Linux OTC

Bill, Leo, Majid, Eric, and Charlie

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Technology
Every two weeks

Linux “Off The Cuff”

1 Jul

75 – We are all Marjorie

Join hosts Majid, Charlie, and Eric in episode 75 of Linux OTC to explore the surprisingly rich connections between language, technology, AI, and digital privacy. The episode opens with a lively discussion about the quirks of English as a global language, code-switching, and regional dialects — with Charlie and Majid sharing personal anecdotes about communicating across cultures. The conversation naturally pivots to AI and vibe coding, with Charlie praising Claude for helping him troubleshoot Docker Compose files on ZimaOS by parsing error logs, Eric reflecting on using AI to generate bash scripts, and Majid noting mixed results with Gemini for self-hosting tasks like setting up Jellyfin and Audiobookshelf. The second half tackles AI’s broader implications: medical transcription tools, data privacy concerns around Google, Apple, Copilot, and ambient surveillance, and the sustainability of AI consuming creator content without attribution — using the now-legendary “Marjorie from Tuscany” as a case study. The trio rounds out the episode debating GNOME’s governance, the AUR’s recent turbulence, and the tension between project vision and community input, with Charlie teasing that the FOSS and open-source philosophy discussion will continue on the FossNerds podcast soon.
15 Jun

74 – Is the AUR Only For Muppets?

In this episode we deep dive, rather pretentiously into the world of the AUR, and get into the recent bulk discovery of malware in said repository. Some question whether the AUR should exist at all, others believe the AUR is and should be a “wild west” of opportunity, good and bad. The debate gets a bit heated at times. We also get into AI – of course we do. All this, and way more!
2 Jun

73 – Nerds²

Join hosts Bill, Charlie, Jim, and Majid in episode 73 of Linux OTC to explore open-source operating systems. The chat kicks off by comparing Debian’s origins with early Ubuntu. Jim shares his deep dive into the BSD ecosystem, detailing his switch to using GhostBSD. He highlights hardware compatibility on older machines, but opens up about a major storage dilemma caused by a ZFS snapshot filling his 60GB SSD during an update. The crew also explores philosophical divides between Linux and BSD. They discuss the implications of permissive BSD licensing versus the GPL, debating how corporate influence impacts the Linux desktop. The discussion flows into file systems, weighing ZFS against UFS for users with limited storage. Finally, they swap stories about upgrading old hardware and announce the community’s migration to a Matrix room. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1rk5uAmWaA&t=1s
21 May

72 – We Finally Got It Right!

Welcome to Episode 72 of the Linux OTC podcast, where hosts Bill, Charlie, Eric, and Majid dive straight into the technical hurdles of content creation, specifically critiquing Discord’s feature creep and reliability issues. The conversation quickly expands into a broader philosophical discussion on the societal impact of modern social media. The hosts express deep concerns about how algorithms heavily reinforce confirmation bias, debate the effectiveness of age restrictions like COPPA, and emphasize the critical role of parental responsibility in navigating digital spaces for younger users. In the second half, the crew shifts focus to the Linux ecosystem and the ongoing challenge of “de-Googling” their lives. They explore the merits and difficulties of self-hosting, highlighting tools like Nextcloud and praising Immich as a powerful, self-hosted alternative to Google Photos. The episode wraps up with a relatable deep dive into the frustrations of “distro hopping,” discussing Eric’s transition from Pop!_OS to PikaOS, the benefits of Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE), and the current landscape of desktop environments like Gnome, KDE Plasma, and Budgie. Finally, the team announces that the podcast is officially joining the Linux Syndicate network.
2 May

71 – Compound Stupidity

We start off talking about the non standard experience you get from one Linux distro to another. Majid talks about his experience transferring files. Some Distros are a little closer to the upstream than others. This gets us into a discussion about Fedora, RHEL, and the like. All of this and way more!
19 Apr

70 – Make Linux Great Again

After a poignant start, our new host Charlie joins us, as well as Dale from Distrohopper’s Digest for a conversation about all things spanning the range between celebrity, to classic pop culture, and on to to Debian and it’s constituents. Intellectual fundamentalism rears it’s head. Choice prevails! Oh and buckle up kids – we talk about Systemd.
4 Apr

69 – Welcome Back Charlie

This week we welcome a new voice to the fold. Charlie, AKA Immutable Charlie joins us to talk Linux
21 Mar

68 – Streaming Drivers

We're all over the place on this episode. We start off with the abysmal state of media streaming. Majid and Eric get into a conversation about watches. We get into it about our experiences with Amazon as well as other online commerce offerings. Bill talks a bit about the sad state of affairs within his industry. Eric talks about a recent challenge trying to find a tech solution to a friend's photography storage problem. All this, and way more!

Linux “Off The Cuff”

Creator

Bill, Leo, Majid, Eric, and Charlie
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

78
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© CC-BY-SA 4.0
Show Website

Linux OTC