The latest issue of Linux User & Developer is out now. If you’re among the lucky 1 million in the UK that got their hands on a free micro:bit (or you know someone who is) then this issue is a must-have! It includes everything you need to know, including a complete anatomy of the micro:bit, a guide to how it shapes up against the latest models of the Raspberry Pi, and five maker projects to get you started.

Also in this issue you’ll find the ultimate FOSS toolkit, packed with creative software to help you edit video, audio and graphics like a pro. Pick up the print edition and you get a free DVD with two live-booting distros packed with the FOSS from our feature. If you read the magazine digitally, don’t worry – our secure repo FileSilo.co.uk contains all the downloads you need.

Plus there’s a great range of tutorials in this issue to help you master filesystems, networks, passwords and much more. Issue 166 of Linux User & Developer is in all good newsagents now – if it hasn’t reached your part of the world yet, you can order a print copy or read it digitally right now!

Since its inception back in 2005, Korora has undergone numerous updates, been abandoned, rescued from obscurity and has recently been revamped into something completely new. To say it has gone on a journey would be an understatement, but the finished product proves to be one of the better entry-level distros out there.

While it’s essentially a remix of Fedora, Korora fills in some of the gaps that Fedora often seems to miss. It ships with a number of both open-source and proprietary applications, so that the end-user doesn’t need to tweak the system or set up a third-party repository. The idea of an out-of-the-box distro has never been more apparent with the ease of use that Korora both promises and delivers.

What’s even better about Korora is that it offers great customisation options to its users by supporting a number of desktop environments. Users can effortlessly switch between MATE, Cinnamon, KDE, XFCE and Gnome environments, and then perform heavy, detailed customisations, depending on their tastes and expertise.

We should also point out the existence of the helpful Pharlap tool, used for installing third-party drivers – such as graphics cards – without the complicated process than many other distros have you follow. Korora is all about simplicity, and end users are the ones who will benefit from it.

Get your monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse plugged in, then install OSMC – this is your main home theatre PC. Configure a Bluetooth remote control, or a remote control app on your smartphone or tablet. Connect a powered external hard drive to your Raspberry Pi, loaded up with all your favourite music, movies and TV shows. Set up your OSMC media centre by adding the content stored on your external hard drive, and add new files from USB flash drives as and when you plug them in. Set your Pi up as a media server for your mobile devices. Finally, browse through OSMC’s App Store for things like a torrent client and TV tuner.

You will need:

– Home theatre peripherals
– Bluetooth remote
– Powered external hard drive