20250214 release post

Author: q66

_posts/2025-02-14-new-images.md

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+---
+title: New images and welcoming new committers
+layout: post
+excerpt_separator: <!--more-->
+---
+
+As of 04 December 2024 new images have been published.
+
+While there weren't originally supposed to be any more images
+before reaching the beta phase, a new apk feature proved to
+be necessary.
+
+Other than that, it's an incremental refresh with software
+updates.
+
+<!--more-->
+
+## New committers
+
+We have two new committers, Jami Kettunen (deathmist) and
+Isaac Freund (ifreund). Both have been a part of our community
+for a long time and are active contributors; congratulations :)
+
+Unfortunately, another of our contributors, nekopsykose, has
+left the project recently. We thank her for being a part of
+the community and all of the work over the years and wish her
+the best.
+
+## Changes
+
+The `apk-tools` package manager has been updated again, ahead
+of implementing a new kernel backup system. New static binaries,
+new OCI images, and other things have also been updated to use
+this new version of `apk`.
+
+That means this image set is now the minimum that can be used
+to perform new installations, unless you update `apk-tools`
+in the live environment beforehand.
+
+Various software has been updated. Linux kernel 6.12 is now the
+default, most notably.
+
+The ISOs now have a bootable partition in the protective MBR.
+That means compatibility with certain x86 BIOS machines should
+be better.
+
+## Upcoming changes
+
+This is likely the last update before entering the beta phase,
+for real this time.