[4023] in linux-announce channel archive
Linux-Announce Digest #315
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Digestifier)
Tue Feb 11 14:13:12 2003
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: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 14:13:03 EST
Linux-Announce Digest #315, Volume #4 Tue, 11 Feb 2003 14:13:03 EST
Contents:
[SLUG] Suncoast LUG Meetings ("Paul M. Foster")
INDIA: Goa to spend ten million rupees on Microsoft software... (FN)
SHAREWARE: pdfmodify 1.0 ("Sanface Software")
ANNOUNCE: SCons 0.11 (build tool in Python) is now available (Steven Knight)
No Starch Press Announces Sponsorship of CodeCon 2.0 (John Mark Walker)
LinuxForYou... what's in issue # 1 (FN)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Paul M. Foster" <paulf@quillandmouse.com>
Subject: [SLUG] Suncoast LUG Meetings
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 17:31:15 CST
*************************************
* Suncoast Linux Users Group (SLUG) *
* Meeting Schedule *
*************************************
TAMPA ****************************************************
12 February 19:00-21:00 Tampa
(second Wednesday of each month)
PricewaterhouseCoopers -- Room 684
3109 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Blvd
Lakepointe I Building
Tampa, FL 33607
* FEATURING: Ian Blenke of NKS, speaking on "User Mode Linux"
See http://www.suncoastlug.org/meetings.html#tampa for directions.
DUNEDIN **************************************************
15 February 10:00-12:00 Dunedin
(usually fourth Saturday of each month)
Dunedin Public Library,
223 Douglas Ave.,
Community Room A.
Dunedin, FL
See http://www.suncoastlug.org/meetings.html#dunedin for directions.
SARASOTA/BRADENTON ***************************************
19 February 18:00-21:00 Sarasota
(third Wednesday of each month)
Baker Electronics
8323 Lindbergh Court
Sarasota, FL
See http://www.bish.net/directions/
NEW PORT RICHEY ******************************************
1 March 13:00-15:00 New Port Richey
(first Saturday of each month)
New Port Richey Public Library
(second level meeting rooms)
5939 Main St.
New Port Richey, FL
See http://www.suncoastlug.org/meetings.html#npr for directions.
BRANDON **************************************************
6 March 20:00-22:00 Brandon
(first Thursday of each month)
Brandon Barnes & Noble
Brandon Town Center
Brandon, FL
See http://www.suncoastlug.org/meetings.html#Brandon for directions.
***********************************************************
ACTIVITIES:
Meetings include:
1) Presentation: As indicated.
2) Question & Answer Session.
3) Raffle and free stuff!
Bring your boxes, questions, problems, and plenty of good cheer!
(And don't forget to start your installs early!)
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------------------------------
From: FN <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: INDIA: Goa to spend ten million rupees on Microsoft software...
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 04:01:14 CST
Need one say any more? They authorities were unwilling to provide a Rs
100 book with each computer, but they could give Microsoft Rs 3000 for
each computer! -- FN
========== Forwarded message ==========
This is from DIGITAL GOA, an IT newspaper published from here... FN
I am posting the following update on cyberage scheme which appeared in
the latest (February) issue of Digital Goa (published today).
Niraj
CYBERAGE SCHEME UPDATE
Cyberage students will get Internet, educational CDs
Rs one crore spent on the software alone
Hardly 100 computers are distributed so far under the Cyberage student
scheme, launched on December 19. However, as per a senior official in
the Education Department, the department will try and finish atleast 80
per cent of the computers by February 20.
The delay was due to the late finalization of a deal with the Microsoft
for installing Windows operating system on the computers, the official
added.
"The work of installing operating system is going on in full swing at
the factory itself."
It may be noted that the government had floated cyberage student scheme
under which every XIth Science student in Goa will get a free computer.
This year 3,000 students will be benefited from the scheme. (For more
details of the scheme read the last issue of Digital Goa)
Formal functions will be organized in each taluka to hand over computers
to the students in the coming weeks.
The government negotiated with Microsoft for the licenced copy of
WindowsXP, MS Office and McAfee virus scan for Rs 3,090/- through an
agent -- Apex Computer and Engineering Services. The Microsoft had
earlier quoted Rs. 6,970 per system for the package having combined
retail market value of Rs 26,000. Pertinently, the government will shell
out whopping (appx) Rs one crore on the software itself. The total
budget allocated for this scheme for this year is Rs 10 crores.
While justifying the decision of loading windows O/S as against Linux
O/S, which is absolutely free, the officer said that there were
complaints from the parents and students whose systems were loaded with
Linux operating system. "They are more familiar with Windows. I am
getting so many calls everyday complaining that Linux was difficult to
use", he said.
When asked whether XI Science students would be in a position to make
best use of these computers, he disclosed the government's plans to
provide educational CDs and internet connection to the beneficiaries of
this scheme at the subsidized rates.
"We will tie-up with BSNL to give internet connection to these students
at nominal rates. We are also in the process of establishing CD
libraries in every higher secondary schools on all subjects."
CYBERAGE STUDENT SCHEME SURVEY
We posed the following question to the host of IT professionals and
businessmen and others to know their view on the Cyberage scheme. They
were given 14 options to choose from.
Sadly, we received only four responses. However, these four opinions can
be considered as the representative voices of the IT community, given
the responders’ stature and involvement in the Goa’s IT sector.
Obviously, it is a mixed response. However, it is fairly clear from all
the four responses that there is no objection to the cyberage scheme per
se. but the questions are raised as regard to the methodology, timing
and the level at which it is implemented.
Only two options got more than one vote -- If the 3000 computers were
shared among 300 schools, we would have got better results and XI
Science is the wrong time at which to give a student a PC.
Interestingly, options No. 1,2,9,11 and 13 did not have any takers.
What do you think of the Cyberage scheme for students in Goa (under
which Std XI Science students get an almost-free computer) and its
implementation?
1. Great idea, great implementation : poor idea, yet to know about
implementation
2. Great idea, implementation could be better:
3. Great idea, poor implementation
4. Engineering students given these computers could be better off
5. Why not give computers to teachers too/instead of students?
6.If the 3000 computers were shared among 300 schools, we would have
got better results
7. Tender terms kept out smaller players
8. XI Science is the wrong time at which to give a student a PC
9. Transparency in computer deals a still an elusive goal for Goa
10. Software, OS, optimal issues still remain pending
11. Why criticize a good initiative?
12. This is a good start
13. More views from professionals could have been incorporated
14. We still quite don't know what's happening...
15. It will adversely affect the IT business community with a drop in
computer sales.
Dr V. V. Kamat
Faculty,
Department of Computer Science & Tech.,
Goa University
ANSWER: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 14
Albert D. Gouveia
Scientist
NIO
Dona Paula
ANSWER 12
Comtech Systems
Option 6
Ashley Delaney
Software/Hardware Consultant
Saligao
Answers 7,8 and 10
======================== END =====================
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------------------------------
From: "Sanface Software" <sanface@sanface.com>
Subject: SHAREWARE: pdfmodify 1.0
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 07:34:58 CST
What is pdfmodify?
pdfmodify is a very flexible and powerful program.
pdfmodify allows you to modify existing pdfs adding data in the correct
position in the correct page. It's simple to use it like a batch
application to fill every PDF form in your archive.
It's simple to use it inside your cgis.
PDFmodify is a powerful tool for PDF prepress use, the output PDF have
the same information like the input file. You can manage big prepress
pdf file adding data you can extract from the application you prefer.
We distribute only executable versions (if you need ask us the original
PERL code, we'll evaluate your request).
Download it and test it!
http://www.sanface.com/pdfmodify.html
--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG
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------------------------------
From: Steven Knight <knight@baldmt.com>
Subject: ANNOUNCE: SCons 0.11 (build tool in Python) is now available
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 07:44:51 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 0.11 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.
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS RELEASE?
IMPORTANT: Release 0.11 contains the following interface changes:
- The default suffix for static object files when using gcc has
been changed to ".os" to allow shared and static object files
to exist side-by-side in the same directory.
- When no command-line targets are specified, the default behavior
is now to build all derived files in or below the current directory
(like Make). This can be disabled by explicitly specifying
"Default(None)" in an SConscript file.
- Setting the BUILDERS construction variable now clears previous
Builder attributes from the construction Environment.
- An "env" argument has been added to the strfunction() method of
Python function Actions.
See the release notes for more information about these changes.
This release adds the following features:
- A new CacheDir() function and related command-line options
--cache-disable, --cache-force and --cache-show support the ability
to share derived files between builds.
- Support for the IRIX platform and SGI MIPSPro tool chain.
- Support for the PharLap ETS tool chain.
- Support for compiling with Microsoft VC++ when running Cygwin Python.
- New AddPreAction() and AddPostAction() functions.
- Python function Actions can now include the contents of construction
variables in their signatures.
- A new strfunction() method has been added for external command Actions.
- The SConscript() function now takes optional "build_dir" and "duplicate"
keyword arguments that make it easier to set up a build directory.
- The same Win32 object files can now be linked into either shared or
static libraries.
The following fixes have been added:
- Fixed many (not all) situations when interrupts (CTRL-C) wouldn't
actually stop a build.
- Libraries in the LIBS construction variable can now explicitly
include a library prefix and suffix.
- The Win32 scons.bat script now has DOS-standard CR-LF line endings.
- Fixed how the Environment.Append() method works BUILDERS (and other
dictionaries).
- Fixed how a file prefix is added when the target isn't specified.
- Better error messages whene a BuildDir is read-only.
- A platform or tool module can now be directly imported even
after it's been included in a construction Environment.
- The output of -c -n is now correct when a target is a directory.
Performance has been improved as follows:
- Added support for caching values when use --implicit-cache.
The following changes have been made to the SCons packaging:
- Added new --standard-lib, --standalone-lib and --version-lib options
to the "setup.py install" command to make it easier to install
the SCons build engine (library) into different locations. If no
explicit library installation location is specified, the SCons
"setup.py" script now looks for an existing SCons build engine
in these three locations and prefers where the build engine was
installed previously.
The documentation has been improved:
- Eliminated description of some deprecated keywords.
- Updated description of BuildDir() to try to explain more clearly
how to set up a build directory.
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
Special thanks to Chad Austin, Michael Cook, Charles Crain, Steve
Leblanc and Anthony Roach for their contributions to this release.
On behalf of the SCons team,
--SK
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------------------------------
From: John Mark Walker <johnmark@nostarch.com>
Subject: No Starch Press Announces Sponsorship of CodeCon 2.0
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 12:52:48 CST
No Starch Press Announces Sponsorship of CodeCon 2.0
For Immediate Release
San Francisco - February 11, 2003 - No Starch Press, the publisher that
makes computing fun, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of CodeCon
2.0 (http://www.codecon.org/), which takes place February 22 through 24
in San Francisco. CodeCon 2.0 is the premier event in 2003 for P2P,
application development, and network security and is an excellent venue
for developers to showcase their work.
"We're very pleased to have No Starch Press sponsor CodeCon," conference
co-founder Bram Cohen said. "No Starch Press has consistently published
quality books aimed at technologists much like the attendees of
CodeCon." Bill Pollock, publisher of No Starch Press, appreciates the
developer-friendly focus of CodeCon. “We are excited to be a part of
CodeCon 2.0. Many conferences don't really appreciate the developer.
CodeCon does, however, which makes for a truly unique experience.”
Boasting attendees from across the globe, CodeCon appeals to the global
community developers working on the most advanced Internet
technologies. "Our formula is simple," conference co-founder Len
Sassaman said. "We require all presentations of new software to involve
working demos, and be presented by an actual developer involved with
the project.
CodeCon's no-nonsense atmosphere makes it an ideal opportunity for the
Internet's most prominent developers to meet and exchange ideas about
the software inventions which will shape the global networks of
tomorrow.
ABOUT NO STARCH PRESS
Since 1994, No Starch Press has published unique and sometimes fringe
books on computing, with a focus on Open Source, security, hacking, web
development, programming, gaming, and alternative operating systems.
Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our goal
is to make computing fun. (www.nostarch.com)
ABOUT CODECON
CodeCon is the premier showcase of active software development projects.
Now in its second year, CodeCon offers an excellent opportunity for
programmers to meet and discuss the cutting edge techniques being used
by the most innovative members of their profession. CodeCon will occur
February 22 through 24 at Club NV in San Francisco. (www.codecon.org).
CONTACT
John Mark Walker
No Starch Press
johnmark@nostarch.com
415-863-9900
Len Sassaman
CodeCon Technology Conference
press@codecon.org
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------------------------------
From: FN <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: LinuxForYou... what's in issue # 1
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 12:54:14 CST
India's first GNU/Linux magazine made it to the newsstands recently. The
first, inaugural February 2003 issue contains:
ON THE CD-------------------------------------------------
* Knoppix with bundled software (Open Office, KOffice,
Mozilla Navigator, Mozilla Mail, Konqueror, GIMP, Ksnapshot
(screen capture), XFig (geomatrical figure editor),
QCAD (CAD software), XMMS (autio tool), games, KGeo and
KStars (educational), KDevelop (the "Linux cousin of VC++)
NEWS REPORTS----------------------------------------------
* Axis (Mass., US) launches Linux system-on-a-chip
* Hyper-threading can speed up Linux by 51 per cent
HT makes a single processor behave like two logical ones.
* Hong Kong trio unveils Chinese GNU/Linux OS for mobile devices
* Red Hat presepares GNU/Linux for technical workstations
* Ark -- another distribution for the desktop "for the masses"
* Linux ver 2.6 (kernel) by first half of 2003
* Sony, Matsushita plan GNU/Linux audio-video software
* Red Hat shifts to carrier-grade
* New IP videophone features embedded GNU/Linux OS
* Cellphone makers may go the GNU/Linux way too
INDIA NEWS------------------------------------------------
* Font contest winners spurn Microsoft, go LGPL
* GNU/Linux-based handhelds -- Simputer and Kaii from B'lore
* Let's make an 'apnalinux' -- creating one's own distro using
Anaconda, and tweaking a RedHat distribution (how-to guide)
* VIA C3 800 MHz, 20GB HDD, 64MB Hynix RAM, Asus motherboard,
Aztec modem, FDD and headphones e-pc for Rs 11,990 and
above without monitor.
* Cygsoft Inc's ManageIP -- network management solution
Free trial online at www.cygsoft.com
* Intrusion detection software from nSecure www.nsecure.net
* LG's GNU/Linux-based MY PC Rs 33,900 for basic model and
Rs 36,500 for the multimedia model (P4, 128MBRam, 40GB,
LG 15" monitor, LG 52XCDRom, optical mouse, keyboard, speakers)
* LX50 server from Sun Microsystem
* Mithi Software, Pune offers Connect Server for GNU/Linux.
* Kalculate -- an Indian accounting package for GNU/Linux
* TechnoInfosys brings GNU/Linux-based net management system
Check www.technoinfosys.com This comes from Navi Mumbai.
* Storage strategy software for GNU/Linux from Veritas, Delhi
* Website (Kerala) offers Dodobase, instant web catalog
publishing product. www.websight-tech.com
* Star Office 6.0, Sun Microsystem's affordable software...
* Bicnet offers eBiz integrated solution (pre-sales
management, sales catalogue, shopping cart, auction floor,
general ledger and financial accounting, inventory,
e-recruitment, customer relationship mgt) www.bicserve.com
* Rolta's security and messaging products for Indian corporate
networks www.rolta.com
* Octopus (Mumbai) offers complete enterprise mgt solution
* E-mail manager from Data Impex (Delhi)
* RTLinux gains support in India
* Indian govt's move to "let in [GNU]Linux"
FEATURES--------------------------------------------------
* GNU/Linux@Home -- it can coexist with Windows
* KDE's KOffice -- an office suite that delivers
* GNU/Linux certification -- The right choice?
* Introducing RedHat 8.0
* SCO Linux 4.0
* Websites that offer more info on GNU/Linux (www.tldp.org
The Linux Documentation Project, www.linuxlinks.com,
www.linux.org, www.redhat.com, www.linux-india.org)
* What's Knoppix?
* Knoppix -- software bounty
* Guide to running Knoppix
* Shape and trim your Linux kernel
* Red Hat's installation blues
* Ten tips to make your life easier
* What is a diskless PC?
* Developer's basics: A world of shells...
* Penguin programmer (developers basics)
* Overview of GNU/Linux for the embedded appln developer
* "Govt must declare [GNU]Linux the official OF of
India," Sudhir Gandotra, CEO Indserve InfoTech
* Is [GNU]Linux good for government?
* Linux TCO -- a bitter harvest?
* Penguin soup is the soul of IS managers
* GNUCorner: Open Source -- a brief journey through its times
(Err... could someone explain what GNU has to do with
Open Source? Wasn't one trying to get away from the other?FN)
MISCELLANEOUS---------------------------------------------
* CERTIFICATION: Linux-based products, tested and tried by
LFY Lab, will earn the 'Linux Friendly' certification.
Other common IT products that work without any hassles
to get a 'Tested OK' mark.
* EDITORIAL: Initial discussions about LINUX For You raised
a few eyebrows, accompanied by soul-searching questions...
Key question -- why a magazine on [GNU]Linux? (Many times
accompanied by -- are you going anti-Microsoft?)
Pay Rs 50 (that's the cost, including the CD) and see if you like
it. Don't forget to send in your suggestions to
efylinux1@electronicsforu.com
--
Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783
Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference
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------------------------------
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