Fsf-friends September 2003

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

16 participants
37 discussions

[Fsf-friends] Re: FROM INDIA: Free software development for e-gov...

by Frederick Noronha (FN)

Forwarded at the request of RMS... His reply. FN On Tue, 2 Sep 2003, Richard Stallman wrote: > Could you please forward this to > India-egov(a)yahoogroups.com, pubsoft(a)isoc.org, > fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in, > linux-india-general(a)lists.sourceforge.net, > gkd(a)phoenix.edc.org, bytesforall_readers(a)yahoogroups.com > since most of those lists will not accept mail from me? > > Thirdly, instead of reinventing the wheel, we do need to keep track of the > initiatives underway at the international and national levels. In this > sphere, a lot of work can -- and should -- be shared. > > The FSF (in the US) is developing the Free Software Directory, whose > aim is to list all free software that will run on a completely free > GNU or GNU/Linux system. It sounds like that is similar to the FSD. > > However, currently the directory lists only 2400 packages, and there > are thousands more to go. Our paid staff person can only check and > add some 1000 packages per year. > > A part-time volunteer can easily add 150 packages per year. We now > have one such volunteer, in Brasil. If we had five more volunteers, > we could maybe enter 2000 new packages per year. Would anyone like to > volunteer? > > It requires some training to learn to follow our practices, to make > your entries reliable and consistent with the rest of the directory, > so we're looking for people who will make a commitment to keep working > steadily on the directory for a year or more. If you want to > volunteer, please write to jcasey(a)gnu.org. > > Meanwhile, if the Indian government hires one person in India to work > with us, that could enable us to add 1000 more packages per year. We > would appreciate the help.

20 years

Teacher Plus... free software

by Frederick Noronha (FN)

TEACHER PLUS (teacherplus01(a)yahoo.co.in) of July-August 2003 carries an article titled 'Freeing computers in schools'. It says: Computers are used in many schools these days, as a teaching/training tool as well as for administration purposes. Most schools, however use, expensive software that not only takes away a huge chunk of the school budget, but also limits the number of teaching/learning tools that can be used in school. This article discusses Free Software and why Free Software makes sense in education.... A cartoon on the front-page has a hand-raising student ask the teacher: "Now that we have free software, can we also have free periods?" *Teacher Plus* is published by Orient Longman Pvt Limited, 3-6-752 Himayatnagar, Hyderabad, 500029 and is edited by Girish S Mondkar. It is compiled by Spark-India, 3-5-820 Hyderguda, Hyderabad, India 500029. More details from olmailco(a)hd2.dot.net.in FN -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks ------------------------------------------------------------------------- T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

20 years

About Calicut group

by Tom Jyothis.K

Dear friend, I am a Master of Computer Application student in Calicut University.I am interested in activities of free software foundation.So please send details about the activities of free software foundations in Calicut.Also send details about how to participate in your activities. Yours faithfully, Toms _________________________________________________________________ Over 6,70,000 brides and grooms. http://www.bharatmatrimony.com/cgi-bin/bmclicks1.cgi?74 Click here to join for free.

20 years

GNU Freedom

by Ramanraj K

Dear Friends, GNU Swatantra and GNU Sudandiram are the same as GNU Freedom. GNU Freedom may be an appropriate label to present GNU Software, Philosophy and Culture to a person who is totally new to Free Software in India, and may be even world wide. Supposing FSF India desires to release a package of Free Software to the public in India, just imagine a white shrink wrapped box with the following label: +--------------------------------+ | | | GNU | <- very bold letters | Freedom | | | | *Swatantra*Sudandiram*etc* | <- smaller font written in the | *available*in*indic*lang* | respective language script | *scripts* | | | | | | | | GNU LOGO | | | | | | | | Free Software Included: | | gcc*bc*bash*gnome*gnucash*tar | <- List of useful free software | wget*emacs*cvs*lyx*calpp*etc | included in CD/DVD discs | | |Publisher: FSF India | +--------------------------------+ GNU Freedom could serve as title for periodicals that release latest/beta versions of free software. We could have GNU Freedom meetings, etc. all of which serve to present free software to public for wider use. The GNU GPL means freedom to us, and life to software. Therefore, we may stress boldly the freedom that is at the heart of free software, without which there would have been no free software. Regards, Ramanraj.

20 years

Re: [Fsf-friends] FROM INDIA: Free software development for e-gov...

by Mahesh T. Pai

Umashankar C said on Mon, Sep 01, 2003 at 03:47:49AM -0700,: > The development platform envisaged is Sun Java and deployment can be > on any free tool such as Tomcat etc. I'm afraid that there is some problem there. Java is not swatantra. You get it free of cost though. That always need not be the case, because re-distribution is prohibited. "swatantra" is a different concept. > The database envisaged is POSTGRESQL. Yes, that is very popular, and swatantra. > At present these packages are in VB. Conversion to J2E has to take > place within a period of, say 4-6 months. In the meanwhile the > design, documentation etc., can be placed online for free download > for use as well as to suggest better ways. As I pointed out, Java is not swatantra. But, software which is otherwise swatantra, but depends on java is popular. It is not a good idea for software which has looooooong term use, like in e-governance to depend on non-free compilers and VMs. An alternative would be to use jikes / kaffe, which claim to be substitutes for java. -- +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+ Mahesh T. Pai, LL.M., 'NANDINI', S. R. M. Road, Ernakulam, Cochin-682018, Kerala, India. http://in.geocities.com/paivakil +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+

20 years

Re: RMS note to Vivaravicharam: GNU Swatantra

by Ramanraj K

Dear Friends, Re: RMS note to Vivaravicharam ============================== freedom = swatantra (in sanskrit); and sudandiram (in tamil) swatantra and sudandiram also mean the independence of a free country. These are very old words. Ancient Tamil Kingdoms that were under domination had to pay kappam (tamil) or compulsory gold/valuables, to the superior king for `protection'. Free countries do not pay kappam, and fair nations neither keep people under domination nor collect kappam. Software licence fees could be equated with kappam. Kings who failed to pay kappam in the past were slaughtered and humbled. Kappam is a tool for slavery. Freedom is so valuable, that its beauty can be seen and appreciated only in the background of the cruel and gloomy darkness of slavery. Choosing non-free software is like voluntarily choosing slavery. Free software gives the freedom to use, share, and improve. Free software is also `alive' and could be regarded as having life. Under terms of the GPL, they can be freely duplicated, improved and distributed. All free software vie for acceptance, and the fittest survive. Free software is like natural life itself.We cannot duplicate, improve or distribute non-free software, which can therefore be considered lifeless. Our future hinges on the ability to use high quality software without slavery. The GNU Project conceived by RMS has paved way for enjoying this natural freedom. So let us call Free software, GNU Swatantra (hindi version) or GNU Sudandiram (tamil version). GNU could be pronounced as Naya or New in hindi - meaning our new found freedom, and also recognize the contribution of GNU at the same time. Regards, K. Ramanraj.

20 years

FROM INDIA: Free software development for e-gov...

by Frederick Noronha (FN)

Dear Mr Umashankar C: Thanks for your note, and here's my response. Firstly, may I point out that I'm a supporter of the Free Software model; and wouldn't like to push the Open Source label just primarily because it appears more business friendly. Freedom (of the software writer and user) is an important issue, and this should reflect in the labels we use, IMHO. Secondly, your concern is valid. There's much scope for work in this field. But, for this task to be accomplished, we need to involve a whole lot of others, and hence involving a couple of evangelists like Atul and me alone would be grossly insufficient. As a first step, I'll circulate your note so that others in the debate (FSF-India, LIG, PubSoft, GKD, BytesForAll) get to know of these concerns. Thirdly, instead of reinventing the wheel, we do need to keep track of the initiatives underway at the international and national levels. In this sphere, a lot of work can -- and should -- be shared. We need to check up about the plans from Latin America (I think) to promote a distro for government officials. Let's see how we can take this ahead. Thanks for raising the issues. FN ________________________________________________________________________ Message: 4 Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2003 05:06:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Umashankar C <umashankarc(a)yahoo.com> Subject: A suggestion on open source SW development for e-gov (To Frederick Noronha and Atul) 30-8-03 SUGGESTION TO HOST E-GOVERNANCE APPLICATIONS FREE USING SPONSORSHIP ASSISTANCE Dear Frederik and Atul, I have a suggestion. I want the two of you to respond. The proposal is that a team consisting of people like you and the members of this group develop and place the e-gov packages on the web for State and Central Government and their organisations to download and use. They will be able to modify the code and improve it as well. I have the full system design for automating a Taluk office, DRDA, Police Station, Office Management, National Old Age Pension Scheme and Block Development Office. These packages can be converted into open source from the present VB and can be a open source for the entire country. We can find corporate and other sponsors for various activities such as cost of coding personnel, hardware, hosting etc. The sponsorship should be for three years (at least). I am willing to offer the entire service free on a continuous basis. People like you can scrutinse the design/code and contribute on regular basis. Will it work? I need your suggestions. Regards. Umashankar C.Umashankar IAS., Commissioner, Disciplinary Proceedings, Salem, TN, India. (with effect from 5th Aug.2001) Contact Tel in Chennai: 91-44-22521909 Res. Reliance Mobile:044- 31047424 BSNL Mob: 94432-62009 --------------------------------- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks ------------------------------------------------------------------------- T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Fsf-friends September 2003