As much as "big blue" has probably the biggest software patent portfolio and they are possibly only doing out of spite for Microsoft, I applaud IBM for their continued support for the FOSS community, and the Apache Foundation being as good as any representative for it. I hope the resources of IBM are available to support Linux especially, as it continues to face off against patent trolls like Microsoft and SCO (allthough I think SCO is as good as dead). I have nothing against patents being used for what they were intended (protecting the inventor), but when patent trolls use them as an anticompetitive weapon it brings shame to the system as a whole. What would the world be like now if it weren't for the FOSS community (including Apache)? Microsoft would probably rule at least the western world with an iron fist. It would be even more of a mafia organisation than it is today. I use OpenOffice and I'm quite happy with its performance and capabilities (especially since Microsoft brought out those stupid ribbons). I'm sure sales of Microsoft Office are struggling already and would be in dire straits if not for pre-installations and the use of Windows as marketing leverage for OEMs (package deals). Last of all, thanks to Apache for their kick arse web server! I hope you are able to continue your good work till the demise of corporate greed (so till the end of time basically).
he'll put a window in each toilet, but will charge a tax for using said window. also, each user will have to sign a eula stating that they will not try to copy said window. then someone will come along and make a toilet with a hole to look out and will share the idea accompanied by a license requiring anyone who modifies/redistributes said hole is required to license in same manner. then some guy in a black skivvy comes along and offers apples but only if you use his toilet, which is pink and has a wireless flushing device. original window toilet maker complains that people are shitting all over his windows. toilets with holes have no problem because shit goes through hole without leaving any mess (often hitting toilet with window after passing through). window toilet maker then complains that its not fair that he can't put holes in his window to allow shit to pass through becasue then he would have to share his holey window per the eula for hole, so he abandons making toilets altogether and starts a software company.
when is microsoft going to sue redhat/debian/torvalds for patent violations in linux? i guess there's more money in fud so maybe never.
they might start a fight if the linux community pokes n prods a bit more; a new distro that blatently violates as many questionable microsoft patents as possible?
the open investion network (oin) might be able to offer some legal advice to defend the distro, and the whole community could get behind the case providing evidence of prior art.
lets force microsoft to prove patentability!
I mostly agree with this.
Being a bottom-dwelling engineer who isn't the most socially competent I have had good and bad managers. The worst manager I've ever had was one who was incapable at protecting us bottom dwellers from ever meddling senior management. My management experience has been limited to projects.
From a pleb perspective, a good manager (applicable to all levels of management):
1) looks after his people, and
2) delivers results to his boss
The job of senior management is to deliver targets to their middle managers and to be good managers themselves (look after their middle managers and deliver results to the board).
The process by which a middle manager achieves his targets should not be the subject of riducule of senior management unless targets aren't being met, and in that case the job of senior management is still to follow the same rule of "look after his people".
Any manager who ridicules any of his staff (particularly in front of other staff) is a dickhead.
Also, a manager must take responsibility. Any manager who blames one or more of his people (ie the opposite of looking after them) because he couldn't deliver results to his boss is also a dickhead.
One of the most common management mistakes is making promises that can't be kept. They tell their bosses that unrealistic targets can be met because they don't want to disappoint them. The staff of a manager should never be held accountable. How can a manager set realistic targets? Simple. Consult and work with your staff. Part of looking after them is to talk with them (not at them). Have regular talks where they can freely ask questions and give feedback rather than irregular and inefficient formal meetings.
The Google findings aren't really shocking, except that technical expertise is important because a manager must be able to communicate and understand his staff, and if someone without any engineering experience/qualifications tries to manage a team of engineers he might find he begins to feel like a fifth wheel because he is unable to contribute. As a project manager at least it helps the team if I can assign myself a workload similarly to my team members, but always remembering that managing a project is a task in itself and so must be accounted for as (sometimes significant) workload.
Also, part of being a manager is learning how to deal with people. You will always have staff that have bad days or aren't as efficient as you'd like them to be. The worst thing you can do is blame them or take on their work with the mentality of "if I want it done right I should just do it myself". Undervaluing of training and development is a sure sign of a bad manager.
I don't think management is rocket science. You just have to be assertive (neither a pussy or a bully). Someone who can't say "no" to their boss shouldn't be a manager.
...either don't upgrade or create a gnome fork that retains maximize/minimize buttons. alternatively you could band together and kep bitching till the maintainers can't take it anymore and include them as an option just to shut you up. there will no doubt be this options still anyway... accessible through gconf or some other obscure method.
I agree that Debian is great for servers, as Windows does a good job on a workstation (if you get a virus on a workstation it doesn't collapse your entire business at least).
I never could really figure out how Debian could be much more complicated than Ubuntu, but I started my Linux adventure with Debian (and I'm damn thankful and lucky I picked the best first off) so I've never used Ubuntu. How much handholding does a user need? Are the new generations of users too stupid to figure things out on their own? Even Windows installs rarely go smoothly 100% of the time.
Ubuntu isn't easier than Debian, its probably just slightly different (though being based on Debian its hard to imagine it could be a lot different). For those who are looking for a Linux distro that works like Windows, the best advice I could offer them is to stick with Windows.
First of all, why is typing a comment on slashdot so tragically slow on Debian/Epiphany? I had to type this using OpenOffice.org Writer.
I think you'll find the “credo” that you speak of is most likely from those that use Linux rather than those that develop it. I'm not a Linux contributor but my hobby is programming and I do it because I enjoy it. I'm not at a stage where I'm ready to start an open-source project on SourceForge because I like tinkering and learning things on my own, but if I do I'll still be doing it for enjoyment.
People who use open-source software are welcome to complain and ask for bug fixes and new features, and as a programmer I may chooseto implement them, but I'll do so because I want to, not because I'm under pressure to. Linux kernel developers are unquestionably far better at programming than I am (and most others I would guess) but they would do so on similar grounds. They have developed a good product and fixing bugs is probably a challenge that they enjoy (as debugging is for me also). Its not the debugging process thats so much enjoyable, but its the sense of achievement from finding a bug that makes it worthwhile, and the harder the bug the bigger the buzz when you get it sorted. In a developer community there is also pride and prestige to be had for being good at what you do and this would no doubt drive developers to offer a top quality product moreso than “market demand”.
Its easy to wonder why people would give up endless hours developing programs only to give them away for free (along with the source code), but if you enjoy programming as a hobby you don't develop programs for the sole purpose of giving them away. There are many reasons for being an open-source pogrammer, and enjoyment is only one of them. Satisfaction in seeing your program being used by others would be another one. This is how it is easy to tell that those complaining the loudest about Canonical's actions are probably also probably more users than programmers.
If someone makes a living off developing source code then they aren't necessarily doing it for their own enjoyment, but that is also their choice. Many Linux developers aren't professional programmers and what Canonical does with their code is secondary. If your software is the subject of political and religious debate it may be a good source of entertainment, and indeed there may be some useful tips to be had, but if you let yourself get embroilled in the politics and religion you are putting your own enjoyment at risk. Programming under pressure from others isn't as fun as programming under your own pressure. If you read about statements made by Linus Torvalds you'll notice a sense of apathy towards the politics and religion of Linux, Open Souce Software, licensing, market share and usage, and competitors such as Microsoft. I've been a hobby programmer for over ten years, and while I enjoy a bit of programming at work that my employer also benefits from, the moment I stop enjoying it I'll stop doing it. The true “credo” of the Linux development community (separately from the Linux user community) is more one of “we do it because we want to”.
Its fun to participate in the community (including slashdot), but those who develop software for their own enjoyment (which I think is the core of the Linux community) only take seriously what will benefit them; the rest is all just amusement.
too much useless fluff.
too much formatting and layout.
too much script: client-side scripting (javascript) should be avoided where possible (and usually it is possible).
Don't need the mouse-overs or gradient under the header etc.
Keep font formatting basic.
Ditch the full/abbreviated/hidden comment crap (if you keep the markup ultra small/simple it won't take long to download all comments).
If its downloaded, show it.
The more 80's the site looks the better IMHO. Even use a non-kerning ultra geeky terminal font. That will attract more nerds.
If opinion is split, perhaps consider offering site format options.
I'm only an amateur web developer though.
I agree "Don't preach about how much better Linux is than Windows..."
Also, my advice for university labs and keeping the interest of students... having been one myself (albeit engineering instead of CS), KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID (KISS). Students of all disciplines have notoriously short attention spans and ready supplies of spit balls and laser pens. If you can't explain something in ten minutes, there is no point explaining. Demonstrate by doing and don't try to do too much. There will be those that do the absolute minimum required, and those that catch on and become interested but will want to explore for themselves.
With regard to preaching of Linux over Windows, I'm passionate about the concept of cooperation over competition, I personally like the freedom of Linux and the versatility, and I like that I'll never run out of things to learn about computer hardware and software as long as I use Linux, but I don't hate Windows. I despise the corporation responsible for it, but I would never try to convert someone from Windows to Linux because of that. Indeed I think someone who just wants to use a computer for accessing email and using a word processor who doesn't give a rats about how it works would possibly be better off using Windows.
In my humble opinion, the Linux community would be better off consisting primarily of users interested in using Linux, rather than users who were merely convinced that it was better than Windows. Otherwise websites like linuxforums would have even more of the "how do I get my iphone to connect" sorts of questions, along with even more RTFM answers.
Using an analogy to the Matrix trilogy, Linux users could be compared with the free citizens of Zion, with multitude of ignorant people permanently connected to the Matrix being the Microsoft zombies. Even the Linux extremists trying to convince everyone to use Linux instead of Windows would love that one.
To me the Linux community is sort of like an exclusive club (kernel developers are the elite group with all the geeky chicks dancing topless on their table). Perhaps the ones trying to convince others to use Linux over Windows are the ones that are too lazy to learn for themselves so they would rather convince others to put in the effort for them. Like a class of university students, the Linux community will always have those that do the bare minimum (perhaps just to impress their geek friends with screenshots of their latest compiz desktop) and those who are more enthusiastic about learning.
Anyway. Regardless of the hows or whys (and whether or not Microsoft takes over the world), I'm proud to consider myself a part of the Linux community (even if I'm right out there in the "outer rim") and look forward to its guaranteed future.
Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft has a long history of "encouragement".
As much as "big blue" has probably the biggest software patent portfolio and they are possibly only doing out of spite for Microsoft, I applaud IBM for their continued support for the FOSS community, and the Apache Foundation being as good as any representative for it. I hope the resources of IBM are available to support Linux especially, as it continues to face off against patent trolls like Microsoft and SCO (allthough I think SCO is as good as dead). I have nothing against patents being used for what they were intended (protecting the inventor), but when patent trolls use them as an anticompetitive weapon it brings shame to the system as a whole. What would the world be like now if it weren't for the FOSS community (including Apache)? Microsoft would probably rule at least the western world with an iron fist. It would be even more of a mafia organisation than it is today. I use OpenOffice and I'm quite happy with its performance and capabilities (especially since Microsoft brought out those stupid ribbons). I'm sure sales of Microsoft Office are struggling already and would be in dire straits if not for pre-installations and the use of Windows as marketing leverage for OEMs (package deals). Last of all, thanks to Apache for their kick arse web server! I hope you are able to continue your good work till the demise of corporate greed (so till the end of time basically).
he'll put a window in each toilet, but will charge a tax for using said window. also, each user will have to sign a eula stating that they will not try to copy said window. then someone will come along and make a toilet with a hole to look out and will share the idea accompanied by a license requiring anyone who modifies/redistributes said hole is required to license in same manner. then some guy in a black skivvy comes along and offers apples but only if you use his toilet, which is pink and has a wireless flushing device. original window toilet maker complains that people are shitting all over his windows. toilets with holes have no problem because shit goes through hole without leaving any mess (often hitting toilet with window after passing through). window toilet maker then complains that its not fair that he can't put holes in his window to allow shit to pass through becasue then he would have to share his holey window per the eula for hole, so he abandons making toilets altogether and starts a software company.
when is microsoft going to sue redhat/debian/torvalds for patent violations in linux? i guess there's more money in fud so maybe never. they might start a fight if the linux community pokes n prods a bit more; a new distro that blatently violates as many questionable microsoft patents as possible? the open investion network (oin) might be able to offer some legal advice to defend the distro, and the whole community could get behind the case providing evidence of prior art. lets force microsoft to prove patentability!
I mostly agree with this. Being a bottom-dwelling engineer who isn't the most socially competent I have had good and bad managers. The worst manager I've ever had was one who was incapable at protecting us bottom dwellers from ever meddling senior management. My management experience has been limited to projects. From a pleb perspective, a good manager (applicable to all levels of management): 1) looks after his people, and 2) delivers results to his boss The job of senior management is to deliver targets to their middle managers and to be good managers themselves (look after their middle managers and deliver results to the board). The process by which a middle manager achieves his targets should not be the subject of riducule of senior management unless targets aren't being met, and in that case the job of senior management is still to follow the same rule of "look after his people". Any manager who ridicules any of his staff (particularly in front of other staff) is a dickhead. Also, a manager must take responsibility. Any manager who blames one or more of his people (ie the opposite of looking after them) because he couldn't deliver results to his boss is also a dickhead. One of the most common management mistakes is making promises that can't be kept. They tell their bosses that unrealistic targets can be met because they don't want to disappoint them. The staff of a manager should never be held accountable. How can a manager set realistic targets? Simple. Consult and work with your staff. Part of looking after them is to talk with them (not at them). Have regular talks where they can freely ask questions and give feedback rather than irregular and inefficient formal meetings. The Google findings aren't really shocking, except that technical expertise is important because a manager must be able to communicate and understand his staff, and if someone without any engineering experience/qualifications tries to manage a team of engineers he might find he begins to feel like a fifth wheel because he is unable to contribute. As a project manager at least it helps the team if I can assign myself a workload similarly to my team members, but always remembering that managing a project is a task in itself and so must be accounted for as (sometimes significant) workload. Also, part of being a manager is learning how to deal with people. You will always have staff that have bad days or aren't as efficient as you'd like them to be. The worst thing you can do is blame them or take on their work with the mentality of "if I want it done right I should just do it myself". Undervaluing of training and development is a sure sign of a bad manager. I don't think management is rocket science. You just have to be assertive (neither a pussy or a bully). Someone who can't say "no" to their boss shouldn't be a manager.
...either don't upgrade or create a gnome fork that retains maximize/minimize buttons. alternatively you could band together and kep bitching till the maintainers can't take it anymore and include them as an option just to shut you up. there will no doubt be this options still anyway... accessible through gconf or some other obscure method.
traders like to talk big. maybe they're talking about trillions of picoseconds, or maybe they're just compensating for something :)
lmfao. kudos
I agree that Debian is great for servers, as Windows does a good job on a workstation (if you get a virus on a workstation it doesn't collapse your entire business at least). I never could really figure out how Debian could be much more complicated than Ubuntu, but I started my Linux adventure with Debian (and I'm damn thankful and lucky I picked the best first off) so I've never used Ubuntu. How much handholding does a user need? Are the new generations of users too stupid to figure things out on their own? Even Windows installs rarely go smoothly 100% of the time. Ubuntu isn't easier than Debian, its probably just slightly different (though being based on Debian its hard to imagine it could be a lot different). For those who are looking for a Linux distro that works like Windows, the best advice I could offer them is to stick with Windows.
" It is trying to make itself more attractive to that need their OS to think for them" -> Microsoft Linux :P
Use RhythmBox and disable all the plugins. Works for me (in Debian anyway)
First of all, why is typing a comment on slashdot so tragically slow on Debian/Epiphany? I had to type this using OpenOffice.org Writer. I think you'll find the “credo” that you speak of is most likely from those that use Linux rather than those that develop it. I'm not a Linux contributor but my hobby is programming and I do it because I enjoy it. I'm not at a stage where I'm ready to start an open-source project on SourceForge because I like tinkering and learning things on my own, but if I do I'll still be doing it for enjoyment. People who use open-source software are welcome to complain and ask for bug fixes and new features, and as a programmer I may chooseto implement them, but I'll do so because I want to, not because I'm under pressure to. Linux kernel developers are unquestionably far better at programming than I am (and most others I would guess) but they would do so on similar grounds. They have developed a good product and fixing bugs is probably a challenge that they enjoy (as debugging is for me also). Its not the debugging process thats so much enjoyable, but its the sense of achievement from finding a bug that makes it worthwhile, and the harder the bug the bigger the buzz when you get it sorted. In a developer community there is also pride and prestige to be had for being good at what you do and this would no doubt drive developers to offer a top quality product moreso than “market demand”. Its easy to wonder why people would give up endless hours developing programs only to give them away for free (along with the source code), but if you enjoy programming as a hobby you don't develop programs for the sole purpose of giving them away. There are many reasons for being an open-source pogrammer, and enjoyment is only one of them. Satisfaction in seeing your program being used by others would be another one. This is how it is easy to tell that those complaining the loudest about Canonical's actions are probably also probably more users than programmers. If someone makes a living off developing source code then they aren't necessarily doing it for their own enjoyment, but that is also their choice. Many Linux developers aren't professional programmers and what Canonical does with their code is secondary. If your software is the subject of political and religious debate it may be a good source of entertainment, and indeed there may be some useful tips to be had, but if you let yourself get embroilled in the politics and religion you are putting your own enjoyment at risk. Programming under pressure from others isn't as fun as programming under your own pressure. If you read about statements made by Linus Torvalds you'll notice a sense of apathy towards the politics and religion of Linux, Open Souce Software, licensing, market share and usage, and competitors such as Microsoft. I've been a hobby programmer for over ten years, and while I enjoy a bit of programming at work that my employer also benefits from, the moment I stop enjoying it I'll stop doing it. The true “credo” of the Linux development community (separately from the Linux user community) is more one of “we do it because we want to”. Its fun to participate in the community (including slashdot), but those who develop software for their own enjoyment (which I think is the core of the Linux community) only take seriously what will benefit them; the rest is all just amusement.
too much useless fluff. too much formatting and layout. too much script: client-side scripting (javascript) should be avoided where possible (and usually it is possible). Don't need the mouse-overs or gradient under the header etc. Keep font formatting basic. Ditch the full/abbreviated/hidden comment crap (if you keep the markup ultra small/simple it won't take long to download all comments). If its downloaded, show it. The more 80's the site looks the better IMHO. Even use a non-kerning ultra geeky terminal font. That will attract more nerds. If opinion is split, perhaps consider offering site format options. I'm only an amateur web developer though.
I agree "Don't preach about how much better Linux is than Windows..." Also, my advice for university labs and keeping the interest of students... having been one myself (albeit engineering instead of CS), KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID (KISS). Students of all disciplines have notoriously short attention spans and ready supplies of spit balls and laser pens. If you can't explain something in ten minutes, there is no point explaining. Demonstrate by doing and don't try to do too much. There will be those that do the absolute minimum required, and those that catch on and become interested but will want to explore for themselves. With regard to preaching of Linux over Windows, I'm passionate about the concept of cooperation over competition, I personally like the freedom of Linux and the versatility, and I like that I'll never run out of things to learn about computer hardware and software as long as I use Linux, but I don't hate Windows. I despise the corporation responsible for it, but I would never try to convert someone from Windows to Linux because of that. Indeed I think someone who just wants to use a computer for accessing email and using a word processor who doesn't give a rats about how it works would possibly be better off using Windows. In my humble opinion, the Linux community would be better off consisting primarily of users interested in using Linux, rather than users who were merely convinced that it was better than Windows. Otherwise websites like linuxforums would have even more of the "how do I get my iphone to connect" sorts of questions, along with even more RTFM answers. Using an analogy to the Matrix trilogy, Linux users could be compared with the free citizens of Zion, with multitude of ignorant people permanently connected to the Matrix being the Microsoft zombies. Even the Linux extremists trying to convince everyone to use Linux instead of Windows would love that one. To me the Linux community is sort of like an exclusive club (kernel developers are the elite group with all the geeky chicks dancing topless on their table). Perhaps the ones trying to convince others to use Linux over Windows are the ones that are too lazy to learn for themselves so they would rather convince others to put in the effort for them. Like a class of university students, the Linux community will always have those that do the bare minimum (perhaps just to impress their geek friends with screenshots of their latest compiz desktop) and those who are more enthusiastic about learning. Anyway. Regardless of the hows or whys (and whether or not Microsoft takes over the world), I'm proud to consider myself a part of the Linux community (even if I'm right out there in the "outer rim") and look forward to its guaranteed future.