Sparkling gems and new releases from the world of Free and Open Source Software
FOSSPicks
Nate explores the top FOSS including the latest version of the Cinnamon desktop, a graphical ping monitoring tool, a handy subscription tracker, and a fiendish pixel logic game.
Terms and Conditions Apply
Since Qualcomm's acquisition of Arduino in October 2025, it's been quick to update its Terms and Conditions, as well as the privacy policy for its cloud and AI offerings. Adafruit Industries addressed this in a LinkedIn post (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/)that didn't pull any punches, saying that some of these changes "effectively reshape Arduino from an open community platform into a tightly controlled corporate service with deep data extraction built in."
These are harsh words, given Arduino's long tradition of publishing files detailing PCB schematics and use of open source firmware. In a blog post in late November (https://blog.arduino.cc/2025/11/21/the-arduino-terms-of-service-and-privacy-policy-update-setting-the-record-straight/), Arduino sought to assure users that only attempts to reverse engineer its SaaS applications are forbidden and that "Anything that was open, stays open." However, Adafruit founder Limor "Ladyada" Fried stated in a December post on The New Stack (https://thenewstack.io/adafruit-arduinos-rules-are-incompatible-with-open-source/), "If you go to the Arduino software page and the cloud page, you're strongly encouraged to use the cloud editor/web IDE and cloud plans … that still means the restrictions apply to the tools many new users are being steered into as their primary Arduino environment." Fried also flagged concerns about broad monitoring rights embedded in the new Terms of Service.
This story begs the question: How open can code truly be if it's shuttered by restrictive terms and conditions?
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Digital Autonomy
• The Answer Was Already on the Shelf
• Changing the Chip Industry: How Public Investment Has Grown Open Silicon
• United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
• EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
• France Says “Au Revoir” to Microsoft
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Surpasses Double-Digit Market Share
According to two sources, the Linux operating system has hit a major milestone in market share that naysayers thought would never happen.
-
AI Helped Develop a Linux Exploit
A use-after-free race exploit was discovered and exploited on CentOS Stream 9.
-
Yet Another Linux Kernel Vulnerability Discovered
Affecting millions of systems, a kernel flaw discovered by Qualys could allow users to gain root privileges.
-
Ubuntu 26.10 to Include Ubuntu Certified Hardware Check
If you've ever wondered if your laptop or PC is officially certified to run Ubuntu, that curiosity will soon be met.
-
Substantial Update to IPFire Now Available
The lastest version of IPFire features a fundamental change to how the system handles DNS.
-
Gnome Working on Test Center App to Make Testing Easier
It's now possible to test experimental features on the Gnome desktop without worrying that you'll break things.
-
New Vulnerability Discovered in Linux Kernel
Hiding out for nearly 15 years, the Ghostlock vulnerability allows a standard logged-in user to gain root privileges.
-
New Linux Flaw Lets Attackers Escape VMs
A 16-year-old vulnerability allows an attacker to escape a virtual machine, gain access to the host, and execute malicious code.
-
Hannah Montana Linux Is Back!
Developer Noah Cagle decided the world needed the once obscure but beloved Linux distribution and gave it a decidedly pink refresh.
-
System76 Refreshes the Lemur Laptop
If you're looking for a laptop with tons of power and battery, look no further than the latest iteration of the System76 Lemur Pro.