OSP

OpenPaX Announced As "Open-Source Alternative To GrSecurity" With Free Kernel Patch By | Michael Larabel | "Enterprise security firm Edera today is announcing OpenPaX that they promoted in their advance press notice as a "new open-source alternative to GrSecurity." GrSecurity being the firm focused on providing out-of-tree Linux kernel patches focused in the name of security enhancements. With OpenPaX they are open-source and publicly available kernel patch for mitigating common memory safety errors and other system hardening. OpenPaX aims to provide better runtime memory safety protections, better hardening systems against application-level memory safety attacks, and related functionality. The OpenPaX code is available under the GPLv2. Today's press release hitting the wire notes:

"OpenPaX is a Linux kernel patch and alternative to the original PaX patch (now distributed as part of grsecurity) on modern hardware for system administrators who need to provide a layer of defense against memory safety-related vulnerabilities. The Linux kernel community also gains access to an open source hardening patchset and some features of OpenPaX will be upstreamed as appropriate. The introduction of OpenPaX is good news for Linux distros. Alpine Linux, for example, will return to shipping a PaX-enabled kernel in 3.21 as a technical preview. Further integration will happen in Alpine 3.22."

The OpenPaX kernel code is available via Edera's linux-openpax on GitHub." [...]

Meta Launches NotebookLlama, a New AI-Driven Podcast Tool By | Nauman Khan |

"Meta Platforms (META, Financial) recently released NotebookLlama, the open-source version of Google's NotebookLM, and uses its Llama models to generate podcast-like conversations based on text documents.

With the intention of taking simple text files PDF of an article, blog piece, anything and turning it into a better podcast with added dramatization, the output is still subpar. While using this method, users have pointed out that the resultant audio retains a robotic feel to it, and the timing of the dialogue may be quite off, with voice merging unpleasantly. Researchers believe that the TTS component of the tool is currently a limitation for achieving a more natural sound. The team behind Meta says that future updates may increase the audio quality, implying that the present deficits can be and likely will be fixed as soon as upgraded models are developed. Additionally, on NotebookLlama's GitHub page, Meta researchers have suggested other approaches that might be used to enforce scripting of the podcasts, including using two agents that will argue over different topics, adding a dynamic approach to the generating content. The creation of NotebookLlama is not the first of its kind, trying to mimic the very function of NotebookLM and generate a podcast. Although this attempt is quite far from the original in functionality, it marks progressive steps forward in terms of AI in media production.

However, like previous and similar platforms, as well as current competitors, AI-generated content may also contain inaccuracies, or hallucinations', a feature of AI technologies at the moment where the output can contain some false information." [...]

Open-source TikTok alternative Loops coming to the fediverse By | Mashable |

[...] "Loops is a new federated TikTok alternative. It just started accepting signups.

The fediverse is growing. Loops, an open-source TikTok clone, has started to accept sign ups, as first reported by TechCrunch. The short form, looping video platform will provide an open-source alternative to TikTok in the same way that Mastodon provides an alternative option for X, formerly Twitter. Loops was created by Daniel Supernault, the founder of the open-source Instagram alternative Pixelfed. The project is being financed by user-support. For those unfamiliar, the fediverse is a group of social media platforms that are working together through a federated protocol in order to allow users to communicate and interact with one another between social networks. A number of online platforms like Mastodon, Wordpress, Flipboard, and even Meta's Threads have joined the fediverse in the past year or so. By implementing this protocol, Threads users can choose to have their content automatically become accessible on platforms like Mastodon. Loops will work much like TikTok, allowing users to post short form videos as well as comment on and share clips. However, for new users, content will be held in a moderation que as they build their "trust score." This trust score will also help the platform hide certain comments and apply warning labels to clips. Users with high trust scores will be able to post content immediately without having to wait for approval.

As with most open-source platforms, Loops is user privacy-oriented. The platform says it will not sell user data to third-party advertisers or allow user content to be used to train AI." [...]

Socket secures $40M to strengthen open-source software security By | DUNCAN RILEY |

[...] ''Founded in 2020, Socket offers a developer-first security platform that is designed to protect code from malicious or vulnerable dependencies.''

''The platform proactively monitors open-source packages to detect potential threats such as malware, backdoors and typo-squatting. The platform proactively blocks potential threats before they infiltrate systems, enabling real-time protection. Socket’s platform also uses artificial intelligence features, including dependency analysis, to assist with threat detection to ensure faster and more efficient identification of vulnerabilities. Socket’s platform supports six programming languages, including Java and Ruby, which have recently been added, and handles critical use cases like license enforcement and reachability analysis. According to Socket, this makes the company’s service a comprehensive replacement for legacy tools.'' [...]

[...] ''The company claims an impressive customer list that includes Replit Inc., Figma Inc., Athropic PBC, Vercel Inc., Brave Software Inc., SymphonyAI Group LLC and Metamask.'' [...]

Gesund.ai’s Open-Source Library Aims to Standardize AI Validation in Healthcare By | HIT CONSULTANT | [...] ''Gesund: Pioneering AI Assurance in Healthcare with Open-Source Validation Tools   Gesund is the world’s first AI assurance platform dedicated to advancing clinical-grade AI solutions for healthcare. It offers industry-leading, independent third-party validation for medical AI used by pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Supported by leading investors such as Merck, McKesson, Northpond, and 500, Gesund orchestrates the entire AI/ML lifecycle through a no-code environment, seamlessly integrating models, data, and experts. Its AI-native platform can be deployed on-premises, in air-gapped environments, or in the cloud, enabling rapid collaboration with healthcare providers and board-certified physicians. – Navigating Bias and Regulatory Evolution: Screening clinical AI for bias is uniquely challenging due to the evolving regulatory landscape. By 2025, healthcare providers and payors—not just AI developers—will share the responsibility of preventing discrimination caused by clinical algorithms.  – Bridging Gaps with Gesund Validate: Although the FDA provides guidelines for clinical AI performance, no universal platform exists for physicians or developers to conduct independent assessments. Gesund has spent years developing a comprehensive clinical AI validation suite used across diverse healthcare settings. Now, it has launched Gesund Validate, an open-source tool accessible to healthcare, AI, and industry professionals at this LINK.''

IBM releases open-source AI models for business By | AI Author | ''IBM has released its new AI model series, Granite 3.0, designed for business use. The models are open-source, unlike those of some competitors that require a fee. Granite models became available for commercial use via IBM’s Watsonx platform starting Monday. Some models will integrate with Nvidia’s software, enhancing AI in business operations. The models were developed using Nvidia’s H100 GPUs, according to IBM’s research director, Dario Gil. While Granite models are open-source, IBM’s Watsonx tool, which facilitates model operation in data centers, is not free.''

https://qmk.fm/ https://ploopy.co/trackpad/

Ploopy’s 3D-printed, open-source trackpad is thoroughly customizable

"This 3D-printed trackpad powered by a Raspberry Pi can add a new level of DIY to your laptop or desktop."

By | Andrew Liszewski | "Ploopy is expanding its collection of mod-friendly peripherals with a new seven-inch trackpad that supports multi-finger gestures and features like palm rejection. Like Ploopy’s mouse and trackballs, its new trackpad runs on the QMK open-source firmware, further expanding how its functionality can be customized. The trackpad is powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040, while finger tracking is handled by a Microchip ATMXT1066TD processor which can all be found on a single mainboard that’s easy to swap into another case. Although Ploopy says the included 3D-printed case

“has a fantastic surface finish” and is “great to use all day,”

you can download the case’s open-source design files to print it using a different material or change its design entirely." [...]

OpenAI Releases Swarm, an Experimental Open-Source Framework for Multi-Agent Orchestration By | Sergio De Simone |

"Recently released as an experimental tool, Swarm aims to allow developers investigate how they can have multiple agents coordinate with one another to execute tasks using routines and handoffs.

Multi-agent systems are an approach to building more complex AI systems where a task is broken into subtasks. Each task is then assigned to a specialized agent that is able to choose the most appropriate strategy to solve it. For example, you could build a shopper agent with two sub-agents, one managing refunds and the other managing sales, with a third agent, a triage agent, determining which sub-agent should handle a new request.

Swarm explores patterns that are lightweight, scalable, and highly customizable by design. Approaches similar to Swarm are best suited for situations dealing with a large number of independent capabilities and instructions that are difficult to encode into a single prompt." [...]

[...] "As mentioned, Swarm is based on the concepts of routines and handoffs. In this context, a routine is a set of steps and tools to execute them, while a handoff represents the action of an agent handing off a conversation to another agent. This implies loading the corresponding routine and provide it with all the context accumulated during the previous conversation. For example, the following snippet shows how you could define a sale and a refund agent:

def execute_refund(item_name):     return "success" refund_agent = Agent(     name="Refund Agent",     instructions="You are a refund agent. Help the user with refunds.",     tools=[execute_refund], ) def place_order(item_name):     return "success" sales_assistant = Agent(     name="Sales Assistant",     instructions="You are a sales assistant. Sell the user a product.",     tools=[place_order], )

" [...]

5 Open-Source Software for Global Teams To Donate via Kivach By | Obyte |

[...] "Kivach is an open-source decentralized application (Dapp) for cascading donations to open-source GitHub repositories. 

Built on the Obyte network, it allows donations to flow not only to the main project but also to its dependencies and their dependencies, supporting the entire technical stack.

It supports multiple cryptocurrencies and enables developers to link their GitHub accounts to easily receive and manage donations. Besides, they don’t need to set up anything to start receiving donations, only to withdraw their funds.

In this article, we’ll explore some groupware projects that are available for free on GitHub, and that depend mostly on donations for their development. You can use them for free anytime, but if you want to send them some coins as a thank you, Kivach might be your option.

Etherpad Etherpad is an open-source, real-time collaborative text editor launched in November 2008 by David Greenspan, Aaron Iba, and J.D. Zamfirescu.  It allows multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously, with real-time updates that show each author's edits in a distinct color.  Initially acquired by Google in December 2009, the software was soon made open-source, leading to continuous development by the Etherpad Foundation. Etherpad's main features include creating collaborative “pads” where users can write and chat, auto-saving documents, and exporting files in various formats like plain text, Word, PDF, and HTML. It also has a “time slider” function to review the edit history and offers password protection for pads. It supports numerous plugins, enhancing its functionality for coding, formatting, and document sharing. In addition, all documents are in complete control of their creators —the users. The development of Etherpad is supported by donations from its user community and contributions from developers and volunteers worldwide. If you’re interested in offering them monetary aid, you can send them some coins via Kivach and contact them to let them know about it." [...]

New AI model for hi-res video generation, Pyramid Flow, is available as open-source software By | Bob Yirka |

[...] "The makers of Pyramid Flow have added a new wrinkle to AI video generation models—it generates video in multiple low-resolution stages before generating the final result of its processing. The research team claims that an inference shell can generate a five-second video in 56 seconds—the result will be 384p resolution. They point out that their approach generates video using far less computing power, which makes it less expensive. It also dramatically reduces the number of tokens needed for video generation, making it more efficient." [...]

[...] "The team has posted (under an MIT License) the code for Pyramid Flow on GitHub, along with sample videos that demonstrate the highly realistic results that can be expected from the model. They have also listed the open-source datasets they used to train their model, which together, added up to 10 million short videos. The research team did not mention the impact of ongoing claims made by those who see virtual videos made from open-source databases as violating copyright holders' rights. However, they do suggest Pyramid Flow could be a suitable tool for use in fine-tuning open-source material, without the need to pay a third party." [...]

Open Source Database Solution Market Size and Industry Trends By | Tom van den Bosch | [...] "By delving deep into consumer behaviour, market trends, and competitor analysis, companies can uncover opportunities to innovate and provide solutions that meet unaddressed demands or cater to overlooked segments. Open Source Database Solution market Segmentation by Type: Private Cloud Public Cloud Hybrid Cloud Open Source Database Solution market Segmentation by Application: Large Enterprises SMEs This process not only allows businesses to stay ahead of the curve but also enables them to develop products or services that resonate with their target audience, leading to increased competitiveness and sustainable growth in the long run. In the competitive landscape of the Global Open Source Database Solution Market, there is a notable presence of key manufacturers who drive innovation and shape industry trends. These companies are characterized by their robust product portfolios, strategic expansions, mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships aimed at enhancing their market position and meeting evolving customer needs. Key Players in the Open Source Database Solution market: AWS Caspio DataStax Fusioo Google IBM Kintone Microsoft MongoDB Ninox Oracle SAP Zoho Corporation Prominent entities in this sector encompass major industry players like [Company A], [Company B], and [Company C], alongside several others. These organizations have secured their leadership positions by maintaining an unwavering commitment to technological innovation, stringent quality control, and exceptional client service." [...]

YARA: Open-source tool for malware research By | Help Net Security | "The tool enables users to create detailed descriptions, or “rules,” for malware families or any other target based on textual or binary patterns. Each rule comprises a collection of strings and a logical expression, forming the criteria for its detection and classification.

YARA is a multi-platform tool compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS.

It can be used via a command-line interface or integrated directly into Python scripts using the yara-python extension. If you intend to use YARA to scan compressed files (such as .zip or .tar), consider using yextend, an excellent extension developed and open-sourced by Bayshore Networks to enhance YARA’s capabilities. YARA is available for free on GitHub."