Fedora Does Real World Work. Debian is for Hobbyists

It's interesting to watch the pace of change with Linux on the Desktop.

Want technology on the leading edge?  Fedora is here today with best of breed solutions, all of which merge to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the largest commercial Linux Distribution in the World.

Fedora was first to implement systemd.

Fedora is first with a robust implementation of state of the art technologies including rpm-ostree and Docker on their Project Atomic platform.  And, Cockpit eases the process of managing servers and containers in the cloud via a unified web management interface.

You see, at release 21, Fedora split into server, workstation, and cloud divisions.

The transition was amazingly uneventful, due to Red Hat's senior guidance and the incredibly hard work done by the Fedora Team coordinated with upstream GNOME Project.

Fedora takes what they do very seriously and when it comes to meeting target milestones, they galvanize into action and meet them in a timely business-like fashion. 

Every time Debian runs into delays, that pushes back Canonical's Ubuntu milestones who hitched their wagon to Debian and delays get passed in turn down the line to the rest of the Ubuntu derivatives who hitched their wagons to Ubuntu.  It's a serious problem, particularly for Canonical Ltd. who are trying to run a business.

No, the real work is done by Red Hat/Fedora in the business world.  No messing around.  No divisiveness, stalling, stonewalling.  Tasks move along with rhythm and cadence, all oarsmen stroking to a beat, following directions and executing them as ordered in synchronous precision.


Debian is the proverbial speed-bump on the road to innovation and with an 18 month release cycle nothing gets done in a hurry.

Debian devotees won't like to read this but, Debian isn't behaving like a professional Distro should.  They allow themselves the luxury of procrastination and all the while 'make pretend' some highly technical issue must be considered before embarking on any kind of work.  I call it 'work avoidance'.  Because, that is really what it is under a veil of techno-speak designed to obfuscate what is or isn't really happening in their hallowed organization.  If they are to survive, a radical change must be made to their release management policy.

The real world can't afford to behave like 'hobbyists'.  The real world won't wait.  Debian is falling farther behind, but that's okay as far as they are concerned.

The work will get done.  Eventually.  

Fedora does the real-world work.  Debian is for hobbyists.  -- Dietrich

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Your Browser: A General Purpose Remote Code Execution Tool

Google Chrome web browser security warning message

I've been reviewing the current state of Internet Privacy.

It's still a mixed bag and my conclusion is that it will remain so for quite some time.

Efforts to provide Internet Privacy are varied, depending on which ISP is employed.

The primary means for conveyance to a target website to do any kind of task is the web browser.

To put security risk into context, the web browser is a remote code execution tool.

Yep.  Let that sink in for a minute.

Where ever the user goes, the browser is set to 'trust' a remote stream of bytes which get 'interpreted' as program instructions on your PC by the web engine.

Sounds quite troubling when you think about it really.

I mean, your browser is one big catcher's mit and absorbs everything it sees in an attempt to execute instructions sent from a remote web server.

So, this catcher's mit is by default a 'security risk'.

Different software vendors take different approaches to the responsibility of writing their software in a manner that ensures it should always operate securely.

For example, Internet Explorer on Microsoft Windows, is written by Microsoft and employs 'protected mode', something akin to a software sandbox, but, technically isn't.

Google Chrome for Windows is designed with a quasi-sandbox by Google Engineers.  But they have publicly stated it cannot stop certain kinds of exploits (Javascript DLL injection) from successfully executing and gaining administrative control on Legacy Windows.  This is a fact.

But, that isn't really my point.  In each software project some 'defensive' coding has or has not taken place.

I've reported in the past that, where Fedora Linux is concerned, users running Firefox, the default installed browser, are placed in a 'real' sandbox, called Linux Security Modules (LSM) and the particular module used by Fedora is SELinux.

From a security standpoint, this is a prime differentiator between Linux and Windows.

An exploit may propagate on Windows running Chrome.  It will never propagate using Linux with SELinux.

The word 'never' comes with a catch.  You see the browser's memory space is up for 'fair game' and various code, Java, Javascript can execute remotely exposing certain parts of your running PC.

In theory, nothing bad should happen and it is assumed that code in the browser PID will never escalate to the Admin level.

But what it is doing in its own memory space is an open question.  The issue of cross site scripting remains an unsolved problem.

In this context, if a user chooses to employ a browser-based security tool designed to protect their local PC, this sets up the conditions  -- a 'fictional' exploit may, for example, attempt to steal a local browser's in-memory private keys for encryption.

So, you see, I am revising my thinking.  I'm not sure any more about using the browser for any kind of security.  It's that risky.

Using compiled, well maintained free standing open source security applications is entirely a different matter.

For example, I have Gmail.  But I don't use the browser client to access it.
I use GNOME Shell's integrated Evolution Email client, which is also used to prepare outgoing mail using GnuPG (OpenPGP) encryption.

The PID for decoding/encoding gmail runs in Evolutions local memory space, not in a browser.  Once the email is encrypted, signed, it is then and only then sent and a copy gets stored (IMAP) on the Gmail web server, in PGP encrypted form.

That's a routine process I feel confident in completely.

The notion that other software vendors can fork GnuPG and refactor it in Javascript troubles me.  This is precisely what Google is doing in their End-to-End encryption project, currently in Alpha.

The whole end to end encryption runs as javascript in the browser.
That puts the whole premise of security in the hands of the browser.

It's not acceptable.  Even now, I am rethinking how MEGA works.  Again, here, there is secureboot.js code running in your browser.

I believe there has to be a total segregation from the browser for any kind of security tool client application.  It must be compiled.  It must be open source and it must employ upstream industry standard GnuPG OpenPGP.

The browser will always be a target for attack.  Always.  Letting it also run your security is a fundamental mistake.  -- Dietrich

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Debian Forks as Stormy Seas Lie Ahead.

Johannes Hermanus Koekkoek - Sailing the Stormy Seas (Image credit: imagehere.com)

Seriously, I think some people just have self-destructive personalities.

Such is the case for Debian, where a few souls have foolishly convinced themselves that a Fork is necessary.

For what, exactly?

I submit the big unspoken reason is 'work avoidance'.

It would seem, the majority of major Distros have had no difficulty merging systemd and there are no reports I am aware of that would indicate problems of any kind aside from planned and routine systemd maintenance upgrades.

So, I am thinking, What kind of effect will such a fork have?

Most likely, it will create fear, uncertainty, doubt about whether either Distro is viable and if either should be taken seriously at this point.

Thus, a cloud now has formed over the Debian camp and all indications are that Devuan will be the name of a newly announced Fork.

Will Devuan be taken seriously?  Will there be a fractious split and move en masse from Debian to Devuan?

I am going to say No to both questions.

This marks the end of the systemd controversy at Debian.  Those who wish to leave for greener pastures are welcome to do so.  Debian will continue their slow, pragmatic, sloth-like progress and those who have hitched their wagons to it, will submit to whatever happens.

The cheering for Devuan will eventually reach a crescendo, then fade.  Reality will set in.  A very large volume of work must be done if Devuan will ever come to fruition.  Work avoidance won't suffice this time.

It should come as no surprise, and for good technical reasons, I wouldn't touch Debian with a barge pole, much less a fork of it.

As far as I am concerned, neither has anything to offer that would be considered superior to Red Hat (Fedora ) technology.  For one, Red Hat is fully Linux Standard Base and systemd compliant. Two, it is a commercial Distro that actually makes a 'profit', unlike Canonical Ltd.Ubuntu where Mr. Shuttleworth plucks down an occasional IOU to cover operating expenses so he can keep his insolvent business going.

You see, unfortunately and in retrospect Mr. Shuttleworth made a bad strategic decision early on.

Namely, Ubuntu hitched its wagon to Debian, which, as we all know, now has forked. Canonical Ltd. regardless of their gantt charts, project management milestones, and other various metrics will have to 'cow-tow' to whatever Debian chooses to do.  That, alone, breeds much confusion and has taken its toll.  It even pushes out the planned roll-out of Mir display technology for at least another year (16.04 tentatively).  Unity, the Ubuntu desktop GUI, has become effectively an island unto itself.  None of the other Distros will support it.  Not one.  Mr. Shuttleworth succeeded in only driving a wedge into the upstream development community.  Unlike Unity, GNOME with Wayland is on time, stable, and well supported, particularly by Red Hat.

There is no confusion in the Fedora camp.  It's full steam ahead for the anticipated release of Fedora 21 Workstation, along side the newly created divisions for Server and Cloud, this all being done under the governance and financial assistance of Red Hat.

Fedora is the largest Community Distro and the R&D factory for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.  No confusion exists due to their thoughtful planning and execution.

Stay the course Red Hat, Fedora, stormy seas lie ahead.  -- Dietrich

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Fedora How-To: End Unresponsive Applications with Xkill

There are times when I miss KDE, like, when an application suddenly freezes up for no apparent reason.

I wait and try to close the window clicking on the close [x] glyph.  Tap fingers....

Still nothing.  "Sweet Lord.  Please make it stop!", I mutter.

Then I remember that pressing ctrl-alt-Esc would work in KDE to kill an unresponsive application.  Yes!  (Slaps forehead)  That's it.

Presses ctrl-alt-Esc.   Waits.  (insert sound of crickets...)  NOTHING.

So, as I have discovered, Fedora doesn't have a keyboard mapping to xkill, despite having the utility installed.  My Fedora Peeps are you reading this?  For the Love of God, Add it!  Please.

There.  I said 'please'.  I was nice.

Hokay, deep breaths.  Serenity now... ;)

Ready for a brief how-to to show you how to add a keyboard mapping in Fedora Desktop Edition or Workstation?  Alright.  Here goes.

First you need to go to Settings and click Keyboard to create the shortcut:

Then, click Shortcuts:

Click on Custom Shortcut and the plus (+) symbol to add a shortcut:

Name the shortcut "Force Quit" and the command "xkill":

Click Add to add the shortcut.  Then click on the word 'Disabled' and enter the keys you wish to use to activate this shortcut (I've used Ctrl-Escape as Ctrl-Alt-Escape is already mapped to something else):

My finished Force Quit shortcut:

Finito.  Good grief, I am exhausted.  Just kidding.  That wasn't difficult was it?  I hope not.

So, okay, if and when you encounter a frozen application you can now force it to quit by pressing, in my case, Ctrl-Esc.  Directly above, I show Nautilus Terminal after I have pressed ctrl-esc.  Note that the cursor changes shape to an 'x' to signify you are armed with xkill and dangerous.

Assuming you do want to kill an application, position your mouse cursor over the offending application window and 'left-click'.  That should result in the window closing.  Should you decide to cancel, simply 'right-click' at any time and the 'x' cursor will be replaced by a normal mouse arrow.

And that should do it!  -- Dietrich

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Customize Fedora's Out-of-the-Box Experience

My Fedora 21 Workstation - Customized

As if I need to tell you, I am 100% behind Fedora.  Those looking for a story on their 'other' Distro can turn away now.

There's nothing wrong with being selective and wanting the best of everything life has to offer, yes?

So, when it comes to Linux on the Desktop, I have put Fedora at the top of my list.  I'll show you my personal configuration and yes it is running remarkably well on my trusty Acer Aspire One D260 Netbook in just 2GB of ram.

I've been on the Fedora bandwagon for nearly a year.  I've watched what other Distro communities are doing and chose Fedora for several reasons.  As for security, there's no better platform than Linux equipped with SELinux, a Linux Security Module (LSM).

With the largest community and having the governance of Red Hat, you can be assured Fedora is going to be around in 5 years.  Safe is not just security;  it's also about stability and longevity.

The 'out of the box' experience with Fedora is quite good.  That is meant to say, one can assume little in the way of post-install configuration is needed.  All bases are covered.

Still, one can put their own personality into adding extra features which is part of the fun of Linux on the Desktop.  There is much one can do--just reach into the Linux parts bin for what you are looking for and bolt on.  Some things require more effort than others.  Let's see what I've done to personalize Fedora Workstation 21.

Fedora chose to break out three products -- Server, Workstation, and Cloud -- in revision 21.  This is no small undertaking and more than trebles the volume of work.  But with careful planning, they will meet their target date for general release, December 9, 2014.

Formerly called Fedora Desktop Edition, Workstation is approximately the same, but the target audience is slanted more towards Student and Developer.  That doesn't make it any more difficult to use -- instead it means the 'mix' of pre-installed applications is slightly different.  What you do is entirely subjective and up to you.  Here goes.

Post-Install Graphical Application Additions

Gnome-Tweak-Tool

As previously mentioned, this tool should be installed by default and as discussed below simply eases making configuration changes.






Gimp

As I do posting to Linux Advocates, often I need access to GIMP and it is a universe unto itself in terms of features for image editing and manipulation.  A must-have for me.







dwb

Fortunately, Fedora Workstation, as in previous revisions, comes with Firefox by default.  This is a pure open source web browser.  I no longer endorse or support Google's Chrome which is proprietary.

I trust that +Tom Callaway will be updating open source Chromium in due course and make it available on or before general release of 21.  I usually keep that on hand for special situations that benefit from using it.  A Big thank you goes to Tom for his hard work.

dwb is my day-to-day browser.  It is lightweight written in C, with webkitgtk bindings and vim keyboard optimizations.  Gear heads will appreciate the vim shortcuts which speeds up everything, besides the compiled C code being inherently super fast.

The version last checked in the 21 repo is from early spring of 2014 and flash isn't working in it.  So, if you are technically inclined, I would suggest getting the dwb-git version with a September 2014 commit number:

[dietrich@localhost ~]$ dwb --version
    This is : dwb-git
    Version : commit 2014-09-20 6a0e483
      Built : Oct 14 2014 13:19:42
  Copyright : (C) 2010-2014 Stefan Bolte
    License : GNU General Public License, version 3 or later

Naturally, you'll need to install the Developer tools that include git, gcc, make and the dependencies listed in the README file and manually with make and make install to fulfill an install of dwb-git.  If you are a true speed geek, it is well worth the effort.

Shutter

Shutter is written in Perl with GTK bindings and ImageMagick.  It is quite useful for special image edit and effects needs.  I recommend both Shutter and ImageMagick to those who are running a website.







Pidgin

Pidgin is a multi-protocol instant messenger GTK program and with the GNOME Shell Extension integration allows one to chat from the shell without opening a Pidgin Chat window.  I prefer it and have used it for years.







Corebird

I've only discovered Corebird in evaluating Fedora 21 Workstation and must say I like it.  This is a GTK Twitter client and it does a nice job of keeping track of those who I follow.





Mailnag

Mailnag is a fairly new Python program with GNOME Shell Extension integration support.  It works quite well in that I use Evolution Email to process my Gmail.  But I leave Evolution closed until Mailnag tells me there is mail.  The notification appears on the top bar with a count for number of emails found.  A python application must be installed and the accompanying Mailnag shell extension.  Opening Mailnag-config, and completing the details for your mail will automatically start a mailnag deamon process running in the background on your system.  I prefer not having Evolution open all the time as it is a memory consumer so go into it only if there is mail to process and then close it to conserve ram.

Under the Hood Non-Graphical System Tweaks

Zswap
Zswap is a Linux kernel loadable module that has been available since version 3.11. It runs resident in its own kernel memory space and compresses data destined for swap to its zram swap 'instead' of your physical swap partition.  When the kernel can put transient data into zram compressed swap, foregoing sending it to slower I/O disk swap space, there is a realized net speed benefit.  This utility is not user-friendly so I would leave it to the gear heads to install it.  There's plenty of documentation on it and I am hoping Fedora will soon upstate the LZO compression method to a newer LZ4 method.

Append the following bolded text to /etc/sysconfig/grub:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="rhgb quiet zswap.enabled=1 zswap.zpool=zsmalloc zswap.max_pool_percent=80" 

Then, save the changes made to grub and run:

#grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

You will need then to reboot your PC to have the zwap kernel module load.

Preload
Preload runs as a deamon and monitors your habits, autonomously preloading applications into ram that are used most often.  This can be advantageous on PCs with less ram (2GB or less), such as mine.  Install Preload from a terminal with the following:

$sudo yum install preload

Then you'll need to sudo to root and type:

#systemctl enable preload.service
#systemctl start preload.service

This sets up preload to be maintained by systemd so it will always be resident on boot.

dconf-edit
This graphical tool allows the edit of gnome settings displayed in a tree-structured hierarchical fashion.  Without it you must use gsettings command line tool.  It's good to have not just for editing but for surveying the entire array of configurable settings available.

htop
I always include htop.  Even though I have system-monitor running in the shell tray, sometimes if I am already in a terminal window, it makes doing things easier and faster.  htop is an Ncurses application.

Wallpapers

I'll just mention that there is a nice array of 'stock' wallpapers that many will find aesthetically pleasing.  For those with special needs, there is a 'Pictures' button at the top of the Background application -- pressing that will open into Nautilus to show what you've downloaded into your ~/Pictures folder for selection (see samples below).  I've had more fun lately with GNOME Shell wallpapers than I've had in a long time.  Find that special wallpaper that fits your mood and sensibility.  Here are some that I like:

Customizations Using GNOME-Tweak-Tool

Most people will not go to a terminal to use gsettings and manually install an extension.  It's only gear heads like myself who brave the terminal prompt for various good and peculiar reasons.  As for myself, I prefer not to torture myself and so commenced with installing GNOME-Tweak-Tool.  It's a curiosity to me as to why this tool is not installed by default.  I hope that the Fedora Community will include it in the near term.

So, once installed you are presented with a nice graphical menu with categories, which I will walk down letting you know what changes, if any, I made in each.

Appearance

I've download a bunch of Themes from gnome-look.org and a couple of them are really nice, but, I keep returning to the default, Adwaita.  It's just that good and so I'll leave it up to you to peruse the themes on the website and experiment.

Before you can install a theme, however, you'll need to install the User Theme extension, which takes two seconds to do.  After installing, reload GNOME-Tweak-Tools and a change will be reflected at the bottom of the Appearance page which will allow selection of a user theme.  The only item I changed on the Appearance page is the Font.  I find Faenza icon theme quite pleasing to the eye.  I don't think it is available (yet?) in Fedora 21 repo, but you can still install it from Fedora 19's repo by typing from a terminal:

$sudo yum install --releasever=19 --nogpgcheck faenza-icon-theme

Desktop

On the Desktop page, I've changed nothing with exception to Background Location (aka wallpaper).  You can change it here or by right-clicking on the Desktop and selecting Change Background, or, by going into Settings and clicking the Background Icon.

Extensions

(Go here to view and select from all the available and compatible GNOME Shell Extensions referred to in this section.)

Bitcoin Markets
If you are using Bitcoin (I have a Coinbase account), then, you might want to know where the price is in realtime.  This is the only shell extension for Bitcoin as far as I am aware and updates on the Top Bar.

Caffeine
Have you had it with screensaver?  Well, fret no more.  Go straight to installing Caffeine and this widget will keep screensaver from kicking in.  It can be clicked on and toggled off/on at will and includes preferences in Tweak-Tool.

Dash to Dock
Dash to Dock takes the hidden Dash from the Activities Overview and anchors it to a Dock to so cause Dash to intelligently display and/or be forced to manually display by putting your mouse cursor on the left margin of your screen.  It also has various preferences and allows on appearance the rolling of the mouse wheel to move through your workspaces.

Frippery Applications Menu
This is a simple menu for finding your applications.  It has a right-click preferences menu wherein one can turn off 'text' which results in just the Fedora Icon showing on the left-most part of the Top Bar.  Installing this menu will remove 'Activities' from the Top Bar.  Putting the mouse cursor into the upper left corner of the screen still triggers Activities Overview mode.

Gradient Top Bar
A simple extension with a singular purpose.  It adds a translucent gradient to the Top Bar.  A nice touch.

Mailnag
You'll need this extension as well as the python Mailnag daemon application.  This extension shows a mail icon reminder when your mail arrives and rings a bell to get your attention.  Highly recommended.

OpenWeather
This is so simple, yet, I find it incredibly convenient.  It sits on your top bar and one-click will trigger it's overlay display of useful weather information.  Clean, professional, appropriate.  Recommended.

Pidgin Instant Message Integration
This extension simply integrates with the message tray and facilitates responding to chat directly in the shell message screen without setting focus to your Pidgin application.  An unobtrusive time-saving addition.

Remove dropdown arrows
This does what is says.  The default down arrow on Applications and Places is removed.  I say GNOME should drop the arrow, but that's just my personal preference.

System Monitor
This extension essentially loads your System-Monitor application resident into the message tray.  Using your superkey-M will show a graphical display of the CPU utilization and RAM consumption.  Clicking either sends you into the full-screen application.  I find this and htop quite informational.

User Themes
If you want to use user themes installable outside of the RPM repo and from a user directory, then you need to install this extension first.  After installing the extension, close GNOME-Tweak-Tool and reopen to reflect the change.  A menu option on the Appearance page, Shell Themes, then becomes enabled.

Workspaces to Dock
Much as Dash to Dock applies additional intelligence so too will Workspaces to Dock.  Moving your cursor to the right margin when running a full-screen application will reveal your workspaces in a slightly enhanced but beneficial format.  Drag and Drop of an application from one workspace to another works seamlessly too.  A must have.  I now find myself using workspaces more than ever, spreading out the applications.  A tap of the super-key reflexively goes into Activities Overview and reveals the Dock and Workspaces as well.

Conclusion

As mentioned, the out of the box settings for GNOME Shell are quite adequate.

But within a matter of minutes you can be up to speed installing Shell extensions, applications and tweaks that personalize your Desktop to your liking.  I have found the experience of using Fedora 21 Workstation quite satisfying and, dare I say, Linux on the Desktop has truly become fun again and rivals the professional feel of commercial counterparts Windows and Apple OSX.

That's Fedora 21 customized.  Get the prerelease here.  -- Dietrich

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Debian on Death's Doorstep: Developers Resist Systemd by Resigning

Is Debian Dying?

There is no shortage of consternation brewing over on the Debian Debacle Cul-de-sac where the nattering nabobs of negativity have forced yet another vote taking for the decoupling (or not) of the current plan to migrate to a replacement for sysvinit system.

The votes are in and it would appear no change in plans will take place.

So, it's full steam ahead with standards-compliant systemd replacing the aged sysvinit middle-ware design.

What lies ahead?  Much discussion preceding the vote taking took place including the proposition of forking Debian.  Yes.  A fork.

And, despite the issue of migrating over 40,000 applications, the proposition is still being taken seriously.

From my vantage point, Debian has always been a 'speed bump' on the road to innovation.  Their software management policy is simply unacceptable in today's world where life can change in a New York Minute.

The concern should present to those Debian derivatives, of which there are many, that delays in moving forward on systemd continue to mount.

Canonical Ltd. Mark Shuttleworth has intimated in a question and answer session (video) including Mir, their Wayland alternative, won't happen any sooner 2016.  I predict that there will be further delay as other unforeseen Debian issues present during their migration to systemd support.

Developers of Debian derivatives and application software ought to be giving serious consideration to the overall 'health status' of their beloved operating system.  They have their work cut out for themselves.  Not only must their Distro middle-ware be modified, but also the applications that run on it.  That is a 'double-whammy' and I'd suspect that when the going gets tough, you'll hear more kvetching and see Developers who can't knuckle-under hitting the exit doors seeking to retire their Derivative or joining up in the RPM camp.  I hope that the latter will be their preference.

Looking at the above chart from Wikipedia showing those major Distros that have adopted systemd, both Debian and Ubuntu stand out and, as a result, all their derivatives will fall into the same status until Debian can reach a stable systemd plateau.  It is interesting to note Gentoo and Slackware have indicated no plan to change over to systemd.

Are these indications that Debian is in the midst of her final initial death throws?

If developers align to advocating for a Fork, then the demise of Debian may well soon follow as a wholesale 'plate tectonic shift' occurs.

As for Me, I am wagering Debian's days are numbered.  What say you?

-- Dietrich

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Fedora 21 Workstation Prerelease. Pure Awesomeness. Zero Exploitation.

Fedora 21 Workstation Prerelease - Pure Awesomeness.  Zero Exploitation.

What do I mean by Zero Exploitation?

Why pay for recycled software bits when you can get it for free, every version release?  That's Zero Exploitation.  Fedora continually refines its software technology as part of Red Hat's R&D process and becomes part of Red Hat Enterprise Linux when mature.

Unlike Gnu Public Licensed Linux free Open Source Fedora, Microsoft charges a license fee for every software release, both on their Windows operating system and software applications.  The end-user, you, gets a bill for the same software bits they paid for on their first purchase, only with a new skin on top.  Looks different on the outside.  Mostly recycled bits on the inside.  That's exploitation, plain and simple.

So, step off of the Microsoft Licensing treadmill and put an end to the exploitation today.

Enjoy pure awesomeness and complete security of Fedora 21 starting here.

-- Dietrich

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