Any chance for a Barcamp in December?

[Owais Lone]

Hey friends,
I was thinking of having a Barcamp this December. What do you think?

OK..I'll be honest. I am being a little selfish. I'll be home for
December. That's why I was asking.

If a Barcamp is not possible, lets at least hold a tiny Linux meet.
Invite interested people and get them started with Linux.

I'm willing to share some DVDs for free.

Lets free some Microsoft slaves.

[Ehsan Quddusi]

The community is not ready for an event in winter, as it is too cold.

Yes we can have a linux meetup. Maybe it will result in a full-fledged
LUG for Kashmir.

When will you be back??Dates??

Wake up Linux people. Let us make this happen.

> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Barcamp Kashmir - Technology event in Kashmir
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Regards
Ehsan Quddusi
www.kashit.org | +91 9419422263
GTalk / Skype - ehsan.quddusi, Twitter - ehsanquddusi

[Owais Lone]

I'll be there by 11th Dec.
I already have a Remastered Ubuntu 9.10 ready with all the codecs and tools pre-installed.

http://www.owaislone.tumblr.com

[Ehsan Quddusi]

Let us try somewhere around 15-20 december.

We can even try for some sponsors to make a good quantity of linux cds
freely available.

[Owais Lone]

Cool
Let me know which apps you'd like to have by default. Also send in some artwork like wallpapers/xsplash/usplash. Artwork should be centric to Kashmir and should not contain any watermarks.

Owais Lone
lone...@gmail.com
ma...@owaislone.mp
http://www.owaislone.tumblr.com

[Mir Nazim]

+1 I am in. But 20 Dec seems to far and I may not be in Kashmir at that time. :)
I suggest for going with LinuxMint which is much more friendlier for end users.

Owais, I think you can easily remaster LinuxMint for Kashmir specific
artwork and then Ehsan can arrange for sponsors for CDs to be pressed.

Mir Nazim
Phone: +91 9469071855
Skype/GTalk: mirnazim

[Ehsan Quddusi]

Suggest some other date...

[Owais Lone]

Great.
I've come up with a usplash theme which i think is good enough for the first release.

Download the attached file and put it in

 

/usr/lib/usplash/

 

directory.

 

Run the following command and restart to see the new boot screen

sudo update-initramfs -u

On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 4:46 PM, Mir Nazim <mirn...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Owais Lone]

Send in some wallpapers

[Ehsan Quddusi]

Good, but we hardly need to customize the distro. Just put in required
/ daily use softwares / packages and we are done.

This will make users feel the power and simplicity of linux and dey
should not need to connect to distro to get basic softwares.

Let us concentrate first on what we need. Do list the packages here.

Here are mine.

1. MS Office replacement OpenOffice
2. CorelDraw replacement Inkscape
3. Photoshop replacement GIMP
4. Scribus replacing InDesign for windows
5. Thunderbird in place of outlook

Suggest more.

[Owais Lone]

Apart from Thunderbird, everything else is already in.
Evolution is also included so Thunderbird is not required. Also Evolution integrates well with Gnome/Ubuntu eg, sync with Ubuntu One.

This is what is included as of now

> Multimedia Codecs + Flash + Java
> Docky + Gnome-DO + Specto + Google Desktop
> Google Chrome + Opera + Skype + Filezilla + XChat IRC
> Inkscape + Picasa + gThumb + Scribus + Synfig Studio
> OpenOffice
> Geany + Eclipse
> AcidRip + gtkipod Manager + Songbird + Cheese + Moovida + Mobile Media Converter + RealPlayer + Minitube + VLC + Stopmotion + Sound Converter
> Ubuntu Tweak + Virtualbox + Bitdefender Antivirus
> Wine

Should we include MONO? I think most of the IT guys are .NET specialists in Kashmir.

[Ehsan Quddusi]

ya. mono will be good.
plus LAMP stack should be there.

[Mir Nazim]

Hold your guns buys. Will you be installing that much stuff by
default. Don't thinks thats a good idea.
1. Deafult distro should be as minimal as possible.
2. Replace Rythmbox with Banshee
3. Install VLC, consider removing Totem(it sucks any way)
and provide these packages separately to those who are interested

Vote: Let's move FOSS related discussion to separate list. I already
have FOSSKashmir (http://groups.google.com/group/fosskashmir/) group
registered long time back. What say?

[Owais Lone]

We don't have the ''One CD" problem. We can use DVDs.
I agree with you about bloating the distro but most of the guys don't have good internet connections there. So we should make sure that everything can be done without connecting as was pointed by Ehsan.

Later users can remove stuff easily like I'm going to remove Broadcom,Nvidia,ATI drivers and MONO once the distro is final.

I removed Komodo-IDE as it'll just act like a Trial-ware and there is no ethical solution for the problem.

I'm not sure about removing Totem as it is integrated into Mozilla and other apps. We have RealPlayer too for playing 3gp files. Honestly, Totem is not needed. I'll remove it if you are sure it won't create problems later.

Songbird is the ultimate music player out there and it's included. Rythmbox is just an alternative for slower computers.
Is Banshee light enough? How about replacing Rythmbox with some ultra light player?

I would like to remove Google Desktop, but Tracker has serious bugs and Beagle sucks. Should we go without Indexed Desktop Search? Keep in mind that newbies won't be using whereis stuff.

Can't we use both the groups simultaneously as there are just 8 guys subscribed to FOSSKashmir.

[Mir Nazim]

I have no problem is doing it here on this list if its fine for
everyone on this list. After all this is a generic tech list not all
people want to listen to FOSS Stuff`

[Ehsan Quddusi]

Very very few people are active on this list but i am sure all are
following the discussion. So let it go here, as they will be in touch
with the developments then.

@Nazim - To make people get started with Linux, we have to spoon feed
them, so that they will not feel it difficult to use. And u know,
installing packages on the linux machines is not easy go for a end
user, so let these packages be there in distro. We can make these
distros easily available so that anybody interested can get it for
use.

Suggest few more things which we can include and which can make a
difference for end user.

[Raouf Athar]

Hi,

The most common users belong but not limited to the following categories:
 
a.  Office use: Use Tally or other accounting software, Office Packages, scanning, printing, Conversion to PDF

b.  Common users: They use computers to access flash drives, Mobile Phones for downloading and software installation,  Listen to MP3, View commonly available CDs and DVD movies, user Office package, burn CDs,

c.  Gamers: They keep on searching new and exciting games like IGI etc and other 3d racing and fighting games.

d.  Designers: Use Adobe, Corel, Video Editing and web designers use WYSWYG editors like Dreamweaver etc.

e.  Developers: IDE's, Editors, and sometimes Graphics Suits

f.   Internet cafes: use it for internet access, chating, Downloading Management, PDF viewing, and web cams etc (of course they have lots of virus... and Linux is nicer for them and can better promote Linux)

Regards,
Raouf Athar
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[Owais Lone]

b d e and f are covered.

a is covered except Tally. Suggest an alternative.

We have Geany, but it's more of a desktop apps ide. Not for the web. Should I inlcude Komodo-*?


Gaming is the only department where we can loose. It's not that Linux in not capable, it's just that games cost more than hollywood movies to make and we linux guys don't buy software. We have some apps like Cedega to run windows games, it does good job with a couple of year old games but it's not free.

By they way, IGI ain't "NEW" and "EXITING" anymore.

[Owais Lone]

Internet Cafe guys can use the guest user mode with automatic logins. That way no Cookies/Cache will be persistent.
Also they can use Urban Terror on thee local network to earn a lot of extra cash. May be then we can have a UT Tournament at next Barcamp. haha

[S. Yasser Kazmi]

Try wine. It lets you run Windows apps on Linux.

Regards,

Yasser Kazmi

On Fri, Nov 27, 2009 at 11:32 AM, Owais Lone <lone...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Owais Lone]

Wine is already in but it's too bad. Wine should be the last alternative. 
I've never seen Tally. I don't know what it does exactly.
What about GNUCash?

[Owais Lone]

Another alternative is AVSAP. Someone please try GnuCash and AVSAP.

[S. Yasser Kazmi]

GNUcash is good for personal accounting. Tally is for business accounting, works well with wine.

I have tested Tally 9.0 on Fedora 9.0. No issues with that.

Warm regards,

Yasser Kazmi

On 27-Nov-09, at 12:07 PM, Owais Lone <lone...@gmail.com> wrote:

Another alternative is AVSAP. Someone please try GnuCash and AVSAP.

[Mir Nazim]

Yup Tally works fine with Wine. I have tested it. They used to have a
linux version also. I am not sure what's its status right now. I
personally do not have any grudges against closed source software. If
its the only thing that works for you, use it. But if there is a FOSS
software which work better or equivalent why not use it. For example,
I cannot imagine using anything other than Firefox for internet,
simply because its better.

Dunno much about Office suites. I have never used any office suite
since Google Docs came out, coz that's the only thing that works for
me. And yeah, its closed source but it the best thing out there. Same
is the case with gmail. Gmail + Gears = One Kick Ass Email Client
which is almost impossible to beat. My point is, there is no problem
in using closed source software as long as it works better than FOSS
for you and you PAY for it(if its for money). I just favor
practicality above purity.

@ehsan
I understand that packaging can be a bit difficult for newbies, all
though Ubuntu Software Center renders this claim pointless but you
still need internet access to use it, but isn't that the whole point
of the meet. We will talk about it and teach them basic stuff. We can
even have an Install Fest, where people bring in their laptops and
PC's and we will install Ubuntu on them. But bloating the basic distro
is the biggest mistake that we will do. Remember earlier distros used
to be bloated to hell and the reason Ubuntu is popular is I think zero
or minimal bloat.

I am just throwing ideas at the comminty. No intention to start the flame war.

@owais
Please send the screenshot of the splash screen you made. It's easier
to check it that way. Even better share is on UbuntuOne.

[Owais Lone]

Fine. Lets remove some apps which we won't miss like Opera/Moovida Media Center/WebHTTRACK.

Codecs/falsh/java

Firefox/Chrome/Skype/Filezilla

Bitdefender Antivirus(for dualboot people) / VirtualBox /Ubuntu Tweak

Songbird/ VLC / Sound Convertor / RealPlayer / Cheese/ Miro / Pitivi /Audacity

Gnome-Do /Docky/ Parcellite / Zekr (Quran) / Blueman+BlueProximity /

Picasa / Inkscape /  Scribus /

WordNet Offline Dictionary

LAMP

All of the FullCircle Magazine issues will be available after install from the home directory.

All default Ubuntu Apps will be available too.

Some non-free apps (CrossOver Office and Komodo-IDE) will be available as Installers in the Home Directory after installation . They'll not be installed by default. Individuals can choose to install for themselves and "pay" for the license. ;-)
Also some adobe air apps will be available in the same way.

[Mir Nazim]

Start with LinuxMint it has most of it installed already. You will
just need to add VLC etc

[Owais Lone]

The problem is that I don't have Mint. Have a 128kbps connection so can't download.

[Owais Lone]

I've come up with an alternative.
Will make a minimal remaster with basic apps and codecs like vlc.
Will have an extra DVD which will act as an offline repository and will contain all other packages like LAMP, ECLIPSE, VirtualBox etc.

I'm trying to merge the two images. That way we can have both a minimal install live cd and offline repository on the same disk.

I've packaged the customized artwork in a Deb file so that you guys can try it out easily.
Change your wallpaper to Dal  for best effect.

Sorry for disturbing at this hour,I know all of you are busy with EID. Just couldn't stop myself.


Eid Mubarak.

Owais Lone

[Owais Lone]

Ooops, forgot to add sounds to the deb file.
Here is an updated version.

[Mir Nazim]

where is it. don't attach it to mail. Share is somewhere. MediaFire or ubuntuOne

[Owais Lone]

I'm uploading it. My internet connection is terrible so don't know if it'll succeed or not.

Time for an update.

I've succeeded in merging Customized Live CD and APT Repository onto one disk.

It'll install these apps by default.

Codecs, Java Runtime, A couple of small games, Docky, GnomeDo,Picasa, gThumb, Chrome, Skype, Wordnet Offline Dictionary,Cheese, Audacity,Pitivi,VLC,SoundConvertor,UbuntuTweak,Bitdefender Antivirus,Songbird,Wine1.2

Rest of the apps can be installed offline from the same disk.

[Owais Lone]

I cannot see my files from the web interface of Ubuntu One. It just keeps loading on and on for ever.
Any ideas?

[Owais Lone]

Figured out how to do it from desktop. It asks for email of the person I want to share with. Which email are you using with ubuntu one?

On Sat, Nov 28, 2009 at 9:30 PM, Owais Lone <lone...@gmail.com> wrote:

I cannot see my files from the web interface of Ubuntu One. It just keeps loading on and on for ever.
Any ideas?

[Mir Nazim]

I just tried ubuntuOne for syncing my Tomboy notes and that works
fine. Not sure about the rest

[Owais Lone]

Can't upload the deb package. Have attached Screenshots to this post. Check them out.

[Owais Lone]

I think the distro is done with. We should focus on sponsorship/venue now. Also I've a couple of exams coming up so won't be able to dedicate much time to it.

[Mir Nazim]

gmail. See if you can make it public. and share it with a url

[Owais Lone]

Here is the public link.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/275756/BarcampKashmirLinux-Artwork-Sounds.deb

Love you dropbox.

[Owais Lone]

I was checking out Linux Mint 8 website. Looks great. If someone can arrange an ISO for me a couple of days before the meet, i can easily shift base to Mint for the betterment of all.

[Owais Lone]

Hello everyone.

I finally got the live cd to work properly. There sits some demon in Remastersys which stops at GDM and asks for password when booting from the LiveCD. Had to breakup with Remastersys and manually remaster the disk using makesqfs and chroot. It's not that difficult but takes hell lot of time. Artwork is not that great but I'm not going to remaster again. I can for sure package it as an update (.deb).


My next paper is in 3 days, so will try to stay away from the mailing list.

Distro is ready. You guys go on and decide date and venue.
My vote goes to anything between 12th - 15th

[Owais Lone]

We shall call this feature freeze.
Here is the final Artwork Package. I took the background from Barcamp Kashmir website.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/275756/FOSSKashmir-Artwork.deb

Good Night/Morning

[Mir Nazim]

What am I supposed to see after installing this one :)

Don't understand what to expect after installing

[Owais Lone]

It should replace your boot screen aka usplash+xsplash. It will also use a new login sound.

[Owais Lone]

So no one is interested any more. :-(

[Raouf Athar]

On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Owais Lone <lone...@gmail.com> wrote:

So no one is interested any more.  :-(

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Barcamp Kashmir - Technology event in Kashmir
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To post to this group, send email to barcamp...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
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