Linux Format October 2021

Jonni Bidwell If you like i3 or Sway (or just minimal terminal emulators), spend some time making a semi-decent. Xresources file, then use git to track changes to it and other dotfiles. Now not even you will be able to break your configuration! Les Pounder My love is Openbox which stems from using Crunchbang Linux. The dark aesthetic is soothing and I can tweak Conky to show pertinent information. Tweaking the Conky settings is made easy, they all live in a text file which I edit, save and then reload Conky to see the effect. David Rutland I use the i3 window manager. It’s infinitely customisable via its config file, keyboard driven, and has insanely low overheads. No need to use the mouse to close a window or start up a program. A bonus is…

Jonni Bidwell If you like i3 or Sway (or just minimal terminal emulators), spend some time making a semi-decent. Xresources file, then use git to track changes to it and other dotfiles. Now not even you will be able to break your configuration! Les Pounder My love is Openbox which stems from using Crunchbang Linux. The dark aesthetic is soothing and I can tweak Conky to show pertinent information. Tweaking the Conky settings is made easy, they all live in a text file which I edit, save and then reload Conky to see the effect. David Rutland I use the i3 window manager. It’s infinitely customisable via its config file, keyboard driven, and has insanely low overheads. No need to use the mouse to close a window or start up…

One of the strengths of the open source world is its inherent ability to be customised. I think that’s a real attraction for users that grew up using computers pre-2000s, while the locked-down nature of modern devices, Windows and macOS forces anyone that wants to tinker in depth – or just learn how systems works – naturally towards open source operating systems. Even on the most superficial level having total choice about how your desktop looks and works is key for many Linux users. Just look at the Gnome Wars and how impassioned people get about fundamental changes to desktop design! As we have a fresh release of Linux Mint with its custom Cinnamon desktop, we thought it was high time we took a deep look at desktop customisation. We’ll…

One of the strengths of the open source world is its inherent ability to be customised. I think that’s a real attraction for users that grew up using computers pre-2000s, while the locked-down nature of modern devices, Windows and macOS forces anyone that wants to tinker in depth – or just learn how systems works – naturally towards open source operating systems. Even on the most superficial level having total choice about how your desktop looks and works is key for many Linux users. Just look at the Gnome Wars and how impassioned people get about fundamental changes to desktop design! As we have a fresh release of Linux Mint with its custom Cinnamon desktop, we thought it was high time we took a deep look at desktop customisation. We’ll dive into…

THIS ISSUE: Google questions kernel security Opportunity knocks for LibreOffice Stackoverflow snapshot Mozilla project speaks up Kees Cook’s recent blog post, Linux Kernel Security Done Right (https://bit.ly/lxf281googleblog) makes for interesting reading. Cook, who’s part of Google’s Open Source Security Team, spells out what he see as the major security issues facing the Linux kernel, while also offering advice on how to fix it. While noting that “Linux still remains the largest collaborative development project in the history of computing,” and complimenting its large community, Cook says, “What’s still missing, though, is sufficient focus to make sure that Linux fails well too,” and that “When flaws do manifest, it’s important to handle them effectively.” He highlights areas that need addressing, and starts by calling for substantial investment to make sure the code is as…

THIS ISSUE: Google questions kernel security Opportunity knocks for LibreOffice Stackoverflow snapshot Mozilla project speaks up Kees Cook’s recent blog post, Linux Kernel Security Done Right (https://bit.ly/lxf281googleblog) makes for interesting reading. Cook, who’s part of Google’s Open Source Security Team, spells out what he see as the major security issues facing the Linux kernel, while also offering advice on how to fix it. While noting that “Linux still remains the largest collaborative development project in the history of computing,” and complimenting its large community, Cook says, “What’s still missing, though, is sufficient focus to make sure that Linux fails well too,” and that “When flaws do manifest, it’s important to handle them effectively.” He highlights areas that need addressing, and starts by calling for substantial investment to make sure the…