Understanding why we are here
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It is through the combined passion, creativity and fervor of Jeff
"jebba" Moe that many of us are here rallying around this distribution
known as BLAG linux and gnu. It identifies itself with the spirit of
computer users, hackers, activist, conscious-minded individuals
worldwide young and old who everyday are living in a time where its
vital that the values of computer user freedom remain at the forefront
of discussions pertaining to Free Software, technology and social change.
This message is a call and response. A call for unity among users within
the BLAG and free software community who have knowledge and skills to
contribute in rebuilding our foundation. It is a response for those who
have skills that do not believe that they can contribute if they are not
developers and who have potential to make a difference by simply sharing
what you know and applying it in core areas where we need it. The
process of developing BLAG is an effort by many to come toegther as a
community of great people who have great ideas that demonstrate free
software in action. Over the past six years, BLAG has continually
strived and been committed to releasing a 100% Free Software
distribution that has stepped up in challenging misconceptions about
GNU/Linux by bringing together individuals who bring the best of
themselves here to ensure and maintain core principals to live in a Free
Society.
BLAG is one of 8 Free Software Distros available to the computer user
community at large. In over the past two years, it has suffered the loss
of its main developer in which it has not contributed its last three
releases and has been unable to maintain its most updated release. These
types of issues have bought up many questions and discussions within our
forums, mailing list, IRC and within e-mails that I have discussed
actively with those who are dedicated to Free Software. These issues are
not immune to any distro as recently demonstrated by Kongoni's, A.J.
Venter declaring that he can not maintain the distro by himself. These
are foundation issues that must be resolved by every distro in order
that each may prosper for the people committed to Free Software who use
BLAG, but also for developers and contributors who dedicate the time
energy to a process which alone can be daunting. From discussions I have
had within BLAG, most recently within the Free Software Latin America's
Freenode Channel and with other Free Software users, it's vital that
users, developers and contributors need to have a discussions within our
distros not only relating to everyday technical aspects of the software
that is being used. The infrastructure that moves each distro
individually affects our survival long-term. If one to two developers
are taking a lead role in maintaining a project without the help of
contributors and their users, in the short term they can only manage to
focus in one area, sometimes leaving other areas to suffer. An easily
installable distro with little problems updating for the user is vital
to our success. Our sites, wikis, forums and external connections (i.e
wikipedia entries, news articles)have an impact on user experience too.
If these things are left to fall behind because we do not feel like our
skills are up to a grande level then we leave distros at risk by not
engaging in the process to understand that we the greatest ability to
take the opportunity to learn by utilizing our local resources (i.e
documentation, libraries, users with the skills we seek) to be the
support we need to makes the changes we wish to see.
What I would like to propose is a
FreeSoftwareDistributionConference(FSDCon) by which:
Each Free Software Foundation can introduce itself and its most
important initatives.
Each Free Software Distribution can introduce itself and discuss areas
where there is need
Free Software Users can actively speak to representatives from both and
coordination can take place for people to network with FSF and FSD
A topic list can be generated for areas we need to make changes as a whole .
An example of the above would be the development of a video aggregating
site, like youtube where ogg and HTML5 can be used to watch videos in
IceCat. This discussion can involve gnash contributors on areas where
they need help in making gnash update to reflect the changes being made
to Adobe's Flash format
Combining efforts in common areas. With so many users how can we
effectively use the time to ensure that we are not duplicating work that
can be done commonly.
Creation of a global semantic linux hardware database, first for free
distros and further expanding other GNU/Linux communities.
What common issues do we need to resolve that have been a constant issue
for users with each release. How can we address making the distro
approachable to new free software users and new users in general who
require an experience that may not be intimidating when it comes to
selecting, configuring and using the hardware that sometimes prohibits
adoption
The original purpose of this e-mail was to get support from the BLAG
community members, support from the Free Software community that are
using the FSF's List of Free GNU/Linux distros, but its clear that with
the discussions and e-mails that I have been having on BLAG IRC and
other Free Software Distro channels on Freenode, that it is time that
our community begin talking about the strengths and weaknesses of each
distro and how we all move ahead together.
Please post this message where needed outside of your mailinglist and if
a better translation can be made from English, please contact me, so I
can help to express any ideas that may not be clear.
Abdur-Rahman(tearms)
Thank You,
Abdur-Rahman(tearms)
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_______________________________________________
Trisquel-users mailing list
name at domain
http://listas.trisquel.info/mailman/listinfo/trisquel-users
I am a translator!
Yeah, Kongoni just lost its main developer. :( In a world where the amount of people that even know what GNU/Linux is is a small percentage, let alone call it that, the community of people that consciously uses exclusively free software is tiny, so the loss of one or two important maintainers can tank a whole distribution.
Look at our project; we're the second most important free distro after gNewSense, but we don't even have art ready for the next version. I'm finishing up a background, login screen, and usplash that I will submit for review tomorrow.
Good Day Trisquel-users,
Is there general discussion within your distro regarding infrastructure
and how people can contribute? I recently installed Trisquel and I think
you all are doing a great job. It's important as users that we all
contribute where we can and its important that we are having discussions
where they are needed with devs. Jeff Moe leaving BLAG and A.J Venter
leaving Kongoni means that we all have to work hard to make sure we can
make contributions where they are needed. Those contributions are what
make Free GNU/Linux distributions unique in themselves and as long as we
stand beside one another the philosophy, practice and use of each
distribution will continue. When you go out and tell people about
Trisquel, understand you are not the only one. There are hundreds of
users here and hundreds more among the other Free distros that are
standing GNUited in spreading the word to our families, friends and
communities that believe closely in what we believe in but who may not
have been exposed to Free Software. Give your voice to their mind and
just let them listen and find the truth in your words and hopefully
their hearts will do the rest.
I am presently working on the next release for BLAG and I have posted in
our forums for individuals to contribute their artwork. I'm a
photographer too and I plan to take some images of the local landscape
here in Buffalo, NY. It's brutally cold right now and I hope that in my
images, I can capture the beauty of the season. If you're focusing on a
specific theme for the next release, please let me know and I will try
to submit some images that I have that might be of use.
Peace,
tearms
On 02/21/2010 08:41 PM, name at domain wrote:
> Yeah, Kongoni just lost its main developer. :( In a world where the
> amount of people that even know what GNU/Linux is is a small percentage,
> let alone call it that, the community of people that consciously uses
> exclusively free software is tiny, so the loss of one or two important
> maintainers can tank a whole distribution.
>
> Look at our project; we're the second most important free distro after
> gNewSense, but we don't even have art ready for the next version. I'm
> finishing up a background, login screen, and usplash that I will submit
> for review tomorrow.
> _______________________________________________
> Trisquel-users mailing list
> name at domain
> http://listas.trisquel.info/mailman/listinfo/trisquel-users
_______________________________________________
Trisquel-users mailing list
name at domain
http://listas.trisquel.info/mailman/listinfo/trisquel-users
> Look at our project; we're the second most important free distro after
> gNewSense, but we don't even have art ready for the next version. I'm
> finishing up a background, login screen, and usplash that I will submit for
> review tomorrow.
Well maybe if someone would write up some guides on how to get involved,
and the developers started using the mailing lists a bit more, then more
people could get involved.
One important skill that seems to get neglected is the ability to
attract developers and lead a team.
> _______________________________________________
> Trisquel-users mailing list
> name at domain
> http://listas.trisquel.info/mailman/listinfo/trisquel-users
_______________________________________________
Trisquel-users mailing list
name at domain
http://listas.trisquel.info/mailman/listinfo/trisquel-users
I am a translator!
It's true, we have weak documentation. I've been working on several manuals, mostly aimed at beginning users, and have been editing existing documentation for correct spelling/grammar. Within a week or two it should all be finished, and hopefully someone will translate it into Spanish and Galician.
I guess it depends on how you decide importance. Trisquel is far more updated than gNewSense. They havn't made a new gNewSense in, I'd guess, a year to a year and a half. Which doesn't sound long, but in relation to the modern ubuntu it is ancient. New versions of many programs just won't work with it. So, you either have to settle with outdated versions in the repos or replace core system libs which, unless someone knows a better way, entails uninstalling about half the system, installing the core system lib, then re-installing the rest of the system back via command prompt as the gui is usually destroyed.
If you don't want to take my word for it, try installing any of the many programs that require the new libgtk. It will require libcupsys2 to become libcups2. Lipcups2 won't install because it breaks libcupsys2. So, when you uninstall libcupsys2 to install libcups2, you take down printing. And, sense almost every program requires printing as a dependency, you take out the gui, and about 90-95% of the entire operating system. Trying installing the latest Ekiga from a .deb package in the latest gNewSense and you'll be in for a ride. Or, use the ancient version in the repo.
Actually, the only reason I moved to Trisquel from gNewSense is the fact that Trisquel updates with the new ubuntu on a schedule rather than waiting multiple years until the system is completely unusable with modern versions of many popular programs like gNewSense does. I love Free Software, and all Free Softare Operating Systems, but gNewSense just doesn't update on a schedule as far as I can tell. They just wait until it gets mega old and they get mega complaints and then, maybe, updates.
They are still using a distro based off the ubuntu that the Trsiquel before Trisquel 3.0 is using. Once a stable release of Trisquel 3.5 comes out, we'll be twice ahead of gNewSense. They just didn't either have the manpower or care to make a version that matches Trisquel 3.0. I hear they have a new version in the works. But, unlike Trisquel where that means something more solid, gNewSense saying that typically means it will be another 6 months to a year before you see anything real turn up.
Why would you put gNewSense before Trisquel when it's almost going to be twice out of date?
I am a translator!
By "most important", I'm basically referring to something measurable like Distrowatch rankings, which is currently at 80-ish for gNewSense, well ahead of us. gNewSense didn't do it first (that was Ututo) and they didn't do it best (that's Trisquel), but gNewSense is still quite popular. Our actual software has been smoking gNewSense for a while now, though. The next version of gNewSense is being worked on, rest assured; a beta version can already be downloaded. Hopefully Debian's development model will mean good things for gNewSense.
That makes sense. I should have phrased my comments in a nicer way. But, my point, is that both Trsiquel and gNewSense are Completely Free Software and that I love Free Software. My point also, was why not use Trisquel while it is more advanced? But that's a preference thing I'm sure and thank you for pointing out what you are talking about in how gNewSense is better rated.
Thanks for your post Tearms, this really needed to be said. There needs to be more co-operation, consolidation and community between all the free software distros. There seems to be a lot of duplication of effort, "stop and start" development and lack of communication. It's difficult to see how this could be addressed, a free software conference is a great idea.
I am a translator!
Good idea, Dan. The annual LibrePlanet conference, for one, could arrange yearly meetings among representatives of the higher-priority fully free distros (at least one or two project leaders each from Trisquel, gNewSense, Kongoni, and Blag, for instance) to discuss strategy.
It is my belief that elegance should be a major priority going forward. You can't just strip a major distro of the non-free blobs and repos, write a minuscule core of documentation for that, and call it a day. In the first time in the FL/OSS movement's history reliable fully-free desktop distros are a practical reality, and they will prove to be one of the most potent tools in free software advocates' arsenals. But too many users of Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, and other big-name distros continue to linger in the impression that making the switch is akin to going on a low-carb fast. We need to work on that.
If we build it – and go about the right ways of promoting it – they will come.
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