{
  "id": 15778904,
  "title": "Ubuntu / Kubuntu 26.04 — Prefer GNU coreutils",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/ubuntu-kubuntu-26-04-prefer-gnu-coreutils",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-20T18:06:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/bhaible/ubuntu-kubuntu-2604-prefer-gnu-coreutils-c01"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two coreutils packages, GNU and uutils, are included in Ubuntu 26.04. The author prefers GNU coreutils due to several concerns: uutils are written in Rust and depend on multiple modules created by different authors, some of which may be unmaintained or vulnerable to supply chain attacks. The uutils maintainers are also using the MIT license, which invites corporations to add proprietary features. Microsoft has already shipped a modified version of uutils coreutils without providing its source code. Additionally, uutils don't pass 100% of the GNU coreutils test suite, meaning fringe use-cases might have bugs. However, the author does not wish to be a beta-tester for unfinished software on their work machine. To switch to GNU coreutils, the author suggests removing the uutils package with the command `apt remove --allow-remove-essential coreutils-from-uutils`, then creating a file `/etc/apt/preferences.d/uutils` with specific package preferences. The author notes that certain packages dependent on `build-essential` may not install correctly, urging Ubuntu maintainers to remove `build-essential` from the dependencies of such packages.",
  "summary": "GNU coreutils or uutils coreutils? Ubuntu 26.04 ships with both. I prefer to use the GNU coreutils, for several reasons: The uutils are written in Rust and therefore make use of the Rust/Cargo modules. This is an ecosystem of small modules, each written by a different author and sometimes maintained, but more often unmaintained over longer time. This ecosystem is vulnerable to the same kinds of…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ubuntu 26.04 includes both GNU and uutils coreutils packages",
    "Author prefers GNU coreutils due to supply chain attack concerns",
    "Instructions provided to switch to GNU coreutils on work machines"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}