From the Orca mailing list:

Hey all.

I plan to make all of Orca's commanded executable over DBus. It's going
to be a ton of work and I'm only getting started. That said, I just
landed what I have so far to Orca's main branch.

For users who said Orca must have a means for apps to tell it what to
say, Orca now has that. To try it -- assuming you have the very latest
Orca from the main branch -- do

gdbus call --session --dest org.gnome.Orca.Service --object-path
/org/gnome/Orca/Service --method org.gnome.Orca.Service.PresentMessage
"Bla bla bla I'm a message"

For those saying Orca's speech should be controllable, by other apps,
see what's available by doing:

gdbus call --session --dest org.gnome.Orca.Service --object-path
/org/gnome/Orca/Service/SpeechAndVerbosityManager --method
org.gnome.Orca.Module.ListCommands

Hopefully one of those commands is what you need. To learn more about
how to use them, here's some documentation:
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/orca/-/blob/main/README-REMOTE-CONTROLLER.md

Please play with it and let me know what you think.

#accessibility #linux #foss #orca #blind

An excuse to mention Void Linux: XBPS 0.60 released

Since Void Linux uses a rolling release model, there's not much to report on in the form of new releases and major new features, so I'm taking the release of version 0.60 of XBPS, Void Linux' package manager, to cheat my way into talking about this excellent Linux distribution. I always think of Void as the "BSD of Linux distributions",

https://www.osnews.com/story/142573/an-excuse-to-mention-void-linux-xbps-0-60-released/

#Linux

In a world of closed doors, #Linux opens up endless possibilities. We love the freedom, the transparency, and the power it puts in our hands.

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A pencil drawing of Tux (penguin - Linux mascot) with text: We love Linux

The #FreeBSD pw useradd/usermod commands are not compatible in scripts with everyone else's useradd/usermod commands.

With the #NetBSD/#OpenBSD and indeed #Linux shadow-utils useradd/usermod commands, the account name goes last, and it is a syntax error to place it before the options.

With the #FreeBSD pw command, the account name goes first, and it is a syntax error to place it after the options.

So pw() { "$@" ; } doesn't work for making portable scripts.

https://github.com/shadow-maint/shadow/blob/master/src/usermod.c#L1272

Alright, I am one day into using #Bazzite #Linux as a replacement for Windows 11 as my #gaming platform.

Games that run flawlessly so far (via Steam).

Coral Island
FTL
BSG: Deadlock
Starfield

Many more to check.

Starfield actually runs better under Bazzite than it ever did under Windows 11, no more random freezes, and I have the graphics cranked higher!

#games #microsoftSucks

I am building gcc-15.1.0 on my iMac G4 (Tiger) machine. It is on stage2, which is a good sign.

It will include C, C++, Fortran, Modula-2, Objective C, and Objective C++ compilers.

It will depend on my new PowerPC Mac OS X modernization library, libpcc: https://github.com/ibara/libppc

I'll write a blog post about how to use it once it is all compiled; my goal is to produce a turnkey solution that just works(TM), including assembler, linker, and other utilities, as recent as possible for PowerPC.

And libppc can be instantly extendable to incorporate more C11 and later features. Hopefully others in the retro Mac community are interested in building that up with me.

My ultimate goal is to build some flavor of WebKit some day and have a modern web experience (even if slow, and possibly using X11). But in the meantime we will probably build a lot of excellent modern software to keep these machines going.

#gcc #compiler #compilers #c #unix #linux #macos #macosx #osx #apple #powerpc #retro #retrocomputing #bsd #mac #macintosh

As articles keep appearing about a particular OS going end of life later this year, I felt I should at least write something to act as a resource for sharing around.

So here it is:

Running Linux purely on a USB drive
https://dev.to/geraldew/running-linux-purely-on-a-usb-drive-3mfg

Probably still too wordy and too techy but as I've been happily running this way for ages it felt selfish to just sit by as I see needless complications being thrown at people.

Maybe buy someone a USB SSD and do this to give them a "new computer".
#Linux

The meaning of life, according to my #Linux server, is to silently serve files until the power goes out, at which point it enters a profound state of unresponsive thought

How to build and run a minimal Linux: compile kernel, create an initramfs, embed BusyBox and test it with QEMU - Article by David Legrand #Linux https://labs.davlgd.fr/posts/2024-05-whats-a-minimal-linux/

I run ls -l.
I run grep.
I run awk.
This is my #Linux file manager. It is simple and that is what I signed up for 😌

So, known parties tirelessly work to make Linux a new Windows. Gnome announces even harder dependency on systemd.
GDM will depend on systemd userdb infrastructure. gnome-session will use systemd service manager instead of its own code that "has received very minimal attention in the 17 years since it was first written".
As per article, even now they do not test Gnome in non-systemd environments.
It's like a writing on the wall.
https://blogs.gnome.org/adrianvovk/2025/06/10/gnome-systemd-dependencies/
#Gnome #Linux #systemd

@AdrianVovk Hey Adrian, I'm curious if you're familiar with the benefits of software diversity. #GNOME forcing #systemd seems to be at odds with the concept of software diversity.

I really like the #FreeBSD #devsummit presentation given earlier today (2025-06-11) on the topic of OS diversity. I'm wondering if I could ask you to watch it, in the hopes that it inspires you (and the broader GNOME development community).

In a nutshell, software (and hardware!) diversity keeps us safe. Building a software monoculture that requires systemd will inevitably decrease overall security posture.

I understand some of the points you make in your blog post. I fear that if GNOME continues down this path, projects downstream from GNOME (like the BSDs in their ports/pkgsrc trees) will feel undue headaches and burdens.

Can you help address my concerns and fears?

Link to the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/live/0DdnAgKLdG8#t=7017

#infosec #Linux

Why Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for #LibreOffice and #Linux https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-denmark-is-dumping-microsoft-office-and-windows-for-libreoffice-and-linux/ by @sjvn

Europe doesn't trust the US government or its tech powers, so its countries are looking elsewhere.

There was a presentation at today's #FreeBSD developer summit about the importance of OS diversity. The presenter made several convincing arguments towards the need for continued OS diversity.

I wonder how well that presentation would be received at #GNOME.

When the individual presentations are published, I'll reply to this post. Until then, the live stream is here: https://www.youtube.com/live/0DdnAgKLdG8?si=0LTqHI3CziWfUxEo

#linux #infosec #RunBSD #WinWithBSD

This is a screen capture of KDE Connect on one of my Androids.

As you can clearly see my LAN has quite an amount of devices. All of these devices are being used by me.
They have specific purposes which makes my Android experience along with my Computing experience versatile and efficient.

I did not know how important KDE connect was for me. When I learned about it, I knew that it doesn't just enrich what I can do

KDE Connect is not a gimmick where I can control a Media Player, without any network connectivity by itself, from any of my KDE Connect devices. Many different functions can be handled smoothly without any problems, with the highest Speed that my wLAN can deliver from the point of my view of the LAN routers I have in my network.

Right now I'm using a wLAN router that is portable. This enables me to have the most efficient data transfer Speed between the devices I have on me without any snooping from any Big Company.

#KDE #Connect #KDEConnect #LAN #wLAN #network #Android #Linux #POSIX #OpenSource #portable

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The image shows a mobile device screen displaying the "KDE Connect Devices" interface. The background is dark, and the text is white, providing a clear contrast. At the top, the time "03:07" is displayed, along with various status icons, including a Wi-Fi signal, battery level at 79%, and signal strength. The main title "KDE Connect Devices" is centered at the top, with a menu icon on the left and three vertical dots on the right. Below the title, there is a message stating, "Other devices running KDE Connect in your same network should appear here." The screen is divided into two sections: "Connected devices" and "Remembered devices." Under "Connected devices," three devices are listed: "SM-A260G," "Xiaomi Redmi A2 Blakka," and "Galaxy A2 Core Lucāa," each accompanied by a smartphone icon. Under "Remembered devices," four devices are listed: "Devakprata," "Xiaomi Note 12S," "Polawiri," and "Krishna," each with a computer monitor icon. Ovis2-8B 🌱 Energy used: 0.269 Wh

After 20 years of using #pf on #BSD and only dabbling in iptables when I absolutely had to in #Linux, nftables looks like an unreadable, incomprehensible shitshow; A crayon scrawl by a toddler of weird nat and mangle chains that make no sense.

The Linux developers would have been much better off porting pf to Linux.

You know it’s bad when you spend more time compiling the open source software on #Linux than actually using it
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm in the process of porting over all OpenBSD related mini-sites to #httpd running on my TinyKVM VPS.

All other web projects will be migrated to Alpine #Linux, served through #Caddy on my other VPS.

Heads up: The next version, Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka," is making a big change. They are getting rid of the Xorg system for the Ubuntu desktop. Starting with this release the “Ubuntu” session in GDM will run exclusively on Wayland. https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-25-10-drops-support-for-gnome-on-xorg/62538 #linux #OpenSource

Is everything terrible again? Let's focus on something completely different. Do you write amazing, perfect code on Linux or the BSDs? Well stop reading and get out. For the rest of us, how do we secure our systems? I've put together a survey on Source Code Sandboxing, https://kristaps.bsd.lv/devsecflops, which surveys the practical complexity and uptake of sandbox tools like seccomp, landlock, pledge, and capsicum.

If you've ever interfaced any of the tools I've mentioned, or want to mention another, head on over to https://github.com/kristapsdz/dev_sec_flops and make a pull request.

Enjoy! #Linux #openbsd #freebsd #programming

A Linux server and a Windows server are having a debate about security.

The Windows server says, "I've got firewalls, antivirus, anti-malware... I'm like Fort Knox!"

The Linux server running Kali #Linux just calmly says, "I'm already inside your network, and you didn't even know."

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟬𝟲/𝟬𝟵 (Valuable News - 2025/06/09) available.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/valuable-news-2025-06-09/

Past releases: https://vermaden.wordpress.com/news/

#verblog #vernews #news #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #linux #unix #zfs #opnsense #ghostbsd #solaris #vermadenday

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟬𝟲/𝟬𝟵 (Valuable News - 2025/06/09) available.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/valuable-news-2025-06-09/

Past releases: https://vermaden.wordpress.com/news/

#verblog #vernews #news #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #linux #unix #zfs #opnsense #ghostbsd #solaris #vermadenday

Want to read accurate description of the #Linux or #Unix filesystem hierarchy? Type `man hier` at your terminal.

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A man page screenshot for hier(7) which is a description of the filesystem hierarchy on Linux and Unix-like systems such as freebsd or macos and others.

When was the last time you have played with KDE Connect?

You've never heard of that? Let me enlighten you. KDE Connect is a suite of very handy Network tools, to get the maximum out of the transfer and the control of data & programs between your KDE computer and your Androids.

It is in fact so versatile that even if your KDE computers are not connected, you can still do a lot of things between your Androids which are running the network software suite.

There are so many things you can do you should just download it yourself and put it on your Androids

A few highlights are transferring files between your devices in a transparent manner where no company like Google can snoop anything

Controlling media players from 1 device through all the others.

Getting notifications between different devices and even getting output, graphical output from different devices on others.

Controlling your Android with a mouse from a KDE Connect computer

The list goes on

Note:
If you're running a Linux distro with a running firewall, you have to make sure that your firewall has all the ports open for KDE connect. There are examples of the ports needed, in the docs.
I also have them {for {g}ufw}

#Linux #Android #KDE #Connect #KDEConnect #MultiMedia #networking #programming #OpenSource #POSIX

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The photograph shows a smartphone screen displaying a notification panel. The time is 15:47, and the date is Sunday, 8 June. The battery level is at 97%, with a current discharge rate of -160 mA and an average rate of -286 mA, indicating a total discharge of -44 mAh. The screen shows notifications from KDE Connect, indicating file transfers from devices such as a Xiaomi Redmi A2 and a Galaxy A2 Core Lucia. The SD card is mentioned for transferring photos and media. The device is connected to "Bung Bigi Bana" via KDE Connect. The bottom of the screen shows the network provider "SR.TELESUR.GSM" and the Telegram app icon. The background of the phone is dark, and the screen is illuminated, making the text and icons clearly visible. Ovis2-8B 🌱 Energy used: 0.212 Wh

Alt...

The screencap displays a mobile device screen showing the "KDE Connect Devices" interface. The background is black, and the text is white, providing a high contrast for readability. At the top, the time is shown as 16:03, with a battery level of 76%, and a 4G signal indicator. The main section of the screen lists devices connected to the network, with a heading "Connected devices" followed by two entries: "SM-A260G" and "Galaxy A2 Core Lucãa," each accompanied by a smartphone icon. Below this, there is a section titled "Remembered devices," listing four devices: "Bung Bigi Bana," "Devakprata," "Xiaomi Note 12S," and "Polawiri," each with a corresponding icon. The interface is designed for easy navigation, with a menu icon on the left and a three-dot menu on the right. Ovis2-8B 🌱 Energy used: 0.236 Wh

Master Foo, watching a student try to debug a slow #Linux desktop system, offered, "The htop command reveals much. Mostly, that Firefox is still eating all your RAM. The universe, too, has its hungry daemons."

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A beautiful tabby cat with a very long, flowing white beard sits on a stone wall, eyes closed, appearing contemplative or asleep, with trees in the blurred background.