Published articles, 2008This page lists my online publications for 2008. Online publications for previous years are available from the sub-menu to the right.Articles are listed below with the most recent at the top: KDE 4.2: Codenamed Caterpillar, promising a butterfly The upcoming KDE release may finally put to rest all the controversy surrounding the KDE 4 series. KNDISwrapper is half-done, but far from half-baked KNDISwrapper is a graphical front-end for NDISwrapper. Three graphical mount managers An overview of some graphical tools for managing partitions and filesystems. Recent Firefox extensions for tab addicts A roundup of some useful extensions for those for whom tabbed browsing is a way of life. Proprietary firmware and the pursuit of a free kernel The discovery of proprietary firmware in the Linux kernel and its drivers has caused a new definition of a free distribution. In its own way, each major distribution is looking for a way to deal with the change. openDesktop.org provides super-portal to free software sites openDesktop.org is a portal of portals -- and growing into a widely used site for downloading free software. Fedora 10 proves infrastructure matters Fedora 10 may not have any killer apps, but it's the first upgrade I've seen in a long time that actually felt like an update. Fedora 10: The GNU/Linux desktop steps forward An interview with Paul Frields about the Fedora 10 release.. Upgrading to the newest Fedora release Fedora offers several ways to upgrade. This article explains them, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. DataForm offers efficent input to OpenOffice.org Calc This OpenOffice extension simplifies the input of data into spreadsheet cells. Business vs. FOSS: Six Pressure Points Business and free and open source software can co-exist -- but like all alliances, it can be an uneasy one. Bug Labs creates open source Lego for software engineers Bug Labs is a new company that embraces the idea that innovation comes from customers. What it provides is the means for customers to built what they envison. Does c2bib remove the drudgery from bibliography creation? c2bib is a tool for extracting information for bibliographies from web pages and PDF files. You have to wonder, though, if it is faster than writing by hand. OpenOffice.org vs. Google Apps Why does anyone use network appliances when free software is available. Several years after their first appearance, the typical network applliance is still vastly inferior to its free software counterpart on the desktop, as this comparison shows. And don't get me started about privacy or computer freedom. Dillo is fast, but limited Dillo is the fastest web browser I've ever seen. Unfortunately, that speed comes at a price. FL_TeacherTool: Award-winning software with an uncertain future High school teacher Robert Arkiletian has won an award for the software he wrote. But now he wonders how to keep it updated. Ubuntu's Intrepid Ibex: Usability is hard to do A review of Ubuntu's 8.10 release, codenamed Intrepid Ibex.. Three scripts for package management on Debian and Ubuntu systems For those who prefer to install software from the command line, three scripts for package management. Searching for package information on Debian and Ubuntu systems This article surveys the resources available for learning more about packages before you install them. It's time for a FOSS Community Code of Conduct With rudeness and abuse becoming epidemic, maybe free software users should codify what they're prepared to tolerate. Alleged Israeli GPL violation settled out of court My fourth article about a case that featured the first testing of the GNU General Public License in Israel. Seven Ways that GNU/Linux Tops Vista In the last few years, something has happened unnoticed on the desktop: Free desktops like GNOME and KDE are no longer trying to catch up with Windows Vista. Instead, they've become the innovators on the desktop.. Boycott Novell: Defender of freedom or den of paranoia? Here's where I stick my finger in a light socket, talking to supporters and detractors of one of the most controvesial sites in free software. New Xfce beta focuses on usability An overview of the latest version of the third most popular free desktop. Community vs. Commercial GNU/Linux Distributions How do volunteer-based distributions differ from ones built and released for profit?. Setting mouse gestures with EasyStroke and Gestikk Two tools for setting mouse gestures. Nine attitude problems in free and open source software The free software community can be a wonderful place, but, in some ways, it can be its own worst enemy.. Mandriva 2009 helps users to grow A review of the latest version of Mandriva. KDE and GNOME Users: Different Download Habits If you can draw conclusions from their download habits, KDE and GNOME desktop users have different needs and priorities.. Portrait: Eric von Hippel, user innovation, and FOSS Long before Eric Raymond philosophized about free and open source software, Eric von Hippel was talking about the importance of do-it-yourseIfers in the creation of new products. Apparently, companies provide major innovations less often than their customers in many areas. The KOffice beta, part 2: Graphical and charting programs Further coverage of the new KOffice, this time covering some of the minor programs. KOffice 2.0 beta hints at improved capabilities A review of the newest version of the office suite for the KDE desktop. The first of two parts, this article covers the major applications: KWord, KPresent, and KSpread. Twelve myths about free and open source software Sometimes, it seems that everything that outsiders think they know about free software is wrong. After 2.0 release, Miguel de Izaca reflects on Mono's past and future An interview with one of the founders of the GNOME desktop about his most controversial project. Five outliners for Linux If you like to plan before you write, here are some of your main choices of tools. Let's move FOSS to its logical conclusion Some people think that free software has come far enough already. However, I think it needs to finish the last mile, so that we can have a completely free desktop. New Manju project aims to redraw desktop art Introducing a project that plans to set standards for desktop themes, making them easier to design and export. FSF high-priority list becomes campaign, seeks donations The Free Software Foundation is re-launching its list of the projects that GNU/Linux most desperately needs. Tools for editing vector graphics in GNU/Linux A round up of useful tools for working with vector graphics. Richard Stallman looks back at 25 years of the GNU Project On the 25th anniversary of the project that started free software, its founder looks back at the growth of free software and talks about its prospects for the future. SGI relicenses OpenGL: "A huge gift to the free software community" For months, the Free Software Foundation has been negotiating with SGI to solve a licensing issue. Now that it's been resolved, the story can be told. Writer's World Maker aims at wannabe writers Writer's World Maker is a tool for novel planning. It's interesting, but seems aimed at the amateur rather than the professional. Lancelot reaches Holy Grail of KDE menus At last -- a solution to the search for the perfect menu for the KDE desktop. GIMP User Filter allows use of PhotoShop filters GIMP has dozens of filters, but PhotoShop has hundreds. Here's a way to reduce the imbalance. Tomorrow's War: Why Free Software Users Need to Change Their View of Apple Free software users love to hate Microsoft. But maybe they need to worried about another proprietary company more. Selling GNU/Linux in a box Most GNU/Linux distributions are downloaded, but a few are available in retail commercial boxes. At times, such a sales channel can be challenging to establish and maintain. Firefox download extensions A roundup of useful extensions for downloading software from the web. The Microsoft-Novell Deal and Trust in Princes Free software users are always surprised when companies act against their best interest. Really, though, why should they be surprised? KDE Community Working Group takes care of the community Coverage of KDE's new efforts to keep in touch with its users. GNOME Debian Package Finder: Rough and ready package searching for the desktop A review of a new desktop tool. Is Ubuntu really the most user-friendly GNU/Linux distribution? Sometimes, conventional wisdom is worth questioning. Actor/author Stephen Fry endorses free software In England, free software has picked up one of its first mainstream endorsements. Behind the doors of the Free Software Foundation Ever wondered how the Free Software Foundatin is organized? Here's a quick guide to the departments and people. Inside the SFLC's "Practical Guide to GPL Compliance A review of the Software Freedom Law Center's latest legal guide for developers. Nepomuk and KDE to introduce the semantic desktop The semantic web may a ways away, but the semantic desktop should be coming to GNU/Linux by early next year. Foresight Linux: Two out of three's not bad Foresight LInux is noted for user friendliness,its use of the Conary package management system, and for showing the latest in GNOME software. I found two of these three claims meaningful, but the third less so. NimbleX is speedy, but flawed A Slackware-based distribution, NimbleX is glazingly fast. But as a desktop operating system, its new release could use some more attention, Debian: 15 Years and at the Crossroads After a decade and a half, is Debian still relevant? Or has it been superceded by Ubuntu? Fluendo walks line between free and proprietary codecs A Catalan company, Fluendo is one of the few legal sources for a number of proprietary audio formats on GNU/Linux. PartedMagic: An Open Source Alternative for Partition Management Now, you don't need to spend money on a partition editor. There's a free software alternative that you can download for free that is every bit as user-friendly as the leading commercial alternatives. Linux-libre project meets rocky reception You'd think that a completely free kernel would be welcome in the Fedora project. However, now that Alexandre Oliva is offering one, he's finding a surprisingly amount of resistance. FSF works with Los Alamos Computers to provide free computers With a little helpe from the FSF, Los Alamos Computers is offering a line of pre-loaded computers that only use free software. KDE 4.1 Review: The Rocky Road of the New KDE My review of the KDE 4.1 release. My verdict: It's enough of an improvement over 4.0 to help silence the recent user revolt, but still not at the level of the 3.59 release. Seneca College teams with FOSS projects for hands-on learning Seneca College in Toronto is working with the Mozilla and Fedora projects to give students a new experience in computer science. Free and open source software Vs. cloud computing Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see the point of proprietary network services (or cloud computing, or Software as a Service, if you prefer. Not when you have free software as an alternative. FSF organizes against Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is an international trade agreement being negotiated in secret -- and, very possibly, being dicated by large business interests. KDE 4 problems highlight shift from community users to consumers A commentary in which I suggest that one of the main reasons for the user revolt against KDE is that the project was assuming a community of users which is now in the minority. What went wrong with the KDE 4 Release? The KDE 4 release was supposed to revolutionize the desktop. Instead it met with an almost unprecedented user revolt. What happened? Beyond the Rumours of KDE 4.1's Folder View Many believe that KDE 4.1's Folder View is supposed to replace icons on the desktop. Here's a hands-on debunking of that idea. Web apps: The next battleground for FOSS? Network services are becoming an increasing concern for free software. In this article, I talk with Marco Barulli of the Clipperz project, who has some detailed ideas about what free software network services should look like. KDE 4.1 Beta 2: Two Steps Forward and One Step Back A review of the beta of KDE 4.1 that takes the recent user revolt into consideration, and tries to access if the next release will quiet the complaints. AltSearch for OpenOffice.org trumps first impressions Alternative Find and Replace for Writer is an extension that replaces the standard Search dialog window. It's rough, but powerful. OpenOffice.org extension will add PDF editng A new patent for the new OpenOffice.org 3.0 will allow the editing of PDF files. Here's what it looks like so far. Barracuda launches reluctant offensive against Trend Micro There's a new twist in this famous patent case: Barracuda is counter-suing Trend Micro, alleging violations of its recently acquired patents. Portrait: Louis Landry of Joomla! finds direction in FOSS The story of how a computer science grad found directiona and meaning in free and open source software. GPLv3, one year later On June 29, 2007, the third version of the GNU General Public License was officially released. A year later, how is it being accepted? Portrait: Michelle Bisson balances consulting with Joomla! volunteerism A profile of a member of the Joomla! content management system core team. Five Ways for Windows Users to Try GNU/Linux Want to help Windows users experiment with a free operating system? Here are five ways to do so, along with the pros and cons for each. PackageKit finds sweet spot in quest for universal package tools PackageKit is a new front end for software installation in GNU/Linux. coLinux gets second wind coLinux is a port of individual Linux kernels to the Windows operating system. After a lull, the project is attracting renewed attention. openSUSE 11: A Feature-Rich Distribution in Search of Direction A review of the latest release of openSUSE. Deposition challenges Trend Micro patent on virus scans Goran Fransson, a Swedish developer and entrepreneur, has given testimony in the Trend Micro - Barracuda Networks case that may tear the proceedings wide open. Gedit plugins for everyone GNOME's text editor is plain by itself -- but plugins extend its capabilities immensely. Lessons learned from NCSU FOSS class Will Cohen of Red Hat taught the first course about free and open source software to a graduate class this spring. Here's a summary of his experience. What do Free and Open Source Software Leaders Think of Microsoft? Everyone involved in the free software community has an opinion on Microsoft. Here are the opinions of four of the community's leaders -- and they may surprise you.. Vancouver Joomla!Day provides case study in community-building A summary not of a conference, but how the organizers used the preparation and the aftermath as well as the actual day for networking, using Web 2.0 tools. openSUSE's Brockmeier sees distro as coming into its own After several years of existence, openSUSE starts to get organized with the help of its first community manager (an ex-colleague of mine at Linux.com). Beesoft Commander: An old school file manager for the modern desktop A review of a modern Norton Commander clone. Version labeling is out of control An opinion piece about how version numbers in free software no longer indicates how finished the software is. GNewSense, the Present, and the Future A completely free distribution like GNewSense may not be for everyone, but it serves as an indicator of how far free software has come, and how far it still has to go. StorYBook gets in the way of plotting fictionl Software for managing your plotting, characters, and settings sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, StorYBook isn't there yet. Screenlets add customized functionality to the desktop Screenlets are small applications to add to the GNOME desktop. In the last year, they've become extremely popular among developers, if not users. Taking note of Basket KDE's Basket may be the best note application for GNU/Linux yet. FOSS helps Free Geek Vancouver become ethical recycler The Basel Action Network has certified Free Geek Vancouver as an ethical recycler -- one that, unlike many so-called recyclers, actually disposes of items in a responsible way. Fedora 9 tools demystify installation and upgrades Reviews of LiveUSB-Creator and PreUpgrade, two new tools in Fedora 9. Ulteo Virtual Desktop: Running GNU/Linux on Windows A simple way to try to GNU/Linux: Running it from your Windows desktop.. Famelix and the dangers of combatting Windows Producing an alternative to Windows can be bad for your health, a Brazilian distribution found out. Fedora 9: Leading edge or bleeding edge The Fedora distribution has always been characterized by innovation. However, with the latest release, it may be pushing innovation a little too far for the average user. Terminator runs multiple GNOME Terminals in same window An ingenious utility for the desktop command line. Business Logic vs. Free Software Idealism These days, business and free software co-exist with some friction. Laura Thomson on coding, the workplace, and FOSS An interview with a senior software engineer at the Mozilla Corporation. New Fedora 9 makes waves by emphasizing contributors Paul Frields, the Fedora Chair talks about the distribution's direction as it prepares for its latest release. Brad Neuberg, Google Gears, and the future of the web At the Vancouver Open Web Conference, one of Gears' developers explained to Linux.com why he thought the project was important. Creative Commons promotes standard license expression How do you define a license for markup languages? Creative Commons is trying to provide the answer. Nine Steps to Optimal GNU/Linux Setup Installation is only the beginning when you set up a new desktop. Free Flash community reacts to Adobe Screen Project Adobe announced its new project as a major step towards opening up Flash developers. However, those who are trying to produce clean room implementations of Flash were less than impressed, saying that they had already figured out most of the information released. Tim Bray provides bridge between Sun and developers Tim Bray talks about his role at Sun Microsystems as a trend-spotter in software development. GNU/Linux: Source Code and Human Rights Why should you care whether the source code is free? Because that characteristic makes free software a basis for human rights in computing. Choosing a font manager A survey of the choices available for a GNU/Linux desktop. Ubuntu Hardy Heron: Beyond the hype and into the dilemma Ubuntu's latest release is polished, but why is everyone suddenly saying that it's ready to take on Windows? It's been ready for some time. More interesting are the efforts to balance free software ethics with commercialism and convenience. Black Duck acquires Koders.com Free software industry news about some changes in the FOSS governance market. Rt2x00 project for wireless nearing success The Rt2x00 project develops drivers for Ralink chipsets for GNU/Linux. Dragbox bridges the command line and desktop If you move between the desktop and the command line regularly, Dragbox is a must-have utility. It allows easy copying and pasting between the two interfaces. Ubuntu on Windows: Wubi Wubi is a means of installing Ubuntu on the same filesystem as your Windows installation without affecting any of the files. Portrait: Luis Villa, from Buzilla to bar association An in-depth look at a long-time member of the GNOME Foundation, Open Web Vancouver shows how to run a big little conference Coverage of a conference in my neck of the woods. 11 tips for Xfce users Xfce is the third most popular GNU/Linux desktop, after GNOME and KDE. Here's some ways to make the most of it. Orca accessibility app makes one whale of an impact Made for people with disabilities by people wiht disabilities, the Orca project is rapidly closing the distance on proprietary accessibility solutions. Test driving OpenOffice.org 3.0 A preview of some of the features scheduled for the next major release of the popular free office suite. Open Media Now launched to boost digital freedom Free (as in freedom) formats and codecs for multimedia now have an organization of their own. Hunting for wireless network solutions A summary of the places to find information about wireless on GNU/Linux -- including where to find which solutions are completely free and which are non-free or proprietary. Open Media Now launched to boost digital freedom Free (as in freedom) formats and codecs for multimedia now have an organization of their own. KDE 4: Key improvements and user tips If you want to get the most out of the new version of the popular KDE desktop, here are some of the things to look for. Ubuntu machine uncracked in Pwn to Own contest Put a Windows, a Mac OS X, and an Ubuntu GNU/Linux machine together at CanSecWest, and which is cracked first? Creating graphs the old-fashioned way with Ploticus A how-to and review of a program for generating graphs from the command line. Nine improvements needed in KDE Some of the changes I'd like to see in the KDE desktop. Software Freedom Law Center spins off law firm for profit-making clients The Software Freedom Law Center has become the leading defender of non-profit free software projects. Now, the same organization is offering its service to commercial ventures under the name of Moglen Ravicher. Document Freedom Day is more than a single day March 26 was the first Document Freedom Day, a world-wide celebration dedicated to celebrating and promoting open formats and standards for office documents. LinMin announces proprietary provisioning for FOSS networks Coverage of a new free software-related business. GNU/Linux: Too much about hate, not enough about pride To me, one of the mysteries of the free software world is why so many supporters have a negative identity based on hatred of Microsoft when they could just as easily have a positive one based on their community's impressive accomplishments. Salasaga burns brightly at start Salasaga is the free software answer to Adobe Captivate. Gnash player reaches milestone, not destination Gnash is a free software replacement for Adobe Flash Player. It's making great strides, but isn't quite fully functional. Acquia ties success to growth of Drupal Some of the leading figures in the Drupal project are taking the content management system to market. 9 needed improvements needed in GNOME GNOME is my most commonly used desktop, but even I can see places where it could be fixed. GNOME 2.22 focuses on utilities and standard applications What to look for in the latest release of the popular desktop. FOSS helps Krugle help developers search for code Krugle, the popular search engine for free software source code, is up and ready for business. Jim Zemlin, Microsoft, and rabbits in the shadow of the hawk Free software's resident conspiracy theories were quick to condemn the leader of the Linux Foundation for expressing his willingness to work with Microsoft. However, if they'd look closer, they'd find that he would only do so under terms that they would agree with. Recording sounds for Impress slides with eVoice eVoice is an OpenOffice.org extension for recording and adding sound clips to the Impress slide show program. MindTouch learns the open source walk How do two former Microsoft employees end up developing a free software super wiki? GNU/Linux: World domination for the wrong reasons Some people talk as though increasing free software users was an end in itself. But if more users come at the expense of the movement's philosophical ideals, then it's not worth having.. BashStyle-NG: A good idea poorly implemented BashStyle-NG is a graphical configuration tool for virtual terminals. Free and open source software: Navigating the shibboleths Confused about the difference between free and open source software? This article explains the differences. End Software Patents project comes out swinging As its title implies, the End Software Patents campaign has an ambitious goal. To mark its launch, the campaign has started a website, issued a report on a state of software patents in the United States, and started a scholarship essay contest. Inside the SFLC's guide to legal management of FOSS projects The Software Freedom Law Center has released a short guide to the issues facing a new free software project. The guide is not complete, but what's there is promising. GNOME focuses on accessibility -- with a little help from Mozilla and others GNOME is partnering with Mozilla more closely than ever -- and, with the help of several other companies, offering money to those who can improve the options for people with disabilities. GNU/Linux Desktop: The Case Against Running Windows Apps Google's support of Wine and CrossOver Linux development is the occasion for me to argue against efforts to get Windows programs running on free desktops. New Fedora chair plans to remove obstacles for volunteers An interview with Paul Frields, the new Fedora chair and project leader, about what he hopes to accomplish while in office. Firefox feed extensions RSS feeds have become a way of life these days. Here are some of the ways Firefox extensions help you to manage or enhance them. How the community ranks GNU/Linux distributions: Giants, Challengers, and Petty Officers An effort to rank GNU/Linux distributions according to how they are regarded and not (so far as I can avoid the tendency) according to my own opinions. Free software menus reinvented A survey of alternative main menus for the GNOME desktop. Trend Micro shows how not to handle the free software community By bringing a patent case against a competitor that involves free software, Trend Micro has brought bad publicity and even a boycott crashing down on itself. When files disappear, Magic Rescue saves the day Magic Rescue is a command utility for recovering deleted or lost files. In this article I explain how to use it, step by step. What if Ubuntu hosted a repository and nobody came? Ubuntu's idea of a repository for commercial applications may sound like a good idea -- but if past efforts at the same thing are any indication, it's not likely to be successful. Trend Micro patent claim provokes FOSS community, leads to boycott A week after Barracude Networks went public with the details of the case brought against it by Trend Micro, Trend Micro is in a public relation manager's nightmare. New consulting company gambles on KOffice KOfficeSource is a European company with an unusual speciallty: Developing with the Qt toolkit in general and KOffice (and Open Document Format) in particular. In Defence and Praise of Debian At least one other journalist thinks that Debian needs to become more commercial to survive. My take is that Debian couldn't be more successful, both in influence and in showing what a community distribution can be. Sun Presentation Manager serves purpose, but needs work A review of a useful, but flawed add-on for OpenOffice.org. Software patent case defender seeks support of FOSS community The second patent case that involves free software has been brought by Trend Micro against Barracuda Networks. In this article, I give a through rundown of the events in the case and the opinions of experts -- as well as a statement from Richard Stallman himself. Developing a FOSS-Based Business: Five Questions to Ask Thinking of using or producing free and open source software in your business? Here are some things you should be asking yourself. Security basics: The concept of least privilege An interview with Dave Wreski of Guardian Digital, in which he explains one of the most important -- and most overlooked -- concepts in security. Kommando: A floating panel for KDE Kommando is a round program launcher that can be opened anywhere on your KDE desktop. HP releases FOSS governance tools, announces forums and services HP is getting into FOSS governance -- the auditing and control of free software in businesses -- in a big way. The field will never be the same again. Alexandria: Book cataloging the way it should be Alexandria is a full-featured, easy to use program dedicated to cataloging libraries. A Field Guide to Free Software Supporters Why do people get involved with free software? Here are some of the basic reasons. Brightside extends GNOME window manager Brightside is a tool for adding functionality to Metacity, GNOME's default window manager. Free Software goes Hollywood In the middle of the Writers Guild strike, Virtual Artists is bringing major screenwriters and free software advocates together to explore alternative means of production and distribution. KBarcode prints labels as well as barcodes Don't let the name mislead you -- KBarcode is as useful for labels and business cards as it is for barcodes. The Making of KDE 4 Behind the scenes of one of the biggest free software releases this year with Wade Olson, one of the major participants in KDE. ISO Master wrangles disk images If you want to do more with at CD or DVD image than burn it, then ISO Master is the desktop tool you need. KDE 4 reinvents the desktop KDE 4 is a major revisioning of the popular free desktop. Its first release proved more limited in some ways than anyone expected, but its potential is tremendous. Ubuntu Tweak off to a good start Ubuntu Tweak is a small tool that helps you gain more control of your GNOME desktop. Wikia Search issues community-based challenge to Google and Yahoo The goal of Wikia Search is to do for search engines what Wikipedia has done for encylopedias. I liked its potential, but most reviewers panned it. Haven't they ever heard of an alpha release? 11 Common Mistakes in Networking Networking, experts will tell you, is a key to a successful career. Here's how not to do it. Nine characteristics of free software users How do free software users differ from other computer users? This article attempts an answer.. CLI Magic: Viewing system information The command line has all the tools you need for keeping track of what's happening with your system. All you need is the right commands and parameters. A handful of desktop utilities for snipping multiple clips The multiple clipboards available for GNU/Linux. Choosing an ink-level manager A survey of the software available for viewing the ink level for inkjet cartridges on GNU/Linux. Home | Blog | Journalism | Magazines | Misc. | OpenOffice.org | Teaching | Contact |
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