Fsf-friends August 2002

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

27 participants
35 discussions

by Frederick Noronha

A young student-friend from Goa, Ajoy Kunkolienkar, recently put out this post. Could we do something to encourage such thinking? Any further development of the CD-for-engineering-students plan? FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- hi everybody! i've been trying some stuff over the last week which prompts me to post this mail... what i'm basically trying to do is to create an option or rather highlight an already existing option to the student community. in any course in computer science , the subjects of RDBMS ,OOP , Networking and software engineering are common .. and they form the scope of the Bsc compute science course offered by various colleges affltd. to the GU. Most of the colleges (almost all) use MS windows as the default platform for conducting practicals in the above subjects.I tried doing otherwise ie. using *Linux* for all practicals and by doing so, i hoped to give others a choice too.. i tried the foll. combinations , but some have shortcommings.. can someone help me out with them? SUBJECT TRADITION LINUX REVOLUTION ;) STATUS ------- --------- ------------------ -------- OOP(c++) Turbo C++ GCC(G++) + vi *successful RDBMS Vb+Oracle8i PHP+MySQL **see bottom HTML ie netscape obvious Networking BSD sockets(GCC) same no change S/w Engg. MS.Project Mr.Project ***successful ============================================================================= * I downloaded david 1.02 which is supposed to be a full fledged c/c++ IDE for Gnome .. but it takes a hell lot of time to start and it crashes very very frequently.. Arvind Y. is supposed to provide me Anjuta .. guess that can be a good option to TC++ .. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** i tried the MySQL 3.22 server ( too old?? ) everything works fine but 3.22 dosent support checks ,views and foreign keys. (emulates foreign keys) can someone suggest a replacement??? i cant get my hands on Oracle 9i for linux ..that could be a solution i guess.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** Can anyone suggest any good case tools for linux?? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- hoping for a reply, -=AJOY=- datafort(a)rediffmail.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Access Your PC from Anywhere - Free Trial http://us.click.yahoo.com/o5uw2C/0ncEAA/Ey.GAA/0XFolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To Post a message, send it to: ilug-goa(a)eGroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: ilug-goa-unsubscribe(a)eGroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

19 years, 10 months

[fred@bytesforall.org: [Life] Taking the Penguin to the classroom (Goa)]

by Nagarjuna G.

----- Forwarded message from Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> ----- >From nagarjun Fri Aug 2 10:31:42 2002 Envelope-to: nagarjun(a)hbcse.tifr.res.in Delivery-date: Fri, 02 Aug 2002 10:31:42 +0530 cc: Animesh N Nerurkar <banduji(a)symonds.net> From: Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> List-Archive: <http://mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in/pipermail/life/> List-Help: <mailto:life-request@mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in?subject=help> List-Id: A Mailing List for Free Software Solutions for Education <life.mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in> List-Post: <mailto:life@mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in> List-Subscribe: <http://mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in/mailman/listinfo/life>, <mailto:life-request@mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in?subject=subscribe> List-Unsubscribe: <http://mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in/mailman/listinfo/life>, <mailto:life-request@mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in?subject=unsubscribe> Reply-To: life(a)mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in Subject: [Life] Taking the Penguin to the classroom (Goa) To: life(a)mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in X-AntiVirus: OK! AntiVir MailGate Version 2.0.0.0 at hbcse has not found any known virus in this email. X-BeenThere: life(a)mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.5 This is a draft article that Animesh and myself are working on... it kindof explains the approach in Goa. FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- =================================================== GNU/LINUX IN OVERDRIVE... TAKING THE PENGUIN TO THE CLASSROOM =================================================== By Animesh Nerulkar & Frederick Noronha GOA MADE it to the news some months back, as a group of volunteers attempted to take GNU/Linux to the classroom. Fighting pessimism, a heavily Microsoft-loaded syllabus and a daunting task coupled with the ever-looming difficulty of getting volunteers, the project has moved on. Silently and away from the headlines, a small group has struggled to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Will things work? It's still too chancey to predict... But, clearly some indicators and pointers are emerging already. If Linux is going to reach the school classroom, the success or failure of such a project would probably depend on: * acceptance of Linux by teachers and students * availability of Linux support, when needed * ability to get earlier-generation hardware to work with suitable versions of Linux. Goasudharop's Goa Schools Computers Project (GSCP), a network of expat Goans inspired by concerns about spreading computer education emerging from back home, shipped in a containerfull of some 280 once-used computers from New York. GNU/Linux hass been installed on a number of these. Some 150 schools inGoa benefited from this handout, with 20 of these schools recieving LTSP networks, using the Linux Terminal Server Project software. On behalf of Linux Goa (Goa chapter of the India Linux User Group) local software engineer Arvind Yadav and automobile engineering student Animesh Nerurkar put together a single-CD version Linux, based on Red Hat 7.2. The goal of this was that it would make an install of GNU/Linux easier and faster; standardise the installation, so that problems when they arose could be more-easily identified and tackled; and match the available hardware (Pentiums) with the software. RedHat 7.2 was selected over other versions as the base for this custom CD mainly due to its built-in support for the ext3 file system -- seen as being more hardy to withstand the powerfailures and abrupt shutdowns that school usage could imply. Besides, this was also the latest version of linux released at that time. To make the installation and maintenance work easier, Arvind and Animesh point out that they worked on creating a standard Linux installation. Kind of stick-the-CD-in-and-it-works thing. This CD was used to deploy GNU/Linux in most of these schools in Goa and another "few hundred" in Nepal. Schools in the distant mountainous kingdom had also requested and deployed the same with help from Linux-Goa's volunteer Tom Fernandes, of German-Goan descent, who has been working with GNU/Linux extensively in Goa over the past months. Tom traveled all the way across by train and bus to help out, in the backdrop of a Maoist insurgency in that politically-troubled country and amidst unpredictable traffic dislocations and many-day general strikes. This custom schools CD also evoked interest among those promoting the use of GNU/Linux in some of Kerala's schools. As the custom built CD was intended for use in schools, it was planned as a solution to the anticipated needs of these schoools and their curriculae, rather than as just another package of goodies. Besides, at the back of everyone's mind was the level of expertise of the average volunteer -- not all of us are in the same league as Alan Cox, after all. Some amount of standardisation was also prefered to ensure ease of voluntary support to these schools in the eventuality that another volunteer might have to work out a solution to a computer which he or she (yes, there are a few committed women volunteers too!) didn't do the initial setup for. It was also expected to adequately provide the needs of GNU/Linux related self learning for the school staff. Of course, installation and configuration of GNU/Linux software is a time-consuming job. Each installation, on each PC, takes the good part of an hour. (One needs to note here however that a Windows install usually 'fixes' only the Operating System. In the case of Linux, one normally gets not just the OS but virtual tonnes of office applications, Net tools, a few games, engineering applications -- if you choose them -- and a whole lot of software to do virtually everything you could do with a computer). There are two special catagories of installation in the new menu -- Workstation, for stand alone systems, and LTSP-Server, for a network server. For each of these installation catagories, a custom disk-partioning scheme was customised while the original Redhat scheme were rejected as it did not by default meet the hardware requirements of the PCs being installed in the schools which, expectedly, were not the latest available in the market. The time zone selections were set to default to "Calcutta/India". Such small efforts were aimed at ensuring that the installation setups were easier for the person finally doing it. As most machines are restricted to some 32 MB RAM and 1.2 GB hard disks. those working on the project were left with no option but to ruthlessly eliminate any software package that was unessential. As a result, some standard packages and apps from the original Red Hat 7.2 'distro' were dropped and some additional apps were added. The need for dropping some of the original Red Hat collection was dictated by the hardware resources of the machines that would use this, while the additional software was meant to provide additional functionality and ensure the availability of the complete, needed solution. KDE, a resource hungry solution, was the single largest casualty along with all QT-based apps. Gnome, as the next most resource-hungry, would also have been put on the chopping block were it not for the fact that atleast one, complete, non-radical, userfriendly desktop was needed (atleast initially). This was seen as necessary to avoid intimidating the school staff. Gnome was selected over KDE as it was found to be a lot less resource hungry. Windowmaker menus were customised and added on the CD with the intention that at some point of time, the school staff and children wud migrate to a lighter desktop such as this. Some games were selectively included in the CD from the original Red Hat package as these were known to enhance educational and entertainment value. LTSP, the Linux Terminal Server Project, besides its documentation and a vast collection of remote boot images were added. Browser Opera was added. Some howtos had to be written to cover these changes and to aid in the implementation of the project. Arvind coded shell scripts for this purpose. To complete this excercise, two volunteer and one GSCP teachers training programmes were held by Linux Goa. For the teachers training, theory sessions were compulsary, practicals were optional. Each teachers training programme lasted two days, four sessions per day, two hours per session. In all, a total of eight sessions done. Tom Fernandes and Animesh volunteered as instructors on behalf of Linux Goa, while Arvind and Animesh helped with the volunteer training. On most PCs, this single-CD install would work without causing much trouble for even a newbie, believes Animesh. (Other Linux-Goa stalwarts like Goa University professor Gurunandan Bhat cautions against building undue expectations on this, saying, "Installs are tricky and often unpredictable.") To demonstrate how it would work, our non-techie members who have never done a single install in their life -- like one of the co-authors of this article -- were called upon to face the test. They -- or should one say the CD -- passed easily. Tom Fernandes <anyaddress(a)gmx.net> suggests that another desktop manager could be used (in lieu of Gnome). "Nautilius is damn slow (on the Pentium-I's). It uses up 80% of the RAM," suggested Tom. Currently the machines are being set up with Gnome as default. Animesh raises some questions. He says: "How do we use computers to further the cause of education, rather than just dump a set of hardware and software in the hands of school-teachers?" He says while the attempt to implement a Linux-in-education solution in Mexico is largely seen as having "failed", in Portland-Oregaon a success story was reported. This had also resulted in the LinuxForKids.com collection of software. Others -- in places as far apart as Vietnam and Kolkata -- were interested in looking at Goa's experiment with taking Linux to schools. Delhi has since started an ambitious project, and is working itself to take GNU/Linux to schools through the support of the local LUG (Linux Users Group). Future plans in Goa include working out a more carfully planned schools specific linux distro. There is also need for a carefully planned engineering college specific Linux distro. Say volunteers: "Any one interested is welcome to join in the effort, regardless of ur nationality, geographical location, or such other considerations." To conclude, here is some food for thought: People are neither trying to learn computers, nor are they trying to use computers. They're simply trying to get their work done. GNU/Linux will gain acceptance if it can help them to get to that goal without too much difficulty. (ENDS) -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email fred(a)bytesforall.org * Mobile +9822 122436 (Goa) * Saligao Goa India Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference _______________________________________________ LIFE mailing list LIFE(a)mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in http://mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in/mailman/listinfo/life ----- End forwarded message ----- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ nagarjun(a)hbcse.tifr.res.in www.hbcse.tifr.res.in/gn/ Key fingerprint = C1E2 1B8C 8E98 A697 68B7 ADAC E956 6D4B DE90 BF01

19 years, 10 months

CD of Distros at IT Kerala FSF Pavilion

by N S Srikanth

Hi, Visited FSF Pavilion at IT Kerala 2002. Though the pavilion is manned by knowledgeable personnel, I did not get to have the distro burned at the Stall as was suggested in one of the earlier mails. Will it be arranged in the remaining two days at least? N S Srikanth Trivandrum -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Learn from other's mistakes. You will not have the time to commit all of them yourself and learn from it! --------------------------------------------------------------------------

19 years, 11 months

Re: [Fsf-friends] [fred@bytesforall.org: [Life] Taking the Penguin to the classroom (Goa)]

by gnu＠vsnl.net

May I suggest not using "Linux" and "GNU/Linux" together!! Use one of them, but not both in a single article, that too in consequtive sentences. It is a bit confusing for newbies who are already confused about the whole thing! Thanks Ramakrishnan

19 years, 11 months

Philippines/Malaysia Open Source Hubs (fwd)

by Frederick Noronha

Extracts from a note by Bala Pillai <bala(a)tamil.net> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Tamil Ants/Erumbugale, The most interactive open source/Linux community in our time zone/Asia springs out of the Philippines. Primarily because the Filipino psyche is a more secure psyche, a more self-confident pyche. Folks who are self-confident worry about the future less, and allocate more time diagnosing and solving problems rather than echoing and reechoing it. Filipinos are also more into sharing and online sharing - we should look to more symbiosis with them. Manila-based Miguel Paraz whom I have interacted with since 1996, is a key catalyst in the Filipino Linux community. http://www.q-linux.com is a good starting point to get a feel for the key Open Source catalysts in the Philippines. KL,Malaysia-based Dinesh who runs http://www.alphaque.com is another lead Open Source catalyst in our tmiezone. Do look for symbiosis opportunities there too.... I see lots of room for us to symbiosis together. For example, there is likely to be areas where we diagnosing, documenting, analysing, coding or publicising where there is over-duplication. If we coordinated ourselves and found out where our circles and priorities intersect , we could share this work and get fruits out faster. For your consideration. cheers../bala Bala Pillai <bala(a)tamil.net> Founder, Thamil Innaiyam (since 1995) http://www.tamil.net Founder, Malaysia.Net (since 1995) http://www.malaysia.net Founder, The Asia Pacific Internet Company (since 1995) http://www.apic.net Towards Wired Ants Mindhood: Click on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erumbugal Sydney, Australia Phone: + 61 2 9498 4852 Yahoo Instant Messenger: bala2pillai

19 years, 11 months

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Fsf-friends August 2002