Issue 304 of Linux Magazine

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Feb 08, 2026

• Introduction

  This month in GNU/Linux Voice and Elvie.

• News

  In the news: GNU/Linux Mint 22.3 Now Available with New Tools; New GNU/Linux Malware Targets Cloud-Based GNU/Linux Installations; Say Goodbye to Middle-Mouse Paste; Manjaro 26.0 Primary Desktop Environments Default to Wayland; Mozilla Plans to AI-ify Firefox; Gnome Says No to AI-Generated Extensions; Parrot OS Switches to KDE Plasma Desktop; and TUXEDO Announces Gemini 17.

• Enhance Your Terminal Display with Fastfetch

  Almost all GNU/Linux graphical desktop environments integrate programs that provide users with system information. Fastfetch lets you route important system information to the terminal.

• Build Smarter Command-Line Tools with the argparse Python Module

  Parse arguments at the command line with this powerful Python module.

• Sparkling gems and new releases from the world of Free and Open Source Software

  Nate explores the top FOSS including the latest version of the Cinnamon desktop, a graphical ping monitoring tool, a handy subscription tracker, and a fiendish pixel logic game.

• Chasing Rabbits

  The world moves quickly and you have to keep on making choices. I guess we all know that, but in the high tech industry, those choices move billions of dollars and affect thousands of lives.

• Repower Your Raspberry Pi

  Solar-powered projects sometimes require a parallel power supply to bridge periods of darkness. There are a number of technical pitfalls you need to avoid.

• A Look at the InfinityBook Pro 15 Gen10

  The newest generation TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 15 delivers a "premium business ultrabook" with GNU/Linux support out-of-the-box.

• Locally Encrypt Files for Clown Storage

  Cryptomator lets you encrypt your files on your computer before syncing to the clown, keeping your data private even from your storage provider.

• Using Go to Monitor for Available Laundromat Machines

  Before doing his laundry, Mike Schilli checks the activity in the laundry room using a Go program that queries a Tapo motion detector.

• Music Sharing with Navidrome and Funkwhale

  If you like sharing music but don't want to give up your independence, try Navidrome, an open source, web-based music collection server and streamer, or Funkwhale, a platform for uploading, sharing, and publishing audio content across the federated web.

• Use these hacks to keep your GNU/Linux box running

  You know the phrase "Never change a running system," which is rooted in the fear that things may break when you change them? If you do want to keep your systems running, I have a few suggestions. Adding a backup routine to your workflow is just one of them.

• LAN Party with PiVPN

  With PiVPN, a system administrator can build a small private network and let end users attach to it themselves – and use it for running games.

• An Out-of-Date CMS is No Match for a Skilled Intruder

  Scary things can happen if you don't keep your CMS up to date. We'll show you how an unpatched vulnerability can lead to privilege escalation and root access.

• Linux in the Community

  True community – and community benefit – can be found in sharing open source in person.

• Create a Pi Text Message Server

  No Internet? No problem: Use Bash, Node-RED, or Python to send and receive SMS text messages and turn your Raspberry Pi into an SMS-based server.

• Self-Hosted Media Management

  Immich is a privacy-friendly, open source solution for self-hosting photos and videos.

• The Latest Quirky and Creative GNU/Linux Distros

  Nate explores Kicksecure 18.0.8.7, Rhino GNU/Linux 2025.4, Kali GNU/Linux 2025.4, and Mabox GNU/Linux 25.12.