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October 26, 2020
Lunduke's Perfect Operating System

There have been a few questions from the community lately that have got me thinking (again -- my mind goes here fairly regularly) about what my ideal Operating System looks like.

Figured I'd make myself a list and publish it here. See what all you lovely nerds think of my "Perfect OS". :)

Probably built on Linux

Linux is so mature, with such great hardware support, this just makes sense. There are other great kernels and base systems out there... but hard to think of a good reason to not use Linux.

No On-Line updates.

If I want an update, I'll download it myself and install it, thank you very much. :)

No On-Line software repositories or stores.

Same goes for software. If I want to install an application, I'll download it (or get it off physical media) and put it on my computer myself.

In fact, no On-Line functionality in the OS at all.

No activation. No phone-home functionality. Applications can have all the connectivity they like, but the base OS itself? Shouldn't ever require the Internet. For anything. Zero exceptions.

All applications as single, movable file

I prefer the old-school Mac way of doing applications. Want to install a piece of software? Drag and drop it to your computer. Done. On Linux this can be accomplished via AppImage. I think that's how it should be.

No rapid releases

Releasing new versions every 6 months is not great. Every year? Better, but still too frequent. I would propose new major releases every... 5 years? Maybe. Part of me wants to say 10 years, but 5 years might be a nice sweet spot. Computers should last. And so should the software that runs on them. This is good for the environment, good for software compatibility, good for the soul. When new releases do come out? Focused on making sure applications continue to be backwards compatible. And forwards compatible. I want to be able to use the exact same version of a word processor in 2020 as in 2035.

One Desktop Environment

The look and feel of an OS should always be customizable. Window decorator themes, etc. are a good thing. But focusing on just one Desktop Environment makes it easier to ensure a good experience and software compatibility. Not sure which of the existing Desktop Environments would be the right way to go. Probably MATE, XFCE, CDE, or something along those lines. Fast, light, lean, clean. Modern GNOME and KDE are a no-go.

Modest System Requirements

The OS itself should not take a gig of space. 1 gig of RAM should be more than enough for the system to run smoothly (some applications could obviously require much more... but not the OS itself or the default software it ships with). The goal here is that the system should run (and run well) on low-end, currently available hardware -- with an eye towards long-term hardware compatibility.

Thoughts on viability of this approach

Creating such a system is, obviously, completely viable. All the pieces exist already (in use by various Linux distributions, etc.), just waiting to be assembled and tweaked for this setup.

Once created, is this a system that others would want to use?

Honestly? No clue.

I mean, I sure want to use this. If this existed right now, I would be using it today. There are a few systems out there (such as Puppy and PCLinuxOS) that address some of these items (quite well). But not all. With all these checkboxes checked? Holy moley would I get excited.

Using the same OS version in 2020 as in 2025? Sounds like heaven.

Getting excited about the big "2.0" release coming out -- a few years down the line? Yes, please!

Knowing that I could develop and release a piece of software now and have it work for all users of the OS for the foreseeable future? And that I, as an end user, can feel confident the software I own will work until the end of time? TAKE MY MONEY.

I want this.

Maybe it's time to buckle down and make it happen.

00:14:01
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November 22, 2025
Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny & Extortion

The GRANITE Act has been filed in the state of Wyoming. And The Lunduke Journal got an early copy of the bill which fights censorship of Americans by foreign governments.

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:20:32
November 21, 2025
Microsoft Removes DEI From Employee Review Process

"[Diversity & Inclusion] is just gone and not mentioned. Like it never existed," said one Microsoft employee.

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:25:09
November 20, 2025
"No Fascists Allowed!" Says Trans Lesbian Python Dev

Gatekeeping. Discrimination. Whatever you call it, the Leftist Activists within Tech have a message for anyone who disagrees with them: "You are not welcome here!"

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:18:30
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

I haven’t been able to work on my project to archive old computer magazine articles for a while, but I found time to do a couple today. I was going back through my posts here and realized that I have not posted any for a while. So here we go. I hope you enjoy.

21 hours ago

I’m not convinced this is all that bad, but the Win11 file explorer is sluggish and prone to crashing and Office apps take longer to boot than linux and emacs put together. I really miss the speed of Win8 and Office 2007.

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-finally-admits-almost-all-major-windows-11-core-features-are-broken/

Happy Thanksgiving, ladies and geeks!

Truly, we have SO MUCH to be thankful for. Obvious things like family, friends, health, freedom, food and shelter. Nerdy things like classic computers, video games, and the Lunduke Journal. That we live in a country where brave nerds like Lunduke can still report the news even when it's unpopular. I could go on and on and on and on. Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings.

Anyway, it's been a while since I've been here, and may be a while more till I can come back, but I wanted to share something awesome. Yes, I had help from AI, but I finally cracked the SSH game server thing! Using the same design as SSH Tron (a custom server) and the same strategy as websocketd (piping stdin/stdout from a regular command-line app to the user). I don't have anything worth "hosting" using this tool yet, but now I have an excuse to build it. :-D

https://github.com/TheGeekOnSkates/ShellYeah

November 21, 2025
Reminder: Lunduke Journal 50% off Lifetime Subs through Monday!

The Lunduke Journal is only able to do this type of independent, Big-Tech-Free, non-Woke Tech reporting thanks to all of you!

Want to help make The Lunduke Journal possible (and get some fun perks in the process)?

Now is a fantastic time: 50% off every type of subscription through Monday, November 24th.

Scroll down. Pick the subscription type that looks the best to you — starting at $2.25 per month (not too shabby) to full Lifetime subscriptions.

50% Off Yearly or Monthly Subscriptions:

Available via both Locals and Substack. (This includes full access the community Forum, and all other perks.)

That means $3 / Month. Or $27 / Year (which works out to $2.25 / Month).

Via Lunduke.Locals.com:

Via Lunduke.Substack.com:

Note: You can also grab a Monthly subscription via X, YouTube, or Patreon — and get all of the same perks. There’s no way to offer a discount on those platforms, but those are still good options!

The Famous Lifetime Subscription:

The “World Famous Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription” is exactly what it sounds like. Pay once and get full access to The Lunduke Journal. For life.

Now, through Monday, November 24th, you can snag one at a crazy discount. Normally these are $300… but you can grab one for $150. (You can also pay more if you’d like to donate a little extra.)

The Lifetime Subscription can be obtained via Locals, Substack, or using Bitcoin. All three options work great and are super easy (& all three include access to all of the perks). Scroll down and choose your option.

Note: The Lifetime Subscription only applies to Substack and Locals. Other platforms (such as X, Patreon, & YouTube) do not provide the functionality necessary to create Lifetime Subscriptions.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select “Give Once“.

  3. Enter “150“ (or more) into the amount field.

  4. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Substack:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Substack.com/subscribe.

  2. Select the “Lifetime Subscription” option.

  3. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

If you would also like full, Lifetime access to Lunduke.Locals.com (which is included):

  1. Make a free account on Lunduke.Locals.com.

  2. Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the email address you use on both Substack and Locals (can be different email addresses).

  3. Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status on Locals.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

You can also obtain a Lifetime Subscription via Bitcoin.

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

  • Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com (or both).

No matter which type of subscription you choose, thank you for your support! Every subscription goes directly towards keeping The Lunduke Journal running well into the future.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
November 16, 2025
Interviews! YouTube Silver Award Thingy! 50% Off Subs!

This was yet another fantastic week at The Lunduke Journal!

Two great interviews — one with Ruby on Rails & Omarchy Linux creator (DHH), and another with the lawyer for 4chan & Kiwi Farms (Preston Byrne) — and now The Lunduke Journal’s YouTube channel has hit 100k subscribers.

Which mean I’m supposed to get one of those “I survived YouTube’s attempts to destroy my channel so now I get this silver plaque” awards. Which I may or may not have plans for.

How does The Lunduke Journal celebrate such a glorious week?

Why, by offering a super-mega-huge discount on subscriptions! Naturally!

50% off. Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime. Through this next Wednesday (November 19th).

Every Subscription come with all of the perks:

Scroll down. Pick the subscription type that looks the best to you — starting at $2.25 per month (not too shabby) to full Lifetime subscriptions.

Every subscription helps The Lunduke Journal continue to do this reporting. This is only possible thanks to all of you.

50% Off Yearly or Monthly Subscriptions:

Available via both Locals and Substack. (This includes full access the community Forum, and all other perks.)

That means $3 / Month. Or $27 / Year (which works out to $2.25 / Month).

Via Lunduke.Locals.com:

Via Lunduke.Substack.com:

Note: You can also grab a Monthly subscription via X, YouTube, or Patreon — and get all of the same perks. There’s no way to offer a discount on those platforms, but those are still good options!

The Famous Lifetime Subscription:

The “World Famous Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription” is exactly what it sounds like. Pay once and get full access to The Lunduke Journal. For life.

Now, through Wednesday, November 19th, you can snag one at a crazy discount. Normally these are $300… but you can grab one for $150. (You can also pay more if you’d like to donate a little extra.)

The Lifetime Subscription can be obtained via Locals, Substack, or using Bitcoin. All three options work great and are super easy (& all three include access to all of the perks). Scroll down and choose your option.

Note: The Lifetime Subscription only applies to Substack and Locals. Other platforms (such as X, Patreon, & YouTube) do not provide the functionality necessary to create Lifetime Subscriptions.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select “Give Once“.

  3. Enter “150“ (or more) into the amount field.

  4. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Substack:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Substack.com/subscribe.

  2. Select the “Lifetime Subscription” option.

  3. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

If you would also like full, Lifetime access to Lunduke.Locals.com (which is included):

  1. Make a free account on Lunduke.Locals.com.

  2. Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the email address you use on both Substack and Locals (can be different email addresses).

  3. Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status on Locals.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

You can also obtain a Lifetime Subscription via Bitcoin.

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

  • Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com (or both).

No matter which type of subscription you choose, thank you for your support! Every subscription goes directly towards keeping The Lunduke Journal running well into the future.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
November 12, 2025
Lunduke Journal Update: Nov 12, 2025

Just a few quick Lunduke Journal-y tidbits on this fine Wednesday afternoon!

  1. Two fascinating interviews this week: DHH and Preston Byrne (the attorney for 4chan). Both are worth catching if you haven’t already.

  2. The 50% off Subscriptions deal has been extended through this Friday (Nov 14th). So many of you kept picking up new subscriptions… I figured… what the heck! Why not keep the party going? So Monthly, Yearly, and Lifetime subs are all half off at least through Friday!

  3. The “Lifetime Subscriber Wall” isn’t part of today’s (November 12th) shows. There have been so many requests to be added to the wall this week that I need to update the design a bit to fit everybody. The Lifetime Wall will re-appear at the end of new shows tomorrow or Friday.

Once again, thank you for your support! None of this would be possible without you!

-Lunduke

Read full Article
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