(rant) We need a better way to collaborate on desktop standards

[StatusNotifierItem](<https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Specifications/StatusNotifierItem/>) is a very commonly used standard protocol for displaying little icons in the tray area that can be interacted with, and can provide menus, etc.

I wanted to submit an issue/pull request to help clarify something, so I went looking for where the source is hosted.

I ended up at this issue: <https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xdg/xdg-specs/-/issues/44>.

> It's not an accepted specification (eg. it's not published on https://standards.freedesktop.org/ or listed in `specs.idx). I'd advise contacting the author (if you can find who that is).

It's used by hundreds, if not thousands of Linux applications, yet it's not an accepted standard? And we don't even know who the author is?

Surely we can do better than this. I know Linux is all about forking and freedom of choice, but standards are all about centralization of the way programs interact, so we ought to have a more centralized approach for collaborating on widely used standards.

https://redd.it/1kmfgid
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HDR software

Hello everyone , this post might interest you.

I decided to post here cause its related to linux, so im proud to say i started a project for HDR on linux , but not normal hdr , its a step up from Dolby Vision , and belive me the diffrence between sdr and OpenHDR++ is insane , and yeah the name of the project is OpenHDR++ , and as the name says , the project is completely open source and free , its under the MIT licence, this only works in mpv as i am speaking , but support for other video players will come in the future cause im a one man crew currently, you're all free to use it and do whatever with it , support is only for linux currently , here is the link for the github repo : https://github.com/143domi1/OpenHDR-

https://redd.it/1kmc4bt
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Whatever you say LinuVinulya
https://redd.it/1kmj44u
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I installed Puppy Linux on a laptop I thought was too old to use Linux for my dad

I am impressed with Linux, BionicPup32 could revive an HP Mini 210 (32 bit CPU), I thought that it was too old to fix, now my dad says it runs better than it did when he bought it with windows 7.

The only problem that I have with it is that my dad only speaks Spanish, and puppy doesn't have a Spanish translation.

I don't know why it came with windows 7 when XP would have been a better match for that hardware, or why doesn't the laptop companies just install Puppy with such hardware.


I really love Linux, and I wish people didn't throw away their old computers when there is a good solution to e-waste with puppy.

https://redd.it/1kmjm3m
@r_linux

The Framework 13 laptop
https://marius.federated.id/posts/2025/may/framework

https://redd.it/1kmlokx
@r_linux

From KISS to Complex and Back Again?

Hello,

I'm reaching out to the community to discuss a topic that's been on my mind: the future direction of Linux filesystems and display servers.

As an Arch Linux user, I've historically embraced new technologies like systemd, PipeWire, and Wayland, rapidly adopting and using them without significant issues, reflecting my interest in bleeding-edge tools.

I've also been observing a trend where modern solutions are moving away from the KISS principle towards more comprehensive solutions with tight tool integration, with systemd as an example, and I believe Btrfs and ZFS further illustrate this.

However, regarding filesystems, I've encountered some challenges. While Btrfs, like systemd, deviates from KISS, the core challenge for me was realizing that for my desktop, ext4's KISS is desirable for its performance without the extra management of more complex filesystems.

While I understand the rationale for complex filesystems, the simplicity of the Wayland protocol compared to X11 is notable. Furthermore, Btrfs can introduce performance overhead.

Given my understanding of these trade-offs, I'm curious why filesystems appear to be increasing in complexity while display servers are becoming simpler.

My intention isn't to provoke conflict, but to understand if my observations are accurate and if others share similar thoughts.

https://redd.it/1kmf5lr
@r_linux

KDE input handling in spring 2025

Interesting blog post by Jakob Petsovits about what has been going on in KDE regarding input handling.

https://blogs.kde.org/2025/05/14/input-handling-in-spring-2025/

https://preview.redd.it/dahvx0kv6t0f1.png?width=2182&format=png&auto=webp&s=3649d3256d55d08f752c837245c2b386197f291b

https://redd.it/1kmpz9n
@r_linux

So, this is kinda neat combo :)
https://redd.it/1kmscbf
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Which has crisper fonts? Ubuntu or Fedora?

Trying to do some word processing in Linux, and found that no matter what config I adjusted the fonts in Arch, Mint, Debian and Void, were weirdly blurry for me. Fuzzy, with little shadows around them. I've retreated back to Ubuntu, which is much better, but I've heard good things about Fedora. Does anyone know whether Fedora running Vanilla Gnome has that production-level crispness the way Ubuntu does? I'd like to see how close I can get to Mac's fonts without shelling out a down payment on a Kia for them.

https://redd.it/1kmwt7z
@r_linux

Any good drawing program for Fedora 42?

Im trying to work in Krita and it keeps flickering on me when i do my work. i tried a few fixes and its not as bad, but now sometimes the save option will bug out on me. Fix or another program? This is frustrating

https://redd.it/1kmu9ou
@r_linux

Boot Linux, LOADLIN code (Take Me Home, Country Roads parody)

I created this song parody in 1999 when I was addicted to Linux and I was on a vacation with no computer access. My complicated triple-boot computer setup included now-forgotten LOADLIN.EXE program to boot to Linux...

Almost heaven,
UNIX system
With all the sources,
It's free software
UNIX is old soft,
older than the DOS,
younger than the mainframes,
it's the perfect OS

R: Boot Linux,
LOADLIN code,
Boot the system
I belong
Memory protection,
Multitasking,
Boot Linux,
LOADLIN code

All the memory
Can be used there
And you can use the swapfile
To get even mooore
Dark text-mode terminal
With a command line,
Misty taste of screenshine,
Tear drop in my eye

R

I heared its voice yesterday it called me
My books remind me of my comp far away
Driving down the road I get the feeling I should boot it
Yesterday, yesterday...

https://redd.it/1kmz9vz
@r_linux

Linux Plumbers 2025, call for participation via your work.
https://lpc.events/blog/current/index.php/2025/05/14/submission-time-for-linux-plumbers-2025/

https://redd.it/1kn0u35
@r_linux

Google to pay $1.38 billion over privacy violations
https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/05/google-to-pay-1-38-billion-over-privacy-violations

https://redd.it/1kn2w5u
@r_linux

why did kde devs name it that
https://redd.it/1kn4pll
@r_linux

Linux Swap Table Code Shows The Potential For Huge Performance Gains
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-Swap-Table-Patches

https://redd.it/1kn53iw
@r_linux

Linux Compatible Gaming laptops

Hi everyone, fellow linux user with a question, I live in a country System 76 , Tuxedo , Framework, etc don't ship to. Last few years, been gaming on Steam Deck, but it's getting older and deck 2 is not here yet. So I've started looking for laptop options.

as I mentioned linux manufacturers don't ship to my country ( I could use third party for shipping, but there are whole separate caveats there ).

Big oems are all available though, Lenovo, Asus, Msi, etc. So if anyone has tested, are there gaming laptops by big oems that work well with linux ?

I'm not picky and have no problem getting my hands dirty and setting it up myself, but if there are no drivers... well then there are no drivers :))





https://redd.it/1kn5o9a
@r_linux

Recreating windows active directory experience on linux

For mods: this is not support question, this is meant for discussion. I'm not asking how to do something, I'm asking for opinions on doing something.

So I got this idea in my head and I can't get it out of my head. Back in school, I remember computers being setup with active directory (windows) where you can log into your account on any computer connected to server.

I know what you're gonna say "pfft, yeah so ldap?", here's the catch not quite. LDAP allows for login on all systems with single login which I've done and its quite great but on windows you would get your wallpaper, desktop settings and all the files.

And that gave me an idea. How about tapping into login process, with ldap, so that after successful ldap authentication, home directory is mounted via nfs from server. So that home directory is kept on server and you can log in on any machine and you get your entire home directory.

I'm not sure how useful that would be, and if the os version differs not to mention if DE/os differs, it could cause quite a lot of trouble where each de/software changes configs that are from newer or older versions.

I'm also not sure if anyone has done anything like this before, so what do you guys think about this idea?

https://redd.it/1kn5xrn
@r_linux

In celebration of accessibility | Georges Stavracas
https://feaneron.com/2025/05/15/in-celebration-of-accessibility/

https://redd.it/1kncvog
@r_linux

Stuck on downloading Linux mint for Chromebook
https://redd.it/1kng6t8
@r_linux

What's up with Gnome?

I recently switched to linux after facing some issues with windows (bitlocker was tweaking and the keys never worked so i nuked it and it downgraded to 10 from 11, I prefer 10 anyways but it seemed to annoy me again with other issues so yeah I now switched to linux).

Anyways so I decided upon the Fedora Workstation distro cuz I wanted to forget about windows as a whole so an entirely different ui seemed the way to go, and put that on the hdd on my laptop, with windows still on the c drive SSD, it works amazing, just as fast as windows on an SSD even though fedora is on an HDD which I thought was wild. I also bought an external SSD where I put arch with gnome but I wanted to try out kde so I nuked arch and put debian kde on it (because I don't like the installation process of arch sorry), and I was able to do all kinds of shenanigans on itz right click drop down menu, themes, THE APPLICATIONS TAB CAN MOVE WHERE I WANT IT TO GO? In gnome I have a desktop folder in my default home directory and for what? No reason cuz I can't even put things on the desktop? I love gnome's ui, but why is it so inertial with the way that it is, is there a better way to customise gnome?




https://redd.it/1kni2sd
@r_linux

Yes, curl !
https://redd.it/1knitcy
@r_linux