--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debian Weekly News http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2003/10/ Debian Weekly News - March 11th, 2003 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to this year's 10th issue of DWN, the weekly newsletter for the Debian community. It seems to have been a [1]big week in Linux kernel development. Recent work promises to make exciting improvements for desktop users. Meanwhile, [2]Openstuff.net has recently released a new range of low cost [3]Debian fun stuff, including t-shirts, polo shirts, sweat shirts and suitcases. 1. http://kerneltrap.org/node.php?id=603 2. http://www.openstuff.net/ 3. http://openstuff.net/index.py/categ/categ/3 Call for Votes in the DPL Election. The Debian Project Secretary [4]posted the first call for votes this year's Election of the Debian Project Leader (DPL). Last year's voting engine, which is relatively well tested, will be used again. The order of candidates names on the voting form was randomly selected and voters may indicate their preference for each candidate. Votes must be GnuPG (or PGP) signed and received by 23:59:59 UTC on March 29th, 2003. Up to the minute voting statistics are [5]available. 4. http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote-0303/msg00033.html 5. http://master.debian.org/~srivasta/leader2003.html Using translated debconf Templates. Michael Bramer [6]informed us about a possibility to make use of translated debconf templates that the [7]Debian Description Translation Project maintains. Several languages are supported and progress can be watched at the [8]progress graph. Michael [9]summarized the discussion. 6. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0302/msg01924.html 7. http://ddtp.debian.org/ 8. http://ddtp.debian.org/debconf/gnuplot/ddts-stat.png 9. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00189.html Testing GCC 3.3. Matthias Klose [10]called for testing the upcoming GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) 3.3 with real-world applications. Before this version is released, it has to meet several [11]criteria. Packages should be recompiled with gcc-snapshot from unstable. 10. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00025.html 11. http://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-3.3/criteria.html Release Schedule for Sarge? Anthony Towns [12]talks about issues that Debian will be facing soon, now that glibc from unstable migrated into testing. He wonders whether debian-installer is in an acceptable state, and if not, what is necessary to get it (or something else) suitable for release, and how long will that take? Anthony is also looking for volunteers to help with Release Manager work. 12. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce-0303/msg00007.html Qmail on Debian. Vincent Hillier has written an [13]article that details the use of qmail on Debian systems. The document explains the deployment of the Qmail mail server in numerous situations. No previous knowledge of Qmail is necessary, as the paper describes every step from installation to running POP and DNS on the same machine. 13. http://www.pantz.org/email/qmail/qmailondebian.shtml Compiling the Linux Kernel on Debian. Clinton De Young, author of [14]The Very Verbose Debian 3.0 Installation Walkthrough, has now written [15]The Very Verbose Guide to Updating and Compiling Your Debian Kernel. This article guides even novice users through the steps of downloading, configuring, compiling and installing the Linux kernel. It includes a discussion of things such as sound support, ext3 journaling and CD burning. 14. http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2016 15. http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2949 Installing Debian on a Compaq Proliant. [16]DebianHelp carries an [17]article that discusses the installation of Debian 3.0 (woody) on a Compaq Proliant ML370 G3 with dual Intel Xeon 2.8 GHz processors and 2 GB of RAM. It explains which drivers are required and how to ensure that all hardware is recognized and operated properly. 16. http://www.debianhelp.org/ 17. http://www.debianhelp.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3140 Accessibility Features in Debian. A user on [18]DebianHelp explained that he is paralyzed and uses the accessibility features of a proprietary operating system, including sticky keys and mouse keys to manage the modifying keystrokes and using the number-pad as a mouse control. He [19]wondered what accessibility features Debian provides. Readers pointed out the [20]Linux Accessibility Howto and the accessibility features of GNOME and KDE3. 18. http://www.debianhelp.org/ 19. http://www.debianhelp.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&topic=844&forum=23 20. http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Accessibility-HOWTO/index.html Debian on a Low Cost Lindows/Microtel Box. Paul M. Foster [21]explained how he converted a low cost Lindows computer from [22]Wal-Mart into a proper Debian system. Paul first wiped Lindows from the hard drive and then installed Debian 3.0 (woody). However, after experiencing several hardware incompatibility issues, he upgraded to testing (sarge) to solve his problems. 21. http://newsforge.com/newsforge/03/03/02/190256.shtml?tid=7 22. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=3951&lr=A&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951 Graphing Private Woody Archives. Brian May [23]created a Perl script that compares the sources files from a Debian archive and a private archive. The script outputs a list of nodes for producing a [24]vcg graph that shows build dependencies for the private archive. The graph shows which packages are out of date in a private archive and the order in which they should be rebuilt. For example, the graph might show that while acl is out of date, attr should probably be rebuilt first because acl depends on attr. 23. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00401.html 24. http://packages.debian.org/stable/graphics/vcg.html Bringing LZW Code back into Debian. Drew Scott Daniels [25]wondered about the best way to approach the [26]pending expiry of patent protection of the LZW algorithm. He would like to find out which packages had, have, or could benefit from using LZW code. He proposes to do a mass bug filing to encourage the use of LZW code, particularly against packages that have purposely removed LZW code. 25. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00334.html 26. http://groups.google.com/groups?&threadm=a5aa8dd0.0208271613.3cd18da6%40posting.google.com Hardware Detection Packages in Debian. Rick Moen, Dave Bechtel and Heather Stern of the Linux Gazette Answer Gang recently [27]discussed hardware detection packages in Debian. They answered questions about [28]kudzu and discussed Debian's numerous packages for hardware recognition. Rick has integrated the hardware recognition information into his [29]Debian tips page. 27. http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue88/tag/2.html 28. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/kudzu.html 29. http://linuxmafia.com/debian/tips Dependencies in the Debian Archive. Osamu Aoki [30]thought that one measure of the importance of a Debian package is the number of other packages that depend on it. His research showed that 88% of packages had dependencies with less than 6 other packages. Fabio Massimo Di Nitto [31]pointed out that the statistics overlook Essential status packages and Anthony Towns [32]noted that some packages are less depended upon, but equally important because they provide the same function, such as a mail-transport-agent. 30. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00285.html 31. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00293.html 32. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00302.html Using Udebs for More Than Installation. Branden Robinson [33]asked about using udebs for more than the installer, for example in resource constrained environments. Glenn McGrath [34]explained that from a file format viewpoint udebs are the same as debs, except udebs can be smaller because they don't have to include everything required by Debian package policy. One should think of udebs as dynamically loadable installer modules, not as true Debian packages. 33. http://lists.debian.org/debian-boot-0302/msg00636.html 34. http://lists.debian.org/debian-boot-0302/msg00645.html Debian Based GNU/Linux for PlayStation 2. [35]xRhino has released [36]BlackRhino for the Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2). BlackRhino is a Debian based GNU/Linux operating system. It contains over 1,200 software packages to aid in using and creating programs for the PS2 and requires Sony's [37]PS2 Linux Kit, which sells for $US199. 35. http://www.xrhino.com/ 36. http://blackrhino.xrhino.com/main.php?page=home 37. http://www.us.playstation.com/purchase/hardware/ New Experimental PPP Package. Russell Coker [38]announced that he has made [39]available a new experimental PPP package. among other things, it includes Brian May's dialer script. Russell is currently not in a position to test the package and would appreciate any testing assistance. In the next day or two, Russell intends to put another test release online with pppoa support and then by the end of the week he may have an upload with pppoa and many of the other things people are clamoring for. 38. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00449.html 39. http://www.coker.com.au/ppp/ New OpenLDAP 2.1 Preview. Torsten Landschoff [40]announced that the first trial package of a ready-to-install OpenLDAP 2.1 is now [41]available. A lot of work remains before the unstable upload, for example upgrades do not work and reconfiguration depends on removing the old directory first. However, installing seems to work and a new directory can be created using a very simple configuration script. Torsten would appreciate testing and feedback, including on wanted features in the final maintainer scripts. 40. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0303/msg00412.html 41. http://people.debian.org/~torsten/openldap2.1/ Licensing Clarification on GnuMICR Font. Eric Sandeen [42]noticed that there was some confusion over the licensing of his GnuMICR font package. He has now clarified in the documentation that the package is released under the GNU [43]General Public License (GPL). Branden Robinson [44]pointed out that there was some vagueness in the documentation that seemed to suggest restrictions beyond the GPL. He thought it best to simply indicate which files are the 'source' code and which are the 'executable form' of the fonts. 42. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal-0303/msg00058.html 43. http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl.html 44. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal-0303/msg00085.html Security Updates. You know the drill. Please make sure that you update your systems if you have any of these packages installed. * [45]sendmail -- Buffer overflow. * [46]ethereal -- Arbitrary code execution. 45. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-257 46. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-258 New or Noteworthy Packages. The following packages were added to the unstable Debian archive recently or contain important updates. * [47]ant-phone -- Interactive ISDN telephone application. * [48]cantus -- GNOME tool to mass-rename/tag mp3 and ogg files. * [49]dar -- Disk ARchive: Backup directory tree and files. * [50]ddtc -- Perl script to deal with ddts mail. * [51]dosbox -- x86 emulator with CGA/EGA/VGA graphics, sound and DOS. * [52]gdeskcal -- Desktop calendar featuring transparency with smooth alpha-blending. * [53]grcm -- GNOME application to initiate connections to remote machines. * [54]gsasl -- GNU SASL commandline utility. * [55]gtkeyboard -- Highly-configurable on-screen keyboard for mouse typing. * [56]isakmpd -- The Internet Key Exchange protocol openbsd implementation. * [57]kommander -- Create dialogs that generate text through user interaction. * [58]ljupdate -- LiveJournal client for Emacs. * [59]mguesser -- Guesses the language of a text. * [60]monopd -- Monopoly game network server. * [61]mysource -- Content publishing and management system. * [62]op-fb -- Open Palm Integrated Environment (OPIE). * [63]pachi -- Platform game featuring Pachi el Marciano. * [64]plplot-gd -- Scientific plotting library (GD driver). * [65]pmccabe -- McCabe-style function complexity and line counting for C and C++. * [66]rubrica -- Addressbook for the GNOME desktop. * [67]sgf2tex -- Creates TeX files from Go game records. * [68]sulu -- File Mananger for Samsung Uproar and YEPP. * [69]uligo -- tsumego (go problems) practice tool. * [70]unicode -- Display unicode character properties. * [71]unicorn -- Monitoring applications for the Bewan ADSL PCI st and USB modems. * [72]xwelltris -- 3D Tetris like popular game similar to Welltris. * [73]zcip -- Autonomously obtain an IP address. 47. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/ant-phone.html 48. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/sound/cantus.html 49. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/dar.html 50. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/text/ddtc.html 51. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/otherosfs/dosbox.html 52. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/gdeskcal.html 53. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/interpreters/grcm.html 54. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/gsasl.html 55. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/gtkeyboard.html 56. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/isakmpd.html 57. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/kommander.html 58. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/editors/ljupdate.html 59. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/text/mguesser.html 60. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/monopd.html 61. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/web/mysource.html 62. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/embedded/op-fb.html 63. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/pachi.html 64. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/math/plplot-gd.html 65. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/pmccabe.html 66. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/rubrica.html 67. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/tex/sgf2tex.html 68. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/sulu.html 69. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/uligo.html 70. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/unicode.html 71. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/unicorn.html 72. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/xwelltris.html 73. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/zcip.html Orphaned Packages. 3 packages were orphaned this week and require a new maintainer. This makes a total of 176 orphaned packages. Many thanks to the previous maintainers who contributed to the Free Software community. Please see the [74]WNPP pages for the full list, and please add a note to the bug report and retitle it to ITA: if you plan to take over a package. 74. http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/ * [75]epic4-script-thirdeye -- Third Eye EPIC script. ([76]Bug#183543) * [77]megahal -- Conversation simulator that can learn as you talk to it. ([78]Bug#183197) * [79]tcltutor -- Tutor for Tcl/TK. ([80]Bug#183100) 75. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/epic4-script-thirdeye.html 76. http://bugs.debian.org/183543 77. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/misc/megahal.html 78. http://bugs.debian.org/183197 79. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/doc/tcltutor.html 80. http://bugs.debian.org/183100 Want to continue reading DWN? Please help us create this newsletter. Some people are submitting items already, but we are still in need of volunteer writers who prepare items. Please see the [81]contributing page to find out how to help. We're looking forward to receiving your mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED] 81. http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/contributing 82. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
