LINUX & FOSS WORKSHOP
ORGANIZED BY : ACHARYA NARENDRA DEV COLLEGE, jointly with OPENLX LINUX
Venue : Acharya Narendra Dev College, Govindpuri, New Delhi.
Date : 6 & 7 December 2007. Time : 0930 to 1730 hrs.
Initially planned as a simple Linux familiarization workshop for staff
and students of the college, it became as a full-fledged LINUX & FOSS
WORKSHOP with speakers and visitors from outside the college and Media,
apart from the college students and faculty.
The workshop was organized by the college jointly with OpenLX Linux who
brought in the expert speakers, its own team and expertise to build a
futuristic event.
Dr. Savithri Singh, Principal, Acharya Narendra Dev College, welcomed
Prof. Poonam Bedi (Head, Department of Computer Science, University of
Delhi), the speakers and the participants to the workshop. In her
remarks she explained how she was introduced to Linux and Wikipidia and
her initial interesting experience with Linux. She wondered if
Universities across the world can use Linux for education, why can't we
in India do it. She mentioned that this workshop is aimed to become an
example and that we should take the torch of Linux knowledge to all the
other colleges of Delhi University, creating a live example for all. She
explained how various Governments across the world including the Kerala
State Government have declared “NO” to windows and “YES” to exclusive
usage of Linux for their work. “There is a gradual realization and shift
towards Linux across the globe”, she said. Delhi University has taken
the first step by giving us the new computers with Linux installed and
now we are taking it forward in our college. One of the college lab is
now 100% Linux, and another one is dual boot. Now, we all will learn and
master Linux and move ahead. We are committed for Linux, she declared.
She explained the importance of the availability of source code and how
this helps students learn the technology, and that, this is not possible
on windows, it being a closed source proprietory technology. She
announced that there will be more such workshop for more people and
follow-up workshops for current participants on advanced subjects of
Linux, to expand and enhance the learning. She declared that personally
as well as college Principal, she is fully committed to Linux. She
invited the participants to learn the maximum and take it to others
around them, thus spreading real-education.
The workshop was formally Inaugurated by Prof. Poonam Bedi (Head,
Department of Computer Science, University of Delhi), who extended her
full support to this trend-creating event and wished that such
activities happen across the University in all the colleges. She
explained the Linux initiative at Delhi University and the support that
Linux implementations and usage has started receiving from various
quarters.
Comparing between Linux, Windows and Macintosh, she explained the
advantages of Linux vis-a-vis the other two and urged the audience to
try Linux, it being Free, Open Source and Virus-free. She thanked the
audience for participating in the event and wished a great success to
the event.
Sudhir Gandotra, C.E.O. OpenLX Linux introduced Linux explaining the
Freedom, Open Source etc. aspects of it. Using a slide show he explained
to participants the reasons why Linux is the only choice for true
education in I.T. And urged the authorities to convert the syllabus from
being product-oriented to technology oriented.
Connecting Linux machine to Internet through data-card (without needing
any driver to use the data-card), it was demonstrated to the
participants (through www.netcraft.com website) that even microsoft was
running their server (download.microsoft.com) using Linux as the OS.
Participants wondered if this was the case of that builder who would not
live in building made by himself. !
During the practical session, the participants were given a Linux
installed computer to use it the way they wished. In this session, there
was no agenda and it was found that participants started exploring
various applications/tools on the KDE that was available to them on
these machines having OpenLX Linux installed there.
While they all started working as ROOT user, they were explained the
security risk attached and were shown how to create a user and they all
shifted from ROOT user to GUEST user.
Post lunch, there was a demonstration on how to do RAD programming using
QT, by Ratheesh from OpenLX.
Next was the 12th standard student Arjun Asthana who explained the C++
programming on Linux. Explaining that Turbo C was based on standards of
1993, he urged the authorities to move ahead so that college students
can learn Programming on latest standards.
Later in the practical session, he also explained how it was possible to
run Turbo C in Linux using DosBox so that Linux machines can be used to
study this compulsory topic till the authorities decide to modernize the
curriculum.
Arjun, being so young and having over 6 years' experience of programming
on Linux became a hit among the participants who all wanted to ask him
so many things. In his simple unassuming style, Arjun was seen answering
all their questions, many times talking about the standards, the
technologies being used on Linux and the advanced possibilities that
existed for students on Linux.
We hope his example will inspire the participants to move strongly
towards exploring Linux and finding a new future that awaits them all.
Day Two :
Thanks to Rajiv Chopra, Editor, Linux for You, Atanu Datta (Editorial
Coordinator) was with us to share his experience as a User and gave very
simple-straight forward and inspiring response to the problems
(imaginary) of many users who by now were planning to migrate to Linux.
This was an interesting session, where, many times, we saw the imaginary
aspects being responded by real life experience.
The important of actually using Linux was seen and the participants
agreed that their practical exposure of first day had shown them that
everything looked very much similar. To that extent, they had no fear of
getting into an unknown zone and were already interested in migrating to
Linux.
Some users had already called the OpenLX team last evening taking tips
on installing it on their home computers and some had brought their
computers to college to have OpenLX Linux installed.
A complete demonstration of dual-boot installation was given, resulting
in all of them agreeing to do it on their computers over the weekend.
The Linux DVDs were made available to participants at very special
affordable prices.
Mr. S. K. Goel, Vice President (I.T.), Om Logistics along with his team
from the company, explained how their company became a 100% Linux user,
resulting in ZERO-Downtime and no errors, bringing in not only huge
savings but also the best possible security and stability to their
operations.
He emphasized that even if Linux had cost them many times more, they
would have chosen it, as this level of security-stability and virus-free
situation was not even imaginable on windows.
He also informed of a survey in their company wherein employees did not
want even a raise for using windows, as their productivity had increased
many times by using Linux.
The demonstration of KOHA Library software was given as another live
example of how an Open Source project and surpassed the standards set by
the world and now KOHA is setting the global standards for Library
software.
Dr. Savithri Singh, in her closing remarks, thanked the participants and
OpenLX on making the show a complete success and re-iterated her
commitment to Linux and invited participants to take this forward
strongly.
She hoped that the need of anti-virus software in her college would stop
now that everyone would happily shift to Linux.
Intex Computers demonstrated their “OpenLX-Linux pre-installed” Desktops
and Laptops, making people aware that such computers are now readily
available in the market, giving people the choice of buying Linux
“pre-installed and bundled” computers, and saving the cost of windows
when they don't want it.
ANDC LUG (Linux Users Group) was formed and all participants happily
became its members. The LUG will have its mailing list formed
immediately and start having its regular meeting. Sudhir Gandotra
explained them the functioning of LUGs and how they can interact with
other LUGs and experts and grow forward on the Linux path of freedom.
A Clustering Lab will be setup at college with the help of OpenLX Linux.
College students will participate in building future versions of OpenLX
Linux by working on its source code at the college lab.
Pictures (some of them) & report are at : www.openlx.com/andc/index.html
Peace, Force & Joy! Sudhir Gandotra. 98-101-20918
IIPL: B-220/2, 2nd Fl., Savitri Nagar, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi 110017,
1/G, Shrikrishna Sansthan Building, Bistupur, Jamshedpur 831001, India
Phone : +91-11-26014670, 71, 72. Fax : +91-11-26014672
OpenLX Linux OS, Linux Training, Support, Services, Product Development
Legal.Software @ Fractional Cost : http://kalculate.com
http://openlx.com - International Alliance of LINUX companies
You don't need violence to shake the world
Treat Others As You Would Have Them Treat You
www.humanistmovement.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF.Net email is sponsored by:
Check out the new SourceForge.net Marketplace.
It's the best place to buy or sell services for
just about anything Open Source.
http://sourceforge.net/services/buy/index.php
_______________________________________________
Linux-india-general mailing list
Linux-india-general@lists.sourceforge.net
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/linux-india-general
