LWN.net

A new LWN article examines ongoing efforts to reduce undefined behavior in the C programming language. Undefined behavior has long been a source of subtle bugs and security vulnerabilities, as compilers are permitted to optimize code in ways programmers may not expect. The piece discusses proposals and debates within the standards community about tightening the language's rules, a topic resonating with developers concerned about software safety.

An LWN article examines ongoing efforts to reduce undefined behavior in the C programming language. Undefined behavior has long been a source of compiler optimizations that surprise programmers and create security vulnerabilities. The piece discusses proposals and community debate within the C standards world about tightening the language specification so that well-defined semantics cover more cases, making code safer and more predictable for developers.

Gentoo Linux has declared 'last rites' for its Chromium package, a step in Gentoo's process that marks software for removal from the distribution's repositories. The move signals that the package is no longer being properly maintained. Linux and open-source communities are discussing what the loss of packaged Chromium means for Gentoo users who rely on it.

LWN.net has published its regular Wednesday roundup of security updates for Linux distributions. The digest collects advisories and patched packages from distros such as Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu and openSUSE, covering vulnerabilities fixed across a range of software. System administrators typically use these roundups to plan patching and keep servers current with the latest fixes.

Mozilla has released Firefox 157.0, with the news circulating among Linux and open source communities. The release was flagged by LWN, a widely read Linux and free software news outlet, and is being shared by users tracking browser updates. Details of specific changes in the new version have not been outlined in the initial mentions.

Security researchers have disclosed multiple vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel, prompting renewed attention to patching across systems that rely on it. The news circulated alongside other privacy items, including a study on data collection in connected vehicles from Northeastern University researchers. Administrators are being urged to apply kernel updates promptly.