Best of The New Stack — April 2025

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    How To Master Vector Databases

    Vector databases are specialized systems designed to handle high-dimensional data, such as images, text, and audio embeddings, effectively and efficiently. They excel in similarity searches and are integral to applications like recommendation systems, image retrieval, and anomaly detection. This guide offers insights into selecting the right vector database, understanding vector embeddings, and optimizing performance, featuring examples from popular vector databases like Milvus, Pinecone, and Weaviate.

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    ReactOS, an Open Source Take on Windows

    ReactOS is an open-source operating system designed to be compatible with Windows applications. While it offers a free alternative to Microsoft Windows and includes features like software compatibility and security improvements, it still faces significant stability and usability issues. The project has made progress over the years, but it's currently not suitable for everyday use. ReactOS remains a work in progress and shows promise for those interested in contributing to its development.

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    Prepare Your Mac for Go Development

    This guide helps get your Mac ready for Go development, covering system configurations, installation of necessary software, and recommended tools. It includes steps to install Go using Homebrew, setting up a virtual machine, and configuring a terminal. It also recommends IDEs for Go and discusses their features and benefits.

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    New Framework Uses PHP for Native Desktop Apps

    NativePHP has released version 1 of its framework, enabling PHP developers to build cross-platform native desktop applications using PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. React Native's latest version boosts Android app startup time by reducing the need to uncompress JavaScript bundles. Andrej Karpathy expresses frustration with web development, comparing it to assembling IKEA furniture due to the need to configure various individual services.

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    EU OS: A European Proposal for a Public Sector Linux Desktop

    EU OS is a proposed desktop Linux distribution aimed at European public sector organizations to offer a standardized, secure, and customizable system. Built on Fedora’s immutable KDE Plasma spin (Kinoite), it focuses on reducing reliance on proprietary software, enhancing security, cost efficiency, and administrative control. The initiative, led by Robert Riemann from the European Data Protection Supervisor, seeks future endorsement from the European Commission. Despite debates over the use of a U.S.-based base system, EU OS aims to comply with GDPR standards and potentially save millions in licensing fees.

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    Linux: Five Easy Ways To Secure Any Distribution

    Linux is a secure operating system, but it is not foolproof. To enhance security, follow these five steps: 1) Regularly update your system to ensure you have the latest security patches. 2) Enable and configure a firewall to control traffic. 3) Secure SSH access by changing default settings and enabling key authentication. 4) Implement strong password policies and enforce regular updates. 5) Enable automatic security updates to maintain ongoing protection.

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    Nitrux, a Debian-Based Linux Distro With Modern Apps

    Nitrux is a Debian-based Linux distribution featuring a lightweight, customizable KDE Plasma desktop environment. It emphasizes security with SELinux and an immutable file system. Notable applications include multiple gaming stores and MauiKit-based apps. While versatile, it requires a minimum of 6GB of RAM. Ideal for both new and experienced Linux users, Nitrux offers numerous unique features and easy application installation.

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    How To Deploy Vaultwarden, a Server-Based Alternative to Bitwarden

    Vaultwarden is a server-based alternative to Bitwarden, developed in Rust, ideal for self-hosting. It can be quickly deployed using Docker or Podman and offers key features such as syncing across devices, end-to-end encryption, a password generator, secure sharing, and mobile apps. The post guides through installing Docker and deploying Vaultwarden on Ubuntu 25.04.

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