Topic: Explainer

Our Explainer series takes a recent Ubuntu change, fix or feature addition (major foundational changes to minor UI adjustments) to explain what’s actually happening using a question and answer format. No corporate jargon or marketing hype, but a sprinkling of world-weary snark…

Ubuntu terminal prompt.

Ubuntu 26.04 ends a 40-year old sudo tradition

Ubuntu 26.04 will show asterisks when you type your sudo password, as Canonical adds a patch to its Rust-based sudo-rs. Here's what changed and why.

26 February 2026
Cartoon sewer pipe leaking green toxic sludge with Mozilla logo emblem inside pipe opening.

Mozilla’s ‘Rewiring’ to AI – Saving the Web or Saving Itself?

Mozilla says its AI 'rewiring' is a moral crusade to save the web from Big Tech. Our snarky explainer asks if the real goal is to goose revenue instead.

29 November 2025

Dracut in Ubuntu: What it is and Why it Matters (or Doesn’t)

Dracut is Ubuntu 25.10's new boot system. It's faster, modular but totally invisible. Here's what you need to know - and whether you need to care.

18 October 2025

Ubuntu’s New “Dangerous” Daily Builds – What Are They?

Ubuntu devs are creating new "dangerous" daily builds with edge channel snaps pre-installed, designed to help with testing spikes at Canonical.

18 August 2025

Ubuntu 25.10 Fixes Something You Didn’t Know Needed Fixing

Another bug to file under 'once you see it, you can't unseen it' has been fixed in Ubuntu, this one concerning the curved corners on the desktop dock.

16 July 2025

Ubuntu Fixes Vanishing Install Button in Software Updater

A fix to Ubuntu's Software Updater tool is rolling out, resolving an issue where the 'install' button would disappear (and not return) until closed.

29 May 2025