Fsf-friends January 2004

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Careers in FLOSS... (Dec 2003 issue of LFY)
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 06 Jun '24

06 Jun '24

=========================================== LINUXForYou * Dec 2003 (Vol 1 No 10) In India Rs 50 (with CD) http://www.linuxforu.com Pages 102 * US$7.95 0 74470584957 =========================================== THIS ISSUE has probably reached your city. Saw it in Bangalore, and also got a complimentary copy from the LFY team at LinuxBangalore2003. But when I reached back to Goa on Dec 4, it wasn't in as yet. So it might take time to reach 'small town' India... FN REVIEWED: Mandrake 9.2 * PhProjekt * StarOffice 7.0 COMPUTERS AT TIS HAZARI, the session courts for the city of New Delhi, are being shifted over to Linux, courtesy the National Informatics Centre. - Rahul Chopra in this month's editorial. LINUX LEARNING CENTRE at Bangalore is offering courses in administration, security, development (internals and programming essentials, programming with Qt, device driver programming, MySQL & PHP), RHCE and Red Hat rapid track certification. www.linuxlearningcentre.com DotGNU RELEASES CD: It can now be used to implement application programs and Web services in C# and C applications under multiple operating systems, including GNU/Linux, FreeBSC, MacOS, MS Windows. The 219 MB release 0.1 CD is available as a free download at http://download.freedom.biz/dotgnu/dotgnu-0.1-cdrom.iso.gz.torrent e-Bridge calls itself "the new state-of-art training facility from eSpark Infotech is now open in the heart of Bangalore". It's offering embedded Linux courses (Linux fundamentals, programming Linux, embedded C & Linux, realtime C & Linux, Linux internals, device drivers, networking) and DSP courses (DSP fundamentals, TI/analog dev programming, audio/video, image processing, bio-medical systems). www.ebridgesolutions.net Linux.net provides a free e-mail service to those who want an e-mail address that ends in '@linux.net' MAJOR UPDATES and releases: OpenNA Linux 1.0, Gibraltar Firewall 1.0, Xandros Desktop 2.0, Onebase Linux 2.0, CUPS 1.120rc6. CAN YOU MAKE money with open source? Registration entails a "nominal fee" of Rs 5000 for a three-day conference. http://www.linuxasia2004.com/attendees/ February 11-13, 2004, New Delhi. SEND IN YOUR favourite slogans for a tee-shirt, and win five free copies of the shirt... LFYedit at efyindia.com MONEY CAN't buy respect, says Robert Adkins. Some of us might have met this guy at LB2003 in Bangalore. He's the CTO of Technetra Corp, and an advocate and implementer of FLOSS solutions for government. He can be contacted at radkins at technetra.com CAREERS WITH FLOSS: The number of students opting for courses in Open Source is growing steadily, even as industry experts predict a growing need for trained professionals in this expanding field. EXIT RED HAT, ENTER FEDORA: It's official now; the free (of cost) version of Red Hat Linux will not be available anymore. This has created a lot of FUD in an already unstable environment, thanks to the SCO episode. But is Red Hat closed for good? WEB-BASED COLLABORATION SOFTWARE: PHProjekt is an easy-to-install collaboration suite, which runs on the open source platform and databases. As the design of the system is developer-friendly, adding new features and components is a piece of cake. STAROFFICE: The latest version of Sun's office suite, StarOffice 7, may just be the right solution for the cost-conscious user. It loads faster than the earlier version, and sports some noticeable improvements. IN THE LFY CD THIS MONTH: Slackware (the "oldest Linux distro") and a range of GNU software for Windows users. FALLING BACK on backup systems. MAKING ADOPTION OF Linux in the enterprise easy. www.linux4e.com Business partners required: http://wwww.linux4e.com/partners ooWRITER HELPS YOU create your own templates and styles so that you can work with documents easily. Open Source is key to IBM's vision of computing. User empowerment is key to Microsoft's, writes Alolita Sharma USING DATABASE functions in Calc, a tutorial. (Wish there were more how-tos for the user in this mag! --FN) HALDIA DOCKS: it has a uniquely designed Linux installation with an active-active cluster set up, which is considered the best of its kind. This has ensured efficiency and cost-effectiveness. BASIC UNIX commands and concepts: an extract from *Running Linux* (Shroff Publishers, Pp 674 only Rs 425 in India). VxWorks and LynxOS are definitely the biggest embedded operating systems in use today. But slowly they are acknowledging the power of GNU/Linux and how it can help them maximise deployments. HELP LINUX GO INDIAN: By using various translation tools, you can join Language translation groups working across India to help translate GNU/Linux into your language. EXPERT INTRODUCTION: Multi-threaded programming under Linux. KICKSTART YOUR Linux installation (Part I): Installing Red Hat Linux on multiple machines one after another can be quite tedious. To avoid answering the same question over and over again, try the KickStart method, as it does not need any user intervention. WRITE CHEQUES. NOT JUST BOOKS: Niyam Bhushan on how anybody can turn thoughts into words, and words into wealth. NFS CLIENTS for Windows. OpenSSL PACKAGE offers a vast crypto library of algorithms WAIT QUEUES in Linux device drivers UNDERSTANDING recursive sub-routines INDIA-RELATED NEWS: HP launches GNU/Linux laptop Mandrake's latest distribution Oracle announces 10g for GNU/Linux Delixus offers India Linux CxProtect anti-virus mailing solution for mail-servers Trade management system from Network Programs Netweb Technologies unveils Tyrone MRO-Tek rolls out Network Management Systems Review of FLOSS at BangaloreIT.com =========================================== DISCLOSURE: This journalist (FN) writes a monthly column for LFY and gets paid for it. Promoting awareness about the content of LFY however is not part of the job, and is carried on with the intention spreading awareness about FLOSS among different GNU/Linux user groups in India. -- Frederick Noronha : http://www.fredericknoronha.net : When we speak of free Freelance Journalist : http://www.bytesforall.org : software we refer to Ph 0091.832.2409490 : Cell 0 9822 122436 : freedom, not price.

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To open software within three years
by Manjush G.Menon 26 Sep '05

26 Sep '05

Original Message ----- From: "IT@School" <itschool(a)asianetindia.com> To: <manjushmenon(a)hotmail.com> Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 5:08 PM Subject: Reply > Mr.Manjush G. Menon > We are not giving to depend totally on Ms. Products. Rather MS > Office is taught along with open office and Windows along with Linux > from this year. Arranging the resource persons for training an open > software, making available the software, the maintenance of a help desk > etc. are logistical issues which could not be immediately undertaken. > We plan switch out to open software within three years. > Executive Director > ---- Original Message ----- From: Manjush G. Menon To: itschool(a)asianetindia.com Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 5:46 PM Subject: Respected sir, From Manjush G. Menon, Sr.Programmer, Sofker Solutions Pvt Ltd, Kochi-18. To The Executive Director, 'IT @ SCHOOL' Project, SCERT Buildings, Poojapura, Thiruvananthapuram-12. Respected sir, SUB: In protest against the inclusion of products from multinational companies in the syllabus of 'IT @ SCHOOL' It's a very dissappointing fact that when the whole world is moving towards Free software, we at kerala are going behind a major MNC - Microsoft. I hereby register my protest in such an act from 'IT @ SCHOOL' Project team. Breaking of prototypes will definetly help us in finding economical and high quality products for our future generation. For students and programmers, the GNU Linux contains 'GNU Compiler Collections' which includes C, C++, FORTRAN, PERL, TCL etc. Also, for DTP and other publishing purposes, it includes GNU Office utilities like Abi-Word, gedit, and other worksheet utilities, all these with a nominal cost of Rs 700-800/-. The software as it is, is free and the cost is accounted towards the media (CD + Documentation) included. By this letter, I urge you to take this matter seriously and suggest necessary modifications in the action plan of 'IT @ SCHOOL' project. Wishing you all the best and wishing all 'Students @ SCHOOL' a bright future, Thanking you, Yours faithfully Manjush G. Menon. ______________________________________________________ Check out all the latest outrageous email attachments on the Outrageous Email Chart! - http://viral.lycos.co.uk

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PERUVIAN EFFORT COULD BAN MICROSOFT ON GOV. COMPUTERS (fwd)
by Frederick Noronha 16 Sep '04

16 Sep '04

Thanks to George Lessard for posting this across. FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- PERUVIAN EFFORT COULD BAN MICROSOFT ON GOV. COMPUTERS Peruvian Congressman Edgar Villanueva is pushing legislation to obligate all public institutions to convert exclusively to open-source software. Open-source programs, embodied by the Linux operating system, have underlying code available to anyone who wants to modify or customize it. Such software, in unadorned form, can be downloaded from the Internet for free. Villanueva hopes his measure triggers activity in Peru's software industry by freeing programmers from the constraints of working with coding controlled by a few large companies. Open-source could take the expense out of software upgrades; which is important for a country like Peru that owes about $30 million in overdue software license fees. [SOURCE: San Jose Mercury, AUTHOR: Associated Press] (http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/3531007.htm)

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RMS meets President
by V. Sasi Kumar 01 Feb '04

01 Feb '04

RMS met the President and had discussions with him. A press release issued by FSF India on this matter is given below: FREE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION OF INDIA PRESS RELEASE January 29, 2004 Richard Stallman meets the President of India Dr. Richard M Stallman, world-renowned software guru and founder of the Free Software Foundation (FSF), had a meeting with His Excellency the President of India, Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at 2:15 pm today. The meeting took place at the Rashrapati Bhavan, official residence of the President of India. At the meeting, Dr. Stallman explained to Dr. Kalam the ethical issues related to the use of proprietary software. The President was impressed by the issues raised by Dr. Stallman. It is understood that the President has instructed for the use of free softwaree for his IT facilities. Dr. Stallman also discussed the issues of using proprietary software in schools, which prevents children from sharing and learning to share. Implications of IT@School project in Kerala also got mention. Stallman's meeting with the president took place in the backdrop of support for free and open source software extended by the president at a public speech recently. Dr Stallman has been in India from January 16th. His programmes included the World Social Forum in Mumbai from January 16 to 22, lectures at Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, and meetings with various government officials in the state regarding the use of free software in government initiatives. Further information on the Free Software Foundation and its Indian chapter can be obtained from the web sites: http://www.gnu.org and http://gnu.org.in. Free Software Foundation, India. Press Contact Email : gnu(a)gnu.org.in Phone : 094470 34795 -- V. Sasi Kumar <vsasi(a)vsnl.com> CESS

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Is FSF India tax exempt
by Krishna Pagadala 31 Jan '04

31 Jan '04

Does FSF India have non-profit status? Is it possible to channel funds to FSF India via FSF US? Thanks Krishna ===== To Reflect, to Inspire and to Empower http://www.employees.org/~krishnap/ __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/

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Kannur University Courses
by Manilal 29 Jan '04

29 Jan '04

Friends, Most of the students wish to learn GPL'd softwares from Universities. But unfortunately many of the universities in Kerala(and in India) are not offering such courses. The Kannur University is a role model in this case. The University is offering Post Graduate programmes in Swathanthra Software right from the year 2000. The courses offered are M Sc(Computer Science) and MCA(Master in Computer Applications). The syllabus of these two courses are based on GPL'd software. Only one paper is there in the whole course which has a proprietary nature(Microsoft Architecture and VC++(theory only)). Some of the prominent topics covered are Linux administration, PostgreSQL, BIND, Apache, Etherboot, Squid, Samba, Linux Kernel, TCP/IP, Socket Programming etc... The labs are arranged with GNU/Linux OS(RedHat and Mandrake). The disappointing matter here is that these courses are in a phase of disintegration. The University authorities are now trying to change the syllabus completely to Proprietary nature due to some external pressures. In my knowledge, some of the faculty members are also trying to topple the course. Many of the Kannur University centres are being shut down due to lack of students. I think the main reason is the lack of publicity(and funds). Earlier there were some protests in changing the syllabus from the students itself. Many students are unaware of the fact that the university is offering such a course. My request to the list members is that please take over this matter(if relevant) to as many lists as possible so that those who are interested can join the course. It's a nice opportunity to learn Swathanthra Software. I think the ?Free Software Community? may have some interest in such courses.Those who need the syllabus of these course contact me. regards Manilal

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RMS meets the president
by Sajith VK 29 Jan '04

29 Jan '04

Hi, RMS today met APJ Abdul kalam, our president. The discussion is just over, and We didnt got the complete details. Our president has clearly mentioned that "Open-source" is the way we need to choose. The president became very much impressed in the "social aspects" of free software, pointed out by stallman. During the discussion, president called the "techinal head" there, to discuss about completely switching to free software. Meanwhile, someone from Microsoft was waiting there for a meeting with our president. On this, RMS commented "The British did visit the imperialist here before colonisation, they are trying for the same". -- "Freedom Matters" Sajith VK

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FreeMe
by Arun M 29 Jan '04

29 Jan '04

---- On the 55th republic day of India, Free Software Foundation of India launches the FreeMe initiative, to help India to switch to the world of software freedom. http://www.gnu.org.in/freeme/freeme.html ---- Hi, if you can help the initiative, write, regards, arun.

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What should friends of FSF India do?
by Krishna Pagadala 29 Jan '04

29 Jan '04

"Vision"(1) of FSF is stated as "Broadly, FSF India will strive to ensure that free software is strengthened in all respects so as to form a genuine, credible and viable alternative to proprietary software for every kind of application." "Goal" (2) of FSF India is stated as "Our goal is to ensure the long term adoption of free software, and aim for the day when all software will be free." In poster (3) "And the right to explore how similar freedoms can be attained and shared in all branches of knowledge." I find 2 and 3 above interesting, especially "aim for the day when all software will be free." "shared in all branches of knowledge." Making all software free means educating the public about the problems with copyright laws. And therfore an awakened public might get the laws changed. Having sharing of knowledge in all branches of knowledge means that we have to expand the process of educating the public beyond software and talk about the harm done by building walls around knowledge. However I see a narrowing of thought when it comes to vision, "FSF India will strive to ensure that free software is... viable alternative to proprietary software" I see this narrowing on both the lists. The only person consistently saying that all software should be free software is RMS. Since free software (as great as it is), compared to the amount of software developed every year is a drop in the bucket (if not ocean). Another way of putting it is, iff tommorow all software becomes free software, we will see an increase of the size of free software by atleast 1000 times. For the above reason, I think that not only should we be talking about why free software is better, but also talk and reason about why *all* software should be free. Any comments? Is my reasoning flawed in any aspect? Thanks -Krishna To Reflect, to Inspire and to Empower http://www.employees.org/~krishnap/ (1) http://fsf.org.in/philosophy/purpose.html (2) http://fsf.org.in/ (3) http://fsf.org.in/graphics/FSFIndiaPoster.pdf __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/

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Media Coverage of RMS talk at WSF
by Rajkumar S 28 Jan '04

28 Jan '04

Hi, How well has media coverd the RMS talk? Any pointers to articles or interviews ? raj

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Fsf-friends January 2004