Alpine Linux has officially released version 3.19.0, marking the introduction of the v3.19 stable series. This release encompasses various updates and improvements across the system.

Core Component Upgrades

• Linux Kernel (6.6): The update includes a transition to Linux kernel version 6.6, focusing on stability and compatibility enhancements.

• Compiler (GCC 13.2): Alpine Linux now incorporates GCC version 13.2, providing developers with the latest compiler features and optimizations for software development.

• Scripting Language (Perl 5.38): The release adopts Perl version 5.38, introducing bug fixes and improvements for users working with the scripting language.

Virtualization and Database Updates

• Xen Hypervisor (4.18): Alpine Linux 3.19.0 brings an upgrade to Xen version 4.18, incorporating security, performance, and architectural enhancements.

• PostgreSQL (16): The PostgreSQL database is updated to version 16, offering users the latest features and improvements in the open-source relational database system.

• Node.js (LTS 20.10): The LTS version of Node.js is now at 20.10, providing a stable platform for server-side JavaScript applications.

• Ceph Storage (18.2): Alpine Linux includes Ceph version 18.2, enhancing distributed storage capabilities.

Notable Changes and Upgrade Notes

• Raspberry Pi 5 Support: Alpine Linux 3.19.0 introduces support for Raspberry Pi 5.

• Kernel Consolidation: The linux-rpi4 and linux-rpi2 kernels have been replaced by a unified linux-rpi.

• Routing Scheme Update (Yggdrasil): Yggdrasil, the networking software, has been upgraded to version 0.5, featuring a new routing scheme that may require adjustments for compatibility.

• Package Management (Python): Python’s package directory is now marked as externally managed, impacting pip installations to system directories managed by apk. Users are advised to consider alternatives such as pipx.

For a comprehensive list of changes, users can refer to the release notes, git log, and bug tracker.

As always, users are recommended to use apk upgrade --available when transitioning between major versions.

Home Assistant has just released its final update for 2023, and it’s packed with exciting features and improvements. The new release, version 2023.12, is all about making your smart home experience even better.

One of the highlights of this release is the redesigned login page. It now features a modern and welcoming design that greets you when you access Home Assistant via your local home network. The login page is smart enough to remember your login when you’re at home, eliminating the need to repeatedly log in. And when you’re accessing Home Assistant from outside your home network, the login page still ensures the security of your system by asking for your username and password.

The thermostat card has also received a makeover in this release. It now matches the stunning new entity dialog introduced in a previous release. The new design is not only visually pleasing but also adds support for features like HVAC mode buttons and presets, giving you more control and customization options.

Another exciting addition is the numeric input feature for tile cards. This feature allows you to control number entities and number helpers directly from the tile card. You can choose to use it as a slider or as an input with up/down buttons, making it easier than ever to interact with your smart home devices.

The default dashboard now offers more options to customize its behavior. You can hide certain areas, hide entities that don’t belong to an area, and even hide the energy summary card. This gives you greater control over your dashboard and allows you to tailor it to your specific needs.

The history dashboard has also received significant improvements in this release. It now combines state history with long-term statistics, providing you with insights into the past. This enhancement allows you to look back further in time and analyze data more effectively.

Home Assistant continues to expand its integration offerings with new additions in this release. Devialet, Linear Garage Door, MyPermobil, OurGroceries, and V2C are now supported integrations, giving you even more options to connect and automate your smart home devices.

In addition to these major updates, there are numerous other improvements and bug fixes in this release. The full changelog can be found on the Home Assistant website.

PhotoPrism has recently released a new version of its AI-powered photos app. This app is designed for the decentralized web and utilizes advanced technologies to automatically tag and organize pictures. Whether you run it on your home server or in the cloud, PhotoPrism aims to provide a seamless experience for managing your photos.

The latest release of PhotoPrism includes updated dependencies and fixes for recently discovered issues. It also introduces official installation packages with binaries for Linux, which are now available as an alternative to using Docker images. However, it’s worth noting that this installation method is recommended for experienced users only, as it requires manual setup and does not include all dependencies.

Here are some of the new features and improvements included in this release:

• Search: Improved camera and lens information in the cards view details.
• Search: Fixed cards view rendering when a lens has no model description.
• Search: Added filter to find pictures by resolution range in Megapixels (MP).
• PWA: Fixed list of available icon sizes in the app manifest file.
• JPEG: Fixed regression when handling image files with EOF error.
• JPEG: Fixed indexing of image files with invalid color metadata.
• JPEG/PNG: Added panic handler for unexpected thumbnail save errors.
• HEIC: Upgraded Libheif from version 1.13.0 to 1.17.1.
• RAW: Upgraded Darktable from version 4.2.1 to 4.4.2.
• Videos: Improved performance when extracting still images for creating thumbnails.
• Vectors: Improved SVG conversion using RSVG instead of ImageMagick.
• Docker: Upgraded base image from Ubuntu 23.04 to 23.10 (Mantic Minotaur).
• Setup: Added tar.gz, deb, and rpm packages for installation without Docker.
• Security: Updated Go to the latest stable release v1.21.4.

These updates and enhancements aim to provide users with a more seamless and efficient experience when organizing and managing their photo collections. Whether you are a photography enthusiast or simply looking for a robust self-hosted solution, PhotoPrism offers a comprehensive set of features to meet your needs.

To learn more about the latest release and to download the installation packages, visit the PhotoPrism GitHub page.

OpenZFS has released versions 2.2.2 and 2.1.14 to address a critical data corruption issue.

The bug, which was discovered due to changes in cp in coreutils 9.x, could cause data corruption due to an incorrect dirty dnode check. While it is unlikely that the bug was encountered on EL7, EL8, or EL9 when running cp, it is still recommended that users upgrade to either version 2.2.2 or 2.1.14 to ensure the fix is applied.

In addition to the data corruption fix, the release includes several other bug fixes and improvements. These include fixing ZFS so that snapshots under .zfs/snapshot are NFS visible on FreeBSD, addressing compatibility issues with Linux 6.6, and fixing build and shell-init errors on FreeBSD.

For a full list of changes and bug fixes, refer to the release notes.

Xen Orchestra has unveiled version 5.89, featuring over 20 new enhancements and functionalities. Noteworthy developments include Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware for over $60 billion, impacting the virtualization industry. Xen Orchestra’s team has expanded with new members, alongside the release of Xen 4.18, where one of their developers secured a Top 10 contributor spot. The landscape of virtualization is explored in light of industry shifts, emphasizing Vates’ innovative ‘Bundles’ amid these changes.

Xen Orchestra’s growth includes the addition of Bastien, focusing on XO’s backend, and a dedicated member for Project Pyrgos, concentrating on k8s cluster creation. Positive feedback surrounds the Rust Linux tools, with updates driven by community input. Backup functionality improvements introduce features like differential restore, API/CLI file-level restore, and enhanced XO Lite with a more compact interface, improved dashboard, and added functionalities.

The REST API sees updates for versatility, including user management, VDI content import, and XVA file management. Enhanced integration with Netbox facilitates optional synchronization between XO users and Netbox’s “tenant” entity, enhancing user activity tracking. Compatibility with XCP-ng 8.3 brings detailed task monitoring for coalesce, among other tailored features.

Additional improvements cover token management, VM booting with disk and ISO, console view disablement, and clearer messages for actions like forgetting a Storage Repository. Xen Orchestra 5.89 solidifies its position as a comprehensive solution for XCP-ng infrastructure management, demonstrating ongoing innovation and expansion within the Xen Orchestra team. The full changelog is available here.

Matrix has announced the release of Matrix v1.9, a specification for open-federated Instant Messaging (IM), Voice over IP (VoIP), and Internet of Things (IoT) communication. This release is primarily a maintenance update, focusing on clarifications and bug fixes. The changelog for Matrix v1.9 includes changes to the Client-Server API, Server-Server API, Appendices, and Internal Changes/Tooling. One of the key features of Matrix is its messaging interoperability, allowing it to connect multiple messaging providers with a common communications fabric. Matrix has been working with the MIMI working group at the IETF to establish a federation protocol for messaging in compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Additionally, Matrix is exploring the implementation of custom emoji/stickers, with ongoing discussions and experiments. Overall, Matrix v1.9 aims to improve the functionality and stability of the Matrix ecosystem, providing users with a reliable and secure communication platform.

Source: Matrix.