in the Clipboard. First, launch the clipboard using the shortcut CTRL+V. Now, click on the Edit button, which looks like a pencil.
Then, edit the contents and click on Save to store it as a new clipboard item.
🤣 Meme of the Week
Such a nice vanity plate. 😮
🗓️ Tech Trivia
On March 31, 1939, Harvard and IBM signed an agreement to build the Mark I, also known as the IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (ASCC).
This pioneering electromechanical computer, conceived by Howard Aiken, interpreted instructions from paper tape and data from punch cards, playing a significant role in World War II calculations.
The portable AppImage format is quite popular among developers and users alike. It allows you to run applications without installation or dependency issues, on virtually any Linux distribution.
However, managing multiple AppImages or keeping them updated can sometimes be a bit cumbersome. Fortunately, there are third-party tools that simplify the process, making it easier to organize, update, and integrate AppImages into your Linux system.
In this article, I’ll share some useful tools that can help you manage AppImages more effectively and enhance your overall experience.
Gear Lever
Gear Lever is a modern GTK-based application that lets you manage your local AppImage files. It primarily helps you organize AppImages by adding desktop entries, updating applications, and more.
Installed AppImages in Gear Lever
Features of Gear Lever
Drag and drop files directly from your file manager
Update apps in place
Keep multiple versions installed
Install Gear Lever
Gear Lever is available as a Flatpak package. You can install it with the following command:
While the last release of AppImage Launcher was a few years ago, it works pretty fine.
If you're a frequent user of AppImage packages, you should definitely check out AppImage Launcher. This open-source tool helps integrate AppImages into your system.
It allows users to quickly add AppImages to the application menu, manage updates, and remove them with just a few clicks.
AppImage Launcher
Features of AppImage Launcher
Adds desktop integration to AppImage files
Includes a helper tool to manage AppImage updates
Allows easy removal of AppImages
Provides CLI tools for terminal-based operations and automation
Install AppImage Launcher
For Ubuntu users, the .deb file is available under the Continuous build section on the releases page.
AppImage Package Manager (AM) is designed to simplify AppImage management, functioning similarly to how APT or DNF handle native packages. It supports not just AppImages, but other portable formats as well.
AM relies on a large database of shell scripts, inspired by the Arch User Repository (AUR), to manage AppImages from various sources.
A similar tool is AppMan. It is basically AM but manages all your apps locally without needing root access.
If you are a casual user, you can use AppMan instead of AM so that everything will be local and no need for any sudo privileges.
AppImage Package Manager (AppMan Version)
Features of AppImage Package Manager
Supports AppImages and standalone archives (e.g., Firefox, Blender)
Includes a comprehensive shell script database for official and community-sourced AppImages
AppImage is a fantastic way to use portable applications on Linux, but managing them manually can be tedious over time. Thankfully, the tools mentioned above make it easier to organize, update, and integrate AppImages into your workflow.
From a feature-rich GUI tool like Gear Lever to CLI tools like AppImagePool and AppMan, there’s something here for every kind of user. Try out a few and see which one fits your style best.
Rust in Linux kernel is not news. You already know about that. But Rust in GNU is a big move.
It seems that a Rust rewrite of GNU's coreutils (meta package that gives us commands like cp, ls, dd, mv etc) will be included in Ubuntu's upcoming release.
This concerns many hardcore Free Software supporters, as they see it a move to take GNU out of GNU Linux.
What are your thoughts on it?
💬 Let's see what else you get in this edition
Chimera Linux moving away from RISC-V.
Beginner's guide to apt command.
A new community Linux distro being proposed for the EU.
Linux kernel 6.14 releasing with many refinements.
And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!
This edition of FOSS Weekly is supported by PikaPods.
❇️ PikaPods: Enjoy Self-hosting Hassle-free
PikaPods allows you to quickly deploy your favorite open source software. All future updates are handled automatically by PikaPods while you enjoy using the software. PikaPods also share revenue with the original developers of the software.
In GNOME, you can use the Auto Move Windows extension to automatically open new app windows in specific workspaces. First, install it either from the webpage, or via Extension Manager.
In the extension settings page, select the windows and the corresponding workspace to automatically move new windows into workspaces. Now, new windows should appear in their designated workspaces.
🤣 Meme of the Week
This is heartbreaking 💔
🗓️ Tech Trivia
On March 24, 1896, Russian physicist Aleksandr Popov successfully transmitted radio signals over 250 meters between buildings at St. Petersburg University. This achievement followed his 1895 presentation of a wireless lightning detector.
Ollama has been a game-changer for running large language models (LLMs) locally, and I've covered quite a few tutorials on setting it up on different devices, including my Raspberry Pi.
But as I kept experimenting, I realized there was still another fantastic way to run Ollama: inside a Docker container.
Now, this isn’t exactly breaking news. The first Ollama Docker image was released back in 2023. But until recently, I always used it with a native install.
It wasn’t until I was working on an Immich tutorial that I stumbled upon NVIDIA Container Toolkit, which allows you to add GPU support to Docker containers.
That was when I got hooked on the idea of setting up Ollama inside Docker and leveraging GPU acceleration.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through two ways to run Ollama in Docker with GPU support:
Using a one liner docker run command.
With Docker compose
Now, let’s dive in.
📋
Before we get started, if you haven’t installed Docker yet, check out our previous tutorials on setting up Docker on Linux.
Prerequisite: Installing Nvidia Container toolkit
The NVIDIA Container Toolkit includes the NVIDIA Container Runtime and the NVIDIA Container Toolkit plugin for Docker, which enable GPU support inside Docker containers.
Before installation, make sure that you have already installed the GPU drivers on your specific distro.
Now, to install the NVIDIA Container Toolkit, follow these steps:
Enable the NVIDIA CUDA repository on your system by running the following commands in a terminal window:
If your Nvidia GPU driver is not properly installed, you might encounter some problems when installing nvidia-container-toolkit on your system just like in my case on Debian 12.
Install the NVIDIA Container Toolkit by running the following command in a terminal window:
sudo apt install -y nvidia-container-toolkit
Restart the Docker service to apply the changes:
sudo systemctl restart docker
Method 1: Running Ollama with Docker run (Quick Method)
If you just want to spin up Ollama in a container without much hassle, this one-liner will do the trick:
docker run -d --name ollama -p 11434:11434 -v ollama:/root/.ollama ollama/ollama
Whether you want something lightweight or a full-featured alternative to ChatGPT, there’s a UI that fits your needs.
Conclusion
Running Ollama in Docker provides a flexible and efficient way to interact with local AI models, especially when combined with a UI for easy access over a network.
I’m still tweaking my setup to ensure smooth performance across multiple devices, but so far, it’s working well.
On another note, diving deeper into NVIDIA Container Toolkit has sparked some interesting ideas. The ability to pass GPU acceleration to Docker containers opens up possibilities beyond just Ollama.
I’m considering testing it with Jellyfin for hardware-accelerated transcoding, which would be a huge boost for my media server setup.
Other projects, like Stable Diffusion or AI-powered upscaling, could also benefit from proper GPU passthrough.
That said, I’d love to hear about your setup! Are you running Ollama in Docker, or do you prefer a native install? Have you tried any Web UI clients, or are you sticking with the command line?
How do you update Arch Linux? You run sudo pacman -Syu command.
How do you install a package on Arch Linux? You run sudo pacman -Syu package_name.
Which might make you wonder why do you need a system update while installing a new package? What does those S, y and u do? Let me explain these things to you.
What does pacman -Syu does?
In simpler words, pacman -Syu updates all the installed packages on your Arch-based Linux distribution if they have a newer version available. Here, -S stands for sync or install, y refreshes the local package database cache with the remote repository and u will make a list of all the install packages that can be updated by referring to the local package database cache and getting actual packages from the remote repository.
Understanding pacman -Syu command
I hope you are familiar with the concept of package manager. If not, please refer to this explainer article:
Pacman package manager works pretty much the same. There is a remote repository that has the actual packages, a local package database that usually keeps the information about the packages by interacting with the remote repository. pacman is the command line interface that utilizes this structure to manage packages on your Arch Linux.
-S (capital letter S) is the main option and y and u are 'sub-options' supporting it.
S stands for sync but you can think of it as 'install'. It syncs your Arch Linux system with the remote repository for the given package. Meaning, both repository and local Arch system will be synced (at that time) for the given package. Which is another way of saying that the package is installed on the system.
You cannot just run pacman -S and expect it to sync (install) all the packages from the repositories on the local system. That would be disastrous if your system installs all 40,000+ packages of the remote repositories.
This is why you need to provide a target (package names) with only -S option. Otherwise, you'll see this error.
sudo pacman -S
error: no targets specified (use -h for help)
If you specify a package or group name, it will 'install' the package on your system.
There are additional options with Sync. You'll probably be using a lot of sudo pacman -Syu.
Those y and u are 'sub options' of -S. You cannot use them on their own like pacman -yu:
sudo pacman -yu
error: invalid option '-y'
While the order of S, y and u doesn't matter, there has to be an S with y and u.
The y sub-option of S refreshes the local package cache DB with remote repository. Then u sub-option is for sysupgrade which refers to the local package cache to make a list of all the installed packages that can be upgraded to a newer version.
With the work of these two sub options done, S (sync) will fetch the packages (newer versions) from the remote repository and install (update existing) them.
📋
Sometimes, I feel like it would have been better to use terms like install instead of sync and r for refresh instead of y. Easier to understand.
Why always run "pacman -Syu" even while installing a single package?
You'll notice that Arch package installation often mentions the pacman command in the following format:
sudo pacman -Syu package_name
And you may wonder what's the point of updating all the installed packages. Why not just do sudo pacman -Sy package_name which would be quicker as it will only install the package you want, not upgrade other packages that have newer versions available?
There is a pretty good reason for that. It helps avoid the dependency issues that could occur otherwise.
Imagine an old-fashioned paper catalog folks used to get in the mail a few decades back. If you get a catalog in the mail from a store, it had a listing of everything the store had for sale and the current prices. The Arch package database is like this catalog. The catalog you have with you is the package database cache on your system.
The packages are like the actual goods you buy through the catalog. You find the item number that you want in the catalog, place the order, and the correct item is delivered.
Imagine you just run pacman -Sy. This is equivalent to getting the latest catalog.
Now, let's say you have an iPhone 14 (an outdated package) and you order an iPhone charger from the new catalog. You'll have a problem when the new charger arrives because the iPhone now uses the type C port instead of the old lightning port. A conflict arises.
If you had run pacman -Syu, you would have ordered both the newer iPhone and the correct charger with it.
(Don't take it literally and start commenting that it will be a financially stupid decision to order a new phone instead of the older charger. This is just for example 😜)
Conclusion
I don't know whether you were ever curious about it or not, but I do hope you have a slightly better understanding of the logic behind the famous -Syu option of pacman command. The man page is always there to read the official explanation of each option and its usage.
How do you update Arch Linux? You run sudo pacman -Syu command.
How do you install a package on Arch Linux? You run sudo pacman -Syu package_name.
Which might make you wonder why do you need a system update while installing a new package? What does those S, y and u do? Let me explain these things to you.
What does pacman -Syu does?
In simpler words, pacman -Syu updates all the installed packages on your Arch-based Linux distribution if they have a newer version available. Here, -S stands for sync or install, y refreshes the local package database cache with the remote repository and u will make a list of all the install packages that can be updated by referring to the local package database cache and getting actual packages from the remote repository.
Understanding pacman -Syu command
I hope you are familiar with the concept of package manager. If not, please refer to this explainer article:
Pacman package manager works pretty much the same. There is a remote repository that has the actual packages, a local package database that usually keeps the information about the packages by interacting with the remote repository. pacman is the command line interface that utilizes this structure to manage packages on your Arch Linux.
-S (capital letter S) is the main option and y and u are 'sub-options' supporting it.
S stands for sync but you can think of it as 'install'. It syncs your Arch Linux system with the remote repository for the given package. Meaning, both repository and local Arch system will be synced (at that time) for the given package. Which is another way of saying that the package is installed on the system.
You cannot just run pacman -S and expect it to sync (install) all the packages from the repositories on the local system. That would be disastrous if your system installs all 40,000+ packages of the remote repositories.
This is why you need to provide a target (package names) with only -S option. Otherwise, you'll see this error.
sudo pacman -S
error: no targets specified (use -h for help)
If you specify a package or group name, it will 'install' the package on your system.
There are additional options with Sync. You'll probably be using a lot of sudo pacman -Syu.
Those y and u are 'sub options' of -S. You cannot use them on their own like pacman -yu:
sudo pacman -yu
error: invalid option '-y'
While the order of S, y and u doesn't matter, there has to be an S with y and u.
The y sub-option of S refreshes the local package cache DB with remote repository. Then u sub-option is for sysupgrade which refers to the local package cache to make a list of all the installed packages that can be upgraded to a newer version.
With the work of these two sub options done, S (sync) will fetch the packages (newer versions) from the remote repository and install (update existing) them.
📋
Sometimes, I feel like it would have been better to use terms like install instead of sync and r for refresh instead of y. Easier to understand.
Why some tutorials mention "pacman -Syu" even while installing a single package?
You'll notice that many tutorials on the web often mention the pacman command for package installation in the following format:
sudo pacman -Syu package_name
And you may wonder what's the point of updating all the installed packages.
Sure, you can use sudo pacman -S package_name for installing packages, and it will run fine if you keep your Arch system updated frequently.
But if you haven't run the system updates for a while, installation may throw 404 missing file error. You need to update the local package database.
Now, you may think, why not just do sudo pacman -Sy package_name which would be quicker as it will refresh package database and install only the package you want, not upgrade other packages that have newer versions available?
There is a pretty good reason for that. It helps avoid the dependency issues that could occur otherwise.
Imagine an old-fashioned paper catalog folks used to get in the mail a few decades back. If you get a catalog in the mail from a store, it had a listing of everything the store had for sale and the current prices. The Arch package database is like this catalog. The catalog you have with you is the package database cache on your system.
The packages are like the actual goods you buy through the catalog. You find the item number that you want in the catalog, place the order, and the correct item is delivered.
Imagine you just run pacman -Sy. This is equivalent to getting the latest catalog.
Now, let's say you have an iPhone 14 (an outdated package) and you order an iPhone charger from the new catalog. You'll have a problem when the new charger arrives because the iPhone now uses the type C port instead of the old lightning port. A conflict arises.
If you had run pacman -Syu, you would have ordered both the newer iPhone and the correct charger with it.
(Don't take it literally and start commenting that it will be a financially stupid decision to order a new phone instead of the older charger. This is just for example 😜)
Conclusion
I don't know whether you were ever curious about it or not, but I do hope you have a slightly better understanding of the logic behind the famous -Syu option of pacman command. The man page is always there to read the official explanation of each option and its usage.
We have 140,000 people on our Twitter profile but that's because Twitter/X is a bigger platform. I am pleasantly surprised to see so many people on an alternative, decentralized platform like Mastodon.
A new GIMP release arriving after a decade of development.
And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!
This edition of FOSS Weekly is supported by ANY.RUN.
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In GNOME, you can add custom directories to GNOME Search. First open Settings and go to Search → Search Locations. Here, click on Add Locations and choose a location.
Now, add the locations you want to see as results in the overview. After that, whenever you search, these locations will appear in the results page if there's a match. In this quick demo, I just showed you how to do it, on your computer, avoid adding locations like /etc, /usr, etc.
🤣 Meme of the Week
The list is virtually non-existent at this point. 🙂
🗓️ Tech Trivia
On March 17, 1988, Apple sued Microsoft, claiming that Windows 2.0 copied the Macintosh GUI. Initially, a judge ruled that Microsoft had limited rights based on an earlier licensing agreement. The case went through appeals and eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to review it in 1995.
This decision effectively ended the legal battle, allowing Microsoft to continue using the Windows GUI.
Imagine you found a cool text editor like Pulsar and downloaded it in the AppImage format. You enjoy using it and now want to make it the default application for markdown files.
You right-click on the file and click 'open with' option, but here, you don't see the Pulsar listed here.
That's a problem, right? But it can be easily fixed by creating a desktop entry for that AppImage application.
Let me show you how to do that.
Step 1: Create a desktop entry for AppImage
The very first step is to create a desktop file for the AppImage application. Here, we will use the Gear Lever app to create the desktop entry.
Anyway, if you have Flatpak support enabled, install Gear Lever with this command:
flatpak install flathub it.mijorus.gearlever
Now, right-click on the AppImage file you downloaded and select Open With Gear Lever.
Open AppImage in Gear Lever
Click on the Unlock button in Gear Lever.
Click on Unlock
Now click on the "Move to app menu" button.
Click on the "Move to the app menu" button
Verify everything is ok by searching for the app in the system menu.
Verify the app integration
Great! So we have the application integrated in the desktop. Let's move to the second step.
Step 2: Setting default app through file manager
Let's say you want to open all your .txt text files in the Pulsar editor.
The easiest way to achieve is through the File Manager.
Open the file manager and right-click on the file of your choice. Now select the Open With option.
Select the "Open With" option
In the next window, you can start typing the name of the application to begin a search. It will also show you the AppImage program you integrated with the desktop previously.
Search for an App
Once you spot the app, click on it to select and then enable the "Always use for this file type" toggle button. Then click Open as shown in the screenshot below.
Set a default app
That's it. From now on, your file will be opened in the AppImage of your choice. To verify this, you can right-click on the file. The first entry on the context menu will be the name of your AppImage application. In this case, Pulsar.
First item in the context menu
Alternative method: Change apps from settings
Let's say you have an AppImage for applications like Web Browser, Music Player, etc. These can be changed from the system settings.
Given you have created the AppImage desktop entry following the first step, open the system settings in Ubuntu.
Go to Apps → Default Apps.
Here, set the apps for categories you want.
Set Default Browser
If you click on the drop-down menu corresponding to a category in settings, you can select an app. The AppImage app will also be listed here. In the screenshot above, you can see Vivaldi AppImage is set as the default browser.
For Linux Mint users, you can set it using the Preferred Application settings.
Preferred application in Linux Mint
Conclusion
A lot of AppImage 'issue' or should I say shortcomings, can be solved by desktop integration. It surprises me that AppImage doesn't provide an official way of doing these things.
Well, we have the wonderful open source developers that help us by creating helpful utilities like Gear Lever here.
I hope this quick little tip helps you enjoy your AppImages 😄
In this guide, I'll walk you through some essential Ollama commands, explaining what they do and share some tricks at the end to enhance your experience.
💡
If you're new to Ollama or just getting started, we've already covered a detailed Ollama installation guide for Linux to help you set it up effortlessly.
Checking available commands
Before we dive into specific commands, let's start with the basics. To see all available Ollama commands, run:
ollama --help
This will list all the possible commands along with a brief description of what they do. If you want details about a specific command, you can use:
ollama <command> --help
For example, ollama run --help will show all available options for running models.
Here's a glimpse of essential Ollama commands, which we’ve covered in more detail further in the article.
Command
Description
ollama create
Creates a custom model from a Modelfile, allowing you to fine-tune or modify existing models.
ollama run <model>
Runs a specified model to process input text, generate responses, or perform various AI tasks.
ollama pull <model>
Downloads a model from Ollama’s library to use it locally.
ollama list
Displays all installed models on your system.
ollama rm <model>
Removes a specific model from your system to free up space.
ollama serve
Runs an Ollama model as a local API endpoint, useful for integrating with other applications.
ollama ps
Shows currently running Ollama processes, useful for debugging and monitoring active sessions.
ollama stop <model>
Stops a running Ollama process using its process ID or name.
ollama show <model>
Displays metadata and details about a specific model, including its parameters.
ollama run <model> "with input"
Executes a model with specific text input, such as generating content or extracting information.
ollama run <model> < "with file input"
Processes a file (text, code, or image) using an AI model to extract insights or perform analysis.
1. Downloading an LLM
If you want to manually download a model from the Ollama library without running it immediately, use:
ollama pull <model_name>
For instance, to download Llama 3.2 (300M parameters):
ollama pull phi:2.7b
This will store the model locally, making it available for offline use.
📋
There are no ways of fetching available model names from Hugging Face. You have to visit Ollama website and get the available model names to use with the pull command.
2. Running an LLM
To begin chatting with a model, use:
ollama run <model_name>
For example, to run a small model like Phi2:
ollama run phi:2.7b
If you don’t have the model downloaded, Ollama will fetch it automatically. Once it's running, you can start chatting with it directly in the terminal.
Some useful tricks while interacting with a running model:
Type /set parameter num_ctx 8192 to adjust the context window.
Use /show info to display model details.
Exit by typing /bye.
3. Listing installed LLMs
If you’ve downloaded multiple models, you might want to see which ones are available locally. You can do this with:
ollama list
This will output something like:
This command is great for checking which models are installed before running them.
4. Checking running LLMs
If you're running multiple models and want to see which ones are active, use:
ollama ps
You'll see an output like:
To stop a running model, you can simply exit its session or restart the Ollama server.
5. Starting the ollama server
The ollama serve command starts a local server to manage and run LLMs.
This is necessary if you want to interact with models through an API instead of just using the command line.
ollama serve
By default, the server runs on http://localhost:11434/, and if you visit this address in your browser, you'll see "Ollama is running."
You can configure the server with environment variables, such as:
OLLAMA_DEBUG=1 → Enables debug mode for troubleshooting.
OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434 → Binds the server to a different address/port.
6. Updating existing LLMs
There is no ollama command for updating existing LLMs. You can run the pull command periodically to update an installed model:
ollama pull <model_name>
If you want to update all the models, you can combine the commands in this way:
Here's how the command works (if you don't want to ask your local AI).
Ollama lists all the models and you take the ouput starting at line 2 as line 1 doesn't have model names. And then AWK command gives the first column that has the model name. Now this is passed to xargs command that puts the model name in {} placeholder and thus ollama pull {} runs as ollama pull model_name for each installed model.
7. Custom model configuration
One of the coolest features of Ollama is the ability to create custom model configurations.
For example, let’s say you want to tweak smollm2 to have a longer context window.
First, create a file named Modelfile in your working directory with the following content:
FROM llama3.2:3b
PARAMETER temperature 0.5
PARAMETER top_p 0.9
SYSTEM You are a senior web developer specializing in JavaScript, front-end frameworks (React, Vue), and back-end technologies (Node.js, Express). Provide well-structured, optimized code with clear explanations and best practices.
Now, use Ollama to create a new model from the Modelfile:
ollama create js-web-dev -f Modelfile
Once the model is created, you can run it interactively:
ollama run js-web-dev "Write a well-optimized JavaScript function to fetch data from an API and handle errors properly."
If you want to tweak the model further:
Adjust temperature for more randomness (0.7) or strict accuracy (0.3).
Modify top_p to control diversity (0.8 for stricter responses).
Add more specific system instructions, like "Focus on React performance optimization."
Some other tricks to enhance your experience
Ollama isn't just a tool for running language models locally, it can be a powerful AI assistant inside a terminal for a variety of tasks.
Like, I personally use Ollama to extract info from a document, analyze images and even help with coding without leaving the terminal.
💡
Running Ollama for image processing, document analysis, or code generation without a GPU can be excruciatingly slow.
Summarizing documents
Ollama can quickly extract key points from long documents, research papers, and reports, saving you from hours of manual reading.
That said, I personally don’t use it much for PDFs. The results can be janky, especially if the document has complex formatting or scanned text.
If you’re dealing with structured text files, though, it works fairly well.
ollama run phi "Summarize this document in 100 words." < french_revolution.txt
Image analysis
Though Ollama primarily works with text, some vision models (like llava or even deepseek-r1) are beginning to support multimodal processing, meaning they can analyze and describe images.
This is particularly useful in fields like computer vision, accessibility, and content moderation.
ollama run llava:7b "Describe the content of this image." < cat.jpg
Code generation and assistance
Debugging a complex codebase? Need to understand a piece of unfamiliar code?
Instead of spending hours deciphering it, let Ollama have a look at it. 😉
ollama run phi "Explain this algorithm step-by-step." < algorithm.py
Additional resources
If you want to dive deeper into Ollama or are looking to integrate it into your own projects, I highly recommend checking out freeCodeCamp’s YouTube video on the topic.
It provides a clear, hands-on introduction to working with Ollama and its API.
Conclusion
Ollama makes it possible to harness AI on your own hardware. While it may seem overwhelming at first, once you get the hang of the basic commands and parameters, it becomes an incredibly useful addition to any developer's toolkit.
That said, I might not have covered every single command or trick in this guide, I’m still learning myself!
If you have any tips, lesser-known commands, or cool use cases up your sleeve, feel free to share them in the comments.
I feel that this should be enough to get you started with Ollama, it’s not rocket science. My advice? Just fiddle around with it.
Try different commands, tweak the parameters, and experiment with its capabilities. That’s how I learned, and honestly, that’s the best way to get comfortable with any new tool.
Keeping your laptop always plugged-in speeds up the deterioration of its battery life. But if you are using a docking station, you don't have the option to unplug the power cord.
And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!
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Searching for files in Linux is synonymous to commands like find, xargs and grep. But not all of us Linux users are command line champs, right? Thankfully, even the file explorers like Nautilus have good search features.
On Brave, you can search the history/bookmarks/tabs etc. from the address bar. Simply type @ in the address bar and start searching.
🤣 Meme of the Week
Are you even a real Linux user if you aren't excited when you see a Penguin? 🐧🤔
🗓️ Tech Trivia
TRADIC, developed by Bell Labs in 1954, was one of the first transistorized computers. It used nearly 800 transistors, significantly reducing power consumption.
TRADIC operated on less than 100 watts, a fraction of what vacuum tube computers needed at that time. Initially, a prototype, it evolved into an airborne version for the U.S. Air Force. This innovation paved the way for future low-power computing systems.
In case you didn't know it already, regularly charging the battery to 100% or fully discharging it puts your battery at stress and may lead to poor battery life in long run.
I am not making claims on my own. This is what the experts and even the computer manufactures tell you.
As you can see in the official Lenovo video above, continuous full charging and discharging accelerate the deterioration of battery health. They also tell you that the optimum battery charging range is 20-80%.
Although Lenovo also tells you that battery these days are made to last longer than your computer. Not sure what's their idea of an average computer lifespan, I would prefer to keep the battery life healthy for a longer period and thus extract a good performance from my laptop as long as it lives.
I mean, it's all about following the best practices, right?
Now, you could manually plug and unplug the power cord but it won't work if you are connected to a docking station or use a modern monitor to power your laptop.
What can you do in that case? Well, to control the battery charging on Linux, you have a few options:
KDE Plasma has this as an in-built feature. That's why KDE is ❤️
GNOME has extensions for this. Typical GNOME thing.
There are command line tools to limit battery charging levels. Typical Linux thing 😍
If you are using KDE Plasma desktop environment, all you have to do is to open the Settings app and go to Power Management. In the Advanced Power Settings, you'll see the battery levels settings.
I like that KDE informs the users about reduced battery life due to overcharging. It even sets the charging levels at 50-90% by default.
Of course, you can change the limit to something like 20-80. Although, I am not a fan of the lower 20% limit and I prefer 40-80% instead.
That's KDE for you. Always caring for its kusers.
💡
It is possible that the battery charging control feature may need to be enabled from the BIOS. Look for it under power management settings in BIOS.
Set battery charging limit in GNOME
Like most other things, GNOME users can achieve this by using a GNOME extension.
There is an extension called ThinkPad Battery Threshold for this purpose. Although it mentions ThinkPad everywhere, you don't need to own a Lenovo ThinkPad to use it.
From what I see, the command it runs should work for most, if not all, laptops from different manufacturers.
Once the extension is enabled, you can find it in the system tray. On the first run, it shows red exclamation mark because it is not enabled yet.
If you click on the Threshold settings, you will be presented with configuration options.
Once you have set the desired values, click on apply. Next, you'll have to click Enable thresholds. When you hit that, it will ask for your password.
At this screen, you can have a partial hint about the command it is going to run it.
📋
From what I experienced, while it does set an upper limit, it didn't set the lower limit for my Asus Zenbook. I'll check it on my Tuxedo laptop later. Meanwhile, if you try it on some other device, do share if it works for the lower charging limit as well.
Using command line to set battery charging thresholds
Here's the thing. For most laptops, there should be file(s) to control battery charging in /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/ directory but the file names are not standard. It could be charge_control_end_threshold or charge_stop_threshold or something similar.
Also, you may have more than one battery. For most laptops, it will be BAT0 that is the main battery but you need to make sure of that.
Install the upower CLI tool on your distribution and then use this command:
upower --enumerate
It will show all the power devices present on the system:
You can also use tlp for this purpose by editing the /etc/tlp.conf file.
Conclusion
See, if you were getting 10 hours of average battery life on a new laptop, it is normal to expect it to be around 7-8 hours after two years. But if you leave it at full charge all the time, it may come down to 6 hours instead of 7-8 hours. The numbers are for example purpose.
This 20-80% range is what the industry recommends these days. On my Samsung Galaxy smartphone, there is a "Battery protection" setting to stop charging the device after 80% of the charge.
If you are someone interested in self-hosting, home automation, or just want to tinker with your Raspberry Pi, you have various options to get started.
But, if you are new, and want something easy to get you up to speed, CasaOS is what you can try.
CasaOS isn't your ordinary operating system. It is more like a conductor, bringing all your favorite self-hosted applications together under one roof.
Built around the Docker ecosystem, it simplifies the process of managing various services, apps, and smart devices from a browser-based dashboard.
CasaOS interface running on ZimaBoard
Originally developed by the makers of ZimaBoard, CasaOS makes the deployment of tools like Jellyfi, Plex, Immich, PhotoPrism a matter of a few clicks.
Let us find out more and explore how CasaOS can help can transform our simple Raspberry Pi into a powerful personal cloud.
What is CasaOS?
Think of CasaOS (Casa being "home" in Spanish) as a home for your Raspberry Pi or similar device.
It sits on top of your existing operating system, like Ubuntu or Raspberry Pi OS, and transforms it into a self-hosting machine.
CasaOS simplifies the process of installing and managing applications you'd typically run through Docker containers by blending the user-friendliness of docker management platform like Portainer.
It acts as the interface between you and your applications, providing a sleek, user-friendly dashboard that allows you to control everything from one place.
You can deploy various applications, including media servers like Jellyfin or file-sharing platforms like Nextcloud, all through its web-based interface.
Installing CasaOS on Raspberry Pi
Installing CasaOS on a Raspberry Pi is as easy as running a single bash script. But first, let’s make sure your Raspberry Pi is ready:
💡
Feeling a bit hesitant about running scripts? CasaOS offers a live demo on their website (username: casaos, password: casaos) to familiarize yourself with the interface before taking the plunge.
Ensure your Pi’s operating system is up-to-date by running the following commands:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
If you do not have curl installed already, install it by running:
sudo apt install curl -y
Now, grab the installation script from the official website and run it:
curl -fsSL https://get.casaos.io | sudo bash
Access the CasaOS web interface
After the installation completes, you will receive the IP address in the terminal to access CasaOS from your web browser.
Simply type this address into your browser or if you are unsure type hostname -I on the Raspberry Pi to get your IP, and you will be greeted by the CasaOS welcome screen.
The initial setup process will guide you through creating an account and getting started with your personal cloud.
Getting Started
Once inside, CasaOS welcomes you with a clean, modern interface. You’ll see system stats like CPU usage, memory, and disk space upfront in widget-style panels.
There’s also a search bar for easy navigation, and at the heart of the dashboard lies the app drawer—your gateway to all installed and available applications.
CasaOS comes pre-installed with two main apps: Files and the App Store. While the Files app gives you easy access to local storage on your Raspberry Pi, the App Store is where the magic really happens.
From here, you can install various applications with just a few clicks.
Exploring the magical app store
The App Store is one of the main attractions of CasaOS. It offers a curated selection of applications that can be deployed directly on your Pi with minimal effort.
Here’s how you can install an app:
Go to the app store From the dashboard, click on the App Store icon.
Browse or search for an app Scroll through the list of available apps or use the search bar to find what you’re looking for.
Click install Once you find the app you want, simply click on the installation button, and CasaOS will handle the rest.
The app will appear in your app drawer once the installation is complete.
It is that simple.
💡
Container-level settings for the apps can be accessed by right clicking the app icon in the dashboard. It lets you map (docker volume) directories on the disk with the app. For example, if you are using Jellyfin, you should map your media folder in the Jellyfin (container) setting. You should see it in the later sections of this tutorial.
Access
Once you have installed applications in CasaOS, accessing them is straightforward, thanks to its intuitive design.
All you have to do is click on the Jellyfin icon, and it will automatically open up in a new browser window.
Each application you install behaves in a similar way, CasaOS takes care of the back-end configurations to make sure the apps are easily accessible through your browser.
No need to manually input IP addresses or ports, as CasaOS handles that for you.
For applications like Jellyfin or any self-hosted service, you will likely need to log in with default credentials (which you can and should change after the first use).
In the case of Jellyfin, the default login credentials were:
Username:admin
Password:admin
Of course, CasaOS allows you to customize these credentials when setting up the app initially, and it's always a good idea to use something more secure.
My experience with CasaOS
For this article, I installed a few applications on CasaOS tailored to my homelab needs:
A custom Docker stack for hosting a WordPress site.
I spent a full week testing these services in my daily routine and jotted down some key takeaways, both good and bad.
While CasaOS offers a smooth experience overall, there are some quirks that require you to have Docker knowledge to work with them.
💡
I faced a few issues that were caused by mounting external drives and binding them to the CasaOS apps. I solved them by automounting an external disk.
Jellyfin media server: Extra drive mount issue
When I first set up Jellyfin on day one, it worked well right out of the box. However, things got tricky once I added an extra drive for my media library.
I spent a good chunk of time managing permissions and binding volumes, which was definitely not beginner-friendly.
For someone new to Docker or CasaOS, the concept of binding volumes can be perplexing. You don’t just plug in the drive and expect it to work, it requires configuring how your media files will link to the Jellyfin container.
You need to edit the fstab file if you want it to mount at the exact same location every time
Even after jumping through those hoops, it wasn’t smooth sailing. One evening, I accidentally turned off the Raspberry Pi.
When it booted back up, the additional drive wasn’t mounted automatically, and I had to go through the whole setup process again ☹️
So while Jellyfin works, managing external drives in CasaOS feels like it could be a headache for new users.
It was a bit of a mixed bag. For the most part, it worked fine, but there were brief periods where the connection was not working even if said that it was connected.
The connection would just drop unexpectedly, and I’d have to fiddle around with it to get things running again.
After doing some digging, I found out that the CLI tool for Cloudflare Tunnels had recently been updated, so that might’ve been the root of the issue.
Hopefully, it was a temporary glitch, but it is something to keep in mind if you rely on stable connections.
Transmission torrent Client: Jellyfin's Story Repeats
💡
The default username & password is casaos. The tooltip for some applications contain such information. You can also edit them and add notes for the application.
Transmission was solid for saving files locally, but as soon as I tried adding the extra drive to save files on my media library, I hit the same wall as with Jellyfin.
The permissions errors cropped up, and again, the auto-mount issue reared its head.
So, I would say it is fine for local use if you’re sticking to one drive, but if you plan to expand your storage, be ready for some trial and error.
Nextcloud: Good enough but not perfect
Setting up a basic Nextcloud instance in CasaOS was surprisingly easy. It was a matter of clicking the install button, and within a few moments, I had my personal cloud up and running.
However, if you’re like me and care about how your data is organized and stored, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.
When you first access your Nextcloud instance, it defaults to using SQLite as the database, which is fine for simple, small-scale setups.
But if you’re serious about storing larger files or managing multiple users, you’ll quickly realize that SQLite isn’t the best option. Nextcloud itself warns you that it’s not ideal for handling larger loads, and I would highly recommend setting up a proper MySQL or MariaDB database instead.
Doing so will give you more stability and performance in the long run, especially as your data grows.
Beyond the database choice, I found that even after using the default setup, Nextcloud’s health checks flagged several issues.
For example, it complained about the lack of an HTTPS connection, which is crucial for secure file transfers.
If you want your Nextcloud instance to be properly configured and secure, you'll need to invest some time to set up things like:
Setting up secure SSL certificate
Optimizing your database
Handling other backend details that aren’t obvious to a new user.
So while Nextcloud is easy to get running initially, fine-tuning it for real-world use takes a bit of extra work, especially if you are focused on data integrity and security.
Custom WordPress stack: Good stuff!
Now, coming to the WordPress stack I manually added, this is where CasaOS pleasantly surprised me.
While I still prefer using Portainer to manage my custom Docker stacks, I have to admit that CasaOS has put in great effort to make the process intuitive.
It is clear they’ve thought about users who want to deploy their own stacks using Docker Compose files or Docker commands.
Adding the stack was simple, and the CasaOS interface made it relatively easy to navigate.
Final thoughts
After using CasaOS for several days, I can confidently say it’s a tool with immense potential. The ease of deploying apps like Jellyfin and Nextcloud makes it a breeze for users who want a no-hassle, self-hosted solution.
However, CasaOS is not perfect yet. The app store, while growing, feels limited, and those looking for a more customizable experience may find the lack of advanced Docker controls frustrating at first.
That said, CasaOS succeeds in making Docker and self-hosting more accessible to the masses.
For homelab enthusiasts like me, it is a great middle ground between the complexity of Docker CLI and the bloated nature of full-blown home automation systems.
Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned tinker, CasaOS is worth checking out, if you are not afraid to deal with a few bumps along the way.
Imagine a scenario, you downloaded a new binary called ls from the internet. The application could be malicious by intention. Binary files are difficult to trust and run over the system. It could lead to a system hijacking attack, sending your sensitive files and clipboard information to the malicious server or interfere with the existing process of your machine.
Won’t it be great if you’ve the tool to run and test the application within the defined security parameter. Like, we all know, ls command list the files in the current working directory. So, why would it require a network connection to operate? Does it make sense?
That’s where the tool, Pledge, comes in. Pledge restricts the system calls a program can make. Pledge is natively supported on OpenBSD systems. Although it isn’t officially supported on Linux systems, I’ll show you a cool hack to utilize pledge on your Linux systems.
🚧
As you can see, this is rather an advanced tool for sysadmins, network engineers and people in the network security field. Most desktop Linux users would not need something like this but that does not mean you cannot explore it out of curiosity.
Cosmopolitan makes it a bridge for compiling a c programs for 7 different platforms (Linux + Mac + Windows + FreeBSD + OpenBSD 7.3 + NetBSD + BIOS) at one go.
Utilizing Libc Cosmopolitan, she was able to port OpenBSD Pledge to the Linux system. Here's the nice blog done by her.
📋
A quick disclaimer: Just because you can compile a C program for 7 different platforms doesn’t mean you would be able to successfully run on all these platforms. You need to handle program dependencies as well. For instance, Iptables uses Linux sockets, so you can’t expect it to work magically on Windows systems unless you come up with a way to establish Linux socket networking to Windows.
Restrict system calls() with Pledge
You might be surprised to know one single binary can run on 7 different platforms - Windows, Linux, Mac, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD and BIOS.
You can rename the file pledge-1.8.com to pledge.com.
Step 2: Make it executable
Run this command to make it executable.
chmod +x ./pledge.com
Step 3: Add pledge.com to the path
A quick way to accomplish this is to move the binary in standard /usr/local/bin/ location.
sudo mv ./pledge.com /usr/local/bin
Step 4: Run and test
pledge.com curl http://itsfoss.com
I didn’t assign any permission (called promises) to it so it would fail as expected. But it gives us a hint on what system calls are required by the binary ‘curl’ when it is run.
With this information, you can see if a program is requesting a system call that it should not. For example, a file explorer program asking for dns. Is it normal?
Curl is a tool that deals with URLs and indeed requires those system calls.
Let's assign promises using the -p flag. I'll explain what each of these promises does in the next section.
The debug message error:pledge inet for socket is mis-leading. Even a similar open issue exists at the project's GitHub repo. It is evident that after providing these sets of promises "stdio rpath inet dns tty sendfd recvfd" to our curl binary, it works as expected.
It’s successfully redirecting to the https version of our website. Let’s try to see, if with the same set of promises, it can talk to https enabled websites or not.
OpenBSD’s pledge follows the Least Privilege model. It prevents programs from mis-utilizing system resources. Following this security model, the damage done by a malicious application can be quite limited. Although Linux has seccomp and apparmor in its security arsenal, I find pledge more intuitive and easy to use.
With Actually Portable Executable (APE), Linux users can now enjoy the simplicity of pledge to make their systems more secure. Users can provide more granular control over what processes can do within these environments would add an extra layer of defense.
Author Info
Bhuwan Mishra is a Fullstack developer, with Python and Go as his tools of choice. He takes pride in building and securing web applications, APIs, and CI/CD pipelines, as well as tuning servers for optimal performance. He also has passion for working with Kubernetes.
Once a hallmark of the old internet, Skype was already dying a slow death. It just could not keep up with the competition from WhatsApp, Zoom etc despite Microsoft's backing.
I am not going to miss it, as I haven't used Skype in years. Let's keep it in the museum of Internet history.
Speaking of the old internet, Digg is making a comeback. 20 years back, it was the 'front page of the internet'.
💬 Let's see what else you get in this edition
VLC aiming for the Moon.
EA open sourcing its games.
GNOME 48 features to expect.
And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!
This edition of FOSS Weekly is supported by ONLYOFFICE.
✨ ONLYOFFICE PDF Editor: Create, Edit and Collaborate on PDFs on Linux
The ONLYOFFICE suite now offers an updated PDF editor that comes equipped with collaborative PDF editing and other useful features.
You can deploy ONLYOFFICE Docs on your Linux server and integrate it with your favourite platform, such as Nextcloud, Moodle and more. Alternatively, you can download the free desktop app for your Linux distro.
You can play Lofi music in VLC Media Player. First, switch to the Playlist view in VLC by going into View → Playlist.
Now, in the sidebar, scroll down and select Icecast Radio Directory. Here, search for Lofi in the search bar.
Now, double-click on any Lo-fi channel to start playing. On the other hand, if you want to listen to music via the web browser, you can use freeCodeCamp.org Code Radio.
🤣 Meme of the Week
You didn't have to join the dark side, Firefox. 🫤
🗓️ Tech Trivia
In 1953, MIT's Whirlwind computer showcased an early form of system management software called "Director," developed by Douglas Ross. Demonstrated at a digital fire control symposium, Director automated resource allocation (like memory, storage, and printing), making it one of the earliest examples of an operating system-like program.
When it comes to screen recording in Linux or any other operating system, OBS Studio becomes he go-to choice.
It offers all the features baked in for users, ranging from casual screen recorders to advanced streamers.
One such useful feature is to record a part of the screen in OBS Studio. I'll share the detailed steps for Linux users in this tutorial.
🚧
The method mentioned is based on a Wayland session. Also, this is a personal workflow, and if readers have better options, feel free to comment, so that I can improve the article for everyone.
Record an application window in OBS Studio
Before starting, first click on File → Settings from OBS Studio main menu. Here, in the Settings window, go to the Video section and note the Canvas resolution and Output scale resolution for your system.
Note Canvas and Output Scale values
This will be helpful when you are reverting in a later step.
Step 1: Create a new source
First, let's create a new source for our recording. Click on the “+” icon on the OBS Studio home screen as shown in the screenshot below. Select “Screen Capture (Pipewire)” option.
📋
For X11 system, this may be Display Capture (XSHM).
Click on "+" to add a new source
On the resulting window, give a name to the source and then click OK.
Give a name to the source
Once you press OK, you will be shown a dialog box to select the record area.
Step 2: Select the window to record
Here, select the Window option from the top bar.
Select the window to be recorded.
Once you click on the Window option, you will be able to see all the open windows listed. Select a window that you want to record from the list, as shown in the screenshot above.
This will give you a dialog box, with a preview of the window being recorded.
Enable the cursor recording (if needed) and click OK.
Selected window in preview
Step 3: Crop the video to window size
Now, in the main OBS window, you can see that the application you have selected is not filling the full canvas, in my case 1920×1080.
Empty space in canvas
The output will contain this window and the rest of the canvas in black if you keep recording with this setting.
You need to crop the area so that only the necessary part is present on the output file.
For this, right-click on our source and select Resize Output (Source Size) option, as shown below:
Resize output source size
Click on Yes, when prompted.
Accept Confirmation
As soon as you click Yes, you can see that the canvas is now reduced to the size of the window.
Canvas Resized
Step 4: Record the video
You can now start recording the video using the Record button.
Start video recording
Once finished, stop recording, and the saved video file won't contain any other part, except the window.
Step 5: Delete the video source
Now that you have recorded the video, let's remove this particular source.
Right-click on the source and select Remove.
Remove the source
Step 6: Revert the canvas and output scale
While we were resizing the canvas to the window, the setting has been also changed on your OBS Studio video settings. If left unchanged, your future videos will also be recorded with the reduced size.
So, click on File in the OBS Studio main menu and select Settings.
Click on File → Settings
On the Settings window, go to Videos and revert the Base Canvas Resolution and Output Scaled Resolution to your preferred normal values. Then click Apply.
Revert Canvas Size to normal
Record an area on the screen in OBS Studio
This is the same process as the one described above, except for the area selection.
Step 1: Create a new source
Click on the plus button on the Sources section in OBS Studio and select Screen Capture.
Select Screen Capture
Name the source and click OK.
Step 2: Select a region
On the area selection dialog box, click on Region. From the section, select Select Region option.
Select Region
Notice the cursor has now changed to a plus sign. Drag the area you want to record.
Select Area to Record
You can see that the preview now has the selected area. Don't forget to enable the cursors, if needed.
It is normal that the canvas is way too big and your video occupies only a part of it.
Canvas Size Mismatch
Step 3: Resize the source
Like in the previous section, right-click on the source and select Resize output option.
Resize Output to Area Capture
Step 4: Record and revert the settings
Start recording the video. Once it is completed, save the recording and remove the source. Revert the canvas and output scale settings, as shown in step 6 of the previous section.
💬 Hope this guide has helped you record with OBS Studio. Please let me know if this tutorial helped you or if you need further help.
From Kiosk projects to homelab dashboards, there are numerous usage of a touch screen display with Raspberry Pi.
And it makes total sense to use the on-screen keyboard on the touch device rather than plugging in a keyboard and mouse.
Thankfully, the latest versions of Raspberry Pi OS provide a simple way to install and use the on-screen keyboard.
On-screen keyboard on Raspberry Pi
Let me show how you can install the on-screen keyboard support on Raspberry Pi OS.
📋
I am using the DIY Touchscreen by SunFounder (partner link). It's an interesting display that is also compatible with other SBCs. I'll be doing its full review next week. The steps should also work on other touch screens, too.
Just check if you already have the on-screen keyboard support
Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm and later versions include the Squeekboard software for the on-screen keyboard feature.
Now, this package may already be installed by default. If you open a terminal and touch the interface and it brings the keyboard, you have everything set already.
It is also possible that it is installed but not enabled.
Go to the menu, then Preferences and open Raspberry Pi config tool. In the display tab, see if you can change the settings for the on-screen keyboard.
On-screen keyboard support already installed on Raspberry Pi
If you tap the on-screen keyboard settings and it says, "A virtual keyboard is not installed", you will have to install the software first. The next section details the steps.
Virtual Keyboard is not installed
Getting on-screen keyboard in Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm
🚧
You'll need a physical keyboard and mouse for installing the required package If you cannot connect one, you could try to SSH into the Pi.
Update the package cache of your Raspberry Pi first:
sudo apt update
The squeekboard package provides the virtual keyboard in Debian. Install it using the command below:
sudo apt install squeekboard
Once installed, click on the menu and start Raspberry Pi Configuration from the Preferences.
Access Raspberry Pi Configuration
In the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool, go to the Display tab and touch it.
You'll see three options:
Enabled always: The on-screen keyboard will be always accessible through the top panel, whether you are using touchscreen or not.
Enabled if touchscreen found: The on-screen keyboard is only accessible when it detects a touchscreen.
Disabled: Virtual keyboard won't be accessible at all.
Out of these three, you'll be tempted to go for the 'Enabled if touchscreen found'.
However, it didn't work for me. I opted for Enabled always instead.
But not all applications will automatically bring up the on-screen keyboard. In my case, Chromium didn't play well. Thankfully, the on-screen keyboard icon at top panel lets you access it at will.
Virtual keyboard comes up for supported application but it is also accessible from top panel
And this way, you can enjoy the keyboard on a touchscreen.
Conclusion
For older versions of Raspberry Pi OS, you could also go with the matchbox-keyboard package.
sudo apt install matchbox-keyboard
Since Squeekboard is for Wayland, perhaps Matchbox will work on Xorg display server.
Installing it was matter of one command and then the virtual keyboard was up and running. This is tested on Raspberry Pi OS but since Squeekboard is available for Wayland in general, it might work on other operating systems, too.
💬 Did it work for you? If yes, a simple 'thank you' will encourage me. If not, please provide the details and I'll try to help you.
While it may be appealing to switch to Teams, it is still Microsoft, the not-so-privacy friendly company☠️
So, why not give open source Skype alternatives a chance instead?
You can stop sending your data to companies, and privately communicate with your friends and colleagues.
Join me as I take you through some solid choices for secure and reliable video communication.
📋
The list is in no particular order of ranking.
1. Jami
Jami is a popular decentralised secure communication platform that offers messaging, voice calls, and video calls.
Unlike Skype, Jami operates on a peer-to-peer architecture, which results in enhanced privacy and reliability for the people who use it.
There are no restrictions on the number of messages, file size to upload, and calls. You can do it all, as long as you want, without sharing any personal information with the app.
As an open source VoIP (Voice over IP) application, Linphone enables high-quality audio and video calls using the SIP protocol. It is an ideal choice for both enterprises and organisations who prefer a secure, reliable way of communicating.
You can choose between white label, open source, and proprietary license giving you flexibility on what you want.
Key Highlights
Supports VoIP calls
Multi-platform support
Leverages SIP protocol
White label, open source, and proprietary license options
Get Linphone
The official website hosts the packages for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. I had to sign up for a Linphone account to test things out, but there is also the option to connect to a third-party SIP account.
If you are someone who likes a communication solution that works in your web browser and mobile phones, then Jitsi Meet Online can be a good choice for you. It is a free, open source videoconferencing service from Jitsi that facilitates secure, encrypted meetings, with many useful features like chat, screen sharing, and recording.
For communicating with others, you can either self-host Jitsi or directly start a meet on Jitsi Meet Online. Keep in mind that you have to create an account if you want a moderated video meet, and have the meeting URL booked in advance.
Similar tp Jitsi Meet, we have MiroTalk, a browser-based videoconferencing tool that uses WebRTC for real-time communication. Anyone who uses MiroTalk can expect to take advantage of an interactive whiteboard, seamless file sharing, and low-latency audio/video calls.
Key Highlights
Can be self-hosted
No installation required
Low-latency connections
Get MiroTalk
Being a no-nonsense service, using MiroTalk is as simple as visiting the official website and joining a room. You just have to enter a display name and click on "Join meeting".
There's ChatGPT integration as well, though I would want to stay away from that.
Element is one of the best Matrix clients, enabling decentralized and secure communication over text, voice, and video. It can be a great Skype alternative if you find the other options on this list to be too complicated.
Users can either self-host or sign up with Element’s free hosted service for their account. These approaches ensure flexibility and control over one's data.
Element offers end-to-end encryption, allowing users to have private conversations without a third party snooping in. It also supports file sharing, group chats, and integration with other services.
Key Highlights
Easy file transfers
Self-hostable
Powered by Matrix protocol
Supports voice and video calls
Get Element
You can get Element for both desktop and mobile, with apps being made available for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. There is also Element web if you don't prefer installing apps.
While Wire has a strong focus on team communication, it can still be used for personal use to connect with other people over text, voice, or video. The platform provides end-to-end encryption by default, while offering a user-friendly experience for everyone who tries it.
If you are an organisation looking for a secure alternative to Skype, this can be a great option to explore.
Key Highlights
End-to-end encryption
Supports multi-device sync
Real-time team collaboration
Get Wire
Before you proceed, please ensure that you have a Personal account configured if you are an individual user. I say that because, during my testing, I mistakenly went for a team account during the onboarding. Applications can be downloaded for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS from the official website. There is also a web version for those who prefer webapps.
Nextcloud is a versatile open-source remote working tool, and Nextcloud Talk provides excellent video conferencing and communication capabilities. If you have a Nextcloud server, the Talk portal offers features like screen sharing and messaging, fulfilling your video conferencing needs.
However, the only catch here is, setting up a Nextcloud instance requires some technical expertise.
Key Highlights
Screen sharing
Messaging
Integrated into the Nextcloud ecosystem
Self-hostable
Get Nextcloud Talk
To utilize Nextcloud Talk, you need a Nextcloud server. Once your server is live, Nextcloud Talk can be used for video conferencing and communication.
It is easy to replace Microsoft's Skype in 2025, with all the open source solutions out there.
Furthermore, the open source options offer way better control, customizations, and privacy-friendly features to give you a better user experience
💬 If you feel that I missed any good alternatives, please let me know in the comments. What will you be choosing to replace Microsoft's Skype? Let me know!
Kodi, by itself, is a robust and versatile media player, but it’s like a cake without frosting. The base is great, but what makes it truly delightful are the add-ons that enhance its functionality. Think of these add-ons as extensions that open up endless possibilities, from streaming movies and shows to accessing live sports, cartoons, music, and even cloud storage services.
The best part? All the add-ons listed here work seamlessly with the latest release of Kodi with version 21 Omega.
Whether you’re a movie buff, sports fanatic, anime lover, or someone who likes to keep their media library organized, there’s an add-on here for you. Let’s explore the best Kodi add-ons across various categories to supercharge your experience!
🚧Disclaimer: This guide is purely for educational purposes. While Kodi is a fantastic tool for media consumption, some add-ons may access copyrighted or pirated content, which could lead to legal consequences. Always use Kodi responsibly and adhere to the laws in your region.
1. Asgard
Asgard is a standout Kodi add-on that has stood the test of time, remaining one of the top choices for streaming across a variety of content categories.
Whether you're in the mood for movies, TV shows, documentaries, or even sports, Asgard has you covered.
It offers both free streaming options and premium links through Real Debrid, ensuring smooth playback and a wide selection of content.
Key features
Compatible with Kodi 19 and 20.
Provides HD streaming with Real Debrid support.
Minimal buffering for a seamless viewing experience.
Covers a broad range of genres, from movies and TV shows to documentaries and kids' content.
Free streaming options are solid, though premium links offer better quality.
It is another multi-purpose add-on that offers an extensive library, covering everything from popular TV shows and movies to live sports events.
It’s highly recommended by Kodi users across forums for its reliability and frequent updates and it integrates seamlessly with Real Debrid for HD streaming, and its easy compatibility with Trakt makes it a favorite among Kodi users.
Plus, it works flawlessly across all devices, making it a go-to option for any Kodi setup.
Key features
Works on both old and new Kodi version (Omega).
Real Debrid integration ensures HD-quality streams.
Easily integrates with Trakt for syncing your watchlist and history.
Fully compatible with any device, from desktop to mobile.
Offers a wide selection of content, including movies, TV shows, sports, and more.
The Magic Dragon is part of the EzzerMacs Wizard repository and is known for its ease of use and comprehensive library, this add-on automatically scrapes the best available streaming links, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free viewing experience.
Whether you're a casual viewer or a seasoned Kodi user, The Magic Dragon is a go-to option for accessing a variety of content.
Key features
Compatible with Kodi version 19, 20 and 21.
Automatically scrapes and selects the best streaming links.
Offers a wide range of content, including TV channels, series, movies, and music.
Covers all video genres, from entertainment shows to music videos.
Seren is another favorite among Kodi users who want reliable and high-quality streams. It’s part of the Nixgates repository and is known for its consistent performance.
However, keep in mind that to fully enjoy Seren's offering, a paid Real Debrid account is necessary.
Once you’re set up with Real Debrid, Seren provides access to a vast library of HD links for movies, TV shows, and more.
The interface is clean and user-friendly, making it easy to browse and find content.
Key features
Requires a Real Debrid account for optimal functionality.
Streams HD quality content with minimal buffering.
Integrates effortlessly with Trakt to sync your watchlist and history.
Offers a wide range of content across both kids' and adult genres.
Fights on Demand is known for its comprehensive library of combat sports content including boxing, wrestling, and MMA events, making it a go-to for fans of live face-offs and replays.
It provides both free and Real Debrid streaming links from major combat sports streaming platforms, ensuring smooth and high-quality streams.
Key features
Streams live boxing, wrestling, and MMA events.
Access to replays, including the latest UFC/MMA matches.
Includes some Pay-Per-View (PPV) events.
Offers both free and Real Debrid streaming options.
If you're a fan of anime, cartoons, or kid-friendly movies, WatchNixtoons2 is a must-have Kodi add-on.
Hosted in the popular Crew repository, this add-on offers a fantastic collection of animated content for all ages.
The add-on is easy to navigate, with sections such as Dubbed Anime, Subbed Anime, Popular & Ongoing Series, Movies, and Cartoons.
One of its standout features is the ability to choose your preferred streaming resolution, allowing you to tailor the experience to your internet speed and device capabilities.
Key features
Extensive collection of anime, cartoons, and kid-friendly movies.
Organized sections for dubbed, subbed, and ongoing anime series.
Adjustable streaming resolution for optimal performance.
EZ Maintenance+ is a handy Kodi program add-on designed to help you maintain your Kodi installation and keep it running smoothly.
Whether you're dealing with errors, slow performance, or just want to tidy up your system, this add-on provides a range of useful tools.
With EZ Maintenance+, you can easily clear Kodi’s cache, back up or restore your Kodi setup, and even perform a complete wipe to reset the app to its default state.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned Kodi user, this add-on simplifies the maintenance process and helps you avoid common issues that can arise from long-term use.
The best part? that it's entirely free and safe to use.
If you're not familiar with Trakt, it's a free service that helps you track the movies and TV shows you watch, share your viewing activity on social media, and even discover where certain content is available for streaming.
While the add-on is free to use, you will need a Trakt account to take full advantage of its features.
By connecting your Trakt account to Kodi, this add-on automatically syncs your watch history, keeping everything up to date across both platforms.
It also offers the added benefit of cleaning up your Trakt collection to ensure it stays in sync with your Kodi library, making it a convenient tool for anyone who likes to stay organized and keep track of their viewing habits.
NordVPN is a top choice for Kodi users, offering over 5,300 servers in 59 countries to bypass geo-restrictions. Its SmartPlay technology combines Smart DNS and IP addresses to ensure fast, secure streaming.
With features like CyberSec to block malware and P2P servers for safe torrenting, NordVPN enhances your Kodi experience.
It’s affordable, with a two-year plan costing just over $4 per month, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN works on all major devices, allowing up to 10 simultaneous connections.
Using add-ons with Kodi can truly elevate your streaming setup. Add-ons like The Crew, Seren, and Magic Dragon offer a wealth of content, from HD movies and TV shows to live sports and anime, all tailored to fit your preferences. Real Debrid support, Trakt integration, and customizable streaming resolutions make these add-ons even more powerful, especially when paired with a VPN like NordVPN for security and geo-unblocking.
However, it's important to remember that many of these add-ons come from third-party repositories, meaning some links could lead to unlicensed content.
Always use caution, stay informed about local laws, and consider using a VPN for added privacy. Despite these risks, the benefits of having such a vast library of content at your fingertips make Kodi a fantastic platform for media consumption. If you're looking to take your Kodi experience even further, check out my list of best Kodi builds too.
And I know there is Logseq, its open source alternative. Between you and me, we have a tutorial series planned on Logseq, covering its features and tips on using it.
15 Linux and DevOps books for just $18 plus your purchase supports Code for America organization. Get them on Humble Bundle.
The first web browser was introduced by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web on 26th Feb 1991. It was named WorldWideWeb at first but renamed later to Nexus to avoid the confusion.
While the classics are focused on providing additional features like multiplexing windows, there is a new breed of terminals that offer GPU acceleration, AI and even flaunt that they are built on Rust 🦀
🚧
Modern solutions bring modern problems. Some of the options here are non-foss, some may even have telemetry enabled. I advise checking these things when you try any of the mentioned terminals here.
1. Wave Terminal
Wave terminal
Wave is an open-source cross-platform terminal emulator, that offers several unique features like graphical widgets. It feels like you are using an IDE like VS Code and that is in the good sense.
Oh! It comes baked in with AI as well.
Features of Wave Terminal
Integrated AI chat with support for multiple models
Built-in editor for seamlessly editing local and remote files.
Command Blocks for isolating and monitoring individual commands with auto-close options.
File preview, that supports Markdown, images, video, etc.
Custom themes, background images, etc.
Inline Web browser.
Overall, this terminal is the best fit for those who are looking for serious application development projects.
Since most of the features are easily accessible, a relatively newer terminal user can also enjoy all the benefits.
Install Wave Terminal
Ubuntu users can install Waveterm from the snap store.
sudo snap install --classic waveterm
The project also provides DEB, RPM and AppImage package formats.
Warp is a Rust-based terminal emulator, that offers built-in AI features and collaboration workflows.
The AI agent answers your query and can even run commands for you.
Like Wave, this too has an IDE-like feel, suitable for the new breed of developers and devops who dread the dark alleys of the command line.
The workflow feature is useful for both individuals and teams. If you have different project scenarios where you must run one command after another, you can create workflows. It improves your efficiency.
🚧
Warp is not open source software.
Features of Warp Terminal
Built-in AI features like command lookup, AI autofill, command suggestions, chat with Warp AI, etc.
IDE-like text editing, with mouse support.
Markdown viewer with embedded command execution support.
Collaboration workflow with Warp Drive.
Extensive customization possibilities.
Install Warp Terminal
Warp provides DEB files for Ubuntu and other Debian-based systems.
Rio is a hardware-accelerated GPU terminal emulator, written in Rust. It is intended to run as a native desktop application as well as a browser application.
Rio Terminal
Features of Rio Terminal
Hardware-accelerated, fast and written using Rust.
Multi-windows and Split panels
Image support: iTerm2 and Sixel image protocols.
Supports hyperlinks.
Vi Mode
Install Rio Terminal
Rio offers separate DEB files for both X11 and Wayland. SO choose according to your specific needs.
There are installation instruction available for other distributions like Arch Linux, NixOS, etc. You can find those in the official installation instructions.
5. Contour
Contour is a GPU-accelerated modern terminal emulator with high-DPI support. This cross-platform terminal emulator focuses on speed, efficiency, and productivity.
Contour Terminal
Features of Contour
GPU-Accelerated Terminal emulator with high-DPI support.
Font ligature support.
Complex Unicode support, including emojis.
Runtime configuration reload
Key binding customization
VT320 Host-programmable and Indicator status line support
Install Contour Terminal
Ubuntu and Debian-based distribution users can download the DEB file from official releases page. There is an AppImage package available as well.
If you are a Fedora user, you can install it directly from the official repository.
sudo dnf install contour-terminal
There is a detailed installation instructions for other platforms on the official documentation.
6. Alacritty
Alacritty is a modern terminal emulator, that offers heavy configuration capabilities. It is a GPU-accelerated terminal emulator, written on Rust.
Alacritty Terminal
Features of Alacritty
GPU accelerated terminal, written in Rust.
Hyperlink support.
Supports running multiple terminal emulators from the same Alacritty instance
Vi mode
Cross-platform support.
Install Alacritty
Alacritty is fairly popular among Linux users. It is available in the default repositories of most distributions. For latest Ubuntu releases, you can install it using the apt command:
sudo apt install alacritty
7. Hyper
Hyper is a terminal emulator, built on open web standards. Written in Typescript, this extensible terminal focuses on speed and stability.
If nothing else, it does look good. The screenshot below may not do justice.
Hyper Terminal
Features of Hyper
Functionality can be extended with plugins available on NPM.
Keymap customization
Cross-platform support
Customization capabilities using JavaScript configuration file.
Install Hyper Terminal
Hyper offers DEB and RPM files for Debian-based and Fedora-based systems, respectively.
Komandi is an AI-powered terminal command manager. Komandi is different from usual terminal emulators. This piece of software allows the user to create and store command snippets and run them on your preferred terminal emulator.
🚧
Komandi is not open source software. It requires you to purchase a license. I found it interesting and hence included it here.
Conclusion
I feel like I should have included Ghostty in this list of modern new terminal emulators. It's the talk of the terminal town, after all. However, I haven't tried it yet. I know, I am late to board the 'Ghost ship'.
For a long time, the only new feature was often multiple terminal windows on the same screen and it was hard to believe that the scenario can be changed. It is interesting to see new terminals coming up with innovative features in the last few years.
💬 Tell me. Are you sticking with the classic terminals, or have switched to one of these modern ones?
Kodi is a versatile media player that can be customized to fit your needs, and one of the best ways to personalize your experience is by installing a Kodi build.
These builds come pre-configured with skins, addons, and settings that make your Kodi experience even better.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps of installing a Kodi build, using the Diggz Xenon Build as an example. The same method is used for installing add-ons to Kodi.
Whether you're using Kodi on a Raspberry Pi, PC, or even an Android Box, these steps will work across all devices.
Step 1: Enable unknown sources
Before we can install third-party builds, we need to allow Kodi to install from unknown sources. Here's how:
Go to Kodi's Home Screen and click the Settings Cog (top-left corner).
Select System from the options.
Scroll down and choose Add-ons. On the right side, toggle the Unknown Sources option to On. A warning message will pop up; click Yes to confirm.
We’re enabling this because Kodi doesn’t allow third-party sources by default for security reasons, but since we trust the source, we’ll proceed.
Step 2: Add the repository source
Now, we’ll add the source for the Team Crew Repository. This is where the HomeFlix and many other amazing Kodi builds reside.
Go back to the Kodi home screen and open Settings again. Select File Manager.
Click on Add Source.
In the window that appears, click on <None>.
Enter the build URL, in our case: https://team-crew.github.io and click OK.
Name the source with any name you prefer), then click OK.
Step 3: Install the build repository
Now that the source is added, we’ll install the build repository.
Return to the Kodi Settings page and click Add-ons.
a
Choose Install from Zip File.
Select the source you just added.
Click on the zip file named repository.thevrew-X.zip (X will be the version number).
Wait for the notification that says The Crew Repository Add-on Installed.
Step 4: Install the build wizard
The next step is to install the build Wizard, which will allow us to install the specific build that we want.
From the Add-ons menu, click Install from Repository.
Open the Build Repository i.e Crew repo in my case.
Select Program Add-ons.
Click on build wizard i.e. The Crew Wizard
and then select Install.
A prompt will appear asking you to confirm the installation of dependent addons. Click OK.
Wait for the installation to complete. This may take a couple of minutes.
Step 5: Install the actual build
Now we’re ready to install the actual build itself. I like Homeflix because if its familiar interface with Netflix, thus I'll be installing that.
Return to the Kodi home screen and go to Add-ons.
Select Program Add-ons
and click on Chef Wizard
Click on Build Menu.
Find and select your preffered build, I'm selecting Homeflix.
Click Continue and wait for the build to download and install. This may take a few minutes, so be patient.
Once the installation is complete, click OK to force close Kodi.
Step 6: Restart Kodi and Enjoy!
After the installation, simply reopen Kodi, and you’ll be greeted with the HomeFlix Build. The interface will be customized with a sleek new look, and you’ll have access to a range of addons and features.
Conclusion
Personally, I love the Homeflix Build by Team-Crew because it gives me that Netflix-like experience, which I find really comfortable.
It’s clean, visually appealing, and comes with tons of addo-ns pre-installed, including some premium ones like Debrid.
If you’re using premium services, you might need to configure those, but the build itself is a great starting point for anyone looking to get a smooth Kodi experience.
There are plenty of builds out there, each catering to different preferences. Whether you’re into movies, TV shows, live sports, or even gaming, there’s likely a Kodi build that fits your style.
I’ve already listed my favorite Kodi builds in a separate article, so be sure to check that out for more recommendations.
Pay attention if you use Amazon Kindle. Starting 26th Feb, Amazon won't allow 'Download and transfer via USB' feature anymore. That's the feature people used to download the Kindle books they purchased and convert them to EPUB or PDF to read on other eBook readers like Kobo or their computers. In other words, your Kindle purchases will be restricted completely for Kindle devices.
With the Extensions List GNOME extension, you can toggle extensions, access their settings, visit its home page, etc. right from the top panel. There is no need to open an additional extension app like Extension Manager.
February 15, 1999, marked Windows Refund Day, when Linux users staged protests outside Microsoft offices in the San Francisco Bay Area. The event aimed to raise awareness of Microsoft’s practice of bundling Windows with PCs and not offering refunds.
🧑🤝🧑 FOSSverse Corner
Pro FOSSer Neville shares his experience with Meld. Have you used it before?
When you use the terminal more often than the graphical tools, you would perhaps enjoy playing music from the terminal.
I came across Kew, a terminal music player fully written in C. It's small (not more than 1 MiB), with a low memory profile. You can create and play your own playlists!
Kew music player running in the terminal
First things go first: Installation
It's straightforward to install Kew because it's available in the repositories of the common Linux Distributions like Arch Linux, Debian, Gentoo., etc.
For Debian and Ubuntu-based distros, use:
sudo apt install kew
You can use an AUR helper for Arch-based distros. Let's you use yay:
sudo yay -S kew
For openSUSE, use zypper:
sudo zypper install kew
Exploring music with Kew
One of the most interesting and surprising things it's that kew can search in your music directory (usually ~/Music, or you could change it) only with one word:
kew bruce
And you're immediately listening to the Boss!!
You can see the album cover while you're listening to it.
You can make a playlist based on the content of a directory (and the others inside it recursively). The playlist can be edited/modified inside Kew in the Playlist view.
You can play the songs from the playlist using:
kew kew.m3u
Direct Functions
Kew provides some direct functions that you can type with kew:
<none>: You go straight to the music library.
dir <album name>: Play a full directory.
song <song name>: Play only a song.
list <playlist name>: Play a playlist that you could define.
shuffle <album name>|<playlist name>: shuffles the album or playlist
artistA:artistB:artistC: shuffles all 3 artists. Just to mention some of their fantastic functions. You could get all the commands here.
Views
There are different views for different functions that can be accessed via a function key.
F2 : Current Playlist
F3 : Library view
F4 : Track View
Kew music player running in the terminal
F5 : Search view
F6 : Help
Press F6 to get the keyboard shortcuts info
Key bindings
If you decided to use Kew regularly, it would be much better to use and remember various keyboard shortcuts. You can surely configure your own.
Press F6 and it will show the key bindings:
+ (or =), keys to adjust the volume.
←, → or h, l keys to switch tracks.
space, p to toggle pause.
F2 or Shift + z to show/hide the playlist.
F3 or Shift + x to show/hide the library.
F4 or Shift + c to show/hide the track view.
F5 or Shift + v to search.
F6 or Shift + b to show/hide key bindings.
u to update the library.
v to toggle the spectrum visualizer.
i to switch between using your regular color scheme or colors derived from the track cover.
b to toggle album covers drawn in ascii or as a normal image.
r to repeat the current song.
s to shuffle the playlist.
a to seek back.
d to seek forward.
x to save the currently loaded playlist to a m3u file in your music folder.
Tab to switch between views.
gg go to first song.
number + G, g or Enter, go to specific song number in the playlist.
g go to last song.
. to add current song to kew.m3u (run with "kew .").
Esc to quit.
Conclusion
There are several terminal audio players like Cmus, MOC - Music on Console, Musikcube, etc. Kew can be placed in this list of terminal tools.
Written in C, with a small memory blueprint, Kew is worth trying for a terminal dweller.
If you give it a try, do share its experience in the comments.
Author Info
Jose Antonio Tenés A Communication engineer by education, and Linux user by passion. In my spare time, I play chess, do you dare?
Abhishek Prakash
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