The author advocates for Linux as a user-friendly, reliable alternative to commercial OSes like Windows and macOS, criticizing the latter's agenda-driven design, intrusive services, and hardware limitations. They highlight Linux's customization, hardware support, and independence from corporate control, while also discussing the challenges and frustrations with other operating systems and UI design trends.
The author switched from Windows to Linux using CachyOS, an Arch-based distro, and reports a mostly smooth transition with hardware working well, some minor issues like mouse compatibility, and successful use for work and gaming, though some challenges remain, especially with certain apps and hardware.
KDE Plasma 6.6 is set to release on February 17, 2026, bringing numerous new features such as a new login manager, enhanced security, improved Wayland support, and customization options, with beta versions available for testing in January.
Kagi has released an alpha version of Orion for Linux, introducing a third browser engine to diversify the Linux browser ecosystem, which is currently dominated by Firefox and Chromium. The move aims to improve WebKitGTK upstream and benefit open source development, but concerns remain about media playback, DRM, and Orion's closed-source status. The developers plan to open source Orion once it becomes self-sufficient, emphasizing business sustainability and IP protection. The community debates the importance of open source for browsers, with some prioritizing privacy and transparency, while others focus on practical issues like media support and OS integration.
Valve's SteamOS 3.7.20 beta introduces the NTSYNC kernel driver to enhance Windows NT synchronization primitives, supporting upcoming improvements in Wine and Proton for better performance in Steam Play, with the driver now loaded by default.
The article discusses how Valve's Steam Frame and SteamOS leverage open source technologies, Flatpak packaging, and Linux to create a flexible, open gaming environment that encourages experimentation, customization, and community contributions, contrasting with more closed ecosystems like Meta's Quest.
Mesa 26.0 has merged a significant ray-tracing improvement for the RADV Vulkan driver, enhancing Unreal Engine 5 performance on Linux, with stable release expected in February alongside other driver updates.
Loss32 is a novel concept proposing a Linux distribution built entirely around running Windows binaries inside WINE, offering a different approach from traditional compatibility layers and emulators, and potentially providing a more seamless Windows experience on Linux. The idea, presented at the Chaos Communication Congress, explores the possibility of a Linux OS that operates as a bare-metal WINE environment, which could revolutionize how Windows applications are run on Linux systems.
Nvidia is launching native GeForce Now apps for Linux and Amazon Fire TV, with a beta for Ubuntu 24.04 coming soon, expanding access to its cloud gaming service and supporting additional devices and controllers.
A significant update for older AMD GCN GPUs has been merged into Mesa 26.0, addressing VM faults caused by hardware bugs in GFX6 and GFX7 GPUs, improving stability and performance for Linux users and gamers.
Microsoft has removed the official methods to activate Windows 11/10 without internet, prompting users to seek alternative solutions like Linux or virtualization, amid concerns over Microsoft's focus on profit, user privacy, and the decline of user-friendly OS design.
A new patch is being developed for the Linux kernel to improve the accuracy of the out-of-memory (OOM) killer on large, many-core systems, addressing significant inaccuracies that affected memory monitoring and process termination decisions, with potential inclusion in the upcoming Linux 6.20~7.0 cycle.
A new series of Linux patches by Vincent Mailhol makes it easier for users to customize the kernel boot logo through kernel configuration options, supporting various formats and colors, while maintaining a build-time approach for simplicity.
Valve has significantly advanced its SteamOS Linux-based operating system, making it a strong competitor to Windows for PC gaming, especially with the success of Proton that allows Windows games to run seamlessly on Linux. This shift is challenging Microsoft's dominance in PC gaming, as more gamers and manufacturers adopt SteamOS for better performance and flexibility, including on Arm hardware, signaling a potential future where Windows is no longer the default gaming platform.
Steam's December 2025 survey shows a significant increase in Windows 11 usage among gamers, now accounting for over 70% of Steam users, while Linux's growth stalls. Windows 10 declines slightly, and hardware trends indicate a rise in 32GB RAM systems and NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPUs. VR headset usage shifts with Meta’s Quest 3 gaining popularity.
