Open Features
Over the last two years, Firefox has demonstrated that releasing new versions at a rapid tempo offers many advantages and doesn't reduce quality. Its approach could offer a blueprint for other projects, such as KDE
more »
Service Pack 3 includes numerous enhancements for virtualisation and, by adding Secure Boot support and new drivers, beefs up support for newer hardware. There are also numerous enhancements relating to server storage and networking
more »
In a nod to fans of classic desktop interfaces, the new Fedora includes a MATE variant and classic mode for GNOME. Systemd now takes care of containers and assigning network names. New drivers support 3D acceleration in newer Radeon graphics cards
more »
A second SSD caching framework and support for the new Radeons' video decoder are two of the most important enhancements in Linux 3.10, which is now out. This version also includes several new and improved drivers and a change to the network stack to speed up HTTP connections
more »
Linux 3.10 will be able to use the video acceleration features offered by Radeon graphics cores. Systems with Intel graphics will wake from standby faster. Linux now has an input device driver for Apple's infrared receiver
more »
Kernel developers have toned down an over-eager feature for protecting against the Samsung UEFI bug and added a function for reducing timer interrupt overhead. Improvements have also been made to Hyper-V support and instructions for reporting errors
more »
The news has been full of talk of spying, whistleblowing and data mining. Glyn Moody looks at how open source has been used to threaten freedom and privacy and how it could be used to defend them
more »
The H Community Calendar presents the coming month's events in various open source, development, Linux, Unix and other communities, from multi-day conferences to user group get-togethers
more »
Bcache has been added to the kernel as a second framework for SSD caching. More compact metadata should speed up btrfs. Checksums help XFS prevent data errors in its file system structures
more »
The problem of creating funding in a new software business is a major one, and doubly so for open source based companies. Michael Widenius recently described his solution to the problem, "Business Source", claiming it delivers "most of the benefits of open source". The H took a look to see how that held up
more »
Linux 3.10 sees improvements in the way lost packets at the end of TCP transactions are handled, speeding up HTTP data transfer. It also sees the addition of support for VLAN stacking and Realtek's RTL8188EE wireless chip
more »
Although Google continues to support a variety of open projects and people, Glyn Moody notes that, following recent changes to Google Code and Google Talk, concern is growing that something fundamental has changed
more »
Developing configuration programs and desktops for just one distribution creates lone wolves, limits users and slows down progress
more »
The Linux Mint project has announced "the most ambitious release since the start of the project". Linux Mint 15 promises a focus on the desktop that Ubuntu has been neglecting lately. The H investigates whether the release delivers on these ambitions
more »
The H Community Calendar presents the coming month's events in various open source, development, Linux, Unix and other communities, from multi-day conferences to user group get-togethers
more »
The rapid rise in the number of mobile devices has led to a concomitant rise in the amount of location data available. Proprietary services are emerging to take advantage of that data, but open source has a strong foothold in the form of OpenStreetMap
more »
The H spent some time with CTO of 10Gen and MongoDB developer Eliot Horowitz to get a feel for the technical philosophy behind the NoSQL document database and where the hands-on coding CTO is planning on taking it
more »
Open source has changed how programming languages are created and that, in turn, has changed what languages are used to create open source. The effects are deep, but also important and are changing what it means to be a programmer
more »
Trademarks, names and reputation. Glyn Moody looks at the problems that arise when trying to keep control of your reputation and the different approaches taken by open source software projects.
more »
The Linux kernel is finally able to use SSDs as hard-disk cache. Changes to the network subsystem promise to improve the way server jobs are distributed across multiple processor cores. Linux 3.9 also includes drivers for new AMD graphics chips and soon-expected Wi-Fi components from Intel
more »
The latest version of Ubuntu has arrived and seems to be as much characterised by the features that did not make the cut as by the new additions to the desktop. The H looks at what has changed in this release, which its developers tout for its stability and speed
more »
The H Community Calendar presents the coming month's events in various open source, development, Linux, Unix and other communities, from multi-day conferences to user group get-togethers
more »
Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter are helping start-ups raise millions for their ideas; Fabian Scherschel looks at what it takes for open source software projects to duplicate this success and the unique challenges these projects will face
more »
NVIDIA's graphics driver supports hybrid graphics now. As in other areas, NVIDIA took it easy, waiting until other people had done the dirty work building the necessary foundations
more »
Linux 3.9 includes drivers for new AMD graphics chips and for Intel Wi-Fi chips that are expected to become available this summer. Changes to the network subsystem will enable the kernel to be more efficient when distributing network traffic across multiple processor cores
more »