[3964] in linux-announce channel archive
Linux-Announce Digest #256
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Digestifier)
Thu Dec 12 11:13:08 2002
From: Digestifier <Linux-Announce-Request@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu>
To: Linux-Announce@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu
Reply-To: Linux-Announce@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 11:13:02 EST
Linux-Announce Digest #256, Volume #4 Thu, 12 Dec 2002 11:13:02 EST
Contents:
Knoppix, a Debian based Linux Live CD ("Gurkan Sengun")
REPORT-INDIA: FAQ & min. of LUG meet held on Dec.10, 2002 (fwd) (Frederick Noronha)
NEWS-BANGALORE: Big Blue counters Gates' offer for Indian software (Frederick Noronha)
SCons 0.09 (Python build tool) is now available (Steven Knight)
[ANNOUNCE] SMSTerm 0.6.1 (Nick Hill)
ANN: BayPIGgies mtg Wed 11/13 7:30pm (fwd) (Wesley Chun)
Invitation: "mitc-lug" yahoo group-dilbert22ph ("d3f3N3§tr4t3*")
ANN: fauxident 1.1 -- A simple, faked ident daemon (Erik Max Francis)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Gurkan Sengun" <gurkan@linuks.mine.nu>
Subject: Knoppix, a Debian based Linux Live CD
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:19:05 CST
Version 3.1, 2002-12-10 is out!
KNOPPIX is a bootable CD with a collection of GNU/Linux software,
automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards,
sound cards, SCSI devices, and other peripherals. It can be used
as a Linux demo, educational CD, rescue system, etc. It is not
necessary to install anything on a hard disk due to on-the-fly
decompression.
There is also a japanese version available.
Get it from http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
Yours
Gürkan Sengün
PS: Knoppix users also are Debian users:
http://www.linuks.mine.nu/debian-worldmap/
little hint: if you think Debian's too hard to install, you
can install Knoppix easily with /usr/local/bin/knx-hdinstall
--
Programming is understanding. -- Kristen Nygaard.
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------------------------------
From: Frederick Noronha <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: REPORT-INDIA: FAQ & min. of LUG meet held on Dec.10, 2002 (fwd)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 00:36:52 CST
Just forwarding a report from Central India. The report is by Girish S
<girish@apnajabalpur.com> Thanks! FN
========== Forwarded message ==========
Dear All,
Jabalpur LUG meeting was held here at Gupteshwar on Dec.10, 2002, and
attended by: Sarvesh Rathore, Naveen Mudgal, Sajal Dubey, Piyush Shukla,
Ravi Shankar and me.
Although some members and invitees could not attend, we had a full 3 hour
interaction.
The meet started with introduction of members and general discussion
about Linux, its features, support and exchange of views, the GNU
philosophy and latest developments.
It is planned to have another meet around Dec. end or Jan. first week
with more activities. I feel this is a good point from where we can
consistently take Linux related activities and development work ahead.
Thanx to Sarvesh, who prepared a useful questionare addressing the
queries of those new to Linux and is presented here for benefit of all.
Please add your ideas, comments to the same.
Best regards,
- Girish S.
1.Which version of Linux is best? What are the various versions of Linux?
Ans:When we talk of Linux as an OS, it generally means the kernel, the
shell along with applications. The kernel is a software which forms the
core of an OS and the Linux kernel, supported by GNU[stands for GNU's Not
Unix] has its own versions, while packaged Linux OS [with applications]
provided by various companies/orgs in various flavors like RedHat, Suse,
Caldera, Debian, Woody, etc. have their own versions. Generally the
latest version can be considered best [with bug-fixes and
enhancements] but user may prefer lower versions too based on
compatibility and requirements.
2.Advantages and disadvantages of Linux over Windoz/Other OS?
Ans:Linux comes from the family tree of *nix based systems and hence
provides for customisation, better resource management, security,
stability and robustness. But now it also has various flavors of Desktop
GUIs[GNOME,KDE, etc]. Thus making it likable and useful for all.
Since Linux is Open Source and Free[User can freely see copy modify and
distribute the code in an ethical manner], it is good for learning and
the OS itself gets constantly improved.
On the other side, some propreitory softwares do not work with Linux, and
new users may have to spend some time getting used to exploring this
remarkable OS.
3.How will Linux help young computer/software engineers?
Linux is The OS for young engineers as well as other people.
The Freedom that Linux provides for in terms of both technology and
licensing, encourages young professionals to experiment and play. Linux
encourages enterpreneurship and innovation. The development and help is
supported by a strong and experienced community working voluntarialy to
ensure that all encouragement and support is available. Its adoption by
various institutes and companies provides good career prospects.
4.What different utility softwares [compatible with other OS] does linux support?
Ans:Linux has equivalent software tools and utilities available and much
much more. Office suite like Open Office, Browser like Mozilla, Games,
Internet dialers, chat softwares, Messengers calculator, system
administration, Development tools, scientific tools, etc. all are
available on Linux. Linux does not have support for all proprietory
softwares and hence an exe may not work on Linux, but binaries do.
5.What's the cost and memory requirements of linux?
Ans:Cost here is comparable to the "Freedom of speech". Hence Linux is
available freely and the hardware requirements depend on use [kernel +
requirement of applications being installed] from small devices to
high-end servers.
6.How user friendly is it and does it require in depth knowledge.
Ans:While a few years back Linux was favored more for its robustness as a
hackers' OS, today's linux supports user-friendly applications and
extremely easy installation.
Linux does not put a constraint on Knowledge and there is no limit to
learning in linux.
7.Will I have to install different drivers to use Linux?
Ans:Most of driver support is available with linux and new linux packages
have auto detection. While Generic drivers work in most cases, there
maybe some problems with specific set of hardwares for which workarounds
are available.
8.Can I have both windoz and Linux on my system and is sharing of files allowed between the two.
Ans:Yes, there are various ways of doing that, by simply mounting the
partition and accessing files, or by using utilities like VMware,
etc. however, accessing linux files from windoz goes contrary to security
of linux.
9.Unix and Linux are same or different?
Ans:They are same in the sense, Linux belongs to the *nix family, thus
having same OS tree and structure. They are different in the sense, Linux
is Free[dom] and Open Source with features not available in *nix family.
10.Whats MacOS all about?
Ans:MacOS is another OS [like Linux, SunOS, etc.] from Apple Inc.
11.What are Linux based servers?
Ans:As Linux provided good security and stability, Linux based servers
became very popular, especially among developers and sys. admins. Thus
any server system running on linuxOS is generally refered to as a Linux
server.
12.Please provide linux related resources.
Ans:Linux resources are available at following sites:
a.http://jbplug.sf.net
b.http://linux-india.org
c.http://sourceforge.net
You can also visit:
d.http://gnu.org and http://gnu.org.in
e.http://tuxedo.org/~esr/
13.What is it open and why doesnt any company support it?
Ans:Linux is supported by GNU and is available under GPL[General Public
Licence].
It is open source so that user has a right to modify, copy, distribute
and further improve the software. To know more about Open Source and Free
software, please read the "philosophy" at gnu.org and "cathedral and the
bazaar" and "The magic cloudron" by Eric S. Raymond at tuxedo.org. There
are various companies supporting Linux and more are adopting Linux
now. Since it is free and open, no one company owns Linux and all are
free to have their own packaged releases as per GNU/GPL.
14.What different projects going on in the world and in india related to Linux and can I join them?
Ans:There are various projects going on worldwide and in india and you
are encouraged and welcome to join any of them based on your interest and
skills. Sourceforge is one such place, besides sarai.net, gnu.org.in,
various LUG chapters, NGOs and companies in India.
.................................................................
Visit us at http://www.apnajabalpur.com - Be Proud!
Free, as in Freedom - Free Technology, Free World.
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------------------------------
From: Frederick Noronha <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: NEWS-BANGALORE: Big Blue counters Gates' offer for Indian software
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 05:44:34 CST
Big Blue counters Gates' offer for Indian software
By Imran Qureshi, Indo-Asian News Service
Bangalore, Dec 12 (IANS) After Microsoft chairman Bill Gates' lavish
offerings for health, education and proprietary software, his company's
biggest competitor IBM has offered to transform India into a software
industry hub if it adopts the open source standard.
The world's second largest software company that is also known as the Big
Blue is offering to build "enablement centres" for India to shift from being
a mere software services powerhouse to a full-fledged software industry hub.
"We are willing to invest heavily in the enablement centres based on what
decision the government takes. It should standardise on open source and we
will create centres for the software industry to flourish," Amuj Goyal, vice
president, solutions and strategy, IBM software group, told IANS.
"Innovation on the Microsoft platform has moved out. VCs (venture
capitalists) are not investing any more on the MSN platform. Gates' visit
was only to carry the message of proprietary software that will not benefit
the customers," he said.
Goyal, the highest ranking Indian in IBM worldwide, has helped drive the
growth of the hardware leader's foray into the software business and made it
a $13 billion group in just seven years, displacing Oracle from the position
of the world's number two software company.
"IBM was on proprietary technology in the early 1990s. We could not see
outside that. We were trying to look after ourselves, not the customers,
until we started the software business in 1995. Today Microsoft is on the
wrong side," said Goyal, an alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Kanpur.
"We will put up enablement centres (like e-governance or e-business centres)
for software centres. Our strategy is different. Customers need to have
control and that can come only through open standards. Microsoft's strategy
is to get in their proprietary technology. That's a big trap," he added.
"Today you can use database from IBM or any other vendor on open standard.
The reason why customers like us is because our systems are robust and
scalable and for support services. If you are caught in the proprietary
trap, the software business cannot be built. Those are hooks and lures he
(Gates) is investing in. Customers don't want that," Goyal said.
He quoted examples of the governments of Britain, Germany and Singapore that
have adopted open source standards. "India does not have a software
business. We want to build the future SAP or a BEA in India by focusing on
open standards."
IBM is leveraging India not only for its "tremendous skills in software and
services" but also because it sees the country as an important market. It
has set up five software research and development centres and a solution
partnership centre in India.
The company has committed $100 million until 2003 for the India software
laboratory in Bangalore, which is being scaled up from a headcount of 500 to
about 600.
"But the skills in India can be applied far beyond the Indian market,
primarily the English-speaking countries in the Asia-Pacific unlike China or
Japan, which are country-focussed labs," Goyal said.
So, was the shift in focus from hardware to software during the downturn
coincidental? "No, it was not coincidental. We have been on this strategy
for the last 10 years. We have recorded growth for 21 consecutive quarters,"
Goyal said.
The software group drives about 30 percent of IBM's profits. It is the
largest supplier of Internet infrastructure software, called middleware,
which accounts for about 80 percent of IBM's software revenue of over $10
billion.
"We are young -- just seven years old -- and growing, and we will continue
to grow. Given the current economic situation, if an opportunity exists, we
will go in for acquisition, as we did with Rational Software (the world's
leading supplier of software tools for $2.1 billion). It makes sense because
it is open standard. We have completed seven acquisitions in 18 months."
--Indo-Asian News Service
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------------------------------
From: Steven Knight <knight@baldmt.com>
Subject: SCons 0.09 (Python build tool) is now available
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:54:32 CST
SCons is a software construction tool (build tool, or make tool) written
in Python. It is based on the design which won the Software Carpentry
build tool competition in August 2000.
Version 0.09 of SCons has been released and is available for download
from the SCons web site:
http://www.scons.org/
Or through the download link at the SCons project page at SourceForge:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/scons/
RPM and Debian packages and a Win32 installer are all available, in
addition to the traditional .tar.gz and .zip files.
This is a big release that took a long time to produce, mainly due to
the addition of the major new Repository feature.
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS RELEASE?
IMPORTANT: Release 0.09 contains the following interface changes:
- The SetCommandHandler() function has been superceded by new SPAWN,
SHELL and ESCAPE construction variables.
- SCons now exits with an error message if any source or implicit
dependency files for a target do not exist and have no Builder.
- The 'lib' tool (the Microsoft library archiver) has had its name
changed to 'mslib'.
This release adds the following features:
- A new Repository() method and -Y command-line option support
building from source or target files in common repositories.
- A new Prepend() Environment method appends values to the beginning
of construction variables.
- Support for the Intel Fortran Compiler (ifl.exe) has been added.
- New messages tell when SCons is "Reading SConscript files ...,"
"done reading SConscript files," "Building targets," and "done
building targets." A new -Q option supresses these.
- Shared-object prefixes and suffixes may be specified independently
usng new $SHOBJPREFIX and $SHOBJSUFFIX construction variables.
- A new ParseConfig() command supports modifying an environment based
on parsing output from a *-config command.
- New EnsurePythonVersion() and EnsureSConsVersion() functions.
- SCons now checks dynamically for the existence of utilities with
which to initialize Environments by default.
- SCons now supports Microsoft VC++ precompiled header (.pch) files,
debugger (.pdb) files, and resource (.rc) files.
- The File() and Dir() methods can now take a path-name string as
the starting directory.
- A new Options() object makes it easier to extend SCons' command-
line arguments.
- A new SetContentSignatureType() function allows use of file
timestamps instead of MD5 signatures.
The following fixes have been added:
- Construction variable substition on scanner directories (in CPPPATH,
F77PATH, LIBPATH, etc.) is now supported.
- $$ in a string is now passed through as $.
- File names and command lines with spaces and other odd characters
are now fully supported.
- The "lib" Tool (Microsoft library archiver) now supports long
command lines.
- Auto-deduced target file names now end up in the same directory
as their source files.
- Source files specified on the command line are no longer removed.
- Using Default() with the -U option now fails gracefully.
- SCons no longer unlinks files in certain situations when the -n
option is used.
- SCons now issues a warning when -c can't remove a target.
- File names like '#/../foo' are now interpreted correctly on Win32
systems.
- SCons now supplies an error message if there are no command-line or
Default() targets specified.
- The $ASPPCOM variable has been fixed for the GNU assembler.
- The -U option is now properly case-insensitive on Win32 systems.
- Using the -j option with multiple targets is now more robust.
- SCons now handles a corrupt .sconsign file robustly.
- Access and modification times of files in a BuildDir now match
the corresponding source file, even without hard links.
- Dependencies now propogate succesfully through Alias targets.
- Fix unnecessary rebuilds cased by differently-ordered targets
on case-insensitive systems.
- Dependency scans when $LIBS is overridden now work properly.
- Build errors in a list of build commands no longer cause the
display of an overly-verbose stack trace.
Performance has been improved as follows:
- Unnecessary Scanner calls have been eliminated when a file
doesn't exist.
- The $_CPPINCFLAGS, $_F77INCFLAGS, $_LIBFLAGS and $_LIBDIRFLAGS variables
are now generated on-demand, not with every command invocation.
- Command execution overhead has been reduced by using the Python
os.sytem() function instead of fork() and exec().
The following changes have been made to the SCons packaging:
- New scons-local packages make it easy to ship SCons as a
stand-alone build tool in other software packages.
The documentation has been improved:
- Documented the fact that Builder calls return Node objects.
- Documented all new features, of course...
ABOUT SCONS
Distinctive features of SCons include:
- a global view of all dependencies; no multiple passes to get
everything built properly
- configuration files are Python scripts, allowing the full use of a
real scripting language to solve difficult build problems
- a modular architecture allows the SCons Build Engine to be
embedded in other Python software
- the ability to scan files for implicit dependencies (#include files);
- improved parallel build (-j) support that provides consistent
build speedup regardless of source tree layout
- use of MD5 signatures to decide if a file has really changed; no
need to "touch" files to fool make that something is up-to-date
- easily extensible through user-defined Builder and Scanner objects
- build actions can be Python code, as well as external commands
An scons-users mailing list is available for those interested in getting
started using SCons. You can subscribe at:
http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/scons-users
Alternatively, we invite you to subscribe to the low-volume
scons-announce mailing list to receive notification when new versions of
SCons become available:
http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/scons-announce
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Chad Austin, Matt Balvin, Steve Leblanc, Jeff Petkau and sam
th for their contributions to this release. Special thanks to Charles
Crain for heavy work on the Repository feature, and Anthony Roach for
a tremendous number of bug fixes and other features.
On behalf of the SCons team,
--SK
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------------------------------
From: nikhil@free.house.cx (Nick Hill)
Subject: [ANNOUNCE] SMSTerm 0.6.1
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:54:31 CST
SMSTerm version 0.6.1 has been released!
SMSTerm is a Perl script that uses the ICQ2000 protocol to present you a shell
on your mobile phone which allows you to interact with your computer from any
mobile on a GSM network around the world. It runs a shell on a pty, and allows
you to directly send commands to the shell through SMS. Minimal authentication
is done over SMS before spawning a shell and offering it to the user on the
mobile phone. It is very useful for remote administration tasks, or checking
out the status of the network, or just to run some small chores on your system
while you are away. It uses Expect.pm in the background. SMSTerm also includes
a script to send SMS through the ICQ network from the command line to any GSM
mobile, and also includes a PHP script to set up a Web->SMS gateway.
Changes:
* included the new vICQ.pm version 1.10: the earlier version
had some serious bugs in receiving SMS which prevented SMSTerm
from working at all. I released SMSTerm 0.6 in a hurry during
my exams so I couldn't test it thoroughly. Apologies to everyone
who couldn't get it to work. This time everything is tested and
tried, and it works. :)
* delay modified: the default delay time has been increased from
10s to 20s in SMSTerm. This is because ICQ was giving me RATE_LIMIT
errors if i set it too low. Anyone who get a RATE_LIMIT can try
bumping it somemore. :)
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------------------------------
From: Wesley Chun <wesc@fuzzyorange.com>
Subject: ANN: BayPIGgies mtg Wed 11/13 7:30pm (fwd)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:54:30 CST
BayPIGgies: Silicon Valley-San Francisco Bay Area Python Users Group
When: December 11, 2002 @ 7:30pm
Where: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Agenda: Newbies' Nite
Speaker: (everyone!)
Due to popular demand, we are having another Newbie Night (e.g. April
2002). This is the chance for all Python programmers to bring their
friends and colleagues who should hear about Python. It is also for
those who want to or are picking up Python and have questions! We will
have a good number of Python experts who will try and help you out. Perl
and Java experts are welcome too, as many Python developers also have
experience there and can give you an honest comparison.
The format is this: Wesley (or Danny) will give just a short half-hour
intro presentation on Python to beginners followed by a quick demo, and
then we will open it up to everyone for Q&A. Mingling and networking
will bring our meeting to a glorious conclusion. :-)
# NOTE: the next meeting on January 8, 2003 will be not be at the usual
# place... stay tuned for a location update.
# Call For Talks: We are actively seeking speakers for BayPIGgies! If you
would like to give a talk at one of our 2003 meetings (any Python related
topic), contact us to coordinate!
more info including directions: http://www.baypiggies.net
hope to see some of you next Wednesday!
-wesley
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Core Python Programming", Prentice Hall PTR, © 2001
http://starship.python.net/crew/wesc/cpp/
Silicon Valley-San Francisco Bay Area Python Users Group (BayPIGgies)
http://deirdre.org/baypiggies
wesley.j.chun :: wesc at deirdre.org
cyberweb.consulting : henderson, nv : cyberweb at rocketmail.com
http://www.roadkill.com/~wesc/cyberweb/
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------------------------------
From: "d3f3N3§tr4t3*" <dilbert22ph@edsamail.com.ph>
Subject: Invitation: "mitc-lug" yahoo group-dilbert22ph
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:55:10 CST
Hello,
I'm inviting everyone to check out/join out yahoo group, mitc-lug. I'm a 19 year
old student from mitc-lug(MITC-Mapua Info Tech Center). It would be a great help/honor of having respectable linux users here in the philippines.
*http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/mitc-lug
Thank you,
dilbert (@_@)
_______________________________________
EDSAMAIL. Internet the way YOU WANT IT.
www.edsamail.com.ph
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------------------------------
From: Erik Max Francis <max@alcyone.com>
Subject: ANN: fauxident 1.1 -- A simple, faked ident daemon
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:55:13 CST
Overview
fauxident is a small Python script that will act as an extremely
naive ident server, answering all ident requests with a consistent
response -- either an ERROR or a USERID response. This can be
advantageous on systems where running a true identd is
unavailable, where it would be a security risk, or when
masquerading firewalls are in use, where multiple machines are
involved behind the firewall and running a proper ident system is
not an option.
Getting the software
The current version of fauxident is 1.1.
The latest version of the software is available in a tarball here:
http://www.alcyone.com/pyos/fauxident/fauxident-latest.tar.gz.
The official URL for this Web site is
http://www.alcyone.com/pyos/fauxident/.
Requirements
fauxident requires Python 2.x or greater and a UNIX or Unix-like
operating system.
License
This code is released under the GPL.
....
Release history
- 1.1; 2002 Dec 7. Allow multiple user names to be chosen
randomly from; include support for suffixed random number of
given length; change to -V option for version information;
improve documentation.
- 1.0.1; 2002 Oct 15. Bugfix to reject large input buffers from
the client, preventing a highly unlikely but possible DOS
attack.
- 1.0; 2002 Aug 14. Initial release.
--
Erik Max Francis / max@alcyone.com / http://www.alcyone.com/max/
__ San Jose, CA, USA / 37 20 N 121 53 W / &tSftDotIotE
/ \ My long is strong enough, you know / Strong enough to let you go
\__/ Xscape
Official Omega page / http://www.alcyone.com/max/projects/omega/
The official distribution page for the popular Roguelike, Omega.
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