Projects on the Move

COMMUNITY Free Software Projects

Free Software and its Makers PROJECTS ON THE MOVE

Free software covers such a diverse range of utilities, applications, and other assorted projects that it can be hard to find the perfect tool. We pick the best of the bunch. This month’s column covers file management with Xfe, IRC, the Sync2cd backup tool, and email printing

with Muttprint. BY MARTIN LOSCHWITZ

y the time this issue hits the cross the Konqueror or Nautilus file ous IRC networks give users the ability to newsstands, the election of the managers off your list. communicate quickly and easily. Many Bnew Debian Project Leader will The X File Explorer (Xfe) [2] makes of them use modified variants of the orig- already have happened. Debian develop- efficient use of resources and stiill gives inal IRC server. The most popular exam- ers are again deciding who will be hold users a useful feature set. It works inde- ples are Hybrid [3] by Efnet and Ircu [4] the reins of the Debian Project. When pendently of the desktop environment by Undernet. The original IRC is still this issue went to press, there weren’t using the frugal Fox graphics library. based on the program code by Jarkko even rumors about the candidates. But Color schemes allow users to modify Oikarinen, which dates back to the years one thing was for sure, Martin Xfe’s appearance to resemble Gnome, 1988 through 1991 and which is still used Michlmayr, who had held the office for KDE, or their preferred GUI. by Ircnet. For the first time since 1998, a two years, was not running. The reason Xfe is based on the X Win Comman- new major release of the original IRC Martin gave for this decision was that he der, which is no longer under active server program, simply named IRC 2.11, needed more time for other things. development, and emulates the Win- has now become available. Debian Project Secretary, Manoj dows Explorer interface (see Figure 1). The main reason for many networks Srivastava, will be posting the latest The way child windows and buttons are opting for alternative IRC server pro- updates on the election regularly in the organized resembles the Windows coun- grams is the fact that the original lacks Debian-devel-announce [1] mailing list. terpart. A context menu gives users fea- feature-richness. For example, the Unre- The nomination phase is just the start of tures for running applications on alircd variant automatically gives some an election process that takes about selected files. For example, on RPM- users operator privileges for any chan- three months to complete. based distributions, users can point and nel. Most server programs also provide click in Xfe to install. The file manager Chanserv and Nickserv services, that is, X File Explorer also integrates an image viewer, text edi- channel and nickname (IRC user name) Admittedly, there is no lack of graphical tors, and archival tools, and it supports management. However, the new IRC file managers for Linux, although the keyboard shortcuts. doesn’t aim to blindly follow the herd. selection is more restricted for users who Instead of introducing new features that need more than simple copying, dele- New IRC Major Release make life easier for chat users, the aim tion, or file moving. And if you do not Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is one of the was to facilitate the administrative side have either KDE or Gnome, you can most popular Internet services. Numer- of IRC. The new version improves net-

90 ISSUE 53 APRIL 2005 WWW.LINUX- MAGAZINE.COM Free Software Projects COMMUNITY

source of the stdout, allowing users to redirect the attack. Version output to mkisofs, create a CD image, 2.11 now also sup- and then pipe the results to cdrecord to ports CIDR nota- automagically create backup CDs. tion for more pre- cise addressing of Flexible Backups network subsec- Sync2cd uses a logfile to keep track of tions, allowing the backups it has created, and the log- operators more file opens up the option of incremental granular control backups. Sync2cd reads MD5 or SHA1 over exclusion cri- checksums to ascertain which files have teria. Earlier ver- changed since the last backup. It takes sions supported IP Sync2cd a while to set up the list when address or subnet- first launched, but subsequent backups based exclusion, are a lot quicker. The tool keeps a list of which proved the files it has stored on the backup Figure 1: Quick, lean and feature-rich – Xfe manages files indepen- ineffective as IP medium, allowing users to check the dently of your desktop environment and integrates third-party tools. addresses are contents of the medium as required. exchangeable, and split (disruption-based IRC network excluding a whole subnet typically hits a Neat Printing with Mutt breakup) handling, allowing servers that large number of innocent bystanders. The text-based Mutt email client [7] is are separated to carry on working as Administrators and users of the origi- popular with users who require quick normal and accept new users. This nal IRC will still have to do without fea- access to messages without needing to means that users with the same nick- tures such as Chanserv and Nickserv, launch a GUI. Power users often prefer a name can co-exist when the servers but unique IDs should go a long way to clear cut overview and speed to colorful finally join forces again after the split. ensuring disruption-free communica- graphics. However, mail hardcopies cre- tion. Of course, it may take a while for ated by Mutt are anything but a pretty No Kick Out the Ircnet to migrate to IRC 2.11, and the sight; they typically include the full set IRC 2.10 adopted a hardline approach in new features will not be fully available of headers and fail to separate the body this scenario: users with identical nick- until that happens. text from the headers. Also, the font is names were kicked off the server and reminiscent of the bygone days of dot had to re-connect. Additionally, the nick- Creating Backups with matrix printers. name was blocked for a while. This gave Sync2cd Bernhard Walle did not want to do attackers who wanted to grab control As professional users are well aware, without Mutt, but he did want clearer over a channel, or simply disrupt ser- regular backups are imperative, but and more eye-catching hardcopy. This is vice, an attack vector. Attackers could amateur administrators and home users what prompted Bernhard to develop a use existing nicknames to log multiple often lack the funds to invest in com- Perl script called Muttprint [8]. Mutt- clients on to a server that had split from mercial software or expen- the main IRC network. When the split sive backup hardware. Of server rejoined the network, the original course, this does not mean users of these nicknames would be they do not care about their kicked off the server. A skilled attacker data. A Python program could thus clear out a whole channel. To called Sync2cd [6] (Figure prevent this from happening, IRC 2.11 2) by Remy Blank creates [5] uses a new approach. The IRC server right-sized backups that assigns a unique ID to each client that easily fit on re-writable logs in. The unique ID is a four-digit CDs or DVDs. number that identifies the server and Users modify the config- also includes a random string. If two uration file to specify the users with the same nickname exist after directories and files to back a netsplit, IRC 2.11 no longer kicks these up, as well as the size of users off the server but simply changes the backup medium. the nicknames for both clients to their Sync2cd packs the files, respective unique IDs. starting with the oldest and The unique ID also helps to oust moving towards the newest destructive users out of channels. As the files until the backup unique ID identifies the IRC server, oper- reaches the pre-configured ators can simply use the unique ID to media size. If required, the Figure 2: Sync2cd creates flexible backups based on infor- identify the user who appears to be the tool will output the file to mation in a well-documented configuration file.

WWW.LINUX- MAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 53 APRIL 2005 91 COMMUNITY Free Software Projects

the system load, system for a long while, to offer his but instead of the assistance. Joerg Jaspert offered to normal bars and assume the time-consuming task of rea- figures, Hot-Babe ding the reports concerning the individ- displays a drawing ual candidates and deciding which can- of a woman who didates should be given access to the strips to reflect Debian systems. Within the new main- increasing system tainer process, reports are generated as load. the result of cooperation between the The topic hit the candidate and his or her sponsor. They Debian mailing give readers a comprehensive vita for list when Thibaut the candidate and form the basis for Varene announced decision taking. that he intended to create a Debian New Cooperation package and add James Troup was hesitant to accept at Figure 3: The controversial Hot-Babe utility reveals more than just the program to the first and insisted on a test phase. This system activity. official Debian led to Joerg Jaspert taking on the work tree. Only minutes without administrative privileges on the print acts as a wrapper that Mutt calls later, a whole bunch of developers com- Debian systems at first; James Troup will when printing. Muttprint accepts the plained about the pornographic content still be handling the technical side of set- printout data, processes that data, and of the Hot-Babe tool. The members of ting up new accounts. If and when Joerg sends the results to the printer. After Debian-Women [10] objected to Hot- Jaspert has full access some time in the installing the program, it is business as Babe, and it soon emerged that laws future, he hopes to be able to speed up usual for the users, as the [P] key will banning pornography in many countries the acceptance of new Debian maintain- send a Mutt message to the printer, but would prevent Debian from being dis- ers and thus give useful service to the the results are far more pleasing. tributed in those countries. whole project. Muttprint is based on the Tex program Other developers are in favor of and consequently uses the eleven basic adding Hot-Babe to Debian, not because That’s all folks… fonts that Tex supports. Users can select of the program in its own right. They … for this month at least, but I do have the font size and specify which headers refer to censorship and content controls one request before I go: if you can to print. The headers can also be placed and argue in favor of freedom of speech. recommend a program that you would in a box to separate them from the body As a compromise, Paul Hampson sug- like to see featured in Projects on the text. And Muttprint has a feature that gested reinstating what was previously Move, why not mail me with your sug- places longer messages on a single page known as the Non-US Debian branch for gestion [11]. I look forward to your com- to give you the whole message at a cases like this. This was the branch that ments! ■ glance. You can even insert a graphical previously had encryption programs letterhead at the start of each page of banned from being imported to the USA. printout. Paul Hampson’s suggestion was to use INFO Muttprint also supports other text- this branch for any programs that are [1] Debian developer mailing list: based email clients, such as Gnus [9], banned in some countries. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel- for example. The Muttprint distribution announce/ has a configuration guide for Gnus; Personnel Decisions [2] X File Explorer: generally speaking, mail users just have Anyone wanting to join the Debian pro- http://roland65.free.fr/xfe/ to get used to sending output to ject first has to complete the new main- [3] Hybrid: http://www.ircd-hybrid.org Muttprint rather than sending their out- tainer process and then wait for the put directly to the printer. Unfortunately, Debian account manager to assign a user [4] Ircu: http://coder-com.undernet.org the Muttprint project is orphaned at pre- account for the Debian machines. This [5] IRC 2.11: sent, and development has come to a last step has given rise to lengthy discus- ftp://ftp.irc.org/irc/server/irc2.11.0.tgz standstill. sions in the past. James Troup is the [6] Sync2cd: http://www.calins.ch/ only active account manager, and James software/sync2cd.html Flame Wars often lacks the time to assign accounts. [7] Mutt: http://www.mutt.org The Debian developer mailing lists are Candidates often have to wait for [8] Muttprint: http://muttprint.sf.net often the scene of heated discussions, months, and some of them give up along [9] Gnus: http://www.gnus.org but a storm that blew up recently went the way. Over 70 potential Debian devel- [10] Debian-Women: http://women.alioth. well beyond the norm. The bone of con- opers were waiting for accounts in debian.org tention in this case was a 500KB pro- December last year, for example. This [11] Tips and suggestions: gram called Hot-Babe (Figure 3). Hot- prompted Joerg Jaspert, who was ac- [email protected] Babe gives users a graphical display of tively involved in the new maintainer

92 ISSUE 53 APRIL 2005 WWW.LINUX- MAGAZINE.COM Visit the LinuxForum

See hourly presentations in the LinuxForum from companies and Open Source Projects describing the latest developments. Whether for trends, background information or reports on commercial or private use: the LinuxForum will be the focus for Open Source at the CeBIT.

Main topics at the CeBIT will be:

- Thursday, March 10, 2005 Linux Worldwide - Friday, March 11, 2005 Business with Debian Linux - Saturday, March 12, 2005 Desktop Linux - Sunday, March 13, 2005 Business Applications with Linux - Monday, March 14, 2005 Security Solutions with Open Source - Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Linux in Public Administration - Friday, March 16, 2005 Network and System Management

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