Joseph Zikusooka (ZIK)

Linux Systems Engineer specializing in open source software 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 technologist at 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

Open Source

Jambula OS 2025.9.0 Released – Now with Bluetooth Speaker Support!

By Joseph ZikusookaPosted on Posted in Apps, Code, Linux, News, Open SourceTagged , , , , ,

I have uploaded the latest ๐‰๐š๐ฆ๐›๐ฎ๐ฅ๐š ๐Ž๐’ image – version ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“.๐Ÿ—.๐ŸŽ. This release continues the work I have been doing to make Jambula OS, a reliable, lightweight Linux platform for embedded SoC devices like the Raspberry Pi 5. So if you are building smart automation solutions on embedded platforms, this update is definitely worth checking out.

๐‡๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž:

๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ž๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐š๐ค๐ž๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ: Added support for Bluetooth audio devices which is ideal for voice prompts or music output.

๐’๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐œ๐ก๐ž๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐Š๐ž๐š ๐ƒ๐‡๐‚๐: Replaced dnsmasq with ๐Š๐ž๐š ๐ƒ๐‡๐‚๐ for better dynamic addressing management.

๐–๐ข๐…๐ข ๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ ๐œ๐ฅ๐ข๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐œ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐Œ๐Ž๐“๐ƒ: See how many clients are connected to your hotspot right in the systemโ€™s MOTD.

๐๐‘ ๐œ๐จ๐๐ž ๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐š๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ง: Displays a QR code linking to vendor/device info, useful for branding or support.

๐ˆ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ ๐ฌ๐ž๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ: Smoother first-time setup experience with updated scripts.

๐‡๐จ๐ฆ๐ž ๐€๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž๐: Latest Home Assistant version included to keep your platform up to date.

๐๐ฎ๐  ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ฑ๐ž๐ฌ: Minor fixes including firewall and weather integration improvements.

๐‹๐ž๐š๐ซ๐ง ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐š๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐‰๐š๐ฆ๐›๐ฎ๐ฅ๐š ๐Ž๐’:
https://code.jambula.net/zikusooka/Jambula-OS

Demo of Agama Linux Installer at OpenSUSE Conference 2025 – Nuremberg, Germany

By Joseph ZikusookaPosted on Posted in Linux, News, Open Source, TalksTagged , ,

Over the weekend at the OpenSUSE Conference 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany, I had the pleasure of showcasing Agama, the innovative new Linux installer set to debut in openSUSE Project Leap 16 and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.

While still in active development, this tool is shaping up impressively and promises to redefine the future of unattended Linux installations.

Curious to learn more or get started? Explore the full documentation here:
https://agama-project.github.io/docs/user/

Hass-Core-Installer: Keeping Home Assistant Core Alive

By Joseph ZikusookaPosted on Posted in Apps, Code, News, Open Source, Tips, Tools

It is finally happening – Home Assistant Core, along with other legacy installation methods and 32-bit system support, is officially being deprecated. The Home Assistant team announced this major shift in their recent blog post, signaling the end of an era for many longtime users who have relied on Core and Supervised installs for years. Starting with the 2025.12 release, support for these installation methods and older architectures like i386, armhf, and armv7 will be phased out.

For most users, the path forward is clear: migrate to Home Assistant OS or Home Assistant Container. These methods offer a streamlined, more stable experience with ongoing official support. But what about those of us who love the flexibility and control that Home Assistant Core provides? Or those running on hardware that does not fit the new supported architectures?

Hass-Core-Installer to the rescue

If you are a developer or among the few who want to continue running Home Assistant Core despite the official deprecation, there’s no need to despair! I createdย Hass-Core-Installer, a free and open source tool designed to help you install and maintain Home Assistant Core on your own terms. The latest offline version supported is 2025.5.3.

Hass-Core-Installer is a practical, easy-to-customize script for users who want to keep using Core without relying on official support. Whether you are a developer, hobbyist, or power user, this tool helps you to keep your Home Assistant setup running smoothly, even as the official landscape changes.

Why Hass-Core-Installer?

  • Flexibility: Retain full control over your Home Assistant environment.
  • Compatibility: Continue using Core on your preferred hardware, including some 32-bit systems.

Ready to Keep Your Home Assistant Core Setup?

If you want to learn more and why I created it, visit my blog post here: Hass-Core-Installer or if you’re ready to try it, go to GitHub where you will find everything you need to install Home Assistant Core confidently and keep it running well beyond the official end-of-life.

While the Home Assistant project moves forward with new priorities, the spirit of customization and hands-on control lives on through projects like Hass-Core-Installer. If you are passionate about Home Assistant Core, this is your chance to stay ahead and keep your smart home running your way.

Scroll to top