- Free-software-melb - lists.softwarefreedom.com.au

Software Freedom Day, 19th Sep - speakers wanted
by Brianna Laugher 02 Aug '09

02 Aug '09

Hi all, I am looking for people who are interested in helping share the awesome that is free software, by giving a talk or tute on Software Freedom Day (Saturday 19th September). Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to communicate to a beginners or intermediate audience, in approximately 25 minutes, some project or aspect of free software that gives you warm fuzzies and helps you sleep well at night knowing the world is a better place, or at least makes you go, "Huh. Neat." I have listed some ideas to get you thinking, below. Further notes are also at <http://wiki.cc.com.au/SFD09/Talks>. Please reply to me off-list when you know what you want to enthuse about. cheers, Brianna ==Introductory== * What is software freedom? o incl. history of free software movement * Free software licenses o could perhaps just be a component in a general talk on software freedom * How do open source projects work? o how do they get started, how do people contribute, how do people know what to do, who makes final decisions, forking * How to become an open source developer o How to find a project, how to check if it suits you, how to find easy ways to start, submitting patches? * Open formats/standards & why they matter * Introduction to free content licensing (Creative Commons) * Open access (academic publishing) * OLPC project * Firefox * Opera * Thunderbird * Wordpress * Inkscape * OpenOffice * Audacity * GIMP * GnuCash * Some feed reader (plus: what are feeds) * [Your Favourite Free Software Package Goes Here] * MediaWiki/Wikipedia/some other wiki (contributing) * HTML/CSS (web design using some particular package?) * Back-ups * Demystifying bug trackers (could look at a few - Bugzilla, trac?) * Beginning programming with Python * Programming for kids with Squeak/Alice/Scratch * Introduction to IRC ==Intermediate== * Beginning the command line * How to start your own web site (getting started with shared webhosting using open source tools) * Beginning source control (concepts + basic commands in svn, bzr) * Any of the software mentioned in 'Introductory', but with a more advanced take (starting to look at modifying it, e.g. extensions/plugins, how to tweak it yourself) * Using a debugger * Practical programming with Python (scripting - solving 'real world' problems) * Understanding the Linux stack (kernel, window manager, desktop environment, utilities, etc) * Managing software in Linux (aptitude etc) * Introduction to databases (not just SQL...) * Introduction to MVC framework? * Drupal * Greasemonkey or more generally, Firefox extensions * JavaScript * Emacs :) ==Workshops== Any of the packages mentioned above, especially in a "how to achieve X using Y" setting. -- They've just been waiting in a mountain for the right moment: http://modernthings.org/

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Podcasts from Software Freedom Law Center
by Ben Sturmfels 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

In case you hadn't come across them, I've been really enjoying the Software Freedom Law Center podcasts. I didn't initially take notice because I assumed they'd be aimed at legal folks and might be a bit dry. Turns out though, that they cover a wide range of free software issues, presented specifically for people without a legal background. Plenty of interesting free software guests too. I like the format of a recorded discussion too. I've always felt a bit distanced physically from much of the action in free software, so it's great to be able hear a bit of banter around the issues. You don't seem to get that connection from written discussion or recorded speeches. http://www.softwarefreedom.org/podcast/ Ben

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Software patents in Australia, or, a foreigner asking directions
by Ciaran O'Riordan 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Hi all, I'm building a wiki (en.swpat.org) for campaigns against software patenting. This week I'm documenting Australia, but I'm all the way over here in Europe, so I'm wondering if someone could point me to where I'd find a website or a group or a person who knows something about software patent problems in Australia. That, and I'm collecting all sorts of info - Australian companies/groups for, against, harmed, attacking, Australian court cases, news articles. Anything at all. If you could send it my way, or better yet, add it here: http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Australia Thanks in advance. (Comments on what the wiki should have in general are also welcome) -- Ciarán O'Riordan, +32 487 64 17 54, http://ciaran.compsoc.com/ Software patents wiki: http://en.swpat.org/ End Software Patents: http://www.EndSoftwarePatents.org/ Donate: http://endsoftwarepatents.org/donate List: http://campaigns.fsf.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/esp-action-alert

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Income tax returns under GNU/Linux
by Ben Sturmfels 29 Oct '08

29 Oct '08

How did people go with submitting their income tax returns this year? I'd previously been able to use ATO's E-Tax program running with Wine on GNU/Linux. That didn't work for me this year though, so I decided to suck it up and submit it on paper instead. I've also made a start on a letter to the Tax Commissioner about requiring a proprietary operating system for submitting your tax return online. I'd certainly want to see E-Tax as free software eventually, but in the short-term, would settle for it being officially supported on GNU/Linux. If anyone is interested, I'm happy to send them a copy of the letter when it's done. Cheers, Ben

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Fw: A Quick Guide to GPLv3
by Ben Sturmfels 11 Nov '07

11 Nov '07

In case you're interested, the Free Software Foundation have just released a short summary of the GPL version 3 and its motivations. Ben ----- Forwarded message from GPLv3 Information <info-gplv3(a)gplv3.fsf.org> ----- The FSF Compliance Lab has just released A Quick Guide to GPLv3, available at <http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html>. This article provides developers with an easy-to-understand overview of the major changes in the new license. It goes through each new feature one by one, clearly describing how it works and how it helps people who create and distribute GPLv3-covered software. We hope this serves as a useful resource for developers considering adopting GPLv3 for their own projects. -- Brett Smith Licensing Compliance Engineer, Free Software Foundation _______________________________________________ Info-gplv3 mailing list Info-gplv3(a)gplv3.fsf.org http://gplv3.fsf.org List information and subscription management: http://gplv3.fsf.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gplv3 ----- End forwarded message -----

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Bicycle Victoria using Ogg/Theora
by Ben Sturmfels 19 Aug '07

19 Aug '07

Yay! I've managed to convince staff at Bicycle Victoria that it's worthwhile to publish their cycling how-to video clips in Ogg/Theora. While the content of the videos themselves isn't amazing, it's a step in the right direction to make the content available to all. http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-and-riding/40364/ The conversion process from DVD footage was relatively painless too, thanks to the ffmpeg2theora program. Some trial and error was required to get a good balance of quality/size from the audio & video. Ben

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Stallman on Copyright
by Ben Sturmfels 01 Aug '07

01 Aug '07

Hi All, In case you didn't see this mentioned on Slashdot the other day... Richard Stallman made a speech at the University of Warterloo on the past and future of copyright laws. Vorth a look if you have time. Not strictly about free software, but there's a strong link. Stallman mentions that, although hard to believe today, copyright laws were created for the benefit of the public. He mentions some changes to the laws that he believes would "restore the balance" in the age of computer networks. It gave me one of those "wow, we're doing this all wrong" type moments! http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/media/Copyright%20vs%20Community%20in%20the%… I wish someone would ask him not to drink fizzy drink during a speech though -- the burping is really annoying. :P Cheers, Ben

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Free Software Melbourne email list
by Ben Sturmfels 28 Jul '07

28 Jul '07

Hi Guys, Thanks for joining the list! I realise that a mailing list may not be the best way to meet at talk to others interested in free software, but we'll see how it goes. The one benefit is that you can join without an extra password. I'm making no assumptions about what can or should be discussed on this list. I figure that's if the right people get together, then the magic will happen on its own. :D I've added a brief page describing the list here: http://stumbles.id.au/free-software-melb.html Please feel free to invite anyone to join. I'm hoping the Free Software foundation will list us on their page here: http://www.gnu.org/gnu/fs-user-groups.html Cheers, Ben

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