To: helpdesk@kernel.org
Subject: Operating system other than Microsoft

Hello

What’s the latest Linux operating system. We’re going to test Linux on one of our computers to see how it will run with other software. Not going to drink the Microsoft kool-Aid and pay them monthly software tribute if we use windows 11.

This should be a selling point for you guys.
Best
Felix:.

If you're looking for an official document proving that you're 18+, I know a guy.

Glory to Arstotzka.

It's Monday and time to move more things to Linode.

Tags @corbet for no reason.

Another day, another conversation with the press team where I explain that I did not give the quote in that story and the whole thing is AI slop. This happens once every few weeks now.

Toki pona takes one afternoon to learn and (checks notes) never to master.

(If you don't know what it is, it's basically like a caveman language, except the cavemen are cute cartoon characters with a very positive outlook on everything.)

Geordi,

The replicator doesn't work. All I said was "Computer, prune juice."

Worf

My prediction for 2026: a lot more open-source projects switch to email-based patch workflows as the only reliable way to avoid drive-by slopsplatter.

/nsrs

Hi:

Thank you for reporting that (checks) our SPF record has `~all` instead of `-all`. This is clearly a grave and inexcusable failing on our part and not at all intentional.

We will now gladly pay you a bounty of one hundred billion dollars for finding and responsibly disclosing this dangerous vulnerability to us.

/s

Anyone sharing anything about phones always listening to your conversations and showing you adverts about that:

(a) Do you realise how incredibly easy it is to monitor all the traffic coming from your phone?
(b) Do you understand how giant a scandal it would be if that were demonstrated?
(c) Do you know how many people there are who would love to be at the confluence of (a) and (b) and yet have not been because it's not a thing that's happening?

If you haven't presented at a conference before, BSides Oslo 2025 is a great first conference to do it. When you submit a proposal for a presentation, you can opt-in to be paired with a mentor that will help you develop your presentation. https://forms.gle/M5BfbGpqhdmZL29N6

Sir, what do you think we do around here?

I hate everything about this:
https://lore.kernel.org/git/VI1PR02MB4271E311313F60FB07359BB0B352A@VI1PR02MB4271.eurprd02.prod.outlook.com/T/#u

"Visit Dubai!"

Caitlín Doherty: I went to Dubai wrongheaded. I learnt nothing and left nauseated. I had thought it would be fun -- funny, even -- to experience the disorientation of standing at the pivot point between two world systems. Instead, it...
https://jwz.org/b/ykrd

Annoyingly, they didn't have a "mi toki pona" badge.

What, no earthquake?

FYI, I did drop custom branding from kernel.org Anubis screens after the latest update. Mostly, it's because custom branding is now a part of the subscription service they provide (while keeping it fully free software), so I didn't want to create potential confusion. Also, that mascot is now nearly everywhere, so my initial reservations about its use are mostly moot.

ICYMI: the recording of @corbet's recent #OSSNA25 talk "Three Decades in Kernelland" recently became available:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNLBGiwfBSI

From the abstract[1]: The #Linux #kernel project has been going for well over 30 years. From its beginnings on floppy diskettes and beige boxes through to its current home in pockets and unseen data centers, the kernel project has been a constant exercise in rapid development and adaptation. I have been present for almost all of the kernel project's history as an observer, contributor, maintainer, and more; all that experience will be boiled down into a fast-moving tour of how the #LinuxKernel got to where it is, what makes it successful, and what may be coming next.

[1] https://ossna2025.sched.com/event/1zfit/three-decades-in-kernelland-jonathan-corbet-lwnnet

my response to every situation

All the slides at this meeting talk about how much time and effort "AI" would help us save, and all I want to do is point out how much time and effort I've sunk so far into keeping AI crawlers from DDoS'ing our infra.