Rasheed Ahmed @rasheedahmed@librem.one

I haven't ever maintained a blog, but since Linux Journal folded and I no longer work at Purism, I miss having an outlet for longer-form thoughts.

Over the last five years or so, I've observed a Renaissance in innovation on the Linux desktop that hearkens back to the Golden Era of the desktop from the mid-1990s into the aughts.

In this (pretty long, likely controversial) post, I talk through the Golden Era, Dark Ages, Renaissance, and what's next.

#linux

https://kylerank.in/blog/linux-desktop-renaissance.html

My video interview with @techlore is live! 🎉

👉 tech.michaelaltfield.net/2025/12/09/techlore-interview-2025/

Henry asked me about my work with #BusKill, how to mitigate risks of #interdiction attacks and broadband processors on #android, the threats of #AI "identity verification" systems on #privacy, and much more 🔒🍿

#cybersecurity #infosec #security

I swapped the entire school computers to linux mint https://sopuli.xyz/post/26331954

Ever wonder how easy it would be for proprietary software like #WhatsApp to get around the end-to-end encryption? #TeleMessage provides a real world example. This is why there is no replacement for Free Software when it comes to privacy.

https://micahflee.com/despite-misleading-marketing-israeli-company-telemessage-used-by-trump-officials-can-access-plaintext-chat-logs/

#e2ee #FreeSoftware

Here @jorge nails the disconnection between traditional Linux desktop distros aimed toward sysadmin (like me), versus what non-sysadmin actually want.

"Many of the things that user run into is that they are using a Linux distro based on this old model of mangling individual packages. And as users have told us, and as we know, remember, it's not like we are interrupting a hockey stick growth party around here for the Linux desktop. Users do not want this."

https://youtu.be/fWy3NNjTs6I?t=926

#bluefin

I spoke at length to the creator of the Liberty Phone, a US-manufactured smartphone, about the challenges of sourcing US-made components, tariffs, and the lack of product engineering expertise in US. The Chinese version costs $700, the US version costs $2,000.

https://www.404media.co/how-a-2-000-made-in-the-usa-liberty-phone-phone-is-manufactured/

Does anyone have a nice marketing-ish graphic of one Linux app across a desktop, tablet, and phone UI? I feel like I saw someone share a single graphic like that recently but have no idea who.

I’d like to use it in a Flathub blog post. :)

#LinuxMobile #Linux #OpenSource

Why FLOSS matters: Open-source software means transparent code, community-driven security, and freedom from Big Tech control. https://puri.sm/posts/the-case-for-free-libre-and-open-source-software-enhancing-security-and-privacy-in-the-digital-age/ #Purism #Librem5 #PureOS

@delta @strypey @praveen @thunderbird @cketti I agree that should be the default for every email client. Delta shows how "easily" it can be done. Right now encrypted mail is a pain to set up if you don't understand it, which is why so few use it.

This is the stuff! "Open Source did not destroy my creative agency!" 💖#UbuntuSummit

A story of a design agency only using free and open source software, from Ryan George of https://mastodon.art/@freehive

Why isn’t software funded by taxpayers released as Free Software? 🤔💻

We need legislation 📜 requiring publicly financed software to be #FreeSoftware. If it’s public money 💰, it should be public code! 👨‍💻👩‍💻

Code paid by the people should be available to the people! 🙌 #PublicCode

👉 https://publiccode.eu/

🚀✨ Ada & Zangemann: A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream! 🍦🛹

The illustrated story is now an animated movie 🎥
➡️ https://media.fsfe.org/w/j1c6LQVZ8qnCLLwpXMuw3M

#SoftwareFreedom #AdaZangemann