Debian Beckons Ubuntu Refugees to Come Home

Debian Live desktop

Dissatisfaction continues over Ubuntu's choice of the Unity Interface as default and, in the most recent release, no obvious way to return to the old Gnome desktop.

Long time Ubuntu users have been complaining loudly about Unity's lack of stability, limited options and an overall unfinished feel.

Distros that have watched Ubuntu gobbling up the Linux mind-share are suddenly getting a second look by unhappy Ubuntu users seeking alternatives to Unity.

Ubuntu started life as a simplified Debian with an emphasis on desktop usability. Recent Ubuntu releases seem focused on blazing their own trail toward a touchscreen, cloud enabled, widget driven environment. This may prove to be a very forward thinking plan, but it leaves traditional Gnome users hungering for their familiar desktop environment.

I decided to take another look at Ubuntu's parent, Debian. They offer live cd/dvds so I downloaded the i386 dvd .iso of the current stable release 6.0, aka 'Squeeze'. (All the Debian releases are named after characters from the 'Toy Story' movies.)

As a test machine, I scrounged up an ancient Dell Inspirion 1150. This dinosaur sports a 30 GB harddrive, 2.6 GHz processor, Wifi and 512  MB of RAM. Although I love my bling, I did not test compiz on this box due to the low specs.

Debian calls itself "The Universal Operating System" and nothing beats its support for a wide variety of hardware and architectures. Sound, video and ethernet were configured and worked automagically from the live cd.

Clicking the Install icon opens a graphical installer which walks the user through the usual steps: language, location, keyboard and timezone. Enter user and administrator passwords, computer and host names.

The partitioner offers a simple, guided install for a range of configurations. More advanced setup options are available by selecting 'Manual' install. The installation is essentially the same as most gnome-gui based installers and virtually painless.

The desktop is plain, vanilla Gnome 2 with a cartoonish space wallpaper (see above). There are many more wallpapers included by default and Ubuntu users will recognize many beautiful favorites, including 'Cosmos' the space slide show.

Live Earth Wallpaper on Debian/Gnome2

I replaced the default background with a Live Earth wallpaper that updates hourly throughout the day. You can find installation instructions here.
 
Neither ethernet or wifi would work after install. A quick google search found this documented bug and fix. Apparently, networking auto-configure is disabled by default.

I edited (as root) /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf to show managed=true and following a restart of network manager, ethernet finally connected.

This Dell machine uses an old Broadcom wireless chipset, notoriously difficult to get working due to the closed nature of their firmware. Thankfully, in September of 2010, Broadcom finally began offering fully open Linux drivers for their chipsets.

Per instructions here, I entered in a terminal: sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer .Following a reboot, my wireless network was located and after entering my password, I was online in seconds.

I updated my repositories to include non-free software packages  Replace 'Squeeze' with 'Testing' for more current software updates, but slightly more breakage. Upgrades are incremental or 'rolling.' No need to reinstall every six months.

Debian uses apt for package management, with Synaptic as the familiar front end. Update manager notifies you of available updates and the Software Center makes adding and removing applications easy.

Debian came with gnash, the open implementation of Adobe Flash, installed by default. If you prefer Adobe's version, it is available in the repositories.

User friendly distros like Ubuntu and Mepis were built on Debian's stability, massive software repositories and superior apt package management system. Debian may lack the polish of these derivatives, but it is also a blank canvas, ready to take on your own look and feel. Experiment with new themes, icon sets, wallpapers and more at gnome-look.org

I was pleasantly surprised at the improvements in usability and ease of installation in Debian. Gnome2 seems as comfortable and familiar as an old pair of slippers. I think I will give Debian another try as a Desktop OS and it feels surprisingly good to come home.

A full review of Debian Squeeze can be found here.

Article first published as Debian Beckons Ubuntu Refugees to Come Home on Technorati.

Broken Windows? Ubuntu Linux Saves the Day

Ubuntu Live CD Desktop

Article first published as Broken Windows? Ubuntu Linux Saves the Day on Technorati.

You may have heard about Linux. Perhaps you imagined it as a clunky DOS-like command line system, used by uber-geeks in dark basements and server rooms to perform their geeky techno-magic.

In truth, Linux has matured into an easy to use operating system, complete with a vast eco-system of free software that rivals Windows and Mac in simplicity and beauty. It rarely needs a reboot and viruses are virtually unknown.

Canonical has just released Ubuntu 11.10, it's latest version of the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution. It calls itself 'Linux for Human Beings' and it aims to be one of the most newbie friendly Linuxes. It's innovative 'Unity' GUI (graphical user interface) is designed for simplicity and functionality.

Ubuntu is not shareware or spyware. It is a full-featured system which is provided free of charge through 'Open Source' licensing.

Open Source is a philosophy as much as a license. It gives developers the right to use and build upon the progress of previous developers. Unlike proprietary software, the source code is provided for review, modification and distribution.

This type of collaborative development leads to rapid progress and innovation. Linux runs everything from desktop systems and smart phones to toasters and super-computers.

You don't have to install Ubuntu to try it out on your computer. Many Linux distributions are offered as 'Live CDs/DVDs which run completely off your CD/DVD player. They come with a full library of software pre-installed for everything from a MS Office compatible Office suite to photo editing and email.
 
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, but includes popular software, like Flash, Java and proprietary video drivers by default.

Simply download and burn the .iso (disk image) to a CD/DVD. Drop it in your computers' CD/DVD drive and reboot. Most everything works 'out of the box.' Video, sound, wifi, printers and networking. You can explore Linux and enjoy all the free software without risk. Simply eject the disk when your done and the computer reboots as before.

These live CDs are a great tool for malware infected Windows computers. In a pinch, they can provide you with a fully functional and secure system, loaded with the latest software and hardware drivers. Use them to back up files from a dying hard drive or fix a borked master boot record. At least you will have a working system until you can get Windows fixed (again).

Use a Live Linux CD to clean an infected Windows system yourself. Boot using a live CD and simply visit a reputable online virus scanner like TrendMicro, Bitdefender, Kaperskey, or use a free malware detection tool kit like the Kaspersky Rescue Disc.

If you choose to keep Linux on your computer, most Live CDs will walk you through installation, either completely replacing Windows or along side it (called dual-booting).

So head on over and download one of these great free systems. Explore thousands of free software titles from games to utilities.  Keep the live CD handy to rescue malware crippled Windows computers or retrieve data from an unbootable hard drive.

You don't have to be a geek to enjoy the freedom that Linux systems offer. They are simple to use, virtually virus free and solid as a rock.

And while you're at it, take a moment to remember Dennis Ritchie, a father of C and Unix, upon which most modern computing is based. He passed away last week, but these fundamental contributions will live on. RIP and thank you from all of us.

How Can You Contribute to Open Source?

Open source software is a group effort and requires the participation of everyone in the community including you.  How can you give back to your favorite project if you are not a programmer? There are many ways you can help including participation in the online community, writing and translating, donations or just spreading the word.

Open source projects depend on you. They count on users to help test the packages on a large variety of hardware configurations and software combinations. They rely on your feedback to help the project grow and mature. They depend on your participation in forums and IRC channels to aid end users. They need your expertise to create useful documentation and translations. They depend on your donations to cover the costs of hardware and hosting.

Previously we took a close look at Apport, the bug reporting program included with Ubuntu. It works with Launchpad to coordinate bug tracking and fixes and makes it relatively simple to perform this most basic and vital task to contribute to the community.

Besides bug reports, there are many ways of giving back to the open source causes. Participation in the projects  online community is a good way to start. You don't have to be an expert to visit the projects' forums  or IRC channel and offer suggestions on topics you are familiar with. There is almost always someone newer than you that will appreciate your advice.

Documentation is an on-going chore for developers and assistance is always appreciated. Contact the project maintainer and offer to write readmes or help articles for specific tasks. Create how-tos and tutorials and post them on your blog or youtube. Contribute to the projects' wiki page. Look here for some tips on writing software documentation.

Translators are needed to make software and documentation available in other languages. Contact the project maintainer and offer to help translate the interface or help files. Check out 'Open Source Tools For Translators' to help you get started.

Donating money to worthy open source projects is always welcome. Most developers receive very little compensation for all their hard work. Most supply their own hardware and bandwidth. Many pay for hosting project websites where they interact with end users via forums or message boards. Even small donations help keep the project running.

Here are a few worthy causes to get you started. There are many more:

Debian project

Ubuntu

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Free Software Foundation

GIMP Project

Libre Office 

Finally, advocacy is a powerful tool and just being able to share information about Linux or your favorite software package when the opportunity arises is perhaps the most important contribution you can make. Talk to your friends,  family and coworkers. Post comments in forums and social media.

Burn a few live CDs of a newbie-friendly distro such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint.. Keep them in your car with your music CDs. The next time someone complains about how their computer won't boot or is running so slowly it is barely usable, just pull out one of the live CDs and show them how it works.

Explain that it wont change anything on their computer and comes with a complete collection of software for common tasks. Show them how it can give them a secure, perfectly usable system until they can get Windows fixed, or if they choose to keep Linux, you will help to install it on their machine.

Even if you can't write a line of code, open source depends on you. They need your bug reports, community involvement and donations. They depend on you to spread the word through personal contact and social media. Contributing your time and skills to these projects will benefit you as the user and the open source ecosystem as a whole.

This article was originally published on UbuntuManual.org

Tizen Consortium Takes On Android and iPhone

In a joint announcement on Sept 28, The LiMo Foundation and the Linux Foundation reported they are developing a new mobile operating system called 'Tizen'. It is a combination of the LiMo and MeeGo Linux-based mobile operating systems and will compete directly with Google's Android, Apple's iPhone and Blackberry from RIM. According to the announcement on their website:

 "LiMo Foundation is pleased to give its full endorsement of the Tizen initiative as an important step forward for the mobile industry. LiMo is confident that Tizen brings together the necessary critical mass of market and technology leadership so as to enable the establishment of a single, open and independent Linux-based platform for mobile devices."

Hosted by The Linux Foundation, Tizen is being developed by a consortium of major technology companies led by Intel and Samsung. They have worked to create an open, cross-architecture and standards based mobile platform. Tizen will  power smart phones, tablets, netbooks, smart TVs and vehicle entertainment systems.

LiMo brought together industry leaders including Motorola, NEC, Samsung, McAfee and others to help increase the adoption of Linux in mobile platforms. The Linux Foundation members include industry heavyweights such as Intel, IBM, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Oracle and Qualcomm.

Founded in 2007, the goal of LiMo was to create an Operating System which could unify the mobile industry and prevent continued fragmentation. It would provide a common computing platform which would simplify creation of third party applications by developers by using HTML5 and WAC API implementations and toolkits.

MeeGo was launched in February of 2010 and is also a Linux-based mobile platform. It is backed by Intel, Nokia and Novell. MeeGo was decended from Moblin, developed by Intel and Maemo from Nokia.

According to Morgan Gillis, Executive Director of the LiMo Foundation:

 "The most important thing about mobile Linux it that it's not owned by any one industry party, and therefore it can be adopted without any difficult business model conflicts."

Tizen holds to four basic goals: first, to use HTML5 and web standards for application development. Second, build a truly open software ecosystem. The third guarantees partners the opportunity to customize and individualize the system and finally, participation and support by many of the biggest players in the technology field.

Tizen is due to be released in early 2012 and the first Tizen-powered devices should be available to the public soon after.

Article first published as Tizen Consortium Takes on Android and iPhone on Technorati.

What is Linux?

KDE Desktop

Linux is an Open Source computer operating system that was developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds as a graduate school project. Due to it's 'open' nature, developers and enthusiasts have been building on this kernel ever since and have created a vast ecosystem of software, tools and desktop environments to suit any need. It is loosely based on Unix and has a reputation for being stable and secure. Many popular products are based on Linux, such as the Android phone and tablet and the Tivo DVR.

What is Open Source?
Open Source Software builds on the scientific model of development. Developers are allowed to take the existing software source code and expand it, share it and invite further collaboration with other interested developers. The source code for the software is 'open', that is, available to anyone to examine, use, alter and distribute. This leads to rapid progress in popular software applications and a constantly expanding library of software.

Generally, Open Source licenses have one main restriction: You cannot distribute the software without also providing the source code. This ensures that the software will remain free for all to use, and allow others to build upon your improvements.

Is Linux hard to use?
In the early days of Linux development, it could be very hard to use. The tools and user interface were immature. Hardware drivers were scarce and getting a useful working system could be a challenge. Thankfully, decades of development has brought most Linux distributions to par with both Windows and Mac in terms of user-friendliness and hardware support.

Gnome Desktop

In fact, today most popular hardware will work 'Out of the Box' with Linux. Driver support is built into the operating system. No need to keep track of all those hardware CDs. Drivers are rolled into the Linux kernel so you will rarely to have to go driver hunting again.

Linux offers a variety of Desktop Environments to suit your taste and needs. The most common are Gnome, KDE and XFCE. All offer a complete library of software for basic computing needs. All can be customized to your taste and requirements.

How do you get software for Linux?
Linux operating systems usually are pre-packaged collections of software, tools and artwork which together create a 'distribution', aka a 'distro'. Popular distros include Ubuntu, Red Hat (Fedora), Debian, Mint, Slackware and many others. Each major distro provides its own 'package manager' for accessing and installing the huge selection of Linux software. There are literally tens of thousands of programs you can download and install for free with just a click of the mouse. Most distros will automatically keep your installed software updated with version upgrades and bug fixes.

Is Linux more secure than Windows?
Linux was built from the ground up for security in a networked environment. It separates regular users from Administrators (called 'root' or 'super user' in Linux) and protects the system from unauthorized tampering. The wide variety of distros with slightly different file structures and processes prevent a software mono-culture which allows malware to spread wildly. The open nature of the source code ensures no hidden commands or back doors will be present. Bugs are found and fixed promptly. There is a saying in the Open Source world that 'Many eyes make all bugs shallow.' In other words, with so many people looking at the code, flaws are discovered quickly. Most Linux users do not use anti-virus/malware software as there are almost no viruses for Linux.

XFCE Desktop

How can I try Linux?
Most modern distos offer 'Live CDs'. These are complete Linux distributions which boot and run from a cd or flash drive. They include most popular software applications including an Office Suite, browsers, image editing, blogging, networking, games and much more.

The magic of Live CDs is that the operating system and software exists and runs completely from the CD or flash drive. No changes are made to your hard drive or operating system. You simply download the .iso and burn to CD. Simply reboot your computer with the CD in the drive and start exploring Linux. This is a good way to test all your hardware and play with the included software. Check out the distros package manager to see what other programs are available. When finished, simply exit Linux, the CD will eject and your computer will boot back to Windows with no changes to the system.

If you decide to try Linux long term, the live CD will walk you through installing Linux alone or alongside Windows. The two operating systems can exist happily together on your hard drive, and you can select which you wish to use when booting your computer.

Another method of trying out Linux is called Wubi. This is available on Ubuntu and allows you to install Linux into Windows just as you would install any other program. Removing it works the same way. Simply uninstall it like any other software using Windows Add and Remove Software Feature.

Where can I get Linux?
Linux distributions are widely available for free download on the Internet or by ordering a CD from Linux vendors.

Which One?
The variety of distributions available can be daunting. Which one to try? Your needs will guide your choice but most desktop distros offer a similar set of software and basic tools. The major differences are in the Desktop Environments, package managers, inclusion of non-free software and customizations such as themes and artwork. There can be big differences in hardware support among different flavors so if your wireless card is not supported out of the box by say, Fedora, it may be supported by Ubuntu or Mint.

Business customers may wish to explore Red Hat or Fedora, the free version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. (RHEL) This distro is widely used in business and the corporation is growing at an astounding rate. They offer desktop and server solutions, including support, primarily to business customers.

Home Desktop users might consider Linux Mint when exploring Linux for the first time. It is designed to be simple, user-friendly and includes all the multimedia codecs out of the box. The update manager is simplified and customizable. Other newbie friendly distros include Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, OpenSuse and Mandriva.

If your tired of fighting viruses and malware, paying good money for commodity software or just ready for a change from your old drab Windows box, give Linux a try. Live CDs make it easy and risk free. Linux is secure and stable. It is used to run the biggest server arrays on the Internet or it is as personal as your home PC. It is developed by users for users and continues to grow and evolve as a real alternative to the Windows world.