Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 559 for the week of December 23 - 29, 2018.

In this Issue

Ubuntu Stats

Hot in Support

Lo Co Events

security things in Linux v4.20

Canonical News

In the Blogosphere

Other Articles of Interest

Featured Audio and Video

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Updates and Security for 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, and 18.10

And much more!

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

Open: 135717 (+78)

Critical: 393 (0)

Unconfirmed: 66262 (+26)

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Translations

Ukrainian: 87.29% (34715/901)

Spanish: 84.90% (41233/2543)

German: 84.90% (41243/299)

Bosnian: 79.96% (54715/154)

French: 79.45% (56126/6174)

Hot in Support

Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions

Python2.7 not working in 18.04, python3 is installed - https://askubuntu.com/questions/1104397/python2-7-not-working-in-18-04-python3-is-installed

Is it safe to use standard input & output with binary data? - https://askubuntu.com/questions/1105348/is-it-safe-to-use-standard-input-output-with-binary-data

Convert .csv file to .ods using terminal - https://askubuntu.com/questions/1105378/convert-csv-file-to-ods-using-terminal

How do I close a pdf from Ubuntu command line? - https://askubuntu.com/questions/1105119/how-do-i-close-a-pdf-from-ubuntu-command-line

I cant make a .theme folder or .icon folder in nautilus [closed] - https://askubuntu.com/questions/1104249/i-cant-make-a-theme-folder-or-icon-folder-in-nautilus

Ask (and answer!) questions at: https://askubuntu.com/

Ubuntu Forums Top 5 Threads

Ubuntu installer does not recognize SSD - https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2408864

Can't boot an old ubuntu HDD in a new case/computer - https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2408824

fstab didn't works during boot - https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2409097

Image Magic? - https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2409077

Lbuntu 16.n: How to reconfigure Xorg from the command-line - https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2408820

Find more support at: https://ubuntuforums.org/

LoCo Events

The following Lo Co team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks:

Tempe Ubuntu Hour, Arizona Lo Co Team: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-arizona/3809-tempe-ubuntu-hour/

Sierra Vista Ubuntu Hour, Arizona Lo Co Team: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-arizona/3810-sierra-vista-ubuntu-hour/

Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the Lo Co Team Portal to browse upcoming events around the world: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/

The Planet

security things in Linux v4.20

Kees Cook writes " Linux kernel v4.20 has been released today! Looking through the changes, here are some security-related things I found interesting". The list includes stackleak plugin, raise faults for kernel addresses in copy_*_user(), spectre v2 userspace mitigation, jump labels read-only after init, and VLA removal finished.

http://planet.ubuntu.com/

Canonical News

Top Snaps in 2018 - https://blog.ubuntu.com/2018/12/27/top-snaps-in-2018

I have a need, a need for snap - https://blog.ubuntu.com/2018/12/27/i-have-a-need-a-need-for-snap

The evolution of Canonical at Kube Con - https://blog.ubuntu.com/2018/12/27/the-evolution-of-canonical-at-kubecon

In the Blogosphere

Wine-Staging 4.0-RC3 Will Now Crash Less For Windows Games/Applications

Michael Larabel gives us some updates from last week's report on the latest release of Wine-Staging 4.0-RC3. These twenty plus new patches address different crash fixes and Michael provides a list of the applications, tools, programs, and the changes that are affected. A link is provided to the new Wine-Staging update and Michael advises that Wine-Staging will continue tracking upstream until the final that is expected in January.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Wine-Staging-4.0-RC3

Debootstrap 1.0.112 Released To Speed Up The Bootstrapping Of Debian

Michael Larabel reports that debootstrap author Thomas Lange has released Debootstrap 1.0.112. The release includes a set of patches that significantly decrease the boot time process on Debian systems. Michael provides the link to the release announcement for more details.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Debootstrap-1.0.112-Released

Ubuntu Mir Developer Creates New Wayland Debug Tool

Michael Larabel advises that a new Wayland debug tool has been developed by William Wold of Canonical's Mir team. "This Wayland Debug tool offers in-depth reporting of Wayland protocol messages, supports multiple connections, and also supports breakpoints on Wayland messages." Links are provided to the Git Hub code and to discourse.ubuntu.com for more details.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-Mir-Wayland-Debug

Michael Larabel reports on the back-porting of relevant fixes/updates to the legacy xf86-video-ati X.Org driver, as provided by AMD's Michel Dänzer. In the thirteen patches are maintenance works for gamma correction, TearFree, hardware cursor buffers, and other changes. Michael remarks that it is nice to see the TLC on this ageing driver when much of the present effort is devoted to kernel DRM/KMS drivers.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Radeon-DDX-EOY-2018

Mesa 18.2.8 Released With Driver Fixes To End Out The Series

Michael Larabel reports on the final point release in the Mesa 18.2 series. The release features many backports supporting Linux graphics driver stacks, fixes to its Meson build system, fixes to the Gallium "Nine" Direct3D 9 state tracker, a few VirGL driver fixes, a RADV hang fix, as well as other patches. However, Michael advises "In order to continue receiving OpenGL/Vulkan open-source driver updates, users are encouraged to transition to Mesa 18.3.". The complete list of the changes is available in a provided link to the release announcement.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Mesa-18.2.8-Released

Wine 4.0-RC4 Is Out For Testing While The Official Release Expected Next Month

Michael Larabel once more updates us on the state of Wine 4.0 in this the fourth weekly release candidate from lead Wine developer Alexandre Julliard. Though continuing in feature freeze several bugs have been addressed. A link is provided to WineHQ.org for more details.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Wine-4.0-RC4-Released

Other Articles of Interest

Seravo blog: Linux and open source – technology and strategy: Ubuntu/Gnome on a tablet - https://seravo.fi/2018/ubuntu-gnome-on-a-tablet

Featured Audio and Video

Ubuntu Podcast from the UK LoCo: S11E42 – 42 Habits for Minimalism

"This week we have been writing Bash scripts and using Code page 437. We bring you our predictions for 2019 and also our listener predictions for 2019, plus a command line lurve and all your feedback."

http://ubuntupodcast.org/2018/12/27/s11e42-42-habits-for-minimalism/

Ubuntu Portugal Podcast: S01E17 - Between Parties

"Still with a full of dreams, still without David, but already heating up for entry in 2019, in this episode we talked about Fosdem gaming, networking, Nextcloud and Purism."

https://podcastubuntuportugal.org/2018/12/28/s01e17-entre-festas/

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Developer Membership Board: Mon, December 31, 7pm – 8pm

Desktop Team: Tue, January 1, 2019, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Kernel Team: Tue, January 1, 2019, 5pm – 6pm

Technical Board: Tue, January 1, 2019, 8pm – 9pm

Ubuntu Translations: Thu, January 3, 2019, 4pm – 5pm

Ubuntu Foundations: Thu, January 3, 2019, 4pm – 5pm

Community Council: Thu, January 3, 2019, 5pm – 7pm

Ubuntu Membership Board: Thu, January 3, 2019, 8pm – 9pm

Ubuntu Membership Board: Thu, January 3, 2019, 10pm – 11pm

For more details and farther dates please visit: http://fridge.ubuntu.com/calendars/

[LSN-0046-1] Linux kernel vulnerability - https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-security-announce/2018-December/004718.html

[USN-3847-2] Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities - https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-security-announce/2018-December/004716.html

[USN-3849-1] Linux kernel vulnerabilities - https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-security-announce/2018-December/004717.html

None reported this week.

End of Life: April 2019

None reported this week.

End of Life: April 2021

None reported this week.

End of Life: April 2023

None reported this week.

End of Life: July 2019

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Archive

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Further News

As always you can find more Ubuntu news and announcements at:

Conclusion

Thank you for reading the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter.

See you next week!

Credits

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter is brought to you by:

Krytarik Raido

Bashing-om

Chris Guiver

Wild Man

The Nerdy Anarchist

And many others

Glossary of Terms

Other acronyms can be found at: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/glossary

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