FOSS Weekly #26.18: Ubuntu’s AI Move, New Entry in Home Directory, New Ubuntu Terminal, Fedora 44 Release and More Linux Stuff

The big news is that Linux distros are getting a standard Projects folder alongside Documents, Music, and Downloads. Most people already create one manually, but now it’s official, and apps can start using it as a default location too. So it’s more than just ‘mkdir Projects”, it has actual use.

Although, I am curious what kind of icon this new Projects directoy will get 😄

Here are other highlights of this edition of FOSS Weekly:

• Firefox quietly using Brave’s ad blocker.
• A series of new Ubuntu releases.
• Warp terminal going open source.
• Hackers hijacking a package and publishing it to PyPI.
• And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!

📰 Linux and Open Source News

Firefox 149 has quietly shipped Brave’s open source adblock-rust engine with no mention in the release notes. It’s disabled by default with no UI, but can be enabled via about:config.

MinIO’s GitHub repo has been archived again after going into maintenance mode last year. If you’re running it in production, then it is time for a change.

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS “Resolute Raccoon” is out. You get GNOME 50, Linux kernel 7.0, Wayland-only, five new default apps, deb packages back in App Center, and post-quantum crypto out of the box.

It’s flavors have also gotten releases, and we have already checked out what Kubuntu 26.04 and Lubuntu 26.04 offer.

A flaw in Elementary Data’s GitHub Actions workflow let an attacker push a backdoored version to PyPI in under ten minutes. If you have elementary-data 0.23.3 installed, you got work to do.

LVFS, the service behind Linux firmware updates, has one full-time developer and no security team. Vendors consuming millions of downloads without contributing now face download quotas and feature restrictions until they sponsor the project.

Fedora 44 is out after a two-week delay. It is powered by Linux 6.19, includes GNOME 50 and Plasma 6.6, has NTSYNC for better Windows game performance, and a completely refreshed Games Lab spin.

In related news, Microsoft might be looking to rebase Azure Linux on Fedora.

In an interesting development, AI-focused Warp terminal is now open source. Good to see them finally making the right decision.

🧠 What We’re Thinking About

AI is coming to Ubuntu, and Canonical’s approach is local-first with open-weight models delivered via snaps.

There is a petition asking for a native Linux version of a 3D architectural modeling program Rhino 3D. If you can, please sign it. This may result in bringing a mainstream app to Linux, which may help grow Linux adoption.

🧮 Linux Tips, Tutorials, and Learnings

GSConnect is the GNOME extension that brings KDE Connect to your desktop, letting you share files, sync notifications, use your phone as a trackpad, and mount Android folders over Wi-Fi.

Forgot your Ubuntu root password? You can boot into recovery mode, use the dpkg repair option to get a root shell, and reset it with passwd. Work only on systems with a root password set.

If you are using KDE, check out lesser known features in Konsole terminal.

👷 AI, Homelab and Hardware Corner

LeafKVM is an open source KVM-over-IP device in a CNC aluminum case, built on Rust and Buildroot.

✨ Apps and Projects Highlights

WSL9x is a project that does the opposite of what you’d expect. Instead of running Linux apps on Windows, it runs a modern Linux kernel 6.19 inside Windows 95, 98, or ME

An It’s FOSS reader shared a project he made that shows a map of where your computer is connects. If you are into networking or just plain curious, you could give it a try.

📽️ Videos for You

Resharing the terminal customization video for the new readers. It’s a detailed, step by step tutorial on how to make your terminal look as beautiful as the ones you see in our screenshots.

💡 Quick Handy Tip

You can use the Vitals GNOME Shell extension to add more system monitor readings to the GNOME top panel. Click on Vitals in the top panel, and select the values you want in the panel.

Deselect the ones you don’t need to hide them from the panel. Do note that the hidden ones are still visible when you are in the drop-down view. Hidden or not, these values are all still accessible in the dropdown view of the extension.

🎋 Fun in the FOSSverse

Test your Linux command line knowledge in this fun quiz.

This is just Microsoft thing 👇

🗓️ Tech Trivia: On May 2, 1983, Microsoft introduced its two-button Microsoft Mouse alongside the new Microsoft Word processor. Despite manufacturing around 100,000 units for IBM and IBM-compatible PCs, the company sold only 5,000 before eventually finding success with a much-improved version.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 From the Community: Pro FOSSer Dan is in a limbo where an update broke file thumbnails on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

And I am working on a complete overhaul of the It’s FOSS Plus portal. Stay tuned for that.