20three » linux

GNU/Linux

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:01:27 +0000

GNU – for those who don’t know anything about GNU then GNU stands for Gnu is Not Unix. GNU was the brain child of Richard Stallman, pretty much 25 years ago. He thought that people should have an operating system that was Free, that was free in the sense that the users and the community had control over it, and had the ability to do with it as they please (so to speak). In this current times we have two huge multinationals running the show when it comes to operating systems – that being Apple and Microsoft. Both have a license and both make it quite clear that they own the operating system, and it’s hands off for the user.

Why Free Software

I am going to quote directly from the GNU site on this :

Free software is a matter of the users’ freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it means that the program’s users have the four essential freedoms:

The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).

The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).

The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

This was taken from here

GNU/Linux is the Operating System. Linus Torvalds in 1990 (or there abouts) creates the kernel Linux that would be used as one of the kernals for the GNU Operating System. There are many flavours of GNU/Linux out there, and not all of them adhere to the philosophy of free software, on the GNU web-site they list the distro’s that do. But, it’s a good step in the right direction for anyone to ditch the main OS and move towards the open source / free software OS.

I have recently been exploring different distro’s – using Sun’s Virtual Box to run different virtual machines so I can try them out before I decide to make a permanent change. My current trial is that of gNewSense – I’ll make a report on this version as soon as I have had a proper play. It’s based on Debian (which is great), but sticks more truly to the GNU philosophy.

This post has become somewhat of a ramble, and really all I wanted to do was get peoples interest in the Free Software concept and philosophy.

Let’s take a control back of our machines!

FLOSS – free/libre/open source software

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:48 +0000

When I first got interested in computers in a serious way I had great affinity with the FLOSS ideolgy. FLOSS stands for Free / Libre / Open Source Software. Over the recent years the rise of Linux (an Open Source Operating System originally created by Linus Torvalds) has really started to push the ideolgy into the public domain. People are even developing open source devices (for example the openmoko / neo free frunner an example of open source telephony).

The FLOSS community is truely a freedom movement. It enables people to gain access to computers with out the hang up of commercialism and a corporate strangle hold.

With flavours of Linux such as Ubuntu , Slax , OpenSuse (for example), becoming more and more stable, it is now realistic to use something other than Windows or Mac OS X on your computer. I’ve recently moved over to using Ubuntu, (previously I’ve used slackware and other varieties of Linux but have not found them suitible for everyday desktop / laptop usage), and I can honestly say that it’s the best move I’ve done in years with regards to Computing. I never quite found OS X was “there” – as a Developer I found it annoying that it was so close to being Unix but wasn’t quite there. With Ubuntu I have found that setting up a development environment has been easy, and any problems I’ve had have been solved with help from the online community.

I see FLOSS as the logical and correct step for humanity to go with regards to computers. Some governments have also seen the light – for example the Government in Puru has adopted Open Source across all it’s bodies. Capitalism, when it comes to progressive development stands in the way. With FLOSS we can see systems expanding and developing in a natural organic way, in a way that enables people, in a way that gives power back to the user.

If humanity does not opt for integrity we are through completely. It is absolutely touch and go. Each one of us could make the difference.
R. Buckminster Fuller

Ubuntu – a flavour of linux

Ubuntu – a flavour of linux

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:54:05 +0000

Ubuntu is a distribution of linux based on Debian – it’s Open Source, and great. I recently installed it onto an IBM t40 thinkpad. Why you might ask? The reasons : I needed a cheap laptop to use on a boat, that was sturdy, and had the potential for a long battery life. The t40 I bought for £120 off of ebay, and I bought a new battery for it – which now means I get about 5 hours usage. The installation of ubuntu was seamless, it found all the hardware the laptop had, and worked perfectly first time round. I’ve had a few teething problems, but nothing serious, and nothing a quick google and a browse on the ubuntu forum hasn’t managed to fix.

The reasons why I went for a Linux OS is quite simple – as a web developer I wanted a system that I could configure to be as compatible as the servers I deploy my projects onto. Linux was the only option.

I also wanted to use some windows software, so I’ve been using WINE . And have found it brilliant. At present I am running Reaper (a DAW) and AudioMulch (another audio manipulation environment) – and both installed under WINE perfectly.

The final test for Ubuntu was the installation of an O2 mobile broadband dongle for internet access – again ubuntu didn’t fail me. The device was recognised and all I needed to do was enter the details provided on O2 forum for connection. It was a breeze.

I now have a functioning laptop that has web access on the move, and allows me to do my development work and play around with music creation, all for around £150, considering the battery life and the decent screen size it means I have not only a decent cheap laptop but I also have something I can watch films and videos on.

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