The Linux world never stands still — and this week proved exactly why we love it. From security patches and gaming breakthroughs to desktop revolutions and hardware announcements, we’ve seen one of the most impactful weeks in recent Linux history. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, the developments we’re about to explore will shape your Linux experience in 2025 and beyond.
So grab your favorite drink, sit back, and let’s walk through all the major updates that made headlines across the Linux ecosystem this week.
🛡️ Critical Linux Kernel Security Updates: TSA Vulnerabilities
Let’s start with something every Linux user should pay attention to — security.
On July 10, 2025, Linux kernel maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman released several important stable kernel versions:
- 6.15.6
- 6.12.37 LTS
- 6.6.97 LTS
- 6.1.144 LTS
- 5.15.187 LTS
These updates include mitigations for a newly discovered security class known as Transient Scheduler Attacks (TSA) — a side-channel vulnerability targeting specific AMD processors.
🔍 What Are TSA Vulnerabilities?
TSA allows attackers to infer sensitive information by observing the CPU’s internal scheduling behavior — essentially “peeking” into what your system is doing behind the scenes. Think of it like someone overhearing fragments of a private conversation and piecing together critical details.
🛠 How to Stay Protected?
You need two layers of protection:
- Updated Linux kernel with TSA mitigations
- Updated CPU microcode or firmware from your system or motherboard vendor
If you’re using Arch, Gentoo, or a custom build, apply the updates manually. For users on Ubuntu, Fedora, or openSUSE, updates should arrive automatically depending on your update settings.
The fixes were first implemented in the 6.16 development kernel, and then quickly backported to all LTS branches, showing the urgency and seriousness of this issue.
⚠️ Ubuntu 24.10 Reaches End of Life: What You Must Do Now
Another major development — Ubuntu 24.10 (Oracular Oriole) officially reached end-of-life on July 10, 2025.
📅 What Does EOL Mean?
Canonical no longer provides:
- Security updates
- Package updates
- Official support of any kind
If you’re still on Ubuntu 24.10, your system is now vulnerable and unsupported.
🧭 What Are Your Upgrade Options?
You have two choices:
- Upgrade to Ubuntu 25.04 (“Plucky Puffin”) – latest interim release with 9 months of support.
- Switch to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS – long-term support until 2029.
📝 Final tip: Before EOL, Canonical shipped a final kernel update (6.11.0) to help smooth your transition.
If you’re unsure, the LTS path is recommended — more stability, fewer interruptions.
💻 Desktop Environment Shake-Up: GNOME 49 Disables X11 by Default
Let’s move to the Linux desktop experience — and it’s undergoing a seismic shift.
With GNOME 49 Alpha, X11 sessions are disabled by default. Yes, GNOME is finally saying goodbye to the X Window System — a technology that has powered Linux desktops for over three decades.
🌐 Why the Shift to Wayland?
Wayland is:
- More secure (no window-sniffing or keylogging between apps)
- More efficient with modern hardware
- Designed for high-DPI displays, multi-monitor setups, and touchscreens
The final GNOME 49 release is scheduled for September 17, 2025, but this move signals that Wayland is now production-ready.
🎮 Linux Gaming Levels Up: Anti-Lag 2, FSR 4, Mesa 25.2 & More
Gamers, get ready — this week delivered huge improvements for Linux gaming.
🆕 Anti-Lag 2 Comes to Linux (via CachyOS)
Previously a Windows-only AMD feature, Anti-Lag 2 reduces input delay in fast-paced games. It’s now supported on Linux via:
- Patched Mesa drivers (VK_AMD_anti_lag Vulkan layer)
- Included in mesa-git on CachyOS
Combined with Proton-CachyOS, you can now enable:
PROTON_FSR4_UPGRADE=1
This allows FSR 3.1 games to use FSR 4, AMD’s latest upscaling tech for smoother framerates without sacrificing image quality.
✅ For context, FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is AMD’s competitor to NVIDIA’s DLSS.
⚙️ More Driver Enhancements:
- Mesa 25.2 branching next week with PowerVR Vulkan driver updates
- Intel Mesa updates now let you disable Xe3 VRT (Variable Register Threading), giving more fine-tuned GPU control
🎮 Hardware Support Expands
- CachyOS Handheld Edition now officially supports Lenovo Legion Go, making it a Steam Deck competitor with native Linux support.
🧠 Desktop Environment Updates: KDE, Wayland, and Visual Upgrades
Wayland’s rise isn’t limited to GNOME.
🖼️ KDE Plasma 6.3.6
- Focuses on polishing and stability
- Incremental improvements in window management, system settings, and multi-display support
🧰 KDE Frameworks 6.16
- Provides updated Qt libraries
- Continues KDE’s push for full Wayland compatibility
🌈 New Wayland Compositor Updates
- Labwc 0.9: wlroots 0.19 support
- Miracle-WM 0.6: Adds visual features like rounded corners
🖥️ Community and Hardware Developments
Let’s now explore some exciting announcements beyond software.
🧱 System76 Unveils Adder WS Laptop
- Linux-optimized powerhouse
- Fully tested for perfect Linux compatibility
- Reflects the growing market for native Linux hardware
🏢 Red Hat Offers Free RHEL Access for Business Developers
This is a big step in opening up enterprise Linux development:
- Helps small teams learn RHEL without license hurdles
- Strengthens ecosystem participation
✨ App Highlights This Week
It wasn’t just kernel and desktop news — many key Linux applications also got updates.
| Application | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Thunderbird 140 (“Eclipse”) | Adds experimental Exchange support |
| Amarok 3.3 | Qt6 + GStreamer support |
| OBS Studio 31.1 | Adds Windows on ARM support (upstream benefits for Linux) |
| Krita 5.2.10 | Bug fixes ahead of major update |
| Kdenlive 25.04.3 | Final bug fixes for current cycle |
💸 Community Sustainability: Bottles Team Asks for Funding
The Bottles project (which lets you run Windows apps on Linux easily) issued a public call for funding to maintain development.
This is a powerful reminder that:
- Open source projects often rely on donations and contributors
- Supporting your favorite tools = helping Linux thrive
🧠 Frequently Asked Questions
❓Is Wayland ready for daily use?
Yes, for most users. GNOME, KDE, and many distributions now default to Wayland. However, if you use legacy apps (e.g., old screen recorders), test before fully switching.
❓Can I still use X11?
Absolutely. Most distros still offer X11 as a fallback session, especially in cases where Wayland compatibility isn’t 100%.
❓Do I need to worry about TSA vulnerabilities?
Only if you have an affected AMD processor and haven’t updated your kernel or firmware. Apply updates as soon as available to stay safe.
❓Will I lose data if I upgrade from Ubuntu 24.10?
If you upgrade correctly (via the Ubuntu upgrade tool), your data will be preserved. But always back up before major version changes.
🔄 Recap of Major Highlights
Here’s a quick summary of everything that made waves:
- ✅ Kernel 6.15.6 and LTS updates patch TSA vulnerabilities
- ⚠️ Ubuntu 24.10 reached EOL – users must upgrade
- 🎨 GNOME 49 Alpha disables X11, signaling Wayland as the new standard
- 🎮 Linux gaming boosted by Anti-Lag 2, FSR 4, and Mesa updates
- 🧰 System76 launches Linux-first laptop
- 📧 Thunderbird, Amarok, OBS, and more get solid updates
- 💸 Bottles highlights the need for sustainable funding in open source
🔭 What to Expect Next Week?
- Mesa 25.2 branching → new Vulkan features
- Linux 6.16 RC6 arrives
- Possible deep dive into Wayland adoption, troubleshooting, and usage tips
📝 Final Thoughts
This week was a shining example of how dynamic, responsive, and user-focused the Linux ecosystem truly is. From desktop graphics to cutting-edge gaming, from serious security to serious fun — Linux continues to evolve in all the right ways.
If you’re not already following weekly Linux developments, now’s the time to start. These changes are not just about new features — they’re about building a more secure, performant, and open computing future.
Until next time — keep exploring, keep tinkering, and as always…
Keep doing Linux.
Tags: linux news, ubuntu 24.10 end of life, gnome 49, x11 vs wayland, linux kernel security, cachyos updates, mesa anti-lag 2, linux gaming, kde plasma 6.3, system76 adder ws, open source support, linux desktop environment, proton fsr4 upgrade, red hat rhel access, linux app updates
Hashtags:
#LinuxNews #Ubuntu2410 #Wayland #GNOME49 #AntiLag2 #Mesa25 #LinuxGaming #OpenSource #System76 #KDEPlasma6 #LinuxSecurity #CachyOS #RedHat #TSAvulnerability #BottlesApp
