Category: FOSS

So while working for the ASK-OSS research project, which is looking at the use of FOSS in Australian research and education, I keep coming across some absolute pearlers. The most recent was the FOSS policy put forward at Buffalo University in the US:

direct unmediated unfettered access to information is fundamental and essential to scholarly inquiry, academic dialog, research, the advancement of research methods, academic freedom, and freedom of speech

the free flow of information has for many years been hampered by incompatibilities between Microsoft software and non-Microsoft systems caused by Microsoft-specific modifications to open protocols (such as Kerberos[1]), document formats (such as HTML[2]), and programming languages (such as Java[3])

open-source software provides an alternative through whose use the core missions of the University at Buffalo can be preserved, nurtured, and enhanced

And so on and so forth. It makes for very interesting reading. I’ve also compiled in last months ASK-OSS newsletter the rationale of some well known Australian research projects about why they choose OSS. Check it out at the May Newsletter and join the newsletter for free (low traffic, very interesting!) if this sort of stuff is interesting to you 🙂

This year at CeBIT Open Source was a big deal. We were told this was because the previous years survey had an open ended question asking what people wanted to see, and the overwhelming response was “Linux”. Linuxworld coming to Australia for the first time was also probably an incentive 😉

Anyway as such, at CeBIT Linux Australia was a big participant. We had a large popular demo zone, our booth was extremely popular the entire three days and we ran two panel sessions. We were told that VioCorp would be recording the panel sessions and would a) have it all online within a few days and b) provide us with the video footage. Not only have neither of these happened as expected, but one of the panel sessions were missing from the CeBIT guide, you have to register to view the videos with an email address (and untick the “please bug me” option), they only have one of the panel sessions up, and they only offer videos in Microsoft Media Player format (when asked about Real Player as another option, they said “sure!” and proceeded to put a Real Player option up that has _NO CONTENT!_). Needless to say, I’m pretty annoyed. I would have brought a video camera for our sessions had I known. If anyone else wants to bug VioCorp about this, speak to Ian Gardiner there. Details on the website.

Melbourne and Tasmania are the current contestants for LCA2008. I have to say, the logo choices are pretty cool. Melbourne went with a tangram logo while Tasmania had a very cute Tasmanian Devil pretending to be a penguin. Awesome 🙂

Yesterday Google had their opening party for the new Sydney office. They sent out invitations to the broader community and had about 300 people turn up, most of whom were of the technical variety 🙂 I had a fun night chatting to loads of SLUGgers, researchers, and of course the Googlers. It was probably one of the most diverse technical crowd gatherings in Sydney, which meant a load of fringe people got to meet each other.

Google have something like 15 engineers in the local office (mostly Google Maps people) and they flew in 15 engineers from their New York office who were fun and interesting. Google’s office is, very cool to say the least. Bright colours, loads of room, nice hardware, a pool table and excellent kitchen. It actually reminded me of when I worked at OneTel, whose offices were Feng Shui compatible (seriously!) with loads of fish tanks, bright colours and a spacious work environment.

Google are very proactively getting more women into Google, and it was interesting to talk to Lars about some of the rationale behind that:

1) they want the best engineers out there, female and male
2) they want their workplace to reflect the diversty of ideas and approaches in the global community
3) they want a great workplace that is comfortable and fun for everyone

Pretty sensible really 🙂 They had some cool Google girl shirts, and I’ll wear mine to the next slug meeting 🙂

Hats off to you Google, I can see why it has become an engineer’s Mecca and it is great to have a team on the ground in Sydney. We look forward to your engineers participating in SLUG and the local technical community 🙂

CeBIT has been going well. Loads of fun and the Linux Australia stand is constantly surrounded by 10-20 people. We are showing off tasty XGL, giving away FOSS CDs, and talking to loads of cool people. We also have loads more new people coming to SLUG next month, both newbies and techs, so make them welcome 🙂

From my perspective, community outreach events like being at CeBIT are really important both in growing our community, and in educating the masses about why the community is the backbone of Open Source, and its greatest asset.

Rock on everyone! 🙂

Linux Australia will have a stand at CeBIT tomorrow through to Thursday. We’ll also have a big demo zone where loads of cool FOSS stuff will be shown off from embedded, to desktop and server stuff. We’ll be running a panel session on Thursday afternoon where leading innovators in the Australian market will talk about why FOSS is invaluable to them in their industries and in innovating. That’ll be on stand P1 at the front of Hall 4. So come along, visit the LA stand and demo zone and check out the panel session. This is the first time CeBIT has had an Open Source display, so it’ll be very cool to be getting in front of ~25,000 consumers with FOSS.

Rock on Linux Australia! 🙂