Linux projects release major updates in weekly roundup

The 9to5Linux weekly roundup for the week ending January 18, 2026, highlights several key developments in the open-source world, including new versions of Firefox, Wine, and KDE Plasma. These releases bring enhancements like improved compatibility and bug fixes to Linux users. The roundup also notes the end of life for Ubuntu 25.04 and new distribution editions.

The 275th edition of the 9to5Linux Weekly Roundup, published on January 18, 2026, covers the latest happenings in the GNU/Linux and open-source communities. It emphasizes a series of software updates that enhance functionality and support for various platforms.

Among the hot news items, Mozilla Firefox 147 is now available with new features and improvements. MX Linux 25.1 Beta has been released, reintroducing dual-init support and based on Debian 13.3. Firefox 148 is in public beta, offering better screen reader compatibility. NVIDIA's 580.126.09 driver improves support for recent Linux kernels. KDE Plasma 6.5.5 enhances compatibility with older Valve Index VR headsets, while version 6.6 enters public beta testing.

A standout release is Wine 11, which includes NTSync support, Vulkan H.264 decoding, and additional enhancements for running Windows applications on Linux. Thunderbird 147 adds a 'Show Full Path' option in folder panes for compact views. Wireshark 4.6.3 updates protocol and capture file support. GRUB 2.14 introduces EROFS, Argon2 KDF, and Shim loader protocol support.

Ubuntu 25.04 'Plucky Puffin' has reached its end of life, prompting users to upgrade to Ubuntu 25.10. Other notable updates include Tails 7.4 with persistent language settings, Debian support on OpenWrt One router, and EndeavourOS Ganymede Neo featuring Linux kernel 6.18 LTS and KDE Plasma 6.5.4.

New Linux distributions this week encompass EndeavourOS Ganymede Neo, KDE neon 20260115, Tails 7.4, various Manjaro Linux 26.0.1 editions, CentOS Stream 10-20260113, TUXEDO OS 20260113, and Q4OS 6.5 variants.

Applications and drivers released include Distrobox 1.8.2.3, Firefox 147.0.1, Docker 29.1.5, PipeWire 1.4.10, Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0.4, Chromium 144.0.7559.59, Wireshark 4.6.3, GRUB 2.14, Thunderbird 147.0, Wine 11.0, Tor Browser 15.0.4, NVIDIA 580.126.09, ALSA 1.2.15.3, Snort 3.10.1.0, Ruby 4.0.1, and Linux kernels 6.18.5 LTS, 6.12.65 LTS, 6.6.120 LTS, and 6.1.160 LTS.

The roundup anticipates more exciting Linux news in the coming week.

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