Started blocking time for user onboarding. Sounds boring. Actually helped


Felt like I was always fixing random friction instead of preventing it.

So I started carving out 45 mins every Thursday just for improving how we onboard new users.

Sometimes it’s a tiny change, like rewording copy or tweaking the order of steps.

Sometimes it’s a walkthrough that shows how to do something important.

Either way, it’s made a big difference. Fewer support requests. Better activation.

Definitely recommend just protecting that time if you’re not already.


https://redd.it/1ksjg0z
@r_linux

tabdouse: kill browser tabs that put your CPU on fire
https://www.bugsink.com/blog/tabdouse/

https://redd.it/1kskc9t
@r_linux

Libinput will support plugins written in Lua
https://who-t.blogspot.com/2025/05/libinput-and-lua-plugins.html

https://redd.it/1ksl8jk
@r_linux

Terminal Emulator Terminator v2.1.5 "Might as well Release"
https://github.com/gnome-terminator/terminator/releases/tag/v2.1.5

https://redd.it/1ksma3j
@r_linux

Why aren't leading Linux OSes ganging up to make people aware that they don't need to buy new computers when Windows 10 discontinues?

It's a great opportunity to promote Linux OSes and the entire ecosystem. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin have a lot of money to spend in ads. They should seize this opportunity. They should show how Linux can be as easy to use (if not more) as Windows.

https://redd.it/1ksmj5m
@r_linux

Do you think the Windows Subsystem for Linux competes with Desktop Linux?

With the recent open sourcing of WSL by Microsoft, I've seen discussions debating if WSL is overall harmful to Linux, because it allows people who otherwise would switch to Linux to instead keep using windows - especially developers.

Personally, I disagree, my viewpoint is that WSL is used (at least in-part) by developers who are pushing code to Linux servers/devices, and who before WSL likely used Cygwin, git bash, or a Linux virtual machine, and therefore from that perspective, WSL is just a cleaner solution.

Even personally, while I've experimented with running Linux as my primary desktop OS on and off for a while, a mix of proprietary software and gaming means I'm not quite ready to switch yet, and I don't think WSL not existing would change my mind.

I'm curious what the other's thoughts are in terms of competition between WSL and Desktop Linux, and if there are others who primarily interact with Linux via WSL?

https://redd.it/1kso68q
@r_linux

I've hit my stride with the CLI, where to go now?

I'm finally using the CLI for 99% of my personal use. I'm not going to say what distro I'm using because I'm not a stereotype.

YTFZF works fine as a way to watch YouTube if I actually need it.

I'm fine with Links as a browser, a lot of tech sites require JavaScript but I feel like it pushes me to read manuals more.

MPV can stream URLs which is awesome.

Transmission CLI if I need torrents

I just memorized the commands for mounting/unmounting drives, connecting to wifi, checking date/time/power, changing backlight brightness.

VIM is a lot of fun to use, I mostly read public domain books with it. It's also perfectly acceptable for me as a beginner programmer since it forces me to type accurately.

The one thing I need the GUI for is developing games on Godot, but I would like to transition more towards developing games on the command line like NetHack.

Manipulating the file system with commands is much more satisfying and fast than clicking and dragging.

What directions have you gone in your command line journey?

https://redd.it/1ksq8tp
@r_linux

WASM the future for running Windows apps on Linux ?

Yesterday I was watching a YouTube movie about the applications of WebAssembly (WASM) and it said that applications like Photoshop could be packaged as WASM and then run on any machine.

As a matter of fact, Adobe already launched a web version of Photoshop using WASM.

So will WASM be the future for Linux to run any non-Linux app on Linux without the need for Wine or Bottles ? And how will this impact Steam and can it be said that this will in fact open a new way of creating web/desktop apps written from any OS and running anywhere ?

https://redd.it/1ksw2lq
@r_linux

Mozilla to shutdown Pocket on July 8, 2025
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/future-of-pocket

https://redd.it/1kswud0
@r_linux

Diagnosing Swap Usage with 'smem'
https://linuxblog.io/diagnosing-swap-usage-smem-linux/

https://redd.it/1kswgl9
@r_linux

Realized that DE's don't actually matter
https://redd.it/1kt5n7t
@r_linux

Why not CentOS instead of fedora

I’ve noticed a lot of people praising Fedora lately, especially in tech and developer communities. What makes Fedora so popular compared to CentOS Stream? Why do people choose Fedora over CentOS Stream, and in what scenarios is Fedora considered the better option? Wouldn’t CentOS be a more stable option than fedora because Fedora has the latest changes?

https://redd.it/1kt6zvl
@r_linux

Did you know that there's a compatibility layer for macOS apps on Linux?
https://www.darlinghq.org/

https://redd.it/1kt7m05
@r_linux

Malicious npm Packages Target React, Vue, and Vite Ecosystems with Destructive Payloads
https://socket.dev/blog/malicious-npm-packages-target-react-vue-and-vite-ecosystems-with-destructive-payloads

https://redd.it/1kt5v0g
@r_linux

Tux and Gentoo
https://redd.it/1ktew4n
@r_linux

slim and light notebook on a budget

HI there,

Ive been using a basic mint distro for a few weeks now on a hand-me-down laptop from a friend and installed the same on my main pc to more easily enter the BIOS (the win11 install has got some problems all of its own)

The laptop is kind of slow with an i5 6300u and 8gb of RAM. I really enjoy the experimenting with linux and the option to have a pc on the go and therefore would like to get a slim and light notebook to replace this laptop.

Have you got any recommendations for any

or Tips on hardware, what to get or to avoid because of issues or incompatibilities with common linux distros ?

https://redd.it/1ktef4c
@r_linux

Open Thincast with RDP-file from terminal?

Hello!
I'm almost at total noob when it comes to Linux. I've given it a few shots since early 2000's when it was a hassle to find drivers to most things you would connect to your computer, but now it feels like it has major support and actually makes life easier – thanks pewdiepie for pushing me over the edge :)


I still need to connect to my work environment every now and then, and I have been using Thincast which works splendidly, but one thing buggs me. I can either start thincast and connect with my settings, or I can connect automatically with an RDP-settings file I saved from the software. However, I don't really want to double click the RDP-file every time. I've installed Ulauncher to be able to search for any software or app with a simple key binding, but I can't seem to make a shortcut to open Thincast with the specified RDP-settings file.

Thincast is installed with flatpak and I can launch the software via terminal with 'flatpak run om.thincast.client' but I can't seem to make it open with the file. It must be possible since I can just double click the RDP-file, right?!


I appreciate all help!

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

What does Wayland actually do that X11 doesnt?

I've seen a lot of discourse in linux circles discussing the improvements being made to wayland, getting seemingly near feature parity with X11 yet I haven't seen many people discuss why wayland exists in the first place and what it brings to the table

Seriously, for something as simple as a compositor it has really taken up a lot of linux headspace and I'm sure development time for a loooong time, other than tearing which I believe is mitigated pretty well by TearFree and fractional scaling what exactly does Wayland do that warrants yet another painful and slow migration that will further kneecap program and hardware compatibility?

From what I can understand Wayland serves to put the onus of implementing and mainting the clipboard, global hotkeys, screenshots, screen recording, screen sharing, multi monitor, virtual desktop and various other compositor apis onto desktop environment developers, forcing them out of the blue to reimplement a lot of rendering functionality for no real upside if they dont want to/cant use kwin, mutter or wlroots in their DE. I'm sure there were security concerns of having all this stuff baked into X11 but isnt it kind of a non issue? If you run a nefarious program in linux or are on the same network as john haxalot with no firewall then chances are you're fucked and Waylands compartmentalization wont really soften the blow, it seems like building a 1000 mile high fence but its only 10 inches wide

Semantics aside, what does Wayland stand to provide for the end user? In my eyes its yet another push for a big hype cycle that in the end wont really make a difference for the end user other than breaking a lot of older software and handing nvidia users another L, especially pre 900 series users who literally cannot use their gpu to accelerate anything worth a damn in wayland.

Am I missing something? I will lose a jillion karma from this idc I'm genuinely curious

https://redd.it/1ktkah5
@r_linux

Why I love Linux, but...

I've bounced between Linux and Windows quite a bit — but every time I land back on Linux, it feels like home. And out of all the distros I’ve tried, Zorin OS stands out as the absolute best.

The design is stunning, the icons are modern and clean, the GRUB is well-handled, and overall, it’s incredibly smooth and polished. It really does feel like the “macOS of Linux” — but even better in some ways. It’s probably the most beginner-friendly and visually satisfying Linux experience I’ve had.

And one thing I absolutely have to mention:
🔁 The GNOME workspace experience — especially the 3D workspace switching — is one of the best desktop environments I've ever used. It's not just functional; it's beautiful. Moving between tasks feels cinematic and intuitive. Windows doesn’t even come close.

But… there’s always a but.

Despite how much I love Zorin and Linux in general, I keep dual-booting with Windows. Not because I want to, but because sometimes I have to. Here’s why:

❌ No official apps: Still no native WhatsApp desktop client. No Microsoft Office (yes, I know about LibreOffice and OnlyOffice — but collaboration still breaks when everyone else is using Word). Adobe Creative Cloud? Forget it. These are essential for my work and day-to-day tasks.
❌ Hardware limitations: One big one for me — no fingerprint sensor support. Works perfectly in Windows, doesn’t even register in Linux. And no, I don’t want to go deep into GitHub threads and forums trying to patch something basic.
❌ Peripheral support: Getting printers, scanners, or even some touchpad gestures to work fully still sometimes feels like a project, not plug-and-play.
❌ Software ecosystem bias: Most commercial apps are still Windows/macOS-first. Open-source alternatives are great, but in business and creative work, proprietary tools are often non-negotiable.
⚠️ Gaming: It’s come a long way, and I genuinely admire what Valve and the community have done — but gaming outside of Steam still isn’t seamless. Easy anti-cheat and other services can be hit or miss.
✅ DRM streaming actually works now: I have to give Linux credit here — Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others do work now thanks to Widevine support in Chrome and Firefox. That used to be a dealbreaker, but not anymore.

So yeah, Zorin OS is probably the closest Linux has come to being my daily driver. It’s the most “complete” distro I’ve used. But in 2025, if you rely on certain apps or hardware features, dual-booting still feels like a necessary compromise.

To those who’ve gone full Linux — how do you deal with these gaps? Do you just avoid certain tools or switch your workflow entirely?

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

The Future of Flatpak (lwn.net)
https://lwn.net/Articles/1020571/

https://redd.it/1ktos60
@r_linux

Linux Installs on 2 drives

Do any Linux installers allow you to install Linux on one drive and put /home on another without manual partitioning?

Fedora's Anaconda installer use to allow you to select multiple drives during the install but it would just put them in an LVM and it would appear as just 1 large storage pool.

I usually have a smaller SSD that I install my boot and / partition on, but I have a larger 1TB SSD that I install /home too.

However, after recently installing Linux on one of my kid's computer, I was wondering why this wasn't an option. i.e Select Erase Disk and let the installer handle partitioning, but it would be nice to have a check box to say install /home to another drive.

https://redd.it/1ktqj9e
@r_linux