Journalism (Published articles, 2008)The magazines and web sites I have written for include Datamation, IT Manager's Journal, Canada Computes!, Maximum Linux, Linux.com, NewsForge, Linux Journal, and OS/2 Professional. As a marketing consultant, I also ghosted several articles published on Slashdot and Linux Today.This page lists my online publications for the current year. Online publications for previous years are available from the sub-menu to the right. From March 2004 to May 2006, my OpenOffice.org "Off-the-Wall" column ran on the Linux Journal web site. In June 2006, I replaced it with a monthly blog on a wide variety of subjects. Because many people have requested a complete list of my OpenOffice.org articles, I have placed those from the column as well as other ones on a separate page on this site to make them easier to find. Articles are listed below with the most recent at the top: 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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