Running a free software project can be a rewarding experience if you begin with your eyes open. In my personal experience, starting a free software project with only a head-on view of a few existing free software projects is not really enough. Some basic background information can really help get you started in the right direction.
Intermediate
Running a free software project
Starting with your eyes open can really help!
Hacker's code | IntermediateBy John Calcote
Online on: recently published
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From the driver to the window manager: how to install Compiz Fusion for Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Xubuntu
The step-by-step guide to installing ATI/NVIDIA, Xgl/AIGLX, and Compiz Fusion
User space | IntermediateBy Andrew Min
Online on: 2007-10-10
The 3D world just got a lot brighter with the birth of Compiz Fusion, a powerful compositing window manager for GNU/Linux operating systems. Originally there was one project, Compiz, but the project forked into Compiz, and the unstable and unofficial fork of Compiz known as Beryl. Now, the two projects have been reunited for one amazing compositing window manager. In a nutshell, it adds effects to your desktop like wobbly windows (the windows actually wobble when you move them), a cool virtual desktops manager via a cube, and much more. For proof of how cool it is, just do a Google Video/YouTube search for “compiz fusion”.
Extending Nautilus: rotating JPG images
Customize the GNOME file manager with scripts
User space | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-10-06
I recently went looking for a way to rotate JPG images from within Nautilus, and found a nice way to do this and more. It’s not difficult to customize the right-click popup menu in Nautilus to perform custom actions on files. Here are some instructions and scripts to get you started.
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Fast programming with Rexx
Ease of use and power can co-exist
Hacker's code | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-09-12
Ever need to code quickly? You can code Rexx like water—yet it’s powerful. Here’s everything you need to start, by studying real-world programming examples.
Configure and use the Untangle Gateway
Facing the challenges with network administration, the right way
Hacker's code | IntermediateBy Dirk Morris
Online on: 2007-09-10
Connecting a network to the modern day internet can be challenging. Basic infrastructure, like routers, DHCP Servers, and DNS servers, are required to get the network online. The network must also be protected with a firewall and intrusion prevention, and the desktops need protection from viruses and spyware. Next will come a spam and phish filter to stop the continual flood of junk email. Most are then forced to implement some sort of internet usage control, like web filtering, to control what users are doing on the network. [...]
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Introduction to Firestarter
Additonal security through a simple interface
Hacker's code | IntermediateBy Ken Leyba
Online on: 2007-08-24
Most modern GNU/Linux distributions are secure with their default minimal installs, whether desktop or server, while some distributions are designed specifically with security in mind. However, any GNU/Linux distribution that needs services available to other users or systems will need either enhanced or configurable security. There are other situations in which added security is beneficial; for example, a large environment, while secure to the outside world, would be enhanced with additional security measures in place.
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Generating cool fractals
A benchmark comparison of PDL, IDL, MATLAB, Octave, C and FORTRAN77 generating fractals
Hacker's code | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-07-25
Whether you are a professional or amateur scientist, engineer or mathematician, if you need to make numerical calculations and plots quickly and easily, then PDL (Perl Data Language) is certainly one of the best free software tools to use. PDL has everything that similar high-level, proprietary, numerical calculation languages (like IDL or MATLAB) have. And it certainly comes with all the features you would expect to have in a numerical calculation package.
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How to build squid authentication helpers
Build your own authentication helper using the language of your choice
Hacker's code | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-07-09
Have you ever tried to figure out how to make Squid authenticate users according to your own exotic rules? Users are in a DB? Are you using an ActiveDirectory? Users/passwords are authenticated by a java class? Everything is possible. Here I intend to explain how to make your own custom authentication helpers so you can develop your own routines for your own requirements.
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OpenOffice.org and mail merge: how to suppress the Address2 line
Getting rid of those pesky empty lines in OOo mail merges
User space | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-06-20
Mail merges are a great way to save time, since they pull information from the same fields, over and over again with each new record in your database. There’s only one problem—all records aren’t created equal; they don’t all have, or all need, the same fields. This article solves that perpetual problem with labels. If you’re already familiar with the problem, you can go straight to the solution entitled: Suppressing blank lines with sections step by step.
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Comparing GNU/Linux and FreeBSD
The real winner is the community
Hacker's code | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-05-30
GNU/Linux is the most popular operating system built with free/open source software. However, it is not the only one: FreeBSD is also becoming popular for its stability, robustness and security. In this article, I’ll take a look at their similarities and differences.
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OpenXDAS
A free distributed audit service
Hacker's code | IntermediateBy John Calcote
Online on: 2007-05-18
No one would argue that software auditing is not an important feature of mission critical applications. If a software based process is critical to the life of your company, then so is the security and access control surrounding resources managed by that software based process. Auditing is the way you track who did what to what and when it happened. Lately, however, the software industry has been lackadaisical at best regarding auditing. Off the shelf software developers either care about auditing, or they don’t. [...]
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The simplest way to make databases in OpenOffice.org
If you have data that you can put in a spreadsheet, a database is just a few steps away
User space | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-05-09
Do you need to make a database, but fear it’s too much of a pain or you don’t have the right tools? Don’t worry: it’s easy, free, and useful, too. Use the free OpenOffice.org office suite to get your data in shape for mail merges, queries, or useful analysis of your business data.
ODF/OOXML technical white paper
A white paper based on a technical comparison between the ODF and OOXML formats
Hacker's code | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-05-02
I was asked by the UK Action Group of the Open Document Format Alliance to write a white paper on the technical differences between ODF and OOXML. After much agonizing, correcting, having others correct my mistakes, suggestions, changes and drafts I still have got something that may be alright to be previewed by all. The actual documents are in ftp://officeboxsystems.com/odfa_ukag both as a “PDF” and an “ODT” (Open Document Format).
The following is a transcribed version of the white paper. Although it has all the Free Software Magazine formatting constraints which means that the information is not as clearly presented, so therefore I recommend you to download the document from the above URL. It is here primary for reference purposes.
Enjoy.
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Free computing!
How to revitalize mature pentiums
User space | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-04-25
Free software is great, so why not run it on a free PC? Here’s how to get a free PC and configure it with free software to perform many tasks as well as a newly-purchased computer.
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The perfect network server
Serving small networks with free software
Hacker's code | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-04-18
So you need a server? Not a web server of course, you rent someone else’s for that. No, you need a file server, print server, intranet, mail server and more. Can free software provide the answer? Of course it can.
Well what kind of answer did you expect from Free Software Magazine?
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How to print more than one record on a sheet of paper in OpenOffice
A simple solution to an annoying problem
User space | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-04-13
When you download mail merge template or create your own, you lose a feature that's built into the OpenOffice.org mail merges and reports: printing more than one record on a sheet of paper. However, it's easy to add that ability yourself.
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MINIX: what is it, and why is it still relevant?
An interview with Andy Tanenbaum
Hacker's code | IntermediateBy Alan Berg
Online on: 2007-03-19
MINIX, as originated by Andy Tanenbaum, is an operating system that has its roots and heart in academia as a tool that teaches you how kernels really should work. Recently, however, with the advent of version three of this rock solid OS, the focus is on making a production ripe embedded distribution. Being POSIX compatible with a Kernel of 3800 lines of code and a unique approach to handling drivers, MINIX 3 is well worth the effort to review for readiness.
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Freeing an old game
Relicensing UMoria
Power up | IntermediateOnline on: 2007-03-12
Do you remember that old game that you used to play all the time? Do you still play it? It probably isn’t free software. Do you wish it was? Sometimes writing a clone of a game is a lot of work compared to the amount of work it takes to relicense one. Here is a story about how one group of people are going about freeing the game known as “Moria”.
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Configuring a Linux home internet gateway
How to justify to your spouse adding another Linux box to your home network
User space | IntermediateBy John Calcote
Online on: 2007-03-05
My family is hooked on Windows. I’ve thought about trying to coerce them into switching to GNU/Linux, but the very thought of what I’d have to put up with for the next year just makes my head ache. I’m not talking about software maintenance issues. I’m talking about trying to defend my position time and time again as they complain that they can’t run their favorite games or applications. Telling them to change their favorites is like spitting into the wind—it’s sort of masochistic.
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Hibernate feature in Linux
Reduce TUX’s metabolic activity!
Hacker's code | IntermediateBy Bandan Das
Online on: 2007-01-12
For a long time, hibernation has been associated with proprietary operating systems. Now, the feature has started taking the front row in GNU/Linux systems too. What’s more, it’s fast, flexible and is a real time saver!
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