Catbird Linux v3.5.0 Released

Brightflash64 — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:33:57 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 3.5.0 and is available worldwide for download. It is the sixth release in the 3.x series and continues with some updates and bug fixes:

Kernel 6.16, with the Xanmod efficiency and speed tweaks. This upgraded kernel has improved EXT4 filesystem read and write performance and also faster OppenVPN throughput.
Adjustments to Tor-Remote and Tor-Controller scripts.
Manual adjustments to the Neovim color scheme.
Neovim plugins have been upgraded.
Set Radiostreamer and SuperSDR wrapper menus to case-insensitive.

Catbird Linux is the USB bootable, self-contained live Linux environment which deshittifies general purpose computing on the desktop and empowers you to get things done. Catbird Linux is free as in "freedom" and free as in "free beer."

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux v3.4.0 Released

Brightflash64 — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 14:37:54 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 3.4.0 and is available worldwide for download. It is the fifth release in the 3.x series and continues with some updates and bug fixes:

It is the fourth release in the 3.x series and continues with several updates and bug fixes:

Kernel 6.15, with the Xanmod efficiency and speed tweaks, runs this Linux very nicely on new and old hardware.
Neovim plugins have been upgraded.
Zram's memory compression algorithm has been changed to zstd.
Wezterm tab styling adjusted for the current dark theme.
Fixed a bug in the Neovim launcher which had prevented text files from properly opening if clicked from the file manager as root.

LOL, the mission objective for this upgrade was, "Make it more shiny and don't let Sid break anything!"

Catbird Linux is the bootable, self-contained live Linux environment which deshittifies general purpose computing on the desktop and empowers you to get things done. Catbird Linux is free as in "freedom" and free as in "free beer."

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux v3.2.0 Released

Brightflash64 — Fri, 02 May 2025 03:34:35 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 3.2.0 and is available worldwide for download.

It is the third release in the 3.x series and continues with several updates and bug fixes:

Kernel 6.14, with the Xanmod efficiency and speed tweaks, runs this Linux very nicely on new and old hardware.
To make things easier for any of you who want a persistent system, which remembers changes in files or settings, I have set the persistence boot parameter. To work, it requires you to have a Linux partition labeled "persistence," containing a configuration file named persistence.conf. Look online for more information about persistent Debian Live setups.
The Element Messenger and chat application was adding a lot of size to this iso image, weighing in at more than 460 MB, so I have switched it to use the online web interface, working through the web browser.
The Telegram Messenger and chat application was also adding a lot of size to this iso image, weighing in at more than 180 MB, so I have switched it to use the online web interface.
Discord has been added as another chat application, also working through their online web interface in the browser.

The bug fixes consist mostly of some changes related to the upgrade of Neovim to version 0.12.0. There were some crashes and squirrely behavior due to some so-called "breaking changes." It is running great now, so have fun with it and write some prose, or some nifty code.

This iso file is much lighter than the previous release, thanks to some extensive efforts to find and remove old or duplicated packages. We had some old Python versions which were no longer needed, unnecessary cached items, and some rather large deb packages for handling C and C++ to remove. With them gone, Catbird Linux is noticeably smaller.

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux v3.1.0 Released

Brightflash64 — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 01:23:05 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 3.1.0 and is available for download.

It is the second release in the 3.x series. Although it retains a similar look and feel to its predecessor, there is more firmament under the hood:

A more reliable sequence for starting the window manager, based on systemd.
- Debian upstream appears to be tweaking the Debian Live package, upon which this live computing environment is based, and they changed something which caused some problems getting the Xserver and DWM started.
- Using systemd service units to initiate the desktop / window manager works like a charm.
Most of the utilities and scripts associated with Catbird Linux, such as the wrappers for SuperSDR and Sshuttle, are based on originals stored in my Github repositories. The binaries or scripts are now cloned from the repos to /usr/local/src and symlinked to /usr/local/bin. Maintenance is easier, as they can now be updated with a simple "git pull."
Some tools have been changed for efficiency and to use data files in csv format, instead of odd mixtures of spaces and quotations.
- Csv data can be more easily edited, parsed, and otherwise managed.
- The Internet Radio Playlist no longer needs a template, and can handle thousands of stations.
- SuperSDR-Wrapper now also uses csv files, loading parsed SDR server and station data into Pandas dataframes.
Note-taking is better now in Catbird Linux:
- Obsidian now gets its own keybind: Super + O.
- I crafted a nifty terminal-based note sorter and editor, available with Super + Shift + O. Hit the "F" key for deep, recursive searching through all subfolders.
Python-Tgpt replaces the old terminal GPT.
- This new AI chatbot can use more than 40 models.
- Quality and speed are quite good.
Wezterm multiplexing is set up and running smoothly. Therefore, pop-up terminals available on keys Super + Enter and Ctrl - Alt - T are now set to open a clean Wezterm, with no Tmux. Split your panes with the same key combos: Ctrl + A, \ or Ctrl + A, - (that's the pipe key or dash key, with no shift needed).
Separately from the bootable iso file, I have created a converter script which transforms Debian (or its derivatives) into an equivalent Catbird Linux operating system. It can install the scripts, utilities, fonts, and configuration files. If you want to try it on a minimal Debian, Xebian, Mint LMDE, or MX Linux rig, look for it in the downloads section here on SourceForge.

Over the last month, I have divided my time equally between Python-Tgpt and the Leo chatbot, which runs in the Brave Browser. The quality of responses varies somewhat between the models used, but they are each useful in exploring different topics and working on software programming. Even their mistakes can teach something useful, if you have enough expertise to discern when an AI is just wrong and you give scrutiny to the error.

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux v3.0 Released

Brightflash64 — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 23:57:44 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 3.0 and is available for download.

Here are the most significant changes from the 2.x series:

More emphasis on the experience of working with text based knowledge: note-taking, writing prose, editing code, and doing slide presentations.
* Revamped Neovim setup, providing expanded features though Mini and Snacks plugin projects. Lightweight, efficient, feature-packed, and incredibly fast on modest hardware.
* Updated Obsidian with expanded Vimrc support, for working with notes at the speed of thought.
* Updated Ipython and JupyterLab.
* Debian Sid is in the middle of moving from Python 3.12 to 3.13; both are available in this iso. If adding modules, condider using a virtual environment and uv to manage the Python. Pypy, Mypy, and other helpful tools are installed.

Increased robustness in networking.
* Switching from Firefox to the Brave Browser for performance, stability, and features.
* Adding the unstoppable Reticulum Network Stack. Chat with end to end encryption; may use RNode LoRa radio, censorship resistant.

Updated video and audio editors (Shotcut and Audacity, respectively).
* More plugins and sensible defaults.
* Switched Shotcut from AppImage to Debian repository package.

Some items removed to reduce the size of the iso file. Nothing wrong with any of these; it was about megabytes of iso size.
* Inkscape
* Fonts

Updated streaming media tools. Tune in broadcasts and other radio services from the comfort of your computing rig, no matter where you are.
* Internet music, news, and propaganda stations.
* SuperSDR (software defined radio frontend for KiwiSDRs)
* SDRMap tweaks for display of more types of internet connected radio receivers.

Be sure to review the key bindings for the various applications and tools!
* Open the browser and click on the key guides for DWM, Vim (Neovim), and Tmux.
* Super + i for the web browser (Brave).
* Super + f for the file Manager (Thunar).
* Super + o for the note-taking application (Obsidian).
* Super + s for internet radio playlist.

Keybinds for graphical apps often have a "Super + Shift" option for running a similar app in the terminal. For example, "Super + Shift + o" brings up a terminal-based note taking tool, while "Super + Shift + f" brings up lf, the terminal file manager.

Catbird Linux is the bootable, self-contained live Linux environment which deshittifies general purpose computing on the desktop and empowers you to get things done. Catbird Linux is free as in "freedom" and free as in "free beer."

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux v2.8 Released

Brightflash64 — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 09:56:01 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 2.8 and is available for download. It is the bootable, self-contained live Linux environment which deshittifies general purpose computing on the desktop and empowers you to get things done. Catbird Linux is free as in "freedom" and free as in "free beer."

The most important item for this upgrade is Linux Kernel 6.12. It brings significant performance improvements and freshened hardware drivers. I am a great fan of the Xanmod Kernels for Linux laptops and workstations, and awaited release of a 6.12 version for inclusion in this Catbird Linux upgrade. Enjoy your more responsive computers with this running!

This iso also contains updates for various installed packages.

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux 2.7 Released

Brightflash64 — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 18:03:07 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 2.7 and is available for download. It is the bootable, self-contained live Linux environment which deshittifies general purpose computing on the desktop and empowers you to get things done. Catbird Linux is free as in "freedom" and free as in "free beer."

I changed some of the software available in the iso. As we had two very nice terminal emulators installed, Alacritty and Wezterm, I moved to conserve size and removed Alacritty. Wezterm is now the default terminal emulator. Also, I found the need for an ebook (epub) editing application and chose Sigil. It is a great tool for cleaning up the somewhat messy HTML code written to epubs exported from LibreOffice. Sigil is fast and efficient - far better than Calibre, in my most humble opinion ;-)

This version if Catbird Linux also brings software updates, including new stations for the SDR bookmarks and radio streamer. There is also a freshened Linux kernel 6.11.4. As usual, I fixed a few minor bugs.

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux 2.6 Released

Brightflash64 — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 03:06:42 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 2.6 and is available for download. It is the bootable, self-contained live Linux environment which serves to empower you and deshittify general purpose computing on the desktop. Free as in "freedom," free as in "free beer."

This version brings software updates, including a fresh Linux kernel version 6.10. I also fixed a few minor bugs. One of the more important fixes restored function to the Wireguard menu.

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux 2.5 Released

Brightflash64 — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 10:01:55 -0000

Hello Linux Users,

Catbird Linux has been upgraded to version 2.5 and is available for download.

This version brings software updates, including a fresh Linux kernel version 6.9. Note that I have switched this this kernel to micro architecture x86-x64-v2, in order to have compatibility with older computers. That's right, friends: this system can actually run on your old hardware from 2009.

I have been using Catbird Linux for a considerable amount of note-taking, prose writing, and multimedia editing. It works, as a Linux system should. And unlike Windows, it works with no surveillance, subscription teases, or questions asked.

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

Catbird Linux 2.3 to upload 2024/02/24 (Boot issue bugfix)

Brightflash64 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 06:47:11 -0000

Fellow Catbird Linux users,

Catbird Linux is being updated to version 2.3 and will be uploaded to SourceForge within 24 hours. The system has received a kernel upgrade to Linux Xanmod kernel 6.6, along with a bug fix which prevented proper booting of the iso file on flash drives. This may affect you if you have set it up using Rufus or Ventoy. Apologies for the inconvenience if this gave you trouble.

If you set up a bootable Catbird Linux flash drive and received an error message complaining that the bootloader could not load the kernel, here is the fix for Catbird Linux v2.0 through 2.2:

navigate in the root file system to the configuration file /boot/grub/grub.cfg
edit the menu entries so they point to the correct file names: initrd.img and vmlinuz (without version numbers)

The menu entries should look like this:

# Live boot
menuentry "Live system (amd64)" --hotkey=l {
    linux   /live/vmlinuz boot=live quiet splash findiso=${iso_path}
    initrd  /live/initrd.img
}
menuentry "Live system (amd64 fail-safe mode)" {
    linux   /live/vmlinuz boot=live components memtest noapic noapm nodma nomce nolapic nosmp nosplash vga=788
    initrd  /live/initrd.img
}

If you are using a multiboot SSD or hard drive set up with an old fashioned grub2 configuration, you can use a grub config similar to this example, which runs on my laptop (booting in bios / non-efi mode):

set root=(hd0,1)
set default=0
set timeout=10
set gfxmode=1024x768
insmod ext2

menuentry 'Catbird Liinux v2.2 (Debian)' {
    set isofile="/isofiles/catbirdlinux-2.2.0.iso"
    loopback loop $isofile
    linux (loop)/live/vmlinuz boot=live findiso=$isofile threadirqs mitigations=off
    initrd (loop)/live/initrd.img
}

menuentry 'Catbird Liinux NEXT v2.3 (Debian)' {
    set isofile="/isofiles/catbirdlinux-2.3.0.iso.iso"
    loopback loop $isofile
    linux (loop)/live/vmlinuz boot=live findiso=$isofile threadirqs mitigations=off
    initrd (loop)/live/initrd.img
}

I hope this helps! The new iso will be available shortly.

Cheers,
Phil Collier / Catbird Linux

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Catbird Linux 2.3 to upload 2024/02/24 (Boot issue bugfix)