Issue 217 Dec 2018

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Cover Theme: Innovative Distros

DVD Theme: Linux Magazine Archive DVD

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Public discussions of Linux often focus on the same few distros – Ubuntu, Fedora, SUSE, RHEL – but the FOSS space is home to hundreds of other worthy Linux distributions, and all were created for a reason. This month we examine some promising alternatives. Other highlights include:

• Git Remote Repositories – Our Git workshop continues with a look at how to manage projects with multiple servers
• /proc Filesystem – We show you some example scripts that extract information on running processes

In this month's MakerSpace, we use Python to interface with littleBits IoT blocks. And check out LinuxVoice for an update on the classic Usenet discussion network and a tutorial on RSS.

Issue 216 Nov 2018

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Cover Theme: .NET Core: Running Microsoft’s flagship framework on Linux

DVD Theme: Knoppix 8.2 and Nitrux Linux 1.0.15

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Many in the Linux community don't put much trust in Microsoft, but a new guard in Redmond has been changing its ways. This month, we look at .NET Core, a piece of the .NET framework that Microsoft released under an open source license in 2014. Other highlights this month include:

 • Haiku -- a new beta release of this microkernel system leaves many wondering whether another open source OS has finally arrived.

 • Remote pair programming -- a pair of free tools could help popularize an agile technique that allows remote coders to work together on the same code.

At LinuxVoice, we study the Eqonomize personal finance app and show you how to create a homegrown program that accesses sensor data on your smart phone.

Issue 215 Oct 2018

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Cover Theme: Privacy: Stop snoopers and protect your identity

DVD Theme: Linux Magazine Archive DVD

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This month we study some tricks for improving privacy on your Linux system. You’ll learn how to turn off the webcam and mic when they are not in use, and we’ll show you some extensions and advance configuration settings for dialing up your privacy in Firefox. Other highlights include:

  • RSS Readers – With all the problems associated with getting news from social media, old-school RSS aggregators are making a comeback. We show you some leading contenders for organizing your news feeds.
  • Pi Zero Sailboat – The Node-RED dashboard tool lets you build a simple user interface for your IoT creations.

Also, check out MakerSpace for a look at how to build web-based controls for a Raspberry Pi sailboat, and read on to LinuxVoice for an introduction to memory compression and a tutorial on getting useful information from LibreOffice metadata.

Issue 214 Sep 2018

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Cover Theme: Systemd: Getting more from the elusive new Linux init system

DVD Theme: openSUSE Leap 15.0 and Linux Mint 19 “Tara” Cinnamon Edition

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The Systemd init system is here to stay. You probably know it is running on your system somewhere, but have you gotten inside and explored what you can do with it? This month we take a close look at Systemd.

Other highlights:

  • Facial Recognition -- Snapshot columnist Mike Schilli shows how to integrate a free facial recognition library with your Python scripts.
  • Bee Monitoring -- Beekeepers keep watch over their hive with a Raspberry Pi.

Check out LinuxVoice for a look at how you can participate in science with the BOINC crowd-source analysis framework.

Issue 213 Aug 2018

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Cover Theme: Mapping Tools

DVD Theme: Fedora 28 Workstation and Manjaro XFCE 17.1.10

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This month's issue looks at Linux applications for viewing and customizing maps. You’ll learn how to access and edit geospacial data with QGIS and QMapShack.

Also inside:

  • Free Microblogging Software – You don't have sign away your privacy just to tell your friends about your life.
  • Caddy – A useful little web server with an easy path to HTTPS.

Turn to our MakerSpace section for nine cool Raspberry Pi projects, and visit LinuxVoice for music streaming and recipe collections.

Issue 212 Jul 2018

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Cover Theme: Internet of Things

DVD Theme: Kubuntu 18.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

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Internet of Things: Tools for home automation

The Internet of Things revolution is tailor made for Linux. The ultimate hacker system is certainly well suited for automating the home. This month we report on some tools and techniques for Linux and the Internet of Things. You'll learn about ioBroker -- a universal tool for managing different types of devices from a single interface. You'll also take a tour of the Eclipse IoT project, a collection of libraries and frameworks with the common goal of keeping the Internet of Things open and free.

Other highlights include:

  • Linux on Old Hardware -- no reason to recycle that old computer if you have access to a suitable Linux system.
  • Raspberry Pi 3 B+ -- faster networking, more CPU power, and enhanced wireless support bring new powers to the latest edition of the world's favorite tiny computer.

Turn ahead to this month's LinuxVoice for a tutorial on the Recoll search engine and a look at some cool tools for digitizing audio CDs.

Issue 211 Jun 2018

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Cover Theme: Mycroft

DVD Theme: Linux Mint 18.3 "Mate" and Arch Linux

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You can’t get more sci fi than a little box that listens to your instructions and talks back. Most of the leading personal assistants come in very opaque little boxes, but the open source community is hard at work on finding its own solutions. Mycroft is an open source assistant that comes on a hardware device, but you can also download the software and install it on a Linux system. Other highlights:

• Meltdown and Spectre – These catastrophic hardware bugs have created problems for computer users around world. Find out what Linux developers are doing to clean up the mess.

• Knight’s Tour – Practice your skills with a Python solution to this classic chess puzzle.

Check out MakerSpace for a look at how to control your Raspberry Pi from an Android, and visit LinuxVoice for a tutorial on writing apps with the Qt Modeling Language (QML).

Issue 210 May 2018

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Cover Theme: Free Boot!

DVD Theme: Kali Linux and KaOS

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This month we tune into the Libreboot project – an effort to replace the proprietary firmware in laptop computers with an open source equivalent. Other highlights this month include:

  • Electron – discover how to channel the cross-platform benefits of the web programming paradigm when writing desktop applications.
  • KNIME – a graphical tool that lets you perform complex data analysis with custom workflows.

Also in these pages: check out MakerSpace for a tutorial on building a countdown timer with the Raspberry Pi, and jump to LinuxVoice to code your first Android app using Jasonette.

Issue 209 Apr 2018

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Cover Theme: Is Firefox Back?

DVD Theme: Ubuntu 17.10 “Budgie” and TrueOS Desktop 17.12

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The release of Firefox 57 last November offered new hope that Mozilla's free browser was back at last and ready to compete with Chrome. This month we take up the challenge with a head-on performance comparison of Firefox 57 with Chrome, Vivaldi, and Opera. We also offer some tips on how to clean up the user data stored with your browser and how to configure custom privacy settings.

Elsewhere inside:

  • Kernel Protection – the Kernel Self-Protection initiative promotes safer coding practices for the Linux kernel community.
  • YouTube Metadata – write a script that changes your YouTube metadata automatically, allowing you to roll back to previous profile settings.

Check out MakerSpace for a look at how to control a maker project remotely with the Tkinter Python library, and join us at LinuxVoice for LFTP, the Compendium mind mapper, and more great FOSSPicks from Graham.

Issue 208 Mar 2018

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Cover Theme: Terminal Tuning

DVD Theme: Fedora 27 Workstation (64-bit) and NetBSD 7.1.1

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This month we present some interesting utilities for enhancing your command-line experience. Other highlights include:

* YunoHost -- A cool Linux alternative that easily installs an array of important server applications.

* Lightpack -- Check out this weird technology that lights up the wall behind your TV.

Over at LinuxVoice, you'll learn about the new apt package tool and how it differs from apt-get. We'll also show you how to calibrate your monitor with DisplayCAL.

Issue 207 Feb 2018

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Cover Theme: Inside a Compiler

DVD Theme: Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon (64-bit) and Ubuntu Mate 17.10 (32-bit)

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This month we take a look inside one of the most deeply complex and unfathomable tools in the programmer’s toolkit: the compiler. We also compare the GCC, Clang, and MSVC compilers, with the emphasis on support for C++ standards. Other highlights include:

• Ubuntu 17.10 – Ubuntu gives up the Unity desktop and returns to Gnome. How’s that working out? (page 30).

• Neural Network – This month’s Programming Snapshot puts Python to work on a classic brain teaser. (page 42).

Check out LinuxVoice for alternative directory navigation commands and system rescue with SystemRescueCD. 

Issue 206 Jan 2018

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Cover Theme: Safer Boot

DVD Theme: Ubuntu 17.10 Server and Desktop (64-bit)

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This month we look at the Linux boot process and explore some tools and tricks for better and safer startup, including the Shim first-stage bootloader and the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip. Other highlights include:

  • DDoS Defense – Some providers offer special services aimed at thwarting denial-of-service attacks.
  • MakerSpace – Check out our articles on FM radio and Volumio audio playback on the Raspberry Pi.

Elsewhere up ahead, LinuxVoice looks at audio and video with Audacity and the FFmpeg command-line video editor, and Graham puts the focus on small stuff with minimal browsers and minimal text editors in this month’s FOSSPicks.

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