Emulating systems with QEMU
Here’s how I boot other systems using virtual machines in QEMU
Make typing faster with the Keebio BDN9 macro pad
My brother recently gave me a Keebio BDN9 macro pad. It’s a configurable 9-key keyboard that supports all kinds of customizations, including little keycaps that...
Code like it’s the 1980s
Our computers are so powerful today that it’s hard for younger developers to understand what early desktop computing was like. Even more experienced folks can...
Standard UNIX password manager
The pass command is a password manager that uses GPG encryption to keep your passwords safe, and it features several system integrations so you can...
GIMP: the free Photoshop alternative
The GNU Image Manipulation Program, the acronymous, free drawing program, is often also named as the free Photoshop alternative: GIMP. I’ve used it since 2009....
The case of the Borked HDD
It all started this morning when I went to start my regular Saturday yoga session. I have a room at home that has all my...
The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins, Tenet 20—Follow your curiosity
I love to learn new things. I was fortunate in that my curiosity led me to a lifetime of working with my favorite toys – computers. There are many things on Earth and in this Universe to be curious about. Computers and related technology just seem to be the thing I enjoy the most.
How to get started with Linux
Many of the messages I see in the #Linux feeds on BlueSky and mastodon are Windows users lamenting the end of Support for Windows 10. Many are unable to upgrade to Win11 because their hardware won’t support it. Others are fed up with Windows in general and their efforts to force user to upgrade with suggestions like donating their old computers to purchase a new Win11 one.
How to find Open Source Software to replace your Windows software
Author's note: This article is based on Chapter 6 of my book, "Linux for Small Business Owners," with my coauthor and yoga teacher Cyndi Bulka....
Mastering Screenshots with KDE Spectacle:
Writing blog posts that share my experiences with Linux and open-source software often requires screenshots of accomplishing a task or an expected outcome. Over time,...
Beware Fedora updates of April 28, 2025
It breaks iptables with no warning I'm rather angry right now but I promise to remain calm -- at least in this post. I just...
Learning to use System Settings in Fedora KDE Plasma
I have been using Fedora with the KDE Plasma desktop environment for almost three months, and overall, it’s been a wonderful experience. However, I’ve encountered...
Draw in color using Portable Pix Maps
Create colorful images using the Portable Pix Map format.
The duf command
The duf command is an advanced form of the df command that uses boxes to separate the storage device types into local, fuse (User space file storage), and special devices.
Grayscale images with Portable Gray Maps
Learn to write grayscale images using the Portable Gray Map format.
Five things I like about the Cinnamon desktop
I’m not a distro-hopper; I’m a desktop-hopper. But I try many different desktops just to see what they’re like. Cinnamon boasts features usually found only in desktops with much greater resource consumption, like GNOME or KDE Plasma 6.X.