Git-Url: http://git.frugalware.org/gitweb/gitweb.cgi?p=homepage-ng.git;a=commitdiff;h=b10263827855fe6e8ebcbda7cbca288d3ef85cfc
commit b10263827855fe6e8ebcbda7cbca288d3ef85cfc Author: Russell Dickenson (phayz) <russelldicken...@gmail.com> Date: Thu Feb 4 22:56:47 2010 +1000 Newsletter issue 57 * initial release new file: ../images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot.jpg new file: ../images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot_t.jpg new file: issue57.html modified: ../xml/news.xml diff --git a/frugalware/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot.jpg b/frugalware/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot.jpg new file mode 100755 index 0000000..02ea3ea Binary files /dev/null and b/frugalware/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot.jpg differ diff --git a/frugalware/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot_t.jpg b/frugalware/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot_t.jpg new file mode 100755 index 0000000..b43f1b2 Binary files /dev/null and b/frugalware/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot_t.jpg differ diff --git a/frugalware/weeklynews/issue57.html b/frugalware/weeklynews/issue57.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ecf39de --- /dev/null +++ b/frugalware/weeklynews/issue57.html @@ -0,0 +1,545 @@ + <h2>Frugalware Linux Newsletter - Issue 57</h2> + + <h2>...to inform...to educate...to entertain</h2> + + <p>"The number of people watching you is directly proportional to the + stupidity of your action."</p> + + <h2>Welcome</h2> + + <p>The newsletter's aim is to keep you up to date with what's happened + recently in the world of the Linux distribution 'Frugalware'.</p> + + <p>Features of this issue include:</p> + + <ul> + <li>Farewell to Jercel</li> + + <li>Crazy's back</li> + + <li>I am missing "you"...</li> + + <li>Getting To Know You - Patches</li> + + <li>FLOSS developers are people too - Jeff Bailes</li> + </ul> + + <h2>Events</h2> + + <p>Here's a selection of events which have occurred since the previous + newsletter:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <h3>From Last to Libre</h3> + + <p>Last.fm is a web-based service which analyses what music you play and + suggests music which you also might like. Until recently it was very + popular, including within the FLOSS community, because the service cost + nothing to use. However, some people were concerned about the fact that + it wasn't a FLOSS service, also privacy protection. Last.fm announced a + few months ago that it would begin charging users outside the USA, UK and + Germany for streaming media. This change was something which many people + could not accept.</p> + + <p>In response to Last.fm's changes, Matt Lee, of the Free Software + Foundation (FSF) began a new, similar service named Libre.fm. The name + represents the fact that it's truly free, with no cost to users and being + licenced under the Affero GPL (AGPL). This is a quite new licence aimed + at web-based services which collect and store data from its users. The + AGPL ensures not only that the code to the service's software is free, + but also that each user's content is available to them, to take + elsewhere. This is something that most people don't consider until they + want to move to a different service and realise too late that they're + "locked in" to a service provider.</p> + + <p>"How does this relate to Frugalware?" I can hear you ask. Frugalware + has a group on the web-based service Libre.fm, which allows users to + submit data about the music they listen to via their media player. The + idea is to allow members of the Frugalware group to know what music + others in the group are playing. If you play music while on your PC, + please join the Frugalware community on Libre.fm.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <h3>Farewell to Jercel</h3> + + <p>On 12 December 2009, Frugalware developer Jercel announced his + departure from the team in a message to the developers' mailing list. + He's leaving for professional reasons, as his current job, together with + his other commitments, doesn't leave him enough time to work on + Frugalware. We will miss him because over the 7 months he was a + developer, he made made an excellent contribution. Of course we wish him + well for the future.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <h3>Crazy's back</h3> + + <p>After recuperating in hospital for a while, Frugalware developer Crazy + has returned, already busy bumping packages. Aside from the large amount + of work that Crazy does, you have to admire him for his often + entertaining commit messages, such as:</p> + + <ul> + <li>* damn , forgot the patch :|</li> + + <li>* arghhhhh<br> + * that was meant as taglib-extra's' which is already there may</li> + + <li>* Ohh lol die here #Fdie -> Fdie ;)<br> + * I don't think it was meant like this</li> + </ul> + + <p>Thankyou Crazy, for helping to make reading the developers' mailing + list fun. :)</p> + </li> + + <li> + <h3>KDE 4 is here!</h3> + + <p>In newsletter issue 50 it was announced that KDE 4 was being packaged. + This was a major piece of work, because KDE 4 was a complete redesign and + a LOT changed between version 3.5 and 4. Thanks to Dex77, Hermier, + Exceed, Crazy and Vmiklos, KDE 4 is now available in the 'current' + repository for everyone to install and enjoy. Even if you don't use it + now, why not try it out? You never know, you just might switch to it once + you've tried it.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <h3>I am missing "you"...</h3> + + <p>Each Frugalware newsletter issue starts life as an empty HTML + skeleton, with each piece fitted into place as it is written. One + unfortunate result of this method is that if there is an error in the + template, that error is copied into each issue. This happened early in + the life of the newsletter, and I only found the error recently. In the + text which asks readers to contribute hints and tips, the word "you" was + missing. A search revealed the error in 45 issues, almost the complete + catalogue of newsletters! They were all fixed quickly, though, thanks to + 'sed'. For someone like me, who takes care that spelling and grammar is + correct, it was very embarrassing.</p> + + <p>I <strong>hope</strong> that this is the last of any such errors, but + I need your help. If yoo doo find airnee erruz in thee newzletta, pleaze + tell mee. :P</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <h2>Getting To Know You</h2> + + <p>In this section of the newsletter, we get to know Frugalware Linux a + little at a time. This is not meant to replace the official documentation but + instead make it easier to read. This should suit those people who, like me, + have short attention spans. :)</p> + + <h3>Patches</h3> + + <p>Patches are often applied to the original source code of applications by + Linux distributors. The reasons for applying patches vary but the main reason + is to have the application behave according to the distribution's wishes. + Frugalware's policy is to maintain and apply as few patches as possible, for + the following reasons:</p> + + <h4>Maintenance effort</h4> + + <p>Every patch has to be maintained by the Frugalware development team. When + a package is upgraded, the package's maintainer must check if all its patches + (if any) are still relevant. If they're no longer relevant then they can be + deleted. This process is manual and can take a long time, depending on the + number and complexity of the patches. In summary, all this time spent + maintaining patches could be better spent on other activities.</p> + + <h4>Respect for developers</h4> + + <p>A patch is applied to a package's original source code to change its + behaviour from what the original developer(s) intended. Frugalware's policy + is to first try to have patches accepted by the original developer(s). This + means that (1) the original developer(s) accepts the change as being valid, + and (2) it avoids the cost of having the Frugalware development team maintain + the patch. If a patch is refused by the original developer(s) then it's not + likely to be maintained by the Frugalware development team.</p> + + <h4>Troubleshooting</h4> + + <p>Applying patches to a package's original source makes troubleshooting more + difficult for everyone involved. When a problem occurs, someone has to find + out if it's caused by any of the package's patches. If the answer is "No', + then the bug can be reported upstream. If the answer is "Yes", then it's the + responsibility of the distribution to fix the problem. This extra step in + troubleshooting complicates the process and adds to the workload of the + distribution's developers.</p> + + <p>A design principle which Frugalware borrowed from Slackware is simplicity + and since patches go against this principle, they're used only when + absolutely necessary.</p> + + <h2>FLOSS developers are people too</h2> + + <p>Without developers, we wouldn't have the Linux kernel and all the software + that we run on the platform. What motivates FLOSS developers? Why does anyone + choose to spend their time writing software when they don't get paid to do + so? What do developers do when they're not writing software? These questions + and more are the inspiration behind this new section of the newsletter.</p> + + <p>In interviews with FLOSS developers, we get to know them a little better + as people, and what motivates them in their quest for better software. I'm + very excited by this new series because I admire their work very much. I'm + also very grateful to them for taking the time to reply to my requests.</p> + + <p>Interviews in the next few issues will feature:</p> + + <ul> + <li>The developer of Code Browser;</li> + + <li>Ali Abdallah - Xfce developer & Parole developer;</li> + + <li>Jesse van den Kieboom - gedit developer.</li> + </ul> + + <p>This issue, we have an interview with Jeff Bailes - developer of Whaaw!, a + GStreamer-based media player.</p> + + <dl> + <dt><strong>What's your name?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Jeff Bailes</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>What FLOSS projects are you involved in?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>I'm the main developer for 'Whaaw! Media Player' (whaawmp for short). + I also do the en_GB translations for Xfce and various other projects.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>What led to you being a FLOSS + developer/contributor?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>I had been using Linux and free software for a while, was interested + in programming and I wanted to give something back to the community. + (That and I was sick of putting up with 'color' popping up everywhere). I + looked around a bit and found that there was a lack of a GStreamer based + GTK+ media player without GNOME dependencies (ie Totem for Xfce). I + created an initial version and thought others might like it too so I + registered it on Google Code, later moving it to its current home on + GNA.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>What do you like about being a FLOSS + developer/contributor?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Writing code that other people will use and (hopefully) find useful + and, if they want, can change the program to their liking.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>What don't you like about being a FLOSS + developer/contributor?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Not a whole lot, the main thing I suppose is feeling bad for not doing + any coding for months on end.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>What motivates you to work on your project(s)?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Mainly wanting new features I'd like to see in a media player I use. + The recent addition of DVD Menu support was fun, albeit the amount of + code I ended up needing to add was rather disappointing compared with how + much time I spent on it.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>What do you do outside the FLOSS world?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>I'm currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Science degree at the + University of Melbourne, majoring in Pure Mathematics. My final exams are + just under two weeks away, so expect at least some increase in + development after that's done. Though I'm planning on doing a Masters + degree next year so that increase may be short lived. I also do a bit of + work at the local supermarket when I have time.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>What operating system(s) do you use and why?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>I've used Arch Linux for the last three years. I use it over Ubuntu + and others because I like its rolling release system, simple updating, + simple configuration and almost any package I would ever want is in the + AUR (and no annoying -dev packages). I'm sure there's some reason I chose + it over Frugalware but I can't for the life of me remember why.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong>If people are interested in helping your project(s), how might + they do this?</strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>I'd say come and visit me in #whaawmp on OFTC, but I don't go there + nearly as often as I'd like, though if you did you'd probably run into + Mark__T who helps out a bit as well. Your best bet is to send an e-mail + to the mailing list (the link is somewhere on the GNA project page).</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <h2>New Packages</h2> + + <p>In this new section of the newsletter I'll highlight some new packages + which have been added since the previous issue.</p> + + <table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> + <tr> + <th width="10%">Package's Name</th> + + <th width="60%">Description</th> + + <th width="20%">Maintainer</th> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>shotwell-0.4.1-1</td> + + <td>Shotwell is an open source photo organizer designed for the GNOME + desktop environment.</td> + + <td>devil505</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>pino-0.1.0-1</td> + + <td>Pino is a Twitter client for the Linux desktop. It's simple and + fast.</td> + + <td>devil505</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>moonlight-2.0-1</td> + + <td>Moonlight is an open source implementation of Microsoft Silverlight + for Unix systems.</td> + + <td>bouleetbil</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>postr-0.12.4-1</td> + + <td>Flickr Uploader</td> + + <td>bouleetbil</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>wired-0.7.0-1</td> + + <td>Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer written in C++ with the Qt4 + framework</td> + + <td>exceed (with help from elentir)</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>connman-0.47-1</td> + + <td>open source connection manager</td> + + <td>bouleetbil</td> + </tr> + </table> + + <h2>Tips and tricks</h2> + + <p><b>Disclaimer</b> - Be aware that the hints & tips provided here have + NOT been tested and so come with no warranty.</p> + + <h3>Portable pacman-g2 cache</h3> + + <p>When pacman-g2 downloads a package, it is stored in pacman-g2's package + cache folder - /var/cache/pacman-g2/pkg by default. If you maintain several + computers running Frugalware, a portable pacman-g2 cache can reduce the time + required to download packages. To use a portable cache, edit pacman-g2's + configuration file (/etc/pacman-g2.conf) on each PC or server with which you + want to share the portable cache, adding the following line:</p> + <pre> + CacheDir = [path_to_removable_media_directory] + +</pre> + + <p>Before you issue pacman-g2 commands, you simply insert (and mount, if it + is not automatically mounted) the removable media. Just as normal, if + pacman-g2 can't find the package in its cache, it will be downloaded and put + into the cache. If you then need the same package on another PC, it will not + be downloaded because it's already in pacman-g2's cache. This method saves + disk space and time downloading the same packages on multiple + PCs/servers.</p> + + <p><strong>Note:</strong>If you use this method, please be careful in using + the command "pacman-g2 -Sc", which deletes old versions of packages. If you + are maintaining PCs or servers with different repositories, you might delete + packages from the removable media which you had wanted to keep.</p> + + <p>This section relies on your contributions! If you have some tips and + tricks that you would like to be shown in the newsletter, <em>please</em> + post them on the forums.</p> + + <h2>Focus On Package(s)</h2> + + <h3>Chromium B.S.U. (the game)</h3> + + <p>As quoted on the home page, "Chromium B.S.U. is a fast paced, + arcade-style, top-scrolling space shooter." When you run this game, the first + things you notice are the excellent graphics, sound and music (unless you + have sound muted :P). A lot of work has gone into the game's artwork, + including backgrounds, ships and other items (powerup bonuses etc). The + controls are quite easy to learn and use, so you don't need to be an expert + games player. Since you have a view of the action from the top, not a + first-person view, it's easy to keep an eye on all the action. That doesn't + mean that it's an easy game, because your enemies will do their best to blast + you into oblivion!</p> + + <p>If you have ever dreamed of living in a 2D universe, making a living as a + space pilot (be honest, we have all had that dream), then you + <strong>must</strong> play Chromium B.S.U. If you take up the challenge, may + all your moves be quick, and may your keyboard be strong. Good + luck!</p> + + <p><a href= + "http://frugalware.org/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot.jpg";><img src= + "http://frugalware.org/images/newsletter/issue57_chromiumbsu_screenshot_t.jpg"; alt= + "Screenshot of Chromium B.S.U."></a></p> + + <h3>Chromium (the web browser)</h3> + + <p>As everyone in the world of technology knows, "<a href= + "http://code.google.com/chromium/";>Chromium</a> is the open-source project + behind Google Chrome." Google's aims with Chromium/Chrome are to produce a + browser which is: secure, fast, reliable and standards compliant. Firefox has + long been the favourite web browser in the FLOSS world, partly because of the + quantity and quality of extensions available for it. Chrome/Chromium also has + extensions available, but since this is a relatively new feature, there are + not nearly as many available as for Firefox. Take the time to try Chromium + and judge for yourself whether or not it's a better browser.</p> + + <h2>Bug fixes</h2> + + <p>The following table gives you a overview of activity on bugs and feature + requests as at 4 February 2010. In each cell of the table is a link to a + detailed list of the relevant bugs or feature requests.</p> + + <table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> + <tr> + <th>Activity</th> + + <th>Bugs</th> + + <th>Feature<br> + Requests</th> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>Open</td> + + <td><a href= + "http://bugs.frugalware.org/index.php?string=&project=1&type[]=1&sev[]=&pri[]=&due[]=&reported[]=&cat[]=&status[]=open&percent[]=&opened=&dev=&closed=&duedatefrom=&duedateto=&changedfrom=&changedto=&openedfrom=&openedto=&closedfrom=&closedto=&do=index";> + 163</a></td> + + <td><a href= + "http://bugs.frugalware.org/index.php?string=&project=1&type[]=2&sev[]=&pri[]=&due[]=&reported[]=&cat[]=&status[]=open&percent[]=&opened=&dev=&closed=&duedatefrom=&duedateto=&changedfrom=&changedto=&openedfrom=&openedto=&closedfrom=&closedto=&do=index";> + 196</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>Opened since the previous newsletter</td> + + <td><a href= + "http://bugs.frugalware.org/index.php?string=&project=1&type[]=1&sev[]=&pri[]=&due[]=&reported[]=&cat[]=&status[]=open&percent[]=&opened=&dev=&closed=&duedatefrom=&duedateto=&changedfrom=&changedto=&openedfrom=2009-07-19&openedto=&closedfrom=&closedto=&do=index";> + 22</a></td> + + <td><a href= + "http://bugs.frugalware.org/index.php?string=&project=1&type[]=2&sev[]=&pri[]=&due[]=&reported[]=&cat[]=&status[]=open&percent[]=&opened=&dev=&closed=&duedatefrom=&duedateto=&changedfrom=&changedto=&openedfrom=2009-07-19&openedto=&closedfrom=&closedto=&do=index";> + 9</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>Closed since the previous newsletter</td> + + <td><a href= + "http://bugs.frugalware.org/index.php?string=&project=1&type%5B%5D=1&sev%5B%5D=&pri%5B%5D=&due%5B%5D=&reported%5B%5D=&cat%5B%5D=&status%5B%5D=closed&percent%5B%5D=&opened=&dev=&closed=&duedatefrom=&duedateto=&changedfrom=&changedto=&openedfrom=&openedto=&closedfrom=2009-07-19&closedto=&do=index";> + 37</a></td> + + <td><a href= + "http://bugs.frugalware.org/index.php?string=&project=1&type%5B%5D=2&sev%5B%5D=&pri%5B%5D=&due%5B%5D=&reported%5B%5D=&cat%5B%5D=&status%5B%5D=closed&percent%5B%5D=&opened=&dev=&closed=&duedatefrom=&duedateto=&changedfrom=&changedto=&openedfrom=&openedto=&closedfrom=2009-07-19&closedto=&do=index";> + 20</a></td> + </tr> + </table> + + <h2>Security announcements</h2> + + <p><b>Remember</b> - According to the normal + support arrangements for Frugalware, the release of 1.1 ("Getorin") means + that no further security or bug fixes will be released for Frugalware 1.0 + ("Anacreon") or earlier releases.</p> + + <p>Here is a list of <a href="/security">security issues</a> which have been + discovered and fixed in the 1.1 release since the previous newsletter.</p> + + <table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> + <tr> + <th>FSA</th> + + <th>Package</th> + + <th>FSA Description</th> + + <th>Upgrade To</th> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>FSA625</td> + + <td>kernel</td> + + <td>This fixes a vulnerability, which potentially can be exploited by + malicious people to cause a DoS (immediate OOPS and hang, complete loss + of response, even of console)</td> + + <td>kernel-2.6.30-4getorin1</td> + </tr> + </table> + + <h2>About the newsletter</h2> + + <h3>Author</h3> + + <p>The Frugalware newsletter is written and edited by Russell Dickenson (AKA + phayz). Credit for the Frugalware distribution goes to the development + team.</p> + + <h3>Translations</h3> + + <p>The newsletter is currently translated into <a href= + "http://frugalware-fr.org";>French</a> and <a href= + "http://frugalware.dk/?cat=5";>Danish</a> by their respective communities. + Thanks to all those involved in providing and hosting these translations.</p> + + <h3>Release</h3> + + <p>To allow time for review and corrections, each newsletter is written ahead + of its release date. Therefore it may not mention events which occurred in + the few days before its release - e.g. security fixes. To be sure that you've + got the very latest information on these topics, go to the appropriate page + of the Frugalware web site.</p> + + <h3>Feedback</h3> + + <p>If you have feedback about the Frugalware newsletter - whether good or bad + - please provide it via the forums. Your feedback is valuable because we want + the newsletter to meet the needs of Frugalware's users.</p> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/frugalware/xml/news.xml b/frugalware/xml/news.xml index 0b48551..4678d04 100644 --- a/frugalware/xml/news.xml +++ b/frugalware/xml/news.xml @@ -22,6 +22,26 @@ Example: Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:34:56 -0600 --> <news> <post> + <id>159</id> + <title>Frugalware Newsletter Issue 57</title> + <date>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:54:40 +1000</date> + <author>phayz</author> + <hidden>0</hidden> + <content><![CDATA[ + The newsletter's aim is to keep you up to date with what's happened recently in the world of Frugalware.<br /> + Features of this issue include: + <ul> + <li>Farewell to Jercel</li> + <li>Crazy's back</li> + <li>I am missing "you"...</li> + <li>Getting To Know You - Patches</li> + <li>FLOSS developers are people too - Jeff Bailes</li> + </ul> + You can read it <a href="/newsletter/57">here</a>. We hope you like it! + ]]> + </content> + </post> + <post> <id>158</id> <title>Frugalware Newsletter Issue 56</title> <date>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:15:17 +1000</date> _______________________________________________ Frugalware-git mailing list Frugalware-git@frugalware.org http://frugalware.org/mailman/listinfo/frugalware-git
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