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Don @[email protected] · 2026-01-06 · 03:54 UTC
Tinkering with Immutable Linux: How Cosmic Atomic Won Me Over

I have been doing a lot of reading and listening to YouTube videos about immutable distributions and why they might offer the most flexibility for developers and tinkerers like me. I have been experimenting with Fedora Silverblue, NixOS, and traditional distributions like Linux Mint, Ubuntu 24.04, and Fedora 43. I was looking for ways to use ten-year-old Dell All-in-one desktops in the local public library.
After my experimentation, I decided to stick with Cosmic Atomic because I really love the Cosmic desktop. In the past week, I’ve become more familiar with an immutable desktop and how it might fit into my workflow. One of the difficulties I have had is connecting my Brother MFC-L3780 laser printer to this new environment. Traditional Fedora and Linux Mint were easy for me to connect to and use for the occasional printing that I needed. But what about this new environment? I did some reading and research and went to the Brother website, where I downloaded the drivers and other necessary files. Study and reading informed me that I needed to download the driver install tool and the Linux printer driver. These are RPM files. I saved them in my Downloads folder.
The download was:
```
$ linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
```
That file has to be executed to open the file containing the necessary RPM files. I had to change it to an executable file first.
$ chmod +x linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0

Then execute the file:

$ sudo ./linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
The resulting RPM files are:
mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
Each of these is installed with rpm-ostree.
rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
```
$ rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
```
We are now ready to install the printer using CUPS after it was installed:
```
http://localhost:631
```
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC-by-SA 4.0
Getting my Brother MFC‑L3780 printer working was the final test. While it required a bit more manual effort than on traditional distributions, the process was straightforward once I understood how rpm‑ostree fits into the picture. With the correct drivers installed and CUPS configured, everything now works seamlessly. It’s reassuring to know that even in an immutable environment, I can still rely on the tools and hardware I need.
As I continue exploring what Cosmic Atomic can do, I’m feeling more confident that this setup strikes the right balance between stability, experimentation, and day‑to‑day practicality.
#CosmicAtomic #Fedora43 #ImmutableLinux
#cosmicatomic #fedora43 #immutablelinux
Don @[email protected] · 2026-01-06 · 03:54 UTC
Tinkering with Immutable Linux: How Cosmic Atomic Won Me Over

I have been doing a lot of reading and listening to YouTube videos about immutable distributions and why they might offer the most flexibility for developers and tinkerers like me. I have been experimenting with Fedora Silverblue, NixOS, and traditional distributions like Linux Mint, Ubuntu 24.04, and Fedora 43. I was looking for ways to use ten-year-old Dell All-in-one desktops in the local public library.
After my experimentation, I decided to stick with Cosmic Atomic because I really love the Cosmic desktop. In the past week, I’ve become more familiar with an immutable desktop and how it might fit into my workflow. One of the difficulties I have had is connecting my Brother MFC-L3780 laser printer to this new environment. Traditional Fedora and Linux Mint were easy for me to connect to and use for the occasional printing that I needed. But what about this new environment? I did some reading and research and went to the Brother website, where I downloaded the drivers and other necessary files. Study and reading informed me that I needed to download the driver install tool and the Linux printer driver. These are RPM files. I saved them in my Downloads folder.
The download was:
```
$ linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
```
That file has to be executed to open the file containing the necessary RPM files. I had to change it to an executable file first.
$ chmod +x linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0

Then execute the file:

$ sudo ./linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
The resulting RPM files are:
mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
Each of these is installed with rpm-ostree.
rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
```
$ rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
```
We are now ready to install the printer using CUPS after it was installed:
```
http://localhost:631
```
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC-by-SA 4.0
Getting my Brother MFC‑L3780 printer working was the final test. While it required a bit more manual effort than on traditional distributions, the process was straightforward once I understood how rpm‑ostree fits into the picture. With the correct drivers installed and CUPS configured, everything now works seamlessly. It’s reassuring to know that even in an immutable environment, I can still rely on the tools and hardware I need.
As I continue exploring what Cosmic Atomic can do, I’m feeling more confident that this setup strikes the right balance between stability, experimentation, and day‑to‑day practicality.
#CosmicAtomic #Fedora43 #ImmutableLinux
#cosmicatomic #fedora43 #immutablelinux
Don @[email protected] · 2026-01-06 · 03:54 UTC
Tinkering with Immutable Linux: How Cosmic Atomic Won Me Over

I have been doing a lot of reading and listening to YouTube videos about immutable distributions and why they might offer the most flexibility for developers and tinkerers like me. I have been experimenting with Fedora Silverblue, NixOS, and traditional distributions like Linux Mint, Ubuntu 24.04, and Fedora 43. I was looking for ways to use ten-year-old Dell All-in-one desktops in the local public library.
After my experimentation, I decided to stick with Cosmic Atomic because I really love the Cosmic desktop. In the past week, I’ve become more familiar with an immutable desktop and how it might fit into my workflow. One of the difficulties I have had is connecting my Brother MFC-L3780 laser printer to this new environment. Traditional Fedora and Linux Mint were easy for me to connect to and use for the occasional printing that I needed. But what about this new environment? I did some reading and research and went to the Brother website, where I downloaded the drivers and other necessary files. Study and reading informed me that I needed to download the driver install tool and the Linux printer driver. These are RPM files. I saved them in my Downloads folder.
The download was:
```
$ linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
```
That file has to be executed to open the file containing the necessary RPM files. I had to change it to an executable file first.
$ chmod +x linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0

Then execute the file:

$ sudo ./linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
The resulting RPM files are:
mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
Each of these is installed with rpm-ostree.
rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
```
$ rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
```
We are now ready to install the printer using CUPS after it was installed:
```
http://localhost:631
```
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC-by-SA 4.0
Getting my Brother MFC‑L3780 printer working was the final test. While it required a bit more manual effort than on traditional distributions, the process was straightforward once I understood how rpm‑ostree fits into the picture. With the correct drivers installed and CUPS configured, everything now works seamlessly. It’s reassuring to know that even in an immutable environment, I can still rely on the tools and hardware I need.
As I continue exploring what Cosmic Atomic can do, I’m feeling more confident that this setup strikes the right balance between stability, experimentation, and day‑to‑day practicality.
#CosmicAtomic #Fedora43 #ImmutableLinux
#cosmicatomic #fedora43 #immutablelinux
Don @[email protected] · 2026-01-06 · 03:54 UTC
Tinkering with Immutable Linux: How Cosmic Atomic Won Me Over

I have been doing a lot of reading and listening to YouTube videos about immutable distributions and why they might offer the most flexibility for developers and tinkerers like me. I have been experimenting with Fedora Silverblue, NixOS, and traditional distributions like Linux Mint, Ubuntu 24.04, and Fedora 43. I was looking for ways to use ten-year-old Dell All-in-one desktops in the local public library.
After my experimentation, I decided to stick with Cosmic Atomic because I really love the Cosmic desktop. In the past week, I’ve become more familiar with an immutable desktop and how it might fit into my workflow. One of the difficulties I have had is connecting my Brother MFC-L3780 laser printer to this new environment. Traditional Fedora and Linux Mint were easy for me to connect to and use for the occasional printing that I needed. But what about this new environment? I did some reading and research and went to the Brother website, where I downloaded the drivers and other necessary files. Study and reading informed me that I needed to download the driver install tool and the Linux printer driver. These are RPM files. I saved them in my Downloads folder.
The download was:
```
$ linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
```
That file has to be executed to open the file containing the necessary RPM files. I had to change it to an executable file first.
$ chmod +x linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0

Then execute the file:

$ sudo ./linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0
The resulting RPM files are:
mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
Each of these is installed with rpm-ostree.
rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan5-1.3.10-5.x86_64.rpm
rpm-ostree brscan-skey-0.3.2-0.x86_64.rpm
```
$ rpm-ostree mfcl3780cdwpdrv-3.5.1-1.i386.rpm
```
We are now ready to install the printer using CUPS after it was installed:
```
http://localhost:631
```
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC-by-SA 4.0
Getting my Brother MFC‑L3780 printer working was the final test. While it required a bit more manual effort than on traditional distributions, the process was straightforward once I understood how rpm‑ostree fits into the picture. With the correct drivers installed and CUPS configured, everything now works seamlessly. It’s reassuring to know that even in an immutable environment, I can still rely on the tools and hardware I need.
As I continue exploring what Cosmic Atomic can do, I’m feeling more confident that this setup strikes the right balance between stability, experimentation, and day‑to‑day practicality.
#CosmicAtomic #Fedora43 #ImmutableLinux
#immutablelinux #fedora43 #cosmicatomic
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-30 · 18:31 UTC

How Immutable Linux Could Save Libraries Thousands

In our small public library, where I volunteer weekly, we have several ten-year-old all-in-one desktops with i5 CPUs and 8 GB of RAM. They’re currently running Windows 10, and the library needs to upgrade to Windows 11, according to the IT folks at the library system. Those of us who are regular Linux users know that there is almost no such thing as a computer too old for Linux. Why should these libraries be forced to purchase new computers, especially now that memory prices are skyrocketing, when a different operating system could keep the computers secure, extend their lifetime, and save these libraries thousands of dollars?
The search for a solution led me to consider Fedora Silverblue, which is an immutable Linux desktop. I’ve been reading about immutable Linux distributions for a couple of years, but I hadn’t explored them until today. Immutable Linux distributions use a read-only root filesystem. That means it cannot be changed the way a typical Linux filesystem can. This means that every installation is identical to every other installation of the same version.
Immutable systems like Silverblue can be configured for kiosk mode in libraries and other public spaces that allow patrons to use them for internet access and other uses but do not allow those patrons to change the core system in any way.
I downloaded Silverblue and gave it a try. I set it up in VirtualBox, and after it was installed, I started it up. It ran well, and I looked at other Atomic Desktops on the Fedora Project website. Cosmic Atomic caught my eye as I have been running Cosmic from System76 on my laptop for a couple of weeks. I downloaded the ISO, created a bootable USB drive, and installed it on my Dell Latitude 7410.
The laptop has a quad-core Intel Core i7-10610U processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. It’s about four years old. I purchased it recently for projects like testing distributions. I connected the USB drive to the laptop, pressed the power button, then pressed F12 to boot from USB and started the install, which took some time. I was prompted to choose an install location and provide a username and password. Once the installation was complete and the computer restarted, I logged in to Cosmic Atomic for the first time. The initial login looked identical to my experience with Cosmic on Pop!_OS, but then I noticed some changes from my past experiences with traditional Linux distributions. LibreOffice was not installed by default. Firefox was installed by default, so I had access to a browser. I learned from reading that immutable distributions like this one use Flatpak to install other programs, such as the Brave browser, Chrome, LibreOffice, Visual Studio Code, and more.
I opened a terminal to use inxi and discovered that it was not installed by default. I tried using dnf to install inxi, but that doesn’t work on an immutable system. Some research and reading showed me that to install utilities like that, I needed to use a new command to change the immutable system.
$ rpm-ostree install inxi
Follow that command with systemctl restart, and I was in business to look at my system. I can see advantages to immutable systems. There are distinct advantages to immutable systems. They are reliable and easy to maintain. The core system is locked down so it cannot be compromised by malware. Applications are easily installed from the ‘Cosmic Store’ for Cosmic Atomic. Click the application you want to install, and in short order, it is added and ready to use. No need to remember to use
$ sudo dnf install application
Once the application is installed, it appears as it should in your library. The applications seemed to run faster on their Flatpak installs, but that might be an illusion. In any event I am impressed at how easy application installation is and how well the ‘Cosmic Store’ is appointed.
Exploring Fedora Silverblue and Cosmic Atomic reminded me that aging hardware doesn’t have to be a burden—especially for places like public libraries, where every dollar matters. Immutable Linux desktops offer a modern, secure, and low‑maintenance alternative that can extend the life of capable machines while reducing costs and complexity. After installing and testing Cosmic Atomic on a four‑year‑old laptop, it’s clear that these systems deliver a smooth, reliable experience without demanding new hardware or constant tinkering. As libraries face pressure to upgrade to Windows 11, it’s worth asking whether the real solution lies not in replacing computers, but in rethinking the operating systems we rely on. Embracing Linux could empower libraries to stay secure, stay functional, and stay within budget—a win for staff, volunteers, and the communities they serve.
#Cosmic #fedoraSilverblue #immutable

#cosmic #fedorasilverblue #immutable
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-30 · 18:31 UTC

How Immutable Linux Could Save Libraries Thousands

In our small public library, where I volunteer weekly, we have several ten-year-old all-in-one desktops with i5 CPUs and 8 GB of RAM. They’re currently running Windows 10, and the library needs to upgrade to Windows 11, according to the IT folks at the library system. Those of us who are regular Linux users know that there is almost no such thing as a computer too old for Linux. Why should these libraries be forced to purchase new computers, especially now that memory prices are skyrocketing, when a different operating system could keep the computers secure, extend their lifetime, and save these libraries thousands of dollars?
The search for a solution led me to consider Fedora Silverblue, which is an immutable Linux desktop. I’ve been reading about immutable Linux distributions for a couple of years, but I hadn’t explored them until today. Immutable Linux distributions use a read-only root filesystem. That means it cannot be changed the way a typical Linux filesystem can. This means that every installation is identical to every other installation of the same version.
Immutable systems like Silverblue can be configured for kiosk mode in libraries and other public spaces that allow patrons to use them for internet access and other uses but do not allow those patrons to change the core system in any way.
I downloaded Silverblue and gave it a try. I set it up in VirtualBox, and after it was installed, I started it up. It ran well, and I looked at other Atomic Desktops on the Fedora Project website. Cosmic Atomic caught my eye as I have been running Cosmic from System76 on my laptop for a couple of weeks. I downloaded the ISO, created a bootable USB drive, and installed it on my Dell Latitude 7410.
The laptop has a quad-core Intel Core i7-10610U processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. It’s about four years old. I purchased it recently for projects like testing distributions. I connected the USB drive to the laptop, pressed the power button, then pressed F12 to boot from USB and started the install, which took some time. I was prompted to choose an install location and provide a username and password. Once the installation was complete and the computer restarted, I logged in to Cosmic Atomic for the first time. The initial login looked identical to my experience with Cosmic on Pop!_OS, but then I noticed some changes from my past experiences with traditional Linux distributions. LibreOffice was not installed by default. Firefox was installed by default, so I had access to a browser. I learned from reading that immutable distributions like this one use Flatpak to install other programs, such as the Brave browser, Chrome, LibreOffice, Visual Studio Code, and more.
I opened a terminal to use inxi and discovered that it was not installed by default. I tried using dnf to install inxi, but that doesn’t work on an immutable system. Some research and reading showed me that to install utilities like that, I needed to use a new command to change the immutable system.
$ rpm-ostree install inxi
Follow that command with systemctl restart, and I was in business to look at my system. I can see advantages to immutable systems. There are distinct advantages to immutable systems. They are reliable and easy to maintain. The core system is locked down so it cannot be compromised by malware. Applications are easily installed from the ‘Cosmic Store’ for Cosmic Atomic. Click the application you want to install, and in short order, it is added and ready to use. No need to remember to use
$ sudo dnf install application
Once the application is installed, it appears as it should in your library. The applications seemed to run faster on their Flatpak installs, but that might be an illusion. In any event I am impressed at how easy application installation is and how well the ‘Cosmic Store’ is appointed.
Exploring Fedora Silverblue and Cosmic Atomic reminded me that aging hardware doesn’t have to be a burden—especially for places like public libraries, where every dollar matters. Immutable Linux desktops offer a modern, secure, and low‑maintenance alternative that can extend the life of capable machines while reducing costs and complexity. After installing and testing Cosmic Atomic on a four‑year‑old laptop, it’s clear that these systems deliver a smooth, reliable experience without demanding new hardware or constant tinkering. As libraries face pressure to upgrade to Windows 11, it’s worth asking whether the real solution lies not in replacing computers, but in rethinking the operating systems we rely on. Embracing Linux could empower libraries to stay secure, stay functional, and stay within budget—a win for staff, volunteers, and the communities they serve.
#Cosmic #fedoraSilverblue #immutable

#cosmic #fedorasilverblue #immutable
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-30 · 18:31 UTC

How Immutable Linux Could Save Libraries Thousands

In our small public library, where I volunteer weekly, we have several ten-year-old all-in-one desktops with i5 CPUs and 8 GB of RAM. They’re currently running Windows 10, and the library needs to upgrade to Windows 11, according to the IT folks at the library system. Those of us who are regular Linux users know that there is almost no such thing as a computer too old for Linux. Why should these libraries be forced to purchase new computers, especially now that memory prices are skyrocketing, when a different operating system could keep the computers secure, extend their lifetime, and save these libraries thousands of dollars?
The search for a solution led me to consider Fedora Silverblue, which is an immutable Linux desktop. I’ve been reading about immutable Linux distributions for a couple of years, but I hadn’t explored them until today. Immutable Linux distributions use a read-only root filesystem. That means it cannot be changed the way a typical Linux filesystem can. This means that every installation is identical to every other installation of the same version.
Immutable systems like Silverblue can be configured for kiosk mode in libraries and other public spaces that allow patrons to use them for internet access and other uses but do not allow those patrons to change the core system in any way.
I downloaded Silverblue and gave it a try. I set it up in VirtualBox, and after it was installed, I started it up. It ran well, and I looked at other Atomic Desktops on the Fedora Project website. Cosmic Atomic caught my eye as I have been running Cosmic from System76 on my laptop for a couple of weeks. I downloaded the ISO, created a bootable USB drive, and installed it on my Dell Latitude 7410.
The laptop has a quad-core Intel Core i7-10610U processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. It’s about four years old. I purchased it recently for projects like testing distributions. I connected the USB drive to the laptop, pressed the power button, then pressed F12 to boot from USB and started the install, which took some time. I was prompted to choose an install location and provide a username and password. Once the installation was complete and the computer restarted, I logged in to Cosmic Atomic for the first time. The initial login looked identical to my experience with Cosmic on Pop!_OS, but then I noticed some changes from my past experiences with traditional Linux distributions. LibreOffice was not installed by default. Firefox was installed by default, so I had access to a browser. I learned from reading that immutable distributions like this one use Flatpak to install other programs, such as the Brave browser, Chrome, LibreOffice, Visual Studio Code, and more.
I opened a terminal to use inxi and discovered that it was not installed by default. I tried using dnf to install inxi, but that doesn’t work on an immutable system. Some research and reading showed me that to install utilities like that, I needed to use a new command to change the immutable system.
$ rpm-ostree install inxi
Follow that command with systemctl restart, and I was in business to look at my system. I can see advantages to immutable systems. There are distinct advantages to immutable systems. They are reliable and easy to maintain. The core system is locked down so it cannot be compromised by malware. Applications are easily installed from the ‘Cosmic Store’ for Cosmic Atomic. Click the application you want to install, and in short order, it is added and ready to use. No need to remember to use
$ sudo dnf install application
Once the application is installed, it appears as it should in your library. The applications seemed to run faster on their Flatpak installs, but that might be an illusion. In any event I am impressed at how easy application installation is and how well the ‘Cosmic Store’ is appointed.
Exploring Fedora Silverblue and Cosmic Atomic reminded me that aging hardware doesn’t have to be a burden—especially for places like public libraries, where every dollar matters. Immutable Linux desktops offer a modern, secure, and low‑maintenance alternative that can extend the life of capable machines while reducing costs and complexity. After installing and testing Cosmic Atomic on a four‑year‑old laptop, it’s clear that these systems deliver a smooth, reliable experience without demanding new hardware or constant tinkering. As libraries face pressure to upgrade to Windows 11, it’s worth asking whether the real solution lies not in replacing computers, but in rethinking the operating systems we rely on. Embracing Linux could empower libraries to stay secure, stay functional, and stay within budget—a win for staff, volunteers, and the communities they serve.
#Cosmic #fedoraSilverblue #immutable

#cosmic #fedorasilverblue #immutable
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-30 · 18:31 UTC

How Immutable Linux Could Save Libraries Thousands

In our small public library, where I volunteer weekly, we have several ten-year-old all-in-one desktops with i5 CPUs and 8 GB of RAM. They’re currently running Windows 10, and the library needs to upgrade to Windows 11, according to the IT folks at the library system. Those of us who are regular Linux users know that there is almost no such thing as a computer too old for Linux. Why should these libraries be forced to purchase new computers, especially now that memory prices are skyrocketing, when a different operating system could keep the computers secure, extend their lifetime, and save these libraries thousands of dollars?
The search for a solution led me to consider Fedora Silverblue, which is an immutable Linux desktop. I’ve been reading about immutable Linux distributions for a couple of years, but I hadn’t explored them until today. Immutable Linux distributions use a read-only root filesystem. That means it cannot be changed the way a typical Linux filesystem can. This means that every installation is identical to every other installation of the same version.
Immutable systems like Silverblue can be configured for kiosk mode in libraries and other public spaces that allow patrons to use them for internet access and other uses but do not allow those patrons to change the core system in any way.
I downloaded Silverblue and gave it a try. I set it up in VirtualBox, and after it was installed, I started it up. It ran well, and I looked at other Atomic Desktops on the Fedora Project website. Cosmic Atomic caught my eye as I have been running Cosmic from System76 on my laptop for a couple of weeks. I downloaded the ISO, created a bootable USB drive, and installed it on my Dell Latitude 7410.
The laptop has a quad-core Intel Core i7-10610U processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. It’s about four years old. I purchased it recently for projects like testing distributions. I connected the USB drive to the laptop, pressed the power button, then pressed F12 to boot from USB and started the install, which took some time. I was prompted to choose an install location and provide a username and password. Once the installation was complete and the computer restarted, I logged in to Cosmic Atomic for the first time. The initial login looked identical to my experience with Cosmic on Pop!_OS, but then I noticed some changes from my past experiences with traditional Linux distributions. LibreOffice was not installed by default. Firefox was installed by default, so I had access to a browser. I learned from reading that immutable distributions like this one use Flatpak to install other programs, such as the Brave browser, Chrome, LibreOffice, Visual Studio Code, and more.
I opened a terminal to use inxi and discovered that it was not installed by default. I tried using dnf to install inxi, but that doesn’t work on an immutable system. Some research and reading showed me that to install utilities like that, I needed to use a new command to change the immutable system.
$ rpm-ostree install inxi
Follow that command with systemctl restart, and I was in business to look at my system. I can see advantages to immutable systems. There are distinct advantages to immutable systems. They are reliable and easy to maintain. The core system is locked down so it cannot be compromised by malware. Applications are easily installed from the ‘Cosmic Store’ for Cosmic Atomic. Click the application you want to install, and in short order, it is added and ready to use. No need to remember to use
$ sudo dnf install application
Once the application is installed, it appears as it should in your library. The applications seemed to run faster on their Flatpak installs, but that might be an illusion. In any event I am impressed at how easy application installation is and how well the ‘Cosmic Store’ is appointed.
Exploring Fedora Silverblue and Cosmic Atomic reminded me that aging hardware doesn’t have to be a burden—especially for places like public libraries, where every dollar matters. Immutable Linux desktops offer a modern, secure, and low‑maintenance alternative that can extend the life of capable machines while reducing costs and complexity. After installing and testing Cosmic Atomic on a four‑year‑old laptop, it’s clear that these systems deliver a smooth, reliable experience without demanding new hardware or constant tinkering. As libraries face pressure to upgrade to Windows 11, it’s worth asking whether the real solution lies not in replacing computers, but in rethinking the operating systems we rely on. Embracing Linux could empower libraries to stay secure, stay functional, and stay within budget—a win for staff, volunteers, and the communities they serve.
#Cosmic #fedoraSilverblue #immutable

#immutable #fedorasilverblue #cosmic
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-27 · 04:56 UTC

Teilhard de Chardin’s Vision Meets Quantum Science

What if the universe isn’t just expanding — what if it’s remembering, connecting, and waking up?
That was the bold conviction of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Jesuit priest and paleontologist who saw evolution not as a blind shuffle of matter, but as a spiraling ascent toward deeper consciousness and greater unity. Long before the language of quantum physics existed, Teilhard described a cosmos built not from isolated pieces, but from relationship, complexity, and interior depth — all converging toward what he called the Omega Point: the ultimate center of Divine unification.
Decades later, quantum theory revealed something strangely aligned with his vision. At the smallest scales:
Reality is probabilistic, not clockwork Particles exist in fields of possibility Systems become linked through entanglement And most fascinating of all — the universe doesn’t erase information
Physics doesn’t say consciousness survives death. It doesn’t calculate souls. It doesn’t predict personal immortality.
But it does describe a universe that is:
Non-deterministic — creativity is baked into its foundations Deeply relational — connection isn’t emergent, it’s fundamental Non-erasing — the cosmos evolves without deleting its past
That last point matters more than most people realize. If information isn’t destroyed, the universe doesn’t move forward by subtraction, but by transformation.
Teilhard believed consciousness is the inner face of rising complexity. In other words:
Mind isn’t an accident in the universe. Mind is where the universe has been heading.
And a universe that remembers and interconnects, one that evolves toward ever-richer interior life, can’t logically terminate in nothingness. Its structure suggests not disappearance, but continuation into greater coherence.
Not as ghosts floating outside reality. Not as clones in a multiverse. But as personal consciousness carried forward into the universe’s ultimate convergence in God.
In this worldview, death is not a full stop, but a phase transition. The body’s quantum and biological order eventually disperses, but the interiority it supported — the “within” of a person — is not deleted. It becomes part of the ongoing cosmic complexification, drawn forward rather than pushed from behind.
Quantum uncertainty isn’t a threat to meaning here — it’s the open frontier of creation itself. God doesn’t override probability; God attracts through it, inviting the universe to explore pathways toward deeper consciousness and greater unity.
So while physics can’t compute a probability of eternal life, it helps us imagine a universe where eternal life is:
Not absurd Not accidental Not escapist But beautifully coherent with the direction of cosmic evolution itself
The big synthesis?
Science shows us a universe that doesn’t forget.
Evolution shows us a universe that complexifies inward.
Consciousness shows us the universe becoming personal.
Teilhard shows us the universe converging toward God.
Together, they whisper a daring conclusion:
The universe isn’t built to end in silence. It’s built to finish in communion.
Omega doesn’t erase — it gathers.
Death doesn’t cancel evolution — it advances it.
And God is not the terminus of becoming, but the forever-ahead horizon that draws us deeper into being.
A universe that evolves toward connection and consciousness is not a universe that ends. It’s a universe that completes.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
“The Omega Point: Why Evolution Has
#quantumMechanics #teilhardDeChardin

#quantummechanics #teilharddechardin
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-27 · 04:56 UTC

Teilhard de Chardin’s Vision Meets Quantum Science

What if the universe isn’t just expanding — what if it’s remembering, connecting, and waking up?
That was the bold conviction of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Jesuit priest and paleontologist who saw evolution not as a blind shuffle of matter, but as a spiraling ascent toward deeper consciousness and greater unity. Long before the language of quantum physics existed, Teilhard described a cosmos built not from isolated pieces, but from relationship, complexity, and interior depth — all converging toward what he called the Omega Point: the ultimate center of Divine unification.
Decades later, quantum theory revealed something strangely aligned with his vision. At the smallest scales:
Reality is probabilistic, not clockwork Particles exist in fields of possibility Systems become linked through entanglement And most fascinating of all — the universe doesn’t erase information
Physics doesn’t say consciousness survives death. It doesn’t calculate souls. It doesn’t predict personal immortality.
But it does describe a universe that is:
Non-deterministic — creativity is baked into its foundations Deeply relational — connection isn’t emergent, it’s fundamental Non-erasing — the cosmos evolves without deleting its past
That last point matters more than most people realize. If information isn’t destroyed, the universe doesn’t move forward by subtraction, but by transformation.
Teilhard believed consciousness is the inner face of rising complexity. In other words:
Mind isn’t an accident in the universe. Mind is where the universe has been heading.
And a universe that remembers and interconnects, one that evolves toward ever-richer interior life, can’t logically terminate in nothingness. Its structure suggests not disappearance, but continuation into greater coherence.
Not as ghosts floating outside reality. Not as clones in a multiverse. But as personal consciousness carried forward into the universe’s ultimate convergence in God.
In this worldview, death is not a full stop, but a phase transition. The body’s quantum and biological order eventually disperses, but the interiority it supported — the “within” of a person — is not deleted. It becomes part of the ongoing cosmic complexification, drawn forward rather than pushed from behind.
Quantum uncertainty isn’t a threat to meaning here — it’s the open frontier of creation itself. God doesn’t override probability; God attracts through it, inviting the universe to explore pathways toward deeper consciousness and greater unity.
So while physics can’t compute a probability of eternal life, it helps us imagine a universe where eternal life is:
Not absurd Not accidental Not escapist But beautifully coherent with the direction of cosmic evolution itself
The big synthesis?
Science shows us a universe that doesn’t forget.
Evolution shows us a universe that complexifies inward.
Consciousness shows us the universe becoming personal.
Teilhard shows us the universe converging toward God.
Together, they whisper a daring conclusion:
The universe isn’t built to end in silence. It’s built to finish in communion.
Omega doesn’t erase — it gathers.
Death doesn’t cancel evolution — it advances it.
And God is not the terminus of becoming, but the forever-ahead horizon that draws us deeper into being.
A universe that evolves toward connection and consciousness is not a universe that ends. It’s a universe that completes.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
“The Omega Point: Why Evolution Has
#quantumMechanics #teilhardDeChardin

#quantummechanics #teilharddechardin
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-27 · 04:56 UTC

Teilhard de Chardin’s Vision Meets Quantum Science

What if the universe isn’t just expanding — what if it’s remembering, connecting, and waking up?
That was the bold conviction of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Jesuit priest and paleontologist who saw evolution not as a blind shuffle of matter, but as a spiraling ascent toward deeper consciousness and greater unity. Long before the language of quantum physics existed, Teilhard described a cosmos built not from isolated pieces, but from relationship, complexity, and interior depth — all converging toward what he called the Omega Point: the ultimate center of Divine unification.
Decades later, quantum theory revealed something strangely aligned with his vision. At the smallest scales:
Reality is probabilistic, not clockwork Particles exist in fields of possibility Systems become linked through entanglement And most fascinating of all — the universe doesn’t erase information
Physics doesn’t say consciousness survives death. It doesn’t calculate souls. It doesn’t predict personal immortality.
But it does describe a universe that is:
Non-deterministic — creativity is baked into its foundations Deeply relational — connection isn’t emergent, it’s fundamental Non-erasing — the cosmos evolves without deleting its past
That last point matters more than most people realize. If information isn’t destroyed, the universe doesn’t move forward by subtraction, but by transformation.
Teilhard believed consciousness is the inner face of rising complexity. In other words:
Mind isn’t an accident in the universe. Mind is where the universe has been heading.
And a universe that remembers and interconnects, one that evolves toward ever-richer interior life, can’t logically terminate in nothingness. Its structure suggests not disappearance, but continuation into greater coherence.
Not as ghosts floating outside reality. Not as clones in a multiverse. But as personal consciousness carried forward into the universe’s ultimate convergence in God.
In this worldview, death is not a full stop, but a phase transition. The body’s quantum and biological order eventually disperses, but the interiority it supported — the “within” of a person — is not deleted. It becomes part of the ongoing cosmic complexification, drawn forward rather than pushed from behind.
Quantum uncertainty isn’t a threat to meaning here — it’s the open frontier of creation itself. God doesn’t override probability; God attracts through it, inviting the universe to explore pathways toward deeper consciousness and greater unity.
So while physics can’t compute a probability of eternal life, it helps us imagine a universe where eternal life is:
Not absurd Not accidental Not escapist But beautifully coherent with the direction of cosmic evolution itself
The big synthesis?
Science shows us a universe that doesn’t forget.
Evolution shows us a universe that complexifies inward.
Consciousness shows us the universe becoming personal.
Teilhard shows us the universe converging toward God.
Together, they whisper a daring conclusion:
The universe isn’t built to end in silence. It’s built to finish in communion.
Omega doesn’t erase — it gathers.
Death doesn’t cancel evolution — it advances it.
And God is not the terminus of becoming, but the forever-ahead horizon that draws us deeper into being.
A universe that evolves toward connection and consciousness is not a universe that ends. It’s a universe that completes.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
“The Omega Point: Why Evolution Has
#quantumMechanics #teilhardDeChardin

#quantummechanics #teilharddechardin
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-27 · 04:56 UTC

Teilhard de Chardin’s Vision Meets Quantum Science

What if the universe isn’t just expanding — what if it’s remembering, connecting, and waking up?
That was the bold conviction of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Jesuit priest and paleontologist who saw evolution not as a blind shuffle of matter, but as a spiraling ascent toward deeper consciousness and greater unity. Long before the language of quantum physics existed, Teilhard described a cosmos built not from isolated pieces, but from relationship, complexity, and interior depth — all converging toward what he called the Omega Point: the ultimate center of Divine unification.
Decades later, quantum theory revealed something strangely aligned with his vision. At the smallest scales:
Reality is probabilistic, not clockwork Particles exist in fields of possibility Systems become linked through entanglement And most fascinating of all — the universe doesn’t erase information
Physics doesn’t say consciousness survives death. It doesn’t calculate souls. It doesn’t predict personal immortality.
But it does describe a universe that is:
Non-deterministic — creativity is baked into its foundations Deeply relational — connection isn’t emergent, it’s fundamental Non-erasing — the cosmos evolves without deleting its past
That last point matters more than most people realize. If information isn’t destroyed, the universe doesn’t move forward by subtraction, but by transformation.
Teilhard believed consciousness is the inner face of rising complexity. In other words:
Mind isn’t an accident in the universe. Mind is where the universe has been heading.
And a universe that remembers and interconnects, one that evolves toward ever-richer interior life, can’t logically terminate in nothingness. Its structure suggests not disappearance, but continuation into greater coherence.
Not as ghosts floating outside reality. Not as clones in a multiverse. But as personal consciousness carried forward into the universe’s ultimate convergence in God.
In this worldview, death is not a full stop, but a phase transition. The body’s quantum and biological order eventually disperses, but the interiority it supported — the “within” of a person — is not deleted. It becomes part of the ongoing cosmic complexification, drawn forward rather than pushed from behind.
Quantum uncertainty isn’t a threat to meaning here — it’s the open frontier of creation itself. God doesn’t override probability; God attracts through it, inviting the universe to explore pathways toward deeper consciousness and greater unity.
So while physics can’t compute a probability of eternal life, it helps us imagine a universe where eternal life is:
Not absurd Not accidental Not escapist But beautifully coherent with the direction of cosmic evolution itself
The big synthesis?
Science shows us a universe that doesn’t forget.
Evolution shows us a universe that complexifies inward.
Consciousness shows us the universe becoming personal.
Teilhard shows us the universe converging toward God.
Together, they whisper a daring conclusion:
The universe isn’t built to end in silence. It’s built to finish in communion.
Omega doesn’t erase — it gathers.
Death doesn’t cancel evolution — it advances it.
And God is not the terminus of becoming, but the forever-ahead horizon that draws us deeper into being.
A universe that evolves toward connection and consciousness is not a universe that ends. It’s a universe that completes.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
“The Omega Point: Why Evolution Has
#quantumMechanics #teilhardDeChardin

#teilharddechardin #quantummechanics
Don @[email protected] · 2025-12-17 · 23:36 UTC
How Linux Mint, NTFSFix, and ClamAV Saved Microsoft Publisher

Recently, I was helping a Windows-using friend transition from her ten-year-old Windows 10 laptop to a new Windows 11 laptop. All of her important files had been backed up by Microsoft OneDrive, which was a great relief when we logged into the new computer. My friend is a Microsoft Publisher user, and you guessed it: Microsoft has announced the end of life for Publisher in October 2026. Since she’s an Office 365 user, she has until then to export all her Microsoft Publisher files as PDFs or lose the information.
The ten-year-old laptop had become unusable, locked up mid-application with Windows errors, and refused to budge. It was an i3 with 4 gigabytes of RAM that started as a Windows 8 laptop and was upgraded to Windows 10 about five years ago. It had seen better days, but I suggested to my friend that I might be able to resurrect it so she could continue using it with the 2021 version of Microsoft Publisher, which will no longer receive updates. She said, “Sure, I’m happy to have you work your magic!”
I took it home and did a live boot with Linux Mint MATE 22.2, but the Windows drive would not mount. It gave me an error message:
```
$ wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sda6
```
I ran fsck on the drive and got more messages indicating that a bad block existed and needed to be repaired. How could I fix the error from within this live boot environment? That’s when I happened upon ntfsfix. The program was already loaded in the live boot environment. I used lsblk to determine the exact location of the NTFS disk in the disk system and issued the following command:
```
$ sudo ntfsfix -b -d /dev/sda6
```
There are several options for the command:
```
ntfsfix v2022.10.3 (libntfs-3g)

Usage: ntfsfix [options] device
    Attempt to fix an NTFS partition.

    -b, --clear-bad-sectors Clear the bad sector list
    -d, --clear-dirty       Clear the volume dirty flag
    -h, --help              Display this help
    -n, --no-action         Do not write anything
    -V, --version           Display version information
```
In my case, I used the -b (clear-bad-sectors) and -d (clear-dirty). That command fixed the problem I had with the NTFS partition, and I was now able to download and install Clam Antivirus to clean up the suspected malware causing the issue.
```
$ sudo apt install clamav
```
Then I was ready to scan the disk for viruses and malware. I opened a terminal in the mounted Windows drive and entered the following command:
```
$ sudo clamscan -irv --remove 
```
Those clamscan options: i – only prints files that are infected, r-scans directories recursively, and v- provides detailed output during the scan. The –remove option deletes any files that are found to be infected. Be careful with that last option.
The laptop has an i3 CPU and 4 GB RAM, and the process for scanning a 400-gigabyte drive was lengthy. It took overnight to complete the scan, but when I started the laptop in the morning, I was able to log in without difficulty, and my friend is delighted at the prospect of extending the life of her access to Microsoft Publisher.
In the end, what began as a seemingly hopeless situation with a locked-up Windows 10 laptop turned into a valuable lesson in resourcefulness. By combining the flexibility of a Linux live boot, the repair power of ntfsfix, and the thoroughness of ClamAV, I was able to breathe new life into aging hardware and preserve access to software that is nearing its end of support. For my friend, this means more time to safely transition her Publisher files, and for me, it’s a reminder that with the right tools and a bit of persistence, even a decade-old machine can still serve a meaningful purpose.
#ClamAV #Linux #LinuxMintMate #OpenSource
#clamav #linux #linuxmintmate #opensource
Don @[email protected] · 2025-09-26 · 18:07 UTC

Best Linux Distros for Windows Users: From Mint to Pop!_OS
When you are new to Linux it is tough to get your head around all the choices there are for users. If you’re a person migrating from Windows 10 or Windows 11 I would recommend Linux Mint Cinnamon. This is particularly true if you have a computer that has and i5 or Ryzen 5 or greater central processing unit and more than four gigabytes of RAM. The Cinnamon desktop looks very similar to a Windows desktop and that interface is going to look and feel very familiar.
Screen picture from Wikimedia Commons CC by SA 4.0
The LM button to the far left of the task bar is in the same spot as the start menu on Windows. The interface is overall intuitive and it’s easy to navigate. Add to LInux Mint has excellent documentation to support new users. The documentation explains how to download the iso file and create a bootable image and has a very complete installation guide.
However, you may be a person who purchased a lower powered computer that has less than four gigabytes of RAM and an i3 or lesser processor. You should consider downloading and install Linux Mint XFCE. It’s got great documentation and user guide that is shared across all Linux Mint distributions and has a nearly identical interface that has a button at the bottom left of the display that is the launch menu for all the applications that are installed on your system.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
If Linux Mint is not what you had in mind for a Linux desktop experience you might consider Fedora KDE Plasma. It works best on an i5/Ryzen 5 or greater with at least four gigabytes of RAM. It’s easy to download and install. Use tools like Rufus (Windows) or Balena Etcher (Linux/macOS). Once you have a bootable USB drive installation will vary slightly depending on how your particular computer system allows you to boot from a USB drive. Fedora has excellent documenation for the KDE Plasma desktop. The Fedora KDE Plasma desktop uses a similar desktop metaphor that Windows users will be familiar with.
This work is free software; distributed under the Gnu Public License from Wikimedia Commons
If your computer has an older or lower powered processor and less than two gigabytes of RAM you should consider Fedora XFCE. You can download Fedora XFCE and create the installation media the same way that you would as described above. Fedora XFCE provides a similar desktop paradigm that Windows users are familar with and will ensure that you have a pleasant desktop experience.
If you have the power and are willing ot think a bit differently than the traditional Windows desktop paradigm then you owe it to yourself to try System76’s Pop!_OS which is derived from Ubuntu but unlike the former supports Flatpak out of the box. System76 has excellent documentation to support Pop!_OS users.
This work is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
Pop!_OS is built for modern Intel/AMD processors with at least four gigabytes of RAM but recommends at least eight gigabytes. According to the the System76 website Pop!_OS is designed “to encourage discovery, Pop!_OS is designed for fast navigation, easy workspace organization, and fluid, convenient workflow.” It just gets out of your way. Pop!_OS is under continuous development by the System76 team. It is a customized Gnome desktop environment.
Pop!_OS offers seamless out-of-the-box compatibility with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards. It comes preconfigured with disk encryption for enhanced security, intuitive window and workspace controls, and efficient keyboard shortcuts for smooth navigation. Built-in power management profiles help optimize performance and battery life. Recent versions also include packages that simplify the setup of TensorFlow and CUDA, making it a strong choice for developers and AI enthusiasts.
#Linux #newUsers #Windows

#linux #newusers #windows
Don @[email protected] · 2025-09-26 · 18:07 UTC

Best Linux Distros for Windows Users: From Mint to Pop!_OS
When you are new to Linux it is tough to get your head around all the choices there are for users. If you’re a person migrating from Windows 10 or Windows 11 I would recommend Linux Mint Cinnamon. This is particularly true if you have a computer that has and i5 or Ryzen 5 or greater central processing unit and more than four gigabytes of RAM. The Cinnamon desktop looks very similar to a Windows desktop and that interface is going to look and feel very familiar.
Screen picture from Wikimedia Commons CC by SA 4.0
The LM button to the far left of the task bar is in the same spot as the start menu on Windows. The interface is overall intuitive and it’s easy to navigate. Add to LInux Mint has excellent documentation to support new users. The documentation explains how to download the iso file and create a bootable image and has a very complete installation guide.
However, you may be a person who purchased a lower powered computer that has less than four gigabytes of RAM and an i3 or lesser processor. You should consider downloading and install Linux Mint XFCE. It’s got great documentation and user guide that is shared across all Linux Mint distributions and has a nearly identical interface that has a button at the bottom left of the display that is the launch menu for all the applications that are installed on your system.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
If Linux Mint is not what you had in mind for a Linux desktop experience you might consider Fedora KDE Plasma. It works best on an i5/Ryzen 5 or greater with at least four gigabytes of RAM. It’s easy to download and install. Use tools like Rufus (Windows) or Balena Etcher (Linux/macOS). Once you have a bootable USB drive installation will vary slightly depending on how your particular computer system allows you to boot from a USB drive. Fedora has excellent documenation for the KDE Plasma desktop. The Fedora KDE Plasma desktop uses a similar desktop metaphor that Windows users will be familiar with.
This work is free software; distributed under the Gnu Public License from Wikimedia Commons
If your computer has an older or lower powered processor and less than two gigabytes of RAM you should consider Fedora XFCE. You can download Fedora XFCE and create the installation media the same way that you would as described above. Fedora XFCE provides a similar desktop paradigm that Windows users are familar with and will ensure that you have a pleasant desktop experience.
If you have the power and are willing ot think a bit differently than the traditional Windows desktop paradigm then you owe it to yourself to try System76’s Pop!_OS which is derived from Ubuntu but unlike the former supports Flatpak out of the box. System76 has excellent documentation to support Pop!_OS users.
This work is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
Pop!_OS is built for modern Intel/AMD processors with at least four gigabytes of RAM but recommends at least eight gigabytes. According to the the System76 website Pop!_OS is designed “to encourage discovery, Pop!_OS is designed for fast navigation, easy workspace organization, and fluid, convenient workflow.” It just gets out of your way. Pop!_OS is under continuous development by the System76 team. It is a customized Gnome desktop environment.
Pop!_OS offers seamless out-of-the-box compatibility with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards. It comes preconfigured with disk encryption for enhanced security, intuitive window and workspace controls, and efficient keyboard shortcuts for smooth navigation. Built-in power management profiles help optimize performance and battery life. Recent versions also include packages that simplify the setup of TensorFlow and CUDA, making it a strong choice for developers and AI enthusiasts.
#Linux #newUsers #Windows

#linux #newusers #windows
Don @[email protected] · 2025-09-26 · 18:07 UTC

Best Linux Distros for Windows Users: From Mint to Pop!_OS
When you are new to Linux it is tough to get your head around all the choices there are for users. If you’re a person migrating from Windows 10 or Windows 11 I would recommend Linux Mint Cinnamon. This is particularly true if you have a computer that has and i5 or Ryzen 5 or greater central processing unit and more than four gigabytes of RAM. The Cinnamon desktop looks very similar to a Windows desktop and that interface is going to look and feel very familiar.
Screen picture from Wikimedia Commons CC by SA 4.0
The LM button to the far left of the task bar is in the same spot as the start menu on Windows. The interface is overall intuitive and it’s easy to navigate. Add to LInux Mint has excellent documentation to support new users. The documentation explains how to download the iso file and create a bootable image and has a very complete installation guide.
However, you may be a person who purchased a lower powered computer that has less than four gigabytes of RAM and an i3 or lesser processor. You should consider downloading and install Linux Mint XFCE. It’s got great documentation and user guide that is shared across all Linux Mint distributions and has a nearly identical interface that has a button at the bottom left of the display that is the launch menu for all the applications that are installed on your system.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
If Linux Mint is not what you had in mind for a Linux desktop experience you might consider Fedora KDE Plasma. It works best on an i5/Ryzen 5 or greater with at least four gigabytes of RAM. It’s easy to download and install. Use tools like Rufus (Windows) or Balena Etcher (Linux/macOS). Once you have a bootable USB drive installation will vary slightly depending on how your particular computer system allows you to boot from a USB drive. Fedora has excellent documenation for the KDE Plasma desktop. The Fedora KDE Plasma desktop uses a similar desktop metaphor that Windows users will be familiar with.
This work is free software; distributed under the Gnu Public License from Wikimedia Commons
If your computer has an older or lower powered processor and less than two gigabytes of RAM you should consider Fedora XFCE. You can download Fedora XFCE and create the installation media the same way that you would as described above. Fedora XFCE provides a similar desktop paradigm that Windows users are familar with and will ensure that you have a pleasant desktop experience.
If you have the power and are willing ot think a bit differently than the traditional Windows desktop paradigm then you owe it to yourself to try System76’s Pop!_OS which is derived from Ubuntu but unlike the former supports Flatpak out of the box. System76 has excellent documentation to support Pop!_OS users.
This work is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
Pop!_OS is built for modern Intel/AMD processors with at least four gigabytes of RAM but recommends at least eight gigabytes. According to the the System76 website Pop!_OS is designed “to encourage discovery, Pop!_OS is designed for fast navigation, easy workspace organization, and fluid, convenient workflow.” It just gets out of your way. Pop!_OS is under continuous development by the System76 team. It is a customized Gnome desktop environment.
Pop!_OS offers seamless out-of-the-box compatibility with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards. It comes preconfigured with disk encryption for enhanced security, intuitive window and workspace controls, and efficient keyboard shortcuts for smooth navigation. Built-in power management profiles help optimize performance and battery life. Recent versions also include packages that simplify the setup of TensorFlow and CUDA, making it a strong choice for developers and AI enthusiasts.
#Linux #newUsers #Windows

#linux #newusers #windows
Don @[email protected] · 2025-09-26 · 18:07 UTC

Best Linux Distros for Windows Users: From Mint to Pop!_OS
When you are new to Linux it is tough to get your head around all the choices there are for users. If you’re a person migrating from Windows 10 or Windows 11 I would recommend Linux Mint Cinnamon. This is particularly true if you have a computer that has and i5 or Ryzen 5 or greater central processing unit and more than four gigabytes of RAM. The Cinnamon desktop looks very similar to a Windows desktop and that interface is going to look and feel very familiar.
Screen picture from Wikimedia Commons CC by SA 4.0
The LM button to the far left of the task bar is in the same spot as the start menu on Windows. The interface is overall intuitive and it’s easy to navigate. Add to LInux Mint has excellent documentation to support new users. The documentation explains how to download the iso file and create a bootable image and has a very complete installation guide.
However, you may be a person who purchased a lower powered computer that has less than four gigabytes of RAM and an i3 or lesser processor. You should consider downloading and install Linux Mint XFCE. It’s got great documentation and user guide that is shared across all Linux Mint distributions and has a nearly identical interface that has a button at the bottom left of the display that is the launch menu for all the applications that are installed on your system.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
If Linux Mint is not what you had in mind for a Linux desktop experience you might consider Fedora KDE Plasma. It works best on an i5/Ryzen 5 or greater with at least four gigabytes of RAM. It’s easy to download and install. Use tools like Rufus (Windows) or Balena Etcher (Linux/macOS). Once you have a bootable USB drive installation will vary slightly depending on how your particular computer system allows you to boot from a USB drive. Fedora has excellent documenation for the KDE Plasma desktop. The Fedora KDE Plasma desktop uses a similar desktop metaphor that Windows users will be familiar with.
This work is free software; distributed under the Gnu Public License from Wikimedia Commons
If your computer has an older or lower powered processor and less than two gigabytes of RAM you should consider Fedora XFCE. You can download Fedora XFCE and create the installation media the same way that you would as described above. Fedora XFCE provides a similar desktop paradigm that Windows users are familar with and will ensure that you have a pleasant desktop experience.
If you have the power and are willing ot think a bit differently than the traditional Windows desktop paradigm then you owe it to yourself to try System76’s Pop!_OS which is derived from Ubuntu but unlike the former supports Flatpak out of the box. System76 has excellent documentation to support Pop!_OS users.
This work is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
Pop!_OS is built for modern Intel/AMD processors with at least four gigabytes of RAM but recommends at least eight gigabytes. According to the the System76 website Pop!_OS is designed “to encourage discovery, Pop!_OS is designed for fast navigation, easy workspace organization, and fluid, convenient workflow.” It just gets out of your way. Pop!_OS is under continuous development by the System76 team. It is a customized Gnome desktop environment.
Pop!_OS offers seamless out-of-the-box compatibility with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards. It comes preconfigured with disk encryption for enhanced security, intuitive window and workspace controls, and efficient keyboard shortcuts for smooth navigation. Built-in power management profiles help optimize performance and battery life. Recent versions also include packages that simplify the setup of TensorFlow and CUDA, making it a strong choice for developers and AI enthusiasts.
#Linux #newUsers #Windows

#windows #newusers #linux
Don @[email protected] · 2025-09-02 · 18:30 UTC
Exploring QGIS: A Powerful Open Source Tool for Mapping Your Walk
Recently a friend asked me if I could help him map his walk about the area where he lives. I use a pedometer to track my steps and in the past I have used several different map walking apps on my phone and smartwatch. I told my friend that I would do some additional research and get back to him. Returning home later in the day and using AI I found about a half dozen mapping applications. QGIS caught my eye because it is open source. I decided to give it a try and install it on my Linux computer. I decided to use the Flatpak installation as it was the easiest on Linux Mint.
```
$ flatpak install flathub org.qgis.qgis
```
You will be prompted for the version of QGIS you want to use and the app should appear in your application launcher. QGIS has excellent documentation and can be installed on nearly any of the popular computing platforms including macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and even as container images. Be sure to follow their excellent documentation.
Once I launched the application I was presented with an incredibly complex toolset and wanted to dive in. QGIS allows users to create, edit, visualize, analyze, and publish geospatial data. QGIS supports various data formats, including vector, raster, and database formats, and provides tools for creating maps, performing spatial queries, and generating reports. I simply wanted to create trail maps and count steps for my friend and teach him to do the same.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
I listened to a podcast which gave me a good overview of the project and some the capabilities of QGIS. I learned that QGIS is open source with a GPL v2 license. I learned that it was initially released in 2002. I’m using version 3.44 “Solothurn.” The podcast mentioned that QGIS is extended with plugins of which there are currently over 1,300. Which ones would I need to map the trails at the retreat center that my friend lived at?
The first plugin I installed was Quick Map Services. This allowed me to download Open Street Map. Now I had some data but how can I use this. More help from my AI App helped me to find MerginMaps. MerginMaps is a plugin that extends QGIS. They have an app for iOS and Android. I could use my mobile phone for data collection. MerginMaps is also open source. MerginMaps mobile is open source too! I needed to install the MerginMaps plugin in QGIS first. Go to ‘Plugins’ on the menu bar at the top and select ‘Manage and Install Plugins.’ Use the ‘Search’ window to search for ‘MerginMaps.’
At the bottom of the window is a button to ‘Install Plugin’. Once the plugin is installed you are ready to install MerginMaps with QGIS. I needed to install MerginMaps on my iPhone. Next step is to create a MerginMaps account. You will need an account to use the plugin.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Next step is to sign into your MerginMaps account in QGIS. When you installed the MerginMaps plugin to the QGIS software program it altered your menu options slightly. The arrow is pointing to the Mergin Menu options. The second item is the one that looks like a gear is where you sign-in to Mergin. That is the configure button.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Upon clicking on that button you will be prompted to sign-in to MerginMaps.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins
Once you have signed into MerginMaps you can begin your first project. Next to the gear like ‘Configure’ button is another button with a plus sign on it. Clicking on that brings up a ‘New bsic QGIS project’ option.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the new project is created you are invited to give the project a name and after it is named the project is immediatley uploaded to the MerginMaps server account and saved locally in a directory location of your choosing.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the project is uploaded to the MerginMaps server then it is time to get out your iOS or Android device and sign in to the MerginMaps server and download the project onto your mobile device. Note at the bottom of the application window there is a ‘Projects’ button which when pressed provides a listing of the projects on your device.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
I decided to give the application a test run mapping points on my daily walk around the village. I created a MerginMaps project in QGIS and uploaded it to the server. Then I downloaded the project onto my iPhone and set off around the village. Once the data points are collected on the device they can be uploaded to the MerginMaps server and then downloaded to the QGIS software on your computer and you can generate maps. Here is a map of my walk today in Franklinville, New York.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
In conclusion, QGIS and MerginMaps offer a powerful combination for mapping. Together, they provide a robust solution for mapping trails making it easier for my friend to learn how to do the same. The integration of QGIS with MerginMaps highlights the potential of open-source tools in facilitating geospatial data work, whether for individual use or team-based projects. This synergy between the two platforms is a valuable resource for anyone interested in mapping and spatial analysis.
#geospatial #GIS #MerginMaps #OpenSource #QGIS
#geospatial #gis #merginmaps #opensource #qgis
Don @[email protected] · 2025-09-02 · 18:30 UTC
Exploring QGIS: A Powerful Open Source Tool for Mapping Your Walk
Recently a friend asked me if I could help him map his walk about the area where he lives. I use a pedometer to track my steps and in the past I have used several different map walking apps on my phone and smartwatch. I told my friend that I would do some additional research and get back to him. Returning home later in the day and using AI I found about a half dozen mapping applications. QGIS caught my eye because it is open source. I decided to give it a try and install it on my Linux computer. I decided to use the Flatpak installation as it was the easiest on Linux Mint.
```
$ flatpak install flathub org.qgis.qgis
```
You will be prompted for the version of QGIS you want to use and the app should appear in your application launcher. QGIS has excellent documentation and can be installed on nearly any of the popular computing platforms including macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and even as container images. Be sure to follow their excellent documentation.
Once I launched the application I was presented with an incredibly complex toolset and wanted to dive in. QGIS allows users to create, edit, visualize, analyze, and publish geospatial data. QGIS supports various data formats, including vector, raster, and database formats, and provides tools for creating maps, performing spatial queries, and generating reports. I simply wanted to create trail maps and count steps for my friend and teach him to do the same.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
I listened to a podcast which gave me a good overview of the project and some the capabilities of QGIS. I learned that QGIS is open source with a GPL v2 license. I learned that it was initially released in 2002. I’m using version 3.44 “Solothurn.” The podcast mentioned that QGIS is extended with plugins of which there are currently over 1,300. Which ones would I need to map the trails at the retreat center that my friend lived at?
The first plugin I installed was Quick Map Services. This allowed me to download Open Street Map. Now I had some data but how can I use this. More help from my AI App helped me to find MerginMaps. MerginMaps is a plugin that extends QGIS. They have an app for iOS and Android. I could use my mobile phone for data collection. MerginMaps is also open source. MerginMaps mobile is open source too! I needed to install the MerginMaps plugin in QGIS first. Go to ‘Plugins’ on the menu bar at the top and select ‘Manage and Install Plugins.’ Use the ‘Search’ window to search for ‘MerginMaps.’
At the bottom of the window is a button to ‘Install Plugin’. Once the plugin is installed you are ready to install MerginMaps with QGIS. I needed to install MerginMaps on my iPhone. Next step is to create a MerginMaps account. You will need an account to use the plugin.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Next step is to sign into your MerginMaps account in QGIS. When you installed the MerginMaps plugin to the QGIS software program it altered your menu options slightly. The arrow is pointing to the Mergin Menu options. The second item is the one that looks like a gear is where you sign-in to Mergin. That is the configure button.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Upon clicking on that button you will be prompted to sign-in to MerginMaps.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins
Once you have signed into MerginMaps you can begin your first project. Next to the gear like ‘Configure’ button is another button with a plus sign on it. Clicking on that brings up a ‘New bsic QGIS project’ option.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the new project is created you are invited to give the project a name and after it is named the project is immediatley uploaded to the MerginMaps server account and saved locally in a directory location of your choosing.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the project is uploaded to the MerginMaps server then it is time to get out your iOS or Android device and sign in to the MerginMaps server and download the project onto your mobile device. Note at the bottom of the application window there is a ‘Projects’ button which when pressed provides a listing of the projects on your device.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
I decided to give the application a test run mapping points on my daily walk around the village. I created a MerginMaps project in QGIS and uploaded it to the server. Then I downloaded the project onto my iPhone and set off around the village. Once the data points are collected on the device they can be uploaded to the MerginMaps server and then downloaded to the QGIS software on your computer and you can generate maps. Here is a map of my walk today in Franklinville, New York.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
In conclusion, QGIS and MerginMaps offer a powerful combination for mapping. Together, they provide a robust solution for mapping trails making it easier for my friend to learn how to do the same. The integration of QGIS with MerginMaps highlights the potential of open-source tools in facilitating geospatial data work, whether for individual use or team-based projects. This synergy between the two platforms is a valuable resource for anyone interested in mapping and spatial analysis.
#geospatial #GIS #MerginMaps #OpenSource #QGIS
#qgis #opensource #merginmaps #gis #geospatial
Don @[email protected] · 2025-09-02 · 18:30 UTC
Exploring QGIS: A Powerful Open Source Tool for Mapping Your Walk
Recently a friend asked me if I could help him map his walk about the area where he lives. I use a pedometer to track my steps and in the past I have used several different map walking apps on my phone and smartwatch. I told my friend that I would do some additional research and get back to him. Returning home later in the day and using AI I found about a half dozen mapping applications. QGIS caught my eye because it is open source. I decided to give it a try and install it on my Linux computer. I decided to use the Flatpak installation as it was the easiest on Linux Mint.
```
$ flatpak install flathub org.qgis.qgis
```
You will be prompted for the version of QGIS you want to use and the app should appear in your application launcher. QGIS has excellent documentation and can be installed on nearly any of the popular computing platforms including macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and even as container images. Be sure to follow their excellent documentation.
Once I launched the application I was presented with an incredibly complex toolset and wanted to dive in. QGIS allows users to create, edit, visualize, analyze, and publish geospatial data. QGIS supports various data formats, including vector, raster, and database formats, and provides tools for creating maps, performing spatial queries, and generating reports. I simply wanted to create trail maps and count steps for my friend and teach him to do the same.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
I listened to a podcast which gave me a good overview of the project and some the capabilities of QGIS. I learned that QGIS is open source with a GPL v2 license. I learned that it was initially released in 2002. I’m using version 3.44 “Solothurn.” The podcast mentioned that QGIS is extended with plugins of which there are currently over 1,300. Which ones would I need to map the trails at the retreat center that my friend lived at?
The first plugin I installed was Quick Map Services. This allowed me to download Open Street Map. Now I had some data but how can I use this. More help from my AI App helped me to find MerginMaps. MerginMaps is a plugin that extends QGIS. They have an app for iOS and Android. I could use my mobile phone for data collection. MerginMaps is also open source. MerginMaps mobile is open source too! I needed to install the MerginMaps plugin in QGIS first. Go to ‘Plugins’ on the menu bar at the top and select ‘Manage and Install Plugins.’ Use the ‘Search’ window to search for ‘MerginMaps.’
At the bottom of the window is a button to ‘Install Plugin’. Once the plugin is installed you are ready to install MerginMaps with QGIS. I needed to install MerginMaps on my iPhone. Next step is to create a MerginMaps account. You will need an account to use the plugin.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Next step is to sign into your MerginMaps account in QGIS. When you installed the MerginMaps plugin to the QGIS software program it altered your menu options slightly. The arrow is pointing to the Mergin Menu options. The second item is the one that looks like a gear is where you sign-in to Mergin. That is the configure button.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Upon clicking on that button you will be prompted to sign-in to MerginMaps.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins
Once you have signed into MerginMaps you can begin your first project. Next to the gear like ‘Configure’ button is another button with a plus sign on it. Clicking on that brings up a ‘New bsic QGIS project’ option.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the new project is created you are invited to give the project a name and after it is named the project is immediatley uploaded to the MerginMaps server account and saved locally in a directory location of your choosing.
Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the project is uploaded to the MerginMaps server then it is time to get out your iOS or Android device and sign in to the MerginMaps server and download the project onto your mobile device. Note at the bottom of the application window there is a ‘Projects’ button which when pressed provides a listing of the projects on your device.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
I decided to give the application a test run and while my wife and I were on a picnic to nearby Letchworth State Park I marked some data points which you can see in the depiction below.
Once the data points are collected on the device they can be uploaded to the MerginMaps server and then downloaded to the QGIS software on your computer and you can generate maps.
In conclusion, QGIS and MerginMaps offer a powerful combination for mapping walks in the area where my friend lives. Together, they provide a robust solution for mapping trails making it easier for my friend to learn how to do the same. The integration of QGIS with MerginMaps highlights the potential of open-source tools in facilitating geospatial data work, whether for individual use or team-based projects. This synergy between the two platforms is a valuable resource for anyone interested in mapping and spatial analysis.
#geospatial #GIS #MerginMaps #OpenSource #QGIS
#geospatial #gis #merginmaps #opensource #qgis
Don @[email protected] · 2025-07-30 · 17:06 UTC
Simplifying local AI with Pinokio
Are you looking for a way to leverage AI without having to be a developer or an experienced coder then Pinokio is just what the doctor ordered. Best of all you can run Pinokio on your own computer so you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy. Pinokio stands out as a revolutionary tool that merges the power of open-source automation with the simplicity of a browser interface. Built with developers and curious tinkerers in mind, Pinokio is redefining what it means to use a browser—not just to explore the internet, but as a platform that allows even inexperienced users the ability to download and launch AI applications that ordinarily would require lots of know how and skill.
Using Pinokio you can easily install, run, and automate any AI tool on your computer. Anything you can execute in the command line can be streamlined using Pinokio scripts—all through an intuitive, user-friendly interface. You can use Pinokio to install AI apps, manage and run those apps, create workflows for installed AI apps. There is lots of help available to help you get started with Pinokio by following @cocktailpeanut on X or joining the Pinokio Discord to ask questions. Pinokio is open source with an MIT license.
The project has detailed directions for installation your operating system and supports Windows, macOS and Linux. I chose both the Linux and macOS installs. Pinokio is supported on both the legacy Intel Mac and the Apple Silicon Mac. If you are a Linux user like me follow this link to find either the deb or rpm package for easy installation or the source code to compile the application for yourself.
I also installed Pinokio on my M3 MacBook Air. The Apple Silicon install is a little trickier but once you follow the excellent documentation you will be up and running. Once the initial application is installed and launched on either platform, the Pinokio environment is automatically and seamlessly set up during the first launch. When that was accomplished I was eager to dive in and discover what AI applications I could use. At the top of the Pinokio browser there is a ‘Discover’ button that takes the user to a number of applications that can be setup and launched. When the discover button is pressed the user is presented with the following display of News and Apps that can be loaded.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
There are dozens of AI apps with certified scripts that can be installed. There are almost too many to choose from. I knew from experience that though my Linux computer is an i7 with 64 GB RAM that it lacks a GPU so running AI apps on that platform would mean the processing would be slow. I elected to use the M3 MacBook with 16 GB RAM. Much faster processing. My first choice was FaceFusion. FaceFusion has an Open RAIL-S license
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
FaceFusion is a powerful tool for face swapping and enhancement. I decided to install it with Pinokio on my Apple Silicon Mac. Using Pinokio it is easy to install this AI app by clicking the ‘One-Click install’ button and waiting a short period of time to install the app. Once the app is installed in Pinokio it can easily be launched from the browser.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once FaceFusion is launched I am presented with a menu interace to choose how I will run the application.
I chose ‘Run Default’ and I am presented with an elegant yet easily managed interface for enhancing facial images. In the browser I can see that FaceFusion is running on port 7860 on the localhost.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Pointing my browser to localhost:7860 I can see the FaceFusion app running.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Now I can have some fun with faces. I chose to use another AI program to generate an image of a handsome guy with blonde hair and blue eyes like I used to have earlier in life. That is the source image I am inserting into the FaceFusion app. Then I inserted a recent picture of myself taken earlier this year.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0Photo by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Five seconds later after I clicked the ‘Start’ button at the bottom of the app I have the new me. Maybe someone will develop HairFusion too. Have some fun with your images and explore FaceFusion more thoroughly.
Image created by FaceFusion
#AI #FaceFusion #Pinokio
#ai #facefusion #pinokio
Don @[email protected] · 2025-07-30 · 17:06 UTC
Simplifying local AI with Pinokio
Are you looking for a way to leverage AI without having to be a developer or an experienced coder then Pinokio is just what the doctor ordered. Best of all you can run Pinokio on your own computer so you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy. Pinokio stands out as a revolutionary tool that merges the power of open-source automation with the simplicity of a browser interface. Built with developers and curious tinkerers in mind, Pinokio is redefining what it means to use a browser—not just to explore the internet, but as a platform that allows even inexperienced users the ability to download and launch AI applications that ordinarily would require lots of know how and skill.
Using Pinokio you can easily install, run, and automate any AI tool on your computer. Anything you can execute in the command line can be streamlined using Pinokio scripts—all through an intuitive, user-friendly interface. You can use Pinokio to install AI apps, manage and run those apps, create workflows for installed AI apps. There is lots of help available to help you get started with Pinokio by following @cocktailpeanut on X or joining the Pinokio Discord to ask questions. Pinokio is open source with an MIT license.
The project has detailed directions for installation your operating system and supports Windows, macOS and Linux. I chose both the Linux and macOS installs. Pinokio is supported on both the legacy Intel Mac and the Apple Silicon Mac. If you are a Linux user like me follow this link to find either the deb or rpm package for easy installation or the source code to compile the application for yourself.
I also installed Pinokio on my M3 MacBook Air. The Apple Silicon install is a little trickier but once you follow the excellent documentation you will be up and running. Once the initial application is installed and launched on either platform, the Pinokio environment is automatically and seamlessly set up during the first launch. When that was accomplished I was eager to dive in and discover what AI applications I could use. At the top of the Pinokio browser there is a ‘Discover’ button that takes the user to a number of applications that can be setup and launched. When the discover button is pressed the user is presented with the following display of News and Apps that can be loaded.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
There are dozens of AI apps with certified scripts that can be installed. There are almost too many to choose from. I knew from experience that though my Linux computer is an i7 with 64 GB RAM that it lacks a GPU so running AI apps on that platform would mean the processing would be slow. I elected to use the M3 MacBook with 16 GB RAM. Much faster processing. My first choice was FaceFusion. FaceFusion has an Open RAIL-S license
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
FaceFusion is a powerful tool for face swapping and enhancement. I decided to install it with Pinokio on my Apple Silicon Mac. Using Pinokio it is easy to install this AI app by clicking the ‘One-Click install’ button and waiting a short period of time to install the app. Once the app is installed in Pinokio it can easily be launched from the browser.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once FaceFusion is launched I am presented with a menu interace to choose how I will run the application.
I chose ‘Run Default’ and I am presented with an elegant yet easily managed interface for enhancing facial images. In the browser I can see that FaceFusion is running on port 7860 on the localhost.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Pointing my browser to localhost:7860 I can see the FaceFusion app running.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Now I can have some fun with faces. I chose to use another AI program to generate an image of a handsome guy with blonde hair and blue eyes like I used to have earlier in life. That is the source image I am inserting into the FaceFusion app. Then I inserted a recent picture of myself taken earlier this year.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0Photo by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Five seconds later after I clicked the ‘Start’ button at the bottom of the app I have the new me. Maybe someone will develop HairFusion too. Have some fun with your images and explore FaceFusion more thoroughly.
Image created by FaceFusion
#AI #FaceFusion #Pinokio
#ai #facefusion #pinokio
Don @[email protected] · 2025-07-30 · 17:06 UTC
Simplifying local AI with Pinokio
Are you looking for a way to leverage AI without having to be a developer or an experienced coder then Pinokio is just what the doctor ordered. Best of all you can run Pinokio on your own computer so you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy. Pinokio stands out as a revolutionary tool that merges the power of open-source automation with the simplicity of a browser interface. Built with developers and curious tinkerers in mind, Pinokio is redefining what it means to use a browser—not just to explore the internet, but as a platform that allows even inexperienced users the ability to download and launch AI applications that ordinarily would require lots of know how and skill.
Using Pinokio you can easily install, run, and automate any AI tool on your computer. Anything you can execute in the command line can be streamlined using Pinokio scripts—all through an intuitive, user-friendly interface. You can use Pinokio to install AI apps, manage and run those apps, create workflows for installed AI apps. There is lots of help available to help you get started with Pinokio by following @cocktailpeanut on X or joining the Pinokio Discord to ask questions. Pinokio is open source with an MIT license.
The project has detailed directions for installation your operating system and supports Windows, macOS and Linux. I chose both the Linux and macOS installs. Pinokio is supported on both the legacy Intel Mac and the Apple Silicon Mac. If you are a Linux user like me follow this link to find either the deb or rpm package for easy installation or the source code to compile the application for yourself.
I also installed Pinokio on my M3 MacBook Air. The Apple Silicon install is a little trickier but once you follow the excellent documentation you will be up and running. Once the initial application is installed and launched on either platform, the Pinokio environment is automatically and seamlessly set up during the first launch. When that was accomplished I was eager to dive in and discover what AI applications I could use. At the top of the Pinokio browser there is a ‘Discover’ button that takes the user to a number of applications that can be setup and launched. When the discover button is pressed the user is presented with the following display of News and Apps that can be loaded.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
There are dozens of AI apps with certified scripts that can be installed. There are almost too many to choose from. I knew from experience that though my Linux computer is an i7 with 64 GB RAM that it lacks a GPU so running AI apps on that platform would mean the processing would be slow. I elected to use the M3 MacBook with 16 GB RAM. Much faster processing. My first choice was FaceFusion. FaceFusion has an Open RAIL-S license
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
FaceFusion is a powerful tool for face swapping and enhancement. I decided to install it with Pinokio on my Apple Silicon Mac. Using Pinokio it is easy to install this AI app by clicking the ‘One-Click install’ button and waiting a short period of time to install the app. Once the app is installed in Pinokio it can easily be launched from the browser.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once FaceFusion is launched I am presented with a menu interace to choose how I will run the application.
I chose ‘Run Default’ and I am presented with an elegant yet easily managed interface for enhancing facial images. In the browser I can see that FaceFusion is running on port 7860 on the localhost.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Pointing my browser to localhost:7860 I can see the FaceFusion app running.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Now I can have some fun with faces. I chose to use another AI program to generate an image of a handsome guy with blonde hair and blue eyes like I used to have earlier in life. That is the source image I am inserting into the FaceFusion app. Then I inserted a recent picture of myself taken earlier this year.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0Photo by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Five seconds later after I clicked the ‘Start’ button at the bottom of the app I have the new me. Maybe someone will develop HairFusion too. Have some fun with your images and explore FaceFusion more thoroughly.
Image created by FaceFusion
#AI #FaceFusion #Pinokio
#ai #facefusion #pinokio
Don @[email protected] · 2025-07-30 · 17:06 UTC
Simplifying local AI with Pinokio
Are you looking for a way to leverage AI without having to be a developer or an experienced coder then Pinokio is just what the doctor ordered. Best of all you can run Pinokio on your own computer so you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy. Pinokio stands out as a revolutionary tool that merges the power of open-source automation with the simplicity of a browser interface. Built with developers and curious tinkerers in mind, Pinokio is redefining what it means to use a browser—not just to explore the internet, but as a platform that allows even inexperienced users the ability to download and launch AI applications that ordinarily would require lots of know how and skill.
Using Pinokio you can easily install, run, and automate any AI tool on your computer. Anything you can execute in the command line can be streamlined using Pinokio scripts—all through an intuitive, user-friendly interface. You can use Pinokio to install AI apps, manage and run those apps, create workflows for installed AI apps. There is lots of help available to help you get started with Pinokio by following @cocktailpeanut on X or joining the Pinokio Discord to ask questions. Pinokio is open source with an MIT license.
The project has detailed directions for installation your operating system and supports Windows, macOS and Linux. I chose both the Linux and macOS installs. Pinokio is supported on both the legacy Intel Mac and the Apple Silicon Mac. If you are a Linux user like me follow this link to find either the deb or rpm package for easy installation or the source code to compile the application for yourself.
I also installed Pinokio on my M3 MacBook Air. The Apple Silicon install is a little trickier but once you follow the excellent documentation you will be up and running. Once the initial application is installed and launched on either platform, the Pinokio environment is automatically and seamlessly set up during the first launch. When that was accomplished I was eager to dive in and discover what AI applications I could use. At the top of the Pinokio browser there is a ‘Discover’ button that takes the user to a number of applications that can be setup and launched. When the discover button is pressed the user is presented with the following display of News and Apps that can be loaded.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
There are dozens of AI apps with certified scripts that can be installed. There are almost too many to choose from. I knew from experience that though my Linux computer is an i7 with 64 GB RAM that it lacks a GPU so running AI apps on that platform would mean the processing would be slow. I elected to use the M3 MacBook with 16 GB RAM. Much faster processing. My first choice was FaceFusion. FaceFusion has an Open RAIL-S license
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
FaceFusion is a powerful tool for face swapping and enhancement. I decided to install it with Pinokio on my Apple Silicon Mac. Using Pinokio it is easy to install this AI app by clicking the ‘One-Click install’ button and waiting a short period of time to install the app. Once the app is installed in Pinokio it can easily be launched from the browser.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once FaceFusion is launched I am presented with a menu interace to choose how I will run the application.
I chose ‘Run Default’ and I am presented with an elegant yet easily managed interface for enhancing facial images. In the browser I can see that FaceFusion is running on port 7860 on the localhost.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Pointing my browser to localhost:7860 I can see the FaceFusion app running.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Now I can have some fun with faces. I chose to use another AI program to generate an image of a handsome guy with blonde hair and blue eyes like I used to have earlier in life. That is the source image I am inserting into the FaceFusion app. Then I inserted a recent picture of myself taken earlier this year.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0Photo by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Five seconds later after I clicked the ‘Start’ button at the bottom of the app I have the new me. Maybe someone will develop HairFusion too. Have some fun with your images and explore FaceFusion more thoroughly.
Image created by FaceFusion
#AI #FaceFusion #Pinokio
#pinokio #facefusion #ai
Don @[email protected] · 2025-07-30 · 17:06 UTC
Simplifying local AI with Pinokio
Are you looking for a way to leverage AI withou having to be a developer or an experienced coder then Pinokio is just what the doctor ordered. Best of all you can run Pinokio on your own computer so you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy. Pinokio stands out as a revolutionary tool that merges the power of open-source automation with the simplicity of a browser interface. Built with developers, researchers, and curious tinkerers in mind, Pinokio is redefining what it means to use a browser—not just to explore the internet, but as a platform that allows even inexperienced users the ability to download and launch AI applications that ordinarily would require lots of know how and skill.
Using Pinokio you can easily install, run, and automate any AI tool on your computer. Anything you can execute in the command line can be streamlined using Pinokio scripts—all through an intuitive, user-friendly interface. You can use Pinokio to install AI apps, manage and run those apps, create workflows for installed AI apps. There is lots of help available to help you get started with Pinokio by following @cocktailpeanut on X or joining the Pinokio Discord to ask questions. Pinokio is open source with an MIT license.
The project has detailed directions for installation your operating system and supports Windows, macOS and Linux. I chose both the Linux and macOS installs. Pinokio is supported on both the legacy Intel Mac and the Apple Silicon Mac. If you are a Linux user like me follow this link to find either the deb or rpm package for easy installation or the source code to compile the application for yourself.
I also installed Pinokio on my M3 MacBook Air. The Apple Silicon install is a little trickier but once you follow the excellent documentation you will be up and running. Once the initial application is installed and launched on either platform, the Pinokio environment is automatically and seamlessly set up during the first launch. When that was accomplished I was eager to dive in and discover what AI applications I could use. At the top of the Pinokio browser there is a ‘Discover’ button that takes the user to a number of applications that can be setup and launched. When the discover button is pressed the user is presented with the following display of News and Apps that can be loaded.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
There are dozens of AI apps with certified scripts that can be installed. There are almost too many to choose from. I knew from experience that though my Linux computer is an i7 with 64 GB RAM that it lacks a GPU so running AI apps on that platform would mean the processing would be slow. I elected to use the M3 MacBook with 16 GB RAM. Much faster processing. My first choice was FaceFusion. FaceFusion has an Open RAIL-S license
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
FaceFusion is a powerful tool for face swapping and enhancement. I decided to install it with Pinokio on my Apple Silicon Mac. Using Pinokio it is easy to install this AI app by clicking the ‘One-Click install’ button and waiting a short period of time to install the app. Once the app is installed in Pinokio it can easily be launched from the browser.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once FaceFusion is launched I am presented with a menu interace to choose how I will run the application.
I chose ‘Run Default’ and I am presented with an elegant yet easily managed interface for enhancing facial images. In the browser I can see that FaceFusion is running on port 7860 on the localhost.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Pointing my browser to localhost:7860 I can see the FaceFusion app running.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Now I can have some fun with faces. I chose to use another AI program to generate an image of a handsome guy with blonde hair and blue eyes like I used to have earlier in life. That is the source image I am inserting into the FaceFusion app. Then I inserted a recent picture of myself taken earlier this year.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0Photo by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Five seconds later after I clicked the ‘Start’ button at the bottom of the app I have the new me. Maybe someone will develop HairFusion too. Have some fun with your images and explore FaceFusion more thoroughly.
Image created by FaceFusion
#AI #FaceFusion #Pinokio
#ai #facefusion #pinokio
Don @[email protected] · 2025-06-11 · 18:56 UTC

Cronopete: A Time Machine like backup for Linux
There are lots of ways to backup Linux. One of them is using the ‘tar’ command which was the first method I used many years ago when I was a Linux newbie. Later I used ‘rsync’ to backup a mail server that was running on RHEL 2.1. Linux is like a Swiss Army knife when it comes to bacup options. I’m no longer backing up file servers. These days I’m backing up my workstation or the laptop I used to write most of the articles I write. I had been using DejaDup when a fellow blogger suggested I try Cronopete. He said it was a lot like Time Machine on macOS. Having used Time Machine in the past I was familiar with the interface and the general idea.
Cronopete is one of the gems of the open source world and I’ve often wished that it were available for more than Linux. The current version is 4.19.0 and the easiest way to get it is to go to the Rastersoft website and download it for your Linux distribution. The project provides packages for ‘rpm’ and ‘deb’ based systems. You can choose to build it from source if you need a different solution. I downloaded the ‘rpm’ package for Fedora because that’s what I needed. Once the package is in my download folder I double click and it’s ready to install.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the software is installed the program creates a shortcut on the task bar at the lower right of the display.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Click on that icon and you have the option to ‘Configure the backups’. Immediately an intuitive graphic appears that’s very easy to configure options for your particular backup needs.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
At the top right of the configuration panel you are given the option to store the backups in a local folder or in an external drive. I have a one terabyted external drive for my workstation and a smaller thumb drive for the laptop. In the middle of the configuration panel there is an option to change the backup destination. Next to that is a button to choose what folders to backup. The program defaults to ‘/home/user’. Cronopete is not designed to backup an entire computer along with configuration files like Timeshift on Linux Mint. Be sure to ‘Enable backups’ at the lower left of the configuration panel.
According to the project, “As a backup utility, it makes periodically a copy of all the user files in a separate hard disk, thus allowing to recover them in case of accidentally deleting a file, or if the main hard disk gets damaged. Each copy is stored separately (one copy per hour is kept for the last 24 hours, one daily copy for the last 15 days, and one weekly copy for the rest), which means that the user can choose which copy to restore. Files that do not change between backups are stored as hard links, and thus each new copy uses much less disk space than a true full copy. Internally, it uses RSync to do all the backup work.”
Configure what you are going to backup is the next process and the interval for those backups if desired. There are advanced options which include backing up hidden files and folders and extended attributes.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once the configuration is complete I am ready to perform the backup. I am going to choose the first option to ‘Back Up Now.’ If this is your first backup Cronopete will provide you with the option of formatting the backup drive.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
If your drive is already formated choose ‘Mount and Open’ and now you are ready to begin your first backup. When the home directory is backing up the ‘anaCronopete’ icon on the task bar will appear green. When the process is complete it will return to a gray color.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After backing up the files you can open your file manager and you will find a folder marked ‘cronopete.’ Opening that folder you will find subfolders each date and time stamped for the backup that occurred.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Restoring from backup is just as easy. Return to the ‘Cronopete’ icon on the taskbar at the lower right of the display and choose ‘Restore files.’ You will be presented with a graphic of your backed up files each with a time stamp of when the backup occurred. Use the two blue arrows at the top right to find the particular backup time and either select all or select the folder and/or the file you want to restore. Highlight the file or folder and click on ‘Restore files’ at the top left of the display.
Cronopete is open source with a GPL v 3.0 license.
#backuip #cronopete #Linux

#backuip #cronopete #linux
Don @[email protected] · 2025-06-11 · 18:56 UTC

Cronopete: A Time Machine like backup for Linux
There are lots of ways to backup Linux. One of them is using the ‘tar’ command which was the first method I used many years ago when I was a Linux newbie. Later I used ‘rsync’ to backup a mail server that was running on RHEL 2.1. Linux is like a Swiss Army knife when it comes to bacup options. I’m no longer backing up file servers. These days I’m backing up my workstation or the laptop I used to write most of the articles I write. I had been using DejaDup when a fellow blogger suggested I try Cronopete. He said it was a lot like Time Machine on macOS. Having used Time Machine in the past I was familiar with the interface and the general idea.
Cronopete is one of the gems of the open source world and I’ve often wished that it were available for more than Linux. The current version is 4.19.0 and the easiest way to get it is to go to the Rastersoft website and download it for your Linux distribution. The project provides packages for ‘rpm’ and ‘deb’ based systems. You can choose to build it from source if you need a different solution. I downloaded the ‘rpm’ package for Fedora because that’s what I needed. Once the package is in my download folder I double click and it’s ready to install.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the software is installed the program creates a shortcut on the task bar at the lower right of the display.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Click on that icon and you have the option to ‘Configure the backups’. Immediately an intuitive graphic appears that’s very easy to configure options for your particular backup needs.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
At the top right of the configuration panel you are given the option to store the backups in a local folder or in an external drive. I have a one terabyted external drive for my workstation and a smaller thumb drive for the laptop. In the middle of the configuration panel there is an option to change the backup destination. Next to that is a button to choose what folders to backup. The program defaults to ‘/home/user’. Cronopete is not designed to backup an entire computer along with configuration files like Timeshift on Linux Mint. Be sure to ‘Enable backups’ at the lower left of the configuration panel.
According to the project, “As a backup utility, it makes periodically a copy of all the user files in a separate hard disk, thus allowing to recover them in case of accidentally deleting a file, or if the main hard disk gets damaged. Each copy is stored separately (one copy per hour is kept for the last 24 hours, one daily copy for the last 15 days, and one weekly copy for the rest), which means that the user can choose which copy to restore. Files that do not change between backups are stored as hard links, and thus each new copy uses much less disk space than a true full copy. Internally, it uses RSync to do all the backup work.”
Configure what you are going to backup is the next process and the interval for those backups if desired. There are advanced options which include backing up hidden files and folders and extended attributes.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once the configuration is complete I am ready to perform the backup. I am going to choose the first option to ‘Back Up Now.’ If this is your first backup Cronopete will provide you with the option of formatting the backup drive.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
If your drive is already formated choose ‘Mount and Open’ and now you are ready to begin your first backup. When the home directory is backing up the ‘anaCronopete’ icon on the task bar will appear green. When the process is complete it will return to a gray color.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After backing up the files you can open your file manager and you will find a folder marked ‘cronopete.’ Opening that folder you will find subfolders each date and time stamped for the backup that occurred.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Restoring from backup is just as easy. Return to the ‘Cronopete’ icon on the taskbar at the lower right of the display and choose ‘Restore files.’ You will be presented with a graphic of your backed up files each with a time stamp of when the backup occurred. Use the two blue arrows at the top right to find the particular backup time and either select all or select the folder and/or the file you want to restore. Highlight the file or folder and click on ‘Restore files’ at the top left of the display.
Cronopete is open source with a GPL v 3.0 license.
#backuip #cronopete #Linux

#backuip #cronopete #linux
Don @[email protected] · 2025-06-11 · 18:56 UTC

Cronopete: A Time Machine like backup for Linux
There are lots of ways to backup Linux. One of them is using the ‘tar’ command which was the first method I used many years ago when I was a Linux newbie. Later I used ‘rsync’ to backup a mail server that was running on RHEL 2.1. Linux is like a Swiss Army knife when it comes to bacup options. I’m no longer backing up file servers. These days I’m backing up my workstation or the laptop I used to write most of the articles I write. I had been using DejaDup when a fellow blogger suggested I try Cronopete. He said it was a lot like Time Machine on macOS. Having used Time Machine in the past I was familiar with the interface and the general idea.
Cronopete is one of the gems of the open source world and I’ve often wished that it were available for more than Linux. The current version is 4.19.0 and the easiest way to get it is to go to the Rastersoft website and download it for your Linux distribution. The project provides packages for ‘rpm’ and ‘deb’ based systems. You can choose to build it from source if you need a different solution. I downloaded the ‘rpm’ package for Fedora because that’s what I needed. Once the package is in my download folder I double click and it’s ready to install.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the software is installed the program creates a shortcut on the task bar at the lower right of the display.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Click on that icon and you have the option to ‘Configure the backups’. Immediately an intuitive graphic appears that’s very easy to configure options for your particular backup needs.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
At the top right of the configuration panel you are given the option to store the backups in a local folder or in an external drive. I have a one terabyted external drive for my workstation and a smaller thumb drive for the laptop. In the middle of the configuration panel there is an option to change the backup destination. Next to that is a button to choose what folders to backup. The program defaults to ‘/home/user’. Cronopete is not designed to backup an entire computer along with configuration files like Timeshift on Linux Mint. Be sure to ‘Enable backups’ at the lower left of the configuration panel.
According to the project, “As a backup utility, it makes periodically a copy of all the user files in a separate hard disk, thus allowing to recover them in case of accidentally deleting a file, or if the main hard disk gets damaged. Each copy is stored separately (one copy per hour is kept for the last 24 hours, one daily copy for the last 15 days, and one weekly copy for the rest), which means that the user can choose which copy to restore. Files that do not change between backups are stored as hard links, and thus each new copy uses much less disk space than a true full copy. Internally, it uses RSync to do all the backup work.”
Configure what you are going to backup is the next process and the interval for those backups if desired. There are advanced options which include backing up hidden files and folders and extended attributes.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once the configuration is complete I am ready to perform the backup. I am going to choose the first option to ‘Back Up Now.’ If this is your first backup Cronopete will provide you with the option of formatting the backup drive.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
If your drive is already formated choose ‘Mount and Open’ and now you are ready to begin your first backup. When the home directory is backing up the ‘anaCronopete’ icon on the task bar will appear green. When the process is complete it will return to a gray color.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After backing up the files you can open your file manager and you will find a folder marked ‘cronopete.’ Opening that folder you will find subfolders each date and time stamped for the backup that occurred.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Restoring from backup is just as easy. Return to the ‘Cronopete’ icon on the taskbar at the lower right of the display and choose ‘Restore files.’ You will be presented with a graphic of your backed up files each with a time stamp of when the backup occurred. Use the two blue arrows at the top right to find the particular backup time and either select all or select the folder and/or the file you want to restore. Highlight the file or folder and click on ‘Restore files’ at the top left of the display.
Cronopete is open source with a GPL v 3.0 license.
#backuip #cronopete #Linux

#backuip #cronopete #linux
Don @[email protected] · 2025-06-11 · 18:56 UTC

Cronopete: A Time Machine like backup for Linux
There are lots of ways to backup Linux. One of them is using the ‘tar’ command which was the first method I used many years ago when I was a Linux newbie. Later I used ‘rsync’ to backup a mail server that was running on RHEL 2.1. Linux is like a Swiss Army knife when it comes to bacup options. I’m no longer backing up file servers. These days I’m backing up my workstation or the laptop I used to write most of the articles I write. I had been using DejaDup when a fellow blogger suggested I try Cronopete. He said it was a lot like Time Machine on macOS. Having used Time Machine in the past I was familiar with the interface and the general idea.
Cronopete is one of the gems of the open source world and I’ve often wished that it were available for more than Linux. The current version is 4.19.0 and the easiest way to get it is to go to the Rastersoft website and download it for your Linux distribution. The project provides packages for ‘rpm’ and ‘deb’ based systems. You can choose to build it from source if you need a different solution. I downloaded the ‘rpm’ package for Fedora because that’s what I needed. Once the package is in my download folder I double click and it’s ready to install.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After the software is installed the program creates a shortcut on the task bar at the lower right of the display.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Click on that icon and you have the option to ‘Configure the backups’. Immediately an intuitive graphic appears that’s very easy to configure options for your particular backup needs.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
At the top right of the configuration panel you are given the option to store the backups in a local folder or in an external drive. I have a one terabyted external drive for my workstation and a smaller thumb drive for the laptop. In the middle of the configuration panel there is an option to change the backup destination. Next to that is a button to choose what folders to backup. The program defaults to ‘/home/user’. Cronopete is not designed to backup an entire computer along with configuration files like Timeshift on Linux Mint. Be sure to ‘Enable backups’ at the lower left of the configuration panel.
According to the project, “As a backup utility, it makes periodically a copy of all the user files in a separate hard disk, thus allowing to recover them in case of accidentally deleting a file, or if the main hard disk gets damaged. Each copy is stored separately (one copy per hour is kept for the last 24 hours, one daily copy for the last 15 days, and one weekly copy for the rest), which means that the user can choose which copy to restore. Files that do not change between backups are stored as hard links, and thus each new copy uses much less disk space than a true full copy. Internally, it uses RSync to do all the backup work.”
Configure what you are going to backup is the next process and the interval for those backups if desired. There are advanced options which include backing up hidden files and folders and extended attributes.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Once the configuration is complete I am ready to perform the backup. I am going to choose the first option to ‘Back Up Now.’ If this is your first backup Cronopete will provide you with the option of formatting the backup drive.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
If your drive is already formated choose ‘Mount and Open’ and now you are ready to begin your first backup. When the home directory is backing up the ‘anaCronopete’ icon on the task bar will appear green. When the process is complete it will return to a gray color.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
After backing up the files you can open your file manager and you will find a folder marked ‘cronopete.’ Opening that folder you will find subfolders each date and time stamped for the backup that occurred.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Restoring from backup is just as easy. Return to the ‘Cronopete’ icon on the taskbar at the lower right of the display and choose ‘Restore files.’ You will be presented with a graphic of your backed up files each with a time stamp of when the backup occurred. Use the two blue arrows at the top right to find the particular backup time and either select all or select the folder and/or the file you want to restore. Highlight the file or folder and click on ‘Restore files’ at the top left of the display.
Cronopete is open source with a GPL v 3.0 license.
#backuip #cronopete #Linux

#linux #cronopete #backuip
Don @[email protected] · 2025-03-07 · 23:57 UTC

Exploring Openclipart.org: A Treasure Trove of Free Vector Images
I am not a talented artist, but I enjoy using graphics for greeting cards, posters, and occasionally hoodies or t-shirts. When I need an image of a creature such as a cow, horse, or eagle, I turn to Openclipart.org. This unique platform is dedicated to providing a vast collection of free-to-use vector graphics. Launched in 2004, the site has grown into one of the largest repositories of clipart, featuring thousands of contributions from artists worldwide.
Why Choose Openclipart.org?
1. Completely Free and Open
One of the standout features of Openclipart.org is its commitment to open access. All images on the platform are released into the public domain, which means you can use them for any purpose—personal, educational, or commercial—without any concerns about copyright restrictions. This liberating approach empowers users to incorporate visual elements confidently into their projects.
2. Extensive and Diverse Collection
The diversity of clipart available on Openclipart.org is truly impressive. There’s something for everyone, from simple icons and logos to intricate illustrations and themed collections. Whether you’re designing a website, creating educational materials, or crafting a presentation, you’ll find an abundance of resources to enhance your work.
3. User-Friendly Interface
Navigating Openclipart.org is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The site offers robust search functionality, allowing you to quickly find the perfect image. Categories and tags further streamline the process, making it easy to explore and discover new artwork.
4. Community-Driven
Openclipart.org thrives on community contributions. Artists from all walks of life share their creations, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. This sense of community not only enriches the platform but also encourages creativity and learning among users.
5. Customization and Versatility
The vector format of the clipart ensures that the images are easily scalable and editable. Whether you need to tweak colors, resize elements, or combine multiple graphics, Openclipart.org’s resources provide the flexibility to tailor images to your specific needs.
Recently I have been looking for a way to give a special birthday present to a friend. My friend lives on a dairy farm. I wanted to incorporate a cow into my design that could be used on a hoodie. I could easily download a vector graphic image of a cow from Openclipart.org. I used Inkscape to add text around the picture, and I saved the complete design as a vector graphic. I love using vector graphics in my designs because they can be easily resized and incorporated into other without danger of pixelation or distortion.
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
Conclusion
Openclipart.org is more than just a repository of clipart; It’s a community of clipart and artists willing to share their work so that others may enjoy it too. Next time you’re in need of visual inspiration or an image for one of your own creations I suggest you head over to Openclipart.org to find the perfect image to elevate your project.
#art #clipart #inkscape #OpenSource #openclipart

#art #clipart #inkscape #opensource #openclipart