Issue #263 / Oct 2022

Highlights:

The most amazing thing about Linux is its flexibility. Linux systems run on the biggest computers in the world – and on many of the diminutive devices that populate your home environment. If you’ve always wondered how developers adapt Linux to run on tiny tech, you’ll appreciate this month’s stories on Buildroot and the Yocto project.

IN-DEPTH: MkDocs

Building project documentation from Markdown files

MkDocs, a static site generator, lets you easily transform Markdown files into ready-to-use, user-friendly project documentation.

SERVICE: Welcome

Sentience and Sensibility

I feel like we entered a new era earlier this year when Google scientist Blake Lemoine declared that he thought Google's LaMDA artificial intelligence is "sentient," and that the company should probably be asking LaMDA's permission before studying it.

SERVICE: This Month's DVD

Linux Magazine Archive DVD

This month's DVD includes the 2022 edition of the Linux Magazine Archive DVD – every previous issue of Linux Magazine on a single, searchable disc. Browse the pages of every article we've ever published, and experience our special brand of technical yet accessible how-to insights.

NEWS: News

In the news: Kali Linux 2022.3 Released; 14" Pinebook Pro Linux Laptop Ships; OpenMandriva Lx ROME Technical Preview Released, Linux Mint 21 Now Available; Firefox Adds Long-Anticipated Feature; and System76 Oryx Pro Laptop Refreshed with a New CPU.

NEWS: Kernel News

This month in Kernel News: Chasing the Dream; The Power of the FUSE Side; NTFS3 Maintainership Issues: and Crashing and Warning.

NEWS: Yocto

How the Yocto framework brings Linux to IoT devices

The Yocto project gives you all the tools you'll need to build a custom Linux for IoT device.

: Buildroot

Roll your own IoT Linux with Buildroot

Whether you need a tiny OS for 1MB of flash memory or a complex Linux with a graphical stack, you can quickly set up a working operating system using Buildroot.

IN-DEPTH: The Clash of Community and Corporation

The Red Hat extended family

Red Hat has spawned an outgrowth of corporate and community-based distributions. Here's how these distributions are related and how they differ.

IN-DEPTH: Disinformation Detector

Using browser extensions to uncover disinformation

Fake information is experiencing a boom, but given the right tools, you can reliably separate the wheat from the chaff.

IN-DEPTH: Don't Know Much About History

Enhancing efficiency with history

The versatile Bash history command can save you time and effort at the command line.

IN-DEPTH: LibreOffice Macros with ScriptForge

Automating LibreOffice with macros

ScriptForge helps you automate LibreOffice by building portable macros.

IN-DEPTH: OliveTin and Script Server

A web user interface for Bash scripts

Create a user-friendly front end for your Bash scripts without writing a single line of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.

IN-DEPTH: Astrology Hotline

Use AI and Go to program a command-line predictor

Because shell command sequences tend to reoccur, smart predictions can save you time typing. We first let the shell keep notes on what gets typed, before a Go program guesses the next command and runs it for you.

IN-DEPTH: Introducing Rocky Linux

Rocky Linux looks for a place in the enterprise

Rocky Linux emerges as a free alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

: RFID over SPI

RFID reader on a Raspberry Pi

Inexpensive components for the SPI interface let you upgrade a Raspberry Pi 4 to a display system for zero-contact RFID-based data acquisition.

: Pigpio

Access the Raspberry Pi's GPIO

The wiringPi library, which many Raspberry Pi fans have grown attached to over the years, is no longer under maintenance by its developer. An alternative, in the form of Pigpio, has arrived just in time.

LINUX VOICE: Introduction

This month in Linux Voice.

LINUX VOICE: maddog's Doghouse

Sorting and Searching

A look at the history of computer memory and a classic algorithm text.

LINUX VOICE: KOReader E-reader

Turbocharge your ebook reader with KOReader

KOReader offers enough features to give your humble ebook reader new powers and completely transform your reading experience.

LINUX VOICE: 0 A.D.

Immerse yourself in living history with 0 A.D.

Steer the fortunes of ancient civilizations in the real-time strategy game 0 A.D. and revive history.

LINUX VOICE: FOSSPicks

This month Graham looks at Cecilia 5, chezmoi, Viddy, EmuDeck, Paperless-ngx, MegaGlest, and more!

LINUX VOICE: Tutorial – ImageMagick

Scripted drawing with ImageMagick

ImageMagick can do more than just edit existing images. The free software can even be scripted to create simple drawings.