Issue #313 / Dec 2026

With all the weird new controversies raging around us, it is nice to get a blast from the past. I felt a rush of nostalgia when I saw Mozilla's 87-page report documenting Microsoft's efforts to undermine browser choice for users of Windows 10 and 11 systems.

In the news: Is Linus Torvalds Vibe Coding?; openKylin 3.0 Released with Expanded AI Integration; DigitalOcean Ends Open Source Credits Program; Office 365 Available for Testing on Linux via Bottles; Dutch Government Turns to Open Source for Digital Sovereignty; Linux May Soon Work on Snapdragon X2-Based PCs; KDE for People Initiative Calls for AI Ban in Plasma; and It's Time to Test Fedora 45 Beta.

You don't need a commercial service to manage the energy flow from your solar panels to your electric devices. An open source tool called evcc lets you manage your local energy system from a Raspberry Pi or Docker container.

This month we explore Liya Linux v2026.08.29, openKylin 3.0, Zenwalk GNU Linux Current-260905, and Spaced Linux 9.26.

When it comes to shell code, writing styles can vary. A few simple rules will help you catch errors and make it easier for others to view your work.

We show you how to write safe, verified Rust code and seamlessly deploy it to legacy C environments.

Attackers are using AI to carry out their attacks. Why not put AI to work on the defense? We tried out Claude Code as a tool for pen testing.

WinBoat and WinApps give Linux users easy access to popular Windows applications, such as Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Strategically placed motion detectors send signals that Mike Schilli processes using a Pac-Man-style Go terminal app to keep up with foot traffic in his apartment building.

The Build HAT combines the latest generation of LEGO electronics with the Raspberry Pi. This enables significantly more complex projects and breathes new life into LEGO bricks that might otherwise have reached the end of their usefulness.