

Linux Matters
Linux Matters
Experienced Open Source professionals exploring the tech we actually use. If it runs on Linux, we're into it. Whether you're tweaking your desktop, gaming, self-hosting, developing software, improving terminal productivity, or running production infrastructure — we cover the tools and workflows that actually matter. New episode every fortnight. Upbeat and family-friendly for Linux enthusiasts of all ages.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 29, 2025 • 37min
High Precision Solid Metal Balls
In this episode:
Martin switches from traditional mice ️🖱️ to trackball ️🖲️ and gets a bit carried away with customising them 🪩
L-Trac Trackball 🇬🇧
L-Trac Trackball 🇺🇸
Kensingston SlimBlade™ Pro Trackball
input-remapper: An easy to use tool to change the behaviour of your input devices.
Alan refines his contribution workflow to Savannah and brings it bang up to date.
Mark self-hosts an ONLYOFFICE integrated with Nextcloud.
You can send your feedback via show@linuxmatters.sh or the Contact Form. If you’d like to hang out with other listeners and share your feedback with the community, you can join us on:
The Linux Matters Chatters on Telegram.
The Linux Matters Subreddit.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us.
SponsorsHere's a high-five ✋ to our sponsors – give them a visit and keep our show thriving! TailscaleTailscale makes creating software-defined networks easy: securely connecting users, services, and devices.Try Tailscale for free for up to 100 devices and 3 users, with no credit card required. Use code Linux25 for three free months of any Tailscale paid plan.

8 snips
Apr 15, 2025 • 27min
Crafting Bookshelf Buddy
Discover the fascinating world of Luddites and technological resistance at a vibrant event in London. Dive into the creative process behind 'Bookshelf Buddy,' a self-hosted audio player that promises an improved audiobook experience. The speakers discuss effective presentation strategies and the usefulness of tools like MAP for creating impactful slides. Additionally, learn about the evolution of user-friendly system monitoring tools designed specifically for Linux, enhancing resource tracking in desktop applications.

Apr 1, 2025 • 28min
Great Scott, 1.21 Jiggabits!
In this episode:
Mark has started developing a self-hosted replacement for the Yoto or Tonie audiobook players.
Alan has taken a look at Docs, but didn’t use it.
Martin has upgraded his home networking with Deco and YuanLey devices.
You can send your feedback via show@linuxmatters.sh or the Contact Form. If you’d like to hang out with other listeners and share your feedback with the community, you can join us on:
The Linux Matters Chatters on Telegram.
The Linux Matters Subreddit.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us.
SponsorsHere's a high-five ✋ to our sponsors – give them a visit and keep our show thriving! TailscaleTailscale makes creating software-defined networks easy: securely connecting users, services, and devices.Try Tailscale for free for up to 100 devices and 3 users, with no credit card required. Use code Linux25 for three free months of any Tailscale paid plan.

Mar 18, 2025 • 32min
Moodling Myself Silly
Discover the world of game localization with a fresh internationalization library for Lua, making games more accessible to diverse audiences. Delve into the insights of the upcoming Moodle 5.0 release, focusing on enhancements in backup features and community-driven question types. Experience the challenges of improving user experiences while debugging older Moodle versions and engaging in open-source projects. Plus, get a peek into navigating Docker environments and the excitement of coding growth in tech upgrades.

Mar 4, 2025 • 24min
Syfting Through a LÖVEly Rack
In this episode:
Mark built a server rack using parts from LinxcomUK (ebay) and Kenable.
Alan wrote a measure-syft for benchmarking syft performance.
Martin created the LÖVE Game Development & Automated Build System.
You can send your feedback via show@linuxmatters.sh or the Contact Form. If you’d like to hang out with other listeners and share your feedback with the community, you can join us on:
The Linux Matters Chatters on Telegram.
The Linux Matters Subreddit.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us.
SponsorsHere's a high-five ✋ to our sponsors – give them a visit and keep our show thriving! TailscaleTailscale makes creating software-defined networks easy: securely connecting users, services, and devices.Try Tailscale for free for up to 100 devices and 3 users, with no credit card required. Use code Linux25 for three free months of any Tailscale paid plan.

Feb 18, 2025 • 26min
Mark Down in the Console Caves
In this episode:
Alan switches from self hosted markdown to self hosted mark down served from a docker container running CodiMD.
Mark puts on his robe and wizard’s hat, and ventures into the Caves of Qud.
Martin switches his console to KMSCON.
You can send your feedback via show@linuxmatters.sh or the Contact Form. If you’d like to hang out with other listeners and share your feedback with the community, you can join us on:
The Linux Matters Chatters on Telegram.
The Linux Matters Subreddit.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us.
SponsorsHere's a high-five ✋ to our sponsors – give them a visit and keep our show thriving! TailscaleTailscale makes creating software-defined networks easy: securely connecting users, services, and devices.Try Tailscale for free for up to 100 devices and 3 users, with no credit card required. Use code Linux25 for three free months of any Tailscale paid plan.

Feb 4, 2025 • 29min
Algorithms, Actions, and GitHub Adventures
In this episode:
Martin runs GitHub Actions on his development workstations using act.
Alan likes to help people and has upped his people-helping skills by making little tools to solve their problems.
keyshield - A simple utility to protect your game inputs from GNOME keyboard shortcuts.
archive-vbulletin-thread - A Python script to archive threads from vBulletin-based forums.
Mark has been flexing his grey matter with challenging mathematical/computer programming problems at Project Euler.
You can send your feedback via show@linuxmatters.sh or the Contact Form. If you’d like to hang out with other listeners and share your feedback with the community, you can join us on:
The Linux Matters Chatters on Telegram.
The Linux Matters Subreddit.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us.
SponsorsHere's a high-five ✋ to our sponsors – give them a visit and keep our show thriving! TailscaleTailscale makes creating software-defined networks easy: securely connecting users, services, and devices.Try Tailscale for free for up to 100 devices and 3 users, with no credit card required. Use code Linux25 for three free months of any Tailscale paid plan.

Jan 21, 2025 • 27min
Not a Bar or a Camp
In this episode:
Mark has been a STEM Ambassador, talking to school children about his career.
Alan is co-organising BarCamp Surrey, a free event at Godalming College on Saturday 2nd August 2025.
Martin has switched from powerline-go to starship, and shared his starship config.
You can send your feedback via show@linuxmatters.sh or the Contact Form. If you’d like to hang out with other listeners and share your feedback with the community, you can join us on:
The Linux Matters Chatters on Telegram.
The Linux Matters Subreddit.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us.
SponsorsHere's a high-five ✋ to our sponsors – give them a visit and keep our show thriving! TailscaleTailscale makes creating software-defined networks easy: securely connecting users, services, and devices.Try Tailscale for free for up to 100 devices and 3 users, with no credit card required. Use code Linux25 for three free months of any Tailscale paid plan.

Jan 7, 2025 • 31min
Streaming your way to freedom
In this episode:
Alan migrates accounts from the silly bird website to BlueSky for Syft, Grype, and Anchore, and has fun with Starter Packs
Mark migrates his personal Linux ISO hosting from Plex to Jellyfin.
Martin migrates his life to the Fediverse, contributing to Owncast along the way.
You can send your feedback via show@linuxmatters.sh or the Contact Form. If you’d like to hang out with other listeners and share your feedback with the community, you can join us on:
The Linux Matters Chatters on Telegram.
The Linux Matters Subreddit.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us.
SponsorsHere's a high-five ✋ to our sponsors – give them a visit and keep our show thriving! TailscaleTailscale makes creating software-defined networks easy: securely connecting users, services, and devices.Try Tailscale for free for up to 100 devices and 3 users, with no credit card required. Use code Linux25 for three free months of any Tailscale paid plan.

Dec 24, 2024 • 26min
Working remotely on the Savannah
Discover how one host uses LittleLink to create a personalized 'link in bio' page, offering a fresh alternative to traditional services. Explore the exciting world of remotely managing desktops, including video encoding through Gnome on Wayland. Learn about the innovative Savannah software, designed to enhance community engagement and collaboration in software development. Delve into unique deployment challenges and the integration with platforms like GitHub and Discord, ultimately highlighting the importance of listener feedback in cultivating a thriving community.


