Episode Details

It’s Sunday! Which means it’s time for some Linux, Alternative OS, & Retro Computing news!

You know… the important stuff.

The podcast & the article! All in one spot! Huzzah!

GNU toolchain hosting moving to… Linux Foundation

It appears that the GNU toolchain projects — which includes GCC, Make and glibc — are preparing to move their hosting entirely to… The Linux Foundation.

Seriously.

From the announcement:

“During the Sourceware / Infrastructure BoF sessions at GNU Cauldron, the GNU Toolchain community in collaboration with the Linux Foundation and OpenSSF, announced the GNU Toolchain Infrastructure project (GTI). The collaboration includes a fund for infrastructure and software supply chain security, which will allow us to utilize the respected Linux Foundation IT (LF IT) services that host kernel.org and to fund other important projects.”

This will definitely not end badly. *cough*

VM2 - a modern VMU for the Sega Dreamcast!

A new project to create a modern, updated memory unit for the Sega Dreamcast has raised almost 150 thousand dollars over on Idiegogo. And, I gotta say, it looks kinda awesome.

“The VM2 project aims in the total reproduction and upgrade of the original VMU for our beloved Dreamcast. The VMU was one of the greatest console's assets, but with many design flaws. Now, with the VM2, all of these flaws are eliminated giving the user an experience that truly feels like next-gen! Internally, the VM2 received a totally fresh design with modern electronics. Externally, it is upgraded and at the same time keeps the original looks & feels, as a tribute to the original VMU.

Features & Upgrades

* ​New monochrome backlit LCD

* Higher screen resolution

* Micro-SD storage

* Internal storage of 128KB (200 blocks)

* Embedded High-capacity battery

* USB-C port (for charging & connecting to a PC)

* Original Audio support

* DreamEye support

* Original language support (EN/JP)

* LCD game images streaming to PC

* Charging from both the controller, and the USB-C port

* Support for VM2-to-VM2 connection (with future firmware update)”

NES-OS… an OS. For the NES.

There is a new OS — albeit a limited one — for the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES-OS.

“NESOS is an operating system designed for the Nintendo Entertainment and Family Computer Systems. The operating system features two core applications, the word processor, and the settings. The word processor allows users to print characters and certain blocks to the screen, then save that data in the form of a file for later use or editing. The settings app displays system information and lets the user select one of seven cursors, and one of 53 possible desktop background colors. It also acts as the file manager, allowing users to delete their saved files.”

It’s limited. Highly limited. Only able to save 8 files (of up to 2k each). But, still. Super cool that it was done at all.

Fun side note: This is not the first project called “NES-OS”. There was another one created 6 yeas ago, which you can find on Git Hub, which took a completely different approach. That one consisting of a design for a PS/2 hardware interface (so a keyboard could be connected to the NES), a command line, a BrainF interpreter, and two sample games (Life and Snake)

Fedora shipping without some codecs

Fedora 37