Sorry it's been a week since our first meeting and I'm just now getting this post up. Thanks to all who attended, it was great to meet you all. Below is my outline that I followed roughly during our meeting. I'm going to work on some ideas for next months meeting and put together something with Rick. I hope to see you all there and new faces as well.
Happy *nixing!
Joe
What is Linux?
Linux is a kernel developed by linux torvolds as an tool to learn about intel 386 architecture processors.
The Linux OS is a collection of programs and the linux kernel. Other similar OS's include opensolaris (sun microsystems) bsd (Berkely software distrobution) HURD (GNU HURD)
What makes linux different?
The linux kernel is open-source. This is the key to linux and much of it's success. There are no hidden parts of the program. ANYONE is free to use, modify, redistribute, and yes even sell products based on the linux kernel. The kernel was first licensed under the origional GNU GPL (the GPL has changed over the years and the kernel license has changed over the years) and any redistribution of the kernel (modified or not) must adhere to the current GPL that it's licensed under.
Linus Torvolds holds the only copyright to linux. (long story but for legal reasons :)
What is a distro?
Ok to the real stuff. With so many distrobutions available what's the difference. A distrobution is nothing more than a collection of programs/scripts and the linux kernel bundled together for installation/use.
I've found that these distro's are gathered by mostly individuals or groups with a specific philosophy/goal in mind. They put together the programs/scripts and kernel and usually an installation program, or hopefully really good instructions for how to install the OS.
ubuntu- goodwill towards others
debian- to create a "FREE" OS
slackware- to create the most "unix-like" OS
gentoo- Extreme configurability, and performance with a top notch
ports-like package manager.
What can linux do for you?
First off Linux in general requires less resources than 98/NT/2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7. This means that perfectly good hardware will last you even longer than it's useful windows life. (That is not to say that the physical components have and added lifespan :)
Enhanced security features that microsoft is just beginning to add.
Advanced controls and permissions to keep your kids and your computer safe.
A never-ending supply of freely available programs to do just about anything you want to do! (anyone want to do rocket science, or map the universe, or genetic modification?)
Plain and simple Linux provides a free secure and activly developed suite of apps that run on almost any computer to perform almost any task, and definatly has alternatives to many of the most popular windows apps.
What do I need to run Linux?
Just about any computer will run linux. Also tons of portable devices are now able to run linux as well. The hardware you "need" is based upon what you want to do with your computer. I've set up linux on pentium I computers and laptops with great success. With proper knowledge and some good sense you could even get linux to run on a 486 and still have it perform well.
<br />to edit this file that we just created with the command touch
<br />Code:
<br />vi .tweetrc
<br />or
<br />gvim .tweetrc (for a graphical editor :)
<br />
<br />Place the following lines into your file
<br />
<br />[Tweet]
<br />username: (your twitter username)
<br />password: (your twitter password)
<br />
<br />that's it save and exit your editor.
<br />now back on that command line simply type this
<br />Code:
<br />tweet (your message here)
<br />
<br />Now here is the cavet lol. no commas, or apostrophe's lol. It takes some getting used to but I'm sure that you'll figure it out. If you need help just get in touch with me and I'll help you out.
<br />
<br />Next on deck...
<br />
<br />Ideas for our next meeting. I would like to here from all of you what you would like me to prepare to help you with for our next meeting. I have tons of ideas for what I could present and workshop with all of you, but I don't know what you would like to learn. If I receive no suggestions then I'm going to plan on demonstrating and work-shopping conky. It's a great system monitor that I've just spent the last 20 or so hours figuring out how to configure the way I like it. Believe me when I tell you that configuring it is not for the faint of heart. It took me several hours to figure out the proper syntax for how to get mine to display lol. There is no easy howto online for this program and it's one of the most powerful, popular and customizable system monitors around.
<br />
<br />I have included some screenshots of my desktop on this post to show you conky on the right side of my desktop. I spent so many hours working on it that I can't help but be a little proud of it. Notice that the small amount of jumbled text at the bottom is not apart of conky but is instead an embedded terminal showing the last few mesages of a log file
<br />
<br />I hope to here from you all soon. Until then happy *nixing!
<br />
<br />Joe
<br />joe@delswoodcraft.com
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