Switched to Linux

A Linux news roundup reports that the German city of Kiel and the Dutch government are switching to Linux, alongside news of a KDE desktop with AI features and the release of F-Droid 2.0. The items highlight a growing push by European public institutions to move away from proprietary operating systems toward open-source software.

Supporters of open-source software are marking Digital Independence Day by sharing why they switched to Linux. One widely shared post explains the author's decision to install Linux, framing the move as a step toward digital independence and away from proprietary operating systems. The hashtag is drawing similar stories from other users.

A Linux user has published a blog post explaining why KDE's Kate became their Markdown editor of choice for writing and maintaining a Hugo-based homelab website. They highlight Kate's spell checking, Markdown highlighting, live preview, and code snippets, saying the features let them work entirely within the KDE ecosystem without switching tools.

An Italian logistics company has migrated its operations from Windows to Kubuntu, a Linux distribution, with reports of increased productivity and lower costs. Mišo Oroz, founder of Zerolock, said the company has not needed a single ordinary technical support call since the move. The migration story is being shared as an example for other businesses considering open-source software.

A guide to rolling release Linux distributions is drawing attention, arguing that fixed-cycle systems like Ubuntu and Fedora eventually feel like a chore, with six-month updates or two-year LTS jumps breaking configurations. The piece runs through rolling release options suited to different kinds of users, from beginners to advanced tinkerers.

On 4 October the tenth DI.DAY takes place, and Computertruhe members from its Aalen, Augsburg, Berlin and Munich locations are offering hands-on help installing Linux, finding free alternatives to everyday programs and reclaiming digital autonomy. The volunteer initiative invites people to bring their devices and get support switching away from proprietary software.

The Bavarian town of Treuchtlingen is celebrating 25 years of open source in its municipal administration. In 2001 the city moved its town hall desktops to Linux, making it one of the first German municipalities to do so. Officials say the switch was aimed at digital sovereignty, sustainability and transparency for citizens, and the anniversary is drawing praise from the open source community.

The Switched to Linux channel has published its latest weekly roundup of videos, promoting new content across YouTube, Odysee, Rumble and BitChute. The channel focuses on Linux tutorials, open-source software and privacy-focused computing, and regularly cross-posts its releases to alternative platforms alongside mainstream ones. The post highlights this week's uploads and invites viewers to follow on their preferred platform.

Users are highlighting that Omarchy, the Linux setup built around the Hyprland window manager, runs Microsoft Word and Excel smoothly as web apps. The claim is drawing attention as an example of how far browser-based Office has come, letting people work fully on Linux without Windows or a dual-boot setup.

The Switched to Linux podcast has released a new episode, available from 5:00 PM Eastern, titled "F-Droid 2.0 Has Arrived! The Best Way to Get Apps on Android." The episode examines the updated version of F-Droid, the free and open-source app store for Android, and argues it is now the best way to install apps. Listeners can tune in via the show's website, an RSS feed, or their preferred podcast app.

Under the Spanish-language hashtag #ViernesDeEscritorio (Desktop Friday), a Linux user is showing off a desktop setup after switching from Ubuntu to Arch Linux through EndeavourOS, running the KDE Plasma desktop. The post is part of a recurring community ritual where Linux enthusiasts share screenshots of their systems each Friday, trading tips and praising lighter, rolling-release alternatives to mainstream distributions.

A volunteer is assembling a team to run a workshop helping people move away from major proprietary platforms toward open-source alternatives. Planned switches include Zoom to Jitsi, OneDrive or Google Drive to Nextcloud, Google Android to GrapheneOS, and Windows to Linux, with more topics possible depending on how many helpers join. The project is at an early planning stage.

Switched To Linux, a Linux-focused tech commentary outlet, is holding an offline supporter hangout today from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Eastern. The announcement, promoted with the phrase 'All hail the van panther', invites the outlet's supporters to gather in person rather than online. Followers have been sharing the details, with a note that the announcement reads best on a desktop computer.