open-source software

The Dutch government is developing an alternative to Microsoft's software ecosystem, built on NixOS, a Linux distribution known for its reproducible and declarative configuration. The project, referred to as DAWO, is aimed at reducing dependence on American software vendors. The move is drawing attention as part of a broader European push for digital sovereignty and open-source adoption in public administration.

CodeSupply has announced a new research and development grant programme focused on open-source software security. The grants are intended to fund work that improves the safety and resilience of widely used open-source projects, a growing concern following high-profile supply chain vulnerabilities. Details on eligibility, funding amounts and deadlines have not yet been widely reported.

An open-source alternative to SketchUp has been built and is gaining attention in the 3D design community. The project offers free, community-driven 3D modeling tools that directly compete with Trimble's commercial SketchUp software. Coverage from 3D modeling outlets suggests growing interest in open-source options as users look for alternatives to subscription-based professional software.

Mozilla's Thunderbird project has released version 157 of its open-source email client, introducing new enterprise policies aimed at easier deployment and management in organizational settings, alongside other changes. The update is being discussed in the free software and Linux communities, where Thunderbird remains one of the most widely used desktop email clients and each major release draws attention from users and administrators.

F-Droid, the largest open-source app store for Android, has officially announced it is refusing to comply with Google's requirements. The decision makes the open-source marketplace a direct point of friction with Google's control over the Android ecosystem, and it is drawing attention in discussions about app store policies, developer freedom, and Google's tightening grip on Android software distribution.

DeepSeek has released open-source versions of its TileLang, DeepGEMM and DeepEP software optimized for Huawei's Ascend AI chips, announced alongside Huawei's disclosure of SuperPoD Flex, a flexible large-scale compute interconnect architecture. The moves signal deepening cooperation between China's leading AI lab and Huawei's domestic silicon ecosystem, offering alternatives to Nvidia-based infrastructure for training and inference at scale.

The GNU Debugger project has released version 18.1, the latest update to the widely used open-source debugging tool for C, C++ and other languages. The announcement was posted to the GDB mailing list, and developers are discussing the new release and what it includes.

Canonical and Huawei are working together to bring Ubuntu support to Huawei's Kunpeng ARM-based server processors. The collaboration aims to optimise the open-source operating system for Kunpeng hardware, strengthening the ecosystem around Huawei's chip line-up amid its push into enterprise and cloud computing. Details of the partnership's scope and timeline remain limited so far.

A European podcast collective is asking openly whether it should move its work from commercial office software to LibreOffice, inviting honest accounts of people's experiences with the free, open-source suite. The question is framed around European tech sovereignty, tapping a wider debate in Europe about reducing reliance on US-owned software vendors and embracing open alternatives.