Debian Marks Another Milestone!
Last weekend, the Debian project reached the impressive age of 33. Once upon a time, the Linux kernel was merely an infant when Ian Murdock presented this new distribution. Sadly, Murdock passed away in 2015, but his legacy remains vigorous and lively as a Geordie night out. We had a delightful conversation about Debian’s journey when it turned 30, and it continues to flourish. While Slackware may be older, it hasn’t seen much activity recently. Our friend Richard Speed gave Slackware 15.0 a try in 2022. In comparison, Debian launched version 12 last June and 13 the year prior. The first Debian version we discussed was 2.1 in 1999. How time flies, right?
Haiku OS Keeps Moving Forward
Meanwhile, Haiku OS is still steadily progressing after 25 years. The Desktop on Fire blog had a good discussion about it. Initiated after Palm acquired Be in 2001, the Haiku project commenced with a simple email titled “OK, let’s start”. Some may argue they’ve been slow with no 1.0 release yet, but hey, even Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? This isn’t merely another Linux distribution. It’s a unique creation, developed from the ground up using C++, not C. The software has evolved, and the latest updates hint at an upcoming version. “Waddlesplash” teased a beta 6 release in August. A PowerPC port has been simmering for years, and ActionRetro showcased an AI-assisted build on YouTube! There’s even a small Arm64 port from May. Hats off to them, forging ahead!
Haiku’s Companions and Additions
In the Haiku community, there are several projects worth exploring. The Cosmoe toolkit, a BeOS derivative, is still thriving, functioning on Linux, Windows, and macOS. Then there’s VitruvianOS (or V for short), which integrates the Haiku display server onto a Linux kernel. It doesn’t partner with BlueEyedOS or Cosmoe, but it’s making progress. V has released multiple updates since its launch, now on version 0.6.0. It starts with a Be-inspired boot screen, providing language options and installation selections. It’s got promise, like a little engine that could! With excellent hardware support and no fuss over X11 or Wayland conflicts, it’s sticking to BeOS’s charm from 1995.
Conclusion: Gadgets, Geordies, and Great Fun!
So there you have it, folks. Our cherished Debian continues to thrive after 33 years, and Haiku’s looking pretty good for 25. These projects may not be your standard night out in Newcastle, but they’ve got the resilience of a Geordie on a stag do. Keep an eye on gadgetlad.co.uk for more straightforward tech discussions!
