Recent or Latest From XDA, HowTo Geek, and PCLOS Magazine

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Sep 01, 2025

GNU/Linux

• HowTo Geek ☛ How I Made macOS Tahoe Look Like a Heavily-Customized Linux Distro [Ed: Could instead instal the real thing and get the real deal, freedom and control]

• XDA ☛ I break my Linux install all the time and it’s part of the fun

  While I haven't used Linux for quite as long as some of the other XDA staff, I've used it long enough and hopped enough distros to know that I'm no longer a novice. But you wouldn't know that by looking at my home lab, or the handful of machines I torture weekly with new distros, tools, and tweaks. The one constant in my lifelong learning experience with Linux is that things go wrong; when they do, it's often something serious.

  And you know what. I wouldn't have it any other way. I've learned more about mountain bikes by breaking them and having to fix them—Ditto for two-stroke engines running my old landscaping equipment. I used to be the same with any other engine until cars became much closer to computers, and I deferred to the professionals, and even then, it's partly because of a lack of tools and not a lack of will.

• XDA ☛ 4 reasons Q4OS is the best operating system to breathe some new life into your old laptop

  Tech obsolescence can be quite brutal when you’re a computing lover. After all, few things are as disappointing as watching your top-of-the-line system turn into an ancient toaster over the course of a few years. But unless you’re a power user who loves playing graphically demanding games at high settings, there are a couple of ways to restore some of your PC’s lost vitality.

  Switching to Linux is one such fix, as most general-purpose distributions are significantly lighter than their Windows counterparts. Q4OS has a special place among lightweight distros, and it’s easily the best operating system for bringing your old laptop back from the dead.

• PCLinuxOS Magazine ☛ Why Linux Is The Ultimate Mental Gym For Problem-Solvers; A Doctor & An Equestrian's Journey

  Linux has been more than just an operating system for me — it’s been a companion, a mentor, and a tool that’s shaped how I think and work. My journey with Linux started back in 1999. As someone who was already juggling the complexities of medical school, I was drawn to Linux for its simplicity and stability — two things that often felt missing in other operating systems.

  I started with Slackware, then moved through Debian, RedHat, PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu and finally Manjaro. Each switch wasn’t just about trying a new system — it was an exploration, a challenge, and a chance to learn.

  My minimum use for any Linux distro is two years — I never recommend switching or distro-hopping frequently. Constantly jumping from one distro to another prevents you from gaining the stability needed to truly learn and grow. Stick with one, explore its depths, and remember: everything is customizable, so face the problems head-on and solve them.

• Desktop/Laptop

  • PCLinuxOS Magazine ☛ Wiki Pick: PkgProblemResolver

    This particular example was due to the new package being named in all lower case, compared to the lone uppercase for Coffee in the earlier version.

  • XDA ☛ Why Gnome-Boxes is the perfect virtualization tool for Linux beginners

    Virtualization is an essential tool for Linux users who want to test new distributions, run Windows software, or create safe spaces to experiment without risking their central system. While numerous virtualization platforms exist, many emphasize advanced features that can intimidate newcomers. Gnome-Boxes takes a different approach, focusing instead on accessibility and integration with the Linux desktop. By combining simplicity with strong performance, it makes virtualization less about configuration and more about getting work done quickly.

• Server

  • XDA ☛ 5 of the best distros for building Kubernetes clusters

    Containers are the bread and butter of self-hosted workloads, and for good reason. Despite offering solid isolation provisions, containerized applications consume a fraction of the resources of their virtual machine alternatives – to the point where you can turn even the most outdated system into a reliable self-hosting node. Plus, there are tons of cool container tools you can tinker with, including those designed for industry usage.

    Kubernetes is one such utility, and it’s a container orchestration tool designed to help deploy, scale, and manage clusters of containerized apps. While it’s a bit overkill for the average DIY project builder, it’s a handy tool for hardcore home lab enthusiasts and folks looking to sharpen their DevOps skills. As someone who’s a member of both factions, I’ve set up (and dismantled) a few Kubernetes clusters over the last year, and here are my favorite distros for the job.

Free, Libre, and Open Source Software

• HowTo Geek ☛ Open Source Is Both the Best and Worst Thing for Tech

  I love free and open-source software (FOSS). The whole movement is one of the best things in the world of technology and computers as a whole. I've been an open-source advocate for most of my life at this point, but that doesn't mean it's perfect.