Python's Packaging Council, approved via PEP 772, brings formal governance to packaging standards and tools. Five elected members will oversee decisions, with first election in June 2026.

Xint discovered a Linux kernel bug (since 2017) enabling arbitrary 4-byte writes to page cache via AEAD sockets and splice. Fixed in mainline.

Explore the latest LWN.net Weekly Edition covering Famfs filesystem, Python Packaging Council, Zig concurrency, Linux pages/folios, Strawberry music manager, 7.1 kernel merge window, and briefs.

Thursday's security updates from AlmaLinux, Debian, Fedora, Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu address vulnerabilities in numerous packages including browsers, containers, and system tools.

Greg Kroah-Hartman released seven new stable kernels. Two specialize in Xen fixes; five address the critical AEAD socket vulnerability. All users of affected series must upgrade.

GCC 16.1 is released with C++20 as default, experimental C++26 features (reflection, contracts, expansion statements, std::simd), a new experimental Algol68 frontend, and HTML diagnostic output.

Linux kernel's restartable sequences optimization in 6.19 breaks Google's TCMalloc due to undocumented dependencies, illustrating Hyrum's Law. The no-regressions rule forces a compromise, highlighting API design lessons.

Explore how Prolly trees, a variant of B-trees, enable efficient version control in databases, focusing on Dolt's implementation for branching, merging, and historical queries.

The UK's NHS plans to close most open source repositories due to AI security scanning tools, but critics argue it's unnecessary and contradicts open government principles.

Ubuntu 26.10 Stonking Stingray releases Oct 15, 2026. Key dates: feature freeze Aug 10, beta Oct 3, RC Oct 10. Plan your upgrade with this 10-point guide.

Canonical begins modernizing Launchpad with a series page redesign for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, following a 2024 homepage update and addressing years of neglect.

Firefox's free VPN now offers server location choice, 50GB data, Fastly proxy support, multi-OS availability, and strong privacy protection.

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS security support ends April 2026. Follow 10 steps to upgrade via 18.04 and 20.04 to 22.04 LTS, with backups and Ubuntu Pro options for safety.

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS moves Pro settings to Security Center, offering a cleaner interface, same features, free for 5 devices, paid for enterprises, and simplified enrollment—10 key insights.

Discover 10 key facts about running Ubuntu on a PS5, including firmware limits, hardware access, Steam gaming, and community future.

Linux Mint's HWE ISOs pack newer kernels (e.g., 6.17) to support modern hardware, addressing compatibility issues for users with brand-new computers. The ISOs are updated when new HWE kernels arrive.

SmugMug's Ben MacAskill explains how Section 230 protects his photo platform, enabling photographers to run their businesses without liability for every user upload.

The GUARD Act uses overly broad definitions to require age verification for everyday online tools, blocking minors from helpful AI services and undermining privacy for all users.

Section 230 is vital for the Open Social Web's survival, protecting small hosts from lawsuits that could cripple decentralized social media and prevent big tech monopolies.

Rainey Reitman's 'Transaction Denied' reveals how PayPal, Venmo, and other payment companies censor speech by freezing accounts. A guide to fighting back against financial gatekeepers.