news 28 Posted December 19, 2016 Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 492 for the week December 12 - 18, 2016. == Links to UWN == * Wiki page: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue492 == In This Issue == * Ubuntu Stats * UbuCon EU 2016 * LoCo Events * Martin Pitt: The alphabet and pitti end here: Last day at Canonical * Daniel Holbach: Taking a break * Dimitri John Ledkov: Swapfiles by default in Ubuntu * Leo Arias: Test a stable release update * Leo Arias: Ubuntu Testing Day wrap up - snapcraft and beers (20161216) * Canonical News * In The Blogosphere * Featured Audio and Video * Weekly Ubuntu Development Team Meetings * Upcoming Meetings and Events * Updates and Security for 12.04, 14.04, 16.04 and 16.10 * And much more! == Ubuntu Stats == === Bug Stats === * Open (127824) +9 over last week * Critical (415) +4 over last week * Unconfirmed (63363) +26 over last week As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad === Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions this week === ==== Most Active Questions ==== * In what order does the shell execute commands and stream redirection? http://askubuntu.com/questions/860147/in-what-order-does-the-shell-execute-commands-and-stream-redirection * If the key is not named id_rsa it does not work http://askubuntu.com/questions/860952/if-the-key-is-not-named-id-rsa-it-does-not-work * A tool to get window dimensions http://askubuntu.com/questions/861801/a-tool-to-get-window-dimensions * How do I install old programs saved from Windows? http://askubuntu.com/questions/860153/how-do-i-install-old-programs-saved-from-windows * What traces are left after booting by usb? http://askubuntu.com/questions/862305/what-traces-are-left-after-booting-by-usb ==== Top Voted New Questions ==== * In what order does the shell execute commands and stream redirection? http://askubuntu.com/questions/860147/ * Difference between executable directory vs executable files http://askubuntu.com/questions/862289/ * A tool to get window dimensions http://askubuntu.com/questions/861801/ * If the key is not named id_rsa it does not work http://askubuntu.com/questions/860952/ * Open Ubuntu Browser from Terminal http://askubuntu.com/questions/861290/ Ask (and answer!) questions at http://askubuntu.com == LoCo News == === UbuCon EU 2016 === Elizabeth K. Joseph writes about her experiences at UbuCon EU held recently in Essen Germany. Elizabeth reports on Sujeevan Vijayakumaran's welcome and introduction, followed by talks from Jane Silber, Fernando Lanero Barbero, Laura Fautley and more. Elizabeth thanks Sujeevan and the many volunteers that made the event happen, and those that donate to the Ubuntu community fund that paid for her travel. http://princessleia.com/journal/2016/12/ubucon-eu-2016/ == LoCo Events == The following LoCo team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks: * Sierra Vista Ubuntu Hour, Arizona LoCo Team: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-arizona/3462-sierra-vista-ubuntu-hour/ * Tempe Ubuntu Hour, Arizona LoCo Team: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-arizona/3461-tempe-ubuntu-hour/ Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the LoCo Team Portal to browse upcoming events around the world: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ == The Planet == === Martin Pitt: The alphabet and pitti end here: Last day at Canonical === Martin Pitt who has worked for Ubuntu for 12.5 years announces his departure from Canonical to achieve a "reboot". Martin reminisces about being asked to join the Ubuntu project and some memories over the years, before finally revealing he will commence work on a piece of software called Cockpit. Martin finishes by thanking the Ubuntu community, and Mark Shuttleworth. http://www.piware.de/2016/12/last-day-at-canonical/ === Daniel Holbach: Taking a break === Daniel Holbach, who has been a part of the Ubuntu community for 12 years, and employed by Canonical for 11 years, announces his departure from Canonical. Daniel says he has not made plans yet on what he will do next, just that he needs a break. https://daniel.holba.ch/blog/2016/12/taking-a-break/ === Dimitri John Ledkov: Swapfiles by default in Ubuntu === Dimitri John Ledkov writes about a change coming in 17.04 Zesty Zapus where swap partitions will be replaced by swapfiles. He notes how usage (amount of RAM, types of disks) has changed over the years, and gives us some indication as to what the defaults in 17.04 will be. http://blog.surgut.co.uk/2016/12/swapfiles-by-default-in-ubuntu.html === Leo Arias: Test a stable release update === Leo Arias briefly explains the Ubuntu release cycle with regards to testing and stability, with stability a prime goal. Leo then expands to "proposed" Stable Release Updates (SRU), and provides details of how you can help test them if you're willing. Leo suggests testing by using a virtual machine, providing links for more information and example commands at testing snapcraft. http://elopio.net/blog/test-sru/ === Leo Arias: Ubuntu Testing Day wrap up - snapcraft and beers (20161216) === Leo Arias summarizes the last Ubuntu Testing Day session of 2016 in which Sergio Schvezov introduced Snapcraft and showed some of the features that will shortly land in Ubuntu. He embeds a video of the session in his post, and informs us that as Snapcraft is one of the few projects that has an exception to land new features to released versions of Ubuntu there is a constant need for testing to ensure that nothing is broken for those running a stable Ubuntu. http://elopio.net/blog/ubuntu-testing-day-wrap-up-20161216/ == Canonical News == * snapd 2.18: the snap command strikes back - https://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/12/12/snapd-2-18-the-snap-command-strikes-back/ * 2017 - what's in store for IoT? - http://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/12/12/2017-whats-in-store-for-iot/ * Research: Consumers are terrible at up[censored] their connected devices - http://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/12/15/research-consumers-are-terrible-at-up[censored]-their-connected-devices/ * Get 50% Off Linux Foundation Training And Certification - http://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/12/15/get-50-off-linux-foundation-training-and-certification/ * Announcing the Canonical Distribution of Kubernetes 1.5.1 - http://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/12/16/announcing-canonical-kubernetes-1-5-1/ == In The Blogosphere == === "Ultra Minimal" Ubuntu Budgie Is Coming, Uses "220MB Or Less Of RAM" === Adarsh Verma of Fossbytes reports that the Ubuntu budge developers are working on a minimal version of their distribution that will consume less than 220MB of RAM which is expected to ship without any standard desktop applications or a RAM-intensive desktop. He says few details the release are known but he quotes the developers as having said that the spin is for those "who love customizing their distro." https://fossbytes.com/ultra-minimal-ubuntu-budgie-220mb-ram/ === Canonical's Snapd 2.19 Snappy Daemon Launches for Ubuntu Core 16 & Ubuntu 16.04 === Marius Nestor, writing for Softpedia, reports on the release of Snapd 2.19 which he says is a "major update implementing numerous improvements and new features." He summarizes what is new and advises in which releases of Ubuntu the update has landed. http://news.softpedia.com/news/canonical-s-snapd-2-19-snappy-daemon-released-for-ubuntu-core-16-ubuntu-16-04-510919.shtml === Longtime Ubuntu Developer Martin Pitt Leaving Canonical, Joining Red Hat === Michael Larabel, of Phoronix, reports that Martin Pitt is leaving Canonical after twelve and a half years of service and will be joining Red Hat to work on their Cockpit project. He reminds us that Martin was one of the original Ubuntu developers, outlines some of his recent work and ends his post with: "Good luck with your future work Pitti!" http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Martin-Pitt-Leaves-Canonical === Another Veteran Ubuntu Member Is Leaving Canonical === Michael Larabel, writing for Phoronix, informs us that Daniel Holbach is the second of two long term Ubuntu developers to leave Canonical, the first being Martin Pitt. He reminds us that Daniel joined Canonical 11 years ago, gives us some details of Daniels's work and ends with: "Good luck Daniel with your future projects!" http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Daniel-Holbach-Moving-On === Firefox 50.1.0 Lands in Ubuntu's Repos, Multiple Security Vulnerabilities Fixed === Marius Nestor of Softpedia informs us that Firefox 50.1.0 is available in the repositories for all supported Ubuntu versions and that it patches 13 security vulnerabilities. He tells us that Canonical have urged all users to update Firefox as soon as possible and explains what could happen if the vulnerabilities were exploited. http://news.softpedia.com/news/firefox-50-1-0-lands-in-ubuntu-s-repos-multiple-security-vulnerabilities-fixed-510952.shtml === These Unity 8 Desktop Designs Show a Striking New Feature === Joey-Elijah Sneddon of OMG! Ubuntu! writes that the Canonical design team is seeking feedback on some new Unity 8 desktop mock-ups. He shows us the three images that are presented in the survey which he says are similar to those found on an Ubuntu phone. Joey's article includes a link to the survey for those wanting to offer their feedback. http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/12/unity-8-desktop-designs-show-striking-new-feature == Featured Audio and Video == === S09E42 - Joe's Wee Heavy Metal - Ubuntu Podcast === It's Season Nine Episode Forty-Two of the Ubuntu Podcast! Alan Pope, Mark Johnson, Martin Wimpress and Joe Ressington are connected and speaking to your brain. The same line up as last week are here again for another episode. In this week's show: We discuss what we've been up to recently: * Going to PHP Oxford and saw Lorna Mitchell talk about Webhooks. * Going to BaDhack and learned about 3D printing. * We interview Ralf Hamm from Labdoo.org. We share a Command Line Lurve: * atool - atool is a script for managing file archives of various types And we go over all your amazing feedback - thanks for sending it - please keep sending it! That's all for this week! If there's a topic you'd like us to discuss, Share this post Link to post