FOSS Weekly #25.43: NebiOS Linux, GNOME Enhancements, LMDE 7, COSMIC Beta Review and More Linux Stuff
Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) version 7 is available now. For people who like Debian more than Ubuntu and Linux Mint’s Cinnamon more than anything, this is the perfect choice.
Sourav Rudra
Sometimes I wonder if LMDE should be the default choice for Linux Mint. Am I the only one who thinks this?
💬 Let’s see what you get in this edition:
- Me pitching Proton Mail against Gmail.
- A new LMDE release based on Debian 13.
- DIY kindle alternatives.
- And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!
- This edition of FOSS Weekly is supported by PrepperDisk.
PrepperDisk gives you a fully offline, private copy of the world’s most useful open-source knowledge—so your access doesn’t depend on big platforms, networks, or gatekeepers.
Built on Raspberry Pi, it bundles projects like Wikipedia, maps, and survival manuals with tools we’ve built and open-sourced ourselves. It’s a way to safeguard information freedom: your own secure, personal archive of open knowledge, ready anywhere—even without the internet.
Explore PrepperDisk
📰 Linux and Open Source News
- NordVPN has made the GUI code for its Linux app open source.
- Valkey 9.0 release adds multi-database clusters and now supports 1 billion requests per second
- The beloved open source game SuperTuxKart gets many refinements in the latest release.
- ONLYOFFICE Docs 9.1 is here with PDF redaction and editor upgrades.
- LMDE 7 “Gigi” has arrived with a Debian 13 base and many improvements.
Sourav Rudra
🧠 What We’re Thinking About
Proton Mail is a better choice than Gmail. That’s what I think. And I discovered a ProtonMail feature that works better than Gmail.
Abhishek
GNOME all the way
I thought of sharing some neat tips and tweaks that relate to various components of the GNOME desktop environment. Basically, they let you discover some lesser known features and customization. Perhaps you’ll discover your next favorite trick here.
- Enhance the functionality of the Nautilus file manager with these tips.
- Learn to get more out of the search feature in the file manager.
- Why restrict yourself with file manager? Explore the full potential of the activity search in GNOME.
- Let’s take it further and customize the top panel in GNOME to get applet indicator and more such features.
- For a long time, I relied on GNOME Tweaks until I discovered Just Perfection. GNOME customization was never the same.
- Here are a few tips to save time by combining the terminal and the file manager on your GNOME system.
🧮 Linux Tips, Tutorials, and Learnings
- Learn the difference between PipeWire and PulseAudio.
- Explore comic book readers on Linux for .cbr files.
- Unravel the mystery of loop devices in Linux.
👷 AI, Homelab and Hardware Corner
For AI enthusiasts, here is a way to go from zero keys to full AI integration in one step. The Puter.js library allows integrating mainstream AI in your web projects without needing their API keys.
Bhuwan Mishra
Also, if you are fed up with Amazon’s Kindle, then you can build your own eBook reader.
Pulkit Chandak
The FSF is going all in with the Librephone project.
🛍️ Deal Alert: Raspberry Pi eBook Bundle
Learn the ins and outs of coding your favorite retro games and build one of your own with Code the Classics Volume II. Give your tech-savvy kids a head start in computer coding with Unplugged Tots.
The 16-book library also includes just-released editions of The Official Raspberry Pi Handbook 2026, Book of Making 2026, and much more! Whether you’re just getting into coding or want to deepen your knowledge about something more specific, this pay-what-you-want bundle has everything you need. And you support Raspberry Pi Foundation North America with your purchase!
✨ Project Highlights
NebiOS is a beautiful approach to how an Ubuntu-based distro with a custom desktop environment can be built.
Sourav Rudra
COSMIC is shaping up well, we tested it to see how it performs.
Sourav Rudra
📽️ Videos I Am Creating for You
The terminal makeover video is nearly at 100K views. With so many people enhancing the looks of their terminal, I thought you might want to give it a try, too.
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💡 Quick Handy Tip
Too much GNOME in this newsletter? Let’s switch to KDE.
If you are using desktop widgets in KDE Plasma and don’t know how to add the system monitor sensor to it, then do this. Open the System Monitor app and right-click on any telemetry you want to add. Then select “Add chart as Desktop Widget“.
That’s it. The selected chart will be added to your desktop. You can change its appearance by going to Edit mode later.
🎋 Fun in the FOSSverse
This crossword-style challenge mixes up popular Linux text editors. From timeless command-line classics to sleek modern tools. Sharpen your brain, embrace your inner geek, and see how many you can decode!
Abhishek Prakash
🤣 Meme of the Week: Probably not true anymore but still funny.
🗓️ Tech Trivia: On October 20, 2004, Ubuntu 4.10 “Warty Warthog” was released! Backed by Mark Shuttleworth’s Canonical, Ubuntu aimed to make Linux simple and human-friendly, its name loosely translates to “humanity.” Two decades later, it’s dominating the Linux desktop space.
🧑🤝🧑 From the Community: Long-time FOSSer Cliff is looking for help with a Realtek Wi-Fi issue on his MX Linux system. Can you help?
cliffsloane
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