It's called a software license.
Free Software licenses explicitly allow you to modify and distribute the code. That's what makes them "Free".
Only the copyright holder has the right to provide such a license for their software, but once the software is under a free license it can be taken and modified. The copyright still remains with the original author for the parts of the code that that author wrote.
If users don't pay for it, the developers don't have any money to continue development. This isn't conjuncture, this is a fact. Development costs money, so without money there can be no distribution.
In the case of Debian, developers are either getting paid to work on Debian as part of their jobs, or they work in their free time. Bandwidth, hardware, etc. is all donated. In the case of Libranet funding needs to come from the users.
Having a central system administration program is a BIG feature for anyone from a newbie to a seasons sysadmin. Having a good easy to use installer with hardware detection is important especially for people new to Linux, or those setting up lots of machines. You may have time to spend a few hours/days/months tweaking your system, but many people want a system that is ready to go as soon as it's installed.
People also argue, that hey, want up-to-date Debian, just use Debian unstable, get GNOME for experimental, KDE from another source, and XFree86 4.2 from yet another. True, IFF you are quite experienced at using the Debian packaging system, and willing to pick up the pieces when somthing breaks.
Libranet is designed to be a system ready to go from the moment the install is finished. No need to install extra packages, fight with hardware configuration, etc. At the same time it's Debian based so you have the power to do anything you want with your system and have the huge Debian archive as a ready to use resource.
- Tal a Libranet developer
Re:Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but...
on
Libranet 2.7 Released
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· Score: 1
Yes, Libranet 2.7 is based on Debian Woody (3.0). This is mentioned on the features page.
Libranet is not a Debian rip off. Libranet takes Debian and adds enhancements. Enhancements that people want.
Also, remember that if we get lots of orders, then this means we can spend more resources on helping the Linux community. Right now we only have the resources to focus on just the distribution.
- Tal a Libranet developer
As one of the student admins of "The Bunker", a computer lab run on donated parts, I can appreciate how much a donataion of good parts can mean to a school. For example, just before the school year ended last year we got a PII233 donated. This was the first PII workstation in the lab.
It's amazing what a couple of geeks (me and a friend) can do with donated parts. Our lab was better run and administrated then the two "official" labs. While the other two labs were being stocked with Dell PIII workstations, and their server was crashing consistantly, our lab ran full time, and never went down.
It was a great experience working in that lab, and even though I've graduated I'm sure I'll still pop in every once and a while.
How many times has the death of the keyboard been predicted?
Over the years computer users have been introduced to many things supposed to minimize use of the keyboard, if not eliminating it all together.
Mice, well mice have their uses. I use mine mostly for GIMP and playing Quake. Usually, if I can get away with typing and using keyboard shortcuts I'm happy.
Speech input. I've tried this this to. I wasn't impressed. Even if speech recognition got to the point where it was usable, I don't think I'd like to use it. I don't think vi would appreciate being talked to. Keyboard fenesse (ahh spelling) is the only way to go. Also imagine a computer lab with 30+ people all talking to their computers.
Touch input. Every system i've tried has been painstakingly slow, and difficult to use.
Direct brain input. Slap a fance name on this one, and its what I'd use. I think that from what I've seen this is the only thing that would get me to give up my keyboard. But, until then I will continue to type my why to carpal tunnel syndrom (not that I belive in that either:)
A lot (well I don't know how many) people use Linux on low end systems, because its faster then windows. As GNOME advances will old systems be kept In mind. Will I be able to run GNOME 2.0 on a 486. I think that even as a desktop environment advance with the latest and greatest hardware backwards compatibility should still be an issue.
I've used icewm since i started using linux. To a beginner it provides a safe (no complex configs to screw up) easy to use wm. I looked at all the others and this one seems to be one of the only ones that puts back engine before the eyecandy. Others (fvwm) just don't look nice enough. Now that I kind of know what I'm doing enlightenment has replaced icewm as my fav wm (but not by far) and I still use icewm a lot. So, beginners. Go for icewm it fast easy to use and has a growing collection of themes to make it look even better.
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If the guys at Penny Arcade ever need someone to step up and write a guest strip I think they have their man.
It's called a software license. Free Software licenses explicitly allow you to modify and distribute the code. That's what makes them "Free". Only the copyright holder has the right to provide such a license for their software, but once the software is under a free license it can be taken and modified. The copyright still remains with the original author for the parts of the code that that author wrote.
In autoracing circles, DNF stands for "Did Not Finish". I wonder if this applies here too....
Every try putting 100 3 1/2" floppy disks on a spindle?
Seriously though, I'd think expense would be a factor.
My reply wasn't meant as an attack in the least. Sorry if it appears that way.
- Tal
If users don't pay for it, the developers don't have any money to continue development. This isn't conjuncture, this is a fact. Development costs money, so without money there can be no distribution.
In the case of Debian, developers are either getting paid to work on Debian as part of their jobs, or they work in their free time. Bandwidth, hardware, etc. is all donated. In the case of Libranet funding needs to come from the users.
- Tal
Having a central system administration program is a BIG feature for anyone from a newbie to a seasons sysadmin. Having a good easy to use installer with hardware detection is important especially for people new to Linux, or those setting up lots of machines. You may have time to spend a few hours/days/months tweaking your system, but many people want a system that is ready to go as soon as it's installed.
People also argue, that hey, want up-to-date Debian, just use Debian unstable, get GNOME for experimental, KDE from another source, and XFree86 4.2 from yet another. True, IFF you are quite experienced at using the Debian packaging system, and willing to pick up the pieces when somthing breaks.
Libranet is designed to be a system ready to go from the moment the install is finished. No need to install extra packages, fight with hardware configuration, etc. At the same time it's Debian based so you have the power to do anything you want with your system and have the huge Debian archive as a ready to use resource.
- Tal a Libranet developer
Yes, Libranet 2.7 is based on Debian Woody (3.0). This is mentioned on the features page.
- Tal
Libranet is not a Debian rip off. Libranet takes Debian and adds enhancements. Enhancements that people want. Also, remember that if we get lots of orders, then this means we can spend more resources on helping the Linux community. Right now we only have the resources to focus on just the distribution. - Tal a Libranet developer
It comes with GNOME 2.0.1 and KDE 3.0.3, that's hardly old.
As one of the student admins of "The Bunker", a computer lab run on donated parts, I can appreciate how much a donataion of good parts can mean to a school. For example, just before the school year ended last year we got a PII233 donated. This was the first PII workstation in the lab.
It's amazing what a couple of geeks (me and a friend) can do with donated parts. Our lab was better run and administrated then the two "official" labs. While the other two labs were being stocked with Dell PIII workstations, and their server was crashing consistantly, our lab ran full time, and never went down.
It was a great experience working in that lab, and even though I've graduated I'm sure I'll still pop in every once and a while.
Hmmm, I guess it may even be out in time for inclusion in Libranet 2.0
___________________________________
Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop
Congrats to all Debian developers
hopefully now the release cycle will speed up (I read something about woody frezing in 6months)
Any Libranet should soon upgrade (though they are already potato) and I'm all set.
___________________________________
Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop
Over the years computer users have been introduced to many things supposed to minimize use of the keyboard, if not eliminating it all together.
Mice, well mice have their uses. I use mine mostly for GIMP and playing Quake. Usually, if I can get away with typing and using keyboard shortcuts I'm happy.
Speech input. I've tried this this to. I wasn't impressed. Even if speech recognition got to the point where it was usable, I don't think I'd like to use it. I don't think vi would appreciate being talked to. Keyboard fenesse (ahh spelling) is the only way to go. Also imagine a computer lab with 30+ people all talking to their computers.
Touch input. Every system i've tried has been painstakingly slow, and difficult to use.
Direct brain input. Slap a fance name on this one, and its what I'd use. I think that from what I've seen this is the only thing that would get me to give up my keyboard. But, until then I will continue to type my why to carpal tunnel syndrom (not that I belive in that either
--
OK, so I can't sppel, so sue me.
--
___________________________________
Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop
Go sign!
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Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop
Thanks
___________________________________
Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop
So this comes as no surprize.
(About time though)
___________________________________
Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop
I've used icewm since i started using linux.
To a beginner it provides a safe (no complex configs to screw up) easy to use wm. I looked at all the others and this one seems to be one of the only ones that puts back engine before the eyecandy. Others (fvwm) just don't look nice enough.
Now that I kind of know what I'm doing enlightenment has replaced icewm as my fav wm (but not by far) and I still use icewm a lot.
So, beginners. Go for icewm it fast easy to use and has a growing collection of themes to make it look even better.
___________________________________
Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop
try icepref or iceconf to configure.
Take a look a the home page to get these.
___________________________________
Linux by Libranet - The TOP Desktop