What’s Inside:
The 5% Milestone: We analyze the data behind the massive surge in Linux desktop adoption and why gaming is the secret weapon.
The UpTech Project: Máirín Duffy introduces us to a student-led initiative bridging the digital divide with Linux.
2026 Predictions: From RISC-V taking over wearables to the COSMIC desktop challenging the status quo, we look at where the "Time Machine" is headed.
And so much more!
00:00:00 Intro: Linux Time Machine to 2026
00:01:50 Extended Intro: Meet Captain Ryan, Jill & Mo
00:02:20 Show Schedule Update: New Flight Plan
00:02:59 Community Feedback: The Great Cranberry Sauce Debate
00:12:40 AI and Energy: Hungry Models, Huge Power Bills
00:15:51 Empowering Youth Through Linux & Tech
00:29:11 2025 Highlights: Linux Market Share Levels Up
00:33:18 Outtake: Technical Turbulence in the Time Machine
00:34:16 Shifting to Linux & AI: Hype, Hope, and Worry
00:40:38 Steam Machines Dream: PC Gaming’s Second Chance
00:43:38 SteamOS on ARM: Deck Power Everywhere
00:45:34 Wayland Takes the Bridge: Desktop Evolution
00:49:07 Red Hat Lightspeed: AI Co‑Pilot for Sysadmins
00:56:58 Destination Linux Grew: 2025 Community Wins
00:58:32 Linux 2026: Bold Predictions & Future Trends
01:03:00 Cosmic Becomes the Top DE?
01:06:41 Windows’ AI Future: Copilot All the Things
01:09:13 Linux Desktop Market Share: Past 5%, Aiming Higher
01:09:38 Subscription Backlash: Users Hit Unsubscribe
01:11:27 Return to Physical Ownership: Discs, Devices & Freedom
01:15:28 Old Is Better: Vintage Gear vs Disposable Tech
01:21:09 AI’s Role in Linux Development: Help or Hassle?
01:24:57 A Bold Prediction: Jill’s 2026 Mohawk
01:26:19 Future Show Tease: More Linux, Less Bloat
01:26:44 Thanks Mo: Red Hat Wisdom in the Time Machine
01:27:07 Outro: See You in 2026
This week on Destination Linux, we are joined by a special guest host: Craig Rowland, the CEO of Sandfly Security! We’re diving deep into the reality of modern security—specifically when third-party code knocks over your castle. From malicious VSCode extensions to the "React2Shell" vulnerability, we discuss why "Open Source" doesn't automatically mean "Safe" and how to protect your supply chain.
Then, is it possible to have the macOS experience without the Apple ecosystem? Ryan explores ravynOS, a daring new project with "macOS vibes and a BSD soul." It’s attempting to bring the Aqua interface—and eventually Mac app compatibility—to the open-source world.
Plus, Jill brings us massive news from Canonical and AMI. You might soon be installing Ubuntu directly from your motherboard's BIOS without ever needing a USB drive. We break down how this partnership changes the game for hardware.
Finally, we read an incredible listener story.
Show Notes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:39 Extended Intro: Open Source or Bust
00:03:08 Community Feedback: A Pentester’s Origin Story
00:10:03 Guest Host: Sandfly Security & Agentless Protection
00:15:53 Security Deep Dive: Supply Chain Attacks, Malicious VSCode Extensions & React2Shell
00:44:31 ravynOS: The Open Source Mac Killer?
00:56:05 News: Canonical + AMI: Installing Ubuntu from the BIOS
01:08:07 Outro
01:09:33 Post-Show Shenanigans
Support the Show:
Sponsored by Sandfly Security: destinationlinux.net/sandfly - Get 50% off the Home Edition with code DESTINATION50
Special Guest: Craig Rowland.
The Ultimate Geek Gift Guide for 2025 is here! Don't buy that RAM yet—we explain the massive AI-driven price spikes. Also, testing the powerful VDO Ninja for streaming and our reaction to Linus Tech Tips' latest Linux takes.
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:54 Community Feedback
00:07:34 Testing Out VDO Ninja: Open Source or Bust
00:09:15 Sandfly Security
00:11:37 AI Sends RAM Prices to the Stratosphere
00:19:46 DasGeek’s 2025 Ultimate Geek Gift Guide
00:33:21 Linus Tech Tips vs Linux: Reaction from the Highlands
01:01:50 Outro
01:03:20 Post-Show Shenanigans
Hosted by:
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Matt from Linux Out Loud guest hosts with Jill and Ryan to dive into major internet events and Linux news! We tackle Ryan's "disappointing" take according to a listerner on EU censorship and free speech, discuss the massive Cloudflare outage that took half the internet down, debate if antivirus is necessary on Linux, and look at ProtonDB and the Steam Survey to see if Linux gaming has already won. Plus, we highlight Rclone as the Software Pick.
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:54 Community Feedback: “Disappointed in Ryan” (EU Censorship & Free Speech)
00:31:10 Sandfly Security – Agentless Defense for Linux
00:33:48 Cloudflare Falls Over: When Half the Internet Trips
00:34:38 Game Preservation: Keeping Delisted Classics Alive
00:47:03 Kaspersky on Linux: Do We Even Need Antivirus?
00:54:28 ProtonDB & Steam Survey: Has Linux Gaming Already Won?
01:04:15 Software Pick: Rclone – RSync for All Your Clouds
01:06:29 Outro
Hosted by:
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Special Guest = Matt (Linux Out Loud)
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Hosted by:
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
And Special Guest = Sherard Griffin
https://www.redhat.com/en/authors/sherard-griffin
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:59 Community Feedback
00:13:02 Sandfly Security Segment
00:15:53 Main Topic: Linux, AI, and the End of Distro Wars?
00:47:32 Ryan’s Essential Linux Apps: Must Installs on Every Setup
01:02:59 OMG! A new Steam Machine
01:15:55 Outro
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Hosted by:
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro
00:01:44 Community Feedback: New Linux User and Maya Issues
00:12:50 Ryan's New PC Build Update
00:16:18 SPECIAL Sponsor Ad w/ Q&A On Sandfly Security
00:22:50 Does TOR really keep you anonymous?
00:52:13 Nvidia & Crowdstrike Partner on open-source security ecosystem
01:08:30 Linux Kernel Flaw Under Active Exploit
01:19:40 Outro
Special Guest: Craig Rowland CEO of Sandfly
Special Guest: Craig Rowland.
video: https://youtu.be/v5hrjVzsj20
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:48 Community Feedback
00:07:45 Sponsor: Sandfly Security
00:11:25 Tech Troubles: RAM, Network, & Arch Linux
00:19:42 New PC Build & Hardware Upgrades
00:26:00 Ubuntu Launches Canonical Academy
00:36:20 System76 COSMIC Desktop, COSMIC Sync & Final
00:51:23 Gaming: Darkenstein 3D & Wolfenstein Memories
01:05:10 Software Pick: Reins Chat for Ollama
01:10:29 Support the Show
01:12:33 Outro
video: https://youtu.be/kLb0SYw3KJI
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:05 Community Feedback: BlackBerry and Alternate OS
00:10:14 Microsoft Surface Duo 2
00:17:17 Sponsor: Sandfly Security
00:19:46 AWS Outage Details and Impact
00:36:00 Zorin OS 18 Highlights
00:45:33 Europe Digital Sovereignty
00:56:19 Application Review: MangoJuice
01:04:28 Support the Show
01:05:44 Outro
01:06:12 Post Show
video: https://youtu.be/Vq1lqxvmaWQ
This episode dives into a wild mix of major Linux and tech news — from Microsoft teasing a mysterious “big” Windows announcement (and our sarcastic predictions about it), to Ubuntu’s brand-new Questing Quokka release, to a refreshed Raspberry Pi OS that modernizes its entire desktop experience. We also unpack the heated community debate around Fedora’s new AI policy and what it means for open-source projects going forward.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:56 Community Feedback
00:07:17 Help for Michael & TuxDigital Gratitude
00:09:33 Sandfly Security
00:12:12 Guess What Microsoft is Doing
00:20:58 Canonical releases Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka
00:34:08 Raspberry Pi Trixie
00:44:23 Fedora’s AI Policy - A Project Divided
01:04:25 Software Spotlight: Lenspect
01:09:56 Support the Show
01:11:40 Outro
01:13:17 Post Show
Special Guest: Wendy Hill.
video: https://youtu.be/GWF9d5CDF9g
Sponsored by Sandfly Security: the revolutionary agentless platform designed for Linux. Visit https://destinationlinux.net/sandfly to experience security that's not just effective but gives you peace of mind. No agents. No downtime. Just cutting-edge protection.
In this episode of Destination Linux, the team dives into global privacy laws and how the UK’s proposed child protection and filtering systems could reshape the internet as we know it. Ryan breaks down Google’s latest developer decree that threatens the very existence of F-Droid and other open-source Android app stores, while Jill takes us on a nostalgic journey through her boxed Linux collection—from Red Hat 5 to Corel Linux and Mandrake 7.0. Nate wraps things up with a look at Samsung’s bizarre decision to push advertisements on $1,800 smart refrigerators. Privacy, history, and a little bit of corporate absurdity all collide in this week’s show.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:58 Update on Michael & The Two-Week Hiatus
00:05:12 Community Feedback: UK Privacy Laws & Router Control
00:23:09 Sponsor: Sandfly Security
00:25:30 Is Google Killing F-Droid? Android's Open Source Dilemma
00:43:18 Jill’s Treasure Hunt: Unboxing Classic Linux Distros
00:45:50 Red Hat 5.0 Hurricane: The Shift from UNIX to FOSS
00:53:29 Corel Linux OS: Industry Graphics and the Wine Breakthrough
01:07:29 Linux Mandrake 7.0: The Distro That Detected Your Sound Card
01:15:06 Treasure Hunt Wrap Up
01:15:35 Samsung's Ad-Riddled ,800 Refrigerator
01:40:44 Over Time
01:41:44 Support the Show
01:43:35 Outro
01:44:36 Post Show
Special Guests: Nathan Wolf and Wendy Hill.
video: https://youtu.be/EJZkJi8qF-M
In this episode of Destination Linux, we chat with Máirín Duffy from Red Hat about the essential role of user experience design in open source. She shares her journey into Linux, driven by early encounters with technology, and discusses her contributions to projects like Inkscape. We explore the integration of AI in enhancing user experience while maintaining user control, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in technology. Máirín also talks about her vision for encouraging participation in open source.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:59 Community Feedback
00:07:50 Sandfly Security
00:10:32 Máirín Duffy on Open Source, UX, and the Future of AI
00:12:03 The Origin Story: Linux, First Distro, and the Spark of UX
00:20:42 From Functional to Delightful: A UX Journey
00:39:58 Open Source Creative Tools
00:48:04 A Look at Máirín's Portfolio
00:52:12 A Look at an Evolving Landscape
01:07:27 A Legacy in Open Source and Beyond
01:10:02 Lightning Round
01:16:33 Support the Show
01:19:07 Outro
video: https://youtu.be/O0OFC34OxNE
On this episode of Destination Linux, we dive into the latest happenings in the Linux and open-source world, from Vivaldi challenging the AI wave to updates on the COSMIC desktop. We also share community feedback, explore alternatives to mainstream search engines, and revisit our own experiences with an open-source communication tool we wish was viable but sadly just isn't there yet. All of this and more on this episode of Destination Linux.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:31 Community Feedback
00:10:35 Sandfly Security, agentless Linux security
00:13:29 Vivaldi Takes A Stand on AI
00:38:18 System76’s COSMIC Desktop Update
00:51:02 Element (Matrix) vs Discord
01:08:11 Mojeek Search Engine
01:12:35 Support the Show
01:15:09 Post Show
video: https://youtu.be/TtyYWQczQMw
In this episode of Destination Linux, we explore everything from nostalgic tech making a comeback to cutting-edge security threats. Join us as we dive into the revival of the Pebble smartwatch, Google’s latest Pixel devices and policies, Linux turning 34 with a surprising floppy disk update, and a deep dive into North Korean rootkit tactics with Sandfly Security’s Craig Rowland. Plus, we’ve got community feedback, a handy software pick, and plenty of laughs along the way.
Sponsored by Sandfly Security: the revolutionary agentless platform designed for Linux. Visit https://destinationlinux.net/sandfly to experience security that's not just effective but gives you peace of mind. No agents. No downtime. Just cutting-edge protection.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:14 Community Feedback: AI, Overtraining & Hallucinations
00:08:15 Swiss Army Knife Energy
00:13:14 Security Scoop with Sandfly Security
00:34:40 Pebble Watch Returns: Open-Source Revival
00:40:25 Pixel Watch 4: AI Perks, Polished?
00:47:31 Pixel 10 & Fold: Hardware Hype, Privacy Gripes
01:00:11 Linux Turns 34
01:03:56 Jill's First Distro: Slackware on 24 Floppies
01:05:56 Ryan's First Distro
01:08:52 Michael's First Distro
01:12:53 Floppy Disk Driver: Surprise Patch Update
01:15:37 Google AI: Helpful or Snoopy?
01:25:32 Software Pick: Wordbook
01:27:47 Support the Show
01:30:04 Outro
video: https://youtu.be/PdyDXEbu56k
This week on Destination Linux, we’re putting software to the test with a brand-new community tool at IsItReallyFOSS.com, a site that helps you find out if projects claiming to be open source live up to it. Then Jill takes us through the latest release of Fastfetch 2.49, the modern Neofetch alternative that’s quickly becoming the go-to tool for showing off your Linux system specs. Plus we look into a troubling story about a free VPN Chrome extension that secretly spied on users while posing as a trusted privacy tool. All of this and more on this episode of Destination Linux.
Sponsored by Sandfly Security: the revolutionary agentless platform designed for Linux. Visit https://destinationlinux.net/sandfly to experience security that's not just effective but gives you peace of mind. No agents. No downtime. Just cutting-edge protection.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00 Intro
01:54 Community Feedback
06:36 Sandfly Security
09:37 Let's Play A Game : Is It Really FOSS?
24:45 Fastfetch 2.49: Neofetch Successor
29:33 FreeVPN: Chrome Extension Caught Spying
41:37 Cute Quokka, Mid Wallpaper
47:03 Burp Suite: Intercept, Modify, Repeat
49:53 Support the Show
57:41 Outro
58:15 Post Show
video: https://youtu.be/iGK5c99EnuY
This week on Destination Linux, we dive into big updates across the Linux world — from Google pushing Android toward a desktop-class OS, to Ubuntu’s latest point release packed with new hardware support, and the arrival of Debian 13 with thousands of improvements. Plus, we have software spotlight to help you kick some bad habits. All of this and more on this episode of Destination Linux.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00 Intro
02:58 Community Feedback
03:24 Listener Vincent: The Almighty Ryan
07:53 Listener John: Kove Interview & Jill’s VAX Collection
12:35 Sandfly Security
14:46 Destination Android?
27:55 Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS
34:37 Debian 13
41:23 Is Michael a REAL Fanboy?
43:16 Software Pick: Table Habit
50:37 Support the Show
53:37 Outro
54:23 Post Show
video: https://youtu.be/gt_KZ9iN3ik
This week on Destination Linux, we’re diving into the UK’s controversial Online Safety Act and what it means for privacy and encryption, checking out the new high-refresh, open-source Modos e-ink monitor, exploring Newelle — an AI assistant built for the GNOME desktop, and highlighting Gapless, the lightweight music player perfect for huge collections. Plus, we help a listener navigate the challenge of running DaVinci Resolve on Linux.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:11 Community Feedback
00:03:46 Davinci Resolve on Linux
00:13:25 Sandfly Security, agentless Linux security [ad]
00:16:14 The internet is done for... at least lawmakers are trying to end it
00:33:04 High Refresh E-ink is here, and it is open source!
00:42:27 Newelle, an AI Assistant for GNOME
00:55:18 Software Spotlight: Gapless
01:01:14 Support the show & Outro
video: https://youtu.be/viTzTFszR_Q
In this episode of Destination Linux, we interview the founder of Kove, Dr. John Overton, about the journey from co-inventing distributed hash tables that powered the early cloud to his latest breakthrough Kove:SDM, a Software Defined Memory system that literally lets servers "download more RAM". Overton dives into the open source ethos that shaped his career. If you’re passionate about Linux, composable infrastructure, or tech that bends the laws of physics, this conversation is a must watch.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:21 Why we turned a 3-minute booth chat into a full interview
00:02:40 John Overton of Kove
00:03:48 Early career & inventing distributed hash tables
00:16:10 Foundational tech that made today's cloud possible
00:24:56 Sandfly Security, agentless Linux security [ad]
00:26:48 John's take on AI
00:39:52 The birth of Kove SDM – why it started
01:03:16 Making "download more RAM" real – memory-pool magic
01:17:40 Kove SDM vs. Compute Express Link (CXL)
01:24:54 What are there new challenges in computing you’re excited to tackle?
01:35:39 Lightning round – guilty pleasures, movies & more
01:40:03 Outro
video: https://youtu.be/abgTchtrH0k
On this episode of Destination Linux, we are joined by security expert Craig Rowland returns for the “Sandfly Security Scoop,” explaining how the stealthy BPFdoor back‑door evades firewalls and sharing tips for DEF CON and Black Hat attendees. We also unpack listener feedback about phone‑addiction myths and mindful smartphone use. Then we discuss Moonshot’s open‑source Kimi AI model that tackles two‑million‑character prompts and beats proprietary LLM benchmarks, sparking a wider chat about open AI guardrails and Linux’s role under the hood. Later, there's some bittersweet news that Intel is discontinuing its performance‑tuned Clear Linux distro, prompting nostalgia and debate over rolling vs. hybrid releases. Our tip of the week highlights a crowd‑sourced Linux guide that demystifies getting started with Ubuntu especially for network engineers.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:18 Community Feedback
00:10:20 Sandfly Security Scoop
00:23:15 Defcon VS Blackhat
00:29:31 OpenSource AI Kimi
00:47:38 Clear Linux OS & Intel's future
01:03:49 Community Tip and Trick
01:09:13 Support the Show
01:12:43 Outro
01:13:07 Post Show
video: https://youtu.be/AQcthnOPHlA
In this episode of Destination Linux, we interview Sherard Griffin, the Head of Engineering for OpenShift AI at Red Hat. Sherard joins us to reveal how his team is scaling machine-learning across hybrid clouds and containers. He breaks down the Open Data Hub reference architecture and shows how it and other Open Source platforms democratize access to powerful AI tooling. Griffin also explains why transparent model lineage and cost efficient runtimes are non-negotiable for trustworthy enterprise AI deployments, and he shares candid insights on using open infrastructure at scale to unlock the next wave of generative AI innovation.
Sponsored by Sandfly Security: the revolutionary agentless platform designed for Linux. Visit https://destinationlinux.net/sandfly to experience security that's not just effective but gives you peace of mind. No agents. No downtime. Just cutting-edge protection.
Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store
Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net
Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com
Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:29 Sherard Griffin: OpenShift AI Meets Destination Linux
00:03:00 What Sparked the Tech Passion?
00:10:25 How Open Source Proved Its Power to Sherard
00:17:03 Red Hat Had Data to Crunch—and Sherard Was In
00:19:51 From Skepticism to Scale: Championing Kubernetes
00:26:47 Sandfly Security, agentless Linux security [ad]
00:28:52 AI for Everyone: Red Hat’s Plan to Keep It Open
00:34:38 Is AI Replacing Us?
00:36:34 Beyond the Hype: Making AI Work Where It Matters
00:47:06 Inside the Big Projects Sherard’s Leading Today
00:53:47 Why Linux Is Built for the Future of AI
00:59:44 Landing a Job in Open Source: Sherard’s Advice
01:04:40 Guiding the Next Generation into Software Careers
01:10:18 Lightning Round
01:12:50 Final Thoughts and a Big Thank You to Sherard
01:14:10 Support the Show
01:16:15 Outro