Issue669


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Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 669 for the week of January 31 - February 6, 2021.

In this Issue

  • Ubuntu Core 20 secures Linux for IoT
  • Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS released
  • Ubuntu Stats
  • Hot in Support
  • LoCo Events

  • Call for testing: Yaru GTK4 theme
  • Private home directories for Ubuntu 21.04
  • Getting started with Flutter on Ubuntu
  • Linux sudo exploit gives root access
  • In the Blogosphere
  • Other Articles of Interest
  • Featured Audio and Video
  • Meeting Reports
  • Upcoming Meetings and Events
  • Updates and Security for 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, and 20.10
  • And much more!

General Community News

Ubuntu Core 20 secures Linux for IoT

We are told of the release of Ubuntu Core 20, a minimal containerized version of Ubuntu 20.04 LTS for IoT devices and embedded systems. We are told why we'd want to use it, including a number of organizations who are using it. If we'd like to know more, a link is provided for a webinar which will be on 24 February 2021.

https://ubuntu.com//blog/ubuntu-core-20-secures-linux-for-iot

Widely covered, the following is a collection of articles selected by our editors:

Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS released

Łukasz 'sil2100' Zemczak, on behalf of the Ubuntu Release Team, announces the release of Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS for all supported platforms. Covered is hardware enablement stacks, the GA kernel, and system updates. Support links are provided.

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2021-February/000264.html

Interested in the flavors? Release announcements as follows:

In the media:

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open: 136101 (+165)
  • Critical: 343 (+1)
  • Unconfirmed: 67628 (+80)

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Translations

  • Ukrainian: 87.91% (39067/1216)
  • German: 86.29% (44303/21)
  • French: 81.35% (60290/6444)
  • Spanish: 80.86% (61869/3684)
  • Swedish: 75.52% (79138/637)

Hot in Support

Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions

Ask (and answer!) questions at: https://askubuntu.com/

Ubuntu Forums Top 5 Threads

Find more support at: https://ubuntuforums.org/

LoCo Events

The following LoCo team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks:

Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the LoCo Team Portal to browse upcoming events around the world: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/

The Hub

Call for testing: Yaru GTK4 theme

Paul K. tells us the pull request that adds GTK4 support to Yaru has been merged, and some help is needed to test it. With some details (and link) to help test, we're told to report all issues found via Github.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/call-for-testing-yaru-gtk4-theme/20668

See also:

The Planet

Private home directories for Ubuntu 21.04

Alex Murray writes that Ubuntu has evolved from it's early days; being seen mostly in the cloud or on devices today, where "strong security is paramount". We are given a brief summary of unix permissions, and told the reasons for the original decisions on security being formed around family members sharing a computer, which seems "quaint" today. Alex highlights that new installs from Ubuntu 21.04 on, will have private home directories. Telling us of the change, and how it may impact some use-cases, we are provided with a work-around that will resolve issues. We are also given the commands that will change an existing installation to make it equivalent to new installs, as well as how to disable it if we're installing Ubuntu 21.04.

https://ubuntu.com//blog/private-home-directories-for-ubuntu-21-04

Getting started with Flutter on Ubuntu

Daniel Llewellyn starts with a brief discussion about an upcoming new Ubuntu desktop installer, which will use flutter. To help himself learn, Daniel decided to install and sample Flutter on Ubuntu. This article outlins some discovered "gotchas", and a summary of how to get the "fully functional toolchain setup" for yourself, then testing it using a sample Flutter app.

https://diddledan.com/2021/02/getting-started-with-flutter-on-ubuntu/

Linux sudo exploit gives root access

Casey Tonkin reminds us that Qualys researchers have found a buffer overflow vulnerability that allows ordinary users to gain root privileges. The good news is Qualys disclosed the vulnerability responsibly allowing for the patches needed for fix to be created, and distributed before the announcement was made.

https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2021/linux-sudo-exploit-gives-root-access.html

In the Blogosphere

Ubuntu is Working on a Brand New Installer

Joey Sneddon tells us that the Canonical Design & Desktop teams are creating a new installer for Ubuntu desktop. “The tool will use Flutter, leverage Curtin, and take advantage of the effort put into Subiquity". We are reminded of ubiquity's age, and given some reasons why they have chosen not to use an existing installer, quoting Canonical's Martin Wimpress. We should see the new installer for Ubuntu 21.10, but a GitHub link is provided for those wanting to peek.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/02/ubuntu-is-working-on-a-brand-new-installer

Martin Wimpress, Ubuntu Desktop Lead, is Leaving Canonical

Joey Sneddon reports that Martin Wimpress will be leaving Canonical with the tweet that announced it to the world. Reminding us of Martin's work in the open-source world, and more recently in the Ubuntu Desktop Team, we are told Martin continues to lead the Ubuntu-MATE flavour.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/02/martin-wimpress-ubuntu-desktop-lead-leaving-canonical

Meet the Ubuntu 21.04 "Hirsute Hippo" Artwork by Sylvia Ritter

Marius Nestor gives us a peek of the new Hirsute Hippo artwork by Sylvia Ritter, created using open source tools, especially for the upcoming Ubuntu 21.04 release. We are also told the image is available in a format that will suit mobile phones & tablets, and is available now from the provided DeviantArt link. Marius ends by reminding us of some features we'll see in Ubuntu 21.04 when it's released in April 2021.

https://9to5linux.com/meet-the-ubuntu-21-04-hirsute-hippo-artwork-by-sylvia-ritter-made-with-krita

KDE’s Apps Update for February 2021 Introduces Kongress, a New Conference Timetable App

Marius Nestor reports on KDE's updates for February. A new app, Kongress, is introduced as well a list of improvements to various other apps. Noted too is the addition of a new keyboard shortcut and several crash fixes.

https://9to5linux.com/kdes-apps-update-for-february-2021-introduces-kongress-a-new-conference-timetable-app

Ubuntu Security Podcast: Episode 102

"This week we discuss the high profile vulnerability found in libcrypt 1.9.0 recently, plus we look at updates for the Linux kernel, XStream, Django, Apport and more."

https://ubuntusecuritypodcast.org/episode-102/

Ubuntu Portugal Podcast: 128 - A cusquice digital

"Neste episódio temos algumas dicas de software, mas focámos algumas das ameaças à privacidade que enfrentamos no mundo, e alguns recursos com os quais podemos aprender mais sobre alguns tipos de ameaças sistémicas."

https://podcastubuntuportugal.org/e128/

Late Night Linux: Late Night Linux Extra – Episode 14

"Joe is joined by Alan Pope – Developer Advocate at Canonical working on Snapcraft & Ubuntu to talk about Snaps. The PR problem, the non-free element, security, speed issues, and even some positive stuff. Honest."

https://latenightlinux.com/late-night-linux-extra-episode-14/

Meeting Reports

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • Developer Membership Board: Mon, February 8, 3pm – 4pm
  • Desktop Team: Tue, February 9, 2:30pm – 3:30pm
  • Ubuntu Women: Tue, February 9, 6pm – 7pm
  • Technical Board: Tue, February 9, 8pm – 9pm
  • Ubuntu Foundations: Thu, February 11, 4pm – 5pm

Times shown are UTC. For more details and farther dates please visit: https://fridge.ubuntu.com/calendars/

Updates and Security for 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, and 20.10

Security Updates

Ubuntu 16.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2021

Ubuntu 18.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2023

Ubuntu 20.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2025

Ubuntu 20.10 Updates

End of life: July 2021

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Archive

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Further News

As always you can find more Ubuntu news and announcements at:

Conclusion

Thank you for reading the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter.

See you next week!

Credits

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  • Krytarik Raido
  • Bashing-om
  • Chris Guiver
  • Wild Man
  • And many others

Glossary of Terms

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UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue669 (last edited 2021-02-08 22:11:32 by bashing-om)