This week in KDE: He delivered!
https://pointieststick.com/2019/09/15/this-week-in-kde/

https://redd.it/d4kom9
@r_linux

HP Spectre x360 15 (2019) with Linux?

I was wondering if anybody has any experience with recent HP spectre models and Ubuntu. I've had my eye on the HP Spectre x360 15-df1550nd because of the combination of gpu, display and touchscreen.

I've read that spectres usually have problems with the four speakers, the fingerprint sensor and the microphone.
The biggest problem I'm having with the current HP laptop I'm using is not able to use the HDMI port when the nvidia card is disabled. This is most likely due to the HDMI port being connected to the GPU.

I'm having trouble finding recent info on these devices.
If anybody has experience with these devices and Linux I would like to ask them if these issues I mentioned are still issues with recent kernel/distros and/or if new issues have emerged with the newer models.

I'm currently using Ubuntu though I'm open to using different distro's if they work better.

https://redd.it/d4lr4a
@r_linux

Script help?

So how would I write a noscript to write into a separate noscript




So far I am launching nano and I can't input the text automatically or close it

https://redd.it/d4lemp
@r_linux

Idea for a "Touch Bar" for the Linux Desktop

I was looking at the dbus, and found that most KDE and Gnome applications, allow their toolbar actions to be controlled using it. This got me thinking, what if there was a small program, that figured out applicable applications and services on the dbus (like the active window), and sent them, along with an icon name from the freedesktop icon naming specification ([https://standards.freedesktop.org/icon-naming-spec/icon-naming-spec-latest.html](https://standards.freedesktop.org/icon-naming-spec/icon-naming-spec-latest.html)), to different UIs (gtk, qt5, an Arduino, etc.) touch bar like programs.

Are there any glaring problems with this? Is this something people want? Thank you for reading.

https://redd.it/d4nchc
@r_linux

Elementary OS: Questions from absolute beginner

Hello world!

I have been fiddling around the general topic of computer systems lately and have been wondering about the topic of Linux and its many distros.

After doing some research I have set upon ElementaryOS as the distro I'd most likely use, probably due to its resemblance with macOS, which I've been using.

I have some questions about the specific distro. Please bear in mind I'm an absolute beginner to more sophisticated aspects of software and I'd like it if potential terminology could be shortened or explained to me.

• Learning curve? Is it relatively easy for the average user who's looking for an alternative from the big two (win / mac) or is it better for more nuanced users?

• Can it be dual-booted on an Apple device like a MacBook as with Windows?

• Privacy? I've read its privacy policy and it seems pretty promising but I'd like some further opinions.

• How many "mainstream" applications are available for it in general (can I run Steam, Minecraft or Photoshop, for example?) and how can I use an application built for another OS within Elementary? I've heard of winewrapper but I'd like some more information for it.

Thank you for your assistance!

https://redd.it/d4p5wx
@r_linux

Linux 5.3 has been released - includes support for AMD Navi GPUs, Zhaoxin x86 CPUs, a 'utilization clamping' mechanism that is used to boost interactivity on power-asymmetric CPUs , a pidfd_open(2) to deal with pid reuse, umwait x86 instruction, a lightweight hypervisor for IoT devices, and more
https://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_5.3

https://redd.it/d4rpkx
@r_linux

Quick tips for confirming if a desktop session or application is Wayland or X11
https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20190916#qa

https://redd.it/d4t0mn
@r_linux

After Windows 7 in 2020 , how is the Linux community reaction in the desktop OS war !

Since Vista died 9 years ago , Linux didn't spread like wild fire until [the big flops Windows 10 did](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_10) , this refers to a lost opportunity for Linux when Vista failed miserably at release.

In 2019 , with the popular Windows 7 ending it's legacy next year , Linux is getting a bigger chance this time to flip the table (If it proves itself correctly of course).

I'm still relatively a new Linux user since about 4 months , so I will list my sentences generally from a gamer perspective , first what made Linux in 2019 different than Linux 9 years ago:

* FOSS got significantly better than before (Blender , FFmpeg , etc...).
* Wine got compatible rapidly with Windows software (Not perfect but a lot better).
* Proton gave a unified solution for gaming , and compatibility is growing every month.
* Vulkan closed the performance gap that DirectX made , even better than DirectX and OpenGL.
* Beginner-friendly distros got more stable and gained bigger communities.
* GPU drivers while not on the same Windows level , with DXVK/D9VK/ESync performance is getting closer to Windows if not better in old games that runs like crap on modern Windows.
* Lutris made managing games/emulators/resources/layers/Wine\_versions more accessible for beginners.

And with these in mind we should remember why Windows is popular:

1. **ADOBE.**
2. Nvidia drivers (AMD is good but they have problems with their OpenGL drivers).
3. DRM games that have problems with Wine (Temporary issue).
4. Ease of use (That reaches a level of limiting the user control on the system).
5. MS Office (Libre is good but compatibility is still problematic).

Now how the Linux community should react to win the next fall of Windows (Most of those are from my personal experience with Ubuntu & Manjaro):

1. Don't misinform a beginner about how Linux is customizable and then lead him to a DE like Gnome for example , always be specific about any type of information you give (Most Windows users don't know what a DE means).
2. Make clear terms of what every option leads to , for example [the Ubuntu download page](https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop) has an LTS and the 19.04 versions , but a user might think these 2 versions are the same except for the support period and gets tricked because some PPAs don't support any version except the most relevant LTS release and this is not even mentioned on the page , and the end result is full frustration and despair when this user discovers the truth after installing 19.04 !
3. The page also doesn't mention anything about Ubuntu flavours (Except the link) and just directs the user for the Gnome desktop and what does even "flavours" stand for , another lack of information problem.
4. Beginner-friendly distros should kill the terminal by every way possible , even if it's easy for an old user , computing itself is a nightmare for many noobs using Windows , those guys are **more than half** of the users there and you can't win them when the only option for upgrading the system or installing/uninstalling packages is commands , it won't work for them.
5. Don't recommend your favourite distro or DE , list the easy choices you tried by yourself with their pros/cons and let them figure out the most familiar one to use.
6. Don't give a Debian-based solution for a user who mentions he has problems building software by hand which don't have a snap , flatpak , PPA , appimage or availability in the official repos. , and by analogy don't introduce an Arch.-based distro for someone who doesn't need bleeding edge software for gaming or prefers stability over anything else (Of course I can't talk about Fedora , openSUSE or Solus as I have never used them).
7. Always mention the first important steps to be made after installation to avoid the deal-breakers , for example if a beginner installed an Arch.-based distro , you should mention [the parallel compilation method](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Makepkg#Parallel_compi

lation) for him to make AUR builds faster , if he has a laptop with optimus Nvidia GPU you should tell him [to install optimus manager instead of Bumblebee](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NVIDIA_Optimus#Available_methods) , trivial things like this leads to "Linux is bad" "Linux is not for gaming" and other meaningless complaints , you should mention those if they have 0 information about them or they can make or break their experience.
8. Be aware of what OS this user came from , if he used Windows 10 , he would be familiar with something like Xfce or KDE (And I heard Cinnamon is good) , but something like Gnome will be a 1 or 0 for him (I knew I got too much on Gnome now 😣).
9. Suggest the use of virtualization if the user needs some Windows-only apps. that run poorly in Wine but by one condition that it doesn't need a GPU to run properly.
10. Remind them after a bad experience what makes Linux shine (Free / No forced updates / No need for anti-virus / Better usage of resources / Very stable with time / Endless OS choices / No spyware or forced-installed bloat / No buggy Microsoft store / No forced reboots / No random BSoD / With `sudo` you rule the system / bash noscripting is awesome / Better OpenGL drivers and Vulkan is more awesome / Old PC games run better on Linux / And the only limit you have is not the system but your knowledge / ....... Should I continue ?)

https://redd.it/d4t7gv
@r_linux

I love Arch, not the elitist attitude

These days, I’m seeing far too much “us vs. them” attitude within the GNU/Linux community. Is it really that difficult for all users of all distros to co-exist?

I would beg the Arch community to consider a far more diplomatic approach to welcoming users to Linux regardless of their position or experience so that this wonderful distro and user base stops getting a bad rep.

I’m not sure if this post will stay up or get downvoted significantly but I just feel this needs to be said for the last time. This isn’t meant to start a hostile discussion. It’s only meant to unify ALL users.

May the fork be with you all!
This is coming from an Arch user, btw.

https://redd.it/d4uv1b
@r_linux

Linux Experiences/Rants or Education/Certifications thread - September 16, 2019

Welcome to r/linux rants and experiences! This megathread is also to hear opinions from anyone just starting out with Linux or those that have used Linux (GNU or otherwise) for a long time.

Let us know what's annoying you, whats making you happy, or something that you want to get out to r/linux but didn't make the cut into a full post of it's own.

For those looking for certifications please use this megathread to ask about how to get certified whether it's for the business world or for your own satisfaction. Be sure to check out r/linuxadmin for more discussion in the SysAdmin world!

_Please keep questions in r/linuxquestions, r/linux4noobs, or the Wednesday automod thread._

https://redd.it/d4vka6
@r_linux

A review of the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiw2slgzcOc&feature=share

https://redd.it/d4vffb
@r_linux

Linux Action News #123
https://linuxactionnews.com/123

https://redd.it/d4wjr4
@r_linux

Sandstorm Oasis shuts down as a company and the project is on life support due to lack of resources
https://sandstorm.io/news/2019-09-15-shutting-down-oasis

https://redd.it/d4y8et
@r_linux

How to create a custom Ubuntu live from scratch
https://medium.com/@mtvallim/how-to-create-a-custom-ubuntu-live-from-scratch-dd3b3f213f81?source=friends_link&sk=b7b01a793c92291bd586fde8dca1558f

https://redd.it/d4z6jt
@r_linux

Process Mix (IO Bound, Cpu Bound)

when LTS (long term scheduler) loads processes from job pool to ready queue, before doing this activity LTS creates process mix or job mix (some process are io bound and some are cpu bound). Now my question is how LTS detects a process is IO Bound or CPU Bound?

https://redd.it/d4y8lq
@r_linux

New Plasma Desktop webpage showcases its favorite features
https://carlschwan.eu/2019/09/16/plasma-desktop-webpage.html

https://redd.it/d50hrh
@r_linux

Having trouble with dieplay scale in several distros

Hi. I am installing for the first time Linux. My screen resolution is 1920x1080 on a laptop.

I have tried several distributions (Ubuntu, Ubuntu mate, Linux Mint, and Kubuntu), but in all cases I have had the same problem: my desktop icons and text look too small, same happens with firefox and all other programs.

In Windows this problem is easily solved by setting a scale of 125%.

In Ubuntu I have seen that there's the option for a 200% scale, but that's way too big. I have enabled a hidden option that shows 125% and 150% scales, but then the text and icons get blurry.

In Kununtu there's an option to easily scale the display, but it doesn't apply to firefox or other programs...

Does anyone know a distro where this problem can be solved (and how)?

https://redd.it/d51454
@r_linux

No, your grandmother probably shouldn't run Linux - an answer to advocacy

First, I'll start off by saying that I actually run Linux desktops. I had Linux mint installed in a VM on my desktop and in dual boot on my laptop. I now have Solus Plasma dualbooting on both.

When someone is new to Linux, they get the idea that there is a desktop war... that they should try to switch everyone they know to Linux. If a friend has a problem with windows and asks for help, their "solution" is to get the friend to install Linux. I will address some issues concerning this attitude in this post.

The top two reasons given as to why people should switch to Linux are usually privacy and security. However, neither option is a slam dunk. Windows 10 has virtual secure mode using virtualization to separate the userspace from the kernel, it automatically updates (not installing updates was a big security issue in previous versions. Now, you can set active hours so updates and reboots don't happen while you're working or even pause for up to 35 days, but you must install security updates), and comes with built-in virus ransomware protection as well as a firewall, the user is no longer root by default, etc.

In order for someone to somehow have privacy in Linux, they have to stop trading their privacy away. Google, Amazon, Facebook etc. did not start out as huge multi-billion dollar companies. They got there because of the use and support of millions of people. Windows 10 now allows you to address privacy during install, but even if it didn't, you'd have to ask yourself: am I giving them more of my data than I give apps on my Android phone, Amazon with their echo installed in my house, Google with their dot, through searches, etc. Facebook through my detailing of my private life on their forum, etc. People say they value privacy, but show through their actions that they're not willing to give up something to get it.

So, we're left with less common reasons, such as the fact you have steam, Netflix, lutris has made gaming easier, etc. First, many of these are not reasons to switch because windows has them too. You don't switch to Linux from Windows in order to play steam games because you can already do that in windows and it's better supported/you have more games. Yes, Linux is getting better there, but it's still worse. For instance, Uplay recently gave away For Honor. Have you ever tried to play For Honor in Linux? As far as Netflix, it's 720p or less - to get 1080p or 4k, you need windows or Mac.

So, that leaves us with customization as another reason....aka more ability to break things. For those who like to tinker and fine tune, it's great and that's a legitimate reason to switch. Privacy is also a legitimate reason to switch. But, they are not reasons for the average person.

But what do you lose by switching? First, you lose the ability to KNOW any hardware you buy will run on your OS. You also lose ease of configuration/install. You can't just pop in an installation disk. Last night, I installed my HP Envy 5055 in Solus. HP printers are very supported in Linux. I installed it via printers in kde. It gave no errors, but would not print. So, I installed it via cups. It would print, but only black and white. Finally, I installed it via the hp software and it worked. Why did 3 ways to configure it exist? Because Linux is not a cohesive whole. Getting hardware to work and work well may be difficult or impossible. Laptop users can attest to that.

You also lose the ability to call a company up for support and have them actually support their product on your OS. You lose the knowledge that any software or service will work with your os because it was tested on it and, if there are any bugs, they will be given priority because people like you keep them in business. You lose the ability to install and use software that gets recommended by your friends or media.

Of course, people do switch every day. The percentage stays about the same, but people do make the choice either because of privacy, the ability to tinker and customize, or some

other reason. But, that doesn't make it a legitimate option for the average person.

https://redd.it/d525iu
@r_linux

tcolors: commandline color picker and palette builder
https://github.com/bcicen/tcolors

https://redd.it/d536nn
@r_linux