Joseph Zikusooka ~ Zik

A Linux software engineer specializing in open source technologies | Very experienced in building and configuring UNIX/Linux systems and servers. Passionate about developing software applications and hardware for the smart home | Currently serving as the CEO of Jambula Labs and the project leader at JambulaTV, a smart home automation and entertainment platform - https://jambulatv.com | This blog focuses on the following areas: Linux How-Tos and Tutorials ::: IT Security News ::: Free and Libre Open Source Software ::: Smart Home Software ::: Digital Innovations in East Africa https://mastodon.social/@jzik | https://github.com/zikusooka

Author : Joseph Zikusooka

I am a software engineer and developer specializing in open source software. I have a solid experience building and configuring UNIX/Linux systems and servers. I am passionate about developing software applications and hardware for the smart home I am currently serving as the CEO of Jambula Labs and the project leader at JambulaTV, a smart home automation

Easily Toggle Audio Between Multiple Streams with My Updated PipeWire based Tool

I have updated a tool that I find very useful, especially when watching or listening to multiple streams at the same time. For example, I often have Live TV, podcasts, or music playing on my Linux PC. Sometimes, I want to quickly switch which stream I hear without stopping the others.

With this tool, you too can now easily cycle through all your active media apps (like VLC, MPV, or FFPLAY) and mute or unmute them so that only one is audible at a time. The other streams keep playing in the background, but you wonโ€™t hear them until you toggle to them.

This is perfect for following several live TV channels during news hour or switching between music and podcasts without missing anything.

If you use GNOME, you can even set a keyboard shortcut to make switching super fast!

Iโ€™m still working on improving this tool, so if you have any suggestions or find any bugs, please let me know. You can check out the project and download it from my GitHub repository.

https://github.com/zikusooka/toggle-pw-volumes

Enjoy, and happy streaming!

Buildroot and GCC 15: Fixes for m4 and Other Packages

This week, I tried using Buildroot on my new Fedora 42 system, which comes with GCC 15. Right away, the build failed when compiling the package host-m4.

After looking into it, I found that GCC 15 has stricter rules that cause some Buildroot packages to break-not just m4, but also others like gmp. This means if you are using Buildroot on a Linux system with GCC 15, you might run into similar problems.

What to do?

There are patches available to fix these issues, including one I submitted for m4. You can find them here:
https://lists.buildroot.org/pipermail/buildroot/2025-April/777274.html

Whatโ€™s next?

Hopefully, these problems will be fixed in the official Buildroot updates soon. Until then, applying these patches will help you build successfully with GCC 15.

If you use Buildroot with the latest Linux and GCC versions, keep an eye out for updates and patches like these!

Update [May 5, 2025]:

This patch has now been committed upstream to buildroot.

It will be applied as a workaround only when host gcc 15 is detected.

For more details, please check the full commit here:

https://gitlab.com/buildroot.org/buildroot/-/commit/7a07a9d155b8f601d68f07ee0ed1dc8d48907644

Releasing Jambula OS Linux – version 2025.3.0

๐Ÿš€ I have uploaded the latest image of Jambula OS Linux version 2025.3.0 (Great Seasons)! ๐Ÿ’ปโœจ
While this is mostly a maintenance release, I’ve snuck in some exciting features like:

โœ… Remote connections just got easier with Tailscale support! ๐ŸŒ
โœ… Audio calendar alerts are now possible with Radicale ๐Ÿ“…๐Ÿ””
โœ… Nginx web/proxy server support ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ
โœ… Geolocation tool to help you pinpoint device location ๐Ÿ“

For more information about Jambula OS Linux, including instructions on how to download and install it, please visit:
https://github.com/zikusooka/Jambula-OS

A recap of my presentation at FOSS Backstage 2025

Hereโ€™s a summary of my presentation delivered during the FOSS Backstage 2025 conference in Berlin, Germany. For a deeper dive into the points outlined below, please refer to the official recording of my talk.

Why Are There Low Adoption Rates for Open Source Software in Africa?

  1. Lack of awareness and motivation for those who know.
  2. Prestige associated with using software from larger, well-known vendors.
  3. Vendor lock-in and aggressive marketing by proprietary companies targeting governments.
  4. Limited availability of certified and experienced FOSS/Linux professionals.
  5. Prevalence of software piracy.
  6. Fragmented or non-existent FOSS communities.

More Barriers to Adoption of Open Source Software in Africa

Infrastructure Challenges:

  1. Internet connectivity issues.
  2. Unstable and unreliable power supply.
  3. Lack of resources and funding.
  4. Systemic corruption.

Why Bother with FOSS Adoption in Africa?

  • Africa accounts for 18% of the world’s population (1.5B+), with some of the fastest-growing economies globally.
  • By 2025, 12 of the worldโ€™s 20 fastest-growing economies are projected to be in Africa.

Benefits of FOSS Adoption:

  1. Lower costs.
  2. Skilling and narrowing the digital divide.
  3. Startups and job creation.
  4. Empowerment through access to free resources.
  5. Localized innovations driving growth in key sectors.

Key and Strategic Sectors in Africa for FOSS Adoption

  1. Mining
  2. Agriculture
  3. Tourism
  4. Startups/SMEs (e.g., Banking, Film & Music Industry)
  5. Education
  6. Health
  7. Research
  8. Environment

Enablers and Implementers of Open Source Software Adoption

  1. Advocates/Evangelists: Promote FOSS use in sectors like government, health, and education.
  2. Trainers/Educators: Teach FOSS concepts (e.g., Linux).
  3. Community Leaders: Lead FOSS communities.
  4. Software Developers: Create and maintain open-source software.
  5. Vendors/Integrators: Include Linux distributors and organizations promoting FOSS.

Strategies for Stakeholders

For Advocates:

  1. Timing
  2. Focus
  3. Campaigns
  4. Showcase (e.g., trade shows)
  5. Share and evangelize

For Trainers/Educators:

  1. Localize content
  2. Contextualize teachings
  3. Port content
  4. Adapt materials
  5. Evangelize

For Community Leaders:

  1. Assess needs
  2. Partner with stakeholders
  3. Fundraise and support initiatives
  4. Host events
  5. Engage strategic sectors

For Software Developers:

  1. Solve immediate problems.
  2. Localize solutions.
  3. Enable workarounds.
  4. Use free and open licenses.
  5. Adapt bravely.

For Vendors:

  1. Provide support.
  2. Engage with local FOSS advocates and communities.
  3. Partner with startups to promote FOSS.
  4. Certify professionals.
  5. Establish local FOSS incubators.

Conclusion

I am optimistic that the next decade will see a significant increase in open source software adoption across Africa, unlocking its potential for economic growth and innovation in key sectors.

Jambula OS Linux – Version 2025.1.0 Released

I have just compiled and released a new image for Jambula OS Linux version 2025.1.0! This exciting update features a range of innovative enhancements, including:

๐ŸŒŸ Seamless integration with the latest Home Assistant smart home software

๐Ÿ“… Radicale, the lightweight and powerful CalDAV/CardDAV server for all calendaring needs

๐ŸŽต A local music server that supports audio announcements and alerts

๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธ A talking clock feature that announces the time at hourly intervals

๐ŸŒฆ๏ธ Periodic weather updates delivered through voice alerts tailored to your location

๐Ÿ“ท MQTT-based triggers activated by motion detection from the built-in camera server

For more information about Jambula OS Linux, including instructions on how to download and install it, please visit:

https://github.com/zikusooka/Jambula-OS

Hass Core Installer, a new Home Assistant Installer and upgrade tool for Linux

I’m excited to announce that I have uploaded a new tool called HASS Core Installer. As you have guested, its a handy tool that makes it very easy to install, upgrade, and uninstall Home Assistant Core on Linux. So weather you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced Home Assistant user, this tool is just what you need if any of the official and recommended methods are not sufficient for your use case.

I initially developed this tool for use on Jambula OS, a custom tailored Linux operating system designed for SoC devices such as the Raspberry Pi. However, you can use it on any Linux distribution such as Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Ubuntu, Debian etc.

HASS Core Installer also works off-line allowing for local installations and upgrades of Home Assistant in scenarios where there’s no access to the Internet.

To get started or contribute to this project, check out the HASS Core Installer repository on my Github!

Jambula OS Linux now offers support for Home Assistant

๐Ÿš€โœจ Exciting news for smart home enthusiasts! I have added support for Home Assistant Core installs & upgrades to Jambula OS (starting with version 2024.10.0) ๐ŸŽ‰

โš™๏ธ Jambula OS is a custom Linux operating system ๐Ÿง designed specifically for SoC devices like the Raspberry Pi 5

โฌ‡๏ธ You can download it here: https://github.com/zikusooka/Jambula-OS/

๐Ÿก Upgrade today and kickstart your journey to creating a private, offline smart home ๐Ÿ’กhub!

Linux, Python, Security, and Open Source Software TIPS

  • If youโ€™re like me and enjoy watching streams or listening to multiple audio sources, check out my newly updated @pipewire based script! It makes muting or unmuting sound from different sources really easy.Find it here:https://github.com/zikusooka/toggle-pw-volumesContext: https://joseph.zikusooka.com/?p=2637#ZikTIPs #PipeWire #Multimedia
  • Great panel discussion underway about Flatpak and the future of Linux desktops!Catch it live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDwwPMm9mgQ@LAS @gnome @linuxappsummit #las2025 #LinuxAppSummit #opensource
  • Cheat sheet: How to easily manage your packages using the Zypper command line tool on #OpenSUSE @opensuse #techtips #ZikTIPS https://en.opensuse.org/images/3/30/Zypper-cheat-sheet-2.pdf
  • Heads up for anyone planning to set up a Buildroot environment on the newly released Fedora 42 @fedora I have just submitted a patch for the m4 package to address compatibility with GCC 15. If you're working with Buildroot on this release, you may want to review the patch details here:https://lists.buildroot.org/pipermail/buildroot/2025-April/777274.html#Buildroot #Fedora42 #Fedora
  • This past weekend, I visited Arua, a vibrant, diverse city in northwest Uganda bordering DR Congo & S. SudanI had the privilege of discussing the exciting world of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) with university & pre-college studentsIt was inspiring to share with them how FOSS is revolutionizing tech by offering cost savings, flexibility & collaboration opportunitiesI can't wait to see the impact these students will make by embracing the potential of open source.#FOSS #opensource
  • OpenStack Epoxy 2025.1 Release Expands VMware Migration, AI Performance #openstack #epoxy #cloud #opensourcehttps://www.itprotoday.com/openstack-cloud/openstack-epoxy-2025-1-release-expands-vmware-migration-ai-performance
  • Slides for this talk are also available at: https://program.foss-backstage.de/media/fossback25/submissions/PUAEE3/resources/joseph_zikusook_rwI4V2c.pdf
  • Excited to share the recording of my FOSS Backstage 2025 presentation: "Empowering African Communities using Open Source Software"! I discuss the challenges and strategies for increasing FLOSS adoption in underserved regions.Watch it here: https://youtu.be/VsCuQ4401oc#FOSSBack #FOSS #OpenSource #Africa #Tech
  • I am now using Fedora 42 Prelease as my primary desktop OS.Friends, I think the year of the Linux desktop did arrive! @fedora @fedora42 #Fedora42 #Fedora #Opensource
  • ๐Ÿš€ I have uploaded a new image of Jambula OS Linux version 2025.3.0 โœจMostly a maintenance release, but I've snuck in some features like:โœ… Tailscale support for secure remote access ๐ŸŒ โœ… Audio calendar alerts via Radicale ๐Ÿ“… โœ… Nginx web/proxy server integration ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ โœ… Geolocation tool for device location๐Ÿ“ For more information about Jambula OS Linux, including instructions on how to download & install it, please visit:https://github.com/zikusooka/Jambula-OS#JambulaOS #smarthome #FOSS #OpenSource
  • Fedora 42 Beta just dropped! https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-42-beta/@fedora I'm going all in and installing it on my primary work desktop.Wish me luck – or maybe I won't need it since itโ€™s an even numbered release! ๐Ÿ˜‰ #Fedora #Fedora42
  • ๐Ÿ’กUse iperf3 to measure the network throughput between two Linux nodes effortlessly as follows: @fedora @opensuse On server: iperf3 -sOn client: iperf3 -c #ZikTIPS #Linuxtips $Networking #LinuxTechTips #Opensource
  • Just shared a recap of my FOSS Backstage 2025 presentation on open source adoption in Africa. Read it on my blog at: https://joseph.zikusooka.com/?p=2617#FOSS #OpenSource #Africa
  • During my presentation at the recently concluded FOSS Backstage 2025, I highlighted how internet shutdowns are a significant barrier to the adoption of open source software in Africa. We urgently need innovative solutions to address this issue and foster a more conducive environment for open source growth. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/09/internet-shutdowns-record-high-africa-2024-access-weaponised#fossback #FOSS #Africa #opensource
  • Watching @Karlitschek , Founder of @nextcloud speak at #FOSSASIA. Great insights on how to build a sustainable open source company! #FOSSASIA2025 #FOSSASIA25 #FOSS #opensource
  • The slides on OSPO talk presented by Sri Harsha looked fantastic. Does anyone know what technology is powering them?#FOSSBack #FOSSBack25 #FOSSBackstage #FOSSBackstage2025 #Opensource
  • Listening to @shauna share great thoughts on relationships in #FOSS. Such valuable insights! @fossback#FOSSBack #FOSSBack25 #FOSSBackstage #FOSSBackstage2025 #Opensource
  • Are you attending FOSS Backstage 2025?Join my session on fostering FOSS adoption in underserved communities today, March 11, at 11:35 CET ~ Wintergarten.I will be sharing key strategies and insights, with a special focus on Africa. @fossbackhttps://25.foss-backstage.de/session/empowering-african-communities-using-open-source-software#FOSSBack #FOSSBack25 #FOSSBackstage #FOSSBackstage2025 #FOSS #Africa #Diversity #Opensource
  • Listening to a great and humourous talk on "How to Explain the Impact of Your Open Source Work" by @horncologne @FOSSBackstage #fossback #fossbackstage
  • If you're attending FOSS Backstage 2025, be sure to catch my talk on Tuesday, March 11, at 11:35 CET (Wintergarten) @FOSSBackstage https://25.foss-backstage.de/session/empowering-african-communities-using-open-source-software#FOSSBack #FOSSBackstage #FOSSBackstage2025 #FOSS #Africa #Diversity #Opensource
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