Linux 6.19.1 Released To Ship Some Early Fixes & Device Quirks

([Linux Kernel] 16 February 06:10 AM EST Linux 6.19.1)

For those preferring to wait for the first point release of a new Linux kernel version before upgrading, Linux 6.19.1 is out today to address some early bugs that made it into the Linux 6.19 kernel stable release one week ago.

Linux 7.0 Merges The Code To Replace The Tux Boot Logo At Build Time

([Linux Kernel] 15 February 08:24 PM EST Alternative Boot Logo)

Linus Torvalds merged the code this weekend that allows easily replacing the Tux penguin boot logo used during the boot process. This new code optionally allows specifying an alternative boot logo at compile/build time.

exFAT Achieves Better Sequential Read Performance With Linux 7.0

([Linux Storage] 15 February 06:15 PM EST Linux 7.0 exFAT)

The open-source Linux file-system driver for supporting Microsoft's exFAT now can deliver better sequential read performance with Linux 7.0 thanks to multi-cluster support.

wlroots 0.20 Nears Release With New Protocols, Enhanced Vulkan Renderer

([Wayland] 15 February 02:17 PM EST wlroots 0.20)

Version 0.20 of the popular wlroots Wayland support library is nearing its official release. Over the past week were two release candidates for wlroots 0.20 were published for this library used by Sway, Wayfire, Cage, Gamescope, and numerous other Wayland compositors.

Linux Kernel Improvement Can Make Hibernation Several Times Faster With Slow SSDs

([Linux Kernel] 15 February 06:48 AM EST Faster Hibernation)

A patch series sent out for review this weekend can significantly improve the system hibernation performance under Linux. Particularly for those with slower SSDs, the patches can make Linux hibernate up to several times faster.

Mesa's KosmicKrisp Vulkan-On-Metal Achieves MoltenVK Feature Parity

([Mesa] 15 February 06:34 AM EST KosmicKrisp)

Announced last year by consulting firm LunarG was KosmicKrisp as a Vulkan-on-Metal driver for efficiently leveraging the Vulkan API on Apple macOS systems as an alternative to the MoltenVK project. KosmicKrisp was upstreamed for Mesa 26.0 and continues making great progress for opening up more Vulkan possibilities in Apple's world.

NFS Server Adds Dynamic Thread Pool Sizing In Linux 7.0

([Linux Storage] 15 February 06:20 AM EST Dynamic Thread Pool Sizing)

The NFS server changes for Linux 7.0 happen to include some nice improvements for this big kernel version number release.

Power Sequencing Driver For PCIe M.2 Connectors Makes It Into Linux 7.0

([Hardware] 15 February 06:07 AM EST PCIe M.2 Connectors In Device Tree)

The power sequencing subsystem updates have been merged for the Linux 7.0 cycle. Typically not an area of the kernel too exciting but one new driver addition is the "pwrseq-pcie-m2" to provide power sequencing for PCIe M.2 connectors.

F2FS Delivers "Several Key Performance Optimizations" With Linux 7.0

([Linux Storage] 14 February 08:26 PM EST F2FS + Linux 7.0)

The Flash Friendly File-System (F2FS) has multiple performance improvements to provide its users with on the in-development Linux 7.0 kernel.

X.Org Server's "Master" Branch Now Closed With Cleaned Up State On "Main"

([X.Org] 14 February 05:47 PM EST xorg-server)

This Valentine's Day there is a lot of red on the screen for the X.Org Server with the code delta as a result of renaming of their main Git development branch and in the process selectively dropping questionable patches to the prior "master" codebase.

Vim 9.2 Released With Experimental Wayland Support, Better HiDPI Display Support

([Free Software] 14 February 03:28 PM EST Vim 9.2)

Vim 9.2 is out today as the newest feature release for this robust and comprehensive text editor. This Valentine's Day release for Vim lovers brings experimental Wayland support, XDG Base Directory specification support, modernized defaults for HiDPI displays, new completion features, and an improved diff mode.

Linux 7.0 Merges Support For Rock Band 4 PS4 / PS5 Guitars Plus More Laptop Quirks

([Hardware] 14 February 11:45 AM EST Linux 7.0 HID)

The HID subsystem changes were merged this week for the ongoing Linux 7.0 kernel merge window. Among the Human Interface Devices (HID) work this cycle were supporting more guitars while also adding more device IDs and different laptop quirks.

Intel Ends Work On Quantum Compiler Open-Source Bits

([Intel] 14 February 09:08 AM EST Intel Quantum Passes)

Following Intel recently discontinuing a number of open-source projects, this week they formally discontinued their Quantum Passes open-source project that was intended to provide additional passes for their LLVM-based compiler in the Intel Quantum SDK.

GNOME OS To Use systemd-confext, RustConn Provides Modern GTK4 Connection Manager

([GNOME] 14 February 07:04 AM EST GNOME OS)

In addition to this week's GNOME 50 beta release, there were also other exciting developments in the GNOME ecosystem.

Linux 7.0 Wires Up Arm's 64-byte Single-Copy Atomic Instructions LS64/LS64V

([Arm] 14 February 06:47 AM EST ARM64 LS64/LS64V)

Beyond all of the exciting Intel/AMD x86_64 changes and improvements to enjoy with the upcoming Linux 7.0, there is one notable ARM64 feature addition this kernel cycle.

Linux 7.0 Lands 8D-8D-8D Octal DTR Support In SPI NAND For Better Performance

([Linux Storage] 14 February 06:23 AM EST 8D-8D-8D Octal DTR)

The Linux Memory Technology Device (MTD) subsystem updates have been merged for the Linux 7.0 kernel and include introducing Octal DTR "8D-8D-8D" support in SPI NAND for better performance.

Firmware Upstreamed For Linux Speaker Support On The ASUS Zenbook 14 UM3406GA

([Hardware] 14 February 06:11 AM EST UM3406GA)

For those that may be considering the new ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3406GA) laptop that has been refreshed for the new AMD Ryzen AI 400 series, Cirrus Logic has now upstreamed the necessary firmware for the cs35l41 audio amplifier for working speaker support.