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As we head into the final weekend of 2025, whether you're still coming down from Christmas or already decorating and getting your dancing shoes ready for the ball drop, put these three excellent Netflix documentaries on standby for when you want to relax this weekend.

Even though JavaScript was originally built for scripts in web pages, it is now used to write desktop applications, server software, and everything in between. Now, it might become an option for software on low-memory embedded systems and microcontrollers, thanks to the MicroQuickJS project.

If there's one kind of app where the GUI gets in the way of functionality, it's a VPN interface. That's why the command-line interface is my favorite way of launching and interacting with a VPN app. It's always faster, and doesn't take up any extra resources. I started using a command-line VPN about a year ago, and I have not gone back to the GUI for VPN since.

A clean Linux install doesn’t come with many pre-configured apps, and that can leave new users wondering where to start—unsure of what they actually need for a smooth, functional system. To remove that guesswork, here are five essential Linux apps you should install on day one.

On Christmas day this week, the team behind the popular CachyOS Linux distribution published a "2025 recap" blog post looking back how the distro has changed over the year, and also previewing what's to come. One thing previewed was CachyOS for NAS and other server devices.

You have it way easier these days, but back in the day, when you wanted to play a game on your PC, you had to take a similar approach to consoles. Go to a physical store, get a disc, then pop it into your PC. Chances are, though, that nowadays your PC doesn't have a CD drive. So what do you do when you want to play your old games on your new PC?

I've used a lot of open-source software over the years, and much of it has passed through my Windows machines at one point or another. Some tools stick around because they are free, others because they avoid the bloat and unnecessary features that often come with commercial software. Open source tends to focus on doing one job well, and that alone is usually enough to earn a spot on my system.

In this week’s roundup of Raspberry Pi projects that I want to do but haven’t yet, it’s time to take a look at some sensor-based projects. From building a DIY thermal camera to help you hunt down the air leak in your house to assembling an outdoor weather or air quality station, here are three Raspberry Pi projects to try this weekend.

Your Linux distro comes pre-packaged with a wealth of powerful networking tools, including some that can diagnose common problems or help you monitor suspicious connections. But as with all things Linux, it's hard to know where to start. So, here are some essential networking commands you need to know.

For families shopping for a midsize SUV, efficiency has become just as important as space, comfort, and safety. Fuel prices remain unpredictable, and with the average new vehicle now costing over $50,000, buyers want something that keeps long-term ownership costs in check. That’s where this standout hybrid SUV separates itself from the pack, delivering class-leading fuel economy without sacrificing the room and versatility families rely on every day.

During this post-Christmas long weekend, you’re probably looking for some homelab projects to tackle. Well, I have your back! Today, I’m showing you three ways you can sever your dependence on big tech and save money while taking privacy into your own hands.

Every week I hunt down useful software that runs on Linux computers, and while I don't end up using all of them full-time, there are some that have stayed in my normal workflow. These are the apps that, looking back over the past year, were my favorite to write about and use myself.

Whether you're still basking in the holiday glow or you're just looking to take a brain break from all the excitement, a few episodes (or 10) of something easy to binge could be the distraction you need.

Gaten Matarazzo doesn't quite believe Saturday Night Live star Jane Wickline's claims that the Stranger Things kids are "the greatest threat to humanity right now."

During a Dec. 13 Weekend Update appearance, Wickline sang a song warning viewers that the Stranger Things child actors, now grown-up, would be using their influence to take over the world. But Matarazzo is happy to assure humanity that that is not the case.

"Even if we did have the capabilities of being the greatest threat to humanity, I don't think any of us really have the gumption to go with it," Matarazzo told Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards during a Say More interview. "I don't know if I really have that in me."

However, Wickline's song was never really about the Stranger Things actors. Instead, it's a tongue-in-cheek critique of artificial intelligence, with the comedian citing everything everything from AI's impacts on job markets to its heavy water usage. And while Matarazzo may not agree with Wickline that the Stranger Things actors are willing to commit to world domination, the AI criticism is something he can fully get behind.

"It's lame," Matarazzo said of AI. "Making a show like Stranger Things, or making anything in general, especially when you look at film and TV, the whole point is that it's subjective so people can have whatever opinion they have. But I don't think that anything is art unless people make it, and I don't really think there's much to comment there unless people are pulling from their own experience or shared experience."

AI has undeniably been one of the most polarizing hot-button topics in the entertainment industry over the past few years. During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which impacted production on Stranger Things Season 5, AI was a major topic of concern for both unions. In 2025, it continued to be a talking point, from the creation of AI "actress" Tilly Norwood to Disney's $1 billion deal with OpenAI.

For Matarazzo, the acceleration of AI is a worrying one. "The scariest thing, I think, is that people are like, 'OK, great, we draw a line here,' but then two years from now... there's a fear that it gets to a point where it is unrecognizable," he said. "I think that's kind of the goal there, that people who are enthusiasts of AI art are like, 'isn't it going to be great when you can't tell the difference?' I'm like, 'That scares the shit out of me.'"

The full interview also dives into standout moments from Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2, including Dustin's emotional fight with Steve (Joe Keery) in the Upside Down. The pair have been at odds for the entire season, as Dustin's grief over Eddie's (Joseph Quinn) death causes him to push his friends, especially Steve, away. That tension comes to a head in the Upside Down's replica of Hawkins lab, when the pair's argument about Eddie's death ends in a fistfight that's full of telling character moments about Steven and Dustin.

"What I really do love about that fight is that, if I remember properly, he never swings at me once. He never hits me once," Matarazzo said. "Everything he does is to get me away from him. He does push me against a wall and push me away from him, because I'm actively trying to hurt him."

Dustin finally punches Steve in the face, at which point the gloves come off. Steve wrestles Dustin into a headlock, and after the two wind up, spent, on the floor, he walks away.

"That's where he draws the line and ends it right there. It's very clear, like, there's no fight there. If he wanted to, absolutely, he could knock me into the next room, and that's just never his intention there," Matarazzo said. "That's why, even as much as I've hurt him throughout the year, he just always keeps his composure. And that's really cool. He says some hurtful things, for sure, but everybody tends to, and I really like that that's how it goes down."

Watch the full Say More episode on Mashable's YouTube page to hear more from Matarazzo about Dustin and Steve's eventual reconciliation, as well as his reaction to fans' worries that Dustin will die.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix. The series finale premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix and in theaters.

Planning a trip for the new year? Here's one thing you probably haven't thought about—roaming charges.

As you move into your post-holiday food-binge weekend, it’s probably best to take it easy and let all that seasonal yumminess settle so you can properly refuel your energy tank. To do that, you’re going to need some high-quality, verified-bingeworthy content to watch, and I’ve got you covered with three series boasting extremely high Rotten Tomatoes scores. All you need to bring is the popcorn.

Microsoft has no shortage of productivity apps, but one of its most genuinely useful tools is also one of the easiest to miss. If you subscribe to Microsoft 365, you already have access to Microsoft Planner, a lightweight project organizer tucked inside 365 suite. It is straightforward for personal projects and structured enough for small teams, which is why it ends up being more helpful than people expect.

Picture this: you need to find or count cells containing asterisks (*) or question marks (?) in Excel, but you're getting incorrect results. This is because asterisks and question marks are wildcard characters. The solution? Excel's essential escape character, the tilde (~).

Gift cards are great, but when your physical wallet already has a ton of stuff in it, it can be easy to lose them in the chaos and completely forget about your free money. By adding your gift cards to Google Wallet, you'll be much more likely to remember them. Doing this is easy.

With Christmas out of the way and the new year on the horizon, I bet you're sitting around and struggling to find something decent to watch. That's why I've found these three shows on Netflix that deserve your attention.