Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter Issue 826

Ubuntu Weekly News
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Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 826 for the week of February 4 - 10, 2024

In this Issue

  • In Memoriam - Gunnar Hjalmarsson
  • Ubuntu Stats
  • Hot in Support
  • LoCo Events
  • Ubuntu @ FOSSASIA Summit 2024
  • A dev progress update on ubuntu desktop provisioning
  • Linuxfest Northwest
  • Ubuntu UK - Real Ale Train
  • Ubuntu EKS images now running on Jammy (22.04) from EKS 1.29 onward
  • Enable low latency features in the generic Ubuntu kernel for 24.04
  • Thunderbird beta snap built from source - call for testing and next steps for Noble
  • Noble Numbat 24.04 Wallpaper Competition
  • Hello everyone, I bring good news from Kubuntu
  • Other Community News
  • Ubuntu Cloud News
  • Canonical News
  • In the Blogosphere
  • Other Articles of Interest
  • Featured Audio and Video
  • Meeting Reports
  • Upcoming Meetings and Events
  • Updates and Security for Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, and 23.10
  • And much more!

General Community News

In Memoriam - Gunnar Hjalmarsson

Aaron Prisk advises of the passing of Gunnar Hjalmarsson (gunnarhj); a long time contributor to Ubuntu and Debian. “
 his passing is a tremendous loss.” This thread shares cherished memories and accolades from his associates.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/in-memoriam-gunnar-hjalmarsson/42284/

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open: 143904 (+60)
  • Critical: 324 (+2)
  • Unconfirmed: 72606 (+37)

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Translations

  • Ukrainian: 88.01% (38133/1094)
  • German: 86.47% (43039/194)
  • French: 82.33% (56217/7292)
  • Spanish: 80.23% (62902/5075)
  • Swedish: 77.73% (70839/1026)

Hot in Support

Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions

Ask (and answer!) questions at: https://askubuntu.com/

Ubuntu Forums Top 5 Threads

Find more support at: https://ubuntuforums.org/

LoCo Events

The following LoCo team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks:

Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the respective LoCo Team calendar to browse upcoming events.

Please see:

The Hub

Ubuntu @ FOSSASIA Summit 2024

Youngbin Han has posted details of the FOSSASIA Summit 2024 event. The event is scheduled for 8 April 2024, with details and links provided.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-fossasia-summit-2024/42180

A dev progress update on ubuntu desktop provisioning

Tim Holmes-Mitra provides a ‘dev progress update’ on Ubuntu Desktop provisioning; as a continuation of the prior ‘installation to provisioning’ post (link provided or see UWN issue 825). We’re provided details, and given links to the code and more, as well as details of what maybe achieved, though some maybe deferred to the 24.10 cycle.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/a-dev-progress-update-on-ubuntu-desktop-provisioning/42183

Linuxfest Northwest

Valorie Zimmerman asks if others from main Ubuntu or flavors are going to LFNW April 26-28 2024 in Bellingham WA USA. Valorie tells us she would like to have a table and arrange dinner reservations. More representatives for the event is sought. Links are provided.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/linuxfest-northwest/42196

Ubuntu UK - Real Ale Train

Alan Pope in recording the event “Ubuntu UK - Real Ale Train” gives us the date (12 May 2024), a link, and more. With a diagram showing how real ale, steam trains, plus nerdy chat converge to create a perfect event, how can we miss it ?

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-uk-real-ale-train/42210

Ubuntu EKS images now running on Jammy (22.04) from EKS 1.29 onward

Carlos Bravo tells us AWS EKS images are based on jammy (22.04) from EKS 1.29 and later for AMD64 and ARM64 instances, with the 6.2 Linux kernel.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-eks-images-now-running-on-jammy-22-04-from-eks-1-29-onward/42223

Enable low latency features in the generic Ubuntu kernel for 24.04

Andrea Righi writes another blog about low latency features for the generic Ubuntu 24.04 kernel (prior post found in UWN issue 825). We’re told the investigation has proceeded, aiming for an intended goal. Here we are told the results thus far (using Linux 6.8 kernel). The post can be somewhat technical, before drawing the conclusion that there is no significant performance regression. “Therefore, it seems reasonable to consider including these changes in the next Ubuntu kernel for the 24.04 release.”

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/enable-low-latency-features-in-the-generic-ubuntu-kernel-for-24-04/42255

Thunderbird beta snap built from source - call for testing and next steps for Noble

Sebastien Bacher writes about the Thunderbird snap which has been repacking upstream binaries. This change will build from source, allowing other architectures and more. We’re told this is now available in the beta branch for testing (rev437) and asked to test it and report feedback. We’re advised how to do this, and told the hope is this will be provided as the default for Ubuntu noble (24.04).

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/thunderbird-beta-snap-built-from-source-call-for-testing-and-next-steps-for-noble/42294

Noble Numbat 24.04 Wallpaper Competition

Aaron J Prisk tells us the Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat) Wallpaper Competition is on. We are also introduced to the four categories of submission: Mascot theme, digital/abstract, nature, and other. Submissions need to select their submission category. We’re also informed AI generated artwork is not allowed, along with other rules, and dates of the competition. links to prior release competitions are provided for comparison.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/noble-numbat-24-04-wallpaper-competition/42300

Hello everyone, I bring good news from Kubuntu

Rick Timmis gives us some details about himself, and his journey with Ubuntu/Kubuntu. With links to recent Kubuntu announcements, Rick moves to a new and updated kubuntu.org which will be ready for Kubuntu 24.04 LTS release. We’re asked to help with this new site by giving it a test, and report any problems, or parts needing to be improved at Rick’s provided Github link.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/hello-everyone-i-bring-good-news-from-kubuntu/42332

Other Community News

Ubuntu Studio: Noble Numbat updates for February

This Ubuntu Studio development update starts with the news that the new installer is working, giving us some screenshots as proof. Alas the screenshots also show the branding still needs some tweaking, before moving to better news about the Ubuntu Studio Audio Configuration feature that is coming, as well as a Dummy Audio Device that can help some advanced users. Discussion moves to a new ubuntu-edu-music package (made in conjunction with Edubuntu team) which will aid Music Education users. We’re told Ubuntu Studio 24.04 will be a great release, with thanks to financial backers that enable this work, with links for more details.

https://ubuntustudio.org/2024/02/noble-numbat-updates-for-february/

Ubuntu Cloud News

Canonical News

In the Blogosphere

Kubuntu 24.04 LTS Is Switching to the Calamares Installer by Default

Marius Nestor writes about what the Kubuntu development team has reported to be in Kubuntu 24.04 LTS. The first item covered is the usage of the Calamares installer, before reminding us KDE Plasma 5.27 will be used at release. To ensure Kubuntu 24.04 will be stable, the hiring of Scarlett Gately Moore is also covered.

https://9to5linux.com/kubuntu-24-04-lts-is-switching-to-the-calamares-installer-by-default

Nautilus File Manager Is Getting a New Global Search Mode in GNOME 46

Marius Nestor reminds us the GNOME 46 release is still months away, but writes here about the Nautilus file manager which will be part of that release. The new features and improvements include better file management, improved discoverability of custom folder icons, detection of copy/moves over the 4GB limit on FAT file-systems, and more. Along with brief descriptions of the improvements, we’ve given a link to the merge request on which the article is based.

https://9to5linux.com/nautilus-file-manager-is-getting-a-new-global-search-mode-in-gnome-46

Snaps & Ubuntu Core Desktop Talked Up At FOSDEM 2024

Michael Larabel informs us of a talk given by Canonical engineer Till Kamppeter at FOSDEM 2024 about the Snap packaging format. We’re also told it included a focus on the Ubuntu Core Desktop, which Michael notes there are several areas still to be addressed. A link to the FOSDEM presentation is provided too.

https://www.phoronix.com/news/FOSDEM-2024-Snaps

Ubuntu Core Desktop Delayed, Won’t Be Released in April

Joey Sneddon blogs that the Ubuntu Core Desktop won’t be released alongside Ubuntu 24.04 LTS in April. With a quote from Tim Holmes-Mittra from Canonical, we’re reminded April was an aim, not a guarantee.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2024/02/ubuntu-core-desktop-delayed

Other Articles of Interest

Featured Audio and Video

Ubuntu Security Podcast: Episode 218

“AppArmor unprivileged user namespace restrictions are back on the agenda this week as we survey the latest improvements to this hardening feature in the upcoming Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, plus we discuss SMTP smuggling in Postfix, runC container escapes and Qualys’ recent disclosure of a privilege escalation exploit for GNU libc and more.”

https://ubuntusecuritypodcast.org/episode-218/

Ubuntu Portugal Podcast: Episode 285 - Bruxelas nas Couves

“O Diogo foi passear o seu Fairphone 4 com Unav no interior de um tubo de alumĂ­nio que viaja a uma velocidade de 500 nĂłs, para visitar terras exĂłticas e misteriosas na Capital do ImpĂ©rio, onde se encontrou com uma comunidade de indĂ­genas obcecados com estelas rectangulares de vidro - e ainda passou pela lendĂĄria Fosdem, onde encontrou amigos novos e outros de longa data e trouxe relatos fascinantes de culturas longĂ­nquas. Pelo caminho, ainda conversĂĄmos sobre perigos para a democracia, algoritmos de “shadow ban”, os fofinhos Raspberry Pi, desventuras com Home Assistant e RAM na engorda.”

https://podcastubuntuportugal.org/e285/

Meeting Reports

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • Main Inclusion Requests (MIR) Status: Tue, February 13, 3:30pm – 4:00pm
  • Technical Board: Tue, February 13, 8pm – 9pm
  • High-Performance Computing Team: Wed, February 14, 16:30 - https://meet.jit.si/Ubuntu-HPC
  • Ubuntu Foundations: Thu, February 15, 4pm – 5pm
  • Matrix Council Meeting: meets once a week, on Thursdays 17:00 UTC.

Times shown are UTC unless otherwise specified. For more details and farther dates please visit: https://fridge.ubuntu.com/calendars/

Updates and Security for Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, and 23.10

Security Updates

Ubuntu 20.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2025

Ubuntu 22.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2027

Ubuntu 23.10 Updates

End of Life: July 2024

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Archive

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Further News

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Conclusion

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Credits

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Glossary of Terms

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