Best of Linux — January 2026

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Hacker News·16w
I'm brave enough to say it: Linux is good now, and if you want to feel like you actually own your PC, make 2026 the year of Linux on (your) desktop
Linux has become genuinely user-friendly for desktop use, especially for gaming. Distros like Bazzite make it easy to run games without command-line knowledge, often matching or exceeding Windows performance through Valve's Proton. Steam's Linux user base hit 3.2%, surpassing Mac. The main appeal is ownership and control—no forced AI features, bloatware, or upselling. While HDR support and some anticheat software remain issues, they're improving. Linux offers a viable alternative for users tired of Windows feeling like rented software rather than something they truly own.
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Article
Hacker News·15w
I dumped Windows 11 for Linux, and you should too
A personal account of switching from Windows 11 to Linux (Artix) on primary work and personal machines. The author details motivations including Windows telemetry concerns and system instability, explores various Linux distributions (Mint, Debian, Artix), and shares technical challenges encountered like WiFi driver issues on a MacBook Air and desktop environment bugs. Despite initial hurdles requiring command-line troubleshooting, the switch resulted in improved system stability, faster performance, better iPhone file management via Dolphin file manager, and renewed enjoyment in computing. The author advocates for Linux adoption given Windows 11's ongoing issues, noting that while Linux requires technical learning, distributions like Mint offer beginner-friendly experiences.
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Article
Lobsters·12w
Why there’s no European Google?
Europe hasn't produced tech giants like Google or Facebook, but has created fundamental infrastructure that powers the modern internet. The World Wide Web (HTTP/HTML), Linux, Git, Mastodon, VLC, and LibreOffice are all European inventions released as open source common goods rather than privatized for profit. European success is measured by long-term contribution to humanity rather than short-term wealth creation, with technologies designed to benefit everyone through copyleft licensing. This approach has produced lasting infrastructure that will outlive any individual company.
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Tiff In Tech·15w
The Rise of Hobby Developers: Why Side Projects Build the Future of Tech
Side projects have historically driven major technological innovations, from Linux and Python to Facebook and GitHub. Most modern software depends on open-source components maintained largely by hobby developers contributing in their spare time. With over 70% of developers coding outside work, side projects serve as the tech industry's research lab, allowing experimentation without commercial pressure. These projects aren't career distractions but essential pathways for skill development, innovation, and maintaining the health of both individual developers and the broader tech ecosystem.
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CodeHead·16w
The Best Way To Learn DevOps in 2026
Learning DevOps effectively means understanding it as a mindset for reliably moving code to production, not just a collection of tools. Start with Linux fundamentals (processes, networking, system commands) before diving into containers and orchestration. Follow a single application through its entire lifecycle: write it, containerize it, deploy it, break it intentionally, and observe what happens. Implement CI/CD pipelines for consistency, learn cloud infrastructure as code with tools like Terraform, and master observability through logs, metrics, and traces. The key is choosing the simplest architecture that works and only adding complexity when it solves real problems, not to pad a resume.
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Article
It's Foss·13w
This Could be the Best Graphics Editor for Linux Users (Yes, it is Open Source)
Graphite, an open-source Rust-based 2D graphics editor aiming to be the "Blender of 2D," has released its second desktop release candidate as a Flatpak for Linux. While previously only available in browsers, the desktop version offers similar functionality with better system integration, though users may need to disable UI acceleration to avoid blank window issues. The vector editing tools are mature, but raster editing remains experimental and disabled by default. Performance lags behind established tools like GIMP and Inkscape, particularly with smaller brush strokes, and the application is not yet stable enough for critical production work. The desktop build must be manually downloaded from the Graphite Discord and installed via Flatpak, with potential sandboxing considerations for file access.
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SavvyNik·14w
Windows Users Are Switching and Linux Is Where They’re Going
Zorin OS 18 has reached 2 million downloads in under three months, with over 75% coming from Windows users. The Linux distribution is gaining traction as Windows 10 reaches end-of-life and Windows 11's strict hardware requirements (TPM 2.0, newer CPUs) block many older PCs. Zorin OS appeals to Windows switchers through familiar layouts, Windows app compatibility via Wine, and features like OneDrive integration. The project is expanding with Zorin Grid for IT management in organizations, positioning itself as a viable alternative for both individual users and enterprises looking to extend the life of older hardware.
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Article
All Things Open·15w
Pop!_OS 24.04 review: Was the two-year wait for COSMIC Desktop worth it?
Pop!_OS 24.04 ships with COSMIC Desktop, a new desktop environment built entirely in Rust by System76. The review covers installation, automatic window tiling, customizable panels and docks, and keyboard shortcuts. Despite being based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, the distribution maintains modern hardware support through backported kernels and current applications via Flatpak. COSMIC delivers fast performance, extensive customization without config file editing, and proves that building a production-ready desktop environment from scratch is achievable.
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Article
Hackaday·14w
The Distroless Linux Future May Be Coming
A counter-movement to Linux distribution fragmentation is emerging through 'distroless' initiatives like Project Bluefin's Distroless and KDE's switch to BuildStream. The distroless approach uses a common base (Freedesktop SDK) with customization layers applied on top, similar to how FreeBSD handles specialized variants. This could reduce duplicated effort and fragmentation, though it risks reigniting debates over standardization issues like package managers that previously challenged the Linux Standard Base.
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Bread on Penguins·14w
There's a better way to use Linux
Learning Linux effectively requires patience and gradual progression rather than constant tool-hopping. Start with familiar desktop environments and default applications, spend time mastering fundamentals through the terminal, and only move to more complex setups like tiling window managers once you understand the basics. Constantly switching between distributions, applications, and configurations leads to unstable systems filled with leftover packages and configurations. Focus on deeply learning what's in front of you before chasing alternatives—this approach builds genuine understanding and creates a more stable, enjoyable Linux experience.
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Article
The Register·16w
Brow6el is a full-featured browser that runs in a terminal
Brow6el is a new terminal-based web browser that uses Sixel graphics to render full-featured web pages directly in the terminal. Built on the Chromium Embedded Framework, it supports modern web standards (HTML5/CSS/JavaScript), mouse input, bookmarks, download management, private browsing, ad blocking, and Vim-like keyboard navigation. The project positions itself as an alternative to mainstream browsers increasingly bloated with AI features that pose privacy and security risks. Currently proof-of-concept quality with known limitations like localized keyboard support issues.
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Chris Titus Tech·13w
I Used Linux for 8 Years: Here's What They Don't Tell You
After 8 years of using Linux as a primary OS, key lessons include: desktop environments and file managers are interchangeable components, not tied to distributions; professional Windows/Adobe software works better natively than through Wine; gaming has improved dramatically but mod support lags behind Windows; minimalist setups with window managers instead of full desktop environments provide better stability; hardware compatibility matters significantly (AMD generally easier than Nvidia); dual-booting or VMs handle Windows-only needs effectively; and bleeding-edge hardware has delayed Linux support compared to Windows/Mac.
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Article
Nick Janetakis·14w
How Is niri This Good? Live Demo + Config — Nick Janetakis
niri is a scrollable tiled window compositor for Wayland that offers fast performance, flexible window management with scrolling/tiling/floating modes, tab groups, multiple workspaces, flawless multi-monitor support, and seamless X11 app compatibility through XWayland. The demo covers key features including window scaling, workspace navigation, ALT-TAB overview, window resizing, tabs, floating windows, configuration options, auto-reload, window rules, theming, and keybindings. It's optimized for keyboard, mouse, and trackpad use with drag/drop and screensharing support.
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TechWorld with Nana·13w
If I would start DevOps from 0 - How would I start and what would I learn
A structured learning path for DevOps beginners breaks down into six phases over several months. Start with Linux fundamentals, bash scripting, and git (1-2 months). Move to cloud basics focusing on AWS compute, storage, and networking (1-2 months). Learn infrastructure as code with Terraform (1 month). Master containerization with Docker and Kubernetes (1-2 months). Build CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI (1-2 months). Finally, cover observability with Prometheus and Grafana (1 month). The key mistake to avoid is learning tools in isolation—instead, combine technologies through hands-on projects that build on each other continuously rather than starting from scratch each time.
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Article
It's Foss·12w
Your eBooks Don't Have to Look Boring, Calibre 9.0 Now has Shelves
Calibre 9.0 introduces a visual bookshelf view that displays eBooks as if arranged on physical shelves, making large libraries more visually appealing. The viewer now supports direct page number input and includes an in-viewer edit button for EPUB, AZW3, and KEPUB formats. Linux users gain momentum-based touchpad scrolling for smoother navigation. Additional improvements include better EPUB3 metadata handling and disabled GPU acceleration by default to prevent crashes on older systems.
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omg! ubuntu!·12w
COSMIC Desktop ‘Frosted Glass’ UI Effect Previewed
COSMIC Desktop Epoch 2 will introduce an optional frosted glass UI effect using Dual Kawase blur, a performance-optimized technique commonly used in gaming. The effect offers visual appeal similar to Gaussian blur but with less impact on CPU, GPU, and battery life. Users will have full control over intensity and transparency settings, and can disable it entirely. The feature is currently in the design mockup stage and will arrive in a future release.
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Article
omg! ubuntu!·15w
New Dell XPS 14 and 16 Announced, Ubuntu Version Coming This Year
Dell has revived its XPS laptop brand at CES 2026 with redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch models. The XPS 14 will be available with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS later this year. Both models are thinner (14.6mm) and lighter than predecessors, featuring Intel Core Ultra Series CPUs with Arc iGPUs, improved thermal systems, physical function keys, and modular components for easier repairs. Display options include tandem OLED or 2K LCD with variable refresh rates. The XPS 14 starts at $2050 and XPS 16 at $2200, with limited configurations available from January 6th and broader options from February.
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omg! ubuntu!·14w
Multi-Column Dock Extension for GNOME Shell
Multi-Column Dock is a GNOME Shell extension for GNOME 45-47 that transforms the traditional vertical dock into a customizable multi-column interface. It allows grouping related applications with labels and color-coded backgrounds, supports 1-5 columns to display more apps without horizontal scrolling, and includes features like drag-and-drop reordering, auto-hide, and multi-monitor support. The extension is vertical-only (left or right side), shows only pinned or open apps, and works on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. It's designed for users with many pinned apps who need better organization, though it has a more prominent visual presence than minimal docks.
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It's Foss·14w
Why is Everyone Talking About Window Tiling in 2026?
Window tiling, which arranges application windows side-by-side without overlap, is gaining mainstream adoption across operating systems. Windows 11 introduced Snap Layouts, macOS Sequoia added native edge tiling, and Linux has long offered diverse tiling solutions from i3 and bspwm to Wayland compositors like Sway and Hyprland. Ubuntu now ships with Tiling Assistant by default, while GNOME users can leverage extensions like Tiling Shell for advanced layout control. Pop!_OS's COSMIC desktop and Hyprland have particularly impressed with their polished implementations, combining functionality with aesthetics. The trend suggests window tiling is becoming a standard desktop feature rather than a power-user niche.
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It's Foss·14w
BTW, Arch Users! Pacman Might Be Getting a Rust Replacement
Arch Linux's Pacman package manager may eventually be replaced by ALPM (Arch Linux Package Management), a new Rust-based project that has completed six major milestones with 15 months of funding from the Sovereign Tech Fund. ALPM provides libraries and tools for package management with full Pacman compatibility. A key difference is licensing: Pacman uses GPL while ALPM uses dual Apache 2.0/MIT licensing, which is more permissive. The transition could mirror Ubuntu's sudo-rs implementation, where the Rust version runs underneath while users continue using familiar commands.
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Cyber Security·15w
Free e-book: Intro to Bash Scripting for Developers
A free e-book resource available on GitHub that introduces Bash scripting fundamentals for developers. The book covers basic shell scripting concepts and is aimed at those looking to learn command-line automation and scripting skills.
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Linux Community·15w
Windows-like Linux for mums?
A user seeks advice on making KDE's Dolphin file manager look and behave like Windows Explorer to help their mother transition from Windows 10 to Fedora 43 Linux. The user questions why Linux distributions don't ship with Windows-like configurations by default, including familiar keyboard shortcuts, to improve usability for non-technical users migrating from Windows.
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Mental Outlaw·15w
CachyOS Is Coming For Your Server
CachyOS, an Arch-based Linux distribution known for desktop performance optimizations, is developing a server edition optimized for web servers and databases. While rolling release distros like CachyOS offer performance benefits through compiler optimizations and the latest software, they pose risks for servers due to potential update breakage and security concerns from community repositories. The viability depends on whether performance gains justify the stability trade-offs compared to traditional server distros like Ubuntu and Debian, similar to how Netflix customized FreeBSD for CDN performance improvements.
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openSUSE·14w
Software Policies Can Fuel Waste
A viral Reddit photo showing pallets of discarded government PCs highlights how software policies create massive e-waste. These computers are being thrown out not because they're broken, but because they can't upgrade to newer Windows versions, despite being capable of running Linux distributions like openSUSE. The article advocates for the "Public Money, Public Code" principle, arguing that government adoption of open-source software could reduce taxpayer costs, extend hardware lifecycles, and prevent environmental damage from toxic e-waste. With Windows 10 extended support ending in October 2026, the "End of 10" campaign promotes transitioning to Linux as a fiscally and environmentally responsible alternative.
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Hackaday·14w
A Linux Power User Puts SteamOS To Work
A Linux power user shares their experience adapting to SteamOS, an immutable Linux distribution on the Steam Deck. The journey involves learning new paradigms like Flatpaks instead of traditional package managers, configuring network tools (Syncthing, NFS, Tailscale) within immutable constraints, and discovering workarounds for system-level tasks. Despite initial confusion and limitations compared to traditional distributions like Debian, the author finds value in the stability and portability of immutable systems, recommending them as worthwhile tools for experienced users willing to adapt their workflows.
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