The Linux ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly, with exciting updates and shifts in various distributions and tools. This week brings major news from Rhino Linux, Gallium Nine, and Red Hat, highlighting both advancements and retirements within the Linux landscape.

Rhino Linux 2024.2 Release: New Features and Customization Options

Rhino Linux, a popular rolling-release distribution based on Ubuntu, has unveiled its second major update of 2024, labeled Rhino Linux 2024.2. This release includes an updated kernel (Linux 6.10.7) for its desktop ISO, and other kernel versions optimized for Pine64 and Raspberry Pi devices. The update introduces significant improvements to its installation process, offering users expanded support for tools such as Nix, Docker, and VirtualBox, enhancing containerization and virtualization capabilities.

A standout feature of the update is the introduction of the Unicorn theme, a purple-centric design that enhances system aesthetics. Alongside aesthetic improvements, the Rhino team has revamped their documentation with a streamlined approach, integrating both their own and Pacstall’s resources.

Gallium Nine Retires: Linux Gaming Adapts to New Technologies

In other news, Gallium Nine, a once-popular tool for running DirectX 9 games natively on Linux, has officially been discontinued. Previously, Gallium Nine allowed users to bypass performance-heavy layers by directly translating DirectX 9 commands to the hardware, resulting in better gaming performance.

However, with the rise of DXVK, a Vulkan-based translation layer widely used with Proton to run Windows games on Linux, Gallium Nine has become obsolete. DXVK’s performance and compatibility have improved to the point where Gallium Nine’s limited user base no longer justifies its development. According to developer Axel Davy, Gallium Nine no longer provides a significant enough advantage to warrant continued support.

Red Hat Launches RHEL AI: Optimizing Enterprise Applications

Meanwhile, Red Hat has introduced RHEL AI, a suite of tools designed to optimize the development and deployment of enterprise AI applications on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into modern enterprise software, this release represents Red Hat’s commitment to supporting innovation in the AI space. The tools are expected to help companies build scalable, efficient AI-driven applications on their trusted RHEL platform.

This week’s Linux updates demonstrate the platform’s ongoing adaptation to modern technological demands. From Rhino Linux’s fresh features and themes to the end of Gallium Nine in favor of newer gaming technologies like DXVK, and Red Hat’s investment in AI, Linux continues to evolve across multiple fronts.

Linux users can expect more such updates as the ecosystem grows and changes, adapting to both developer and user needs in the gaming, enterprise, and customization spaces.