[HARMONIC] Harmonic Distribution 0.4 development release

[Aleksey Lim]

New development release of projects that conform Harmonic
Distribution[1] effort, Sweets Distribution[2] (packages with
base software) and Sugar Network[3] (content delivering/sharing
system).


== General Notes ==


* Clear separation in Sugar Network development between software
project and deployment efforts in Peru processed by Sugar Labs Peru
under brand of Red Az�car.

Obviously, development process is more localized and core development
team includes the following people (in alphabetical order):

* Aleksey Lim, server side and client library developer
* Laura Vargas, UI Designer
* Sebastian Silva, Web UI developer

The Red Az�car, from another side, is a pure deployment effort processed
by Sugar Labs Peru. It is intended to be a "final product" to bring Sugar
Network to people in the field. Red Az�car involves much more people
[than development process] of different categories. Consult Red Az�car
home page for more information:

http://pe.sugarlabs.org/go/Red_Az%C3%BAcar

These release notes are covering only development process of software
project Sugar Network.

* From the beginning, the whole development process is being funded by
donations from community members. To make situation more clear for
possible donators, the funding request was split into:

* funding software project named "Sugar Network", request is mostly
being targeted to community members to follow regular crowd
funding model.

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Crowd_funding/Sugar_Network

We are looking for better ways to accept donations. Suggestions
are welcome.

* funding Red Az�car deployment product to distribute Sugar Network
in Peru.

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Crowd_funding/Sugar_Network#The_product

* Created Sweets Distribution translate.sugarlabs.org project

http://translate.sugarlabs.org/projects/sweets/

It is intended to translate strings from projects included to
Sweets Distribution. Right now, only Sugar Network related strings.


== Sugar Network general notes ==

* Offline scenarios.

The initial Sugar Network's design assumed covering offline
environments. From 0.4, Sugar Network provides some feasible
functionality. It is possible to start Sugar Network Node on, e.g.,
a XO laptop (XO-1.5 is preferable) to start serving clients around.

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sugar_Network/Sneakernet

* Another offline related feature is a possibility to view Sugar Network
data placed to removable device. There are might be several use cases:

* If Sugar box is a Sugar Network Node when its data is on removable
device (see previous paragraph)

* Sugar Network content that is intended to be available only
for local user, i.e., a way to extend local space to, e.g., keep
more activities. This feature is not yet Implemented.

Web UI has a way (palette for 1st button in toolbar) to switch between
Sugar Network content:

* "Network" for content placed on Master or Node server;
* "Home" content in user's home directory;
* content from mounted removable devices.

* In Web UI, it is possible to create Projects. Projects are intended
to be more general [in comparing with Activities] top-level entities
in Sugar Network to collect efforts, e.g., feedback resources,
in one place.

For example, Sugar Network itself is represented as a "Sugar Network"
project:

http://network-testing.sugarlabs.org/context/all/sugar-network


== Sugar Network Web UI notes ==


* Implemented the ability for authors to edit feedback resources
created by them.

* It is possible to delete one's own comments.

* It's possible to browse all kinds of feedback resources
as a network activity timeline.

* Toolbar design has been reworked.

* Sugar-like menu palettes have been implemented.

* Context browser grid now offers to view Projects and
Activities separately.

* Context information panel has been reworked and now informs about
context's authors.

Visit Web UI home page for further information:

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sugar_Network/Web_UI


== Try the release ==


Follow regular Sweets Distribution instructions to setup Factory
repository and start using it on supported platforms[5]:

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sweets_Distribution#Installation
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sweets_Distribution#Usage

Right after installation, Sugar Network integration will be disabled, to
enable it:

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sweets_Distribution/Factory/Features#Sugar_Network_integration

In addition, there are XO images created within the Hexokinase[6]
project. Follow the instructions to flash the images (images might
contain outdated packages, update them on the first start):

http://pe.sugarlabs.org/go/Proyecto_Piloto_Hexoquinasa/Install

Sugar Network usage tutorial was updated by Thomas C Gilliard:

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_Network/Tutorial

For features and possible issues, consult Sweets Distribution Factory pages:

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sweets_Distribution/Factory/Issues
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sweets_Distribution/Factory/Features


== Credits ==


* Peruvian community that supports this work. Especially by exposing the real need
in such kind projects and help with making deployment (of Harmonic Distribution
based project[2]) possible.

* World wide community members who donated funds to make full time
working possible.

* People from mailing lists and IRC channels who are helping in
development process.


[1] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Harmonic_Distribution
[2] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sweets_Distribution
[3] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_Network
[5] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Harmonic_Distribution/Supported_platforms#Map
[6] http://pe.sugarlabs.org/go/Proyecto_Piloto_Hexoquinasa