NordVPN Embraces Open Source By Releasing Its Linux GUI On GitHub (nerds.xyz)
(Tuesday October 14, 2025 @11:30PM (BeauHD)
from the OSS-FTW dept.)
- Reference: 0179788672
- News link: https://linux.slashdot.org/story/25/10/14/2115252/nordvpn-embraces-open-source-by-releasing-its-linux-gui-on-github
- Source link: https://nerds.xyz/2025/10/nordvpn-linux-gui-open-source-snap/
[1]BrianFagioli shares a report from NERDS.xyz:
> NordVPN has [2]open sourced its Linux GUI on GitHub, giving the community [3]full access to the code behind its graphical client . The move follows a 70 percent surge in daily active Linux users since the GUI's debut earlier this year, showing clear demand for a user friendly VPN experience on the platform. Alongside the previously open sourced command line tool, the GUI codebase is now available for anyone to audit, modify, and contribute to. While NordVPN's core backend infrastructure remains proprietary, the company says the open source release reflects its commitment to transparency and collaboration with the Linux community. The GUI can also now be installed with a single command using Snap, simplifying setup and ensuring automatic updates across distributions.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~BrianFagioli
[2] https://nerds.xyz/2025/10/nordvpn-linux-gui-open-source-snap/
[3] https://github.com/NordSecurity/nordvpn-linux
> NordVPN has [2]open sourced its Linux GUI on GitHub, giving the community [3]full access to the code behind its graphical client . The move follows a 70 percent surge in daily active Linux users since the GUI's debut earlier this year, showing clear demand for a user friendly VPN experience on the platform. Alongside the previously open sourced command line tool, the GUI codebase is now available for anyone to audit, modify, and contribute to. While NordVPN's core backend infrastructure remains proprietary, the company says the open source release reflects its commitment to transparency and collaboration with the Linux community. The GUI can also now be installed with a single command using Snap, simplifying setup and ensuring automatic updates across distributions.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~BrianFagioli
[2] https://nerds.xyz/2025/10/nordvpn-linux-gui-open-source-snap/
[3] https://github.com/NordSecurity/nordvpn-linux
Gross. (Score:3)
So I took a look at it and it's all Go and Python. I would recommend people use [1]PIA [privateint...access.com] which has a [2]C++/Qt client [github.com] and doesn't need a 2GB snap package to run because they have actually OS packages.
[1] https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/
[2] https://github.com/pia-foss/desktop
Re: (Score:2)
Er... it is a GUI. And totally optional. NordVPN supports OpenVPN protocol (as well as IPSec, SOCKS5, and a bunch of others).
The GUI client is to make things easy and to support NordLynx. If you don't want it then don't use it. Complaining about a non-issue is ridiculous.
Re: Gross. (Score:2)
I'll take the "embrace open source" more seriously when they release Surfshark (which they also own) so someone can fix their memory leaks and random "lets show an eternal floating toolbar window... sometimes" bugs.