Issue #4 - August 2007 REVIEW : MIRO - AUDIO, VIDEO, PODCASTS, EVEN TORRENTS, full circle BUT IS IT ANY GOOD? THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU COMMUNITY HOW TO : KEEPING KIDS SAFE IN LINUX LEARNING SCRIBUS PART 4 HOSTING CODE ON LAUNCHPAD
INSTALL : EDUBUNTU 7.04 : FEISTY FAWN DEMOCRACY IS DEAD, LONG LIVE MIRO! WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE KIDS? WE PREVIEW THE LATEST VERSION - 0.9.8
BBLLOOGG IITT!! HHOOWW BBAAZZAAAARR!! TTOOPP 55 TTOOOOLLSS TTOO MMAAKKEE HHOOSSTTIINNGG YYOOUURR CCOODDEE OONN BBLLOOGGGGIINNGG EEAASSIIEERR LLAAUUNNCCHHPPAADD AANNDD BBAAZZAAAARR 1 fullcircle magazine is not affiliated with or endorsed by Canonical Ltd. Flavour of the Month - Edubuntu p.04 This month Philipp Hohn shows us what applications are in Edubuntu 7.04. Is it useful to your kids? How-To Hosting Code on Launchpad p.06 Keeping Kids Safe in Linux p.08 Scribus - Part 4 p.13 full circle Preview - Miro 0.9.8 p.16 The application formerly known as Democracy Player gets a new name and a face lift. Interview - Colin Watson p.18 My Story - An Appropriate Name p.21 Fighting to live with Linux after years of Windows use. Ubuntu Youth p.22 Letters p.23 FEATURE P.04 Q&A p.25 P.13 P.06 Website of the Month p.26 P.08 P.16 My Desktop & My PC p.27 Show us your mean-machine! The Top 5 p.28 KIDDIESAFE Andrew Min presents his Top5 blogging tools P.28 P.26 How to Contribute p.30
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2 EEDDIITTOORRIIAALL
elcome to another issue of Full Circle. Although many people probably thought we This magazine was were ignoring them, far from it, we've been continually introducing little changes along created using : the way since our big layout change in issue #2, I'm sure you'll notice another one or Wtwo changes in this issue also. We have to be fair and give Edubuntu its share of the spotlight, but since its install is pretty much identical to that of Ubuntu we weren't sure what we could do with it so what we've done in this month's Flavour of the Month is focus on what exactly makes Edubuntu suitable for the younger geeks out there.
Another important thing to read this month regarding kids and computers is our article on keeping kids safe within Ubuntu. Creating a new user account is one thing but how do you specify what your child can and can not do within that account? This article tells all.
From Issue #5 we would like to add a new feature where you, the readers, can put across your opinions on whatever you have on your mind. Sure, we have the letter page, but for the opinion feature you would have a whole page to get things off your chest. So if you have something to say (no Microsoft bashing articles) please email your article to: [email protected]
Another niggle we've had with the magazine is long URLs. To combat this we've installed Phurl on our web site. This gives us short URLs should you need to type URLs in manually.
I hope you enjoy the magazine and do keep those emails coming!
All the best, Ronnie Editor, Full Circle Magazine [email protected]
3 FFLLAAVVOOUURR OOFF TTHHEE MMOONNTTHH Written by Philipp Höhn
I'm sure by now you will have noticed how similar the install procedure is with most flavours of Ubuntu. Rather than show you the same procedure again with another interface, this month, Philipp will will show you what you can expect to see in the education orientated edition of Ubuntu, Edubuntu.
Circle magazine, issues one through applications designed to challenge ntil now we have covered three, to see the install procedure) you students and children to think three setups of different are then presented with a slightly creatively and abstractly. There are flavours of Ubuntu. While we different desktop design. even a few games that give children used the Live CD for Ubuntu the opportunity to learn about Uand Kubuntu, we showed how to use different subjects and practise their the Alternate CD for an installation of skills by playing fun educational Xubuntu. This month we will be going games. Let's have a closer look at one step further by showing you some some of these Edubuntu applications: major applications of Edubuntu. Though Edubuntu has exactly the KBruch same installation as the other Ubuntu distributions, there are several major differences in the applications shipped with Edubuntu.
Edubuntu is designed for schools and other educational environments. It includes all Ubuntu applications but While you are still able to do the same KBruch is a training program for has some extras preinstalled. Though things you are used to from Ubuntu, fractions that features varied most of its additional applications are there are quite a few applications you exercises and multiple levels of based on KDE, Edubuntu itself still probably haven't seen before. These difficulty. It will also keep track of uses Gnome. After installation, which range from mathematical tools to statistics to give you the opportunity is the same procedure as Ubuntu, vocabulary training as well as other to beat your own high scores. Kubuntu and Xubuntu (download Full
4 KmPlot Hangman. Guess the word by spelling with Tux's laser-like machine. the letters. Be careful though, too many KmPlot lets mistakes and you will lose and see the Kanagram you draw plots hangman! by simply typing a function like KPercentage f(x)=x^2 (red plot). This can really be useful for checking pupils' math homework!
Kalzium
In this game you are challenged to read anagrams. Letters in the wrong Another mathematical training order are to be put in the right order application. By selecting one of three to form a word. This game supports difficulty levels you can train your the development of abstract thinking percentage skills with different exercises. for all ages.
Kalzium is an electronic periodic TuxMath These are just a few of the many table. Besides the names and pictures Edubuntu applications. If you have a of the elements it offers details like Another child or maybe you are a teacher, atomic models, spectrums and other game Edubuntu is definitely worth a try. various chemical data. included in Edubuntu, Next month in Full Circle we'll be KHangMan TuxMath featuring an Edubuntu presentation makes which was used by the Colorado This is the you test Local Community (CoLoCo) to Edubuntu your highlight the uses and features of version of the mental Edubuntu to a group of school well-known arithmetic by stopping mathematical teachers. school game terms falling from the sky by solving them
5 HHOOWW--TTOO HHOOSSTTIINNGG YYOOUURR CCOODDEE OONN Written by Chris Rowson LLAAUUNNCCHHPPAADD AANNDD BBAAZZAAAARR
I recently put some code up onto Launchpad (a superb software development tool from Canonical Limited), but it wasn’t immediately apparent to me how to do it. I found tips on a few different websites, but thought I’d bring it all together here for convenience.
irst of all you’ll need a Now you need to introduce yourself to You need to tell bazaar which files launchpad account. Create one bazaar. and folders you want to add to the system. You can do this by issuing at: https://launchpad.net/+login bzr whoami 'Your Name the command: F [email protected]' Now you require an SSH key. This bzr add is so you can prove to To create a bazaar branch on your launchpad/bazaar that you are who computer, navigate to the folder that This will add all of the files and you say you are. If you don’t already contains you code, and type the following. folders in the current directory recursively. have one, here’s how to make one. bzr init ssh-keygen -t dsa You can also add files and folders You now need to tell bazaar which files individually. or folders within the branch you want to You will now be asked for a secret record changes to. For this example we bzr add hello.php password. Choose one and press have a branch folder called ‘test’, which bzr add install.txt enter. Your key has now been contains the files ‘hello.php’, ‘install.txt’ bzr add stuff generated. You can see it by typing and a sub folder called ’stuff’. If ’stuff’ contained any files, those nano ~/.ssh/id_dsa.pub bzr status files would be added too.
Go to your launchpad profile now, would return To remove a file (in this instance and copy/paste the text from the file ‘install.txt’) you can either delete it, unknown: you opened in the section above, into the folder on your computer, or run hello.php the section marked Update SSH install.txt Keys. That’s that bit done. bzr remove install.txt stuff/ 6 When you have your code in a Note that the project must be created state that you want to upload then in launchpad before you can publish to it. you need to run the commit If you don’t want to publish to a particular command. This creates a revision and project, you can push to the +junk project allows you to add a message instead (Thanks Dean). regarding the changes you’ve made. So in practice. bzr commit -m "added my first file" bzr push sftp://[email protected] t You can also selectively commit pad.net/~uber-dev- specific files. team/ubuntu/development e bzr commit -m "added GPL would create a branch called n . licence info" install.txt ‘development’ in the ‘ubuntu’ project which can be edited by anyone in ‘uber- D Now that you’ve finished editing dev-team’. The person who created this your code and getting it ready on your upload would have the username A local computer, you’ll want to upload ‘uberperson’ on launchpad. it to launchpad. Give it a couple of minutes, and you P bzr push should be able to see your files go live sftp://[email protected] H on the launchpad site. pad.net/~UsernameOrTeamName/P roject/Branch Helpful links: C
To break down that url a little more, Full Bazaar Tutorial - http://doc.bazaar- N UserName is your Launchpad vcs.org/bzr.dev/tutorial.htm
username, after the ~ you can then U include either your launchpad Next month: Matthew Revell from Canonical username or a teamname, project is A the name of the project in the will explain how to use LaunchPad to
properly research and report any bugs you L launchpad url and branch is what you may have noticed in K/X/Ubuntu. would like to call the branch. 7 HHOOWW--TTOO KKEEEEPP YYOOUURR KKIIDDSS Written by Peter Durrill SSAAFFEE IINN UUBBUUNNTTUU
In this article, I will explain the steps I used to create a user account in Ubuntu for my six year old nephew's use. While this configuration is particular to his needs, many of these considerations would apply to anyone configuring an account for use by a child.
First, I needed to create a separate one that seemed complex enough. s my nephew has become account for him to use. In GNOME, I Unfortunately, the random more learned, and can went to System > Administration > Users passwords don't include any special generally be counted upon not and Groups. After I entered my characters, but they can be added to accidentally destroy administrator's password, the Users directly into this field. This would be Asomething as fragile as a home settings window opened. I clicked on Add nearly impossible for my nephew to computer, I have allowed him User and and the New user account remember. Fortunately, that won't be supervised access to my computer. window appeared. a problem, but more on that in a He mostly uses it to play some of the moment. games I have installed for him, or to On the access the websites of his favored account tab Next, I went to the User Privileges television networks, such as (left), I entered tab (below) and added the privileges pbskids.org, and sproutonline.com. the username I I wanted my nephew to use: want the However, he has reached a level of account to * Accessing proficiency where he seldom needs have, and the external my help. While I would prefer to stay real name. I storage there with him and continue to chose to set devices supervise directly, I simply don't have the account to automatically the time so, in this article, I will unprivileged * Use audio explain the steps I used to create a and left the devices user account in Ubuntu for my six contact information blank. For the password, I year old nephew. * Use CD- generated several passwords until I had ROM drives
8 With nothing on the advanced tab as possible. I can always add to the programs that I did not install needing my attention, I clicked OK complexity later. The first thing I changed specifically for his use-- with the and then closed out of the User was to open the workspace switcher exceptions of common items like the settings window. preferences and set the number of Text Editor, Calculator, and Firefox. workspaces to one. Then I removed it Before from the panel all-together. I also While the "Search for Files" menu logging out of removed the "Quit..." applet. entry is available through the places my account, I menu, I wanted to make searching went to As a general rule, I wanted to avoid more easily available, so I added the System > clutter, but I mainly wanted to make it deskbar to the top panel and set the Administration easy for him to find what he wants to layout to entry in panel on the view > Login use, whilst avoiding the things I may not tab of the deskbar preferences. I Window (left) want him to use, so the next item on my also disabled many of the to configure agenda was the menu. I considered just extensions under the Searches tab, the GNOME adding launchers to the desktop and leaving only: display doing away with the menu altogether, but manager. In there are far too many programs to make * Files and Folders Search the Login Window Preferences that an optimal solution. So, I opened up * History window, I went to the Security tab. alacarte, the menu editor included in * Web Bookmarks There I checked the Enable Timed Ubuntu, and started cutting away. * Web history Login box, selected my nephews * Recent Documents account in the drop down menu, and There are set the timed login delay to 10 many sub- The idea being, again, to limit the seconds. This allowed me to use a menus in the amount of information he has to very secure password, without making default install, process. my nephew memorize it. With that and precious done, I closed out of the login few applications preferences and restarted my I feel he would machine before testing the timed login. find useful. My choices here were rather specific to my My main objective in preparing his case, but essentially I removed the account was to make it easy for him majority of the preferences, the entire to use. I wanted to simplify as much administration menu, and all entries for
9 Having configured the panels to my checked desktop_is_home_dir (below). installed an ad-blocker. While there liking, I ran Pessulus, a lockdown This will change the desktop directory are many valid arguments against editor for GNOME. While Pessulus is from /home/jimmy/Desktop to just using disrupting advertising service, I not installed in Ubuntu by default, it is /home/jimmy. While there is some have far more pressing concerns available from the Ubuntu disagreement as to whether this should about young impressionable minds repositories. I don't expect my be a default gnome setting, I certainly being bombarded by commercialism. nephew to actively attempt to bypass think it is appropriate for my particular the restrictions I have placed on his situation. account. Honestly, I would go so far as to encourage it. So, despite Pessulus' many options, my needs here are simple. Switching to the "Panel" section in pessulus, I checked two options, Lock down the panels and Disable lock screen (below) then closed the lockdown editor. Hopefully this will prevent the all-to-common "missing" panels and applets, bane of new users and tech support alike. Now, as I said before, one of my primary goals with this whole process has been to simplify user interfaces. To this end, my first The primary piece of software I want to action in Firefox was to remove all configure is Firefox. There are many but the forward and back buttons in valuable resources for students on the the navigation bar, as well as un- web. Not to mention (with Flash and Java check use small icons in the installed) the nearly endless variety of Customize toolbar window. Once I games. However, there are many more was satisfied with the menu, I things to be found out in the wilds of the searched the Mozilla add-ons page internet. With that in mind, I will follow up for an extension called Personal As a final step, I ran gconf-editor my usual round of simplifications with a Menu and installed it. The most and navigated to apps > nautilus > particularly strong form of "parental current version as of this writing is preferences in the left hand pane and controls." In addition to that, I have 3.0.5.
10 After restarting my browser, I quantity of new pages created every opened up the preferences for day; on top of those very real Personal Menu. Personal Menus is a problems, there is the problem of the great extension for simplifying the creator's prejudice towards what interface, it allows you to create a pages should be blocked. menu button for the navigation toolbar, move items from the standard Fortunately, I can make those menu bar menus (File, Edit, View, etc) kinds of decisions myself. By into your buttons menu, and then hide choosing a white-list solution, I can the menu bar. So, after adding my pick what pages I want my nephew choices from the standard menus, I to access. Any page that is not on placed the customized menu on the restrictions I the white list is blocked by default. far right of the navigation bar, with the place on his As my nephew's interest grows, I will search entry field just to its left. The account. have to investigate subjects that he items I chose were fairly standard: That reason is interested in and allow access to allows me to those I don't find acceptable. While * Home simplify my this does involve more effort on my * Print approach to limiting his internet access. part, it does ensure a better * Save Page As... After shopping around, I found the understanding between us. * Full Screen solution that I was looking to use: a white- list. The With the exception of Save Page plugin I used As... none of these items are available Most "parental control" solutions either for this is on the standard page context menu. use a blacklist, which is a list of forbidden called web addresses, or a combination of a BlockSite As I have blacklist and a content filter that searches (left), and is said before, I the contents of requested pages for also don't certain key words. There as numerous available at anticipate my disadvantages to these approaches: the official nephew many words that are used as profanity Mozilla actively can also have valid uses; blacklist Firefox add- attempting to creators could never hope to catalogue ons page. bypass any all existing pages, much less the massive BlockSite
11 has a very simple interface and allows other items like the browser Preferences, http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.ph both blacklist and white-list based about:config page, and the Add-ons p?p=2692744&postcount=10. If he blocking. Wildcards are supported, so window. I tried this for a while, but the ever seems to develop unhealthy by adding *wikipedia.org/* you can constant password entry pop-ups don't computing habits, such as spending access all pages on every sub-domain offer a terribly friendly experience. entirely too much time in front of it, of the wikipedia.org site. If you feel gnome already offers a solution. the need, you can add a password, Used in conjunction with Pessulus to Under Keyboard Preferences, in the which must be entered before disable the command line and prevent GNOME preferences, there is a tab accessing the BlockSite preferences. running Firefox with the -profilemanager labeled Typing Break. Typing Break However the whole extension could switch, this could offer a decent lockdown can be set to lock the screen after a be disabled in the Add-ons window, solution. Again though, there is always a certain amount of time, which is so that's not a terribly effective way around restrictions, assuming you adjustable in increments of one solution. know the way. In this case, the user minute, from one to one hundred would simply have to access their profile thousand minutes. If it comes to that, For troublesome sites, try looking directory and edit a few text files to I'll have to set gdm to login to my for proxy or firewall information. For disable the extension. nephew's account automatically, and example, I wanted to add the website memorize his password. Regardless, for the StorylineOnline.net website, I think this is a good start. which offers videos of professional actors reading children's books. The Since this is my personal computer site loaded fine, but the videos would we are using, I saw no reason to never play. On the help page, I found install Edubuntu, but I did install the reason. It turned out to be that the basically all of the educational videos were hosted by a site with a software available in the repositories, different domain name. After adding as well as one that is not: Gutenpy, that to the white-list as well, they all A catalog browser and text reader for played without issue. That's it for my setup. In the future, if Project Gutenberg, which I highly my nephew begins to mirror his uncle's recommend. While it does not have For anyone who might want a downloading habits, I may have to an Ubuntu specific .deb file available, slightly more secure solution, there is recreate his account using disk quotas. I have used the Debian package PublicFox, which looks to be a For anyone interested in setting up such available at http://gutenpy.sf.net/ mashup or extension of BlockSite with a feature, it might help to refer to this with great success. some additions that will allow the post by Aysiu on the Ubuntu forums here: password protection to be extended to 12 HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker
PART 4 In this fourth article in the Scribus series we will discuss creating 'colour styles' which will allow us to quickly and easily alter various text or shape colours at the click of a mouse button and with zero guess work.
Imagine this: you are on page fifty of aving continuity in your That list is the default colours that your publication and you want your publication is essential to Scribus creates for almost every image to have a border which has the ensure that all your pages document, you can keep them all if same colour and style as the image on come together to form a you want but I find it confusing and page one. You could easily scroll, or Hsingle publication. Last month we saw am going to delete them all and start jump, to page one but wouldn't it be how to create Paragraph Styles this a fresh. But wait! What if I delete the easier to just have a palette of colours, means that with the click of a button colours used in my header and text? with names, that you can call upon? Well you can assign the same font, colour To save this happening, click the with Scribus' Colours settings, you can. and settings every time with minimal Remove Unused button. Here's my list now. work and, more importantly, no guess First let's make a named colour. work. This month we look at Colours, this menu option will do a similar thing Click on the Edit > Colours menu to Paragraph Styles but with boxes, option. lines and so on.
This is where we left off in Issue #3, Paragraph Styles:
Much neater!
13 So lets create a new colour for our I've chosen my colour from the rainbow You see the two icons? On the palette. Click the New button. looking box in the right of the window and right is the 'Fill' button, this is what colour you want your Shape coloured as (it won't do anything to an image but it will colour the inside of other shapes such as rectangles, circles and such like) and below the fill icon is the colour that fill is using, in this case, none. To the left is the Line Colour, this is what controls the border colour, at the moment it is set You'll see some text at the top left to none, so left click on our Photo which says 'New Colour', change that Border colour. Although there to what you want to call this colour, probably looks like there's no I'm going to call it 'Photo Border'. change, remember that just clicking Below that it says 'CMYK'. You can the image alone gives it a red change that to RGB or Web Safe. If now click OK. border to show selection so click on your going to send your document to a professional printer then use CMYK And there's my custom made colour in (same for images too!) but since this the list. Click OK to return to document is for a PDF (and not being printed editing. professionally) I'll choose RGB. The menu at the top right will give a list of Remember, same as with Paragraph pre-made palettes if you want this but Styles: if you change a colour that is I'm going with my custom palette. used in your document, all instances of that colour will change to the new value.
Next I need a border around my image so select a blank piece on the page. the image and look at the Colour tab in the I've got a blue border but I'd like it Properties window a bit thicker. To control the line
14 thickness and type, click on the image the Line tab and alter the thickness (remember, all this will also work for of the line. any shapes you draw too) and click the Line tab in the Properties window.
Clicking the 'Type of Line' To prove my point: click the 'Insert menu will let Shape' button which is below the Print you choose Play around with the shapes, icon. Click, hold, and drag out a from a range borders and colours within your rectangle shape (or whichever shape you of styles, I'll document. Shapes are good for choose from) and release the mouse choose the banners or to put text in, and button. You'll probably see a black shape: dashes. If remember: you can colour the inside you've drawn of a shape as transparent by a line this is choosing 'None' for the colour. also where Normally you don't want to go crazy you can choose to have an arrow with colours. Same as with head on it. 'Line Width' is the Paragraph Styles: choose maybe six thickness of the line, I'll go for a or seven and stick with them. Too setting of three to make sure it shows many colours and text styles will on my screenshots. 'Edges' and make your document look confusing 'Endings' edit either the start/end of a and unprofessional. line or the corners of a shape. Unless These are the default colour settings you have particularly wide shapes you Next month we'll discuss Layers. Rather for a shape but keep the shape selected than have one document with everything probably won't notice a great deal of and click the Colours tab in the spread across fifty pages, we can place change when you play with these Properties window. Click the Fill icon and items on separate layers. This means -- like settings. Ok, I'm happy with that. How choose a colour and click the Line icon GIMP or Photoshop -- we can turn layers does it look? Again, I click on a blank and choose a colour for it too. Again, on/off to show/hide groups of shapes, text, images even entire articles, which can piece of the page to deselect the same as with the image, you can click image (or shape!) improve performance on slower machines.
15 PPRREEVVIIEEWW Written by Ronnie Tucker 0.9.8
Miro is 'the application formerly known as Democracy Player'. It is attempting to be a bit of an all-in-one type application that will look after all your audio and video needs including podcasts. It even holds a little surprise too...
scrolls from right to left showing you the Adding your favourite podcasts is featured items. Below that is the Popular, easy enough, you can add a folder Just Added and a list of categories. (to organise things) then Add Below the Miro Guide is the controls with Channel from the Channels menu. the usual play/pause and skip buttons. Miro will now keep an eye on your To the left of the controls is the search podcasts and automatically box. Select a site (you can choose from: download new episodes as they YouTube, Veoh, Google Video, become available. You can pause or BlogDigger, Revver, DailyMotion and remove a download and after you've blip.tv) and type in a few words to search listened to the podcast you can for. Down the left of the screen is a panel delete the file if you wish. A nice which contains your playlists and feature is that you can Share a bookmarked podcasts. podcast by emailing a friend about it hen you first start Miro, it is or by submitting it to one of the a bit daunting, to say the many social networking sites such least. You are shown the as Reddit. Miro Guide which is really Wjust a whole bunch of links to submitted content from various sources such as YouTube, Veoh and even some big names with videos for download like: Comedy Central, National Geographic, even Adult Swim! The top portion of the page
16 Searching the many video sites is like when should files expire and be downloaded from a repository[1] to quick and easy and results are automatically deleted, but there's also a save compiling it from source. displayed within Miro so no switching surprise in there too: take a look at the between Miro and a browser. Your bottom option. BitTorrent? That's right, search results can also be saved as a Miro is also a BitTorrent client! Although channel for quick access to those it did take me a little while to realise that results at a later date. Clicking the to open a torrent file you need to go to down arrow which is on the video the menu and choose Video > Open and preview image begins a download. I double click your torrent file (below). No say again: a download. mention at all in any menu of 'torrent'. That needs fixing.
I feel it would be unfair to mark Miro since it is still in beta but would definitely encourage people to give it a try if your looking for a one stop shop for all your audio, video, podcasting and BitTorrent files.
[1]http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/pcultu Instead of streaming the videos re.org/miro/linux/repositories/ubunt from the sites it actually downloads u feisty/ them to your machine (above). That's Video playback (right) is what you a feature of this software that I really would expect from any other video player like. since it uses either Gstreamer or Xine for playback. The low quality of the video in Miro is also light the screen (right) is due to it playing a on options with only YouTube video in this case. one preferences window (right). Most The only negative for Miro is that it's are just basic things still in beta. The version I tested was
17 IINNTTEERRVVIIEEWW CCOOLLIINN WWAATTSSOONN Written by Robert Clipsham UUBBUUNNTTUU DDEEVVEELLOOPPEERR
Colin Watson is one of the lead developers for Ubuntu and is an employee at Canonical. Here we ask him how he first got involved, what he likes best about the Ubuntu community and about his most uplifting experience.
How long have you been programming? and of course it's hugely rewarding to see contributed back to Debian or not, on the Ubuntu get so much favourable attention. It's whole I've tried to stay clear of flamewars Since I was 7, so a little over 20 years. My been a lot of work but well worth it so far. on the subject, and I find that I still work parents got me a ZX Spectrum+, and I taught well with Debian developers on a technical myself to program in BASIC. The first How has your experience been with the level. I'm happy with this situation and it all language I learnt that I still use today would community been? seems quite stable now. be C, which I think I picked up around the age of 17. I've been very impressed with how much the How much time did it take you to Ubuntu community's grown in three years, and become a developer? How long have you been involved with how incredibly active it has been. I've also been Ubuntu? pleased that it generally works as a community; it Well, um, I think it might have been a doesn't tend to get stuck in endless back-and- couple of weeks after I started at Canonical I was one of the founding members of the forth or mired in bureaucracy. That's all been until the very first Ubuntu archive was Ubuntu core development team. I started great to see. actually in place so that we could upload to working on Ubuntu in May 2004 upon being it ... employed by Canonical (though neither Are you also working with upstream (or Ubuntu nor Canonical were called that back Debian)? If yes, how is that experience? Have you had any uplifting then). Memory is unclear, but it's possible I experiences while working for was involved in coming up with the name I've been a Debian developer since early 2001, Ubuntu and its community? "MOTU" and that hasn't changed. Naturally there's only so much time you can put into operating system The Warty preview release was really quite How has your experience as a MOTU development in the day and remain sane, but I something. I'd been up for goodness knows developer been? try to contribute what I can in my free time even how long dealing with the release (I'm in though it's my day job too; I still care very much charge of cdimage.ubuntu.com and With the same caveat (core developer), it's about both projects, and I think there's plenty of releases.ubuntu.com, so I was the one who been amazing; I love being in a position to room for them both to excel. While I've had a few had to put all the files in place and press set up a really well-integrated system across arguments with people about details of whether the Big Red Button), and straight after that I the board with a minimum of bureaucracy, such-and-such a change should have been went off to sleep for 16 hours. When I got
18 back, #ubuntu had EXPLODED; it took me a three years working on the installer, it's probably system more robust against running out of solid hour to catch up with all the activity not surprising that that's what I enjoy most. I disk space, so you can still log in and clean there, when previously it had been this quiet think I like installer work because it's somehow up some files. There's lots of that kind of little development channel. I think a lot of us immensely satisfying to build a system up from thing to be tackled. had a "wow, people might actually be the very bottom, and to be the first experience interested in this stuff" moment around then. people have with the operating system. There's What advantages does Ubuntu have still plenty of variety there, even though the over other Linux distributions? What do you see happening in installer manifestly works well for so many Ubuntu's future? people, just because hardware always manages It has a functional and enthusiastic to find more weirdness to throw at us. development community, together with I don't see it slowing down, certainly. By next strong commercial backing to make sure For somewhat similar reasons, I suppose, I also year, if all goes to plan, we'll have another that it keeps moving forward and to do the like working ondistribution infrastructure: the bits long-term-support release under our belt, and boring jobs like infrastructure. I think we've you never really bother to look at that work out this time we'll have had the experience of struck the best balance there of any the full list of packages we need to ship, or the 6.06 to learn from, so I think it'll work out distribution I've seen: on controversial process of kicking off a new development pretty well. I think that will give us an decisions the community really has distribution after we release. I think it's fun to be excellent base for expanding into bigger overruled the company at times when its in at the ground floor. audiences. technical arguments have been stronger. We have the superb basis of Debian, and What do you think the best way for the Is there anything you would like to see in developers with plenty of experience in Ubuntu community to help with Ubuntu? Ubuntu in the future? some very central parts of Debian so that I can really only point to we aren't just riding on its coat-tails. We I'd like to have integrated support for producing release often yet have the LTS releases for https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ custom Ubuntu CD images. I'd like to have the people who want a slower upgrade cycle. ContributeToUbuntu graphical installer be more reliable and more We have a strong belief in having things for this; people have such a variety of flexible, particularly in terms of partitioning. I'd Just Work. different skills that could be put to good use. like to make a concerted assault on excessive We're definitely always in need of new use of system memory. Is Ubuntu the first Distribution you developers and even core developers who In general, I would like to start a big push for have worked on? can put concerted effort into improving the systematic improvements in quality and reliability. quality and reliability of Ubuntu, though, and My parents seem quite happy with their Ubuntu No; as mentioned above, I worked on people who can accurately sift through bug system, but it still breaks fairly frequently in ways Debian before Ubuntu. I used (but reports to find items that developers need to they don't know how to fix. I certainly don't mind work on. never developed) Red Hat for about a year helping them out, but it really shouldn't break to before switching to Debian, but that's the start with, or when it must break it should be Which part of Ubuntu do you like extent of my distribution experience. developing the most? clearer what to do (for example, the whole user interface around fsck is difficult for end users). One thing we're doing in Gutsy is to make the Given that I've spent a good chunk of the last
19 When did you first start developing find something you care about and make it Ubuntu? better. I learnt Perl because a program I was writing for fun was ridiculously slow in shell. The May 2004. point where I really got into serious Debian development was when I started working on man- What programming language(s) do you db (the 'man' program and so on) because need to develop Ubuntu? nobody else was doing so, and fixing swathes of bugs that had been annoying lots of people. I Personally, I use an ad-hoc mixture of C, started working on d-i because I needed to do so shell script, Python, and Perl; that's skewed in order to get Debian to install on my new because d-i (the installer you see on our PowerBook. alternate install CDs) is written in C and There's no harm in asking questions, but spend shell, though new development work in your own time doing your own research too. It Ubuntu is usually in Python where possible. will take longer the first time, but in order to be a You need to have a basic working familiarity serious developer you need to cultivate the skill with GNU Make in order to handle of finding things out for yourself, whether it be Debian/Ubuntu-style packaging, too. Areas of from manual pages or the source code or the Ubuntu other than those I tend to work in web or whatever; it will save you time in the long may have their own requirements. run because you'll be able to find things out even I've picked all of these up over the years, so when the experts aren't around; and people will it's very hard to say how long it took me to have a higher opinion of you if you demonstrate master them. C took several years, though I the capacity to learn quickly. was going through university at the same Be bold. We like people who make themselves time. Shell and make were just things I experts in a field and are consistently right and absorbed gradually based on what I needed helpful. Don't wait for somebody to give you at the time. I taught myself Perl and Python permission to do that. in a few weeks each with lots of reading. Really, the more languages you're used to, Remember that everyone else had to learn the easier it gets to pick up new ones. I very everything from scratch! None of the core much recommend a broad education in as development team were born with experience of many languages as you can so that you Ubuntu, or Debian, or wherever we started; we don't get stuck in a rut. all had to learn it too.
What advice would you give to Next months interviewee will be John someone wishing to help out with Philips from the Open Fonts Library web Ubuntu? site www.openfontlibrary.org Email your questions to: There is no better advice in my book than to [email protected] 20 MMYY SSTTOORRYY UUBBUUNNTTUU -- AA VVEERRYY Written by David Maino AAPPPPRROOPPRRIIAATTEE NNAAMMEE
I began using Linux about 4 years ago out of necessity rather than interest. There was a program I needed to learn to use (Radiance) which would only work reasonably well on a *nix system, so I fired up Debian and got my first taste of the wonderful world of Linux. I hated it.
recorder and, yes, even running had to relearn everything I knew work in Hoary. I grudgingly set off to the Radiance. about computing, spend hours Ubuntu forums, fully expecting to be editing config files to get my taunted and made fun of. Then a strange thing happened. My questions were Ubuntu as an O/S is good, but in hardware to work properly, and many ways is no different than many Ihad to learn how to script and use the answered, and not just with a simple, unexplained response, but in a courteous other distributions out there. With a command line to run this program the little effort, the things you can do in way I wanted. The letters “RTFM” and at-length manner that implied that the people helping me were genuinely Ubuntu you can also do with Debian, quickly burned into my retina as I tried Gentoo, Slackware, or any other hopelessly to get help from various interested in giving advice so that my system would function properly. distro. What differentiates it, for me forums and IRC chat rooms. For 2 1/2 at least, are the people and their years I barely touched Linux as a With this newfound resource I began to willingness to help. I am what I am result, except when I needed to do a enjoy the inner workings of my O/S and because of what they helped me Radiance run. reveled in the tinkering and adjusting. become, and because of what they Then I heard a rumbling on the The realization that this was my computer all are. interwebs. Something was brewing and I could finally set it up how I wanted that was part Debian and part sane it was overwhelming. This wonderful O/S design. Could it be true? A Linux- community of people helped me unlock based O/S that was beginner friendly, my computer and opened up all the both in function and in community? I possible things that I could do with it, burned my first ISO (Hoary should I so choose. And choose I did; in If you have a story to tell, please Hedgehog), popped it in, installed it no time I was setting up cron jobs, writing email it to: and was unimpressed. The same scripts to automate tasks, setting up web [email protected] things that didn't work in Debian didn't and file servers, building a personal video
21 The future of Open Source is in the Young People of today; that's why UUBBUUNNTTUU YYOOUUTTHH this corner of the magazine is for young people or simply those who are Written by Philip Höhn young at heart.
message or the infamous 'Blue Screen of or this month's article I spoke was basically thanking me for Death' (BSOD). The advice: "Sounds like with Andrew (aka: Tuna) about putting it into action. So I made him you need a new operating system" finally his way in to Kubuntu and his administrator and thanked him for persuaded him to make the move. Linux web site Teens on Linux the idea. It was the least I could do.” Fwhich just recently made it into the Just like any new user, he was initially Although having gained several UK magazine Linux Format. lost. Instead of the usual friend a couple members since being mentioned in of blocks away who could help, it was, in Linux Format, one mystery remains: this case, someone a whole continent even Teens on Linux don't know away. Fortunately, he found an IRC client how they made it into Linux Format, and the Kubuntu channel. “They didn't even email me about it!"
Asked for the reason why he started Finally, Tuna described what new Teens on Linux, Tuna answered: “Well features he would like to see in the technically, it was all bjwebb's idea. He near and distant future for his goes way under-credited for it. He sent in beloved Kubuntu. Besides more Teens On Linux (above) a listener question to the Linux Action support for video cards, namely ATI, Show asking about a teens' Linux he hopes for better support for Tuna is 15 years old and started community. Now at this point in time, multimedia keyboards and wireless. using Kubuntu about 6-8 months ago neither of us have even heard of Future plans for Teens on Linux as his first Linux distribution. TeenLUG. So I listened to that, and include a podcast featuring Tuna Following the advice of our Full Circle promptly made a post on the LAS forums and Ewanm89. They may well be on Editor (Ronnie), he decided to give asking for that guy to email me. Before opposite sides of the planet, but i'm Linux a try after his laptop had a he even got the chance to see the post, sure they'll work something out. corrupted version of Windows. we all got together and created a site Whenever he booted up, he either got called "Teens on Linux" After a few days http://www.TeensOnLinux.org an 'Operating System not found' of building the site, bjwebb emailed me, it
22 Every month we like to publish some of the emails we receive. If you would like to submit a LLEETTTTEERRSS letter for publication, even if it's a compliment or complaint, please email it to: [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE: some letters may be edited for space reasons.
many other capableopen source photo have to take some issue with the and graphics programs. Gimp is an have been using Ubuntu for a article in issue 3 about enormously powerful and an amazing while now and it satisfies every photography on Ubuntu. The application, yet he dismisses it (as do so need except for the games author is a professional wedding many people who were raised on aspect of it. I recently tried Iphotographer, and I understand that. Irunning Regnum Online and I could Photoshop) for, of all reasons, having It's an interesting article and I poor text-layout abilities. One, I would not get it to run for the life of me. I appreciate an in-depth look at how he take issue with that. Two, not really sure was told it was a drivers Issue. ATI works. However, he seems to be that text layout has much to do with has drivers out for Linux, yet there focusing on proprietary software photography. Three, maybe look into a seems to be an issue with Ubuntu packages, which is a little odd since vector illustrator program, which most using these drivers. I don't know Ubuntu is about the power and graphic artists know are much better for what that Issue is, would it be philosophy of Free/Open Source complex layout with photos and text than possible you guys can clarify this for Software. He promotes Bibble for raw a Photoshop/Gimp type bitmap program. us Linux gamers? processing and MemoriesOnTV which Inkscape is a wonderful vector program. are both proprietary. And I tried to install the proprietary ATI MemoriesOnTV is a video program Maybe a future article could take a drivers and Ubuntu did not like that requiring WINE. Most video programs more purely FOSS approach to the at all, so why not make Ubuntu use don't work well, if at all, in WINE, and needs of a photographer such as Mr these drivers instead of messing with if they do, they are extremely unstable Stephens. A big problem is that people them if they are built for Linux based and rather difficult to install and get are so thoroughly attached to Photoshop OS they should work right. working. He also writes about that they're very unwilling to even sit Rey Angeles LightZone, which I'm quite familiar down an get to know Gimp, when in with, and while the Linux version is reality Gimp is one of the most powerful free, it's unsupported and proprietary, Editor: anyone out there want to and sophisticated photo apps there is, as make comment on this? Is Ubuntu and the current Linux version is not well as one of the best FOSS programs. up to the Windows version number. It missing drivers that gamers need? is unfortunate that no mention Eric Peltzer whatsover is given to RawStudio or 23 Our Mac fanboy (linuxgeekery) tells The pictures say it all, she was irst let me is there us that: the actual systems aren't all DE-LIGHTED! say that something I that different, but they do get quite Full Circle should set to hot. I set the temperature on mine is an using SMCfancontrol to about Fexcellent allow the computer 2800RPM - great for normal use, publication and is to run cooler? and keeps my machine at around much needed to the 40°C mark. educate the masses about Ubuntu. My question hrough reading full circle I have pertains to your review of Ubuntu on found some fabulous software, the MacBook. You mention that the such as: GRAMPS and XChat computer never heats up and its although I haven't used IRC with cooling system is adequate to keep TXChat as yet. the machine cool. When Ubuntu is installed on the MacBook Pro the I want to learn more about Linux and machine becomes very hot. Did your Ubuntu, so I reviewer compile his own kernel after will always installing or is there something that I read Full Circle. if anyone should set to allow the computer to wants to form run cooler? maike618 a Chinese Translation Team, Dawud Sidote Editor: You feel free! said in the Editor: I passed your email onto Luca introduction of who replied: In my review I analyzed your email that you're Chinese. The a MacBook, not a MacBook Pro, two reason I mention this is that we've had Knightwise very different beasts. Apple say that it several people leave comments on our is normal for a MacBook Pro to run blog asking for a Chinese edition of Full hot, but i'm not convinced. To cool Editor: We love you too Ubuntu Circle. If anyone wants to form a Chinese Grandma! See Issue #3 for your MacBook Pro in OSX you'll want Translation Team, feel free! All the details to try the program SMCfancontrol, but Knightwise's story about having his are on the Translation page on our wiki, grandma (above) use Ubuntu. in Ubuntu you just have to set the http://wiki.ubunu.com/UbuntuMagazine minimum fan speed manually. 24 QQ&&AA If you have an Ubuntu related question which needs answering, email it to us here at [email protected], and we'll pass them to Robert for answering in a future issue. Written by Robert Clipsham Please include as much information as you can about your problem.
: How can I log in as root? : Is it possible to share my username, and
The aim of this section is to find decent and relatively unknown websites that will help you with your daily Ubuntu needs (and general curiosity). I will sum up the good and the bad points of the website, and -- with any luck -- the website owner will read the article and then rectify any problems mentioned!
such as screenshots or the latest list of known bugs so that you can games/applications added. You can also immediately see whether there is use the search feature which I found something you need from a program much more convenient. that is not going to work. These are usually solved over time, thankfully. Each application is given a rank from "garbage" to "platinum." Each rank's The website is not without its meaning is justified on the website. You faults, however. The excellent can register and then become an search function means that the links WINE Applications Database "application maintainer" for applications at the side become somewhat http://appdb.winehq.org/ that you use regularly under WINE, give unnecessary. And because it is a it a rank and say what works, and what sub-domain of the official WINE his month's featured website is doesn't. Most applications have several website, if the main WINE site goes perhaps more well known than maintainers which gives a balanced offline the database also goes down, I would have liked, but its overview of what rank the application which has happened several times, usefulness makes it worthy of deserves. A nice feature is that there are often around the release of a new Tmention. It is a database of games three lists, one for platinum, one for gold version of WINE. and applications which run (or don't and one for silver, so you can find run) in WINE, and to what degree. applications that run well straight away These problems are minor and do due to these lists being on the main page. not get in the way of the purpose of The website is clean and simple, the website, and so I fully with quick loading times. Down the At the bottom of each page people can recommend this as a guide for users left side are links which provide easy post problems and then hopefully get looking to run applications from access to specific things on the site help to fix these issues. There is also a Windows in Linux.
26 This is your chance to show the world your fancy desktop or PC. Please email your MMYY DDEESSKKTTOOPP screenshots and photos to: [email protected] and include a brief paragraph about Written by Javier Ravelo your desktop, your PC's specifications and any other interesting tidbits about your setup.
This is a picture of my recently installed Compiz-Fusion, and the specs of my PC:
I'm running Ubuntu 7.04 using: Pentium IV EM64T 3.2 GHz 512 MB RAM 160 ATA HD 256 MB ATI 9550 Video Card 19" Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor set at 1440 x 900 resolution. I started Ubuntu with the first release ('Hoary Hedgehog') in 2005.
Now that I've seen all the improvements and the hard work behind Ubuntu, I intend to remain faithful. MMYY PPCC Written by Rob Kerfia
As you may have already noticed, my laptop is a MacBook Pro. It dual-boots Mac OS X and Ubuntu 7.04. If you're wondering which one I like best - it would be Ubuntu but only by a slim margin. Mac OS X is quite nice, and there are lots of open source projects that have been ported from Linux (you can actually install a BSD-style ports system for it to install whatever Linux applications you want). However I prefer the control, level of customization and community involved with Ubuntu. You really can't say the same with OS X. My MacBook Pro is one "generation" behind, meaning it doesn't use the latest and fastest Core 2 Duo, but it is still quite nice. It has a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo with 2 GB of RAM and a 256MB ATI Radeon X1600 in it. It's quite fast (extra fast since I use Openbox) and handles everything you throw at it (even Folding@Home.) On the software side, my desktop is quite simple. It's just Ubuntu 7.04 but with a custom kernel and the latest build of Openbox. No wallpaper or anything else.
27 Your monthly Top5 list of obscure Linux games or TTOOPP55 BBLLOOGGGGIINNGG TTOOOOLLSS applications from the depths of the Internet. If you have an Written by Andrew Min idea for a list, please email: [email protected]
KBlogger QTM
Homepage: Homepage: http://kblogger.pwsp.net http://qtm.blogistan.co.uk
f all you want is a way f you need more power to post a blog entry when blogging, give without a lot of bells QTM (a Qt 4-based blog client) a try. It has and whistles, KBlogger is your answer. It's a templates, QuickPosts (a fast way to post a link to Isimple Kicker applet with a rich-text editor, proxy Iyour blog), trackbacks, pings, Technorati tags, drafts support, ability to edit past entries, support for file and more advanced formatting options. Protocol uploads, spell checking and more. Supports Blogger support includes Blogger, MetaWeblog (including and the MetaWeblog API (including Wordpress, Wordpress, Drupal and Windows Live Spaces) and Drupal and Windows Live Spaces). Movable Type.
To try it, just install the kicker-kblogger package QTM is not in the Ubuntu repositories. Luckily, the from the universe repositories. You can then add the author has created a Ubuntu .deb at their website. KBlogger applet to Kicker by right-clicking on Kicker, Download and install it with your favorite package choosing "Add Applet To Panel" and selecting manager. KBlogger.
28 GNOME Blog Drivel Journal Editor ScribeFire
Homepage: Homepage: http://www.gnome.org/~seth/gnome- Homepage: http://www.scribefire.com/ blog/ http://www.dropline.net/drivel/ ometimes, the best way to f you like the simplicity of KBlogger rivel is a powerful Gnome blog blog is to do so directly from but use Gnome, give Gnome Blog editor for geeks. Instead of inside the browser. That's a try. It's a simple Gnome Panel WYSIWYG editing, it uses the Swhere ScribeFire (formerly applet that, like KBlogger, focuses HTML coding language. This known as Performancing) comes in. Ion simplicity and ease-of-use. It Dgives the user more flexibility. Drivel It's a Firefox extension that lets you supports WYSIWYG editing, spell supports LiveJournal, Blogger, drag-'n'-drop rich text from pages checking, images and basic MovableType, Advogato and Atom (it into posts. It also includes tagging, formatting. Protocols include Blogger, also claims support for Wordpress and powerful formatting, notes and much MetaWeblog (including Wordpress, Drupal, but I couldn't figure out how to more. It supports LiveJournal, Drupal, and Windows Live Spaces), set that up). MetaWeblog (including Wordpress, Movable Type and Pyblosxom. Drupal and Windows Live Spaces), To get Drivel, just install the drivel Jeeran, Performancing.com, To get Gnome Blog, install the gnome-blog package from the universe repository. package from the universe repository. Then MovableType, Textpattern, Roller add the "Blog Entry Poster" to the Gnome (experimental) and Blogger. panel by right-clicking on the panel, clicking To begin using ScribeFire, click the "Install "Add to Panel" and choosing "Blog Entry Now" button at https://addons.mozilla.org/en- Poster." US/firefox/addon/1730.
29 HHOOWW TTOO CCOONNTTRRIIBBUUTTEE
We are always looking for new articles to include in full circle. Information For article guidelines, ideas, and for issue translation, please see our wiki: http://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMagazine Editor Ronnie Tucker Please email your articles to: [email protected] Webmaster If you would like to submit news, email it to: Rob Kerfia [email protected] HAVE YOUR SAY Comms Manager Send your comments or Linux experiences to: If you want to have your say in how Robert Clipsham [email protected] Full Circle develops, please attend Hardware/software reviews should be sent to: our monthly IRC meeting. [email protected] Meetings You can find our next Agenda at: Questions for future interviews should go to: http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/f2ba08 General meeting (all [email protected] welcome): Saturday 8th You don't have to say anything but September @ 1700 UTC Lists and desktop/PC photos should be emailed to: [email protected] we do appreciate the input of you, the readers, to help us make Meetings take place in the IRC #fullcirclemagazine decisions that affect the magazine. channel , If you have questions, you can visit our forum: which is on the www.fullcirclemagazine.org Details are in the panel to the right. irc.freenode.net server. Or you can use our webIRC page which will allow you to interact with the IRC channel from Deadline for Issue #5 is Sunday 9th September. within your web browser.
Projected release date for issue #5 is Friday 28th September.
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