Plasma Bigscreen Returns
A developer discovered that the Plasma Bigscreen feature had been sitting untouched, so he decided to do something about it.
Plasma Bigscreen was a great idea when it was in active development, and it's still a great idea today. This project aims to create a Plasma shell suitable for large-screen devices (TVs) that is navigated via remote (instead of keyboard and mouse). Bigscreen included a TV-friendly launcher for apps and even included mini apps, known as Mycroft Skills.
The project showed considerable potential, but for whatever reason, activity and interest fizzled. Recently, Canadian developer Espi decided it was time to pick up the project’s mantle and give it new life. In short shrift, Espi went to work, making some necessary changes to the user interface, home screen, the Settings app, and more.
In a recent blog post, Espi said, "I started with some housekeeping work with the repository. I added a README and a REUSE license checker to the CI. I then ported the QML library to be a declarative plugin and removed a bunch of abandoned code folders that were not used anywhere in the codebase."
Clearly, Espi is serious about the Bigscreen project, but he has since returned to his main project, Plasma Mobile. In the same blog, he states, "I have since returned to working on Plasma Mobile (due to having limited time as a volunteer contributor), but I can still step in and help review merge requests and guide new contributors to the project."
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
-
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.
-
More than 43 Million Lines of Code in Linux Kernel 7.2
Using the cloc utility, Michael Larabel of Phoronix discovered that Linux kernel 7.2 has over 43 million lines of code.
-
Kubuntu Focus Goes Ultra
The Kubuntu Focus team has upped the performance ante of its M2 and Zr laptops with the latest, greatest CPUs from Intel.