[Stable Update] 2025-07-12 - Kernels, Systemd, GNOME, NVIDIA, Plasma, Firefox, VLC splits

Manjaro Linux
2 months ago

Hello community, here we have another set of package updates.

Current Promotions
  • Find out all about our current Gaming Laptop the Hero with Manjaro pre-installed from Spain!
  • Protect your personal data, keep yourself safe with Surfshark VPN: See current promotion
Recent News Valkey to replace Redis in the [extra] Repository (click for more details) Previous News Finding information easier about Manjaro (click for more details) Notable Package Updates Additional Info Python 3.13 info (click for more details) Info about AUR packages (click for more details)

Get our latest daily developer images now from Github: Plasma, GNOME, XFCE. You can get the latest stable releases of Manjaro from CDN77.

Our current supported kernels
  • linux54 5.4.295
  • linux510 5.10.239
  • linux515 5.15.187
  • linux61 6.1.144
  • linux66 6.6.97
  • linux612 6.12.37
  • linux615 6.15.6
  • linux616 6.16.0-rc5
  • linux61-rt 6.1.134_rt51
  • linux66-rt 6.6.94_rt56
  • linux612-rt 6.12.28_rt10
  • linux615-rt 6.15.0_rt2

Package Changes (Thu Jul 10 20:45:34 CEST 2025)

  • stable core x86_64: 81 new and 78 removed package(s)
  • stable extra x86_64: 2628 new and 2743 removed package(s)
  • stable multilib x86_64: 48 new and 48 removed package(s)

A list of all changes can be found here.

Click to view the poll.

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103 posts - 58 participants

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philm

[Testing Update] 2025-07-10 - Kernels, Thunderbird, Firefox, OpenSearch, QEMU, VLC splits

Manjaro Linux
2 months 1 week ago

Hello community, here we have another set of package updates.

Current Promotions
  • Find out all about our current Gaming Laptop the Hero with Manjaro pre-installed from Spain!
  • Protect your personal data, keep yourself safe with Surfshark VPN: See current promotion
Recent News Valkey to replace Redis in the [extra] Repository (click for more details) Previous News Finding information easier about Manjaro (click for more details) Notable Package Updates Additional Info Python 3.13 info (click for more details) Info about AUR packages (click for more details)

Get our latest daily developer images now from Github: Plasma, GNOME, XFCE. You can get the latest stable releases of Manjaro from CDN77.

Our current supported kernels
  • linux54 5.4.295
  • linux510 5.10.239
  • linux515 5.15.187
  • linux61 6.1.144
  • linux66 6.6.97
  • linux612 6.12.37
  • linux615 6.15.6
  • linux616 6.16.0-rc5
  • linux61-rt 6.1.134_rt51
  • linux66-rt 6.6.94_rt56
  • linux612-rt 6.12.28_rt10
  • linux615-rt 6.15.0_rt2

Package Changes (Thu Jul 10 20:45:34 CEST 2025)

  • testing core x86_64: 4 new and 4 removed package(s)
  • testing extra x86_64: 705 new and 619 removed package(s)
  • testing multilib x86_64: 3 new and 3 removed package(s)

Overlay Changes

  • testing core x86_64: 12 new and 13 removed package(s)
  • testing extra x86_64: 87 new and 153 removed package(s)

A list of all changes can be found here.

Click to view the poll.

Check if your mirror has already synced:

15 posts - 11 participants

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philm

Linux's Ascendancy: Charting the Open-Source Surge in the Desktop OS Arena

Linux Journal
2 months 1 week ago
by George Whittaker A Paradigm Shift in Desktop Computing

The landscape of desktop operating systems has witnessed a notable transformation in 2025. Linux, once considered a niche player, has achieved a significant milestone by capturing 4.7% of the global desktop market share. This achievement underscores a growing trend of users seeking alternatives to traditional operating systems.

Tracing the Growth Trajectory

Linux's journey to its current standing has been marked by steady growth:

  • July 2022: 2.76%

  • July 2023: 3.12%

  • July 2024: 4.44%

  • June 2025: 4.7%

This upward trend reflects a combination of technological advancements and shifting user preferences.

Catalysts Behind the Surge 1. Gaming Innovations

The gaming sector has played a pivotal role in Linux's rising popularity. Valve's Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device running on Linux-based SteamOS, has introduced a new audience to the capabilities of Linux. Additionally, compatibility layers like Proton have enhanced the gaming experience on Linux platforms.

2. Enhanced Hardware Support

Modern Linux distributions have significantly improved hardware compatibility, making installation and daily use more seamless for users across various devices.

3. Cost-Effective Solutions

The open-source nature of Linux offers a free alternative to proprietary operating systems, appealing to both individual users and organizations aiming to reduce software licensing costs.

4. Regional Adoption Patterns

Certain regions have exhibited higher adoption rates. In the United States, Linux's desktop market share reached 5.03% in June 2025. In India, the figure stood at 16.21% as of July 2024. These statistics highlight the global appeal and adaptability of Linux.

Addressing Ongoing Challenges 1. Ecosystem Fragmentation

The diversity of Linux distributions, while offering flexibility, can lead to inconsistencies in user experience and software compatibility.

Despite progress, some proprietary applications and games remain inaccessible or require complex configurations on Linux systems.

2. Software Availability

Despite progress, some proprietary applications and games remain inaccessible or require complex configurations on Linux systems.

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George Whittaker

Linux Kernel 6.14: A Leap Forward in Intel and AMD CPU Support

Linux Journal
2 months 1 week ago
by George Whittaker

Released on March 24, 2025, Linux Kernel 6.14 introduces significant enhancements for Intel and AMD processors, focusing on performance, power efficiency, and hardware compatibility. These updates are particularly beneficial for users leveraging the latest CPU architectures and AI-driven workloads.

Intel CPU Enhancements Support for Upcoming Architectures

Linux 6.14 extends support to Intel's forthcoming Panther Lake CPUs, incorporating thermal driver support for improved power efficiency and enabling Ultra-High Bit Rate (UHBR) modes via DisplayPort on Thunderbolt's Alt-Mode. This advancement allows for 10G and 20G UHBR modes, enhancing display capabilities for devices equipped with Xe3 graphics.

Additionally, preparations for Intel's Clearwater Forest server processors are underway, with the inclusion of EDAC (Error Detection and Correction) driver support and readiness of the Turbostat tool for monitoring.

Performance and Virtualization Improvements

The kernel introduces Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) flushing scalability optimizations, reducing overhead during context switches and improving overall system performance. Enhancements to the x86 Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) also contribute to better virtualization support, benefiting environments that rely on virtual machines.

AMD CPU Enhancements Introduction of AMD XDNA Driver

A notable addition in Linux 6.14 is the AMD XDNA driver, providing support for AMD's Neural Processing Units (NPUs) integrated into Ryzen AI processors. This driver facilitates AI workloads, such as machine learning applications, by enabling efficient execution of tasks like convolutional neural networks and large language models.

Power Management and Performance Tweaks

The AMD P-State driver receives updates, including dynamic ranking of preferred CPU cores and defaulting to the 'balance_performance' Energy Performance Policy (EPP) on Ryzen and EPYC processors. These changes aim to optimize power consumption without compromising performance.

Furthermore, encryption performance sees a 2-3% boost for AES-GCM and AES-XTS standards on Zen 4 and Zen 5 processors, enhancing data security operations.

Broader Implications

Beyond CPU-specific enhancements, Linux 6.14 introduces the NTSYNC driver, improving compatibility and performance for Windows games emulated via Wine and Proton. The kernel also expands support to accommodate up to 4,096 CPU cores, doubling the previous limit and catering to high-performance computing environments. Additionally, improvements in suspend/resume functionality enhance power management for various devices.

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George Whittaker