Open Source
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More retro goodies - Microsoft open sources 86-DOS and PC-DOS
Microsoft has open-sourced the source code for 86-DOS 1.00 and PC-DOS 1.00, including the kernel and utilities like CHKDSK. This release, made available on GitHub, offers a rare glimpse into early operating system development and includes original notes from 86-DOS creator Tim Paterson.
'Eventually the slop will just fall to the bottom': Garry's Mod sequel launches to 'mixed' reviews, but Garry himself isn't worried about AI games on the main page
s&box, the open-source successor to Garry's Mod, has launched on Steam to mixed reviews, with many negative comments citing the prevalence of AI-generated content. Creator Garry Newman acknowledges the issue but believes that eventually, low-quality AI content will be filtered out by the community. He also discussed the studio's use of AI in development, comparing its utility to programming.
Anthropic begin funding Blender as a Corporate Patron
The Blender Foundation has announced that the AI company Anthropic has become a Corporate Patron, committing to donate at least €240,000 annually. Blender is a popular free and open-source 3D creation software used in video games and movies. Anthropic joins other patrons like Epic Games and Netflix, with the funding supporting core development and foundational features of the software.
Facepunch launches s&box, the highly anticipated successor to Garry's Mod
Facepunch Studios has launched s&box, the spiritual successor to Garry's Mod, built on the Source 2 engine. This game creation platform allows developers to release and monetize games, with plans for standalone Steam releases. While the platform is open source and aims for constant updates, early reports indicate significant performance and download speed issues.
Canonical developer lays out some AI plans for Ubuntu Linux
Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, is planning to integrate Artificial Intelligence features into its operating system over the next year. Technical leader Jon Seager outlined a strategy that favors open-weight models and local inference, aiming to enhance existing OS functionality and introduce new AI-native workflows. The company emphasizes a principled approach, respecting user privacy and security, with Snap packages potentially playing a role in delivering these features.
Linux GPU tool (LACT) gets a new UI and a NVIDIA Voltage-Frequency Curve Editor
The open-source application Linux GPU Configuration And Monitoring Tool (LACT) has released version 0.9.0, featuring a completely redesigned UI built with libadwaita for improved aesthetics and usability. Key new features include an NVIDIA Voltage-Frequency Curve Editor and target temperature setting, along with AMD hardware block information and various bug fixes.
DeepSeek promises its new AI model has 'world-class' reasoning
DeepSeek has launched its new V4 Pro and Flash AI models, featuring a 1 million token context length and enhanced reasoning capabilities. The open-source models aim to rival top closed-source alternatives, with V4 Pro showing strong performance in reasoning and world knowledge, while V4 Flash offers faster response times. The company previously went viral and topped the App Store charts before facing bans on US federal devices due to national security concerns.
Classic 90s platformer Moon Child gets the source code released and a modern port
The classic 90s platformer Moon Child, originally developed for Amiga and later released on PC, has had its source code released under the MIT open-source license. A modern source port called Moon Child FE has also been created, offering compatibility with the latest Windows and Linux versions, browser playability, and controller support.
Ubuntu 26.04 ('Resolute Raccoon') LTS is out now
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed 'Resolute Raccoon', has been released with long-term support until April 2031. This update brings GNOME 50, Linux kernel 7.0, and Mesa 26, along with numerous software and feature enhancements for PC users. Canonical highlights the release's focus on resilience and innovation in open-source technology.
Heroic Games Launcher Gets Steam Deck Overhaul With Big Picture Mode
The Heroic Games Launcher has received a significant update for Steam Deck users, introducing a new fullscreen interface that mimics Steam's Big Picture Mode. This overhaul aims to improve usability for handheld and couch gaming, alongside new features like GOG achievements, a deals page, an improved Wine manager, and SteamGridDB integration.
Colorado Age Attestation bill gets amendments to have open source excluded
System76 Founder and CEO Carl Richell provided an update on the Colorado Age Attestation bill, announcing amendments that exclude open-source operating systems and applications, code repositories, and containers. Richell is seeking stories from the open-source community about positive contributions made by children to aid in the bill's passage and potentially serve as a template for similar legislation in other states.
Streaming or recording on Linux? Check out the audio management tool Pipeweaver
Pipeweaver is a new free and open-source audio management tool for Linux, built on PipeWire and designed for streamers. It allows users to create virtual audio sources, manage volumes, and route audio through a web-based interface accessible from any device. While still under heavy development, it offers features like virtual channel creation, physical device mapping, and application routing, with plans for future additions like latency tuning and LV2 plugin support.
Open-Source Cultist Simulator game launches demo, kickstarter, thanks to unique & permissive license
The narrative strategy game The Matter of Being, set in the Cultist Simulator universe, has launched a demo and a Kickstarter campaign. Developed by Common Logic under Weather Factory's permissive license, the game allows players to act as an otherworldly spirit. If the Kickstarter reaches $100,000, all game assets will be released for commercial use under the same license.
Mozilla announced "Thunderbolt", their open-source and self-hostable AI client
Mozilla has announced Thunderbolt, an open-source and self-hostable AI client designed for organizations. This client allows businesses to interact with AI through chat, search, and research, connect to enterprise data, and choose their preferred AI models and tools. Developed in partnership with deepset, Thunderbolt aims to provide a sovereign AI solution that prioritizes data security and user control.
Gaming on Linux with an older GPU levels up with DXVK-Sarek v1.12 bringing major new features
DXVK-Sarek v1.12.0 has been released, offering significant updates for Linux gamers with older GPUs that do not meet Vulkan 1.3 requirements. This fork of DXVK introduces dyasync for improved asynchronous pipeline compilation and the port of D7VK, adding support for older Direct3D versions. The update also includes numerous fixes from upstream DXVK, enhancing compatibility for a wider range of games and ensuring older hardware remains viable for modern gaming.
TRX the open source re-implementation of Tomb Raider is making progress on Tomb Raider 3
The open-source re-implementation of Tomb Raider, TRX, is making significant progress on Tomb Raider 3. Version 1.5 introduces enhancements like multi-key shortcuts, improved modding, and bug fixes, while also showcasing early work on Tomb Raider 3 features. TRX offers native Linux support, allowing classic Tomb Raider games to be played on PC with a thriving modding scene.
Luanti (formerly Minetest) v5.15.2 brings critical security updates
Luanti, formerly known as Minetest, has released version 5.15.2, addressing two critical security vulnerabilities. These issues involved insecure environment access control bypass and a mod security sandbox escape that could lead to arbitrary code execution. The update is crucial for all users of the free and open source voxel game engine.
Sentinel is an achievement watcher for non-Steam games on Linux
Sentinel is a new open-source tool for Linux users that allows for achievement tracking in non-Steam games. It monitors emulator achievement files, providing real-time desktop notifications for unlocks and progress updates, and includes features like game library viewing with completion stats and global achievement percentages via the Steam API.
Open source RTS game Warzone 2100 version 4.7 brings major changes
The open-source real-time strategy game Warzone 2100 has received a major update, version 4.7, dubbed the 'Legacy & Lobby Update'. This release introduces significant improvements to Vulkan support, enhanced shadows, a new soundtrack, and a campaign balance mod. The most notable addition is a revamped lobby system for online play, featuring easier game joining via Game IDs, improved connection stability, IPv4 and IPv6 hosting support, and expanded host options for security and customization.
Sunday Tech Bits
NASA has open-sourced the original Apollo 11 code, making the Command Module and Lunar Module code public domain resources. This move by NASA provides valuable historical and technical data for public access.