[tomek@vz]

In a pivotal shift for the Linux desktop ecosystem, GNOME has officially excised X11 support from its Mutter compositor, marking a decisive move toward a Wayland-exclusive future. This development, announced on November 5, 2025, underscores the project’s long-term commitment to modernizing display protocols amid evolving hardware and security demands. According to Phoronix, the merge request that ‘completely drops the whole X11 backend’ has been integrated into Mutter’s mainline, effectively rendering GNOME strictly Wayland-based.
The transition has been brewing for years, with GNOME developers citing Wayland’s superior security features, such as per-window input isolation, and better performance on contemporary hardware. X11, a protocol dating back to 1984, has long been criticized for its vulnerabilities and inefficiencies in handling modern multi-monitor setups and high-resolution displays. Phoronix reports that this change follows the disabling of X11 by default in GNOME 49, with full removal targeted for GNOME 50.
Industry observers note that this isn’t an abrupt decision. Discussions about phasing out X11 have circulated since at least 2023, as evidenced by coverage from ItsFoss, which highlighted GNOME’s initial plans to go Wayland-only. The move aligns with broader trends in open-source desktop environments, where Wayland is increasingly seen as the successor to X11’s aging architecture.

> GNOME’s X11 Farewell: Wayland Takes the Helm in Linux Display Revolution

In the ever-evolving landscape of Linux ecosystem tools, fwupd has emerged as a cornerstone for firmware management, ensuring devices remain secure and up-to-date without the traditional hassles. The latest release, version 2.0.17, marks a significant milestone, introducing features that address both immediate hardware needs and long-term security challenges. Announced just days after the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS) celebrated over 135 million firmware downloads, this update underscores fwupd’s growing importance in the open-source world.
Developed as a daemon that allows session software to update device firmware seamlessly, fwupd supports a wide array of devices from desktops to servers. According to the project’s GitHub repository, it enables users to check for updates, download metadata from LVFS, and apply them via simple command-line tools. This release builds on that foundation, incorporating advancements that cater to industry insiders focused on security and compatibility.

> Fwupd’s Quantum Shield: Decoding the 2.0.17 Linux Firmware Revolution