Free Software In Iran, KDE In Farsi

Elektroschock writes "KDE, the leading *nix desktop environment, is translated to Farsi (=Persian). Now native language KDE can be used in Iran as well. Farsi is written from left to right. Full story at Dot KDE. Arash Zeini (KDE Farsi) wrote an intresting article about FLOSS in Iran. His view: "It is not a secret anymore that FLOSS is gaining momentum all over the world. We witness an international move and acceptance of FLOSS in the private as well as in the public sector."" Update: 12/29 16:37 GMT by T : That should read "Farsi is written from right to left." (Thanks to Thomas Zander for pointing that out.)

Comments

Embedded Linux useful in Iran

[ObviousGuy]

Though desktop Linux is definitely useful wherever it is found, an embedded Linux system would be very useful in Iran.

Iran, in case you've just crawled out of a hole in the ground, is located in one of the world's most geologically active areas. In fact, a large quake has recently struck a populated area of the country and it is estimated that around 20,000 people may have lost their lives in the quake.

Earthquake recorders based on an embedded Linux operating system could be used to predict and divert deadly earthquakes like that recent one.

Imagine a beowulf cluster of those!

But seriously, using Linux is just one step in the long fight to bring about serious long-term stability to a region racked by tribal warfare and religious persecution. Software freedom is one component of true democracy, and I hope that these inroads made in Iran shine as an example to other dictator-led countries that software Freedom and true Freedom are the fruits of Western ideals. I'm against globalization as much as anyone, but seeing Linux spread in this way just shows what can be done when enlightened globalization is pursued.

Re:Farsi is Right to Left

[1u3hr]

When I hear "two hundred and six," I think "two hundred and six what? Tenths? Hundredths? Thousandths?"

Don't pretend to be stupid. You know what they mean, you just don't like it.

I sincerely doubt either of us has the qualifications to offer ourselves as an authority on the subject.

In my entire 45 years of life the only people I've heard omit "and" are Americans. This isn't street slang, or some neologism, it's what I was taught in primary school. Not having any grade one texts to hand, I did however find this:

Kenneth G. Wilson (1923- ). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
Numbers of more than one digit can be turned into more than one verbalization: twenty-five, two five; one hundred sixty-seven, one sixty-seven, one six seven; two thousand three hundred [and] five, twenty-three hundred [and] five, etc.

Which is American, authoritative, and accepts both usages.