LWDW 386 – GNOME Rethinks Window Management

Milk-V announces a 64-core RISC-V powered box of business! Waterfox goes independent, GNOME is rethinking windows management, and audio plugins on Linux made easy.

Listen:

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:10 Apple EW
07:15 GNOME Rethinks Window Management
21:50 Waterfox goes indie
28:13 Ubuntu RT Intel kernels
33:23 Audio plugins on Linux
40:52 64-core RISC-V

GNOME rethinks windows

https://blogs.gnome.org/tbernard/2023/07/26/rethinking-window-management/

The reason window management is left to users is that we know where we want them.
Open windows where I left them.
Physically arranging windows allows for a much more solid multi-tasking experience.
Then again, I’m old and resistant to change.
GNOME is ready to shake things up.
They are working on a new type of windows management that has three potential layout states.
Mosaic, Edge Tiling, and Floating.
A system that will “automatically do what people probably want” while fully integrating the workspace into their workflow.
This integration will require richer metadata from apps.
I really like the concept of Mosaic, combining tiling and floating windows.
And it is really nice to see that a lot of thought is going into the future of window management on Linux and GNOME.
System76 is also working heavily on new window management paradigms for their up and coming Rust based Cosmic desktop manager.
Like Venn, I am trained in the old school way of window management, whether it be floating, like with CDE, stacking with twm or iceWM, or tiling with the classic ratpoison.
One of the reasons I like to use multiple monitors is to avoid the window trappings of floating or tiling.
So I can have multiple apps open full screen on several different monitors and have the text enlarged, for an easy layout to use screen magnifiers for my half blindness when needed.

Waterfox browser update

https://debugpointnews.com/waterfox-becomes-independent/?amp=1

Way back in February of 2020 on LWDW we talked about the web browser Waterfox joining the System1 advertising company.
Well, now Waterfox, the privacy-focused web browser, has regained its independence and is parting ways with System1.
There was concern about the Waterfox’s future trajectory under the System1 ownership.
With this transition, Waterfox users can breathe a sigh of relief as the browser renews its focus on privacy, customization, and performance.
Alex Kontos, the driving force behind Waterfox’s success and the creator and lead developer, will continue leading the project, which is a promising sign for its community.
Kontos emphasizes that the newfound independence opens doors for faster development, exciting new features, and a heightened user experience.
And In the coming months, he will be working diligently to advance the browser, focusing on improvements that enhance privacy, boost performance, and expand customisation options.
Waterfox became very popular about 11 years ago, and was a very fast alternative to Firefox and a great option for the security conscious.
Waterfox still uses XUL, or the XML User Interface Language which is a user interface markup language developed by Mozilla, and used extensively to create add-ons.
I used to use Waterfox on a regular basis, and hope that its new found independence will bring it back as a go to alternative browser.
Waterfox has a head start for a web browser focused on security, especially in today’s day and age where most browsers are shifting in that direction and there are a lot of options available.

Ubuntu for Intel

https://9to5linux.com/canonical-announces-real-time-ubuntu-optimized-for-intel-core-cpus/amp

This is something that is huge for Canonical, and will further increase the speed of Ubuntu Linux for industrial enterprises, including Telecomm workloads, automation systems for the factory floor, and life-saving medical equipment.
Canonical just announced real-time Ubuntu Linux optimized for Intel Core CPUs SoCs for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
In February, Canonical announced the availability of the real-time Ubuntu kernel for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish users with an Ubuntu Pro subscription.
Now, Canonical has optimized its Ubuntu RT kernel for Intel silicon which will enable enterprises to use the power of Linux for a wide range of use cases.
With this expansion of the real-time Ubuntu kernel, Canonical addresses the growing need for real-time capabilities among enterprises that want to improve efficiency, optimize operations, and guarantee reliability for their mission-critical systems.
The solution is supported on Intel Core SoC processors with Intel Time Coordinated Computing and Intel Time Sensitive Networking.
This includes the newest 12th Gen Intel Core processors code named Alder Lake S, but more platforms will be announced shortly.

Audio plugins on Linux

https://linuxgamecast.com/2023/08/reaper-on-linux-installing-plugins/

Audio plugins on Linux.
LV2, VST, VST3, and CLAP.

Slice of Pi

BIG Pi

https://www.hackster.io/news/milk-v-s-pioneer-is-a-tall-glass-of-cold-risc-v-with-64-cores-up-to-128gb-of-ram-fabf9f22747f

A 64-core system with 128GB sounds neat.
A 64-core RISC-V-based system with 128GB is even more so.
That’s what Milk-V Technology plans on shipping this December.
While it’s not cheap it’s a lot less than you might think.
$1,199 gets you the mATX board.
$1,999 gets you the board, case, NIC, and GPU.
If you’ve been looking for a RISC-V based system with some grunt to develop on, well, here you go.
In true workstation fashion, 3 full length PCIe Gen3 slots!
And we were just talking about the new Debian port for RISC-V last week.
The microATX Pioneer Box comes with only a 350W power supply, demonstrating the power efficiency of the 64-core RISC-V.