[3962] in linux-announce channel archive
Linux-Announce Digest #254
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Digestifier)
Tue Dec 10 17:13:09 2002
From: Digestifier <Linux-Announce-Request@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu>
To: Linux-Announce@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu
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Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 17:13:04 EST
Linux-Announce Digest #254, Volume #4 Tue, 10 Dec 2002 17:13:04 EST
Contents:
Linux Bangalore / 2002: An overview [Deccan Herald] (Frederick Noronha)
Indian Linux Enthusiasts in Upbeat Mood (Frederick Noronha)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Frederick Noronha <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: Linux Bangalore / 2002: An overview [Deccan Herald]
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 15:31:29 CST
========== Forwarded message ==========
Linux Bangalore / 2002: An overview
[Published in Deccan Herald, Dec 10, 2002. Author's name not mentioned.]
LINUX Bangalore 2002, the annual national convention on Linux and OpenSource
technologies, organised by the Bangalore Linux User Group, wrapped up on
December 5th. The event was a three day conference (3rd to 5th December) on
understanding and using Linux technologies.
The conference covered a large number of areas that include Core Linux
technologies, Open Source, Embedded Systems and other allied technologies.
It featured talks and demos by a number of speakers from the industry and
academia. Speakers were a balanced mix of Linux technologists, developers,
systems experts and evangelists.
Many well known names, including Atul Chitnis, Naba Kumar, Gopi Garge, Vinod
Unny, Kishore Bhargava, Dr Gurunandan Bhat, Dr Tarique Sani and others were
present at the event and gave talks on various subjects.
Unlike last year (Linux Bangalore/2001), the event was more focussed on
Linux and OpenSource technologies, rather than introducing people to Linux.
Over 70 talks covered technologies such as webservices, kernel-related
technologies, security, robotics, databases, e-governance, etc.
A notable talk was the one by Mrinal Kalakrishnan and Jnaneshwar Das on the
use of Linux in Robotics. Much to the delight of the audience attending the
talk, these two students of PES Institute of Technology did not just talk
about the subject, but actually demonstrated "live robots" in action!
The robots were built by these two budding engineers, using household items,
and powered by a Linux-based "brain".
The Simputer, Encore's computer for the masses, that has grabbed the world's
attention, also made its appearance in two talks -- one on writing
applications for the Simputer, and one on the rationale of using Linux and
OpenSource technologies as the core Operating System of the Simputer.
Samyeer Metrani of Encore provided some fascinating insights into the
technologies involved, and showed several demonstrations of the Simputer.
Much to the surprise of delegates, even Microsoft was present at the event,
and presented a talk using its .NET technologies under open-source operating
systems like Linux and FreeBSD. This was followed by a talk by Delhi-based
technology consultant Vinod Unny, who talked about OpenSource
implementations of .NET.
Well known technologist Atul Chitnis spoke on Linux on the Corporate Desktop
-- a controversial and upcoming application of Linux and OpenSource
technologies. He also gave a talk on the technologies behind eGovernance
efforts, and how Linux and Open Source can be effectively used in this
field.
Anyone who has ever programmed under Linux will have used Anjuta, the
integrated development environment for Linux.
The audience were more than delighted by Naba Kumar, the author of Anjuta,
who gave three talks on C Programming under Linux, Development using GTK and
of course, on Anjuta itself. The halls were so full for his talks that
people were sitting in the control rooms and even on the stage!
Many well-known IT companies, including Infosys, IBM, Hewlett Packard,
Wipro, Exocore, Intel and others also gave highly technical talks, and
judging from the huge numbers attending these talks, interest was extremely
high.
What was especially interesting was the exhibition associated with the
event. Many IT majors exhibited their prowess in harnessing Linux and
OpenSource technologies. Also found at the exhibition was the IndLinux
project that is working on an Indian language-based Linux distribution.
According to the organisers, most of the presentation slideshows used by
speakers during this event as well as reports, photographs and other useful
information would be available over the next week on
http://linux-bangalore.org/2002, the event website. (ENDS)
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------------------------------
From: Frederick Noronha <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: Indian Linux Enthusiasts in Upbeat Mood
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 15:31:37 CST
========== Forwarded message ==========
[with thanks to Networking and Information Technology Observatory
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/observatory/ for the link]
6 Dec 2002
Indian Linux Enthusiasts in Upbeat Mood
By Anshuman Daga
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Nearly 2,000 supporters of the Linux operating
system rounded off a three-day conference in India's technology
capital this week, pleased with its growing corporate use and strong
backing by heavyweights like IBM.
Linux is open source software, which can be freely copied, used and
modified, unlike such proprietary industry standards as Microsoft
Corp.'s MSFT.O Windows, for instance.
An operating system controls and coordinates the functions of a
computer, and allows the user to run the machine.
Enthusiasts said a four-day visit by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates
last month drew welcome attention to Linux, which is challenging
Microsoft's popular Windows.
Microsoft, which announced $400 million in Indian investments, says
Linux cannot match Windows in terms of security and end-user
convenience. Supporters of Linux, which no one owns, emphasize the
free software's flexibility and cost advantage.
"No one could have possibly arranged for more publicity for the open
source movement and its importance than Bill Gates coming and giving
$400 million to fight Linux," said Atul Chitnis, an adviser to the
Bangalore Linux
Users Group whose conference ended on Thursday. Bangalore is
considered a key battleground in the tussle between the two platforms
because of India's developer army which analysts say can help lower
costs and boost innova
tion.
Indian developers are estimated to grow to 1.3 million in four years
from 400,000 now.
"Probably, the biggest boost that open source has got in recent times
in India has been due to Bill Gates's visit," Chitnis said.
The Linux convention, billed as the largest gathering of its kind in
India, saw some 70 technical seminars on its use in desktops,
portable devices, robotics and genetics.
Linux users thronged a shop for books and CDs on the subject, touted
its penguin mascot or wore T-shirts that declared it the operating
system for the 21st century.
Analysts say Microsoft needs Indian developers to make cheap and
reliable software based on Windows and fight open source, which is
software that can be copied, used and modified freely.
BIG BACKING
Microsoft's global rivals like International Business Machines Corp.
IBM.N and Hewlett-Packard are now carrying the Linux gospel forward
in the corporate sector.
"IBM is convinced that Linux will be a significant component of
information technology solutions and architectures in the future,"
said Kalpana Margabandhu, general manager at the firm's software
laboratory.
Microsoft is competing neck-to-neck with Linux in the worldwide
market for servers, which manage computer networks.
IBM's Bangalore lab showcased a personal digital assistant running on
Linux at the convention. Designers of India's Simputer, a $200
handheld computer aimed at taking Internet to the rural masses, are
also using Linux.
A sign of corporate interest in Linux were the 100 visitors from
Indian software giants such as Infosys Technologies and Wipro, who
serve global corporations.
As a market for software, India is cost-conscious, and a debate is
raging over which system state governments should use in their march
toward computerized "e-governance."
The Linux club drew flattering attention from Microsoft, which sent
two senior officials to speak on its "shared source" approach which
reveals limited amounts of proprietary code to partners.
source:
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=J3Y2UFM1IXCA4CRB
AEKSFFA?type=technologyNews&storyID=1862596
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