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Free Software *is* the ethical option for NGOs/campaigners too...
by Frederick Noronha 30 Aug '02

30 Aug '02

Maybe we need to popularise such ideas among the NGO/not-for-profit/campaigner circuits too... FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Visit by Richard Stallman to OWI, 7 June 02 OWI - One World International http://www.oneworld.net/ Richard Stallman, founder of the GNU Project and president of the Free Software Foundation, visited OWI on 7 June for a seminar with staff. Stallman is the world�s best-known advocate of free � as opposed to open-source � software. He opposes the use of proprietary software, which he reasonably considers is largely motivated by the thirst of large corporations to make profits and to control computer use and indeed people for their own private and un-transparent ends. He talked about the origins of the free software movement in the 1980s, among developers like himself opposed to the privatization of socially useful knowledge. The movement embraces a democratic principle in that the direction of software development is determined by the choices made by those who use and work on it, which anybody is free to do. Ex-MIT programmer/developer Stallman described his moral revulsion when faced by the binding terms and conditions that the proprietary software corporations impose on users. He considers that most people in poor countries will never be able to afford the cost of software licence fees. He expressed strong distaste for the dubious means by which proprietary companies seek to enforce their licences in the South. In his view debate about the `digital divide' is in part an artificial one arising from restrictive government policies and unethical corporate behaviour. Stallman described the early stages of developing GNU software (pronounced with a hard G), imitating proprietary Unix (GNU = Gnu is Not Unix), 18 years ago. Currently there are a reported 400,000-plus developers of free software around the world, working on a combination of GNU and Linux. They are opposed to the so-called open-source movement, which also uses Linux, on the grounds that the latter does not share the goal of a world in which everybody can use entirely free software. Acknowledging that the task of freeing oneself from the dominance of Microsoft and other software corporations appears daunting, Stallman countered that the longer one depends on these corporations the heavier the dependency will become. So it makes sense, he said, to free oneself sooner rather than later. Stallman was critical of NGOs that support ICT capacity-building among grassroots organizations and communities if this involves introducing them to proprietary software. He sees this as increasing the power of predatory corporations and therefore disempowering people and communities. A new GNU project, NGU, aims to link GNU/Linux technical support with NGOs seeking to move from proprietary to free software. Few if any major NGOs have made such a move to date. But Stallman reported that the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sol has a policy of actively promoting free software and plans to install GNU-Linux for 1 million schoolchildren. Stallman left OWI with some challenges about how we could work with and support the free software movement, e.g. by develop GNU-Linux training materials, supporting the development of free software packages where needed, and moving to GNU-Linux ourselves. It would be interesting and helpful to know how important the Foundation Trustees consider the issue of free vs proprietary software. Is this something that the OneWorld Network should take a position on? Links: www.gnu.org Free Software Foundation (FSF) ML, June 02

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Venezuela's Government Shifts to Open Source Software
by Arun M 30 Aug '02

30 Aug '02

According to government sources in Venezuela, the South American nation has announced an official policy that exclusively calls for the use of open source software in that government. http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2002-08-30-011-26-NW-LL-PB http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lared.com.ve%2Farc… Felipe Perez Martí from his first appearance in television incarnated like Minister of Planning, he would announce his absolute certainty of the urgent necessity to take years of inefficiency and chaos to him to the framework, gigantic and slow Venezuelan State. He would declare then his thesis of the shared in common economy and their attachment to the philosophy of the free code. That day when it presented/displayed the first economic proposal of the renewed economic cabinet of president Chávez, would speak of Internet, and his convinced persistence to evolve towards a country where the and-government was a high-priority strategy. [..] "I BELIEVE IN THE SHARED IN COMMON ECONOMY " - Minister, On what one is based the thesis of the shared in common economy and free software that is impelling the Ministry of Planning and Development? - free software is an extremely interesting phenomenon, which we thought to take advantage of in the reform of the State, we even set out to impel this scheme like essential part of our model of development. I think that the technology is public good, as well as the knowledge is public good. In simpler terms, cambur is a deprived good, because you you eat it, then no longer is available for anybody more. But if you use a computation program, it does not disappear, but that is available for "Pepe", for "Ricardo", for any other, and that characteristic gives a very special quality him in economy. The Industrial Era privatized the technology like a way to produce it. Nevertheless, a new modality arose to produce public goods: "the shared in common" way. Also the State can produce these public goods or promote that they take place so that not to mer his production to me, as it happens with the knowledge. It is

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Volunteer and Biz directory.
by Arun M 29 Aug '02

29 Aug '02

Hi All, A Volunteer and Biz directories have been added to FSF India site. "The Free Software Foundation of India is an organization run mostly with the support of volunteers. If you agree with the objectives of FSF-India, as described on the home page, and would like to contribute your services as a volunteer, please register here. Please do specify the areas where you think you can contribute, so that when the organization is in need of your expertise we may contact you for your help." http://forum.gnu.org.in/Volunteers "One of the objectives of the Free Software Foundation of India is to bring together free software users and businesses. This business directory is an effort in that direction. If you run a free software business or service, and would like to be listed in our directory, please register here." http://forum.gnu.org.in/bizdir

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Mail Clients
by Tapan S . Parikh 29 Aug '02

29 Aug '02

Im asking for advice about mail clients for Linux. I used to use pine, but I think Ive outgrown it now. In the last week Ive tried the following two options. Im not happy with either, and Ill give the reasons why. * Balsa - not very robust, error-prone - not multi-threaded - locks up when checking / sending mail - doesnt expunge messages until you close Balsa - weird glitches w/ flagging and read/unread status - not alot of bells and whistles I would like (searching, etc.) - positive is that its mailbox structure and organization is very simple * KMail - i didnt like the mbox organization where there are all these weird .file directories and structures that are very difficult to navigate from a shell - im not a kde (gnome all the way!) guy and keeping up with new releases of kde / kmail would be a pain Basically I am looking for a simple, fast, graphical browser with decent bells and whistles but still stores mail in mbox format with easy to navigate (from the shell) folder structures. Any advice from out there? (please cc me directly also as sometimes it is a while before i read the messages that come to me in digest form) -- Tapan

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[ Fwd: [malayalamlinux] Malayalam translation of the GPL]
by Arun M 29 Aug '02

29 Aug '02

Hi friends, This is realy good. Can you make a Unicode text file ? HTML file seems to have some invalid UTF-8 sequences. gv is not able to render the ps file :( Arun. --- Mahesh T Pai <paivakil(a)vsnl.net> wrote: > From Mahesh T Pai Wed Aug 28 09:30:19 2002 > To: malayalamlinux(a)yahoogroups.com, > indlinux-group(a)lists.sourceforge.net > From: Mahesh T Pai <paivakil(a)vsnl.net> > Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 22:00:19 +0530 > Subject: [malayalamlinux] Malayalam translation of > the GPL > > Dear everybody, > > I am working on translating the GPL into Malayalam. > At present, the preamble > is completed, and I have put it up on my site, > http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/ > > The files are pre-release versions, and comments on > the terminology used is > invited. For ease of feed back, I have numbered the > paragraphs in square > brackets [], and please quote the paragraph number > in your responses. > > It is available in four formats, > 1. Varamozhi text:- > http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.t… > > 2. jpeg file:- (huge - 183 kb) > http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.j… > > 3. iscii encoded html, cur'tsy iLeap - so it uses > ML-TTkarthika font. > http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.h… > > 4. Unicode html, converted from varamozhi. > http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease-u… > > The unicode file uses styles in the headers and uses > malayalam.ttf (the font) by > default. If you do not have malayalam.ttf, open > this file (the html file) in > any text editor, and add name of font you have on > line 19. > > 5. Post script format, (hhhhhuuuuuuggggggeeeeee - > 251 kb) > http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.ps > > I expect that there might some some opinions on the > choice of words used, (like > 'saujanyam' and 'swatantra'). > > Expecting your feed back (boquets and brickbats), > Mahesh T Pai.

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[indlinux-group-request@lists.sourceforge.net: IndLinux-group digest, Vol 1 #48 - 1 msg]
by Nagarjuna G. 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

----- Forwarded message from indlinux-group-request(a)lists.sourceforge.net ----- >From nagarjun Thu Aug 29 00:28:46 2002 Envelope-to: nagarjun(a)hbcse.tifr.res.in Delivery-date: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 00:28:46 +0530 From: indlinux-group-request(a)lists.sourceforge.net You can reach the person managing the list at indlinux-group-admin(a)lists.sourceforge.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of IndLinux-group digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Malayalam translation of the GPL (Mahesh T Pai) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 22:00:19 +0530 From: Mahesh T Pai <paivakil(a)vsnl.net> Reply-To: paivakil(a)vsnl.net To: malayalamlinux(a)yahoogroups.com, indlinux-group(a)lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [Indlinux-group] Malayalam translation of the GPL Dear everybody, I am working on translating the GPL into Malayalam. At present, the preamble is completed, and I have put it up on my site, http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/ The files are pre-release versions, and comments on the terminology used is invited. For ease of feed back, I have numbered the paragraphs in square brackets [], and please quote the paragraph number in your responses. It is available in four formats, 1. Varamozhi text:- http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.t… 2. jpeg file:- (huge - 183 kb) http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.j… 3. iscii encoded html, cur'tsy iLeap - so it uses ML-TTkarthika font. http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.h… 4. Unicode html, converted from varamozhi. http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease-u… The unicode file uses styles in the headers and uses malayalam.ttf (the font) by default. If you do not have malayalam.ttf, open this file (the html file) in any text editor, and add name of font you have on line 19. 5. Post script format, (hhhhhuuuuuuggggggeeeeee - 251 kb) http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity/gpl-ml-preamble-prerelease.ps I expect that there might some some opinions on the choice of words used, (like 'saujanyam' and 'swatantra'). Expecting your feed back (boquets and brickbats), Mahesh T Pai. --__--__-- _______________________________________________ IndLinux-group mailing list IndLinux-group(a)lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/indlinux-group End of IndLinux-group Digest ----- 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

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(no subject)
by jayveecomp 27 Aug '02

27 Aug '02

Jacob T. Mathew Jayvee Computer Services & Exports Pvt. Ltd Software Technology Park Trivandrum 695 034, India Phone; +91 471 334878, 326042 E-mail: jayveecomp(a)satyam.net.in www.jayveeindia.com

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Scripts ... on the fly
by Frederick Noronha 27 Aug '02

27 Aug '02

On Tue, 27 Aug 2002 fsf-friends-request(a)mm.gnu.org.in wrote: > Fred> difficult would this task be? Do let me know... FN PS: If > Fred> someone could give me cost estimate for writing the script, > Fred> I'd be grateful... > > You owe me a soda when I'm next in Goa :) > > -- Raju Raju, I'm really grateful to you and Vinay Pawar. Thanks for the speedy help. As you probably know, they don't serve sodas in Goa. ;-) And for myself, I'm a teetotaller. No, in case you thought this is an attempt to cheat you of your legit charges, I'm only joking. You choose the menu and venue as to how I can repay you. But you've not been coming to Goa for some time now. Guess we could sure do with outstation speakers (for our 4th Saturday of the month ILUG-Goa meetings... and also for other public events, like the CSI's Exhibition of Computers and Allied Products ECAP due to be held on Aug 31-Sept1 at Panjim and Sept7-8 at Margao.)

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Query on scripts to study servers ...
by Frederick Noronha 26 Aug '02

26 Aug '02

Could someone help me with this task? I need some scripts that would help me to search for the type of servers a particular host is running. (One could use netcraft.com to find that out, but it would be rather time-consuming.) On the other hand, scripts which could automate this task would help me to collect the info and dump those in a file. How difficult would this task be? Do let me know... FN PS: If someone could give me cost estimate for writing the script, I'd be grateful...

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LinuxInIndia#5
by Frederick Noronha 26 Aug '02

26 Aug '02

GNU _ _____ _____ http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | | (_) |_ _| |_ _| | |_ | | _ _ __ _ ___ __ | | _ __ | | _ __ __| (_) ___ | | | | '_ \| | | \ \/ / | | | '_ \ | | | '_ \ / _` | |/ _ \ | |____| | | | | |_| |> < _| |_| | | |_| |_| | | | (_| | | (_) | |______|_|_| |_|\__,_/_/\_\_____|_| |_|_____|_| |_|\__,_|_|\__,_| CopyLeft2002 GNU/GPL v2 OR LATER * ISSUE005 * AUGUST 25, 2002 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Co-edited by Frederick Noronha and Parag Mehta <pm at linuxindia dot org> * Issue released on the eleventh birthday of Linux, Aug 25, 2002 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In this issue o Indianising GNU/Linux o The Penguin goes to school (Delhi, Goa, etc) o NevyOS, the debate rages o Project Elx o Seeking developers for Simputer apps o Elx Linux o FSF-India is one year young o Community site for GNU/Linuxers o Indians working in GNU/Linux o Special focus on.... o Persian GNU/Linux o From the land of the Samba +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Archives at: http://www.freelists.org/archives/linuxinindia +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SOME INITIATIVES TO INDIANISE GNU/LINUX: We learn from G Karunakar <karunakar(a)freedomink.org> that support for Indian languages is coming in slowly, but there are several efforts going towards this end on the GNU/Linux front. For instance: * IndLinux project www.indlinux.org / www.sourceforge.net/projects/indlinux A volunteer group working at the desktop level (KDE/GNOME), using Unicode, but ISCII will also be supported by providing convertor tools, Current focus on Opentype fonts development, translations for GNOME 2.0 . * IndiX http://rohini.ncst.ernet.in/indix/ A modified X server to support Indian languages using opentype fonts. Uses Unicode * IITM indlinux http://www.tenet.res.in/Donlab/Indlinux/ Have modified X & console in kernel to support indian languages. Use ISCII encoding only. * Linux Localisation Initiative ( LLI ) - lli.linux-bangalore.net A volunteer group working on translating LDP documentation (starting with HOWTOs) to indian languages. * Indic-computing project. indic-computing.sourceforge.net Aim is to create a resource center for all indian language issues in computing. * Language Technology Resource center (LTRC), IIIT Hyderabad. - http://www.iiit.net/ltrc/index.html Have developed language dictionaries, plugin for viewing ISCII, and font convertors. Also doing a machine based translation tool (Anusaaraka). Most of their work is release under GNU GPL. Projects listed at # 2, 3 and 6 are sponsored by government. Rest are volunteer based, looking for funds. Karunakar is himself involved with the IndLinux project. The active people (in the indian language area) at the Media Lab Asia are Venky Hariharan <venky(a)medialabasia.org> who is one of the founders of IndLinux project, and Tapan Parikh <tap2k(a)yahoo.com>. Both are actively working towards Indian-language computing, through Indic-computing project (indic-computing.sourceforge.net), and are also planning to hold a small, informal and preliminary workshop for Indian language computing in Bangalore in September. If you feel you'd like to share your ideas with them, please get in touch. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PERL MODULE FOR INDIAN LANGUAGES: M K Saravanan <mksarav(a)comp.nus.edu.sg> drew the attention of the Indian Linux Users Group in Chennai <ilugc(a)aero.iitm.ernet.in> to this perl module to handle Indian language I/O Check http://acharya.iitm.ac.in/perl_enhance.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MALAYALAM GNU/LINUX PROJECT: Baiju M <malayalamlinux(a)yahoo.com> is one of those who is planning to work with the Malayalam GNU/Linux project (being undertaken by the KBIP and the Free Software Foundation-India, as he recently mentioned, in passing. Could someone offer an update on how that's going? All the best to you guys... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HANDLING TELUGU: AkRti is a framework to facilitate easier development of applications that can handle the Indian language Telugu. The modular architecture decouples the input method, the underlying syllable based representation and the on screen display/print. http://sourceforge.net/projects/akrti/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ INDIAN HOLY BOOKS: Explores indian holy books that are in sanskrit & translate them in english beside this project will also speak sanskrit shaloks which user will select it is useful for the peoples working on indian culture... http://sourceforge.net/projects/ved/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PATCH FOR LOCAL LANGUAGES: This is K Ratheesh's <rathee(a)lantana.tenet. res.in> comment on Indianizing GNU/Linux (this point was made some time back when he was a student at the IIT-Madras... email contacts might have changed): "I am working on enabling Linux console for local languages. As the current PSF format doesn't support variable width fonts, I have made a patch in the console driver so that it will load a user defined multi-glyph mapping table so that multiple glyphs can be displayed for a single character code. All editing operations will also be taken care of. "Further, for Indian languages, there are various consonant/vowel modifiers which result in complex character clusters. So I have extended the patch to load user defined context sensitive parse rules for glyphs / character codes as well. Again, all editing operations will behave according to the parse rule specifications. "Even though the patch has been developed keeping Indian languages in mind, I feel it will be applicable to many other languages (for eg. Chinese) which require wider fonts on console or user defined parsing at I/O level. "Currently I have developed the patch for Kernel versions 2.2.14 and and am in the process of making it for 2.2.16 and 2.2.17. I request people to try out this patch and give comments and suggestions to me. "Those who want to try out this patch can send mail to me in the address rathee(a)lantana.iitm.ernet.in or to indlinux- iitm(a)lantana.iitm.ernet.in The package , containing the patch , some documentation ,utilities and sample files will come around 100 KB. Try also www.ratheeshkvadhyar.com ratheesh(a)rediffmail.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMPUTER VIA ONE BUTTON: Arun Mehta of New Delhi <mehta(a)vsnl.com> informs of the site http://indataportal.com/software/hawking.htm Check out the Hawkings project there. You will find links to both, the executable and the source code. Do also go to http://www.radiophony.com/html_files/hawking.html Says he: "Your suggestions on how to make using the computer a little more convenient with just one button would also be welcome -- perhaps you will consider joining the mailing list radiophony(a)yahoogroups.com, where this is being discussed?" (Join via radiophony-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FINALLY, GNU/LINUX BECOMES A DEFAULT OS: This interesting story comes from Raman.P <raamanp(a)yahoo.co.in> via the Chennai ILUG group. Raman is with the Railway Hospital, Chennai: "Recently we ordered five PCs from M/s HCL Infosystems through DGS&D, Govt of India rate contract (the Directorate Supply of Supply and Distribution, the body which undertakes purchasing for the government sector). We didn't order any OS or other softwares as we use GNU/Linux. To our surprise we received the box with preinstalled Debian Linux. It seems HCL has a policy of not sending out any machine without OS. Hence, if no OS is ordered then Debian is loaded. Well at last GNU/Linux is the default operating system." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GNU/LINUX IN SCHOOLS: Delhi and Goa, two regions trying to get GNU/Linux into the classroom, are exchanging their own 'distros' and software... to see how they could share experiences. Contact Pankaj <pankaj(a)sarai.net> or Tom Fernandes <anyaddress(a)gmx.net> for details +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SOME FIGURES FROM GOA SCHOOLS COMPUTERS PROJECT: Ashley Delaney <delaneyashley(a)softhome.net> reports that the second shipment of once-used computers to Goa (the first to use GNU/Linux) saw Goa Sudharopo send in some 380 PCs. Some 40 were Macs, and 70 had licensed Windows OS on them. Some 123 had hard disks, while the rest had none or were non-working PCs. These wer edistributed to over 107 schools across Goa. For the 123 or so PCs, a customized distribution of GNU/Linux was loaded by LUG volunteers, based on Redhat 7.2. "It was made keeping in mind, the low hardware specs of the machines, the hard disk space and programs needed," says Delaney (21). "As a result, over a period of three weeks of brainstorming. they came up with a customized version of RH which fitted on 1 CD, was capable of running even on a pentium 100 with 32 MB ram with 1.2 GB of hard disk space. The total installation did not exceed 800 MB with SWAP space. It has Gnome and Windowmaker and excluded all the other desktops including icewm, and KDE.... "As a result, 20 schools all over Goa, are now running on this LTSP Linux solution, and over approx 30 schools with the standalone Linux on their donated systems," says Delaney. But he adds: "However, the main source of backlash has been lack of support and help." This mail, with other background, was recently shared on the fsug-calicut mailing list... for others to learn from the experiences. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AND... SOMETHING FROM DELHI. Check the Delhi issue... The archives are at: http://www.mail-archive.com/school%40linux-delhi.org/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GNU/LINUX IN GERMAN SCHOOLS: Winfried Truemper <me(a)wt.xpilot.org> informs counterparts in India that there is a project about GNU/Linux in German schools running for several years now. You may want to contact info(a)pingos.schulnetz.org for exchange of experiences. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEW VERSION OF GLUE: Ajith Kumar <ajith(a)nsc.ernet.in> announces a new version of GLUE -- the GNU Linux Utilities for Education. This came on July 30, 2002. You can browse the CD and install packages from it. Compilers for logo, basic, pascal etc are include. Lot of tutorials on various topics. Graphics Programming on GNU/Linux for the Turbo C fellows. The new version includes an installation script and does the following: (i) Converts the GNU/Linux installed machine to a Terminal Server. Installation and configuration of LTS is done by the script. If the terminal video cards are autodetected by XFree86-4, they just boot from the ether-boot floppy created. This has been tested on Redhat 7.1 & 7.3. (ii) Installs and configures IceWM, a fast, flexible window manager ideal for terminal servers, and puts a menu tailored for school use. (iii) Installs other RPM & TGZ packages from CD Anybody interested in getting a copy may contact the Free Software User Group Calicut <fsug(a)rediffmail.com> or <ajith(a)nsc.ernet.in> or Rajeesh P., Calicut, (Ph. 355415) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMMENTS ON THE NEVYOS: Rajesh <rk(a)coralindia.com> has this to say about the NevyOS featured in an earlier issue of GNU/LinuxInIndia: Downloaded NevyOS, have planned to put it on a Ricoh Touch Screen Device, lying with me since long. Hope it will work. (It has a 486 processor.) Another one, which I dunno if I can change the OS, is running on MIPS. Device called ePOD, one of the slickest Tablets I have seen yet. Been using since over 1 year now with a 802.11b Dlink card. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MORE ON THE NEVYOS PLAN: Mayuresh Kathe <mayuresh(a)mac.com> explains issues arising out of the open source licensing of NevyOS. Says he: "We are contemplating going Open Source with NevyOS. Reason: 1. Its time Unix took a break from X. NevyOS is best poised to do that. 2. Its time we gave MS a run for its money on the desktop too. Again, NevyOS is best poised to do that (because, currently there are over 10 developers world wide developing killer apps for NevyOS, they would like to go open source too). But, at the same time what could be the alternatives for generating revenues if I have to atleast gain back on the investment? Could someone be charged if he is deploying NevyOS on a hardware platform of his design? If yes, what sort of a license will we have to put NevyOS under? Any brain storms on how we can enforce such licenses worldwide?" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PEOJECT ELX: DesktopLinux.com founder and executive editor Rick Lehrbaum interviews Abhi Datt, Chief Software Architect and founder of Project ELX, a new project to create a uniquely easy-to-use Linux distribution. Abhi Datt describes his vision for Project ELX, lists the main features of the ELX Linux distribition, provides an update on the status of ELX, and shares his thoughts on how Linux can succeed on the desktop and elsewhere. http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT6850645834.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PEOPLE TO DEVELOP SIMPUTER APPS: Samyeer <sam(a)ncoretech.com> offers tips on what to do if you're a developer willing to develop Simputer <www.simputer.org> apps. Says he: "You can use GTK+ on the Simputer. If you are looking to get started then download the App Framework that is available at http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/simputer/download.html and you can link in your GTK+ applications too.... We are looking for people/companies who will develop applications for the Simputer. Any help towards that would be really appreciated." Don't miss your date with what could possibly be computing making history in India. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SOME SITES/LISTS: Some GNU/Linux mailing-lists and sites in India: ilugd(a)wpaa.org ILUG-Delhi fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in FreeSoftwareForum-India (Discussion list) linux-india-general(a)lists.sourceforge.net LinuxIndiaGeneral http://www.ilug-cal.org Indian Linux User's Group-Kolkata +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ONE YEAR YOUNG: July 20, 2002 was the first anniversary of the inauguration of FSF India in Trivandrum, as Rajkumar S <raj2569(a)yahoo.com> notes. Happy burday mates! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMMUNITY SITE FROM GNU/LINUXERS: Himanshu <himanshu_s(a)myrealbox.com> announces he has launched a new site, http://www.thefreespeech.org which is basically a community web site for GNU/Linuxers. Its main aim is "to initiate, collaborate and contribute" to the GNU/Linux cause. The site itself, is home to the ILUG-BOM's novel "Project Resource Centre" idea, which will help ease the collaboration between students undertaking GNU/Linux projects and self appointed "mentors". "I guess, in the future it will also be home to dead projects, or very small projects / scripts, which have not been (or are to small to be) hosted at Sourceforge," he adds. Neat idea! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ INDIANS WORKING ON GNU/LINUX WORLDWIDE: Thanks to Ravi Shekhar S <ravi__at__india__dot__com> for an interesting compiliation on Indiaians working on GNU/Linux worldwide. Below are his descriptions; looking forward to the additional list he'll be sending: * Ambarish Malpani of Valicert inc.,( http://valicert.com/ ) --- he's the guy who ported Apache to windows NT and he's also the key contributor to the Apache project. * Karthik Ram ( http://karthikram.org/ ) --- he is an ecologist by profession but a great enthusiast of open source and he is famous for his award winning ecology search engine ( http://ecocrawler.org/ ) * Manish Singh (YOSH) ( http://yosh.org/ ) --- he is the official release manager of gimp ( http://gimp.org/ ) he is one of the developers of script-fu and net-fu. He is considered as one of the masters in the gimp foundation (others are "xach" (http://xach.com), "Larry Ewing" (http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~lewing/) etc.) even off the gimp world, this guy is one of the most respected guys in university of Berkeley. * Mukund S (http://mukund.info/) --- a guy from Auroville( a township in pondicherry) He's now starting a new company called TESSNA (http://tessna.com/) he is yet another gimp developer and he also worked for Ximian, linux.com. His buddies include Garrett LeSage (http://linuxart.com/), tigert (http://tigert.gimp.org/), Jimmac (http://jimmac.musichall.cz/), Miguel de Icaza ( http://primates.ximian.com/~miguel/ ) He is also one of those Gtkhtml hackers. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WROX INDIA: Wrox India's (www.wrox.com)'s Programmer to Programmer site is http://p2p.wrox.com/ Search and Read Libraries of our Books Online at www.wroxbase.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LIBYAHOO2: Check Philip's <philip(a)konark.ncst.ernet.in> work on http://libyahoo2.sourceforge.net/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OPEN SOURCE/FREE SOFTWARE IN E-GOVERNANCE: Pamela Street of the World Bank <pstreet(a)worldbank.org> informs about a new conference, which indicates the growing interest in Open Source/Free Software. It's called 'Open Source: A Case for e-Government' and will be held in Washington, DC Oct. 17 - 18, 2002 The conference will draw participants from local, national and international organizations from both the public and private sector. The goals of the conference include: the presentation of best practices; raising awareness sharing of experiences among policy makers, donors users/consumers; universities, and industry specialists in Open Source, e-Government and related fields. Speaking and demonstration proposals are invited. More details from the conference website http://www.egovos.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SPECIAL FOCUS ON... Sayamindu Dasgupta (17-1/2) a self-defined "Crazy GNU/Linux-er". Website http://www.peacefulaction.org/sayamindu ON HOW HE GOT INVOLVED WITH GNU/LINUX: Well, to be honest, I was bored with the same old Windows, and so, looking for an alternative OS. I could not afford a Mac, and so, I went to the local computer bookstore, and bought a book on Linux. That book had 3 CDs with it and one of them was Debian GNU/Linux 2.1. I decided to try that out, and popped the CD into my cdrom drive, and rebooted. But once the installation started, I could make neither head, nor tail out of that, and aborted the installation. Then after a few months I decided to try out Caldera OpenLinux 2.3. That worked brilliantly and I was in love with Linux within a few days. AGE AND 'OTHER PERSONAL STUFFS': 17 and half. Occupation -- student at South Point High School at Kolkata. Career plans -- to study physics (will try to go abroad for undergrad.) Present activities related to GNU/Linux: * Co-author : PCTel HSP Micromodem configuration miniHOWTO for the Linux Documentation Project <en.tldp.org> * Maintainer: PCTel HSP Micromodem GNU/Linux compatibility database <pctelcompdb.sourceforge.net> * Working on EricaOS - a web based Operating system designed mainly for web tv users (it will be running on top of a GNU/Linux server) * Writing the manual of KFstab - a KDE application which allows easy editing of the /etc/fstab file through a graphical interface. * Editor of the Linux - Support section of the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org) * One of the most active members of iLUG-Cal (Kolkata LUG) * Working in the LOST project <lost.sourceforge.net> * Started work on a set of modules for drupal (drupal.org) that would let Linux User's Groups use the drupal syetem as their website (the modules will provide support for meeting management, minutes management, GNU/Linux cd-rom burning and distribution network management, mailing list management etc. along with the usual features of drupal) * Also done some work with regard to Bangla on GNU/Linux. * Authored a few articles on GNU/Linux (www.peacefulaction.org/sayamindu/docs.php) * Founder member/admin of http://www.peacefulaction.org which deals with GNU/Linux along with social and environmental issues. Future plans related to GNU/Linux: A website which would enable users to enlist, rate and write about compatibility of branded computers with GNU/Linux. Will be a mix of dmoz.org and pctelcompdb.sourceforge.net . If possible this will also certify, on basis of user ratings compatibility of branded PCs. Says he: "I also have plans to initialise an effort to translate the Gnome and KDE interface to Bangla, and some work has already started in this direction." Also plan to do something regarding desktop GNU/Linux (not sure what though). Write some more documents for the GNU/Linux newbie and on GNU/Linux advocacy Non GNU/Linux Activities: Is a member of the Mensa International (mensa.org). Code in PHP (done some work for projectpi.sourceforge.net). Also work for the Open Internet encyclopedia (open-site.org). Do some amateur astronomy ("don't get much time nowadays... also obsessed with physics"). Worked on a set of motion related graph generation system with php ("just for fun"). Is also obsessed with Richard Feynman. Phew! What a list at achievements... that too at 17-1/2! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PERSIAN LINUX. Roozbeh Pournader <roozbeh(a)sharif.edu> informs in a posting to Pakistan's PLUC: "About Persian Linux, we don't have much information published on our website (almost everything is in our mind), but it may be worth looking: <http://www.farsiweb.info>. Actually it is the Arabs that have a good community and are advancing with a good pace. Their website is at: <http://www.arabeyes.org/>. For general information about Linux and Unicode, one should see: <http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/unicode.html>. I believe we are able to help anyone who wants to create and organize a Urdu Linux project for a start. We are already familiar with many internationalization groups, and can make sure the wheel won't be reinvented. Feel free to find someone with enough time as hand as an organizer, and introduce him/her to me." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FROM THE LAND OF THE SAMBA: Guilherme Lemos <guilherme(a)conectiva.com.br> from Brazil recently wrote in to say that he works for Conectiva (the GNU/Linux distro from the land of the Samba). His company also works on the magazine 'Revista do Linux'. Lemos is currently writing an article about GNU/Linux in India for the next edition. He's looking for info on GNU/Linux's deployment in India. If you could offer him some pointers, write to him at the above address. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ * FOOTNOTE: Frederick Noronha <fred at bytesforall dot org> is a Goa-based freelance journalist, who writes on IT-for-development and GNU/Linux themes regularly, and is cofounder of BytesForAll <www.bytesforall.org>. In the past year, he worked on a print media fellowship to study India's contribution to GNU/Linux, from www.sarai.net (Sarai-New Delhi) Parag Mehta <pm at linuxindia dot org> is webmaster for Linux India, listadmin for Ilug-bom, Country Manager of India for Linux Counters (do get counted as a GNU/Linux user!). Visit his personal site at: http://pmehta.org ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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