Linux NewsLinuxiac Weekly Wrap-Up: Week 14, 2026 (Mar 24 – Apr 5)
Catch up on the latest Linux news: Netrunner 26, AerynOS, OpenSSH 10.3, Archinstall 4.0, Wine 11.6, Linux hits 5% on Steam, Debian addresses age verification, and more.
Arch Linux Makes nft the Default Backend for iptables
Arch Linux developers have announced that iptables now defaults to the nft backend, replacing the previous iptables-nft package name.
Zorin OS Says No to Mandatory Age Verification in Linux
Zorin OS says it has no plans to introduce mandatory age or ID verification into the Linux distribution.
Ventoy 1.1.11 Improves Windows UEFI Booting
Ventoy 1.1.11 fixes Windows and WinPE UEFI boot display issues, adds KylinSecOS support, and brings several Linux-side improvements.
JetStream 3 Debuts as a Major Browser Benchmark Update
JetStream 3 represents a significant BrowserBench update, supported by Apple, Google, Mozilla, and other browser engine contributors.
Debian Project Leader Addresses New Age Verification Laws
Debian Project Leader Andreas Tille says Debian has made no decision on age verification compliance and is still awaiting legal analysis.
Pangolin 1.17 Tunneled Reverse Proxy Adds Multiple Roles per User
Pangolin 1.17 tunneled reverse proxy adds multi-role RBAC, provisioning keys for sites, connection logs, SIEM log streaming, and more.
Pidgin 3.0 Messaging Client Moves from Experimental Build to Alpha
Pidgin 3.0 has entered the alpha stage with version 2.95, featuring updated account settings and ongoing development of Zulip protocol support.
Wine 11.6 Brings Android Driver Work, Game Mod Fixes
Wine 11.6 brings early Android driver revival work, better game mod support through DLL load order changes, more VBScript fixes, and 28 bug fixes.
Arch-Based Omarchy 3.5 Brings Full Intel Panther Lake Support
Arch-based Omarchy 3.5 adds Intel Panther Lake support with a patched Linux kernel 6.19, Dell XPS 2026 fixes, and new features.
Gentoo GNU/Hurd Port Is Real, Despite the April 1 Joke
Gentoo’s joke about replacing the Linux kernel with Hurd was fake, but the project’s new experimental GNU/Hurd port is real.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Raises Desktop Minimum RAM Requirement
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will increase the minimum RAM requirement for Desktop users from 4 GB to 6 GB.
Arch-Based Artix Linux 2026.04 Released With XLibre as Default X Serve
Arch-based systemd-free Artix Linux 2026.04 is out with XLibre by default and PipeWire replacing PulseAudio in ISOs.
Parrot Linux Takes Stand Against Age Verification
Parrot Linux publishes an official statement against age verification as opposition grows across the Linux and open-source world.
Linux Continues to Make History, Hitting 5% Usage on Steam
Linux continues its rise on Steam, reaching a record 5% share in Valve’s March 2026 Hardware and Software Survey.