GU4DEC Live On The Web

Programmers and others interested in the GNOME desktop environment gather annually for an event called GU4DEC, the GNOME Users and Developers European Conference. This year, there's extensive live coverage of GU4DEC (currently in progress, at Trinity College, Dublin) on the web, including a growing online photo album, audio recordings and video streams, and presentation materials. (The schedule is handy if you want to follow along.) I hope there's a similar sort of integrated documenation / dissemination from the upcoming KDE developers' conference at the Czech Republic's Nove Hrady.

Comments

With a name like GU4DEC

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't believe I'm not there... it sounds awesome. Drink a beer for me.

Just gotta be there

[TopShelf]

A conference in Dublin live on the web??? Only if they can provide a virtual Guinness...

Re:Just gotta be there

[goldspider]

"Only if they can provide a virtual Guinness..."

I don't know about you, but I'll take a real one instead!

Re:Just gotta be there

[Jupiter9]

why don't you just sit in front of the computer with a couple of these

obTom Lehrer reference

[JUSTONEMORELATTE]

The 4 is silent, you see.

--

Re:obTom Lehrer reference

[Uart]

those crazy technology-folk with their letter-number swapping! I know its cool and "edgy" because my 12 year old cousin does it. He says its cool to me an "3733t 40L H4X0R! LOLOL ROTFLMAO OMG!!!!" -Whatever that means.

Trinity College WTF?

[Graspee_Leemoor]

Trinity College Dublin.

WTF is up with this? I thought it was bad enough when people called every machine on their LAN after a Matrix character!

You can bet your ass my kids won't be going to Neo College, Dublin or Morpheus College, Dublin.

graspee

Re:Trinity College WTF?

[danrees]

Apparently it's caught on here too... :S

Re:Trinity College WTF?

[Tonytheloony]

Why would anyone want an educational institution named after a fictional religious character?

Re:Trinity College WTF?

[delete]

The parent is +5 Funny? Very poor attempt at humour.

Re:Trinity College WTF?

[Graspee_Leemoor]

Yak, Yak, Yak.

Get a Job!

graspee

GNOME in Ireland?

[WIAKywbfatw]

Q: What do you call a GNOME in Ireland?

A: A leprechaun.

Methinks that the conference's local profile might benefit from a name change.

Re:GNOME in Ireland?

[fruey]

Methinks that the conference's local profile might benefit from a name change.

Only if there was an equivalent Irish desktop effort called leprechaun, which would have a themed GUI-nness and WhIsky-Fi networking, shamrocks for the icons and dialogue boxes with [ Awright ] [ Nah Thanks ], [ Bugger it ] as the options.

Re:GNOME in Ireland?

[yomegaman]

It's because it's a GNU project, and GNU is pronouced 'guh-new' according to gnu.org. I don't like it any more than you do, but that's how it is...

What's with GU4DEC?

[Anonymous Coward]

What's with that acronym? I could understand GUADEC, or GUDEC, but where does that "4" come from in GU4DEC?

Surely they aren't trying to b3 l33t!

Re:What's with GU4DEC?

[fault0]

> where does that "4" come from in GU4DEC?

I beleive it's the fourth Guadec.

Re:What's with GU4DEC?

[donscarletti]

I think the last one was GUAD3C so presumably it is an incremental thing based on how many there have been. They just decided to integrate the number into the name so they could u53 1337 d00d sp33k as well.

Re:What's with GU4DEC?

[yomegaman]

I guess then they've got 'GVADEC' and '6UADEC' coming up, but what will they do for the seventh one? They'd better get a task force going on that, soon.

How do you get a job like that?

[airrage]

I hope this doesn't get modded down, but you know there all these conferences, trade shows, demos, etc., and exactly what kind of technical job do you have if you get to go to all these?

I mean if I told my boss I was going to take a week off and go to Electronics Expo in Vegas he'd have a fit. Sounds like a great conference, but who get's to attend?

Who, I ask, are all these people attending conferences? Are they some sort of neo-efficient coders? Any one have any ideas?

Signed,
Chained-to-Cubicle.

Re:How do you get a job like that?

[JanneM]

Well, many people who attend such things work with the technology, and are sent to the thing by their company. For this kind of conference, where the 'enthusiast factor' is fairly high, people can also be students (school's out by now), or interested hobbyists taking a few days of their vacation to go.

For academic conferences, just about everybody is a researcher, many (if not most) have a paper to present, and their university usually pays at least part of the cost. And if they don't, well, publishing is the name of the game, so chances are you will be going on your own money anyway.

Re:How do you get a job like that?

[IamTheRealMike]

I mean if I told my boss I was going to take a week off and go to Electronics Expo in Vegas he'd have a fit. Sounds like a great conference, but who get's to attend?

Well, people who work for slightly more understanding bosses :) When I went to FOSDEM it took place over a weekend, so I took a day off to recover and went along. I'm hardly a neo-efficient coder (which is what, exactly), but it was great fun regardless.

If you look at the people going, it's basically:

a) Professional GNOME hackers from Red Hat, Ximian, Sun etc

b) Volunteers who have taken time off/combined it with a holiday to Dublin.

So you don't actually need any job at all, just a bit of spare cash and an interest.

Re:How do you get a job like that?

[RossyB]

Hell, I'm here as I use GTKMM at work, and there is a GTKMM talk.

From my point of view the actual talk was useless (as it was an introduction, and I knew everything), but actually meeting Murray (the gtkmm maintainer) is invaluable.

Somehow we managed to get the company to pay for flights and accomodation, but I didn't expect that...

Little known fact:

[Anonymous Coward]

The Czech Republic locale mentioned in the article is at the furthest point from the center. Founded in 810AD by a group of merchants ill-equipped with a sense of direction seeking to sell their wares in Prague, they decided that they had enough already and settled in the first spot they found with water.

OT: What's up with your sig?

[JUSTONEMORELATTE]

I must be missing the joke -- what black holes are you talking about? The APOD in the link just describes the stellar nursery

--

\GNOME\, n. A guardian of the treasures

[gringer]

Ah, yes. GUADEC. Where you can find out 101 different uses for your regular garden GNOME.

I wonder if the GNOME Foundation will be designing new platforms for their Network Object Model Environment.

Spell this

[jabbadabbadoo]

"integrated documenation / dissemination from the upcoming"

Hopefully, someone is working on a spell checker for Slashdot too. Not quite GNOMEY, but hey, it's linux.

On the use of proprietary video streaming

[ciaran_o_riordan]

I emailed the organisers about the use of proprietary video formats for streaming video. Here's the response I got:

I fully agree with you, Ciaran. I think in this case it may have been a matter of under-staffing (or under-volunteerism) to organize the event.

I've searched the foundation-list mailinglist and have found no discussion about the use of this format.

In short: the use of this video format was not a decision of the GNOME Foundation.

Free Software has proven that it is a viable alternative to proprietary systems. We have come too far to now ask people to compromise on the beliefs that have gotten us to where we are today.

I hope future decisions are given a public discussion.

Ciaran O'Riordan

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[Cyclops]

In short: then it should not be done.

On http://live.guadec.org/audiovideo.html I can read:

Live 150kps Real Video Stream from Burke Theatre

I'm sorry, but I feel it is extremely awkward that a project aimed at making people use a Free Software desktop promotes using non-free software.
I can understand the motivation and how it may have been well intended, but this should not continue.
At least some formats have Free Software that can interpretate them, even if they are patent encumbered in some unfortunate countries like the USA (let's hope we can avoid software patents in Europe: http://swpat.ffii.org - hurry because we have little time and we've just lost one of the battles with the JURI voting).

I know Ogg Theora isn't ready yet, but it works quite well (although maybe not yet for streaming). I've very recently made some tests and hope to publish some Ogg Theora videos soon of Stallman's speech in Portugal on the 9th of June, accompanied with the player and encoder apps (built statically) since the format is not yet finalized and as it may chage, the code used to code and decode those videos must be preserved.

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[ciaran_o_riordan]

Miguel.

There was a time, maybe 4 years ago, that you were an inspiring Free Software advocate. I used to read your speechs online after you gave keynotes at conferences.

I remember a particular one about the trade that developing nations (like your homeland) make for the proprietary software of the richest continent. If I recall correctly, Mexico gave America 24 barrels of oil for every copy of Microsoft Windows plus Microsoft Office. This sort of speech is what inspired me to go on to become a Free Software advocate (through speechs and development).

The amount and completeness of Free Software is one of the most amazing creations of the last 20 years. (by the people, for the people, and it can't be removed from the people.) We have achieved so much. Though I may have become active later than others, I'm very glad to become part of this movement.

I assume you still hold beliefs of social justice, since you recommend "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" on you website. (I read this book on your recommendation. A real eye-openner, especially about the IMF.)

You have great fame in the Free Software community. People listen to you (like they did 4 years ago). I think I remember your activity log from about 2 years ago saying that your only contact with RMS was an occasional mail from him to ask you to say "GNU/Linux". I think you commented that this was annoying you. RMS can be abrasive but I hope you weren't put off from advancing the public good by his emails.

It can be argued that the software Ximian packages with GNOME is not as harmful because it comes at no monatary cost but this ignores that issue of control. Does RealPlayer snoop on users? Will Flash 7 delete my mp3s? will a future Java Runtime have silly incompatibilities and a new price tag?

Debian has a non-free section. I don't use the non-free section but I advocate using Debian. Ximian can package RealPlayer without endorsing the format or business tatics.

There are many in this world that have power to take justice out of society. There are a few that can organise the masses to fight against this. You have fame, credibility, and proof-of-code in this community. You know the issues and people will listen to you. You have every opertunity possible. If you won't stand up for freedom, who will?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

Ciaran O'Riordan
(I wish I had longer to repeatedly re-read my post but this forum ignores slow responses.)

P.S. I don't mean to take away from your contributions, I sure I run some of you code almost everyday. Thanks.

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[Skeezix]

The guy you replied to is not the real miguel. The real miguel is http://slashdot.org/~miguel/ This guy is an imposter.

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[ciaran_o_riordan]

I just checked. Your right, that wasn't the real Miguel. The real Miguel has username: The Bungi (221687)

This is quite funny because about 2 years ago, the real Miguel advocated removing the community posting section of gnome.org because someone claiming to be him had been posting there. Now here I am being caught out by an imposter and I'm thinking:
Should slashdot remove this persons account?

The quick answer is yes but this does not create a good environment. Maybe slashdot should be GPG-enabled so that people can verify the identity of other posters (if they want), and posters can assert their identity (if they want).

Maybe people who are irritated by this problem should write an auto-reply script to disclaim ownership of false comments. (or maybe people important enough to be victims are too busy coding other things.)

I stand by some of my comment to "miguel" but the tone and content were affected by my research of other comments made by this imposter.

Damn.

I'll keep monitoring this thread but I'm assuming the real miguel won't see it. A well written retraction and a version-2 of my original post would probably therefore be a waste of time (and would just amuse the fake miguel).

Ciaran O'Riordan

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[Skeezix]

This guy is not the real miguel, just an imposter. this is the real miguel. Notice the uid.

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[ciaran_o_riordan]

Your response is an easy one. It takes no reseach to make a statement like this.

It's funny, critism only requires a dislike of one aspect of a person/movement but supporting a person/movement requires you to defend every aspect.

If you have a specific question about the practicality or benefits of Free Software then I'd be happy to discuss it with you (here, or by private email, my address isn't hard to google for).

If your issue is that you didn't like my "self-righteous cunt" tone, then I partly agree with you. My original post to "miguel" was fueled by the comments of an imposter and was posted quickly because, like I said, this forum ignores slow responders.

On reflection, and disregarding the comments of the imposter, I was overly hard of a man who has contributed greatly to Free Software and the operating system that I use daily.

Ciaran O'Riordan

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[The Bungi]

Ciaran,

The Bungi (221687)

No, sorry. That would be me. The real Miguel de Icaza is here. His UID is 7116. I just occasionally pester this obnoxious troll =)

If you want to contact Miguel (I think your comments are quite interesting), I'm sure his contact email address is somewhere in go-mono.com.

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[The Bungi]

FOAD, you useless turd. Go play with your transformers or something and stop fantasizing about being other than a pathetic troll.

I'm going to really start hunting you now. Whenever you post anything other than as AC, I'll reply with my "this is a known impostor troll" template until you stop or lose all your karma and have to post at -1. Eventually you'll be reduced to posting snide AC replies to my posts while you snort and giggle down in your parent's basement, and that works just fine by me.

Be very fucking afraid.

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[ciaran_o_riordan]

So, are you the actual Bungi or an impersonator? :)

> If you want to contact Miguel [...]

Sometimes I think I should contact him, he was quite inspiring in his day. Other times I think I should concentrate on my own work.

I probably will contact him soon but I'll give serious thoughts to my wording. I wonder if he will stumble across this thread while tracking the miss deeds of the imposter...

Ciaran O'Riordan

Re:On the use of proprietary video streaming

[The Bungi]

So, are you the actual Bungi or an impersonator? :)

Well, I'm posting from my own account, so it's up to you to decide that. But I'm certainly not Miguel.

Earlier discussion...

[pen]

There's a discussion that took place a few months ago on the GU4DEC mailing list, where you can learn a little about how the event was planned. There's also more info in this press release.

Re:Fix Metacity?

[Cochonou]

You know that you can "easily" change you window manager in GNOME 2, right ?

As an example:
killall -9 metacity; sawfish
gnome-session-save

US slashdot readers...

[sw155kn1f3]

scratching the itch...
Europe? WTF?
Conference ?
OK, I'll be there tomorrow, just let me catch my old Dublin, TX train.

Re:Fix Metacity?

[ichimunki]

That would be fine if the GNOME2 session saver wasn't completely off it's rocker-- at least in my experience it is. Every now and then I had it saving multiple instances of stuff in the session file and when I restarted GNOME it'd open them all up. Or it would write stuff to the session file that I had closed and that would open back up on a restart. *sigh*

Better to go into GConf2 (? -- the config manager anyway) and change the default window manager. Or maybe you can simply start sawfish in your ~/.xinitrc before you do exec gnome-session.

Re:Slightly OT

[Epsillon]

Exactly what I was thinking, although it's not a special event call but a Guernsey private call. 73!

Re:Fix Metacity?

[IamTheRealMike]

Huh? He doesn't? Wierd, he accepted one of my patches.

Re:Fix Metacity?

[ichimunki]

I mentioned gconftool dumbass, just not by the exact command line needed.

Re:OK, CONFESSION: I AM THE BUNGI :^)

[Skeezix]

This guy is not the real miguel, just an imposter. this is the real miguel. Notice the uid.

Re:OK, I ADMIT IT, I AM THE BUNGI :^)

[Skeezix]

This guy is not the real miguel, just an imposter. this is the real miguel. Notice the uid.