The Open Pitt What's cooking in Linux and Open Source in Western Pennsylvania Issue 12 May 2005 www.wplug.org Book Review: Linux Desktop Garage by Bobbie Lynn Eicher Author: Susan Matteson the author deserves praise is that she comes much less valuable. The au- Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR put the extra effort in to provide ex- thor, Susan Matteson, may consider ISBN: 0131494198 planations that can be used by both herself to be an avid Linux user, but $29.99, 384 pages, 2005 Windows users and those who have professionally she's a web developer experience with Macs. and writer and that bias shows in a The goal of Prentice Hall's new Gar- Most valuable with this book is its way that many in the Linux com- age Series of books is to provide read- structure. Once Linux has been intro- munity won't appreciate. Experienced ers with a practical and entertaining duced, each chapter that follows is de- users are likely to be startled, to say guide to technical topics that are often voted to a type of task that users the least, by statements like the fol- intimidating to an ordinary reader. As might want such as word processing, lowing from the preface: “There are one of the latest releases offered under messaging, and games. For someone command-line programs to do those this banner, the Linux Desktop Gar- who's already used to computers but things, but why be so limited?” The age does this much well. It's not re- doesn't know anything about Linux more zealous followers of Richard commended, however, for users who equivalents for their usual software, Stallman are likely to be irritated by are looking for a guide to more ad- that makes Linux Desktop Garage an her quick dismissal of the claim that vanced topics and aren't content with excellent tool to get straight to the in- the entire operating system shouldn't just the basic user software available formation they need without getting be called Linux, though perhaps in the open source world. bogged down in anything else. An es- they'll at least give her some credit for This is a book that goes out of its pecially helpful point is that the end of mentioning that it's really just the way to be as friendly and inviting to each chapter includes a table summar- name of the kernel. So long as you're its readers as possible. The first izing the software mentioned and looking for practical help with GUI chapter is, appropriately enough, gives it a quick review. Even more programs and not advice from “What Are You Getting Into?” which helpful for some will be the table at someone who groks the larger open is probably the question that many the end of the book listing common source community, you'll be fine. people who want to try out Linux are Windows programs and the suggested See GARAGE, p. 2 asking themselves. It then moves on Linux equivalents. to give a general explanation of what If you want to go beyond the level Coming Events Linux is and how to go about in- of a quick reference to GUI software stalling it. A particular point where on Linux, however, this book be- May 21: Installfest. 10AM to 5PM, 1507 Newell-Simon Hall, CMU April Roundup May 28: General User Meeting, Apr. 9 General User Meeting: War- Apr. 30 Special Presentation: In con- Topic: Version Control with ren Dukes spoke about the challenges junction with PghSAGE, WPLUG Subversion. 10AM to 2PM, involved with managing a small open hosted a lively presentation by Daniel 1507 Newell-Simon Hall, CMU source project. Using his Music Play- V. Klein titled “Flying Linux.” Start- Jun. 4: General User Meeting, er Dæmon project as an example, he ing out with a discussion of digital Topic: MythTV. 10AM to 2PM, covered all phases from inception fly-by-wire systems in aircraft, he through release and maintenance. went into other types of systems, both 1507 Newell-Simon Hall, CMU Topics included choosing a license, electronic and physical, and why they Jun. 11: Tutorial, Topic: Regular managing the code repository, gener- fail—either through accident or mali- Expressions. 10AM to 2PM, ating documentation, and publicizing cious intent. He continued by demon- 1507 Newell-Simon Hall, CMU the project. He also covered ways of strating the complexity of Linux and Jul. 9: General User Meeting. fostering a community of users and other modern operating systems and 10AM to 2PM, 1507 Newell- developers. Warren's slides are avail- revealing many of the hidden assump- Simon Hall, CMU able for download. tions we make about security. Jul. 16: Installfest. 10AM to 5PM, Slides - <http://www.wplug.org/meetings/one-meeting?wp_meeting_id=3177> Music Player Daemon - <http://www.musicpd.org/> 1507 Newell-Simon Hall, CMU PghSAGE - <http://www.pghsage.org/> The public is welcome at all events Page 2 The Open Pitt May 2005 GARAGE, from p. 1 they'd include one that's still in beta in The Open Pitt is published by a book that's meant for new users. The main drawback to Linux the Western Pennsylvania Linux The rest of the CD contents—a set of Desktop Garage is that it's only likely Users Group the links included in the book—might to stay useful for a year or two. The <http://www.wplug.org/top/> save a bit of typing but doesn't really author unfortunately opted not to do much to help. provide version numbers for most of Editors: Elwin Green Linux Desktop Garage will be a the software she references, so as time Vance Kochenderfer useful reference for its target audi- goes on and features change, it'll be ence, though as time passes users may What is Linux? difficult for a new user to judge Linux is a kernel, the core of a computer oper- have a hard time figuring out which whether her reviews and advice are ating system, created by Linus Torvalds. It is parts they can still trust due to the lack typically packaged as a distribution, which in- still valid for the versions of the soft- of version numbers. For users who cludes the extra programs necessary to make a ware they'll actually encounter. computer functional and useful. Since 1991, it want something other than a quick ref- The included CD is also of little has grown from a one-man project which ran erence to the software they can use on value. Though the book itself focuses on one computer to one with thousands of con- Linux in place of the Windows soft- tributors running on everything from personal primarily on the Fedora and Mandrake ware they've used in the past, there are organizers to million-dollar supercomputers. distributions, the CD contains a copy better resources available. of the Gnoppix live CD distribution. What are Open Source and Free Software? Bobbie Lynn Eicher is a student at the Open Source and Free Software provide you, While including a live CD isn't neces- the user, with the opportunity to see the source sarily a bad idea, it's strange that University of Pittsburgh. code of the programs you use. You are free to use it, share it with others, and even make changes to it if you wish. While the Free Soft- Who is Linux's Spokesperson? by Beth Lynn Eicher ware and Open Source communities differ in their philosophical approach, in practical terms For better or worse, Americans asso- Linux, but these days seems to con- they share nearly identical goals. Learn more ciate a product's success with the pop- centrate more on the broader issues at <http://www.opensource.org/> ularity of a company's spokesperson. surrounding Open Source. and <http://www.gnu.org/>. So is it Eric Raymond? He doesn't Billionaire Bill Gates is the public This newsletter was produced using Open face of Microsoft. What would Apple focus on Linux, either. His Web page Source and Free Software. be without the undeniable Steve Jobs? <http://www.catb.org/~esr/> The loss of a good spokesperson contains opinions on programming, Copyright 2005 Western Pennsylvania Linux Users Group. Any article in this newsletter only goes to prove how valuable their Open Source, privacy, and numerous may be reprinted elsewhere in any medium, influence was in the first place. For other political ideas. Linux is men- provided it is not changed and attribution is example, Dell was left scrambling tioned very little. given to the author and WPLUG. when Steve, the “Dude, you're getting OK, then is it Richard Stallman? friendly to the local Linux User a Dell” Guy, was arrested. Even Nope, his GNU project is still hard at Group. When at home in New Hamp- Wendy's Restaurants introduced an work on The Hurd, intended to be an shire, he's active in his local LUG. If “unofficial” spokesperson to step in alternative to the Linux kernel. that isn't enough, he's representing for the late Dave Thomas. What about Alan Cox? Unfortu- Linux in the computing community at Since Linux is a worldwide move- nately, he refuses to travel to the large as a board member of USENIX. ment and not a corporation, promoting United States in protest of Dmitry Indeed, Linux needs many spokes- it is not just a matter of throwing a Sklyarov's 2001 arrest under the Di- persons in order for it to succeed. few million dollars at the marketing gital Millennium Copyright Act. The Anyone can do it and you can start department.