Issue #203 / Oct 2017

Highlights:

This month we feature some cool open source tools for automating your home, including Home Assistant and the Adafruit IO API. We also explore a streaming solution based on the Raspberry Pi Zero and take a look at what’s ahead for the upcoming Ubuntu 17.10 release.
Other highlights within:

• Whonix – a privacy Linux tailored for the TOR network.
• Etckeeper – bring the power of a version control system to the config files of the /etc directory.

Check out our Linux Voice section for a report on tiny Linux distros and a look at some popular application profiling tools.

SERVICE: Welcome

As our industry evolves, we evolve to stay with it. The goal, of course, is to keep delivering exciting and thoughtful content to our readership, and we're proud of how we've managed to do that through the years.

SERVICE: This Month's DVD

openSUSE Leap 42.3 (64-bit Live) and Fedora 26 Workstation (32-bit Live)

NEWS: NEWS

Updates on technologies, trends, and tools

NEWS: Kernel News

Chronicler Zack Brown reports on the latest news, views, dilemmas, and developments within the Linux kernel community.

COVER STORIES: Home Assistant

Control home automation hardware with Home Assistant

Home Assistant brings an open standards approach to home automation and control.

COVER STORIES: Adafruit IO API

IoT communication with the Adafruit IO API

The Adafruit IO API offers a convenient means for network-ready sensors and other components.

COVER STORIES: Streaming with a Pi Zero

Streaming lullabies with a Raspberry Pi Zero

When a much-loved stereo bites the dust, a Raspberry Pi Zero fills in.

REVIEWS: Ubuntu 17.10 Preview

Ubuntu in transition with the new 17.10 release

Ubuntu restarts the alphabet on the Ubuntu 17.10 release, with one small step for Wayland and one giant leap backward from the controversial Unity desktop.

REVIEWS: Whonix

Secure communication on the Internet with Whonix

The curiosity of various players on the Internet is making anonymity increasingly important. The Debian derivative Whonix offers an easy-to-install, comprehensive solution with a complete virtual work environment to protect your privacy.

IN-DEPTH: Etckeeper

Manage configurations

Etckeeper keeps order in global configuration files and prevents problems with accidentally deleted files.

IN-DEPTH: Open Hardware – Technoethical

Free-licensed hardware

One company's quest for open hardware has doubled the Free Software Foundation's list of Respects Your Freedom-certified devices.

IN-DEPTH: WebAssembly

Binary format for the web

The WebAssembly project makes a portable binary for browsers, with a focus on minimizing size and load time. C and C++ programs are used as source, which makes it possible to compile virtually any application for the web.

IN-DEPTH: Programming Snapshot – Mileage AI

Artificial intelligence detects mileage patterns

On the basis of training data in the form of daily car mileage, Mike Schilli's AI program tries to identify patterns in driving behavior and make forecasts.

IN-DEPTH: Charly's Column – Precise Timekeeping

Highly accurate system time

After the idea of procuring an atomic clock failed to thrill the other members of Charly's household, our intrepid columnist simply decided to tap into the timekeeping of a GPS satellite. In doing so, he ensured the kind of punctuality at home that only large data centers actually need. Precisely.

IN-DEPTH: Command Line – crypt

Tales from the crypt commands

If you just need to encrypt a file or two, a descendant of crypt can do the job. Which one you choose depends on your objective.

LINUX VOICE: Introduction

Introduction

This month in Linux Voice.

LINUX VOICE: News

The Linux Voice view on what's going on in the world of Free Software.

"Inner Source" is great in principle, but struggles without the supporting ethical structure of software freedom.

LINUX VOICE: Linux and the Free Market

If you can't exterminate, assimilate

LINUX VOICE: Tiny Distros

Most desktop distros are full of features – but they're pretty bloated, too. Discover super-slim Linux versions that can run on (almost) anything.

LINUX VOICE: FAQ – Solus

Solus

This community-funded distro has big ambitions: a new desktop and rolling releases.

LINUX VOICE: Core Technologies – Profiling

Profiling

We all want our programs to run fast. With profiling, you can locate the code that is slowing you down and fix it.

LINUX VOICE: Doghouse – FOSS Solutions

FOSS Solutions

We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.

LINUX VOICE: FOSSPicks

Sparkling gems and new releases from the world of Free and Open Source Software

Graham tears himself away from updating Arch Linux to search for the best new free software.

LINUX VOICE: Tutorials – Apache Spark Supercomputer

Complete large processing tasks by harnessing Amazon Web Services EC2, Apache Spark, and the Apache Zeppelin data exploration tool.

LINUX VOICE: Tutorials – Ranger

Stop fiddling around with the mouse or trackpad – do your file management in the terminal, with vi-like key bindings.