Full Circle

THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY

ISSUE #206 - June 2024

BOOK REVIEW

VIEW
RE

UB KUBUNTU 24.04 REVIEW

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UNTU 24.0
4

PLUS WE-MO MINI LINUX PC

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#206 contents ^
neither affi
 Full Circle
HowTo

THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY

Python p.21 Linux News p.04

Stable Diffusion p.24 Command & Conquer p.19 ... p.XX ... p.XX

Latex p.28 Ubuntu Devices p.41 The Daily Waddle p.37 Review p.54

... p.XX My Opinion p.44 Letters p.XX Review p.50

Inkscape p.32 Q&A p.61 Micro This Micro That p.38 Ubuntu Games p.64

Graphics
The articles contained in this magazine are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. This means you can
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Full Circle magazine is entirely independent of Canonical, the sponsor of the Ubuntu projects, and the views and opinions in the magazine should in no way be
assumed to have Canonical endorsement. full circle magazine #206 2 contents ^
 EDITORIAL
This magazine was created using :

WELCOME TO THE LATEST ISSUE OF FULL CIRCLE

A nother full house this month with Python, Micro This Micro That, Latex, Stable Diffusion,
Inkscape and a *buntu review.

Elsewhere, Adam reviews Kubuntu 24.04, Erik reviews the Devops Handbook, and a hardware
review from Abigsky: the WoWe Mini PC. Giving his opinion, Erik looks at non-Snap *buntu distros. I
have to say: I'm not a fan of this Snap nonsense. I'm sure there's a very good reason for it, but the
only thing it seems to do is hugely inflate an apps size.

Oh, and for those of you who follow the FCM Facebook page for updates: Facebook, in their
infinite wisdom, have decided to unpublish the FCM Facebook page. The only reason they've Find Full Circle on:
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full circle magazine #206 3 contents ^

 NEWS
Submitted by ErikTheUnready

RELEASE OF ARMBIAN 24.5: providing a desktop based on the architecture (RV64GC). This is the
28/05/2024 The project supports more than latest releases of KDE and first miniature board based on the
30 Linux kernel builds for different applications using Qt. Distribution- RISC-V architecture, the size of a

A rmbian 24.5 has been ARM and ARM64 platforms. An SDK specific design features include the credit card (board size 85 x 56 mm).
published, providing a compact is provided to simplify the creation placement of a vertical panel on the The board is also notable for its
system environment for various of your own system images, right side of the screen. The relatively low cost for RISC-V
single-board computers with packages and distribution editions. distribution is developed with an boards - in the minimum
processors based on ARM, RISC-V ZSWAP is used for swapping, also eye on Arch Linux, but maintains its configuration with 2 GB of RAM,
and x86 architectures, including when logging in via SSH, an option own independent repository of the board retails for $39.
various models of Raspberry Pi, is provided to use two-factor more than 1,500 packages, and also
Odroid, Orange Pi, Banana Pi, authentication. The box64 emulator offers a number of its own The board comes in RAM sizes of
Helios64, pine64, Nanopi and is included, allowing you to run graphical utilities. The default file 1, 2, 4 or 8 GB (LPDDR4) and is
Cubieboard based on Allwinner, programs compiled for processors system is XFS. Builds are published equipped with slots for eMMC and
Amlogic, Actionsemi, Freescale / based on x86 architecture. Ready- for x86_64 systems (3.4 GB). Micro SD cards, three USB 3.0 ports,
NXP, Marvell Armada, Rockchip, made packages are offered for one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI 2.0 port
Radxa and Samsung Exynos running custom environments https://kaosx.us/news/2024/ with support for 4K resolution, an
processors. based on KDE, GNOME, Budgie, kaos05/ RJ45 connector (Ethernet ), an M.2
Cinnamon, i3wm, Mate, Xfce and E-Key slot for connecting a Wi-Fi/
Debian and Ubuntu are used to Xmonad. Bluetooth module, a MIPI CSI
generate builds, but the UBUNTU 24.04 BUILDS FOR (Camera Serial Interface) interface
environment is completely rebuilt https://www.armbian.com/ and a 40-pin GPIO. You can connect
newsflash/armbian-24-5-1-havier/
THE RISC-V BOARD MILK-V two monitors to the board (one via
using its own build system,
including optimizations to reduce MARS: HDMI, and the second via MIPI DSI)
size, increase performance, and 29/05/2024 and provide power via Ethernet
(PoE). It supports hardware
apply additional security RELEASE OF KAOS
mechanisms. For example, the /var/
log partition is mounted using zram 2024.05:
28/05/2024
C anonical has announced the
preparation of separate builds
of Ubuntu 24.04, specially
acceleration for H.264, H.265
(4K@60fps) and JPEG decoding, as
well as H.265 (1080p@30fps) and
and stored in RAM in a compressed
form with data flushed to the drive optimized to run on the Milk-V Mars JPEG encoding.
once a day or upon shutdown. The /
tmp partition is mounted using A new release of KaOS 2024.05
has been published, a rolling-
release distribution aimed at
board, equipped with a 4-core 64-
bit StarFive JH7110 (1.5GHz) There are two options for
tmpfs. processor based on the RISC-V Ubuntu builds available for

full circle magazine #206 4 contents ^

NEWS
download - a pre-built boot VisionFive 2 boards. Builds for devices PineTab, PineTab2,
environment for copying to an SD boards based on the RISC-V PinePhone, PinePhone Pro and https://rhinolinux.org/news-
card and an installation image for architecture are also being Raspberry Pi. 13.html
installation on an eMMC, USB drive developed by the Debian ,
or NVMe. The builds correspond to Armbian , Alpine , DietPi projects, Package management is carried
Ubuntu Server 24.04 with the Linux Fedora and Arch Linux. out using its own package manager
6.8 kernel. Limitations include the rhino-pkg (rpk), which implements a
THE XZ PROJECT PUBLISHED
lack of support for the built-in GPU https://canonical.com/blog/ binding over the package managers THE RESULT OF A COMMIT
and incomplete support for PCIe canonical-enables-ubuntu-on-milk- APT, Pacstall, flatpak and snap. AUDIT AND THE FIRST UPDATE
are mentioned (an NVMe drive can v-mars Rhino-pkg allows you to use one
AFTER THE BACKDOOR WAS
be used, but connecting modules universal utility to perform
with Wi-Fi and an external GPU is common operations with various IDENTIFIED:
not yet supported); as for the USB package formats, such as installing, 30/05/2024
RELEASE OF RHINO LINUX
ports, only USB 3.0 ports are uninstalling, updating and
2024.1:
currently supported, and the USB
port 2.0 is not available. 29/05/2024
searching for packages. To build the
distribution, the LiveBuild toolkit
from the Debian project is used
L asse Collin, the old maintainer
of the xz project, who in 2022
transferred rights to the new
As part of a strategic
cooperation agreement between R hino Linux 2024.1, which
implements a variant of Ubuntu
with a continuous update delivery
with modifications borrowed from
VanillaOS. Calamares installer is the
maintainer Jia Tan, whose activities
led to the introduction of a
Milk-V and Canonical, the Ubuntu default installer. backdoor, published corrective
distribution will be adapted to work model, allowing access to the latest releases of the XZ Utils packages
on other Milk-V devices, including versions of programs, is out. New The graphical interface is built 5.2.13, 5.4.7 and 5.6.2, which
future products. The Ubuntu versions are mainly transferred on Unicorn's own user environment, removed backdoor components and
platform will be promoted as the from devel branches of Ubuntu which is a redesigned version of other suspicious changes added as
primary supported and maintained repositories, which build packages Xfce, in style to GNOME, but a result of malicious activities of
system for all Milk-V board variants, with new versions of applications remaining lightweight. In Unicorn, the previous maintainer.
with a focus on support for synchronized with Debian Unstable. the developers tried to combine a
compute acceleration and AI Desktop components, the Linux more modern design with a In addition, a review report has
engines. kernel, boot screens, themes, the traditional approach to building a been published on the Git
Firefox browser and utilities desktop. Plank Dock is used as the repository and changes added since
In addition to Milk-V devices, developed by the project are sidebar, and the standard Xfce December 2022 during Jia Tan's
specially optimized builds of distributed through a separate panel is used as the top panel. To tenure as maintainer. Changes are
Ubuntu 24.04 are also available for Pacstall repository. Live installation navigate through installed analyzed at the level of individual
AllWinner Nezha, Microchip images are prepared for x86_64 applications, the App Grid mode, commits. The commits in the
Polarfire, SiFive Unmatched, Sipeed (2.3 GB) and ARM64 (2.2 GB) implemented based on Lightpad, is repository were not digitally
LicheeRV Dock and StarFive architectures, as well as for ARM used. signed, but there were no signs of
full circle magazine #206 5 contents ^
NEWS
tampering on the part of the
committers. A total of 8 malicious
commits were removed from the
Pi 4 and 5 boards, and systems
based on Intel Core processors that
support TCC (Time Coordinated
O racle has published Solaris 11.4
SRU 69 (Support Repository
Update), which offers a series of
been introduced to simplify the
configuration of network
parameters. Plugins for VPN
repository. Computing) and TSN (Time- significant changes and support (Libreswan, OpenConnect,
Sensitive Networking) improvements for the Solaris 11.4 Openswan, SSTP, etc.) are
https://www.mail-archive.com/xz- technologies. branch. To install the fixes offered developed as part of their own
[email protected]/msg00681.html in the update, simply run the 'pkg development cycles.
Ready-made builds are update' command. Users can also
generated for x86_64 and Aarch64 take advantage of the free Solaris https://networkmanager.dev/blog/
CANONICAL HAS PUBLISHED architectures and are distributed 11.4 CBE (Common Build networkmanager-1-48/
through the Ubuntu Pro service, Environment) edition, which is
REAL-TIME UBUNTU 24.04: which is a paid for commercial developed using a continuous
30/05/2024 application. For personal use, you release model. FEDORA 41 INTENDS TO
can connect up to 5 machines to
REMOVE NETWORK-SCRIPTS
C anonical has announced the
availability of Real-time builds
of Ubuntu 24.04, optimized for real-
Ubuntu Pro for free (50 machines
for Ubuntu Community members).
https://blogs.oracle.com/solaris/
post/whats-new-in-oracle-solaris- AND ALLOW UPDATING OF
114-sru69
time tasks. The builds use the Linux ATOMIC EDITIONS WITHOUT A
https://canonical.com//blog/real-
6.8 kernel with RT patches time-24-04 PASSWORD:
("Realtime-Preempt", PREEMPT_RT 31/05/2024
or "-rt"), which reduce latency and RELEASE OF
NETWORKMANAGER 1.48.0:
allow for predictable event
processing times. The builds
additionally include optimizations
MAJOR RELEASE OF SOLARIS
11.4 SRU69:
31/05/2024 T he Fedora 41 release proposed
removing the network-scripts
package, which provides support
aimed at improving performance
and reducing latency on Raspberry
31/05/2024
A stable release of
NetworkManager 1.48.0 has
for classic network configuration
scripts based on the ifup and
ifdown commands. Such scripts
have been declared obsolete since
2018. The reason for the deletion is
said to be plans to remove ISC dhcp,
because the maintenance of it was
discontinued at the end of 2022.

The proposals are still at the

discussion stage and have not been
reviewed by the FESCo (Fedora

full circle magazine #206 6 contents ^

NEWS
Engineering Steering Committee), run without root permissions (the LYX 2.4.0 PUBLISHED:
which is responsible for the Among the changes specific to functionality will be limited to 02/06/2024
technical part of the development Rocky Linux, are the supply of checking files available to the user).

A
of the Fedora distribution. additional repositories: plus with During operation, telemetry is sent, fter six years of development,
the open-vm-tools package, nfv including data on detected a major release of the visual
https://www.mail-archive.com/ with packages for virtualization of malware, to KSN (Kaspersky editor for scientific documents LyX
devel- network components developed by Security Network) servers. 2.4.0 has been published, allowing
[email protected]/ the NFV (Network Functions you to create texts using TeX/LaTeX
msg03290.html Virtualization) SIG group, RT with The scanner is designed as a markup, while visually editing the
packages for working in real time, universal, self-sufficient application document layout in a WYSIWYM
PowerTools, ResilientStorage and that supports 64-bit environments view. The resulting document is
RELEASE OF THE ROCKY HighAvailability. based on distributions like saved in LaTeX format, but text can
AlmaLinux OS 8+, AlterOS 7.5+ be imported and exported into
LINUX 8.10: https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky- Astra Linux Common Edition 2.12+, formats such as PDF, Postscript,
01/06/2024 linux-8-10-ga-release CentOS 6.7+, Debian GNU/Linux DVI, ASCII, HTML, OpenDocument,
10.0+, EulerOS 2.0+, Linux Mint RTF, ODF, DOC and ePub. Binary
A new release of the Rocky Linux
8.10 distribution is out, aimed
at creating a free build of RHEL KASPERSKY LAB HAS
19.2+, openSUSE Leap 15.0+, Oracle
Linux 7.3+, Red Hat Enterprise
builds are generated for Windows
and macOS.
Linux 6.7+, Rocky Linux 8.5+, SUSE
capable of taking the place of the PUBLISHED A FREE MALWARE Linux 12.5, Ubuntu 12.04+, AltLinux http://www.lyx.org/News
classic CentOS, after Red Hat
prematurely stopped supporting
SCANNER FOR LINUX: 8+, Rosa 12+ and RED OS 7.3+. The
01/06/2024 program is distributed free of
the CentOS 8 branch at the end of charge. The size of the executable
2021, and not in 2029, as originally RELEASE OF MATE 1.28:
K aspersky Lab introduced the file offered for download is 175
planned. Rocky Linux builds are 03/06/2024
KVRT application for scanning MB. Automatic updates of anti-virus
prepared for x86_64 and aarch64 databases are not supported in
A
Linux systems for threats and fter almost three years of
architectures. Additionally, builds KVRT - to obtain the latest anti-
malicious applications, such as development, the MATE 1.28
are generated for cloud virus data, you need to download a
viruses, backdoors, Trojans, adware desktop environment has been
environments Oracle Cloud new version (the program is
and spyware, as well as applications officially announced, continuing the
Platform (OCP), GenericCloud, updated several times a day).
that can facilitate attacks on the development of the GNOME 2.32
Amazon AWS (EC2), Google Cloud
system. In addition to checking codebase, while maintaining a
Platform and Microsoft Azure, as https://www.kaspersky.ru/blog/
files, the program scans memory classical desktop layout. The
well as images for containers and kvrt-for-linux/37571/
and boot sectors. Console and announcement of the release
virtual machines in RootFS/OCI and
graphical operating modes are indicated February 27, but the
Vagrant formats (Libvirt,
supported, as well as the ability to announcement on the MATE
VirtualBox, VMWare).

full circle magazine #206 7 contents ^

NEWS
project website appeared for the last two years, he has been distribution adapted for use on
03/06/2024, and before that, a new detached from the development of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, in
branch was mentioned only in the the operating system and was containers, consumer and industrial
form of tags in the Git repository of focused only on the development
FREEBSD 14.1 RELEASE equipment. Ubuntu Core comes in
the project, without a clear of his own browser engine and the WITH IMPROVED SOUND the form of an indivisible
announcement of the release and Ladybird application based on it. STACK AND CLOUD-INIT monolithic image, which does not
without the publication of the Since a strong community has break down into separate deb-
SUPPORT:
general list of changes. Packages formed around SerenityOS, packages. Images of Ubuntu Core
04/06/2024
with MATE 1.28 are already numbering more than a thousand 24, which are synchronized with the
available in distribution participants and able to do without Ubuntu 24.04, are prepared for
repositories such as Fedora 40,
Gentoo, Mageia, Manjaro,
him, Andreas decided to switch
entirely to the development of the
A fter six months of
development, FreeBSD 14.1
has been released. Installation
x86_64 and ARM64 systems (the
announcement also announced
openSUSE Tumbleweed, Arch Linux, Ladybird browser and its promotion support for RISC-V, but the builds
images are prepared for amd64,
ALT Linux, Artix, OpenIndiana, as self-sufficient and independent are not yet available). The time for
i386, powerpc, powerpc64,
GhostBSD, Parabola, Solus and Void of the SerenityOS project. supporting the release will be 12
powerpc64, powerpcs, armpe,
Linux. years.
armv7, aarch64 and riscv64
After the separation, the
architectures. In addition, builds for
https://mate-desktop.org/blog/ developers of the Ladybird browser Ubuntu Core serves as the basis
virtualization systems (QCOW2,
2024-02-27-mate-1-28-released/ will stop supporting SerenityOS OS for the launch of additional
VHD, VMDK, raw) and cloud
and focus on the development for components and applications,
environments Amazon EC2, Google
Linux and macOS platforms. The which are designed as self-
Compute Engine and Vagrant are
SERENITYOS LOSES BDFL: developers of SerenityOS will be sufficient add-ons in snap format.
prepared.
able to return to the original model Ubuntu Core components, including
(AND LINUX GAINS A of development for pleasure, the base system, the Linux kernel
https://download.freebsd.org/ftp/
BROWSER) communication with like-minded and system add-ons, are also
releases/ISO-IMAGES/14.1/
03/06/2024 people and as a hobby. Unlike supplied in snap format and
SerenityOS in the Ladybird project, managed by snapd tools. Snappy

A ndreas Kling, the creator of the

SerenityOS, announced the
restrictions will be removed that
banned the use of third-party code CANONICAL HAS PUBLISHED
technology makes it possible to
form an image of the system as a
removal of the powers of the in the project. Ladybird's Old UBUNTU CORE 24: whole, without parting into
"benevolent dictator" (BDFL) of the Repository is transferred to archive 04/06/2024 separate packages. Instead of a
project and the switch to the mode. phased update at the level of

C
development of the fork of anonical has unveiled the individual deb-packages in Ubuntu
Ladybird web-browser, which https://awesomekling.substack.com/ release of Ubuntu Core 24, a Core, the mechanism of atomic
previously developed as part of p/forking-ladybird-and-stepping- compact version of the Ubuntu update of snap-packs and the base
SerenityOS. According to Andreas, down-serenityos system is used, similar to Fedora
full circle magazine #206 8 contents ^
NEWS
Atomic, ChromeOS, Endless and the composition of Ubuntu 24.04. an add-on over KDE Plasma. Based addition to file backup files, you can
openSUSE Leap Micro. When To minimize traffic, updates are on the Maui library for the also create backups of various
updating the basic environment delivered in a compressed form and distribution, a set of typical user DBMSs: MySQL, PostgreSQL,
and snap-packs, it is possible to include only changes relative to the applications are in development, MongoDB, Redis. The project code
revert the state to the previous past update. Automation of which can be used on both desktop is distributed under the Apache 2.0
version, in case of problems updates solves problems with and mobile devices. AppImages is license.
identified after the update. maintaining the system's security being promoted to install
when used on embedded devices. additional applications. The size of Backups can be stored both
To ensure security, each the full boot image is 4.6 GB. The locally and in remote repositories
component of the system is Thanks to the logical separation project is distributed under free (S3, FTP, SSH, SMB, NFS, WebDAV),
verified by digital signature, which of the base system from the licenses. for which various libraries are used.
allows you to protect the applications, this approach allows Thanks to the mini-framework go-
distribution from getting hidden you to reduce the cost of The NX Desktop desktop offers nxs-appctx, you can use the
modifications or installing supporting products, the software a different style design, its own environment variables in the
unverified snap-packs. The environment of which is built on the implementation of the system tray, configuration. Backup can be done
components supplied in Snap basis of Ubuntu Core, since their notification output center and not only for the specified period of
format are isolated using manufacturers do not need to various plasmoids, such as a time, but also taking into account
AppArmor and Seccomp, which produce and deliver system network connector and multimedia the maintenance of a specific
creates an additional layer to updates and focus only on their applet to control the volume and number of backups. There is a self-
protect the system in case of specific components. control the playback of multimedia renewal function and the ability to
compromising individual content. expand the functionality through
applications. The basic system https://ubuntu.com/blog/canonical- custom scripts.
includes only a minimum set of launches-ubuntu-core-24 https://nxos.org/changelog/
necessary applications, which not release-announcement-nitrux-3-5- https://nxs-backup.io/
only allowed to reduce the size of 0/
the system environment, but also NITRUX 3.5.0 WITH CUSTOM
had a positive effect on security by FFMPEG PRESENTED ITS
reducing possible vectors for NX DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT:
05/06/2024 NXS-BACKUP 3.7.0 IS OWN IMPLEMENTATION OF
attacks.
AVAILABLE: XHE-AAC DECODER:
The base file system is mounted
in read-only mode. You can use data A new release of Nitrux 3.5.0,
built on Debian, KDE
05/06/2024 05/06/2024

encryption on the storage using

TPM. Updates are released
technologies and the OpenRC
initialization system, has been
published. The project offers its
N xs-backup 3.7.0, which allows
you to backup, rotate the
backups and store the backups on
T he developers of the
multimedia package FFMpeg,
regularly, delivered in OTA mode announced the creation of their
(over-the-air) and synchronized with own NX Desktop desktop, which is local or external storage, is out. In own implementation of the
full circle magazine #206 9 contents ^
NEWS
decoder for the xHE-AAC THE FIRST RELEASE OF emergency completion may
(Extended High-Efficiency AAC) indicate attempts to exploit
sound encoding format, defined in
KLEVERNOTES: OPENSSH ADDED BUILT-IN vulnerabilities in sshd.
06/06/2024 PROTECTION AGAINST
the ISO/IEC 23003-3 standard. The
xHE-AAC decoder has already been PASSWORD ATTACKS: Through the PerSourcePenalties
adopted in the main code base of
FFMpeg and will be included in the
D evelopers from the KDE
project presented KleverNotes
1.0, which is written using the
07/06/2024 parameter, a minimum threshold of
anomalous events is set, after

T
next release. The implementation he OpenSSH code added built-in exceeding that, the IP address
Kirigami framework and can be
can be used for most xHE-AAC protection against automated where the suspicious activity is
used on both desktops and mobile
stereo streams. The streams of password attacks, where bots try to coming from will be blocked. With
devices. When writing notes, they
SBR, USAC and MPEG-H with guess the user's password by the PerSourceNetBlockSize
propose you use Markdown
surround sound, as well as speech entering various typical parameter, you can additionally
language, the result is then
coding are not supported yet. combinations. To block such define a subnet mask to block the
immediately displayed in the
Support USAC and SBR promise to attacks, the PerSourcePenalties entire subnet to which the
preview area. In addition, TODO
add soon. parameter has been added to the problematic IP belongs.
lists and pasting simple drawings
with lines are supported. sshd_config configuration file,
xHE-AAC is used in Netflix which allows you to determine the To disable the locking for
streaming and is involved in digital lock threshold that works with a individual subnets, the
Notes can be placed in a
radio broadcasting - Digital Radio large number of failed connection PerSourcePenaltyExemptList
hierarchical form, broken down into
Mondiale. The codec is notable for attempts from one IP address. The parameter is proposed, which can
categories and groups. The
the support of a wide bitrate range new protection mechanism will be be useful in situations leading to
functionality of the application
(from 12 to 300 kbit/s), high part of the next release of false positives, for example, when
expands through plugins, for
compression, constant volume OpenSSH and will be included by the SSH server is accessed from a
example, plugins are available for
reproduction, high-volume, high- default in OpenBSD 7.6. large network, requests from
linking different notes, highlighting
deficit at all volume levels, different users from the same IP or
syntax, fast insertion of emoji and
additional dynamic range control When you turn on protection, proxy.
creating diagrams using the
profiles when listening to noisy the sshd process begins to track the
PlantUML markup. The style of
places and adding metadata that completion status of child https://marc.info/?l=openbsd-
preview of text, in Markdown
allows you to restore losses on the processes, determining situations cvs&m=171769392207688&w=2
format can be changed by the user
receiving side. where the authentication has not
using CSS.
passed or when the process has
https://ffmpeg.org/ been accidentally completed due to
https://blogs.kde.org/2024/06/05/
index.html#xheaac a failure. The high intensity of
klevernotes-version-1.0-official-
release/ failures in authentication indicates
attempts to guess passwords, and

full circle magazine #206 10 contents ^

NEWS
RELEASE OF THE GNU same currency. The user can environment for security experts eleven years ago, which implies the
transfer electronic money to the and forensic scientists, which release of new stable branches
TALER 0.11: sellers, who can then change them focuses on tools for examining once a year and corrective releases
07/06/2024
back to the real money presented cloud systems and Internet of every three months. In about a
by traditional payment systems at Things devices. The ISO also month, they plan to release the
T he GNU project has unveiled
Taler 0.11 free electronic
payment system, which provides
the exchange point. includes cryptographic tools and
programs for providing secure
first corrective release of Perl
5.40.1, which will correct the most
https://taler.net/en/news/2024- access to the network, including significant errors identified during
anonymity to buyers, but retains
11.html TOR, I2P, anonsurf, gpg, tccf (Two the implementation of Perl 5.40.0.
the ability to identify sellers to
Cents Cryptography Frontend), Along with the release of Perl 5.40,
ensure transparency in tax
zulucrypt, veracrypt, truecrypt and support for the 5.36 branch was
reporting. The system does not
RELEASE OF PARROT 6.1: luks. discontinued, where updates can be
allow you to track information
10/06/2024 released in the future only if critical
about where the user spends
https://parrotsec.org/blog/2024- security problems are identified.
money, but provides means to track
06-05-parrot-6.1-release-notes/ On June 20, the development
the receipt of funds (the sender
remains anonymous), which solves A new release of Parrot 6.1 is
available, based on Debian 12
and including a selection of tools
process of the experimental branch
5.41 will begin, on which a stable
the problems with the tax audit
for checking the security of PERL 5.40.0 AVAILABLE: release of Perl 5.42 will be formed
inherent in BitCoin. The code is
systems, conducting forensic 10/06/2024 in May or June 2025, unless a
written in Python and is licensed
analysis and reverse engineering. decision is made to switch to
under AGPLv3 and LGPLv3 licenses.
numbering 7.x.
GNU Taler does not create its
Several iso images with the MATE
environment are offered for
download , intended for everyday
A fter 11 months of
development, the release of a
new stable branch of Perl has been https://www.nntp.perl.org/group/
own cryptocurrency, but works with
use, security testing, installation on published. In preparing the new perl.perl5.porters/2024/06/
existing currencies, including
Raspberry Pi boards and creating release, about 160 thousand lines msg268252.html
dollars, euros and bitcoins. Support
for new currencies can be ensured specialized installations, for of code were changed (without
through the creation of a bank that example, for use in cloud documentation and automatically
acts as a financial guarantor. The environments. Additionally, ready- generated code - 110 thousand), RELEASE OF WINLATOR 7.0:
business model of GNU Taler is to-run images of virtual machines the changes affected 1,500 files, 11/06/2024
based on the execution of built for amd64 and Apple Silicon and 75 developers took part in the
exchange operations - money from
traditional payment systems, such
(M1 and M2) architectures are
supplied.
development.

Branch 5.40 was released in

T he release of the Android
application, Winlator 7.0 has
been published, providing a
as BitCoin, Mastercard, SEPA, Visa,
ACH and SWIFT, are converted into The Parrot distribution is accordance with the fixed framework over Wine and Box86 /
anonymous electronic money in the positioned as a portable laboratory development schedule approved Box64 emulators for running

full circle magazine #206 11 contents ^

NEWS
Windows applications on the 16 will be released on the ALP
Android platform. Winlator deploys https://www.webosose.org/blog/ platform in 2025 . The key
a Linux environment based on 2024/06/05/webos-ose-2-26-0- difference between ALP is the
Ubuntu with Mesa, DXVK , D8VK ,
RELEASE OF OPENSUSE division of the core distribution into
release/
Vkd3d and CNC DDraw, in which LEAP 15.6: two parts: a stripped-down “host
Windows applications compiled for 12/06/2024 OS” for running on top of hardware
the x86 architecture are executed and a layer for supporting
RELEASE OF SYSTEMD
on ARM devices with Android using
an emulator and Wine. The project SYSTEM MANAGER 256 WITH A fter a year of development,
openSUSE Leap 15.6 was
released. The release is based on
applications, aimed at running in
containers and virtual machines.
code is distributed under the MIT RUN0 UTILITY TO REPLACE
license. The APK package size is 251 the same set of binary packages as https://news.opensuse.org/
SUDO: SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP 6 with
MB. 2024/06/12/leap-unveils-choices-
12/06/2024 some user applications from the for-users/
https://github.com/brunodev85/ openSUSE Tumbleweed repository.
winlator/releases/tag/v7.0.0
A fter six months of
development, the release of
the system manager, systemd 256
Using the same binary packages in
SUSE and openSUSE simplifies the
SELKS 10 IS AVAILABLE:
transition between distributions,
was presented. Key changes: the 13/06/2024
saves resources on building
WEBOS OPEN SOURCE run0 utility to replace sudo, the packages, distributing updates and
EDITION 2.26:
11/06/2024
importctl utility for working with
disk images, the possibility of
testing, unifies differences in spec
files and allows you to move away
S tamus Networks has published
their specialized distribution,
SELKS 10, designed for deploying
versioned access to resources, the from diagnosing different package

w ebOS Open Source Edition

2.26 has been introduced,
which can be used on various
concept of capsules for launching
additional service managers, the
mode of redirecting systemd-
builds when parsing error
messages. A universal DVD build of
4.4 GB in size (x86_64, aarch64,
network intrusion detection and
prevention systems, as well as
organizing responses to identified
portable devices, boards and journald logs to an arbitrary socket, threats and monitoring network
ppc64les, 390x), a stripped-down
automotive infotainment systems. support for the Varlink protocol in security. Users are provided with a
image for installation with
Raspberry Pi 4 boards are systemd-networkd, systemd complete network security
downloading packages over a
considered as the reference -machined, bootctl, systemd-creds management solution that can be
network (200 MB) and Live builds
hardware platform. The platform is and systemd-hostnamed, unit used immediately after
(~900 MB) with KDE, GNOME and
developed in a public repository generator "systemd-ssh-generator" downloading. The distribution
Xfce are available for download.
under the Apache 2.0 license, and and utility "systemd-ssh-proxy". supports Live mode and running in
X86_64 and ARM64 architectures.
development is supervised by the virtualization environments or
community, adhering to a https://lists.freedesktop.org/ containers. The project's code is
It is expected that openSUSE
collaborative development archives/systemd-devel/2024-June/ distributed under the GPLv3
Leap 15.6 will be the last release in
management model. 050407.html license. Two iso images were
the 15.x series, and openSUSE Leap
full circle magazine #206 12 contents ^
NEWS
created for downloading: with the RELEASES OF IPFIRE 2.29 fixes, we can note the
Xfce graphical environment ( 3.5 implementation of the $'...' strings
GB ) and running in console mode
CORE 186: POSIX 1003.1-2024 in the shell, the addition of the
( 2.7 GB ).
14/06/2024 STANDARD APPROVED: readlink and realpath utilities, the
15/06/2024 appearance of the "-print0" and "-
The distribution is built on
A new release of the distribution
iname" options in the find utility,

A
for creating routers and fter seven years of
Debian and uses the open Suricata the addition of the xargs option "-
firewalls IPFire 2.29 Core 186 has development, the professional
attack detection system . Data 0" (using the null character as a
been published. IPFire is society of the Institute of Electrical
coming from various sources is delimiter, for example, generated
distinguished by a simple and Electronics Engineers (IEEE
processed using the Logstash via find -print0), in read - options "-
installation process and Computer Society) and the Open
platform and stored in d" (separator), in sed options " -E
configuration through an intuitive Group consortium have approved a
ElasticSearch storage. To track the " (extended regular expressions), in
web interface, replete with visual new version of the POSIX 1003.1-
current status and identified set - options " -o pipefail ".
graphics. The size of the installation 2024 standard, aimed at ensuring
incidents, a web interface is
iso image is 421 MB (x86_64, program portability between UNIX-
proposed, implemented on top of For programs in C, support has
AArch64). like systems. The standard defines
the Kibana interface. To manage been added for the SIGWINCH
rules and visualize the activity software interfaces between constant, tools for creating shared
The system is modular: in operating systems and application
associated with them, the Stamus objects, functions tcgetwinsize
addition to the basic functions of programs and covers a set of library
CE web interface is used. It also (determining the size of the
packet filtering and traffic functions, shell capabilities, and
includes a system for capturing, terminal window), gettext
management for IPFire, modules utilities.
storing and indexing network (organizing multilingual interfaces),
are available that implement a
packets Arkime, an interface for asprintf (formats a string and
system for preventing attacks The text of the standard is
evaluating events that have allocates a buffer taking into
based on Suricata, for creating a file currently only available in PDF
occurred EveBox and a data account the size of the output),
server (Samba, FTP, NFS), a mail format for paying customers,
analyzer CyberChef . strlcpy and strlcat (analogues
server (Postfix, ClamAV) and a print educational institutions and users strncpy and strncat, which contain
server (CUPS), wireless access with an account on the IEEE
https://www.stamus-networks.com/ buffer overflow protection and set
point, streaming systems (MPFire, website. In the near future, the text
pr/13-june-2024 the trailing null byte). The make
MiniDLNA/ReadyMedia, Gnump3d, of the standard will be published utility now supports nested macros,
VDR). To install add-ons in IPFire, a publicly on the Open Group website allows specifying multiple files in
special package manager, Pakfire, is (for now, only the previous edition the include directive, adds new
used. of POSIX 1003.1-2017, released in targets .NOTPARALLEL, .PHONY
2017, is publicly available). and .WAIT, adds the CURDIR macro
https://www.ipfire.org/blog/ipfire-
pointing to the current directory,
2-29-core-update-186-released Among the changes in POSIX adds operators for assigning
1003.1-2024, in addition to bug macros and variables "::=", " :::=",
full circle magazine #206 13 contents ^
NEWS
"+=", "?=" and "!=". outdated design concepts from application menus, and you can use download and use, but access to
which the project has long moved tabs to group windows. The window updates and patches is limited to a
https://www.opengroup.org/ away (for example, the manager is configured through a 60-day trial period. The release is
austin/ “hamburger” menu and flat panels fairly simple configuration file; available in builds for aarch64,
are now actively used), and was also themes can be used. Combining ppc64le, s390x and x86_64
confusing and verbose. The new windows as tabs is supported. Built- architectures.
NEW UI DESIGN GUIDELINES document is free of fluff and in applets are available for
philosophizing, has a simple monitoring CPU, memory, and SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP6
FOR KDE APPLICATIONS: structure and is aimed at providing traffic. Separately, several third- supports full binary package
15/06/2024 concise, practical development party GUIs are being developed for compatibility with the community-
recommendations . The document customization, desktop developed openSUSE Leap 15.6

N ate Graham, QA developer for

the KDE project, has published
another report on the development
is not final and is designed for
constant development, addition
implementations, and menu
editors. The code is written in C++
distribution, which was released
last week. A high level of
and adaptation to changing and distributed under the GPLv2 compatibility is achieved by using a
of KDE and presented a new realities. The guide is in Markdown license. single set of binary packages with
edition of the KDE Human Interface format and is available for SUSE Linux Enterprise, instead of
Guidelines (HIG). The document submission of additions and https://github.com/ice-wm/icewm/ rebuilding src packages. It is
defines general templates and changes. releases/tag/3.6.0 expected that users can first build
rules for the design of the interface and test a working solution using
of KDE applications, allowing https://pointieststick.com/ openSUSE, and then seamlessly
developers to unify the appearance 2024/06/14/this-week-in-kde-final- switch to a commercial version of
of their applications with the SUSE LINUX ENTERPRISE 15
plasma-6-1-polishing-and-new- SUSE Linux with full support, SLA,
general design of the KDE platform features-for-6-2/ SP6: certification, long-term update
and achieve its harmonious 17/06/2024 releases and advanced tools for
combination with other mass adoption.
applications.

This tutorial reflects the current

RELEASE OF THE ICEWM
3.6.0:
A fter a year of development,
SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP6
distribution is out. Based on the
https://www.suse.com/c/
announcing-suse-linux-enterprise-
state of KDE development and 16/06/2024 SUSE Linux Enterprise platform 15-sp6-the-linux-choice-for-
focuses on using the Kirigami products. SUSE Linux Enterprise security-and-compliance-in-a-
framework based on Qt Quick,
which allows you to create universal
interfaces suitable for both
T he lightweight window
manager IceWM 3.6.0 is
available. IceWM provides full
Server , SUSE Linux Enterprise
Desktop , SUSE Linux Enterprise
High Performance Computing and
reliable-it/

desktops and mobile devices. It is control through keyboard SUSE Linux Enterprise High
noted that the old HIG has long lost shortcuts, the ability to use virtual Availability Extension are now
its meaning, as it described desktops, the taskbar and abailable. The distribution is free to

full circle magazine #206 14 contents ^

NEWS
RELEASE OF THE KDE Compilation for various target RELEASE OF EASYOS 6.0:
The project adheres to the platforms is implemented using 19/06/2024
PLASMA 6.1: LLVM, and libraries used in the main
classic interface layout, without
18/06/2024

B
switching to the Australis and toolkit from the Go project are arry Kauler, founder of the
Photon interfaces integrated into used to support the language. The Puppy Linux project, published
A fter three and a half months of
development, the KDE Plasma
6.1 desktop environment has been
Firefox 29 and 57, and with
extensive customization options.
code is distributed under the BSD
license.
the EasyOS 6.0, which combines
Puppy Linux technologies with the
The removed components include use of container isolation to run
released . To evaluate the
DRM, Social API, WebRTC, PDF The compiled program can be system components. The
performance of new KDE releases,
viewer, Crash Reporter, code for directly run on microcontrollers, distribution is managed through a
you can use builds from the KDE
collecting statistics, tools for allowing Go to be used as a set of graphical configurators
Neon and openSUSE projects
parental controls and people with language for writing automation developed by the project. The boot
(Argon, based on openSUSE Leap,
disabilities. Compared to Firefox, scripts. In its current form, more image size is 905 MB.
and Krypton, based on openSUSE
support for extensions using XUL than a hundred models of
Tumbleweed).
has been returned to the browser, microcontrollers are supported, https://bkhome.org/news/202406/
and the ability to use both full- including various Adafruit, Arduino, easyos-scarthgap-series-version-60-
https://kde.org/announcements/
fledged and lightweight themes BBC micro, ESP32, M5Stack, ST released.html
plasma/6/6.1.0/
has been retained. Micro, Digispark, Raspberry Pi Pico,
Nordic Semiconductor, SiFive
https://forum.palemoon.org/ HiFive1, STM32, Makerdiary and
PALE MOON BROWSER Phytec boards. Special drivers are
A NEW RELEASE OF
viewtopic.php?
33.2.0: t%3D31260%26p%3D252591%23p provided to interact with sensors LIBGCRYPT 1.11.0:
18/06/2024 252591 and connected external devices, as 19/06/2024
well as to support interfaces such

P ale Moon 33.2.0 has been

published, branching from the TINYGO 0.32:
as I2C, GPIO and SPI . Programs can
also be built in WebAssembly
(wasm/wasi) format to run in a
T he GNU Project introduced the
release of Libgcrypt 1.11.0, an
implementation of the components
Firefox code base to provide higher 18/06/2024
performance, preserve the classic browser and as executables for underlying the encryption
Linux. mechanisms used in GnuPG. The
T
interface, minimize memory inygo 0.32 is now available,
consumption and provide library provides functions for using
developing a Go compiler for
additional customization options. https://github.com/tinygo-org/ various cryptographic algorithms in
applications that require compact
Pale Moon builds are created for tinygo/releases/tag/v0.32.0 third-party applications, including
output code and low resource
Windows and Linux (x86_64). The symmetric ciphers (AES, Arcfour,
consumption, such as
project code is distributed under Blowfish, Camellia, CAST5,
microcontrollers and compact
the MPLv2 (Mozilla Public License). ChaCha20, DES, GOST28147,
single-processor systems.
Salsa20, SEED, Serpent, Twofish),
full circle magazine #206 15 contents ^
NEWS
hashing algorithms (MD5, RIPE- package base is synchronized with THE X WINDOW SYSTEM IS based on the Chromium engine, has
MD160, SHA -*, SHAKE256, TIGER- Debian 12.4. been presented. Vivaldi builds are
192, Whirlpool), authenticated
40 YEARS OLD: prepared for Linux, Windows and
20/06/2024
encryption algorithms (HMAC-*, It includes a selection of pre- macOS. The project distributes
CMAC-*, GMAC-*, Poly1305-*), installed applications for changes made to the Chromium
public key encryption (RSA,
Elgamal, DSA, ECDSA, EdDSA,
monitoring and diagnosing network
operation, tunneling traffic,
I t's been 40 years since Robert
Scheffler announced the creation
of the X Window System protocol.
codebase under an open license.
The browser interface is written in
ECDH ). The new branch is fully running VPN, remote access, JavaScript using the React library,
The protocol traveled from the
compatible at the API and ABI level intrusion detection, security the Node.js platform, Browserify
release of X1 to X11 in just three
with the 1.10.x branch (using the testing, simulating network and various ready-made NPM
years, after that, the state of X11
new version does not require operation and traffic analysis, all modules. The implementation of
stabilized and over time only
rebuilding programs). which can be used immediately the interface is available in source
acquired extensions, but does not
after downloading the distribution code, but under a proprietary
change its essence. For example, at
https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/ from a USB drive. Applications license.
one time such widespread features
gnupg-devel/2024-June/ included in the package are:
as XVideo, X Font Server, XKB,
035585.html Wireshark, Etherape, Ettercap, The browser is being developed
Xinerama, XCB, Multi-Pointer X,
PackETH, Packetsender, Putty, by former Opera Presto developers
Present, DRI2, DRI3, RandR, X Input,
Nmap, GNS3, Lssid, Packet Tracer, and aims to create a customizable
etc. were presented as extensions.
RELEASE OF SYSLINUXOS Wine, Virtualbox, Teamviewer, and functional browser that
In 2011, an initiative arose to create
Anydesk, Remmina, Zoom, Skype, preserves the privacy of user data.
12.4: Sparrow-Wifi, Angry Ip Scanner, Fast
the X12 protocol , but it did not go
Key features include a tracking and
19/06/2024 beyond discussions, and all
-cli, Speedtest-cli, ipcalc, iperf3, ad blocker, note, history and
activities on the development of
Munin, Stacer, Zabbix, Suricata, bookmark managers, private

S ysLinuxOS 12.4 was released, the graphics subsystem focused on

Firetools, Firewalk, Firejails, Cacti, browsing mode, synchronization
built on Debian 12 and aimed at the development of the Wayland
Icinga, Monit, Nagios4, Fail2ban, protected by end-to-end
providing a bootable live protocol.
Wireguard, OpenVPN, Firefox, encryption, tab grouping mode,
environment optimized for system Chrome, Chromium, Microsoft Edge sidebar, configurator with a large
integrators and administrators. https://www.talisman.org/x-
and Tor Browser . number of settings, horizontal tab
Builds with GNOME (4.8 GB) and debut.shtml
display mode, and also in test mode
MATE (5 GB) desktops have been https://syslinuxos.com/syslinuxos- built-in email client, RSS reader and
prepared for download. The 12-4-released/ calendar.
environment works in Live mode, RELEASE OF VIVALDI 6.8:
but also supports installation on 20/06/2024 In the new version, the main
disk using the Calamares installer. work was done with the built-in

A
In the new release, the Linux kernel release of the proprietary email client, which has now grown
is updated to version 6.7, and the browser Vivaldi 6.8, developed, to version 2.0.
full circle magazine #206 16 contents ^
NEWS
which works as a layer between the through existing images and, if automatic partitioning, using Ext4
https://vivaldi.com/blog/desktop/ hardware and the rest of the necessary, perform operations to and Btrfs, installing standard
desktop-releases/vivaldi-on- operating system. correct distortions and improve desktop environments, encrypting
desktop-6-8/ quality, while preserving the the swap partition, root and home
The user level includes original image and the entire directory, setting the locale and
subsystems that provide the ability history of operations with it. The keyboard layout, setting Linux
to run applications written for project code is written in C and is kernel parameters. The installer
THE EXECTOS OPEN OS: various operating systems. For distributed under the GPLv3 starts after downloading the
20/06/2024
example, such subsystems can license. The interface is built using standard Arch Linux iso image by
implement layers to support a the GTK library. Binary builds have downloading the script using the
T he ExectOS project attempted
to create a new operating
system from scratch, equipped with
POSIX-compliant environment or to
enable programs running based on
been prepared for Linux
( AppImage, OBS, flatpak, snap will
curl utility or copying from a USB
drive. There is a demo mode that
the Win32 API. The project is also be published in the future ), allows you to try out the installer
a microkernel with the XT
developing its own XT Boot Loader , Windows and macOS. on an existing system without
architecture, based on the
which supports UEFI, and the performing the installation.
Windows NT kernel. ExectOS kernel
XTChain build toolkit based on https://www.darktable.org/
components are separated from
LLVM/Clang/LLD. 2024/06/darktable-4.8.0-released/ https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/
the device driver subsystem,
comments/1dm6y7s/
allowing the main kernel to be
https://exectos.eu.org/ amelia_installer_updated/
updated without the need to
recompile drivers for a new kernel. AMELIA 5.8:
The project code is written in C and 23/06/2024
is distributed under the GPLv3 RELEASE OF DARKTABLE
license. 4.8.0:
22/06/2024 A melia 5.8 has been published,
an alternative console installer
for Arch Linux, written in Bash and
The XT kernel architecture
distributed under the GPLv3
D
provides preemptive multitasking arktable 4.8 has been
and consists of two underlying published. Darktable acts as a license. Navigation through
layers: the microkernel and user- free alternative to Adobe installable packages, settings, and
space components. Kernel-level Lightroom and specializes in non- installation modes is done through
components run in a separate, destructive work with raw images. a menu system that allows you to
protected memory area and have Darktable provides a large selection switch between configuration
full access to hardware and system of modules for performing all kinds stages before starting the actual
resources. Moreover, unlike the NT of photo processing operations, it installation.
kernel, XT does not have a separate allows you to maintain a database
HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer), of source photos, visually navigate It supports manual and

full circle magazine #206 17 contents ^

full circle magazine #206 18 contents ^
 COMMAND & CONQUER
Written by Erik

O ne of our NOC engineers is

writing some Linux exam/test/
whatever. We were having a chat
cleanly, without error, your exit
status is 0. If not, it is not 0. (make
sense?) The same happens here,
and he confessed not knowing how you evaluate or compare two things
test worked. I thought about it and and you get 0 or 1. There is no
realised I have never typed test at hidden meaning or anything
the command line either. He esoteric. It’s true or false. If you
showed me what he was looking at: want to see that result, you type:
https://opensource.com/article/ echo $?
22/10/test-command-linux
Go ahead, open a terminal and
I had to read it twice, to figure type it to see the default value. I’m
out what they were talking about. not going to tell you what it is, you
The very last piece hit me, back in need to see it for yourself. OK, with
the day, I got caught with the [[ ]] that out of the way, let’s use it to
command, and it took me a few see how it works. Type:
retries to grok it. It turns out it is
something I have used often, never page, you have my permission to It says nothing... I need you to test 1 eq 2 ; echo $?
knowing that it was also a spit in their coffee. (OK don’t) think of it as a comparison
command (named test). Before I go Seriously, the man page is about as command in bash that nets you a Yes, I know it is oversimplified,
on “my way” of doing things, let's much help to a newbie as a pin in a boolean. That’s it. To understand but you are going to have to look at
look at this from the bottom up. rainstorm if you don’t know what where this comes from, you need to it that (the simple) way. You should
test does. know a bit about programming. Not have got an error. Look at the
So if you are a newbie and much, just enough to hurt yourself. output. Now let’s do it right and
someone tells you to read the man You see, when a C program exits look at that output (proper term is
exit status), type:

test 1 -eq 2 ; echo $?

This is where the man page

comes in handy, helping you
remember all the comparison

full circle magazine #206 19 contents ^

COMMAND & CONQUER
operators. I’m not going to list Let’s do a very simple example, We can also use the “zero” and
them here, you have a terminal. If type: “non-zero” operators, “-z” and “-n” As you can see, once you get the
you are a native English speaker, basics, the rest just fall into place.
you should know them. If you are [ 6 -gt 7 ] && echo "it is!" Type:
|| echo "nope..." Like, for instance, would you like to
not, now you have the opportunity know if a file has write
to learn them. [ -n “fcm”] ; echo $?
Now do it again, swapping the 6 permissions?
and the 7 around. What happened? Type:
Now the part I did not know is Hah, see you are getting smarter
Do you see why I said it is a
that I have been using test all already! Yes, type:
comparison that nets you a [ -z “fcm”] ; echo $?
along, just not in that way. Open
boolean?
your terminal and type: [ -w a.out ] ; echo $?
You are all smart people, so I’m
[ 1 -eq 1 ] ; echo $? NOTE: if you are too lazy to type not going to pull out the wax So now you know* how the test
and copypasta, remember that this: crayons here. command works, you can go
mmm... Oh and be aware that there " is not this: “ through the switches in the man
is a space after “[“ and one before Let’s take it one step further, we page and it will start making sense
“]” as, with “[[“ it is then treated as That was integers, but you can can use it on files and folders, why? to you. One of the other options
a command. So what happened? also do it for strings. For strings we Because we get a boolean back. you may come across is “-s” which
Yes same pudding, different sauce. can use “=” and “!=” Type: checks if a file has meat on the
Go ahead and leave out the space, Type: bones. To see this in action, type:
[ -e a.out ] ; echo $?
so you can see what the error looks
[ “FCM” = “fcm”] ; echo $?
like. No, really, this is important. touch man.man && [ -s
This tests for a file named man.man ] ; echo $?
Familiarity breeds contempt, if you
Type: “a.out”. You can test for any file
are used to the error, you know
you like. (bottom left is a screen- Did you understand what you
how to fix it. [ “FCM” != “fcm”] ; echo $? shot to see it in action.) just typed? If not,
[email protected]
So the syntax is, we compare If you did not get those t-shirts So I have a file named icon.svg,
something in the “box” and we can before; != is funny ‘coz its true, you but not one named icons.svg in my
then do something (or nothing) will now. folder.
with the result (0 or 1).
Now, the “-e” is for “exist”, but Erik has been in IT for 30+ years. He
we can also check if it is a file or a has seen technology come and go.
directory, and yes, you guessed it From repairing washing machine sized
hard drives with multimeters and
they are “-f” or “-d”. As I said, this is oscilloscopes, laying cable, to scaling
not difficult. 3G towers, he's done it.

full circle magazine #206 20 contents ^

 HOW-TO
Written by Greg Walters
Python In The Real World - Pt.152
PIPX??? the page, or search that page for So we’ll look at the apt method We’ll take a look at some of the
“what is pipx”. first. Assuming you are running command-line options to help us

G reetings again fellow Sentient Ubuntu 23.04 or above (or a distro out here.
Lifeforms and, as Dr. Johnny According the the web page: based on that)...
Fever would say, “Fellow Babies”. “pipx is a tool to help you install and If you don’t know what to do,
run end-user applications written in sudo apt update you can always ask for help…
Once again, I’m beaming from
landing pad 2997 on Terra to bring Python. It's roughly similar to sudo apt install pipx
macOS's brew, JavaScript's npx, and pipx -h
you more information on Python
Linux's apt. pipx ensurepath
and its related goodies, add-ons, ~/Desktop$ pipx -h
tips, tricks, traps, and other sudo pipx ensurepath --global usage: pipx [-h] [--version]
weirdness. It's closely related to pip. In fact, # optional to allow pipx
actions with --global {install,inject,upgrade,upgra
it uses pip, but is focused on argument de-all,uninstall,uninstall-
This month, we will be talking installing and managing Python all,reinstall,reinstall-
all,list,run,runpip,ensurepat
about pipx. Right about now, I’m packages that can be run from the If, however, you want to install h,completions}
sure you are thinking, “What the command-line directly as via pip(3)... ...
HECK is pipx, and is Greg having applications.”
Install and execute apps from
problems typing ‘pip’?” Well, the pip install pipx Python packages.
answer, to the last part first, is yes, In fact, if you dig deeper, you will
Greg IS having problems typing, but find this statement: “pipx is a You might want to run the last Actually, I’m breaking the
that’s a story for another day! specialized package installer. It can two lines from the apt install terminal output here to save space
be used to install only packages section above, after you've installed (more shown on the next page, top
Pipx IS REAL. Pipx, according to with cli entry points.” via pip – to make sure pipx is right).
their website, allows you to “Install available from pretty much
and Run Python Applications in Now that makes things much anywhere on your system. And it keeps going, so I’m going
Isolated Environments”. Now isn’t clearer. So how do you install such a to just leave it at this. The
thing? pipx ensurepath
that about as clear as mud? important commands (at least for
sudo pipx ensurepath --global me) are list, install, and uninstall.
So let’s open a browser and look There are two ways to install # optional to allow pipx
pipx on a Linux machine. The first is actions with --global
at https://github.com/pypa/pipx/ argument So let’s install something. We’ll
tree/main?tab=readme-ov-file, via apt, and the other is via (guess use the silly pycowsay program as
which is the pipx distribution site, what) pip. our example.
Ok. It’s installed. Now what?
and scroll about ⅓ of the way down
full circle magazine #206 21 contents ^
HOWTO - PYTHON
>> pipx install pycowsay
installed package pycowsay subcommands:
2.0.3, Python 3.10.3 Get help for commands with pipx COMMAND --help {install,inject,upgrade,upgrade-
These apps are now globally all,uninstall,uninstall-all,reinstall,reinstall-all,list,run,runpip,ensurepath,completions}
available install Install a package
- pycowsay inject Install packages into an existing Virtual Environment
done! upgrade Upgrade a package
upgrade-all Upgrade all packages. Runs `pip install -U <pkgname>` for each
Now that you have something package.
uninstall Uninstall a package
installed, let’s try doing a list. uninstall-all Uninstall all packages
reinstall Reinstall a package
greg@Earth2:~/Desktop$ pipx reinstall-all Reinstall all packages
list list List installed packages
venvs are in /home/ run Download the latest version of a package to a temporary virtual
greg/.local/pipx/venvs environment, then run an app from it.
apps are exposed on your
$PATH at /home/greg/.local/
bin different applications that seem to
package pycowsay 0.0.0.2, ---
installed using Python
As I said. It’s a silly program. But < moo > be associated with the name
3.10.12 it’s a pretty good test. --- “esptool”.
- pycowsay \ ^__^
\ (oo)\_______
Another feature of pipx is that it (__)\ )\/\ To get around that, we can use
Now, we can run the pycowsay can download and run an ||----w | the --spec option with the name of
program without calling Python application in a temporary virtual || || the program.
directly or even using the .py environment without installing the
extension. application. You can use the pipx What happens if you try to greg@Earth2:~/Desktop$ pipx
install a program that doesn’t have run --spec esptool esptool.py
run command: esptool.py is already on your
greg@Earth2:~/Desktop$ an entry point, or has a name that PATH and installed at /home/
pycowsay "Howdy fellow
beings! Good to see you greg@Earth2:~/Desktop$ pipx doesn’t match the actual filename? greg/.pyenv/shims/esptool.py.
run pycowsay moo The esptool package is a good Downloading and running
again!" anyway.
example of this. I use this package
--------------------------- Now I’ve already installed
< Howdy fellow beings! Good to flash some of the esp
pycowsay into pipx, so it will Again, I’ve already got it loaded,
to see you again! > microcontrollers that I have.
--------------------------- complain at me just a little bit, but but pipx will download the latest
\ ^__^ will still download and run it. version and then run it in a virtual
\ (oo)\_______ First, we’ll try to run just
environment for me. There is a LOT
(__)\ )\/\ normally, but not install it (next
||----w | pycowsay is already on your of terminal output so I’ll just pick
PATH and installed at /home/ page, top right).
|| || some to show that it really runs
greg/.local/bin/pycowsay.
Downloading and running (next page, bottom right).
greg@Earth2:~/Desktop$ You can see that there are four
anyway.

full circle magazine #206 22 contents ^

HOWTO - PYTHON
greg@Earth2:~/Desktop$ pipx run esptool
There are SO many reasons to 'esptool' executable script not found in package 'esptool'.
give pipx a try. Available executable scripts:
esp_rfc2217_server.py - usage: 'pipx run --spec esptool esp_rfc2217_server.py
[arguments?]'
Again, their website is https:// espefuse.py - usage: 'pipx run --spec esptool espefuse.py [arguments?]'
github.com/pypa/pipx. espsecure.py - usage: 'pipx run --spec esptool espsecure.py [arguments?]'
esptool.py - usage: 'pipx run --spec esptool esptool.py [arguments?]'
Until next time, as always; stay
safe, healthy, positive and creative!
esptool.py v4.7.0
usage: esptool [-h]
[--chip
{auto,esp8266,esp32,esp32s2,esp32s3beta2,esp32s3,esp32c3,esp32c6beta,esp32h2beta1,esp32h2
beta2,esp32c2,esp32c6,esp32h2,esp32p4}]
[--port PORT] [--baud BAUD] [--before
{default_reset,usb_reset,no_reset,no_reset_no_sync}]
[--after {hard_reset,soft_reset,no_reset,no_reset_stub}] [--no-stub] [--
trace]
[--override-vddsdio [{1.8V,1.9V,OFF}]] [--connect-attempts
CONNECT_ATTEMPTS]

{load_ram,dump_mem,read_mem,write_mem,write_flash,run,image_info,make_image,elf2image,rea
d_mac,chip_id,flash_id,read_flash_status,write_flash_status,read_flash,verify_flash,erase
_flash,erase_region,merge_bin,get_security_info,version}
...

esptool.py v4.7.0 - Espressif chips ROM Bootloader Utility

And the terminal output continues…

Greg Walters is a retired options:

programmer living in Central Texas, -h, --help show this help message and exit
USA. He has been a programmer --chip
since 1972 and in his spare time, he is {auto,esp8266,esp32,esp32s2,esp32s3beta2,esp32s3,esp32c3,esp32c6beta,esp32h2beta1,esp32h2
an author, amateur photographer, beta2,esp32c2,esp32c6,esp32h2,esp32p4}, -c
luthier, fair musician and a pretty
{auto,esp8266,esp32,esp32s2,esp32s3beta2,esp32s3,esp32c3,esp32c6beta,esp32h2beta1,esp32h2
beta2,esp32c2,esp32c6,esp32h2,esp32p4}
darn good cook. He still is the owner Target chip type
of RainyDaySolutions a consulting --port PORT, -p PORT Serial port device
company and he spends most of his --baud BAUD, -b BAUD Serial port baud rate used when flashing/reading
time writing articles for FCM and --before {default_reset,usb_reset,no_reset,no_reset_no_sync}
tutorials. His website is What to do before connecting to the chip
www.thedesignatedgeek.xyz .
[EDITOR SNIPPED IT HERE]

full circle magazine #206 23 contents ^

 HOW-TO
Written by Jon Hoskin
Stable Diffusion 15
T his month, as noted last time,
we will take a look at Fooocus.
The Fooocus interface is simplicity
input, you will find a significantly
larger prompt: tiger in snowing
mountain country, cinematic, full
itself as shown. Only an image focus, highly detailed, still,
window and prompt space is background dramatic, intricate,
immediately obvious, and your gut elegant, luxury, artistic, sharp
feeling is likely unimpressive, it’s focused, beautiful, passionate,
almost childlike. But typing in a few color rich, inspiring, attractive,
Prompt words: tiger in snowy professional, thoughtful, cute,
mountain country, and selecting best, creative, charming, peaceful,
the Generate key, is almost pretty, enchanted, cool, friendly,
amazing. Without any further input, famous, majestic, magical,
Fooocus creates a stunning image, colorful, breathtaking, and also any
two by default. The secret is that it negative prompts when used.
expands the input prompt used
adding what it “thinks” might work. You can do this using a
wonderful feature called History
Thus if you look at the actual Log. You can access this by checking
prompt used, not the one you the Advanced checkbox on the

full circle magazine #206 24 contents ^

HOWTO - STABLE DIFFUSION
bottom of the page, and then try using the same inputs and
clicking on the History Log feature parameters via a different interface
with the Setting tab selected (see like ComfyUI or Easy Diffusion.
below). This opens an HTML file of
your most recent session. It is saved Its simplicity makes it so useful,
by default in the especially for the newbie. Let’s say
Home>Fooocus>outputs folder as a you need an image “Serendipitous
folder named for the date of Synchronicity” for some purpose.
creation. It will contain each No muss, no fuss, just input the two
generated image, along with the words and see what you get. One
log.html file (the History Log) output is the view of sunflowers
which, when opened, shows all the facing you and not the sun. You can
data and pictures created. The add the needed text via Inkscape
History Log feature should make it and you are done. Note that not
much easier to recreate images every simple Prompt text will
because all the important create a terrific image, and even
parameters are listed. Or you can creating 20 images is not a

full circle magazine #206 25 contents ^

HOWTO - STABLE DIFFUSION
guarantee of success. prompt is getting better, it’s not
dependable, so avoid the extra
The created input text is: work and add it yourself. The
serendipitous synchronicity, rich program created text is not
vivid colors, ambient light, editable in the produced image so
dynamic dramatic cinematic even slight modifications would
magical atmosphere, precise require regeneration. That
perfect, focus,, very inspirational, additional complexity would likely
innocent, trustworthy, elegant, increase the model size and
intricate, highly detailed, ultimately hardware requirements.
generous, color, fine detail, clear, But we are still in a steep growth
aesthetic, cool, cute, pretty, phase with Artificial Intelligence
friendly, artistic, professional, image creation software.
decorated, deep royal, elite,
glowing, noble. After creating a few images,
you probably want more options,
While text creation using the perhaps not to the level of

full circle magazine #206 26 contents ^

HOWTO - STABLE DIFFUSION
ComfyUI, and Fooocus does not gives you options for the models
disappoint. When you select the used. This is dependent on which
Advanced checkbox, a variety of models were downloaded and
the expected options become whether you restarted Fooocus
available. Under the Setting tab, after adding the model. And finally
various performance and image the Advanced tab allows you to
options are now available. Selecting adjust the Guidance Scale and
the Style tab offers several Image sharpness via sliders.
hundred styles, and when your
cursor is moved over a style, a small Next time I will address
cat image pops up to show how it installation and use of some other
will modify your image. The search options.
option at the top helps find the
desired style. Selecting one will
move it to the top, and un-checking
it will remove it from image
generation. The third tab Model

full circle magazine #206 27 contents ^

 HOW-TO
Written by Robert Boardman
Latex - documentclass
T his time we are going to
examine the first instruction in
a Latex document file. Every Latex
chapter, section, subsection,
subsubsection. Class book and class
report can use all five, class article
custom macros may be used to
define the features of new
document divisions.
The default paper size is
letterpaper which is 8.5 x 11 inches
so it does not need to be specified.
document starts with: cannot use part and chapter. Letter The five other paper sizes available
\documentclass[]{}. What the writer class cannot use any of the five When complete the to documentclass are: a4paper,
puts inside the curly braces sets hierarchical levels. As you know if documentclass command will look a5paper, b5paper, executivepaper
much document formatting in place you have been reading this series like the following: and legalpaper. In North America
before a single word of text is Latex packages are often included we are familiar with legal paper, 8.5
written. In most of the examples in the preamble of documents. \documentclass[font x 14 inches. A4, A5, B5 are generally
size,paper size, other
seen in Full Circle Monthly the These additional packages may possible options]{class} well-known in the rest of the world.
document class has been article. define other levels of sectioning. Executive is smaller than letter,
That is the quickest and easiest As you would expect all of the only 7.25in x 10.5in. I believe it is a
document class to show in these Note: There is a fifth document options have their defaults. Quite standard size for writing letters.
pages. For the purposes of the class: slides. It is used to set the often when making Latex
examples in previous issues the default configuration for slide documents I use only the class and If you need to use a paper size
document class chosen has had no presentations. It is rarely used. I will set the other options through different from these six then you
consequences on the results of the not discuss its features in this whatever packages I have included. need to define the physical page
example. This time we are going to article. size. One way to do that is to define
look at what the article class Because of the technology the page width and height using
entails, what other options are There are two more divisions available when Tex was written \pdfpaagewidth and
available and what parameters can allowed in standard Latex: (early 1970s) there are only three \pdfpageheight. A more flexible
be put into the square brackets. paragraph and subparagraph. They font sizes available to the way is to include the geometry
are not used to force the start of documentclass command: 10pt, package which gives many options
There are four standard new paragraphs. They are used to 11pt, 12pt with 10pt being the for the physical size and the print
document classes: article, report, indicate divisions lower in the default. This is not a problem. area.
letter and book. The text of a hierarchy than subsubparagraph Review my article in FCM 189 for
document can be split into parts without using a ridiculous number some instructions about using fonts Other possible options for the
which generate a hierarchical of “sub-” prefices. in Latex. documentclass command:
structure. The parts of that landscape: selects landscape
structure are determined by the Note: users are also able to There are six paper sizes which setup (long side of page will be
document class being used. There define new Latex macros in can be specified. Latex users in horizontal), default is portrait
are five standard levels: part, document preambles. These North America get a break here. (short side of page will be

full circle magazine #206 28 contents ^

HOWTO - LATEX
horizontal).
draft / final: Mark (draft) or do Figure 1 (bottom right): Default settings
\documentclass[letterpaper,12pt]{article}
not mark (final – default) overfull \begin{document}
boxes with a black box in the \paragraph{Equation 1}
Balance the following equation.\\
margin \begin{equation}\label{key}\\
fleqn: force formulas to be NaHCO_{3} + heat \longrightarrow NaCO_{3} + H_{2}O
flush-left, default is centered \end{equation}
\end{document}
leqno: insert equation numbers
to left of equations, default is to Figure 2 (next page, bottom left): Equation numbering on left
the right \documentclass[letterpaper,12pt,leqno]{article}
openbib: use the “open” \begin{document}
\paragraph{Equation 1}
bibliography format Balance the following equation.\\
titlepage (default for reports) / \begin{equation}\label{key}\\
NaHCO_{3} + heat \longrightarrow NaCO_{3} + H_{2}O
notitlepage (default for other \end{equation}
printed documents): specifies if \end{document}
there is to be a separate page for
title and for abstract Figure 3: (next page, top right) Equation aligned left
\documentclass[letterpaper,12pt,fleqn]{article}
onecolumn (default) / two \begin{document}
column: typeset in one or two \paragraph{Equations}
columns (this one should be Balance the following equation.\\
\begin{equation}\label{key}\\
obvious as should be the next one) NaHCO_{3} + heat \longrightarrow NaCO_{3} + H_{2}O
openright / openany: for the \end{equation}
book class, openright is the default. \end{document}
It means every chapter starts on a
right hand (odd-numbered) page.
All others default to openany. centred between the margins. Latex / Tex they are also called outside margins in order to have
oneside / twoside: one or two- oddside and evenside. Inside enough paper for binding the book.
sided layout, twoside is default for Twoside means the size of the margins are usually wider than Of course, if your book is only to be
the book class, all others are text window must be calculated
oneside by default since the margins for the left hand
and right hand pages are mirror
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS images. In twoside there are no
margins labelled left and right.
Oneside means the text will be Rather they are labelled inner and
placed in a “window” which is outer in most desktop publishing
and word processing software. In
full circle magazine #206 29 contents ^
HOWTO - LATEX
printed electronically (PDF) then
inside and outside margins can be
equal.

As I am sure you realize,

demonstrating many of these
possibilities is not effective in FCM.
Changing paper size or orientation ,
changing document class, and
others cannot be observed in this
format. There are a few which can
be changed. Follow the code
(previous page) and the images
(below) to see a few examples.

full circle magazine #206 30 contents ^

full circle magazine #206 31 contents ^
 HOW-TO
Written by Mark Crutch
Inkscape - Part 146
T his month I’m going to rattle
through a handful of smaller
improvements in Inkscape 1.3 that
change in 1.3 is the addition of
syntax highlighting to the DOM
tree in the left-hand pane. This
The rather useless option to hide
the attributes pane has also been
removed.
a path element of some sort (a list
that includes things like stars and
spirals, as well as the more obvious
don’t really warrant an in-depth makes it much quicker and easier to Béziers and pencil lines), there’s a
exploration, but which are worth visually distinguish the elements, The editing pop-ups have been small button and pop-up at the
calling out nevertheless. attributes and values – assuming improved with this release. bottom of the editor. Clicking the
you’re familiar enough with XML to Selecting a ‘style’ attribute’s value button will round the path values
XML EDITOR know what those terms mean. now shows the properties as a to the number of digits selected in
vertical list, much like you would the pop-up, as shown in this before
This is the dialog we all love to The toggle to switch between use when writing a CSS file by hand. and after image.
hate. Ideally there would never be a horizontal and vertical layout has There’s no syntax highlighting in
need to edit a file’s XML data been moved into a drop-down at here though, unfortunately. This is something that can be
directly. Practically, however, there the top-right of the dialog. It’s achieved across a whole document
are some more advanced tricks that gained an ‘Automatic layout’ When editing the ‘d’ attribute of when exporting as an ‘Optimized
can be done only this way, and for option, too… though that doesn’t
anyone creating SVG files to be seem to work terribly well, as it’s
manipulated by JavaScript on a web based solely on the dialog’s width
page, this can be an invaluable tool. rather than its aspect ratio. If you
really want a vertical layout for this
The most immediately obvious dialog, better to select it explicitly.

full circle magazine #206 32 contents ^

HOWTO - INKSCAPE
SVG’, or more generally by often missed by new users, as it’s Inkscape does a pretty good job of applications as well, this might be
adjusting the ‘Numeric precision’ not triggered by any obvious button working out which ones you something to consider.
value in the ‘SVG Output’ pane of or toggle in the UI. It’s a feature of intended to include, and which your
the Inkscape Preferences dialog the Selector tool (F1) whereby line is just passing by, so you don’t Option 2 is not guaranteed to
(Edit > Preferences), but it’s quite holding down the ALT key allows have to be terribly accurate, nor do work with all window managers –
nice to be able to do this on a more you to draw a thin red line on your you have to form completely closed though it’s done the job with all the
ad-hoc basis here. I imagine this page: any element touched by that loops around the nodes. ones I’ve used over the years, and is
might be of use to people creating line will be selected when you my preferred solution to this
small icons, for example, who want release the mouse button. This There’s one big caveat with this problem. Simply hold the SUPER
to ensure that their path option has now been made feature for Linux users though. It’s key (the ‘Windows’ key on most PC
coordinates all correspond to whole available in the Node tool (F2) as something I’ve discussed several keyboards) at the same time as ALT
pixel values. well. times in the past, but it bears for any Inkscape functions that
repeating: most Linux window need the ALT key. This seems to be
TOUCH SELECTION OF PATH ‘Touching’ nodes with the red managers use the ALT key for enough to not trigger the window
line isn’t quite as easy as touching window operations. Typically, manager’s default actions, but
NODES entire objects, so this is best used holding the ALT key and dragging Inkscape usually ignores the
by roughly drawing a line around the mouse (with the button distinction and carries on as
‘Touch selection’ is a long- the nodes you wish to select. pressed) will move the window, expected. This typically works well
standing option in Inkscape that is rather than activate Inkscape’s for features that have a long-
touch mode. There are three standing history in Inkscape, but
solutions to this that I’m aware of: not for newer additions, as we’ll
• Change the settings for the ALT see later.
key in your window manager
• Hold the SUPER key at the same The third option is to change the
time as ALT Inkscape keyboard bindings so that
• Change the keyboard shortcut in this mode is triggered by a key
Inkscape’s Preferences dialog other than ALT. I’m not a fan of this
approach, as it takes you off on a
I don’t like the first of these, as I non-standard path to using
don’t believe you should be forced Inkscape that might lead to
to make a global change to your confusion when trying to follow
environment just to support a instructions, YouTube videos, or
feature in a single application. But even future instalments of this
if you find you’re frequently series. But you may prefer it to
triggering window movements option 1 if the second approach
through ALT-dragging in other doesn’t work. The location of this
full circle magazine #206 33 contents ^
HOWTO - INKSCAPE
setting is buried within the ‘Behaviour’ section and click on the use. You can access it by pressing to use this shortcut. Surely you
Preferences dialog (Interface > ‘Selecting’ entry. The new option is the ‘?’ key to open the ‘Commands could just rotate by 30° in the first
Keyboard > Modifiers tab > the second one in the pane, bar’, then search for ‘selection place? In theory this could be useful
Selection), so you might want to labelled as ‘Select transparent backup’ to find the commands to for applying the same transform to
follow the image below as a guide. objects, strokes and fills’ on my set, restore, and empty the saved multiple objects, one by one. In
system. Enabling this may avoid a selection. It works for selected practice the reapplied transform is
SELECTOR TOOL few trips to the Display Mode menu objects or nodes, but you can save based on the same rotation origin
if you have to work with only one selection at a time, which as the original object, which makes
IMPROVEMENTS transparent objects frequently. somewhat limits its usefulness. I’ve this less useful for rotating,
always found Inkscape’s skewing, and scaling. In the rotation
There’s now an option to enable There’s now a way to save and implementation of a command example, using this feature on a
selecting transparent objects. In restore the current selection, palette to be a bit clunky, so if you second object won’t rotate it in
the Preferences dialog, expand the though it’s not the easiest thing to do want to use this feature, I’d place, but rather may send it
recommend setting keyboard shooting off to another part of the
shortcuts for the set/restore canvas entirely, if it’s located some
commands, at least. way from the first object’s center of
rotation.
There’s a keyboard shortcut to
reapply the last transform. For A related feature that might
example, if you rotate an object by prove more useful, though, is
15°, then press CTRL-ALT-T, it will be ‘Duplicate and Transform’. By
rotated by another 15°. Based on default, this is bound to CTRL-ALT-
what you’ve read so far, Linux users D, but Linux users will probably also
might expect to use SUPER-CTRL- have to re-bind this in the
ALT-T to achieve the same result, Preferences dialog, as adding the
but unfortunately this is one case SUPER key to the mix doesn’t work
where Inkscape doesn’t treat it as by default. With this shortcut, the
the same command. You can selected object is duplicated and
reassign this feature to that has the previous transformation
shortcut (or any other) via the applied to it as well. For example
Preferences dialog – search for you might use these steps to create
‘Reapply Transforms’ in the several objects that are equally
Interface > Keyboard pane. spaced:

It might not be immediately • Select an object.

obvious to you why you would want
full circle magazine #206 34 contents ^
HOWTO - INKSCAPE
• CTRL-D to duplicate it.
• Drag or otherwise move the
duplicate to a new location.
• With the duplicate still selected,
press CTRL-ALT-D (or the keyboard
boundaries, and a thin blue line, width or height, for example, which back at exactly the same
shortcut you’ve set) to create
with circles at either end, to lets you easily set one object on the coordinates from which it was
another duplicate spaced apart by
indicate the size and position of the canvas to the same dimensions as copied. While this may seem the
the same amount.
current selection. another. With this increase in same as simply creating a duplicate,
• Repeat the keyboard shortcut to
options, the Edit menu was starting the difference is that you have the
create a series of duplicates with
I’m not sure how useful it is to to get a little long, so all the opportunity to change layers, enter/
equal spacing.
be able to see the size of the ‘special’ pasting modes have been exit a group, or even switch to a
selection at all times, but it doesn’t moved to a separate sub-menu, completely different document
Unfortunately there isn’t an
hurt either. More beneficial is the simply called ‘Paste…’. This should before pasting. I often use this to
equivalent of this for creating
fact that you can now right-click on not be confused with the normal remove individual objects from
clones rather than duplicates,
a ruler to set the document units, ‘Paste’ menu entry just above it within a group, but put them back
which is a slightly odd omission
rather than having to do so via the (which has no ellipsis after the at the same location so that the
given the next addition to the
Document Properties dialog. As this name), which is the one to use for drawing looks the same, even if the
Selector tool…
is a global setting for the simply pasting an object onto the structure has changed a little.
document, it also affects the units canvas. The new menu contains
You may be familiar with the
used for number fields elsewhere in these options: ‘On Page’ is new with version
ability to drag an object around the
the application. If you have to 1.3, and is similar to ‘In Place’
canvas and hit the Spacebar to
switch between multiple units in except that it is relative to the
‘stamp’ a copy. With 1.3, you can do
the same document this will current page in a multi-page
the same but pressing ‘C’ instead of
certainly be faster than opening a document. This can be used to copy
the Spacebar, resulting in a clone
dialog. an object from one page to exactly
being created each time rather
the same place on another (e.g. a
than a copy.
PASTING OPTIONS common header or border). Before
using this, the destination page has
The next feature isn’t exactly
The options for pasting in to be made ‘active’ by selecting an
part of the Selector tool, but
Inkscape have increased over the object on it, selecting the page
selections play their part. The rulers
years. As well as the most common itself using the Page tool, or by
have been improved to provide a
case of pasting objects that have changing the current page using
little more information, including
been copied to the clipboard, the pop-up menu in the status bar
some about the current selection.
additional capabilities have been (which is only visible if the
They now have a different colored
added to allow just pasting the ‘In Place’ will paste the object document contains multiple pages).
background to indicate the page
full circle magazine #206 35 contents ^
HOWTO - INKSCAPE

The next three size-related

entries are pretty simple. Copy an
object to the clipboard, then select
another object on the canvas.
Select Edit > Paste… > Width to
change the width of the selected
object to match that of the copied
object. ‘Height’ behaves similarly,
and ‘Size’ sets both the width and
height at once.

If, before choosing these paste

options, you select multiple objects
rather than just one, the behaviour
may not be quite what you
expected. The width/height/size is
applied to the entire selection,
rather than each individual object.
If you want that behaviour, then the
last set of options will provide you
with the desired result. If you have
only one object selected, then
either set of options will give the
same effect.

Mark uses Inkscape to create comics

for the web (www.peppertop.com/)
as well as for print. You can follow
him on Twitter for more comic and
Inkscape content:
@PeppertopComics

full circle magazine #206 36 contents ^

full circle magazine #206 37 contents ^
 MICRO THIS MICRO THAT
Written by Greg Walters
Part 30
G reetings again fellow Sentient
Lifeforms. Things here at
landing pad 2997 on Terra have
are “Dynamic USB devices,
revamped webassembly port,
openamp, tls, vfs modules”. What
MicroPython in your browser? We’ll
try to look at this also in the future.
implementation of the ssl
module. One new feature in the
new tls module is the ability to
been so busy, I feel like a “long does all that mean? Well, I’m going As to the vfs and tls support, register a certificate verification
tailed cat in a room full of rocking to try to tell you about some of it, “vfs (virtual filesystem) related callback.”
chairs”. Since we last were and we’ll explore some of them in functions and classes, such as
together, we had some very severe depth in future articles. mount, umount, and VfsFat. As to support for the esp32
storms move through one night, These were originally in the os Microcontrollers, “The esp32 port
and it was so bad, large hail broke First, let’s look at the Dynamic module, but having them there is has seen some important bug
two windows, the strong winds USB device support. According to not compatible with CPython, so fixes in the BLE component, to
blew down two sections of the rumors, only the SAMD and RP2020 they have been moved to their deinitialise without crashing, and
fence here at the house, and the (RPi Pico/Pico-W type devices) have own dedicated module. They still increase the BLE task stack size.
roof has to be replaced. The storm this support at the moment. What exist in the os module for now, This port also uses the new I2S
dumped over 4 inches of rain and can you do with this addition? but will eventually be removed IDF driver, and supports IDF 5.0.5
the hailstones were between 3 to 4 Supposedly you can build multiple from there, so it's recommended and 5.2. There is support to enter
inches, in 45 minutes. But life send/receive serial streams using to start using the vfs module the bootloader via
moves on as does the world of PIO, talk easily to MIDI devices and from now on. Similarly, the new machine.bootloader(), and a new
Micocontrollers. HID (Human Interface Devices) like tls module is an evolution of the esp32.mcu_temperature(), for
keyboards, mice, game controllers ssl module, whereby all the ESP32-C3/S2/S3 devices.”
MicroPython turned 10 years old and more. That in itself is exciting, existing functionality in ssl has
on May 3rd. On June 2, 2024, but as I showed above, there is been moved to the tls module. The list of things that have
Micropython version 1.23 was more. This is done because changed goes on and on. I’ve
released. Each time there is an MicroPython's SSL interface is provided the link above so you can
official release of a software Another big addition is around becoming increasingly different look at them at your leisure.
package, especially Micropython, the openamp support, which is an to CPython's, and moving this SSL/
Python and so on, it’s a big deal and
inter-core communication system TLS functionality to a new tls Remember, if you don’t want to
this release is no different. that allows MicroPython to run on module gives it room to grow and bother with the whole, unplug your
one core, and other systems on the obtain new features that are RPi Pico, press and hold the bootsel
According to the Micropython other core(s) at the same time. useful for embedded button, re-plug your USB cable,
website, https://github.com/ Supposedly there is a applications. And compatibility then release the bootsel to load a
micropython/micropython/releases/ WebAssembly port in the with normal Python is still different firmware version; you can
tag/v1.23.0, the biggest changes interpreter, letting you run retained via a pure Python simply go to the REPL and enter the

full circle magazine #206 38 contents ^

MICRO THIS MICRO THAT
command “machine.bootloader()”.
After a few seconds, the file
manager will open so you can drag
and drop the new firmware version
to that window to load and reboot
the microcontroller. It’s a WHOLE
lot easier than trying to juggle the
microcontroller device and plug in
the USB cable.

As I said, things are really

hopping here at landing pad 2997,
so I’m going to close this month’s
article. Look forward to some big
projects in the future.

Until next time, as always; stay

safe, healthy, positive and creative!

Greg Walters is a retired

programmer living in Central Texas,
USA. He has been a programmer
since 1972 and in his spare time, he is
an author, amateur photographer,
luthier, fair musician and a pretty
darn good cook. He still is the owner
of RainyDaySolutions a consulting
company and he spends most of his
time writing articles for FCM and
tutorials. His website is
www.thedesignatedgeek.xyz .

full circle magazine #206 39 contents ^

full circle magazine #206 40 contents ^
 UBPORTS DEVICES
Written by UBports Team

M oem and Alfred where at T-

Dose this weekend keeping
the Ubuntu Touch and UBports
how these will be used will be
shared soon). To Bram, Kiek and
Jeroen for Odoo implementation,
flags flying. More on this next time. project organization and
Alfred will also be on the Angry documentation."
Nerds podcast, which will be
streamed from and recorded at T- These are some of the initial
Dose. images created by Lga, to go with
the website that can be found
Credit to @Kaizen for his using this link: https://
original designs that this project is forums.ubports.com/topic/10106/
based on (see: https:// phone-and-tablet-models-for-
forums.ubports.com/post/33598). ubuntu-touch
And to @Lga for providing
awesome looking images of devices
(see: https://forums.ubports.com/
topic/10106/phone-and-tablet-
models-for-ubuntu-touch, more on

full circle magazine #206 41 contents ^

full circle magazine #206 42 contents ^
full circle magazine #206 43 contents ^
 MY OPINION
Written by Erik
The Battle Of The Non-Snap Ubuntu's
I t’s no secret that people do not
like Snap packages, like Flatpak
packages, they can be useful, but
Twelve and a half seconds for
networking being the longest,
followed by zfs-load-module at two
mostly fill up a lean system with and a half seconds and lightdm at
bloat and ignore system settings. one and a half. Overall, decent, with
Linux Mint is the most well known a lot of services you will probably
non-snap version of Ubuntu. It remove, depending on your system
comes with its own flagship set up. To confirm, we did a restart
desktop environment to boot. and got almost the same results,
However, today we want to except this time Plymouth-quit-wait
compare apples with apples, so we was not in the top 10 and systemd-
are going to take three non-snap udev-settle replaced it at almost 1
Ubuntu derivatives and run them all second. We are greeted with a
with XFCE. We will look at what Linux Lite Welcome window with
comes with each and how they various tasks pinned.
perform with the same resources.
Before we plop it onto metal, it Htop tells us that the resting
may be a good idea to see how they memory is 743 Mb, which is
perform in a virtual environment. reasonable for XFCE.
We will assign 3 CPU’s and 8Gb of
memory to each. LOOK AND FEEL:
First up is Linux Lite 7.0. By default, the distribution ships
with Materia as the style and
BOOTING: Papyrus Adapta as the default icon
set. Though the distribution is
The startup was reasonable, Ubuntu-based, the default font is
with a pleasant tinkling of sound Roboto. The terminal is the
sprinkled in. The top ten speed standard XFCE terminal with bash,
hogs are as follows: and the prompt has been pimped
out with a powerline-style look.
There is no “development” or

full circle magazine #206 44 contents ^

MY OPINION
“games'' category in the default install the “restricted-extras” ships with a slightly older kernel, so
menu and no applications installed package, should one require it. This here things may not be 100% on
that could be considered such. The is handy for newbies, who may not
BOOTING: par. However, it does not suffer the
layout of the menu is category left have their script ready for first penalties you see in other
The start up was snappy and
and contents right, with the logout install. The Lite-widget is not on by distributions when booting.
there was no sound. Linux Mint
and switch user icons at the bottom. default as in previous versions and
(quite small) We have one panel you can enable it separately. Linux
running across the bottom with Lite, curiously still ships with a CD/
sensible icons and placing. The DVD burning application. There is
panel is still confused as in the also a default HiDPi setting
previous version, placing the application that ships with the
window bars representing windows distribution, for those with screens
down in alphabetical order, instead larger than 1920x1080. (this is
of the order opened. The desktop separate from the “scale” in the
comes with a few desktop icons. display settings). The update
The default mouse theme was manager is simple and functional.
boring adwaitha, and it ships with
another similar theme. OVERALL:
APPLICATIONS: The distribution does not favour
any package type over another, it
The office package is does not ship with Flatpak instead
LibreOffice with all the applications of Snap and you are left to do your
installed as well as all the own thing. (this is the main reason
languages. The default browser is Linux Lite is usually my daily driver)
Chrome, not Chromium and the After about an hour of usage, we
default file manager is Thunar. It closed all the applications and ran
comes standard with a paint htop again, to be pleasantly
program, that you seldom see and surprised by 661Mb in use. Out of
all the “Lite” applications. One of the box it is a good experience
these is the “Lite Software”, that backed up by a slew of “Lite”
allows you to install popular applications unique to this
software quickly. Unlike version 6, it distribution.
does not offer the Snap version of
Firefox. This is also where you Second was Linux Mint 21.3.

full circle magazine #206 45 contents ^

MY OPINION
default terminal is XFCE terminal have to be content with the scaling BOOTING:
All the wait states are below with green colouring and comes of the display settings.
one second. Multiple boots never with bash as standard. Though the The startup is fast and there is
saw any of these over one second. terminal is easy to customize, I OVERALL: no sound. There are no real, speed
Once logged in, we are greeted would have liked to see a bit of hogs:
with the Linux Mint Welcome effort put in here too. There are no The distribution does not favour
screen. icons on the desktop. The mouse any package type over another, but Restarting a few times, the zfs-
theme was stylish bibata. it does ship with Flatpak instead of load-module kept being between
Htop tells us that the resting Snap and there is no choice other one and two seconds. Nothing else
memory is 681 Mb, which is APPLICATIONS: than Flatpak for some applications over one second. As you can see,
reasonable for XFCE. in the software center. After about this was the only distribution I did
The office package is an hour of usage, we closed all the not need to install the virtualbox-
LOOK AND FEEL: LibreOffice with all the applications applications and ran htop again, to guest-addons. There is no welcome
installed as well as all the find 718 Mb in use. Linux Mint looks screen, but this distribution is not
The one thing that struck me languages. I would like there to be gorgeous as always, just being let aimed at newbies.
about Mint XFCE was how similar it an application to remove all the down by a bland terminal.
looked to Mint Cinnamon. The other languages, or not install them LOOK AND FEEL:
menu icons were well chosen, as once you have chosen the default. Finally we looked at Asmi Linux.
they fill the menu bar nicely and are The default browser is Firefox and By default, the distribution ships
not too small. Little attention to the default file manager is Thunar. with Yaru-blue-dark as the style and
detail is what makes Linux Mint so It comes standard with a TV
popular. There is no “development” application called “Hypnotix” and
or “games'' category in the default other stand-out applications are
menu and no applications installed compiz-manager, warpinator and
that could be considered such. The redshift that you do not see as
layout of the menu is category left default on other distributions.
and contents right, with the logout Other than the Mint Welcome
and switch user buttons in line with application, there are no specific
the user name and similarly sized. Mint applications. Linux Mint does
By default, the distribution ships ship with mintinstall as its default
with Mint-Y-Aqua as the style and software manager. One of the
Mint-Y-sand as the default icon set. weird choices for Linux Mint was
The default font is Ubuntu. This all that it does not ship with htop. The
comes together nicely for a good default text editor is Xed. For
out-of-the-box experience. The people with bigger screens, they

full circle magazine #206 46 contents ^

MY OPINION
Telabudgie-dark as the default icon not the standard pointer. your layout, ala Zorin OS, set changes often.
set. The default font is Ubuntu. The default browsers and turn Flatpak
terminal is the standard XFCE APPLICATIONS: and Snap on or off as well as wine. OVERALL:
terminal with bash, and the prompt The distribution ships with
has been pimped out. (as well as a The office package is CherryTree installed. You have a The distribution favours
few other surprises!) The LibreOffice with all the applications screen recorder, vokoscreen and Appimage over Flatpak and Snap
distribution also ships with fish as installed as well as all the uget installed by default. We have and comes with an Appimage
an alternative. (you will find many languages. The default browser is already mentioned that Geany was launcher built in. As mentioned
alternatives in this distribution) Firefox and the default file set up correctly and that you can before, you have the option to
There is no “games' ' category in manager is Thunar and they put use it as both a text editor and an enable the others. After about an
the default menu and no effort in configuring it so that it is IDE. There are some KDE hour of usage, we closed all the
applications installed that could be transparent whilst dragging. It applications like Kdiskmark and applications and ran htop again, to
considered such. There is a comes with Nemo as an alternative. Kvantum manager in the mix as find 848 Mb in use, this is to be
“Development” category, with (you will find many of the well. It ships with version 0.5.0 of expected running KDE and Gnome
Geany and Meld installed and applications come with mission center as well. There is no applications and some QT
Geany has been pimped for you. alternatives) There is a distribution- software centre, but synaptic is applications too.
The layout of the menu is category specific application, named asmi included. Variety is also included as
left and contents right, with the settings. This allows you to change standard, so your wallpaper The more “traditional” windows
logout and switch user icons at the layout.
top, in line with the username.
(same size as the font) We have one While they all pursue their own
dock rather than a panel running goals, they are similar in that they
across the left with a more offer a Snap-free version of Ubuntu
standard Ubuntu look and feel. The that is still compatible with all the
time applet is at the top and not myriad of software that ship with
the bottom. There is no “show Ubuntu only binaries. I will now test
desktop” icon or space by default. these on metal and I will add
There is a asmi-indicator icon that anything here if there are any
allows for more actions. The icons issues.
for opened applications are placed
sanely, as you open the
applications, rather than *they performed the same as they
alphabetical as in the previous did in the virtual machine
distributions. The desktop comes
with a “home” icon. The default
mouse theme was breeze light and
full circle magazine #206 47 contents ^
full circle magazine #206 48 contents ^
 HOW-TO
Written by Ronnie Tucker
Write For Full Circle Magazine
GUIDELINES • Images should be JPG, no wider REVIEWS
than 800 pixels, and use low

T he single rule for an article is compression.

that it must somehow be GAMES/APPLICATIONS
linked to Ubuntu or one of the • Do not use tables or any type of When reviewing games/applications please state clearly:
many derivatives of Ubuntu bold or italic formatting.
(Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, etc). • title of the game
• who makes the game
If you are writing a review, • is it free, or a paid download?
RULES please follow these guidelines : • where to get it from (give download/homepage URL)
• is it Linux native, or did you use Wine?
• There is no word limit for articles,
• your marks out of five
but be advised that long articles
When you are ready to submit • a summary with positive and negative points
may be split across several issues.
your article please email it to:
[email protected] HARDWARE
• For advice, please refer to the
Official Full Circle Style Guide: When reviewing hardware please state clearly:
http://bit.ly/fcmwriting TRANSLATIONS
• make and model of the hardware
• Write your article in whichever If you would like to translate Full • what category would you put this hardware into?
software you choose, I would Circle into your native language • any glitches that you may have had while using the hardware?
recommend LibreOffice, but most please send an email to • easy to get the hardware working in Linux?
importantly - PLEASE SPELL AND [email protected] and • did you have to use Windows drivers?
GRAMMAR CHECK IT! we will either put you in touch with • marks out of five
an existing team, or give you access • a summary with positive and negative points
• In your article, please indicate to the raw text to translate from.
where you would like a particular With a completed PDF, you will be
image to be placed by indicating able to upload your file to the main
Full Circle site.
You don't need to be an expert to write an
the image name in a new paragraph
or by embedding the image in the article - write about the games, applications
ODT (Open Office) document. and hardware that you use every day.

full circle magazine #206 49 contents ^

 REVIEW
Written by Adam Hunt
Kubuntu 24.04 LTS
T he latest Kubuntu release came
out, along with all the other
Ubuntu flavors, on 25 April, 2024.
I downloaded the Kubuntu 24.04
where the screen would lock after
15 minutes of inactivity and
demand a password that no one
Ubuntu and have not changed for
this release:
LTS ISO file from the official
Kubuntu 24.04 LTS is a long term sources using the Transmission seemed to know, Kubuntu 24.04 2 GHz dual core processor
support (LTS) release, which means BitTorrent client. I ran a command LTS has no such issue and has 4 GB RAM
it comes with three years of line SHA256 sum check on it to returned to more user-friendly, no 25 GB of hard-drive, USB stick,
support, running until April, 2027. make sure the download was password required live sessions memory card or external drive
correct and it passed. once again. It also does not prevent space
Kubuntu has been around for 19 mounting drives in the live session Screen capable of 1024 x 768 pixel
years now, since 2005, and was the This download was 4.1 GB, up unlike Ubuntu Cinnamon 24.04 LTS screen resolution
first official Ubuntu flavor. Kubuntu slightly from the 3.9 GB file size of and Xubuntu 24.04 LTS. Either a CD/DVD drive or a USB port
24.04 LTS is the 39th overall release the last release, Kubuntu 23.10. for the installation media
and the 18th with the Qt toolkit- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Internet access is useful but not
based Plasma 5 desktop. It may also I tested Kubuntu 24.04 LTS from essential
turn out to be the last one with a USB stick equipped with Ventoy The recommended minimum
Plasma 5 as Plasma 6 is set to be 1.0.97 over a series of live sessions. system requirements for Kubuntu It is probably worth noting that
introduced into Kubuntu shortly. Unlike the last Kubuntu release 24.04 LTS are the same as for the recommended 4 GB of RAM is
likely less than ideal for web
This development cycle, browsing and 8 GB is probably
consisting of three interim releases more realistic.
leading to this LTS release, has
been quiet, with only a few small NEW
changes introduced. Overall, I think
it is a good thing, as Kubuntu has a The last Kubuntu release, 23.10,
dedicated fan base who like the did not get a new default wallpaper
way it looks and works and most which was unusual as most releases
don’t see a need for big changes. A get a new one. Kubuntu 24.04 LTS
few small refinements is exactly returns to the tradition of a new
what they will see in the Kubuntu default wallpaper, in this case it is
24.04 LTS release. called “Kubuntu Light” and is by
Fabio Maricato and Micheal
Installation

full circle magazine #206 50 contents ^

REVIEW
Mikowski. This time there are 44 also used by Lubuntu, instead of display server on test and so this as it offers five global themes, four
wallpapers provided, many of them moving to Ubuntu's new Flutter- release continues to use the application styles, six Plasma styles,
from past Kubuntu releases, so if based installer. Both of these venerable X.org display server six window colors, three window
you have an old favorite it may well installers work quite well and are instead. The release notes do say, decoration styles, eight icon sets,
be here. Given that the code name easy to use. "a Plasma Wayland session is 14 cursor styles, two splash screens
for the 24.04 LTS Ubuntu family of available for testing by installing and ten boot splash screens. And it
releases is "Noble Numbat", it is As noted, the Plasma 5.27 series the plasma-workspace-wayland is worth pointing out that those are
worth pointing out that there are is likely to be the last of the Plasma package, but is not supported. A just the installed options, as most
no Numbat-themed wallpapers. 5 desktops, as Plasma 6 was already Wayland session can then be of the settings pages have one-
out in February 2024. It was not started by selecting it at the login button downloads to add many
Kubuntu 24.04 LTS uses the Qt clear initially whether Plasma 6 screen." more.
5.15.13 toolkit, KDE Frameworks would make it into this release or
5.115.0, has applications from the not. Given that this is an LTS SETTINGS One suggestion I do have for
KDE Gear 23.08.5 collection and release, the conservative decision Kubuntu users is that if you find a
uses the KDE Plasma 5.27.11 was of course to use Plasma 5.27.11 One of Kubuntu’s enduring combination of themes and colors
desktop. Like all the Ubuntu 24.04 rather than take a chance on a new appeals has always been that it is that you like, you had better write it
LTS family of releases, Kubuntu desktop and so Plasma 6 will have highly customizable, giving its users all down for any future installation
comes with Linux kernel 6.8 and has to wait until at least the release of a wide choice of how they want it to you have to do, as otherwise you
systemd 255.4 as its initialization Kubuntu 24.10 in October 2024. look. Kubuntu 24.04 LTS has even will never duplicate it!
system. This release also switches more choices than earlier releases,
to using the Calamares installer, Kubuntu still has the Wayland Kubuntu 24.04 LTS also has 68

full circle magazine #206 51 contents ^

REVIEW
pre-installed desktop widgets, the Elisa 23.08.5 music player Skanlite 23.08.5 scanning utility Not mentioned in the release
same number as in the last few Firefox 125.0.2 web browser** SkanPage 23.08.5 multi-page notes are a few additions and
releases. These widgets are small Gwenview 23.08.5 image viewer scanning utility deletions to the list of default
applications that can be added to Haruna 0.12.3 video player Spectacle 23.08.5 screenshot tool applications provided. The Muon
the desktop, for things such as Kate 23.08.5 text editor Startup Disk Creator 0.3.17 (usb- package manager and the Ktorrent
clocks and weather reports. Kcalc 23.08.5 calculator creator-kde) USB ISO writer* BitTorrent client have been
Hundreds more of them can be KDE Partition Manager 23.08.5 Thunderbird 115.10.1 email client** removed. The lack of Muon leaves
downloaded, too, with the main partition editor Vim 9.1.16 console text editor the Discover software store to
constraint being the user's Konsole 23.08.5 terminal emulator handle package management, but
tolerance for clutter. Kmahjongg 23.08.5 game * indicates same application version the removal of Ktorrent leaves no
Kmines 23.08.5 game as used in Kubuntu 23.10 default BitTorrent client installed
APPLICATIONS Konversation 23.08.5 IRC client ** supplied as a Snap, so version although there are several available
Kpatience 23.08.5 game depends on the upstream package for installation in the repositories
Some of the applications Ksudoku 23.08.5 game manager including Ktorrent itself. Also
included with Kubuntu 24.04 LTS LibreOffice 24.2.2 office suite, less unannounced were the addition of
are: only LibreOffice Base database As usual, the lack of asterisks the NeoChat Matrix chat client and
NeoChat 23.08.5 Matrix client shows that almost all of the SkanPage, a multi-page scanning
Ark 23.08.5 archive manager Okular 23.08.5 PDF viewer applications included are updated utility. The latter is really to make
Discover 2.1.2 software store* PipeWire 1.0.5 audio controller versions taken from KDE Gear up for shortcomings in the provided
Dolphin 23.08.5 file manager Plasma System Monitor 5.27.11 23.08.5. Skanlite scanning utility. The GTK
system monitor toolkit-based Document Scanner

full circle magazine #206 52 contents ^

REVIEW
(Simple Scan) optical scanner users can upgrade for another
actually works better, though. three years of support and not have
to deal with much of a learning
LibreOffice 24.2.2 is once again curve and that should keep
supplied complete, lacking only Kubuntu fans happy!
LibreOffice Base, the office suite's
database application. Base is EXTERNAL LINKS
probably the least used component Adam Hunt started using Ubuntu in
of the suite but it can be added 2007 and has used Lubuntu since
Official website: 2010. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario,
from the repositories, if required. https://kubuntu.org/ Canada, in a house with no Windows.

The Thunderbird email client is

still included but is now a Snap
package rather than a .deb. This
should aid Mozilla in keeping it up
to date and provide users with
newer versions more quickly.

As in past releases, Kubuntu

24.04 LTS does not include a
webcam application, an image
editor or video editor by default
although there are many options
for these in the repositories, if
desired.

CONCLUSIONS
With 19 years of Kubuntu
releases behind them, predictably
the Kubuntu developers have put
out 24.04 LTS, a highly polished and
refined long term support release,
with no obvious flaws. The lack of
any serious changes means that

full circle magazine #206 53 contents ^

 REVIEW
Written by Abigsky
WO-WE Mini PC
I compared prices and ordered
this mini PC for around $100
(USD), plus a few dollars tax. Please
For general entry level users, I
would expect activities like basic
documents, spreadsheets, some
mini PC does a very good job. It is
more than powerful enough in my
use of these applications. Even with
most common secure messaging
applications, Telegram and Signal,
both of which worked flawlessly. I
keep in mind this was the late 2023 common web browser use, browser most of them up at the same time. also installed Nord VPN for further
price, and as such is subject to based streaming video, e-mail, and improved security, it worked
change. maybe instant messaging. I threw in FOR MID-LEVEL AND SMALL exactly as expected. For e-mail and
an eBook reader application just for calendar use, I employed
This is a mini PC and it is fairly good measure (and my personal BUSINESS USE: Thunderbird mail and linked it to an
small (roughly 5”x4.5”x2”). It has enjoyment). I also installed Outlook account. All the e-mail and
the AMD Excavator CPU with Rhythmbox to play some music and As with any business, improved calendar collaboration features
Radeon R5 GPU integrated, 8GB of listen to a couple podcasts. In my security may be needed. So, I have worked as expected. Multiple
RAM and 1238GB SSD storage. It use of these applications, I find this tested what I perceive as the two displays may be needed in a small
also has a very modest power business and this computer comes
consumption of 12 volts. with dual HDMI ports that provide a
very respectable resolution with
The model I ordered came the built in Radeon R5 GPU.
preinstalled with Ubuntu 22.04.1
LTS, but the same mini PC can be In the testing I did the AMD
purchased preinstalled with Excavator CPU with the integrated
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro. So you Radeon R5 GPU was very pleasantly
have options. surprised at its all around
performance with good video and
Upon delivery, I immediately audio .
upgraded to Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS,
and patched up-to-date. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
In this review I will be discussing Due to its diminutive size this
how it worked for the use cases for mini PC comes with no speakers, as
entry level, mid-level, and small most full size PCs don’t. So you will
business computers. need to plug in an external speaker
or use a stereo headset for audio
FOR ENTRY LEVEL USE: output. I found the audio output to
full circle magazine #206 54 contents ^
REVIEW
be good. But if you are an too lightweight for your needs; operator, this is where I will be occasionally via a terminal session
audiophile, whose ears are far more they do make a model powered by going with my testing next. (nordvpn status command).
discerning than mine; you may the AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, but at a
want to look at a USB sound card higher price (like 250% higher). IN SUMMARY: Firefox (browser):
device to get you to the kind of Second installation was the
clarity and quality you enjoy. POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL USE I am very pleased with this mini Firefox browser. Configured as
PC, and feel my money was well securely as I can tolerate it.
If you are a competitive, multi- CASES (UNTESTED): Installed a few notable extensions/
spent. It outperforms the cost
player, high frame rate gamer; this nicely. A very good value. add-ons like Ghostery and EFF’s
might not be the PC for you. As a As a general use media PC, this Privacy Badger, set the home to be
low cost and low power mini PC should meet these needs as startpage. The browser has run
consumption mini PC, with a price well. With the dual HDMI ports SOFTWARE/APPLICATIONS well. I tested several web sites and
tag this low, it may be unreasonable supporting multiple monitors or a TESTED THUS FAR: even played a movie on Amazon
to expect this PC to meet a high monitor and a TV. With a set of prime. The only issue I’ve had is the
end competitive gamer needs. For speakers it would probably do a Nord VPN: slow first load after a reboot, but
less demanding stand alone or respectable job. I just didn’t have NordVPN, as usual, was the first that is normal and expected. I’m
single player games it tested with, I the time to test this myself. thing I installed. Installation was just impatient.
found it surprisingly good and smooth. I configured it to auto-start
enjoyed playing on it. Used as an amateur radio (init.d). It has auto-started and has ClamAV/ClamTK (anti-virus):
operator’s “shack” computer. As a run flawlessly. Because I’m a Install was smooth and it runs
If you feel this WO-WE is a little technician class licensed radio paranoid old IT guy, I check it fine. Setup auto scans and check it

full circle magazine #206 55 contents ^

REVIEW
occasionally with a manual scan Foliate (eBook reader):
Install was smooth. Since it is the WO-WE Mini PC LINUX (Ubuntu) Preinstalled Computer Technical Details:
Thunderbird Mail (email client): first time I have used this app, the Manufacturer: WO-WE
Model Number: HU-MNPC007-L(LINUX)
Install was smooth, connected interface took me a few minutes to Preinstalled Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04.01 (LTE)
with an existing Hotmail/Outlook get used to and get books added to Cost: Around $100 (USD) plus tax in late 2023
account (yes, I’m that old). It is it. I downloaded several books
working well. E-mail and calendar from The Gutenberg Project (a CPU: AMD “Excavator” A9-9400 - 7th Gen.
Architecture: A9 (Stoney Ridge)
collaboration features all work for great source for free eBooks for Clock Speeds:
me. So, totally as expected. you reading junkies) and tested it Frequency: 2.4 GHz
out. Being light sensitive I’m Base Clock Speed: 100 MHz
Telegram (secure messaging enjoying the dark mode. I like it and Turbo Clock Speed 3.2 GHz
CPU Cache:
app): it has worked great. L1 / L2 Cache: 128 KB (per core) / 1MB (per core)
Install was smooth. It has Socket Type : AMD FT4
worked as expected and has had LibreOffice: Number of Compute Cores: 2
zero errors. LibreOffice was preinstalled Number of Compute Threads: 2
Integrated Graphics (GPU): AMD/ATI Radeon R5 (rev c6)
with Ubuntu, so you don’t get much
Signal (secure messaging app): easier than that. I have used Memory:
Install was smooth. It has the writer and calc spreadsheets Physical RAM out of the box: 8GB (upgradable)
worked as expected and has had apps. They have behaved exactly as Supported Memory type: DDR4 (2666MHz)
zero errors. expected. Storage:
SSD storage out of the box: 128GB M.2 2280 SATA SSD (upgradable)

Operating Systems Supported:

- LINUX LINUX (Ubuntu 22.04.1)
- Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows 10 Pro

System Ports:
- Power Port: 1 (12volts output)
- NIC port: 1 (RJ45)
- USB 2.0 Ports / 3.1 Ports 2/2
- USB Type-C-Thunderbolt Port 1
- Micro SD Port 1
- Audio Jack (3.5mm) 1

Network Interfaces:
Physical NIC: Intel corporation Ethernet Connector I225-V (rev3), 2.5G
WiFi: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8822CE 802.11ac PCIe
Wireless (WiFi 5.0)
Bluetooth:

full circle magazine #206 56 contents ^

REVIEW
Rhythmbox Player:
An old favorite of mine. It was
installed smoothly. Plays all my
WHAT CAME IN THE BOX:
locally stored music just fine. My
1). The WO-We Mini PC
regular podcasts were easily found
2). The Power Supply
and played as expected. My only
3). The User Manual
issue was remembering how to get
it to play SomaFM streams, but I
got it working (it was pretty
obvious on their web site).

Games:
The preinstalled games such as
Mahjongg, Mines, and Solitaire, all
played the same as ever. I also
installed and played Open Arena in
single user mode and it worked
very well. No issues other than
losing more time than I intended to
playing them. Or is that just me?

Abigsky is an FCM fan, Linux user, IT

professional (virtualization specialist)
with decades of experience, amateur
radio operator, and haphazard wannabe
author.

full circle magazine #206 57 contents ^

 BOOK REVIEW
Written by Erik The Linux DevOps Handbook
Luckily, the chapter is concise and experience in the field of

I was looking for a book to bind and to the point, and an easy read software development and IT
what I knew about “devops”. for any devops newbie. operations, and are now seeking to
Instead of being unconnected further expand their knowledge of
pieces of information, I was hoping We then move to “command-line DevOps and Linux systems.” That
to find how some stuff ties basics”, and again we are given said, I would still recommend this
together, but on a practical level. I information in concise, easy to book to any newbie wanting to
had the 1000ft overview, OK, I assimilate, chunks. Instead of learn devops. You just need to fire
wasn’t too concrete on that either, faffing with bash or zsh, you are up a virtual machine with Linux and
but I was planning on clearing up told which directories you should follow along. Everything you need
my picture. I settled on this Packt familiarise yourself with, and the is touched upon, with just enough
title. I knew what docker and importance thereof. They touch on to get you going. The part on ssh is
kubernetes, etc, were, but not a few commands, but sort of funnel thorough enough to keep you safe
coming from that side of the IT you to the man pages. They touch and do your job.
world, I decided everything I knew on permissions and processes, and
needed polish. Luckily for me, this then how to manipulate files, It starts to get interesting with
title was authored by two Polish before giving you some basic “Automating with shell scripts”. In
https://www.packtpub.com/
gentlemen. OK, I’ll see myself out. homework. Up until this point, each chapter, the difficulty level is
product/the-linux-devops-
anyone with zero Linux experience, raised another step, but not at the
handbook/9781803245669
We start out with “Linux Basics”, should be comfortable. expense of the newbie reader. It is
explaining distributions, but it is just enough to keep you coming
Price: $39-49 USD
not hard to realise these polish As we move into “Intermediate back for more and keeping the
gentlemen are biased. RHEL stuff is Linux”, you would need some Linux book interesting. You are not just
Blurb: “This book is designed to be a
in bold, but Debian and Ubuntu are knowledge. Though the concepts shown basic shell scripting and
comprehensive guide to DevOps,
not treated the same. I will put an are explained well, if you have not kicked from the nest, this section
covering everything from choosing
example in. Luckily, none of the dipped your toes into the Linux covers right up to debugging your
the right Linux distribution to
examples or homework in the book ecosystem, some of the concepts scripts, something I find invaluable.
avoiding pitfalls in DevOps. Each
is distribution-specific, so you can may be lost to you. The authors did, You can see the authors’ field is
chapter in this book provides
use whatever distribution you like. I however, specify in the beginning Linux troubleshooting, this is the
detailed information and practical
just thought that was interesting of the book that: “This book is chapter it shines through.
examples to help you understand the
and wanted to point it out. designed for individuals who have
concepts and apply them to real-
already gained some knowledge Though the chapter covering
world scenarios.“
full circle magazine #206 58 contents ^
BOOK REVIEW
automation came before and only dev that “all that old stuff you completed it 100%, as I have to put
covered cron, I would have learned about networking is now it down for a month or two as there
preferred if it came after (the out the window” – when we were are some work-related things that
automation part), and joined shell talking about containers. It most take precedence. I am really excited
scripting automation recipes and certainly is not. In fact I would say it for this book, and I hope I have
real world examples. I mean it is even more prudent that you transferred that excitement to you.
would be a “nice to have” and not know this. The problem with IT This needs to be on your desk, right
crucial. today is that lots of stuff gets now.
abstracted away to make the
Part 2 covers the day-to-day part development cycle faster, making it
of devops. Because almost all the easier to get more fingers on more Would you like to say
modern distributions have systemd, keyboards coding, lowering that bar something?
we fall in the door with managing to entry. [email protected]
services. We even get to learn
about other init systems, but we all Then, in Chapter 7, “Git” is the
know that, in production, with your focus. Not an old git like me, but
RHEL or Ubuntu servers, we never version management.
use the others. The level of detail is Now this is where I currently am
amazing for the compactness and I in the book, the next chapter being
dare say, newbies should also not “Docker”, that I have skimmed over.
have an issue here, but as a newbie, Not skimming to skip, but skimming
you cannot skim this chapter. Even I to judge content. I’m not going to
learned something new here, not lie to you, so far, I’m loving this
that I know everything, not by a book. It took a longer run up to get
long shot, but it was refreshing. to the devops stuff than I expected,
but that time you spend on the first
In chapter 6 we move onto six chapters will not be wasted.
“networking” where we cover
ground with the basics again, and After “docker” and the “deep
because the book is new, netplan is dive into docker”, there is the
also covered. Since a lot of your “cloud kit” chapter that I’m looking
time will be checking ingress and forward to. I thought I would write
egress ports on containers, etc, I do this impression of the book now,
suggest you give this chapter while it is still fresh (it is a
another go. The reason I say this is Christmas release as far as I can
because I was told by a mid-level tell), even though I have not
full circle magazine #206 59 contents ^
 Join us on:
LETTERS
If you would like to submit a letter for publication, compliment
or complaint, please email it to: [email protected].
PLEASE NOTE: some letters may be edited for space.
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linkedin.com/company/full-
circle-magazine

ubuntuforums.org/
forumdisplay.php?f=270

FULL CIRCLE NEEDS YOU!

Without reader input
Full Circle would be an
empty PDF file (which I don't
think many people would find
particularly interesting). We are
always looking for articles,
reviews, anything! Even small
things like letters and desktop
screens help fill the magazine.

See the article Writing for Full

Circle in this issue to read our
basic guidelines.

Have a look at the last page of

any issue to get the details of
where to send your
contributions.

full circle magazine #206 60 contents ^

 Q&A
Compiled by EriktheUnready
If you have a Linux question, email it to: [email protected],
and Erik will answer them in a future issue. Please include as much
information as you can about your query.

W elcome back to another

edition of Questions and
Answers! In this section we will
started seeing arb errors in dmesg)
As Ubuntu installed just fine there
and worked flawlessly is actually a
know, BSOD’s getting you down?
Load the new and improved Ubuntu
operating system, your computer
and see if you get errors and get
back to me.

endeavour to answer your Ubuntu testament to how far Ubuntu has will thank you! LOL
questions. Be sure to add details of
the version of your operating
come. The original owner of the
laptop complained about BSOD’s Q :computer,
I encrypted my drive on my
but due to hardware
system and your hardware. I will try
to remove any personally
and so forth, so the first avenue of
attack was just to replace the OS. Q :I Iwanted
have installed all my software
and transferred all my
failure it stood around the house
for 9+ months. The problem is, now
identifiable strings from questions, Ubuntu installed and just worked. data to my Ubuntu machine, it that it is fixed, I cant remember my
but it is best not to include things People always joke about the “year worked fine for about a month, veracrypt password to boot it any
like serial numbers, UUIDs, or IP of the desktop” for Ubuntu, but I’d now, whenever I use the software more. How do I use the live disk to
addresses. If your question does argue we have passed that point updater to update it says:”Sorry, do a repair please?
not appear immediately, it is just already and Ubuntu is just a Ubuntu 22.04 has experienced an
because there is such a lot, and I do
them, first-come-first-served.
superior product. Yes, it may not
have proprietary blob x or y, but
that is usually due to the
internal error, send problem report
to the developers? If you notice any
further problems try rebooting
A : The short answer is that you
can’t. The long answer is you
cannot. Only kidding. The booting
manufacturer of some peripheral your machine. I have probably into live mode only fixes Ubuntu

S o I was looking at some games

on Steam... No I wasn’t, but I’ll
know if Ronnie read this. (Sorry
being asshats. If Microsoft stopped
paying OEM’s for loading Windoze
on their computers, that “superior”
rebooted 10x but still nothing. Any
help would be appreciated.
issues. Veracrypt is its own thing.
You will need to use your Veracrypt
rescue disk to recover. If you don’t
guys, insider joke)(Ronnie says: it
was merely a ‘senior moment’.) I
recently ran into an issue where I
desktop numbers would drop,
quickly. Instead of BSOD, all I got
was Firefox not wanting to take
A : Firstly, I’d say create an empty
file in root, named forcefsck:
have that you will need to reload.

Q :Ubuntu
had weird errors, like truly bizarre, focus over say, LibreOffice writer touch /forcefsck I have Skype installed on my
but my OS functioned normally, so I when I clicked on it. Alt + tab would Machine, Optiplex 990.
wrote it off to bad shutdown’s etc. put the window behind LibreOffice, and reboot then run I have a logitech webcam and I can
(we have lots of power issues) I had for instance. Since 24.04 was confirm that it works in Cheese. It
sudo apt update
memory installed in slots B and D basically here, I decided I could live does not, however, work on Skype.
(from the manufacturer) and it was with it for a month or two more. What could be the problem?
from the terminal, followed by
only when I added more to slots A (However, replacing the memory
and C, that I found out the memory
in the machine was not OK. (I
and updating actually fixed that,
just so you know.) So now you
sudo apt upgrade
A : Firstly, what skype do you
have? The package as in .deb-

full circle magazine #206 61 contents ^

Q&A
file install or a containerized install
like Flatpak or Snap? Secondly, go Q :that
On Windows they recommend
you use your amount of
program is running, we press
CTRL+C to interrupt it (SIGINT), but
into Skype, go to properties and
see if you can select another
memory + 2GB for a swap file. I
can’t find info about it on Xubuntu. Q :though
I am not an Ubuntu native,
I have been using
some programs do not respect
that. We can use CTRL+D (SIGQUIT)
webcam. Microsoft has Skype There are no hits - https:// Ubuntu Budgie for 4 years. I am to end it. That is the same as typing
buggy lately, where it will pick up docs.xfce.org/start? using Ubuntu plain and I wanted to quit() in the python shell. Type kill -l
multiple webcams of the same do=search&id=xfce%3Athunar%3A slim it down and change it up. When in your terminal to see all of them.
type. Try switching. Otherwise you 4.16%3Astart&q=swap+size I use the software centre and I go
will need to ask on the Microsoft to “installed” I do not see
forums.
A : I’d say it is because you are
looking under “Thunar” under
your DE. You are asking the right
transmission, but when I press the
windows key and page over, it is
Q :machine
We put down an Ubuntu
at our company for
clients to do payments or bank
there.
Q :change
Hi guys, I just want to know if I question in the wrong places. transfers, that is basically locked

A
my theme to dark, how Pressing F1 usually gives help on : There is a magnifying glass on down with a minimal user and no
do I do it with gdm/lightdm? I’m your DE and all its bits-n-bobs. the top left of your Software ports or drives enabled. How can
new to ricing and I’d like to know Rather look here: https:// Centre. Click on that and search for we remove the user list, so they
why my gdm/lightdm does not help.ubuntu.com/community/ Transmission, then click on it, to don’t try to log in as other users?
change with the main theme, or is it SwapFaq focus and click the little bin icon to
even possible? remove. I’m not sure why it does
not show up for you. A : I am going to assume flagship
Ubuntu here and point you

A : Let’s first see what you have,

gdm and lighdm is not Q :tellHello, new to all this, can you
me how to drag an icon to
somewhere as it would be too long
to explain in a QnA. See: https://
interchangeable and use different
methods for changing them, once
my dock in Ubuntu 22.04 please?
Every time I try it, it is like water off Q :once
Why do I have to type quit()
I start python in my
fostips.com/hide-user-list-gdm-
login-screen-ubuntu-20-04-20-10/
you know, you can look it up on the a duck’s back and it is frustrating. terminal? All I’m saying is if I start
internet, properly. Type the python3 geo-recon.py and I am
following into your terminal:

grep '/usr/s\?bin' /etc/

A : Hi, you did not say what dock
you are using? If you are on
Vanilla Ubuntu, you don’t have a
done, I am back at ready player
one.
Q :didI noticed a new folder that I
not notice before /
lost+found. I compared it with my
systemd/system/display-

A
manager.service dock. That panel is not a dock. I : OK, honestly I have no idea newer Ubuntu 22.04 laptop and I
suggest installing a dock like what you want, you may want don’t have it there either. It could
just like that and check the output. “plank” and hiding your panel if you to structure your question just be an Ubuntu 18.04 thing, but I
want a dock. I’m not sure if the differently, or ask it in another way, have become paranoid lately. How
dash2dock or panel2dock extension as now you leave it to me to would I know if a folder belongs?
allows that kind of thing, but you interpret. What I think you are not
can try that too. understanding is signals. When a
full circle magazine #206 62 contents ^
Q&A
A : Before I say it is a system
folder, as it can be, should your
system shut down ‘dirty’. Look what
intact. My base OS is Ubuntu 20.04
and I have assigned 2 of my CPU’s
and 8G of RAM to virtualbox.
and your installation media? (if you
did) Otherwise, it’s Linux, there are
many ways to skin your cat. Open
is in it, is it your files or the terminal in your virtual OS and
executables? Open a terminal and
type: man hier - to find out about
system folders.
A : I am going to assume you
mean Rhino Linux. I have found
something similar with Arco Linux,
type: xrandr - and see the outputs
supported, then set one with the ”-
s”, for example: xrandr -s
I’m not sure if this is your issue, but 1920x1080
let me know if it is not. On the very

Q :butThisI want
is going to sound weird,
to write a script, to
first screen in Virtualbox, when
creating a new machine, do not
ping me every time a USB drive or choose an ISO image there. (ISO
SD card gets plugged into my image, leave as <not selected>)
machine. I can see the devices when Instead, add it under storage and
I plug them in and out in dmsg, if I eject it if it does not eject by itself
put a watch on that. I just can’t when you reboot the first time
wrap my head around how to get after installation. It sounds like it is
that specific update into my script. booting to the live image instead of
the virtual hard drive.

A : Hi, what you are actually

looking for is udev. It is like a
crow’s nest on a ship looking for
land. (in our case devices) I will link Q :downloaded
Help me out here, I
the latest version
you here: https://opensource.com/ of Ubuntu Kylin and installed it in
article/18/11/udev English in Virtualbox 7. Everything
is cookies and cream, until I try to
change the display size. My base OS

Q :onI amVirtualbox
installing Ubuntu Rolling
and I fill in all the
is Ubuntu. In Kylin, it defaults to
1024x800, I can change it in the
required options. It boots and I can settings to 1920x1080, but nothing
install it. Every time, afterwards, I happens, there is no apply. I don’t Erik has been in IT for 30+ years. He
am in an installation loop that I know if the apply button got lost in has seen technology come and go.
can’t seem to get out of no matter translation. From repairing washing machine sized
hard drives with multimeters and
what I try. Is there any way for me oscilloscopes, laying cable, to scaling
to break this loop? I have verified
my downloaded image and it is A : My first question would be,
did you verify your ISO image
3G towers, he's done it.

full circle magazine #206 63 contents ^

 UBUNTU GAMES
Written by Erik
Cat Games
supported Linux and was dirt the viewport. The image was much is like 99c and one can be forgiven
Price: Free on Steam, but DLC costs cheap. That is when I stumbled larger than my screen. I only for spending the money. As the
across these two games. Now I’m stumbled across this when I announcer said in “The running
Blurb: “Hey, do you have 5 not going to lie to you, casual switched it over to night mode. (I man”, “I’d buy that for a dollar!”.
minutes to spare? Let's play hide and games, especially cute ones, are a mean it was midnight, OK 00:22). This is an arcade machine for the
seek with 100 cats in Osaka! Can slippery slope. It has been the You can also choose one of eight newer generations. Feed it another
you find them all? “ undoing of many a tablet user. colours for the cats, just btw. Then 99c for more hand drawn maps.
Today I’ll be looking at a two of the things moved along and I hit my Unlike arcade games, you get to
Hidden Winter Cats - Find and lures in the sea that is casual proverbial wall of 99 cats. This also keep it and play it whenever you
paint 100 hidden cats in this big gaming. happens to be what is in my want, and it is re-playable. A
snowy location! Test your attention pockets playing Kenshi. I realised I definite win in my book. Hidden
and relax in this cozy and free game” I tried Winter Cats first and had a fun time, (almost ten Winter Cats does not have a zoom
honestly I was stumped. There was minutes) with this simple game and function, but the game offers a hint
So I was looking for new games no way there were 100 cats there. when I found the last cat, I did it button if you really need to find
to review... (sorry, I had to) When I It took me probably five minutes of again to prove to myself I could do that last cat. The soundtrack is also
decided to use the Steam filters staring and scratching my head, this in under five minutes. This is very very, * yawn * very relaxing.
and look for a “relaxing” game that before I realised that I could move very clever marketing bait. The DLC Oh and do try the hint button, it

full circle magazine #206 64 contents ^

UBUNTU GAMES
purrs! ninety-nine cat wall, you just have anything. Other than that, you have
to soldier forth, as there is no hint pretty solid games with minimal
Next, I gave Cats and Seek button. What this one offers, is feel that play really well, whether
(Osaka) a go, but before I continue, animated backgrounds, for instance you are a casual gamer or speed
I have to put it out there, I’m *not a the wind will blow the clouds from runner, that are very alike. The
cat person and I never was or will right to left and left to right across pricing is good and the money
be. This could have been beavers or the screen. making model is not ‘gatcha’, like
llamas and I still would have given it most free-to-play games are these
a go. Unlike Hidden Winter Cats, On Cats and Seek, the hitboxes days.
this does have a zoom option at the were not as generous as Winter
bottom of the screen and you can Cats, as I had to click, sometimes up If you feel we were unfair:
reset the view with the spyglass at to three times to tag a kitty, making [email protected]
the bottom left. Cats and Seek has speed running a bit more difficult.
more upbeat music and you are not P.S. There are steam
likely to fall asleep, but is mellow What I would have liked to see in “achievements” for both of these
none-the-less. This does not mean both games was a few red herrings, games and it is strange to see so
it isn’t relaxing at all. Just like the things that look like cats but are many people that do not have all of
first game, it is a relaxing hidden not. A little more variety in the cat these as in the free games, the cats
object game with speed running poses and “looks” or type of cat are not difficult to find at all.
undertones. (or should it be would have been nice. I’m not
overtones?) expecting where’s Waldo levels, or

This time, though, it isn’t just

black and white or white and black,
you can choose your colours or click
the wand icon, for random colours.
Unlike the previous game, you can
also choose your own custom
colour for the cats.

Eventually I went ‘dark mode’ Erik has been in IT for 30+ years. He
again, just to save my eyes. (I made has seen technology come and go.
it not as bright, as I did here for the From repairing washing machine sized
screen-shot, which makes for a hard drives with multimeters and
oscilloscopes, laying cable, to scaling
pleasant experience and it stands 3G towers, he's done it.
out in the magazine.) If you hit your
full circle magazine #206 65 contents ^
 PATRONS
MONTHLY PATRONS Lee Allen Ennio Quattrini
Lee Layland Kimberly James Kulak
The current site was created thanks to
Alex Crabtree Leo Paesen Yvo Geens Arun (from our Telegram channel) who
Alex Popescu Linda P took on the task of completely
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Andy Garay own time.
Bill Berninghausen Moss Bliss
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Brian Bogdan Oscar Rivera domain and hosting fees. The money
Paul Anderson also helps with the new mailing list.
Carl Andersen
CBinMV Paul Readovin
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Robin Woodburn (single donation) option, so I’ve added a
Devin McPherson button below.
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full circle magazine #206 66 contents ^
 Full Circle Team

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE Editor - Ronnie Tucker

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FCM#207 Webmaster -
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