WHY NOT?
WHY NOT?
Dear Linux Magazine Reader,
Our cover story this month on the competing desktop technologies
Xgl and AIGLX highlights yet another example of the rivalries at play in the ever-changing world of open source. But at least these fledglings get along better than many others in the nest. There is something about the GPL that helps rivals get along. Beneath all the com-plications (some personal and some technical) is the realization that, if your code is better, I’d be crazy not to use it, and if my code is better, you’d be crazy not to use it. Of course, problems always arise around this issue of what you mean by “better.” You’ll learn lots more about Xgl and AIGLX later in this issue. For now, I’ll return to another rivalry that has been in the news recently. I used this space two months ago to give my opinion on the quality of the rhetoric that has recently passed between the supporters of KDE and Gnome. (To summarize, my position is: everyone should just choose the desktop they like and quit screaming about the desktop they don’t like.) Of course, a few loud voices sound like a revolution. The greater portion of Gnome and KDE users share my sense that there is no very good reason for trashing someone else’s desktop. Still, since I made a point of singling out the controversy, I should also shine some light on a more positive development.
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
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
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.