X-Git-Url: https://pere.pagekite.me/gitweb/homepage.git/blobdiff_plain/150b70901f74e208e27de1ca20ee7a9d310e9d35..ae5db6d19f3d85fdd5e7bd4c12be28fa3f15fc43:/blog/archive/2015/04/04.rss diff --git a/blog/archive/2015/04/04.rss b/blog/archive/2015/04/04.rss index e1d6d6eb38..09fca4037e 100644 --- a/blog/archive/2015/04/04.rss +++ b/blog/archive/2015/04/04.rss @@ -6,6 +6,411 @@ http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/ + + First Jessie based Debian Edu beta release + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/First_Jessie_based_Debian_Edu_beta_release.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/First_Jessie_based_Debian_Edu_beta_release.html + Sun, 26 Apr 2015 14:10:00 +0200 + <p>I am happy to report that the Debian Edu team sent out +<a href="https://lists.debian.org/debian-edu-announce/2015/04/msg00000.html">this +announcement today</a>:</p> + +<pre> +the Debian Edu / Skolelinux project is pleased to announce the first +*beta* release of Debian Edu "Jessie" 8.0+edu0~b1, which for the first +time is composed entirely of packages from the current Debian stable +release, Debian 8 "Jessie". + +(As most reading this will know, Debian "Jessie" hasn't actually been +released by now. The release is still in progress but should finish +later today ;) + +We expect to make a final release of Debian Edu "Jessie" in the coming +weeks, timed with the first point release of Debian Jessie. Upgrades +from this beta release of Debian Edu Jessie to the final release will +be possible and encouraged! + +Please report feedback to debian-edu@lists.debian.org and/or submit +bugs: http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs + +Debian Edu - sometimes also known as "Skolelinux" - is a complete +operating system for schools, universities and other +organisations. Through its pre- prepared installation profiles +administrators can install servers, workstations and laptops which +will work in harmony on the school network. With Debian Edu, the +teachers themselves or their technical support staff can roll out a +complete multi-user, multi-machine study environment within hours or +days. + +Debian Edu is already in use at several hundred schools all over the +world, particularly in Germany, Spain and Norway. Installations come +with hundreds of applications pre-installed, plus the whole Debian +archive of thousands of compatible packages within easy reach. + +For those who want to give Debian Edu Jessie a try, download and +installation instructions are available, including detailed +instructions in the manual explaining the first steps, such as setting +up a network or adding users. Please note that the password for the +user your prompted for during installation must have a length of at +least 5 characters! + +== Where to download == + +A multi-architecture CD / usbstick image (649 MiB) for network booting +can be downloaded at the following locations: + + http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/debian-edu-8.0+edu0~b1-CD.iso + rsync -avzP ftp.skolelinux.org::skolelinux-cd/debian-edu-8.0+edu0~b1-CD.iso . + +The SHA1SUM of this image is: 54a524d16246cddd8d2cfd6ea52f2dd78c47ee0a + +Alternatively an extended DVD / usbstick image (4.9 GiB) is also +available, with more software included (saving additional download +time): + + http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/debian-edu-8.0+edu0~b1-USB.iso + rsync -avzP ftp.skolelinux.org::skolelinux-cd/debian-edu-8.0+edu0~b1-USB.iso + +The SHA1SUM of this image is: fb1f1504a490c077a48653898f9d6a461cb3c636 + +Sources are available from the Debian archive, see +http://ftp.debian.org/debian-cd/8.0.0/source/ for some download +options. + +== Debian Edu Jessie manual in seven languages == + +Please see https://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/Documentation/Jessie/ for +the English version of the Debian Edu jessie manual. + +This manual has been fully translated to German, French, Italian, +Danish, Dutch and Norwegian Bokmål. A partly translated version exists +for Spanish. See http://maintainer.skolelinux.org/debian-edu-doc/ for +online version of the translated manual. + +More information about Debian 8 "Jessie" itself is provided in the +release notes and the installation manual: +- http://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/releasenotes +- http://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/installmanual + + +== Errata / known problems == + + It takes up to 15 minutes for a changed hostname to be updated via + DHCP (#780461). + + The hostname script fails to update LTSP server hostname (#783087). + +Workaround: run update-hostname-from-ip on the client to update the +hostname immediately. + +Check https://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/Status/Jessie for a possibly +more current and complete list. + +== Some more details about Debian Edu 8.0+edu0~b1 Codename Jessie released 2015-04-25 == + +=== Software updates === + +Everything which is new in Debian 8 Jessie, e.g.: + + * Linux kernel 3.16.7-ctk9; for the i386 architecture, support for + i486 processors has been dropped; oldest supported ones: i586 (like + Intel Pentium and AMD K5). + + * Desktop environments KDE Plasma Workspaces 4.11.13, GNOME 3.14, + Xfce 4.12, LXDE 0.5.6 + * new optional desktop environment: MATE 1.8 + * KDE Plasma Workspaces is installed by default; to choose one of + the others see the manual. + * the browsers Iceweasel 31 ESR and Chromium 41 + * LibreOffice 4.3.3 + * GOsa 2.7.4 + * LTSP 5.5.4 + * CUPS print system 1.7.5 + * new boot framework: systemd + * Educational toolbox GCompris 14.12 + * Music creator Rosegarden 14.02 + * Image editor Gimp 2.8.14 + * Virtual stargazer Stellarium 0.13.1 + * golearn 0.9 + * tuxpaint 0.9.22 + * New version of debian-installer from Debian Jessie. + * Debian Jessie includes about 43000 packages available for installation. + * More information about Debian 8 Jessie is provided in its release + notes and the installation manual, see the link above. + +=== Installation changes === + + Installations done via PXE now also install firmware automatically + for the hardware present. + +=== Fixed bugs === + +A number of bugs have been fixed in this release; the most noticeable +from a user perspective: + + * Inserting incorrect DNS information in Gosa will no longer break + DNS completely, but instead stop DNS updates until the incorrect + information is corrected (710362) + + * shutdown-at-night now shuts the system down if gdm3 is used (775608). + +=== Sugar desktop removed === + +As the Sugar desktop was removed from Debian Jessie, it is also not +available in Debian Edu jessie. + + +== About Debian Edu / Skolelinux == + +Debian Edu, also known as Skolelinux, is a Linux distribution based on +Debian providing an out-of-the box environment of a completely +configured school network. Directly after installation a school server +running all services needed for a school network is set up just +waiting for users and machines being added via GOsa², a comfortable +Web-UI. A netbooting environment is prepared using PXE, so after +initial installation of the main server from CD or USB stick all other +machines can be installed via the network. The provided school server +provides LDAP database and Kerberos authentication service, +centralized home directories, DHCP server, web proxy and many other +services. The desktop contains more than 60 educational software +packages and more are available from the Debian archive, and schools +can choose between KDE, GNOME, LXDE, Xfce and MATE desktop +environment. + +== About Debian == + +The Debian Project was founded in 1993 by Ian Murdock to be a truly +free community project. Since then the project has grown to be one of +the largest and most influential open source projects. Thousands of +volunteers from all over the world work together to create and +maintain Debian software. Available in 70 languages, and supporting a +huge range of computer types, Debian calls itself the universal +operating system. + +== Thanks == + +Thanks to everyone making Debian and Debian Edu / Skolelinux happen! +You rock. +</pre> + + + + + Debian Edu interview: Shirish Agarwal + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Shirish_Agarwal.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Shirish_Agarwal.html + Wed, 15 Apr 2015 09:20:00 +0200 + <p>It was a surprise to me to learn that project to create a complete +computer system for schools I've involved in, +<a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu / Skolelinux</a>, was +being used in India. But apparently it is, and I managed to get an +interview with one of the friends of the project there, Shirish +Agarwal.</p> + +<p><strong>Who are you, and how do you spend your days?</strong></p> + +<p>My name is Shirish Agarwal. Based out of the educational and +historical city of Pune, from the western state of Maharashtra, India. +My bread comes from giving training, giving policy tips, +installations on free software to mom and pop shops in different +fields from Desktop publishing to retail shops as well as work with +few software start-ups as well.</p> + +<p><strong>How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux / Debian Edu +project?</strong></p> + +<p>It started innocently enough. I have been using Debian for a few +years and in one local minidebconf / debutsav I was asked if there was +anything for schools or education. I had worked / played with free +educational softwares such as Gcompris and Stellarium for my many +nieces and nephews so researched and found Debian Edu or Skolelinux as +it was known then. Since then I have started using the various +education meta-packages provided by the project.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>It's closest I have seen where a package full of educational +software are packed, which are free and open (both literally and +figuratively). Even if I take the simplest software which is +gcompris, the number of activities therein are amazing. Another one of +the softwares that I have liked for a long time is stellarium. Even +pysycache is cool except for couple of issues I encountered +<a href="https://bugs.debian.org/781841">#781841</a> and +<a href="https://bugs.debian.org/781842">#781842</a>.</p> + +<p>I prefer software installed on the system over web based solutions, +as a web site can disappear any time but the software on disk has the +possibility of a larger life span. Of course with both it's more a +question if it has enough users who make it fun or sustainable or both +for the developer per-se.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>I do see that the Debian Edu team seems to be short-handed and I +think more efforts should be made to make it popular and ask and take +help from people and the larger community wherever possible.</p> + +<p>I don't see any disadvantage to use Skolelinux apart from the fact +that most apps. are generic which is good or bad how you see it. +However, saying that I do acknowledge the fact that the canvas is +pretty big and there are lot of interesting ideas that could be done +but for reasons not known not done or if done I don't know about them. +Let me share some of the ideas (these are more upstream based but +still) I have had for a long time :</p> + +<p>1. Classical maths question of two trains in opposing directions +each running @x kmph/mph at y distance, when they will meet and how +far would each travel and similar questions like these. + +<p>The computer is a fantastic system where questions like these can +be drawn, animated and the methodology and answers teased out in +interactive manner. While sites such as the +<a href="http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.two.trains.html">Ask +Dr. Math FAQ on The Two Trains problem</a> (as an example or point of +inspiration) can be used there is lot more that can be done. I dunno +if there is a free software which does something like this. The idea +being a blend of objects + animation + interaction which does +this. The whole interaction could be gamified with points or sounds or +colourful celebration whenever the user gets even part of the question +or/and methodology right. That would help reinforce good behaviour. +This understanding could be used to share/showcase everything from how +the first wheel came to be, to evolution to how astronomy started, +psychics and everything in-between.</p> + +<p>One specific idea in the train part was having the Linux mascot on +one train and the BSD or GNU mascot on the other train and they +meeting somewhere in-between. Characters from blender movies could +also be used.</p> + +<p>2. Loads of crossword-puzzles with reference to subjects: We have +enormous data sets in Wikipedia and Wikitionary. I don't think it +should be a big job to design crossword puzzles. Using categories and +sub-categories it should be doable to have Q&A single word answers +from the existing data-sets. What would make it easy or hard could be +the length of the word + existence of many or few vowels depending on +the user's input.</p> + +<p>3. Jigsaw puzzles - We already have a great software called +palapeli with number of slicers making it pretty interesting. What +needs to be done is to download large number of public domain and +copyleft images, tease and use IPTC tags to categorise them into +nature, history etc. and let it loose. This could turn to be really +huge collection of images. One source could be taken from +commons.wikimedia.org, others could be huge collection of royalty-free +stock photos. Potential is immense.</p> + +<p>Apart from this, free software suffers in two directions, we lag +both in development (of using new features per-se) and maintenance a +lot. This is more so in educational software as these applications +need to be timely and the opportunity cost of missing deadlines is +immense. If we are able to solve issues of funding for development and +maintenance of such software I don't see any big difficulties. I know +of few start-ups in and around India who would love to develop and +maintain such software if funding issues could be solved.</p> + +<p><strong>Which free software do you use daily?</strong></p> + +<p>That would be huge list. Some of the softwares are obviously apt, +aptitude, debdelta, leafpad, the shell of course (zsh nowadays), +quassel for IRC. In games I use shisen-sho while card-games are evenly +between kpat and Aiselriot. In desktops it's a tie between +gnome-flashback and mate.</p> + +<p><strong>Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?</strong></p> + +<p>I think it should first start with using specific FOSS apps. in +whatever environment they are. If it's MS-Windows or Mac so be it. +Once they are habitual with the apps. and there is buy-in from the +school management then it could be installed anywhere. Most of the +people now understand the concept of a repository because of the +various online stores so it isn't hard to convince on that front.</p> + +<p>What is harder is having enough people with technical skills and +passion to service them. If you get buy-in from one or two teachers +then ideas like above could also be asked to be done as a project as +well.</p> + +<p>I think where we fall short more than anything is in marketing. For +instance, Debian has this whole range of fonts in its archive but +there isn't even a page where all those different fonts in the La +Ipsum format could be tried out for newcomers.</p> + +<p>One of the issues faced constantly in installations is with updates +and upgrades. People have this myth that each update and upgrade +means the user interface will / has to change. I have seen this +innumerable times. That perhaps is one of the reasons which browsers +like Iceweasel / Firefox change user interfaces so much, not because +it might be needed or be functional but because people believe that +changed user interfaces are better. This, can easily be pointed with +the user interfaces changed with almost every MS-Windows and Mac OS +releases.</p> + +<p>The problems with Debian Edu for deployment are many. The biggest +is the huge gap between what is taught in schools and what Debian Edu +is aimed at. + +<p>Me and my friends did teach on week-ends in a government school for +around 2 years, and +<a href="https://flossexperiences.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/sharings/">gathered +some experience</a> there. Some of the things we learnt/discovered +there was :</p> + +<ol> + + <li>Most of the teachers are very territorial about their subjects + and they do not want you to teach anything out of the + portion/syllabus given.</li> + + <li>They want any activity on the system in accordance to whatever + is in the syllabus.</li> + + <li>There are huge barriers both with the English language and at + times with objects or whatever. An example, let's say in gcompris + you have objects falling down and you have to name them and let's + say the falling object is a hat or a fedora hat, this would not be + as recognizable as say a + <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puneri_Pagadi">Puneri + Pagdi</a> so there is need to inject local objects, words wherever + possible. Especially for word-games there are so many hindi words + which have become part of english vocabulary (for instance in + parley), those could be made into a hinglish collection or + something but that is something for upstream to do.</li> + +</ol> + + + + + I'm going to the Open Source Developers' Conference Nordic 2015! + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/I_m_going_to_the_Open_Source_Developers__Conference_Nordic_2015_.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/I_m_going_to_the_Open_Source_Developers__Conference_Nordic_2015_.html + Tue, 7 Apr 2015 10:30:00 +0200 + <p>I am happy to let you all know that I'm going to the <a +href="http://act.osdc.no/osdc2015no/">Open Source Developers' +Conference Nordic 2015</a>!</p> + +<p>It take place Friday 8th to Sunday 10th of May in Oslo next to +where I work, and I finally got around to submitting +<a href="http://act.osdc.no/osdc2015no/talk/6192">a talk proposal for +it</a> (dead link for most people until the talk is accepted). As +part of my involvement with the +<a href="http://www.nuug.no/">Norwegian Unix User Group member +association</a> I have been slightly involved in the planning of this +conference for a while now, with a focus on organising a Civic Hacking +Hackathon with our friends +over at <a href="http://www.mysociety.org/">mySociety</a> and +<a href="http://www.holderdeord.no/">Holder de ord</a>. This part is +named the 'My Society' track in the program. There is still space for +more talks and participants. I hope to see you there.</p> + +<p>Check out <a href="http://act.osdc.no/osdc2015no/talks">the talks +submitted and accepted so far</a>.</p> + + + Proof reading the Norwegian translation of Free Culture by Lessig http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Proof_reading_the_Norwegian_translation_of_Free_Culture_by_Lessig.html