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NEWS: Kerala lauds Microsoft for Malayalam software
by Frederick Noronha 12 Nov '02

12 Nov '02

Kerala lauds Microsoft for Malayalam software By Raghu Menon, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Kerala's has lauded the move by Microsoft to enable its next version of Windows software to support the Malayalam language. "This is the commencement of a long term relationship," Kerala Minister for IT P.K. Kunhalikutty said after a meeting with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates here Tuesday. Kunhalikutty described the move as a "major step forward for the state, which has been lagging behind the other southern Indian states in IT initiatives". This is the first time a team from Kerala met Gates. This, the minister claimed, will give the state's "IT for the masses" project the necessary impetus. Microsoft has also promised technical expertise in two flagship projects in the state, Kunhalikutty said. These include Information Kerala Mission, a grassroots level e-governance programme, and "Akshaya," an initiative to bridge the digital divide in the state. While the mission is in its nascent stages, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will soon launch "Askhaya". "We could not have afforded to miss the bus this time," remarked the minister. "The very fact that he (Gates) agreed to meet a Kerala delegation ahead of the other states illustrates Microsoft's desire to work with us", he added. Microsoft's Indian team and the Kerala government will now draw up a roadmap in the next 60 days. "He has agreed to accord Kerala a special focus, which is tantamount to considering us as a referral point in Microsoft's Indian initiatives. This includes investment in our state", Kunhalikutty maintained. "This focus would be at par with the programmes Microsoft runs in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka", he added. Under the proposal, Microsoft would also help Kerala in its drive to enhance computer literacy at the school level. Also in the offing are specific competency centres for Microsoft tools. Infrastructure, technical proficiency of the people and broad policy framework, according to Kunhalikutty, were the most important requirements sought by the Microsoft team. The minister was confident of delivering on all fronts. "Our adeptness in the IT sector has amplified manifold", he claimed. "We are at par with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in this respect." --Indo-Asian News Service

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Free Software: What does freedom really mean... to whom?
by Frederick Noronha 12 Nov '02

12 Nov '02

In Goa we already have one. See http://www.freenewsgoa.net If someone could support us on the technical side (PostNuke setups, webspace), we could surely think of doing this at a wider/national level. FN On 11 Nov 2002, V. Sasi Kumar wrote: > On Sun, 2002-11-10 at 15:26, Frederick Noronha wrote: > > > On another issue, I think that the ideals of Free Software need to be > > extended to other fields too (including journalism, where the money has > > become good in recent years in countries like India but increasingly > > journalists are feeling choked by their inability to express themselves > > freely). > > Do you think we could plan a web site where journalists could freely > express themselves? Or does some such thing already exist? Perhaps we > could also give regular daily news, if there are enough journalists > willing to support it. > > V. Sasi Kumar >

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LINK: GNU/Linux in China...
by Frederick Noronha 12 Nov '02

12 Nov '02

---------- Forwarded message ----------

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[Fwd: [fsug-calicut] MS and LTSP in Namibia]
by Baiju M 12 Nov '02

12 Nov '02

Forwarding... -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [fsug-calicut] MS and LTSP in Namibia From: Ajith Kumar <ajith(a)nsc.ernet.in> Date: Tue, November 12, 2002 1:25 pm To: fsug-calicut(a)freelists.org, fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in A link worth visiting. At least for our blind policy makers. http://www.schoolnet.na/pr/msftrelease.html ajith

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Comments from the GII mailing list (RMS/Gates)
by Frederick Noronha 11 Nov '02

11 Nov '02

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Send india-gii mailing list submissions to india-gii(a)lists.cpsr.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://ssl.cpsr.org/mailman/listinfo/india-gii To: India Gii <india-gii(a)cpsr.org> From: Udhay Shankar N <udhay(a)pobox.com> Subject: Re: [india-gii] Free software guru's book At 02:22 AM 11/11/02 +0530, Frederick Noronha wrote: >Incidentally both Bill Gates and >Stallman are visiting India at the same time. Sounds like a recipe for a matter-antimatter explosion. :) -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com)) --__--__-- Message: 5 Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 11:04:00 +0530 To: Udhay Shankar N <udhay(a)pobox.com>, India Gii <india-gii(a)cpsr.org> From: Vickram Crishna <vvcrishna(a)softhome.net> Subject: Re: [india-gii] Free software guru's book At 8:44 AM +0530 11/11/2002, Udhay Shankar N wrote: >At 02:22 AM 11/11/02 +0530, Frederick Noronha wrote: > >>Incidentally both Bill Gates and >>Stallman are visiting India at the same time. > >Sounds like a recipe for a matter-antimatter explosion. :) Absolutely... with BG here for work on AIDS thru technology, and RS here for work on aid thru technology, there is definitely scope for fun and games. What a pity (for me!) they will not be in Mumbai.... -- Vickram --__--__--

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Groups like this need support...
by Frederick Noronha 11 Nov '02

11 Nov '02

This is about the work of Sunil Abraham in Bangalore... PS: At the risk of sounding vain, I could say that in a small way, our own efforts were successful in getting Sunil to look at Free/Libre and Open Source solutions for NGOs. Today, he has grown vastly in the field, and is amazingly competent. Maybe Free Software Foundation could help (I don't mean financial) groups like this. FN PPS: To be honest, this mail is extracted from one sent out in another context. But I think it's important enough for all of us to know what's going on elsewhere... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Sunil Abraham <sunil(a)indiacares.org> says: "In our own small way we are promoting FLOSS in Bangalore. A short note about us is attached to this mail." CONTACTS... ===== Sunil Abraham [MAHITI] 314/1, 7th Cross, Domlur Bangalore - 560 071 Karnataka, INDIA Ph/Fax: +91 80 5352003. Pager: 9624 279519 sunil(a)mahiti.org http://www.mahiti.org ________________________________________________________________________ MAHITI Profile MAHITI aims to provide affordable and appropriate Information Technology services to the Indian voluntary sector. We specialize in the areas of web / intranet / kiosk / multimedia applications, consultancy and training. We design and execute projects in the areas of resource mobilization, collaboration, advocacy, e-governance and knowledge sharing. We specialize in the use of Open Source and Free Software. SOFTWARE SERVICES:- Over the last 3 years we have serviced more than 75 VSOs directly. And around 1000 VSOs indirectly. Our clients include Ashoka.org, Indian Foundation for the Arts, Institute for Bio-Informatics and National Law School of India. We also have commercial clients such as I2 Technologies, Datacons, Datamations and Aztec. MANAGEMENT SERVICES:- MAHITI is also institutional CTO for Tarahaat.com [Rural ICT Project], ICICIcommunities.org [Donation Portal for the Indian voluntary sector funded by ICICI Bank] and Explocity.com [City Centric Portal funded by NewsCorp]. As institutional CTO we play a wide range of roles from envisioning the technological road map right through to design, development, deployment and withdrawal. DESIGN SERVICES:- MAHITI provides user interface, information architecture and multimedia design and production services. For example a reporting system for I2 Technologies, a study of application servers for Datamations, an automobile dealers MIS for Datacons and a grant recipients portal for the World Bank. PRODUCTS:- MAHITI is working on two products. One, Knowledge Manager an Indianized version of Zope Application Server. This is a joint project with Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education. This was a finalist for Erica 2000 - an award instituted by Ericsson for technical innovation in the non-profit sector. This software will conform to the standards prescribed by the Indic Computing consortia. This is an unfunded project. It is our belief that this tool would increase equity on the Internet. Just like Mozilla is free tool for consuming information on the Internet. Knowledge Manager will be a free tool to produce information on the Internet. Two, a fund raising software to be developed in collaboration with MCAS and supported by Ford Foundation. This is only meant for small and medium organization as it can handle on 10,000 addresses. It is very similar to a customer management system. With features such as profiling, case handling and mass personalized email. Both these products will be licensed under General Public License. NETWORKS:- MAHITI is also a founder member of Bangalore Cares - an on-line and print directory of over 570 voluntary organizations in Karnataka. In addition to being a core group member of the Credibility Alliance a consortium of voluntary sector networks that represent over 15,000 organizations in India. The Credibility Alliance is working towards enhancing the credibility of the sector by evolving and establishing standards and encouraging public disclosure of information. MAHITI is also founder member technical forums such as the Indian Zope and Python User Group and Indic Computing. PARTNERS:- MAHITI has many partners both non-profit and for-profit for different types of collaborative projects. Murray Culshaw Advisory Services [fundraising-india.org] for communication and fundraising consultancy. Together we constantly update and maintain a database of 7,500 voluntary agencies. Mithi Technologies [Mithi.com] for multilingual technologies. Deep Root Linux [Deeproot.co.in] for advanced server appliances. VXL Instruments [Vxl.co.in] for thin clients and disk-less nodes. Vishwa Infotech for rural information and communication technology strategies. Pantoto for community platforms. Alternative Law Forum for legal and intellectual property issues. TEAM:- MAHITI has a 22 member team located in Bangalore, South India. Consisting of 10 staff members, 8 corporate pro bono staff and 4 volunteers. MAHITI is headed by Sunil Abraham, an Ashoka Fellow. Most members on the team are programmers. We have two user interface designers who focus on aesthetics, coherence and usability. We follow a participatory design approach wherein the developers directly interact with the end users and solicit their feedback throughout the development cycle. Most team members have cross disciplinary skills and super specialization is discouraged. TECHNOLOGY We use the following servers - Apache, TomCat, JRun, MS-IIS, Zope, MySQL, PostGres SQL, MS-SQL, Qmail, SendMail and Mithi Application Server. Graphical and multimedia tools such as Adobe Suite, Macromedia Suite and Gimp. Languages such as HTML, XML, WML, ASP, Basic, VB Script, Java Script, JSP, Java, Python, C++ and C. We are familiar with the Object Oriented Design and Unified Modelling Language. The MAHITI team has held trainings on these topics for various for-profit and non-profit technical teams. We have conducted over 50 trainings independently or in collaboration with MCAS, Public Affairs Centre, Indev.org and OneWorld.net.

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[OFFTOPIC]: Gates' foundation pledges $100 m for India AIDS campaign
by Frederick Noronha 11 Nov '02

11 Nov '02

Gates' foundation pledges $100 m for India AIDS campaign >From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Microsoft chief Bill Gates Monday announced $100 million from his foundation to battle HIV/AIDS in India, asserting the row over the number of victims should not detract from the enormity of the challenge. "We do not really know the number of HIV/AIDS victims in India but the sooner we bring attention to the problem and greater visibility, the better we can face it," Gates told a press conference here. "There is no doubt that India faces a serious challenge." On a four-day visit to India, Gates said AIDS was a growing crisis around the world and in some countries, 25 percent of the adult population were afflicted. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed an initial support of $100 million to slow down the spread of the dreaded virus in India, he said, the largest the organisation had funded in a single country. The software czar was responding to a question about the projections by him and U.S. Ambassador Robert Blackwill about the extent of the disease in India that reportedly annoyed Indian authorities, especially Health Minister Shatrughan Sinha. New Delhi asserted that Blackwill's projection that India would have 25 million HIV victims by 2010 was exaggerated. Denying being a part of any study projecting these numbers or of trying to spread panic, Gates, who met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the afternoon, said he hoped the numbers were not very high. "So far, in the history of AIDS, every estimate of the spread of the disease has been low. My point is that numbers should not be the focus." But toning down the loud alarm he sounded in the run-up to his four-day visit to India, Gates maintained Monday that the disease was at a "relatively lower level" and early stages. While India had launched many initiatives against AIDS, a lot still needed to be done, he observed. "India can not only address its own challenges and save millions of lives, but also help other developing countries with emerging epidemics. "India is poised to be a global leader in the development of new HIV prevention technologies." Gates said his foundation would work in collaboration with the federal government, mainly focusing on two aspects of the anti-AIDS campaign - the mobile population most prone to contracting and spreading the disease and communication and advocacy efforts to raise awareness. Truck drivers, migrant labourers, construction workers and their partners, who are said to be more vulnerable to the disease, were a special focus of the initiative, which would be steered by minister Sinha. But the Microsoft head hastened to explain that this was not to generate or spread damning stereotypes about certain sections of the population. "It is everyone's problem and no one should have the impression that only a particular section should respond to programmes against AIDS. It is important that people with the disease are not treated in a discriminatory way or stigmatised." Was it difficult convincing the government about the extent of the AIDS challenge it faced? "I think it is a problem that you almost cannot talk too much about. It is worth reminding each other about the importance of fighting AIDS all the time and we should all carry it on our minds." India has some four million AIDS patients at present, while global projections indicate 45 million new infections in the next eight years. Said Helena Gayle, the chief of the Gates' foundation's AIDS and TB programme: "An estimated 28 million of the new infections can be prevented if existing HIV prevention strategies are scaled up and new prevention technologies are created. "That precisely is the focus of our effort in India." Gates, known as the world's richest man, is visiting India for the third time as he discusses health and IT programmes. He will visit Bangalore, a Microsoft development centre in Hyderabad and address businessmen in Mumbai. Microsoft has had a presence in India since 1987, with offices in five Indian cities including Bangalore. --Indo-Asian News Service

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[IMPORTANT] Volunteers required for textbook preperation
by Baiju M 11 Nov '02

11 Nov '02

Hi all, We have required volunteers for textbook preperation in kerala (9th std.) please see this mail: http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsf-edu/2002-November/000091.html Its very urgent, please come forward to volunteer. Regards, Baiju M

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gates and rms in delhi at same time!
by akr!linux-delhi.org＠linux-delhi.org 11 Nov '02

11 Nov '02

isn't a sweet moment in indian IT history, that bill gates and richard stallman are in delhi at the same time? i haven't seen this much highlighted (perhaps i missed some media coverage). but today's new york times makes reference to india' emerging enthusiasm to embrace open source and free software officially. (remember the economic times front page headline last month which said that the ministry of IT was endorsing linux?. here's the full text of the NYT article. the link is http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/11/technology/11GATE.html November 11, 2002 Bill Gates to Tour India Amid Global Software Debate By SARITHA RAI BANGALORE, India, Nov. 11 Taking the case for Windows software to a crucial audience, Microsoft's chairman, Bill Gates, is set to begin a four-day tour of India today. This country has an estimated half-million individual software developers, many of them writing programs for some of the world's largest corporations. Mr. Gates's visit, his third to India, comes as programmers around the world are being lured to join the so-called open-source computing movement, which favors the Linux operating system available free or in low-cost software packages over proprietary systems like Microsoft Windows. "India is a big bet for Microsoft," Rajiv Kaul, Microsoft's managing director in India, said last month in announcing Mr. Gates's visit. "India's unbeatable developer strength has ensured that we are in the top slot for Microsoft globally." Software developers are the people who write applications that work with a given operating system. And their support is crucial to Microsoft. "Microsoft is a marketing machine," said Satyen H. Parikh, "hooking developers by offering them hundreds of shrink-wrapped packages off the shelf, ready to be deployed, along with a variety of goodies." Mr. Parikh is managing director of the Indian unit of Borland, a provider of software tools for developing applications across platforms that can span Microsoft and Linux. Among other recent measures, Microsoft recruited perhaps India's best-known software executive, N. R. Narayana Murthy, the chairman of a leading software exporter, Infosys Technologies, to endorse Microsoft's technologies in large newspaper ads. The headline on one quoted Mr. Murthy as saying: "When I saw Windows XP in action, I was amazed. How did Microsoft get hold of my wish list?" Mr. Gates is scheduled to visit New Delhi, Bangalore, Bombay and Hyderabad. If previous visits are indicative, his trip will attract a fawning group of state chief ministers and federal political leaders lining up outside his hotel suites, waiting for a chance to meet with the world's richest man. Recent actions by the government, however, have been less than adulatory. Just weeks before Mr. Gates's impending arrival, officials in India's Department of Information Technology in New Delhi leaked details of an effort called the Linux India Initiative. It is meant to promote Linux as a viable alternative to proprietary- based software for use in government departments, state governments and corporations. But recently, Pramod Mahajan, the information technology minister, has declined to discuss the initiative. "I don't want to comment on Linux so close to Mr. Gates's visit," Mr. Mahajan said last week in a telephone interview from New Delhi. Mr. Mahajan, whose office displays a large framed photograph of himself with Mr. Gates, a founder of Microsoft, on a previous visit, added: "Bill Gates is Bill Gates. He is a brand name. And I won't say anything controversial now." Linux, a descendant of the Unix operating system that is distributed free and written and debugged by volunteer programmers, is capturing the imagination of the techie community. But unlike in neighboring China, where the government actively promotes open-source software, in India the democracy makes it difficult for the government to decree a blanket software policy. So far in India, Linux is used on fewer than 10 percent of the country's personal computers and server computers. But the potential market for any operating system is huge: although the country is a leading global software exporter, there are only an estimated four million PC's in use here among the nation's billion people. "India and China are the world's fastest-growing markets, making them attractive to multinational computer corporations," said S. Ramakrishnan, head of the software division of the Department of Information Technology. Compared with the Western industrialized world, where the open-source campaign is nearly as much a philosophical issue as a monetary one, the appeal of Linux in a developing country like India could be mainly economic. "India needs millions of copies of software," Professor Swami Manohar said. He added that if that number was multiplied by 5,000 rupees ($104), the price of a proprietary operating system, "the costs could run into billions compare this to a low-cost alternative and the choice is obvious." Professor Manohar teaches in the department of computer science and automation at the Indian Institute of Science, which is located in Bangalore and is India's premier school for pure sciences and engineering. But Microsoft's concerns could go beyond bargain-basement software. The earliest adoption of open-source software here, beginning more than a decade ago, was at India's military installations and sensitive research sites. India's National Stock Exchange now uses Linux for critical applications. And Hindustan Lever Ltd., India's largest consumer products company and a subsidiary of the British-Dutch conglomerate Unilever, is considering using Linux to build applications for data warehousing, inventory management and e-commerce. Across the border in Pakistan, Linux is starting to be used for a host of projects in schools and government offices. "A few months ago, we asked all offices to move the servers to Linux," said Salman Ansari, an adviser to Pakistan's minister of science and technology in Islamabad. "Those who wanted to use other, more expensive software were permitted to do so only if they could justify it." Microsoft has offered a few million dollars a year to the Pakistani government over a three-year period for all applications in government and education. The government is studying the offer. While in India, Mr. Gates is widely expected to pledge a large donation to public health projects through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. But Microsoft India's executives hasten to note that the foundation's activities are distinct from those of the corporation. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .

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Keltron to promote free software center
by Baiju M 11 Nov '02

11 Nov '02

Todays The Hindu reported a news with title : "Keltron to promote free software center" Its available only in thiruvanathapuram local edition. -- Baiju M

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Documentary on GNU/Linux, Free/Libre and Open Source Software...
by Frederick Noronha 10 Nov '02

10 Nov '02

---------- Forwarded message ---------- >From the Mumbai LUG (cross posted): There is an excellent documentary on Linux, available for free download on ftp://ftp.slackware.no/pub/video/The_Code-Linux.avi I downloaded it. It's pretty wide, not deep. It does contrast OSS and FSF nicely, in RMS and ESR's own words. I think I'm on the OSS side (FSF is nice, but not particularly practical). If you're expecting to see code, forget it. Much of it is documentary-style history and political interviews with various people (RMS and ESR come to mind). The infant Linus looks cute. Flames will be ignored. -- Satya. <URL:http://satya.virtualave.net/> Use DEVICE=EXXON to screw up your environment. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Get 128 Bit SSL Encryption! http://us.click.yahoo.com/JjlUgA/vN2EAA/kG8FAA/zCsqlB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: teach-yourself-linux-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

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[Announce] Mukti 0.9.0
by Sayamindu Dasgupta 10 Nov '02

10 Nov '02

Hello all, I just finished uploading the Mukti set of fonts to the project site. See http://www.nongnu.org/freebangfont/downloads.html for details. The Mukti set, developed by Dr. Anirban Mitra uses the glyphs from the recently GPL'ed Akruti set of fonts. It has three fonts - muktibld.ttf, muktinrw.ttf, mukti.ttf. Note that Mukti is still in *BETA* stage, with the positioning lookups still incomplete, and hence, there will be misalignment of matras and rephs etc in many cases. -enjoy- Sayamindu -- Sayamindu Dasgupta [http://www.peacefulaction.org/sayamindu/] * GNU is Not Unix * .... Towards World Liberation .... http://www.gnu.org

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NEWS: Stallman -- Disk, I/O issues delay GNU OS
by Frederick Noronha 10 Nov '02

10 Nov '02

Stallman: Disk, I/O issues delay GNU OS By John Ribeiro November 6, 2002 2:54 pm PT BANGALORE, INDIA -- The release of a production version of the free GNU operating system (OS) has been delayed beyond the end of the year, as the current development version of the system does not support large disk partitions and high speed serial I/O (input-output), according to Richard Stallman, president of the Boston-based Free Software Foundation (FSF). "I would say that when two features that are that essential are still missing, we are not at version 1.0 of the system yet," Stallman told IDG News Service in an interview this week in Bangalore. Stallman was however noncommittal on a new release date. In an interview in March, Stallman said that the production version of the GNU OS was likely to be ready by the end of this year. Developers working on the current development version of the GNU system, also called the GNU/Hurd to distinguish it from GNU/Linux, have found limitations in the Hurd kernel and the GNU Mach microkernel, according to Stallman. "There are two problems that have to be solved," Stallman said. "One of them is the lack of high-speed, serial-line handling, and the other is the limit on the size of a file system which is at somewhere between one to two gigabytes, which means that if you get a moderate size disk you have to divide it into smaller partitions, which is a nuisance." To solve the serial port problem, the GNU project is switching from the GNU Mach to the OSKit Mach, a Mach based on the OSKit for OS development from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. "That version of Mach is supposed to get high speed serial line support, although it apparently isn't there in yet," Stallman said. Before the GNU project could switch to the OSKit Mach, it had to rewrite the [Image]terminal support in the Hurd to support virtual consoles. The GNU project has also got developers to work on the problem of the limit on the size of the current Hurd file system. "There are many other things that we want to do that will make the Hurd better, but resolving this issue (of the limit on the size of the file system) is absolutely essential," added Stallman. "I don't think it was realized how bad it is practically speaking not to be able to use whatever your disk partitioning is. Clearly most people are not going to repartition their disks to be able to try out our Hurd based system." Currently some users work with a development version of the GNU/Hurd system distributed by the open source Debian Project. The FSF is also modifying the GNU General Public License (GPL), though the fundamental principles will remain unchanged, according to Stallman. "We have looked at, for example, adding a clause that explicitly states that you give a patent license when you redistribute the software," Stallman added. FSF also plans to incorporate into the GNU GPL a section covering use of software on a computer network. This new section is likely to be on a similar section in the Affero GPL adopted by San Francisco-based Affero Inc. The Affero GPL requires anyone modifying a software program to give immediate access by HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to the complete source code of the modified software to other users interacting with the software on the network, if the original program had a provision for this kind of access. John Ribeiro is an India-based correspondent for the IDG News Service, an InfoWorld affiliate. http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/11/06/021106hngnudelay.xml?s=IDG NS John Ribeiro 11 Wood Street Ashok Nagar Bangalore-560 025 Tel: 91-80-553 3341 Fax: 91-80-553 3342

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Re: From Associated Press
by Frederick Noronha 10 Nov '02

10 Nov '02

Please reply to S Srinivasan <madraschap(a)yahoo.com> I will also point out that the correct term is GNU/Linux and that Open Source is different from Free Software (though both may be collectively called a term which is gaining acceptance in South Asia too -- Free/Libre and Open Source Software). FN On Thu, 7 Nov 2002, S Srinivasan wrote: > > Dear Frederick > > Thanks for your mail. I have a few queries for the Indian LUGgers and other experts on open source/free software. Could you kindly circulate this among your friends and ask them to reply to me? Before that, I would request you to answer these queries too. Thanks in advance. > > 1) Bill Gates is coming to India next week. How do you, as a supporter of open source software, look at this visit? > > 2) What message, do you think, the Indian and state governments should be giving Gates? > > 3) Do you think our central and state governments have the nerve or the commitment to encourage open source software risking the wrath of Microsoft and other software multinationals? > > 4) There has been a recent story, sourced to nobody in particular, saying that India will push into open source in a major way... Your reactions... > > 5) Can you give me instances of Linux/open source software making a difference in e-governance or projects meant for poor people? Also, can you give me examples of governments talking right on open source, but still depending heavily on Windows? > > 6) What do you think is the future of Linux in india? how do you rate the progress so far? > > Thanks. Kindly reply to madraschap(a)yahoo.com. I am looking to wrapping up the story as soon as possible, so I would request you to answer as soon as you see this mail. Thanks for allowing me to make this small demand on your time. > > S Srinivasan > > > > S SRINIVASAN > > Correspondent > > THE ASSOCIATED PRESS > > S-2, Ganga-Cauvery Apartments, Sultanpalya Main Road, Sultanpalya > > Bangalore - 560 032. > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive medley & videos from Greatest Hits CD

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Murder of Democracy
by CK Raju 09 Nov '02

09 Nov '02

The Hindu has brought out a Classified Ad for buying PCs for Legislative Assembly with MS Windows Server as software component. The 'mode' of mixing ISM from C-DAC (for language support) and MS technology appears to have found favours with those who are constantly pushing such systems in the Public Institutions, as it deviates public and media suspicion. This is murder of democracy as the highest democratic institution within the State, will now be 'vulnerable for security attacks', nothing less than a national shame. Some of us should write to the editor letters(a)thehindu.co.in and try to bring it to the attention of CM and other Ministers. CK Raju

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NEWS [BADLY-OFFTOPIC]: India Inc waits for Gates to open more windows
by Frederick Noronha 09 Nov '02

09 Nov '02

India Inc. waits for Gates to open more windows By Imran Qureshi, Indo-Asian News Service Bangalore, Nov 9 (IANS) India Inc. is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the world's richest man, Microsoft Corporation's Bill Gates, to plan its strategy for a larger stake in global business in the currently uncertain environment. The IT industry as well as the head honchos of several corporates across New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad are looking forward to listening to the entrepreneur whose U.S.-based company earns revenues of $28 billion, employing over 50,000 people in 78 countries. "Everybody is looking forward to listen to him, his strategy for the future. >From our perspective, it is a privilege to have him in India. His visit (he is not visiting any other Asian country) will step up our morale and act as a motivator," J. Veeraraghavan, managing director of Novell India, told IANS here. "A number of Indian IT companies are working on Microsoft technologies. And it would be helpful for them to align their future business strategies," added Veeraraghavan, the prime mover behind Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN), a platform of professionals to benchmark software engineering practices and enhance the quality of processes in the industry. In India's tech capital, where he arrives from New Delhi on Wednesday, Gates is expected to address about 3,000 software professionals before meeting Karnataka's IT savvy Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, followed by the chief executives of Indian corporates, under the aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom). Gates will meet Infosys Technologies chairman and chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy and chief executive officer Nandan Nilekani. All these meetings will be held at Infosys City, the corporate headquarters of India's second largest software exporter. To maintain the balance in Microsoft's relationship with the other Indian IT major Wipro, Gates will also address software professionals at its Electronics City campus. In New Delhi, where Gates arrives Monday, he will be leading a delegation of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that is expected to announce long-term strategic commitments to support India's efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. He is scheduled to meet ministers and address a media conference. Gates is likely to meet President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan in the national capital. After two days in New Delhi and half a day in Bangalore, Gates will fly to Mumbai, where he will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, corporate head honchos like Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani and K.V. Kamath and the banking community under the banner of the country's top financial daily, The Economic Times. He will later reach Hyderabad, where he is scheduled to meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Nasscom executive committee members and Satyam CEO Ramalinga Raju. He is also scheduled to visit the sites funded by his foundation before flying back to Seattle on Thursday. --Indo-Asian News Service

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From an educational institution...
by Frederick Noronha 09 Nov '02

09 Nov '02

This is what a friend shared with me... Obviously Microsoft believes that they can beat GNU/Linux on the price front. And get youngsters hooked to it at the right age? FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- We are in the process of Acquiring MSDN Academic Alliance - for Educational institutes only - costs around 799$ / year - gives full access to OS and programs for entire institute -- unlimited number copies - usefull for students as the course curriculum involves MS tools + the industry too at present - job / carrier minded would still persist with MS. We prefered above MSDN AA program as keeping relevant OS+Package upgrades once in 2-3 years would inturn cost much more than keeping the above subscription alive....

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NEWS- Stallman: Disk, I/O issues delay GNU OS
by Frederick Noronha 07 Nov '02

07 Nov '02

Stallman: Disk, I/O issues delay GNU OS By John Ribeiro November 6, 2002 2:54 pm PT BANGALORE, INDIA -- The release of a production version of the free GNU operating system (OS) has been delayed beyond the end of the year, as the current development version of the system does not support large disk partitions and high speed serial I/O (input-output), according to Richard Stallman, president of the Boston-based Free Software Foundation (FSF). "I would say that when two features that are that essential are still missing, we are not at version 1.0 of the system yet," Stallman told IDG News Service in an interview this week in Bangalore. Stallman was however noncommittal on a new release date. In an interview in March, Stallman said that the production version of the GNU OS was likely to be ready by the end of this year. Developers working on the current development version of the GNU system, also called the GNU/Hurd to distinguish it from GNU/Linux, have found limitations in the Hurd kernel and the GNU Mach microkernel, according to Stallman. "There are two problems that have to be solved," Stallman said. "One of them is the lack of high-speed, serial-line handling, and the other is the limit on the size of a file system which is at somewhere between one to two gigabytes, which means that if you get a moderate size disk you have to divide it into smaller partitions, which is a nuisance." To solve the serial port problem, the GNU project is switching from the GNU Mach to the OSKit Mach, a Mach based on the OSKit for OS development from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. "That version of Mach is supposed to get high speed serial line support, although it apparently isn't there in yet," Stallman said. Before the GNU project could switch to the OSKit Mach, it had to rewrite the [Image]terminal support in the Hurd to support virtual consoles. The GNU project has also got developers to work on the problem of the limit on the size of the current Hurd file system. "There are many other things that we want to do that will make the Hurd better, but resolving this issue (of the limit on the size of the file system) is absolutely essential," added Stallman. "I don't think it was realized how bad it is practically speaking not to be able to use whatever your disk partitioning is. Clearly most people are not going to repartition their disks to be able to try out our Hurd based system." Currently some users work with a development version of the GNU/Hurd system distributed by the open source Debian Project. The FSF is also modifying the GNU General Public License (GPL), though the fundamental principles will remain unchanged, according to Stallman. "We have looked at, for example, adding a clause that explicitly states that you give a patent license when you redistribute the software," Stallman added. FSF also plans to incorporate into the GNU GPL a section covering use of software on a computer network. This new section is likely to be on a similar section in the Affero GPL adopted by San Francisco-based Affero Inc. The Affero GPL requires anyone modifying a software program to give immediate access by HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to the complete source code of the modified software to other users interacting with the software on the network, if the original program had a provision for this kind of access. John Ribeiro is an India-based correspondent for the IDG News Service, an InfoWorld affiliate. http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/11/06/021106hngnudelay.xml?s=IDG NS ENDS

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Low-cost Brazilian PC...
by Frederick Noronha 07 Nov '02

07 Nov '02

Thanks to Jeebesh Bagchi <jeebesh(a)sarai.net> for sending it across... Is this some coincidence that all the low-cost PCs -- aimed at widening access to those who can't afford -- are almost all GNU/Linux-based FN Curing Poverty with Computing Brazilian University Researchers Build Cheap Computers for the Masses Ben Goertzel http://www.goertzel.org/benzine/BrazilianComputers.htm here is an excerpt "The idea here was to create a computer that members of the Brazilian underclass could genuinely afford.� The Net PC will cost around $400 reiais (around US$ 200), and will be available by June 2001.�� Furthermore, in order to ensure affordability,� and a 24-month payment plan will be offered. �The task of creating this machine was turned over to the computer science department at one of Brazil?s leading universities, the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), in Belo Horizonte.� The project was led by a number of expert computing researchers, including Sergio Vale Aguilar Campos, trained at Carnegie-Mellon University in the USA, and Wagner Meira, trained at the University of Rochester in the USA.�These professors are accustomed to spending their time doing research and teaching on advanced topics like parallel computing (running programs on specialized computers) and automatic program verification (programs that check to be sure other programs are doing what they?re supposed to).� But they and many of their colleagues and students were willing to take time out from this to work on the government-sponsored project of bringing much simpler aspects of computing to a much wider population. The Net PC itself will be a fairly standard one . a Pentium 500 MHz, with keyboard, mouse, 56 Kbps modem, 14" display, 64 Mb RAM and no hard disk (16 Mb flash RAM instead).� According to those involved in the project, the technical aspects of designing the system were not particularly onerous ? no major inventions or innovations were required.� The hardest part was bargaining with the manufacturers of the various parts of the machine, who tended to be oriented toward making the most expensive and powerful machines possible rather than creating low-cost systems.� Early on in the project it was realized that the Microsoft Windows OS was not an option, due to its high cost.� Instead, the system was built around the freeware Linux OS, the favorite of hackers everywhere.� This is a very interesting aspect of the project.� In the US and Western Europe, Linux is a minority OS, used by hackers, programmers and computer scientists only.� Standard tools like browsers and word processors exist for Linux, but aren?t quite as polished or user-friendly as on the Windows OS.� On the other hand, advanced tasks are much easier to carry out in Linux than in Windows, and there are other major advantages, such as Linux?s increased stability (machines running Linux can go for years without ?crashing?, whereas the typical time between crashes for Windows systems is more like days).�� And Linux, unlike Windows, is an open-source software system, meaning that anyone around the world can edit the computer code that determines how the system runs, and make it run differently.� By its very nature, it invites participation from users, whether those users are in the Brazilian ghetto or in the heart of Silicon Valley.� In the same spirit as the choice of the open-source Linux architecture, the UFMG computer scientists decided to make the�main-board architecture for the machine open as well, meaning that any company will be able to make it, and that computer-savvy users will easily be able to modify it or add onto it as they wish. � In fact, this is just one example of the international move toward open-source software, which does not yet pose a huge short-term threat to Microsoft?s hegemony in the OS market, but may well do so in a few years time.� For instance, the government of Argentina is considering passing a new law mandating that, after an adjustment period government offices can only use Open Source software.� And, less extremely, the French government currently dictates that no computer files can be used in government business unless they can be read and edited by Open Source software.� � Each successive version of Windows software uses more and more computational resources, thus providing more functions (sometimes useful ones, sometimes useless one) and pushing consumers to buy more and more powerful computers each year.� As Wagner Meira says, in this regard the Net PC project was strikingly contrarian.�?We did a lot of hacking for shrinking a lot of software into 16Mb.� There was a lot of discussion around our minimalist approach versus the maximalist approach usually adopted by Windows. We are watching an ever growing and ever more flawed Windows over the years, and our project adopted exactly the reverse direction.?� � Instead of asking what can be done to sell more software or more hardware to middle-class North Americans (the question on the minds of most people in the US computer industry), they asked, as Meira puts it:� ?What does a computing novice really need in a computer? Internet (including multimedia) and text processing.� Eventually software for creating a spreadsheet or a presentation.�However,? ? and here is the big difference from projects like the American WebTV -- ?the Net PC does allow expansions for those that want to have an enhanced computing experience.? WebTV and similar projects allow very limited Internet use at low cost, but they don?t allow the user to grow in sophistication.� With the Net PC, on the other hand, Meira says, ?by employing an incremental approach, we believe that we can reach a much larger portion of the population without restricting the use of the equipment.�My mother, for instance, had a hard time to learn how to double click, and she definitely does not know how to shut down the computer.?� Yet a young Brazilian who wants to learn to program software can do so on the Net PC; indeed its Linux kernel provides in a some ways a better platform for this than a standard Windows-based computer. � Finally, Meira observes cannily that the minimalist approach taken in the Net PC is the sort of thing that could only emerge in a place like Brazil, not in a place like the USA, where ?More, more, more!? is the watchword.�?In Brazil,? he notes, ?popular stuff is usually minimalist, such as� the popular car (up to 1000cc), pre-paid cell phones, etc.?�� This is a small example of the general principle that the developing world must lead its own people into the information age.�The cultural and conceptual biases of First World countries aren?t necessarily in synch with the needs of the rest of the world, even though First World technology has universal applicability. � What impact will these cheap, open-architecture computers have on the Brazilian underclass, on the tremendous economic inequity that is the underbelly of this rapidly growing digital economy?� This remains to be seen.� One hopes that they will serve to blur the distinction between the lower reaches of the middle class and the upper echelons of the poor.� That families will save their money to buy cheap computers for their children, who will then go online and learn about the depth of� world far beyond their neighborhood, opening their eyes to the possibilities that aren?t shown in TV sitcoms and reality shows.�� How many people, whose parents weren?t university-educated, will use their new Net PC?s as tools to help them gain computer skills, so that they can get in on the ground floor of one of the software start-ups in Brazil?s booming software industry?� � Of course, cheap computers aren?t the whole solution to Brazil?s problems ? they?re only one very small piece of a huge and complicated picture.�Overall improvement of primary education in poor neighborhoods is a huge task which is inarguably both more critical and more difficult.� But it?s important not to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the human problems around us, and to realize that every little bit counts.� The popular bumpersticker says ?Think globally, act locally,? and this is one of those clich�?s that actually deserves the repetition it receives.�The computer scientists at UFMG, as they take a break from their advanced research on parallel algorithms and program verification to create inexpensive computers for the masses, are playing an integral role in the technological advancement of human race and the overall creation of global computational intelligence.� We need the next phase of the tech revolution to be founded on compassion and inclusion, not elitism, classism and egocentrism.� This is a responsibility that falls on us all. ��PostScript: Class Politics and the Cyber-visionary Community � What do the leaders of the tech revolution in the developed world think of this kind of work?� Precious few cyber-leaders are in practice interested in devoting their time to such pursuits.�� One hopes that as more and more technology millionaires reach the age where they become interested in philanthropy, the spread of the tech revolution across the world will become a focus, along with other laudable goals like global health and education.� But at the present time, opinions on the importance of reaching out to the masses, and the optimal strategy for doing so, are all over the map. � A few months ago, excited about the Brazilian Net PC and the prospect of further similar projects around the world, hopefully coupled with serious educational initiatives, I began talking about such things on the Extropians e-mail list, an Internet discussion group devoted to futuristic technology and its social and economic implications.� Someone noted that the views of the Extropian community tended not to be taken very seriously in the mainstream press, and I suggested that, perhaps, if the Extropian community became involved in doing something important to the mainstream world, their opinions would be valued more.� What if, for instance, a group of Extropians devoted some of their time to education in the Third World? � Eliezer Yudkowsky, a friend and colleague whose opinion I respect, came down against this hard.�� According to him, his time and effort, and that that of his cyber-guru colleagues, should be spent pushing full-speed-ahead toward the ?Singularity?, his word for the point at which the acceleration of technical development becomes infinite, through computer programs rewriting their own source code, robots rebuilding their own hardware and other similar futuristic designs.�?How much money is spent on attempts to actually ship food directly to the poor?? he asked. ?Lots.� How much money is spent on direct efforts to implement the Singularity? ? Not much.? � On the other hand, Samantha Atkins, another Extropians list regular and a veteran Silicon Valley AI engineer, replied to Eliezer with a different point of view: ?Perhaps,? she suggested, ?there is a productive middle ground.� Some of us could say more about precisely how the Singularity, and the technologies along the way, can be applied to solving many of the problems that beset real people right now.�We can produce and spread the memes of technology generally and AI, nanotechnology and the Singularity in particular as answering the deepest needs, hopes and dreams of human beings?.�As part of this we also need more of a story about the steps up to Singularity as involves the actual lives and living conditions of people.� That we will muddle along somehow while a few of the best and the brightest create a miracle is not very satisfying.� What kind of world do we work toward in the meantime?� What do we do about poverty, about technology obsoleting skills faster than new ones can be acquired, about creating workable visions including ethics and so on?� What is our attitude toward humanity?? � What is our attitude toward humanity, indeed?� Eliezer is a very ethically serious person, and he truly believes that the best thing we in the cyber-elite can do is for the world is to produce superior technology.� The technology itself, he says, will transform the world for everyone, and the most important thing to do is to get the technology to this point, to the point where it can figure out how to solve the world?s problems on its own.� � There is a certain amount of truth to this perspective.� And, in my view, there is also a certain irony to it, particularly given the fact that Eliezer?s research so far has focused on how to make AI programs ?Friendly,? in the sense of being well-disposed toward humans.�� His solution to the problem of AI friendliness lies in the realm of cognitive engineering ? he believes one needs to give an AI an appropriate goal system specifically designed to foster Friendliness. � In early 2001, I was running the AI company Webmind Inc., and Eliezer visited our New York office to give a lecture on Friendly AI.� The lecture was received excellently by some and terribly by others.� Generally speaking the Webmind Inc. staff were absorbed with the practical problems of trying to create real digital intelligence, whereas Eliezer was more concerned with the various philosophical and futuristic issues that will arise once a truly intelligent AI system is completed.� But the issue of ?wiring in Friendliness? definitely struck everyone powerfully, one way or another.� Among the milder responses, one of our Brazilian software engineers ? not one of the several who had worked on the Net PC project before joining Webmind, but a good friend of those who had, and a student of Wagner Meira and Sergio Campos ? raised his hand and politely said: ?But perhaps the most important thing is not the in-built goal system, but whether we teach it by example.?�� The friendlier we are, in other words, the friendlier our AI systems are going to be.� � The issue is clear and poignant.� What the Brazilian engineer was suggesting was that, if our superhuman AI grows up watching us act as though most humans are dispensable and irrelevant, perhaps it will, in its adulthood, believe that we too are dispensable and irrelevant.� On the other hand, perhaps, as Eliezer says, it will grow up and understand that building it was the best thing the cyber-elite could do for humanity as a whole, and it will then proceed to spread joy and plenty throughout the land.��Who knows? These rarefied ethical disputes are fascinating, but they easily carry one away into the domain of angels dancing on the heads of pins. �And this is why the kind of work done by Campos, Meira and their colleagues is so intriguing.� There?s no arguing with the real physical-world power of millions of impoverished Brazilians logging onto the Net and discovering discussion groups like Extropians, where things like ethics and technology are discussed, and speculations on superhuman AI appears alongside critiques of the latest Java release.� Without the Net PC and other things like it, these people might well never get to log on and argue with Eliezer for themselves.� (Not, at any rate, unless the Singularity comes fast enough that superhuman AI systems revolutionize their lives before they get old.) �In spite of the success of Cardoso?s economic reforms, there is a lot of justified skepticism in Brazil about the whole political system and everything the government does.� University people are up in arms over Cardoso?s plan to charge significant university tuition, breaking a tradition of free university education for all sufficiently academically distinguished students.� As Thiago Turchetti Maia, another Brazilian software engineer and student of Meira and Campos, says, ?You know the money saved from charging tuition is not going to go to send poor people to university.� You know it?s just going to disappear.?� But when asked about the Net PC project, he waxes at least a bit more positive.. ?Well, there, you can see what the money?s going towards,? he says.� ?At least that?s something real.?� He shrugs.� ?Maybe it will make some difference?.? " Or is this hype ? � -------------------------------------------------------

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Fwd: [fsug-calicut] Some thing to reply..
by baiju 07 Nov '02

07 Nov '02

Forwarding from FSUG-Kozhikode list. --- Baiju M ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [fsug-calicut] Some thing to reply.. Date: Wed, 06 Nov 2002 11:03:53 +0530 From: "Jaisen.N.D." <jaisu_vyas(a)rediffmail.com> To: fsug-calicut(a)freelists.org Hai, Have any one seen the month's Sasthragathi? Not yet? Then please get it.. It have an article by K.Anvar Sadath and T.P.Sudhakaran, working in Information Kerala Mission. They tries to justify the Microsoft - based foundation of the project. They point out: - Software development is not a mental effort of only the programmers involved, but, it is a user - based effort in a human centered thought. So, the training of users, and the efforts which enable the users to use the technology have more importance. > I agree with it. Me too was a volenteer in IKM's OIK project (to computerise the panchayat election counting centers in 2000.) which was a big flop. - It is a business strategy to raise a particular technology as a solution for all type of issues. > They says that, the fsf movement and all the efforts of volenteers all over the world are simply a business trick. Should I say something? - Application of technology has many expenses.. They include - direct expenses - non-direct expenses - invisible expenses - short term expenses - long term expenses etc. so a technology should be chosen considering all these things equally. > Me too agree. Is the GNU more expensive than MS based things considering all these? Sounds interesting.. - To surrender to the greatness of a particular type of technology, and tolerate with it's dominance is not scientific. > Here goes all the waters out.. Who are surrendering? - Unix is not developed for ordinary users. So the Unix is unreachable for ordinary users and it is the main drawback of Unix....... All the capabilities and drawbacks are common for all the OSs like Linux which are included in Unix family..... Unix and Linux are for the expert users who are working in powerful computers.. > It is true that Unix was not developed for common users. But the train is running.. There was a time, which there were no GUIs for Unix and it's clones. But now situation is different. Almost all the distributions of Linux comes with a very user-friendly GUI which are equally or more better than any other available in the market. - Total Cost Ownership ( TCO ) includes the expenses of administration, training, technical assistance, other services as well as cost of software...... Open Source code doesn't win the market because, it feels costly in the observations based on TCO. > Is it? Where is the Survey / Study reports? - Windows has a simple and easy GUI.. > Linux has more than one simple and easy Desktop environments.. - Technical assistance for Linux is limited. Big Projects can't go depending on volenteering help services. > Then how the govt. projects of many countries of the world like China or Brazil goes? - Open Source is only a business trick to get dominance in the market using some values.. - RMS is neither tries to connect the bad effects of patents and copyrights with capitalistic authority and it's values ... - Inside the framework of Capitalism, no any future for humanity, equality, or honesty in long-terms through FSF. - C-Dit gets Microsoft products in discount rates.. after the agreement with them. - The agreement is not a new thing. National Informatic Centre and many State Govt agencies have experience in these type of agreements. > I know that The Mail server of NIC for the students and teachers (http://edumail.nic.in) Runs on Microsoft's Outlook Express. But is it a model to imitate? ............... and a lot. What u think? Can't we reply? -jaisen. --------------------------------------------- FSUG-Kozhikode Home Page : http://www.freelists.org/webpage/fsug-calicut --------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------

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Graphics designer... interested in creating fonts
by Frederick Noronha 07 Nov '02

07 Nov '02

Please get in touch with Michael Steidley directly.Thanks, FN Date: Wed, 06 Nov 2002 08:21:47 -0500 Subject: GPL Fonts From: Michael Steidley <michael(a)ariesgraphics.net> Hello! I recently read your article in Linux Journal about Indian language solutions in linux. I'm a graphics designer and digital media specialist. I've been creating fonts for over ten years and I'm interested in helping create fonts for Indian languages which do not have any GPL fonts available. If you could put me in contact with someone concerning this matter I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time. --Michael Steidley

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Halloween7 document
by Raju Mathur 07 Nov '02

07 Nov '02

Hope I'm not repeating, but I don't recollect seeing this on the lists earlier. For the purists, while the memo uses the term open source extensively, it can be replaced by free software over most of the document. 'Ware when replying and cross-posting. http://opensource.org/halloween/halloween7.php Executive Summary This mail provides a detailed summary of the results of the Attitudes Towards Shared Source & Open Source Research Project managed by Kathryn Marsman and directed by David Kaefer and Jason Matusow. The Shared Source project was developed to provide a greater understanding of how key audiences perceive Open Source, Linux, Shared Source, and the GPL and which messages will be effective with each audience. The survey was fielded in the U.S., Brazil, France, Germany, Sweden, & Japan with developers, IT and non-IT BDMs, IT Pros and Issue Elites. Please note that save for the U.S., the individual country and audience sample sizes are extremely small. The survey questionnaire and samples were developed collaboratively by Redmond, the subsidiaries and the survey vendor. All data collection utilized a telephone-based interviewing process. The study fielded between late-July and September 2001. The detailed summary below drills into OSS and Linux familiarity and favorability, those reasons people give for being supportive of OSS and Linux, Shared Source familiarity and favorability, and OSS, Linux and Shared Source messaging. Key takeaways follow. [snip] -- Raju -- Raju Mathur raju(a)kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ It is the mind that moves

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Richard Stallman in Delhi
by Frederick Noronha 06 Nov '02

06 Nov '02

------------------ History Society, Ramjas College + Sarai/ CSDS invite you to a talk " Copyright vs Community in the Age of Computer Networks" by RICHARD STALLMAN, Founder, Free Software Foundation on Friday, November 8, 2002 The talk will be followed by a discussion. Venue: Auditorium, Ramjas College Time: 11.30 AM "COPYRIGHT developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. � But the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it. The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. �But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the public--then what must be done is either to reduce copyright powers or effectively eliminate them, depending on the kind of work. �Governments must now protect the public's right to copy." RICHARD STALLMAN is "the founder of the GNU Project, launched in 1984 to develop the free operating system GNU (an acronym for "GNU's Not Unix''), and thereby give computer users the freedom that most of them have lost. GNU is free software: everyone is free to copy it and redistribute it, as well as to make changes either large or small." Stallman has also founded the related Free Software Foundation (FSF) and is outspoken about his belief that all software should be free. In his view � proprietary software, for which corporations charge a fee, is wrong from a moral or ethical standpoint. -------------------------------------------------------

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[Fwd: [LIG] Some assistance needed in Aramboly, Tamil Nadu]
by Sayamindu Dasgupta 06 Nov '02

06 Nov '02

-----Forwarded Message----- > From: Thommie Rother <t.rother(a)netzwissen.de> > To: linux-india Mailing Liste <linux-india-general(a)lists.sourceforge.net> > Subject: [LIG] Some assistance needed in Aramboly, Tamil Nadu > Date: 06 Nov 2002 13:10:57 +0100 > > Hi folks, > this message does't come from a Linuxer in India, but in Germany: > I am working with an NGO supporting a home for orphaned children in > Tamil Nadu, the Annai Seva Ashram. The home is located in Aramboly, > Kanyakumari Dist., a few kilometers from Nagercoil. The children are > from 7 to 15 yrs old, they get basic education in local public schools. > Our NGO here in Germany supports the projects since 18 years. For > details, see http://www.annai.de (sorry for the english pages not being > "up to date"). > > I have two questions: > > 1) On-site Linux/graphics/printing advice in Kanyakumari district > To make some (additional) money, the home had operated a little print > shop for some years. As the classic "mechanical printing" is out of date > now, the machinery has been sold. Instead of this, they want to invest > into computerized printing. They will not buy a complete "printer > factory" , but rather specialize in pre-press/pre-printing activities. > That means, they want to create the digital data, the actual printing is > done elsewhere. All necessary knowledge on printing is already there. > Our board has opened a budget for the purchase of a good (professional) > desktop PC and the chief officer of ASA (Mr Sukumaran) had already > received an offer from a computer shop in Nagercoil plus some detailed > recommendations from us, concerning the hardware. > > For the software side, we recommend strongly to NOT invest into > proprietary M$ Windows stuff but rather into the Linux OS and > free/Open-Source software. But the final decision is up to them! I am > looking for some person who is willing to give Mr Sukumaram some on-site > advice, in the case that he will decide to use Linux and Linux graphical > programs (that will be GIMP, I assume..). I already made some searches > on linux-india.org, but without successs concerning the Kanyakumari region. > > 2) Website creation in the tamil language > For the www.annai.de site, we want to have a three-language setup: > primarily in german, then tamil and english. I am looking for some > practical start-up hints on creating tamil web pages. Can anyone here > give me an overwiev on this? I have people who can translate from > english to Tamil (at ASA), but how is tamil supported in current > browsers/OS'es nowadays? > > Greetings & thanks for your help! > Thomas > > -- > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > THOMAS M. ROTHER * n e t z w i s s e n * D-73728 Esslingen > F.R. Germany, European Union * mailto:t.rother@netzwissen.de > http://www.netzwissen.de * GPG Key from http://wwwkeys.de.pgp.net > Fingerprint B208 E204 4249 4635 19B9 B691 3E73 C8B9 1229 DE4C > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > This sf.net email is sponsored by: See the NEW Palm > Tungsten T handheld. Power & Color in a compact size! > http://ads.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/redirect.pl?palm0001en > _______________________________________________ > Linux-india-general mailing list > Linux-india-general(a)lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/linux-india-general

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Just who is Richard M Stallman (a pen-potrait) / Long
by Frederick Noronha 05 Nov '02

05 Nov '02

* * * Please excuse this long post... today is an unusual day in the history of GNU/Linux in Goa. RMS speaks at the GEC at 4 pm on November 6, 2002 (This article was written c. 2001) * * * OpenNews: OpenSource newz from India! ... Free(tm) news for a free future!

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Chronology of Open Source / Free Software
by CK Raju 05 Nov '02

05 Nov '02

An interesting link of chronology. http://www.grulic.org.ar/proposicion/doc/noticias-web.html That's a fantastic work. CK Raju

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IT in IT
by Mahesh T Pai 04 Nov '02

04 Nov '02

Hi!! all!!! This is one is about Information Technology in Income Tax. The central government has sought comments on reforms in direct and indirect tax administration. It is there at http://finmin.nic.in/. But, IT (that is, information technology) is going to be more pervasive in tax administration. See:- http://finmin.nic.in/kelkar/report.pdf and http://finmin.nic.in/kelkar/Full_Report.pdf Most of you can ignore the reports themselves, there is nothing about choice of s/w in these reports, except a recommendation that use of Information Technology should be made more pervasive - and for business nosed amongst you, there is a recommendaiton that data entry should be farmed out. I believe that online presentation of tax returns and payment will become feasible. I think that this is the ripe time to put up a strong opinion that such procedures should be based on free s/w. However, in light of experiences in some countries, where IT (Income Tax) transactions were not accepted on line when the client / user system was non-proprietary, I think we should make a short submission on the issue. Already, the Income Tax department's web pages are based on ASP - active server pages, as I gather from the link addresses. Any body has more info and experiences to share with us about online transactions? I suggest that we put put up a short submission, - some 500 words will do, based on feed back from the community. Regards, Mahesh T Pai.

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Free Software support and service
by Arun M 04 Nov '02

04 Nov '02

Hi All, We need to make a database of Free Software support and services groups in the state of Kerala. This information is requested by various organisations which wants to take advantage of Free Software for its activity. If you provide Free Software service or know some one who provides the same please write to me or add to FSF Business directory. http://forum.gnu.org.in/bizdir Regards Arun.

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RE[fsug-calicut] Help (LISP) !
by Manjush G. Menon 04 Nov '02

04 Nov '02

------- Start of forwarded message ------- From: robin.c.smith(a)bt.com To: gllug(a)linux.co.uk Reply-To: gllug(a)linux.co.uk Subject: Fwd: RE: [Gllug] Fwd: [fsug-calicut] Help (LISP) ! Date: 11/1/2002 4:38:50 PM The Emacs editor is largely written in LISP - strange dialect I have heard - and you can run LISP there Robin -----Original Message----- From: Manjush "G." Menon [mailto:manjushmenon@rediffmail.com] Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 10:23 To: gllug(a)linux.co.uk Subject: [Gllug] Fwd: [fsug-calicut] Help (LISP) ! ------- Start of forwarded message ------- From: "Sudheer K" <sudheerk_22(a)rediffmail.com> To: fsug-calicut(a)freelists.org Reply-To: fsug-calicut(a)freelists.org Subject: Fwd: [fsug-calicut] Help (LISP) ! Date: 11/1/2002 12:41:13 AM Hai everybody, This is the first time I am writing an email to this mailing list. I am a final year MCA student. As a part of the course i have a subject called Artificial Intelligence. In this subject we have a language LISP (LISt Processing) I am a newbie in Linux and I heard that Linux is a good platform for local area networks and programmers Can you please tell me about interpreters or compilers used for LISP programs under Linux platform? Thank you, Sudheer S __________________________________________________________ Give your Company an email address like ravi @ ravi-exports.com. Sign up for Rediffmail Pro today! Know more. http://www.rediffmailpro.com/signup/ --------------------------------------------- FSUG-Kozhikode Home Page : http://www.freelists.org/webpage/fsug-calicut --------------------------------------------- -------- End of forwarded message -------- -- Gllug mailing list - Gllug(a)linux.co.uk http://list.ftech.net/mailman/listinfo/gllug -- Gllug mailing list - Gllug(a)linux.co.uk http://list.ftech.net/mailman/listinfo/gllug -------- End of forwarded message --------

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HappyDiwali thanx to BILL to bill in BusinessWorld
by Frederick Noronha 03 Nov '02

03 Nov '02

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Re: [Bytesforall_Readers] Understanding Free/Libre and Open Source Software (or, FLOSS) (fwd)
by Frederick Noronha 03 Nov '02

03 Nov '02

Below is an excerpt from a debate that happened on BytesForAll (a network that some of us in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka helped set up). I think what Tapan Parikh says is fascinating. Am sharing it with you guys at FSF. We need to more effectively network NGOs (or not-for-profits, developers and ITforDevelopment circuits). As of now, we're working in concentric circles, it would seem. FN PS: Satish Jha is of digitalpartners.org. Tapan Parikh is a US-returned expat (in his twenties, idealistic, currently forming a team around the EkGaon, literally One Village, network). ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Free software is not about policy makers, not about heads of 100 million dollar "information service" systems, not about NGOs or Development or, even to a certain degree - about users even. It is about programmers. I program in free software because I enjoy programming in free software. I like seeing the insides and the source code of the libraries I am working with and linking with. I like the insight I get from seeing other peoples code, being able to understand how it does (or doesnt) work. This is very important as this source code will end up being a large part of the application I eventually compile and distribute. And I prefer free over open source because I dont want any legal hassles, and Open Source is a vague enough concept so that I cant understand what I can and cannot do with that source. With Free Software, with GPL software, there is no such question. Call it a programmers view of safe sex. The quality of the product is unquestionable. Seems a lot of people are, whatever Mr. Jha's reservations, choosing to use free software. Does www.digitalpartners.org run on Apache? If it doesnt, it should. As any of us with the brains and experience to know anything can easily tell you - IIS sucks. There are many other examples. So all with the power to do so please choose, and choose wisely. If you look at the situation objectively, I am sure you will realize that in the year 2002 for the optimal solution of any companies business and other needs - a large part of that will be served by what we now call Free Software. But dont presume to understand or impose outdated, skeptical and fundamental economic theories upon a system you fundamentally dont understand. Because to really understand, you have to start with the basic premise - first and foremost, free software is by and for programmers. All else is incidental, and we can see the power of the incidental even now, and this wonderful conference by the vaunted InfoDev falls into just this category - incidental. (Sorry to be so late, I am a bit slow in connectivity nowadays.) -- Tapan On Sun, 20 Oct 2002 00:54:09 +0530 (IST) Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> wrote: > On Sat, 19 Oct 2002 sjha(a)vsnl.com wrote: > > open source is good, free software?????.... > > i am not closed to linux or open source. i am closed to "free". good > > that sunil has clarified his perspective and i am with that. open > > source- yes. free software as in free beer-- no!! > > This argument is premised on a basic misconception of Free > Software. Going by the reporting of Mr Jha below, one can see > surfacing many of the fears of people grown on a generation of > copyright-restricted software, loaded concepts like 'software piracy' > and profiteering from blocking access to others information/code. > > It's time to perhaps rethink fundamentals. > > Below is a note from RMS (Richard M Stallman), the Founder of the Free > Software Foundation. It was written in the context of the Washington > conference itself, and I take the liberty of reproducing it below. If > people like Stallman were around, perhaps there would be less scope > for such a fundamental confusion of issues. FN > > PS: There's a difference between Linux and GNU/Linux too... > > PPS: I know young coders who have totally changed their way of > thinking after reading Stallman's 2001 biography from O'Reiley. Trying > to get a copy in time for his Nov 2002 visit to India (it might happen > the same month that Bill Gates comes too ;-) > -- > 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 > > From RICHARD M STALLMAN > > From rms(a)gnu.org .... > > Tony Stanco invited me to speak at the conference in October, but I > felt obliged to refuse. The reason is that it is presented solely as > an "open source" conference. My participating in it would encourage > people to think I am a supporter of the Open Source Movement. A > number of other people from the Free Software Movement are also > declining to participate, for the same reason. > > Since 1984, the Free Software Movement has championed users' freedom > to share and change the software they use. This is an ethical and > social issue, not just a technical and practical one. We developed > the GNU operating system so that users could have freedom. > > In the 1990s, millions of users began using our free software, and > many of them appreciated its practical benefits but not the ethical > and social benefits. In 1998, some of them founded the Open Source > Movement. This movement cites only the practical advantages of being > able to share and change software, and studiously avoids presenting > this as a question of right and wrong. This may seem like a subtle > point, but actually it is a fundamental difference in basic values. > As a result, the statements of the two movements are as different as > night and day. (Contrast http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ with > http://www.opensource.org/ and you'll see.) > > The Open Source Movement has had a lot of publicity, which often > labels our work as "open source". An article in New Scientist this > year even said that I founded the Open Source Movement. The result of > this confusion is that the Free Software Movement and its views are > often hidden behind the Open Source Movement. We've learned to be > wary of participating in events that would put the "open source" label > on us. > > I asked Tony Stanco to please make this event an "open source and free > software" event, and thus make room for our movement as well as the > other, but he said the event's sponsors were unwilling. Do you think > you might be able to convince them to make room for us? > > See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html for > more explanation of the difference between the two movements. By the > way, the operating system isn't really "Linux", either. > > _______________________________________________ > Bytesforall_Readers mailing list > Bytesforall_Readers(a)mail.sarai.net > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/bytesforall_readers

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NEWS-INDIA: Global guru of code, Stallman, visits Goa this week
by Frederick Noronha 03 Nov '02

03 Nov '02

GLOBAL GURU OF CODE, STALLMAN, VISITS GOA THIS WEEK PANJIM, Nov 3: In a surprise and unexpected development, one of the most influential personalities worldwide in today's hacker culture, Dr Richard M. Stallman, will pay a special visit to Goa this week as part of his three-destination visit to India. Stallman's visit is, in large part, tribute to Goa's active and growing GNU/Linux movement, a three-year old voluntary network of 180+ members, that is also involved in supporting a GNU/Linux-In-Schools initiative. Of all Indian states, Goa also has the highest per capita number of registered GNU/Linux users, according to the international Linux Counter. Youngsters in Goa have been writing 'Free' code -- ranging from small utilities to complete library management solutions that have got noticed as far away as in distant Brazil. Stallman (49), the controversial founder of the Free Software Foundation (FSF), is a brilliant coder and MacArthur "genius grant" recipient who single-handedly launched the movement that threatens to beat Microsoft by radically changing the rules of the software game. In a nutshell, Stallman believes that software must be free -- not in the sense of being available for nothing -- but free to be copied, modified, distributed, shared, and fixed. His recent trip took him to Bangalore. After Goa (Nov 5-7) he flies on to Delhi. On Nov 6, he speaks at the Farmagudi-based Goa College of Engineering. In Bangalore, Stallman has spoken at IT.com, addressed the Computer Society of India and lectured at the IIIT-B on the dangers of software patents. 'Wired', the international IT journal, quoted Stallman saying: "I'm working to make software free and make computers free. That's my job." Stallman earlier worked at the Artificial Intelligence Lab at the prestigious MIT. In the mid-'80s, Stallman resigned from MIT to prevent the institute from laying claim to the growing GNU project. Unlike commercial software, which is proprietary, free-software programmers don't have to solve the same problems over and over. They keep improving on the work that came before, like the scientific method. Goa has three GNU/Linux user groups that meet regularly in Panjim, Margao and Farmaguddi. It also has an Internet-based e-list that keeps everyone networked daily. Some of the smartest programmers in the world revere this man, and his fans in Goa are eagerly looking forward to his visit. His biographer Sam Williams (author of "Free as in Freedom") says: "Nobody but Richard could have had the patience, and the stubbornness, and the will to build something this big. There are other people writing free software, but he's the one that made it an issue. He's the one that provided the initial gravitation that everybody else could gather around." Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, has said: "Richard was the first to take up what is now a very important battle...He was an early, lone voice warning of how the concept of software intellectual property could undermine, rather than support, the programmer." Says Ashutosh Naik, a Goan studying engineering in Belgaum: "The RMS visit is going to be a great achievement. Wish it was November 6 tomorrow." Trilok Kumar commented: "I would like to confirm my presence at the meeting (at Farmaguddi) to meet this great man." In Goa too, Free Software is used in some government institutions, engineering colleges and increasingly even on desktops. Its proponents say it would infact enable youngsters to find productive employment for their skills, and additionally make software both more affordable and relevant to local needs. (ENDS)

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Fwd: Free software
by klak＠giasbm01.vsnl.net.in 02 Nov '02

02 Nov '02

-- Khuzaima A. Lakdawala

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Malayalam translation of the GNU GPL
by Mahesh T Pai 01 Nov '02

01 Nov '02

Hi!! all, The unofficial, not yet final version of the Malayalam translation of the GNU GPL is at http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity. It is available in 7 formats - phew!! and for true WISIWUS effects, (what I see is what you see) view the slide show in jpeg format. Do remember to point out typos, and better wordings - it is not yet final. Regards, Mahesh T Pai.

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regarding the Akruti Fonts
by Sayamindu Dasgupta 31 Oct '02

31 Oct '02

Hi all, Work has started on the Akruti Bengali fonts, and Dr Anirban Mitra <mitra_anirban(a)yahoo.co.in> has already developed a beta OTF using the glyphs. The GPOS tables are still incomplete, and some of the yuktakshars are still missing. I will upload the fonts asap in the download sections at www.nongnu.org/freebangfont/ -regards- sdg

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Fwd: [smc-devel] Re: [malayalamlinux] Looking for Malayalam Unicode text
by baiju 31 Oct '02

31 Oct '02

Mahesh T Pai has completed an unofficial translation of GNU Public License : http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity Regards, Baiju M ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [smc-devel] Re: [malayalamlinux] Looking for Malayalam Unicode text Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 14:02:42 +0530 From: Mahesh T Pai <paivakil(a)vsnl.net> To: Rajkumar S <raj(a)linuxense.com>, smc-devel(a)nongnu.org Rajkumar S wrote: > Hello, > > > Any one having some Malayalam Unicode text? Try it on the GPL. Here it is Rajkumar had posted the original message to malayalamlinux(a)yahoogroups.com, but since it has moved to smc-devel@nongnu, my reply comes to this group. Hope it is all right. This is how I created this file. Original was file created in iLeap, and 'saved as' ISCII text from .lp2 format. From ISCII format, it converted to varamozhi text. (athaayathu ithu pOle). From varamozhi text, converted to unicode, using varamozhi. Varamozhi is not able to convert direct from ISCII to unicode - it hangs on win98. The Malayalam translation of the GPL will go on line at http://in.geocities.com/paivakil/freecommunity within a few hours definitely before 00.00 hours, November 1. With regards, Mahesh T Pai. -------------------------------------------------------

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NEWS: Stallman at IITB... dangers of software patents
by Frederick Noronha 31 Oct '02

31 Oct '02

Message: 1 From: "Srinath S" <sri(a)iiitb.ac.in> To: <Indic-computing-users(a)lists.sourceforge.net> Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 11:41:09 +0530 Subject: [Indic-computing-users] Richard Stallman on the Dangers of Software Patents Dear All, I'm sorry that I have been a dormant member of Indic-computing list. There is very little I can contribute to Indic computing per se. In case you are interested, Richard Stallman (of GNU fame) is giving a speech on the Danger of Software Patents at IIIT Bangalore on Nov 2nd. The talk is between 11:30 -- 13:00 hrs. You can register for the talk at this URL http://osl.iiitb.ac.in/stallman-register.php Hope this would be of help in your research and your projects. Best Regards Srinath Srinivasa Faculty member IIIT-B

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(no subject)
by Frederick Noronha 31 Oct '02

31 Oct '02

Can we post a more detailed update to the various mailing lists. One confirmation: Goa should read Nov 5 evening-Nov 7 noon (not 6-7). Talk on Nov 6 at 4 pm, Goa Engineering College, Farmaguddi, Ponda. Also planning an interaction with Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the CM. FN PS: We need to be publicising this early. Can friends from Bangalore give an update of programmes there too? * * * * * * * * * * * This is from the fsf-friends mailing list.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stallman is visiting India. He will be in Bangalore from 31st to 5th. On 31st he is giving a talk organised by CSI. The venue is JN Tata Auditorium Indian Institute of Science Bangalore. Time; 14.45 to 15.45 hrs. On Nov 1st he will be talking at IT.com (I guess in Palace grounds) He will e at Goa from Nov 6th and 7th and will be giving talks at engineering colleges. Venue to be decided. So mark your calenders and plan to attend them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regards, Amol Hatwar --__--__--

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IT @ School Project
by Vimal Joseph 30 Oct '02

30 Oct '02

Hello List There are obvious errors in the article about free software in the malayalam text book of 8th Std IT@School Project. The errors may have crept during the translation of the English text to Malayalam. But it cannot be allowed to happen because if allowed to, it would convey a wrong interpretation about free software amongst the students/teachers/other persons. The exact malayalam text in mnglish Line 15 : Ennal panam kodukkate mikacha software aarkkum nalkunna oru prasthanam undu. Athanu free software foundation. Free software prasthanathile prashastharaya 2 peranu richard stallman um Linus Torvaldsum <English Translation> There is a movement which gives best software to anyone without taking money, that is Free Software Foundation. Two famous names in the free software foundation are Richard Stallman and Linus Torvalds. </English Translation> (Information technology 1, malayalam version, page 25) It also didn't mention anything about freedom and sharing. The English version is OK. The exact English text Free Software Foundation ------------------------ Many of the software available today are proprietary in the sense that they are actually owned by the manufacturing companies. It is illegal and hence punishable by law to copy them or share them with others. Also, the companies do not generally disclose the underlying code or the method of development of these software. So we have to buy these software at a high cost and also forced to buy the updates the companies bring out from time to time. So, there is a periodic expenditure in maintaining the computer up to date. "Free Software" is a solution to these problems. Such software developed by the Free Software Foundation can be copied, shared or modified. So, they can be acquired at a low cost, even free of cost sometimes. The movement was founded by Richard Stallman. Another name to note is that of Linus Torvalds. (Information Technology 1, English version, Page 25) The authorities at IT@School are saying that they will convert to more free software. But I do not think it will ever happen. If one looks at the text books for 8th Std, this becomes quite evident. One would doubt whether it is a text book or some advertising supplement of Microsoft and Intel. Wherever there is a picture of a microprocessor, it is an Intel Pentium chip. The chapter on software packages shows a logo of Windows XP. The chapter on wordprocessing shows a logo of Microsoft Word 2000... Should this be allowed ? This has to be fixed..... -- Vimal

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e-Governance
by CK Raju 30 Oct '02

30 Oct '02

I presented a paper on the social fairness of software at the just concluded 34th Regional Science Conference at Thrissur. The core theme is attached herewith for remarks and suggestions from members of this list. I deliberately avoided the terminology of 'Free Software' as the audience had been economists and planning experts. CK Raju

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Re: Welcome message
by klak＠giasbm01.vsnl.net.in 30 Oct '02

30 Oct '02

Hello, Thanks for writing to gnu(a)gnu.org.in. You can find out more about our activities on our website, fsf.org.in or gnu.org.in. A good way to keep in touch with our activities is by subscribing to our mailing lists (subscription information is on the website). Please consider subscribing to fsf-friends, which is the principal support list of FSF-India, and also to fsf-india, which is FSF India's announcement list. -- gnu(a)gnu.org.in On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 09:53:46 +0500, "SEPSIT KANNUR" <sepsit(a)linuxmail.org> wrote: > Hello, > Sepsit is a registered society working for the enhancement of Free > software in Keralam.We had already contacted GNU and they redirected > us to You.It's a pleasure to know that FSF India is headed in > Keralam.We arev currently developing Software in GPL'd tools on > GNU/Linux Platform.We are also providing necessary guidelines to firms > that wishes to move to GPL.We wish to know more about FSF India and > its activities .We have a tie-up with Open Software Solutions > Industrial Co -Operative Society Limited,Ernakulam,which is working > for the enhancement of free software and related matters.Kindly give > necessary Information. > > From Social Entrepreneurship Promotion Society on Information > Technology (SEPSIT), Reg No 463/2002, Dinesh Software Park, Kannur, > Keralam, India - 670002, Telephone : 0497-712965 > > -- > > Powered by Outblaze > >

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Fwd: Welcome message
by klak＠giasbm01.vsnl.net.in 30 Oct '02

30 Oct '02

-- Khuzaima A. Lakdawala

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November 6, 4 pm, Goa
by Frederick Noronha 29 Oct '02

29 Oct '02

Please mark your diary. Richard M Stallman speaks at Goa Engineering College Farmaguddi, 4 pm November 6, 2002. The Free Software Movement as we know it was founded in 1985 by Richard M. Stallman. The basic tenets of free software are -- freedom to study, freedom to change, freedom to share or distribute, the right to sell free software, and the principle that the software 'source' has always to accompany binaries.

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QUERY: GNU/Linux in science and culture...
by Frederick Noronha 28 Oct '02

28 Oct '02

Would anyone know of interesting GNU/Linux applications in the field of science and culture in India? This is for something I'm planning to write on. Thanks, FN -- 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

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Linux article in Hindustan Times
by Raju Mathur 28 Oct '02

28 Oct '02

Apart from Niyam Bhushan's trouble-shooting column, which tells how to make an EPABX or KTS system using Linux and talks about scanning in Open Office, today's Hindustan Times (2002-10-28) carries a largish article on Linux in the Tech4U (sic!) section, page 15. The article, titled `Linux looks at a window of opportunity', is written by Nina Mehta. Starting off with a couple of paragraphs about the growing popularity of Linux, the article moves on to briefly describing the history and advantages of Linux and open source. It points out that `governments all over the world have started adopting Linux as the preferred desktop OS' and cites the UK police department and the Government of Kerala as examples (no details). Quoting various people such as RMS, Michael Robertson (CEO of Lindows), Arindam Bose (IT head of LG India) and Javed Tapia (Director, RH India) the article describes how Linux is free (as in beer), more stable than Windows and as user friendly. The article concludes with the line, `With such a cheap OS option available, PC makers may now have to aske their customers a question Microsoft would be mortified to hear: "Windows or Linux".' The online text of the article is at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/printedition/281002/detTEC01.shtml Niyam's question-answer column is at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/printedition/281002/detTEC04.shtml Please send kudos and flames directly to the HT. Regards, -- Raju -- Raju Mathur raju(a)kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ It is the mind that moves

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RMS visiting India
by gnu＠vsnl.net 28 Oct '02

28 Oct '02

Richard Stallman is visiting India. He will be in Bangalore from 31st to 5th. On 31st he is giving a talk organised by CSI. The venue is JN Tata Auditorium Indian Institute of Science Bangalore. Time; 14.45 to 15.45 hrs. On Nov 1st he will be talking at IT.com (I guess in Palace grounds) He will e at Goa from Nov 6th and 7th and will be giving talks at engineering colleges. Venue to be decided. So mark your calenders and plan to attend them. best regards -- Ramakrishnan M (http://www.hackGNU.org/) Use Free Software (http://www.gnu.org/)

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DEADLINE APPROACHING: IBM Scholar Challenge. Win an IBM ThinkPad
by Frederick Noronha 27 Oct '02

27 Oct '02

How 'e' do you want to be? Welcome to the IBM Linux Scholar Challenge - a chance to test your worth against the best. The Challenge invites you to make improvements to Linux, create usability tools or enhancements, or design Linux applications. Not only will you have contributed in your way to the world of Linux and its users worldwide you could also win Linux ThinkPads, Summer 2003 Internships at IBM or Linux 16-node 'start-up' cluster. If you are a full time student enrolled in a 2, 3 or 4 year accredited college or university, this is an opportunity of a lifetime, a time to put to action all those ideas you have been pottering with. Just ensure that you register on-line at www.ibm.com/university/linuxchallenge by October 31, 2002. The Challenge You select a Linux project, describe your objectives, methodology, research, and results in a 3-page paper and submit it for evaluation (optional project ideas are provided). You could build an Eclipse-based WebSphere Studio plug-in Linux development or work on the development of a Network Adapter (Ethernet) failover support by network drivers in a standalone Linux or do something more whacked out like Fridge Fun, where you create an embedded Linux machine front of your refrigerator. The prizes Not only will you have contributed in your way to the world of Linux and its users worldwide you could also win: - 20 Linux ThinkPads (approximately US$ 2, 500 each) - Summer 2003 Internships at IBM 's Linux Technology Center for 3 qualified winners. - One Linux 16-node 'start-up' cluster for the university that has the highest overall average score of student entries (Valued at US$ 130,000) Dates to remember August 13 Launch of Linux Scholar Challenge in San Francisco. Aug 13 -Oct 31 Last date for registration online at: ibm.com/university/linuxchallenge December 13 Last date for papers/projects submission. Dec 16 -Dec 20 Contest Vendor validates entries & forwards to appropriate judges. Jan 2 -Jan 13 Judging begins 2003. January 20 Winners announced 2003 Regards, Sandeep Menon Linux Business Manager, IBM ASEAN/SA .

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free software../g.n.u,linex--one day training.C-dit ..details..
by Harilal 26 Oct '02

26 Oct '02

dear friends, A one day freesoftware /G.N.U./linex training program conduct by C.dit at trivandrum from next week onwards.most probably on every saturdays.training for those using windows to be familiar with G.N.U/Linex is the motive.more over to promote the concept of free software &to give awarness on it.those having basic experience in P.C Operation can apply.Appln. form can be had from C-Dit city centre at tvm.(pho.no 335995) or download from www.cdit.org (kerala kaumudi news dated 25-10-2002) harilal,cusat. N.B- kindly sent this to as much as persons,you know

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A counter-case for government supporting GPL development
by Raju Mathur 26 Oct '02

26 Oct '02

After all the MS hoopla about trying to get the US to ban the use of GPL for publically funded software, here's a counter-argument: http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/aigrain2.pdf Abstract: This text provides a framework to discuss the consequences of licensing choices that are applied to publicly funded libre software. It discusses these choices from the angle of general public interest and policy. It concludes that one is led to prefer GPL copylefting licensing especially for any libre software component whose development is publicly funded, and when it is providing functionality that plays or may later play a critical role as part of the common infrastructure of the information society. At the same time, some interesting questions derive from a better understanding of the reasons that lead some to disagree with the choice of copylefting. Regards, -- Raju -- Raju Mathur raju(a)kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ It is the mind that moves

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Fw: reply to protest on it@school
by Harilal 25 Oct '02

25 Oct '02

----- Original Message ----- From: <itschool(a)asianetindia.com> To: Harilal <harilal(a)cusat.ac.in> Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 3:47 PM Subject: Re: > > > Dear Harilal, > It is not a virtual Surrender to MNCS. Think about the logistics > involved. We have to train some 500 Master Trainers for training other > teachers. All the 2000 Schools should have sufficient copies of Software. > Then there is the need of a unified syllabus through the State, then only > exams could be conducted in the SSLC. Think about the training alone. > We are employing now 165 Master Trainers after giving them 15 days > training in association with Intel. These people are to give training to the > 60000 teachers. What do an average person learns on IT after15 days > training? But they are managing it because they are familiar with > Microsoft products, which are common through out this state. What about > the course materials for 60000 teachers? What about the Software at the > training centres? Does the free Software foundation man a call centre > where people can get help in our language whenever they encounter a > problem with Hardware or Software while using the free Software? There is > so many other logistical issues associated. > You must understand that IT @ School was started way back > in 2000. It is making some progress only during this year. Please note > that I took over on 17th August 2001 and was running pillar to post to > arrange all these logistics till April 2002. Apart from the DEOs and others > you may be astonished to hear the number of people with Project team, > which is implementing this mammoth the project. > > Executive Director-1 > Officers-5 > Data entry operators-3 > Peon-1 and > 165 MTs who are busy with training . We are training around 1300 high > school teachers is around 75 training centres every two weeks. > > We adopt a strategy to introduce Microsoft for the 1st year then move to > open office during 2nd year (for IT-2 text book) and introduces Linux and > open office in 50:50 arrangement with windows and Ms office from IT-3 > textbook onwards. When sufficient groundwork is done the school level > and teachers level we may increase the weightage of open Software in our > curriculum. This year Prof. Krishnan (University College, > Thiruvananthapuram). President of Trivandrum chapter Free Software > foundation is a member of the expert Committee overseeing the > preparation of IT-2 textbook. Need I say anything more. > > regards > > > Biju Prabhakar > > Executive Director > > IT @ School Project > >

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