by George Whittaker Introduction In the world of modern CPUs, speculative execution, where a processor guesses ahead on branches and executes instructions before the actual code path is confirmed, has long been recognized as a performance booster. However, it has also given rise to a class of vulnerabilities collectively known as “Spectre” attacks, where microarchitectural side states (such as the branch target buffer, caches, or predictor state) are mis-exploited to leak sensitive data. Now, a new attack variant, dubbed VMScape, exposes a previously under-appreciated weakness: the isolation between a guest virtual machine and its host (or hypervisor) in the branch predictor domain. In simpler terms: a malicious VM can influence the CPU’s branch predictor in such a way that when control returns to the host, secrets in the host or hypervisor can be exposed. This has major implications for cloud security, virtualization environments, and kernel/hypervisor protections. In this article we’
by George Whittaker Introduction Modern computing systems rely heavily on operating-system schedulers to allocate CPU time fairly and efficiently. Yet many of these schedulers operate blindly with respect to the meaning of workloads: they cannot distinguish, for example, whether a task is latency-sensitive or batch-oriented. This mismatch, between application semantics and scheduler heuristics, is often referred to as the semantic gap. A recent research framework called SchedCP aims to close that gap. By using autonomous LLM‐based agents, the system analyzes workload characteristics, selects or synthesizes custom scheduling policies, and safely deploys them into the kernel, without human intervention. This represents a meaningful step toward self-optimizing, application-aware kernels. In this article we will explore what SchedCP is, how it works under the hood, the evidence of its effectiveness, real-world implications, and what caveats remain. Why the Problem Matters At the heart of t
by George Whittaker Introduction After years of debate and development, bcachefs—a modern copy-on-write filesystem once merged into the Linux kernel—is being removed from mainline. As of kernel 6.17, the in-kernel implementation has been excised, and future use is expected via an out-of-tree DKMS module. This marks a turning point for the bcachefs project, raising questions about its stability, adoption, and relationship with the kernel development community. In this article, we’ll explore the background of bcachefs, the sequence of events leading to its removal, the technical and community dynamics involved, and implications for users, distributions, and the filesystem’s future. What Is Bcachefs? Before diving into the removal, let’s recap what bcachefs is and why it attracted attention. Origin & goals: Developed by Kent Overstreet, bcachefs emerged from ideas in the earlier bcache project (a block-device caching layer). It aimed to build a full-featured, general-purpose filesystem co
The energy at COSCUP x RubyConf Taiwan 2025 was electric: an open source convergence that felt both expansive and intimate. Held in the heart of Taipei, this year’s joint conference drew thousands of developers, educators, and community builders from across ... Read more The post COSCUP x RubyConf Taiwan 2025: Reunions & Partnerships appeared first on Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
by George Whittaker Introduction The Linux Mint team has officially unveiled Linux Mint 22.2, codenamed “Zara”, on September 4, 2025. As a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, Zara will receive updates through 2029, promising users stability, incremental improvements, and a comfortable desktop experience. This version is not about flashy overhauls; rather, it’s about refinement — applying polish to existing features, smoothing rough edges, weaving in new conveniences (like fingerprint login), and improving compatibility with modern hardware. Below, we’ll delve into what’s new in Zara, what users should know before upgrading, and how it continues Mint’s philosophy of combining usability, reliability, and elegance. What’s New in Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” Here’s a breakdown of key changes, refinements, and enhancements in Zara. Base, Support & Kernel Stack Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble) base: Zara continues to use Ubuntu 24.04 as its upstream base, ensuring broad package compatibility and long-term securi
I’m Denis Rodrigues. I live in Brazil with my wife Priscila and our son Rafael. Today, I work as a Staff Plus Engineer at Banco Itaú, the largest bank in Latin America. My work involves complex systems, emerging technologies, and ... Read more The post Denis’ Open Source Path: From Dead-End Jobs to Staff Plus Engineer appeared first on Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
In our previous backup article (link goes here), we explored the powerful open-source solution Restic Backup, highlighting its simplicity, reliability, and flexibility for securing your data. While that article focused on the tool itself, this follow-up dives into best practices ... Read more The post Morrolinux: Do the backup right with Linux appeared first on Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
Universal coverage and flexibility are important traits for most software, especially free and open source software. Robots make it even harder to achieve these virtues. The variety of sensors, cameras, controllers, and appendages in different robots constantly stretches the capabilities ... Read more The post Open Source Meets the Special Challenges of Robotics appeared first on Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
A coalition of open-source stewards warns that the software industry’s reliance on goodwill to maintain critical infrastructure is unsustainable, despite open source fueling trillions in global economic value. The post Open-Source Model Near Breaking Point Despite Trillions in Value appeared first on LinuxInsider.
As part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, Linux Professional Institute (LPI) launched the “Switch to Linux” campaign to promote open source adoption and assist individuals in their professional development. The campaign offers a 25% discount on the Linux Essentials exam for ... Read more The post Switched to Linux? Thanks for Sharing! appeared first on Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
UA92 is reshaping how apprenticeships connect learners with real industry needs. By combining academic learning with employer-led training, the institution ensures that students build skills aligned with today’s job market. Each program is developed in partnership with industry, aiming to ... Read more The post UA92 Apprenticeships: A New Model for Learning and Industry Alignment appeared first on Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
Image mode for Fedora Linux leverages bootable containers. This technology enables OCI containers to serve as a transport and delivery mechanism for operating system content. This article will guide you through how to use that technology to quickly create a Web Server using Caddy Introduction Bootable containers leverage existing OCI container tools (like Podman and […]
Silverblue is an operating system for your desktop built on Fedora Linux. It’s excellent for daily use, development, and container-based workflows. It offers numerous advantages such as being able to roll back in case of any problems. This article provides the steps to rebase to the newly released Fedora Linux 43 Beta, and how to revert if anything unforeseen […]
Hi, I’m Rodiel Lezcano, and if you had told me a few years ago that I’d be diving deep into Linux, studying open-source technologies, and configuring firewalls in my home lab for fun, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I’ve ... Read more The post From Home Lab to Linux Certification: Rodiel’s Journey appeared first on Linux Professional Institute (LPI).
The Linux Foundation has launched its third major agentic AI initiative in three months, designed to secure communication, enhance interoperability, and drive open-source innovation in multi-agent environments. The post The Linux Foundation Expands Agentic AI Push With Third Major Project appeared first on LinuxInsider.
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