Tag: linux

Steam on Linux: It Actually Works Now

Steam crossed 5% Linux usage in March 2026. Proton runs most Windows games without touching a config file. Here's the setup that makes Linux gaming not suck.

Shell Setup in 2026: Starship, Plugins, Fish

Oh My Zsh had its moment. Here's the 2026 shell setup: Starship prompt, three killer plugins, and when to consider Fish or Nushell.

MySQL & MariaDB CLI in 2026: What Changed

MySQL 8.0 broke auth, MariaDB forked hard, and Docker changed how you connect. Here's what still works and what'll bite you.

Systemd Socket Activation: Start Services Only When Someone Actually Knocks

Learn systemd socket activation to start services on-demand, save RAM, and cut boot time. Includes .socket unit files, real examples, and testing with systemd-socket-activate.

Bulk File Renaming on Linux: rename, vidir, fd

Master bulk file renaming on Linux with rename, vidir, fd, and mmv. The right tool for every scenario from regex rewrites to visual editing.

Disk Space Tools in 2026: Beyond du and df

du and df still work, but Rust-era tools like dust, duf, and fclones make disk triage faster and way less painful in 2026.

Compression in 2026: zstd Changed the Game

zstd is as fast as gzip with near-xz compression ratios. Here's why you should drop bzip2 forever and how to use zstd in 2026.

Linux Suspend and Hibernate: Teaching Your Machine to Take a Nap Without Dying

Linux suspend vs hibernate explained: sleep states, swap setup, initramfs resume hook, wake-on-LAN, lid close behavior, and fixing common hibernate failures on modern Linux systems.

Sysctl Tuning: The Linux Kernel Knobs That Actually Matter

Learn which sysctl parameters actually improve Linux server performance. Network tuning, memory management, and a ready-to-use sysctl.conf for Docker hosts.

VLAN Basics for Home Labs: Segment Your Network Before It Segments You

Learn VLAN basics for your home lab: 802.1Q tagging, trunk vs access ports, managed switch setup, and pfSense VLAN configuration to isolate IoT, guests, and your NAS.

Port Knocking: Simple Obscurity for SSH Access

Hide your SSH port from scanners with port knocking. It's not a replacement for security, but it's a valid defense-in-depth tactic.

Linux Audio in 2026: PipeWire Replaced Everything

PipeWire replaced PulseAudio and ALSA routing on every major distro. Here's the new audio stack, CLI tools, and how to fix the annoying stuff.