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Domain: complete.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to complete.org.

Stories · 6

  1. Is Modern Linux Becoming Too Complex?

    Linux · Opensource · · posted by Soulskill · from the do-it-yourself-after-several-years-of-intensive-study dept. · 716 comments
    An anonymous reader writes: Debian developer John Goerzen asks whether Linux has become so complex that it has lost some of its defining characteristics. "I used to be able to say Linux was clean, logical, well put-together, and organized. I can’t really say this anymore. Users and groups are not really determinitive for permissions, now that we have things like polkit running around. (Yes, by the way, I am a member of plugdev.) Error messages are unhelpful (WHY was I not authorized?) and logs are nowhere to be found. Traditionally, one could twiddle who could mount devices via /etc/fstab lines and perhaps some sudo rules. Granted, you had to know where to look, but when you did, it was simple; only two pieces to fit together. I've even spent time figuring out where to look and STILL have no idea what to do."

  2. All of Gopherspace Available For Download

    Tech · Internet · · posted by timothy · from the gopherspace-is-negative-space dept. · 200 comments
    An anonymous reader writes "Cory Doctorow tells us that '[i]n 2007, John Goerzen scraped every gopher site he could find (gopher was a menu-driven text-only precursor to the Web; I got my first online gig programming gopher sites). He saved 780,000 documents, totalling 40GB. Today, most of this is offline, so he's making the entire archive available as a .torrent file; the compressed data is only 15GB. Wanna host the entire history of a medium? Here's your chance!' Get yourself a piece of pre-Internet history (torrent)." Update: 04/30 00:16 GMT by T: As several readers have pointed out below, our anonymous friend probably meant to say "pre-Web," rather than "pre-Internet."

  3. Corel Linux Beta License Violates GPL

    Corel · · posted by ryuzaki0 · from the that-ain't-so-hot dept. · 393 comments
    John Goerzen writes "Corel today began FAXing out beta test agreements for its Linux distribution. However, these agreements violate GPL in many points by distributing software under terms that the GPL prohibits." Since the distribution is based on Debian, this is justifiably making a lot of folks angry. I've attached the relevant excerpts if you click thru below or else you can view Page One or Page Two of the FAX in GIF format.

    The agreement that must be signed states "User may not reproduce and distribute copies of the Products to any other person." This violats GPL sections 1, 3, and 6. It goes on to say, "Upon the expiration of the Term [45 days]. . . User shall promptly destroy . . . Product". This violates the same sections.

    It then says "All right, title and interest to all intellectual property with respect to the Products shall remain with Corel and its licensors. No license or other right of any kind is granted by Corel's furnishing the Products to user [except for testing]. . ." This not only attempts to assert ownership over items copyrighted by others, but fails section 6 of the GPL.

  4. Promising Words from Corel

    Corel · · posted by ryuzaki0 · from the time-to-download-over-28.8? dept. · 0 comments
    John Goerzen writes "In a small press release, Corel reports that there were 82,925 Linux downloads in 12 hours. Corel president & CEO Cowpland said, "We have proven that the Linux community wants access to commercial, mainstream applications. . . and we intend to deliver them." (emphasis mine). Corel also has an interesting site on Linux." S: The actual quote was of attempted downloads, but the number is quite reasonable. Hopefully this will keep Corel motivated in porting all the apps they promised a while back. Any news of their anticipated contributions to Wine?

  5. SPI Discusses "Open Source" Trademark

    Linux · Debian · · posted by CmdrTaco · from the this-is-gonna-get-sticky dept. · 0 comments
    John Goerzen writes "The Board of Software in the Public Interest, current owner of the Open Source trademark, has announced their position on the issue, including a public comment period, in this article at the SPI website. "

  6. CNN: Why people don't hate Linux

    Linux · Linux · · posted by CmdrTaco · from the stuff-to-read dept. · 0 comments
    John Goerzen writes "CNN has a story about Linux that is very positive. They talk about the pending announcement of a "major database company" to distribute Caldera OpenLinux, and gives an interesting and funny list of things to do while waiting for 100% Java support in IE. This is probably the best mainstream story on Linux I've seen yet. "