openSUSE Weekly News, Issue 155 is out!

We are pleased to announce our openSUSE Weekly News Issue 155.

openSUSE Weekly News

openSUSE Weekly News Team

Producer 

Published:

2010-12-25

---

Table of Contents

Announcements Status Updates

Board Distribution SUSE Studio Team Report In the Community

Events & Meetings openSUSE for your Ears Communication Contributors New/Updated Applications @ openSUSE Security Updates Tips and Tricks

For Desktop Users For Commandline/Script Newbies For Developers and Programmers For System Administrators Planet SUSE openSUSE Forums On the Web

Announcements Call for participation Reports Reviews and Essays Warning! LOL Credits Feedback Translations

Abstract

We are pleased to announce our 155 issue of the openSUSE Weekly News.

From this Issue on we don’t publish the Weekly News just in HTML. Now we are pleased to announce a new PDF Version.

You can also read this issue in other formats. Just click here.

Enjoy the reading :-)

Announcements

** [Attachmate Acquisition: What does it mean for SUSE, openSUSE & open source?](//news.opensuse.org/2010/12/20/attachmate-acquisition-what-does-it-mean-for-suse-opensuse-open-source/) ** > > **A Q & A with Jeff Hawn, chairman and CEO of Attachmate by Jos Poortvliet, openSUSE Community Manager at Novell** > > I had a chance to speak with Jeff Hawn, chairman and CEO of Attachmate Corporation about his views and intentions around SUSE and openSUSE. Jeff has commented that SUSE is an important brand and business that he wants to strengthen. What are his thoughts about the community and what does he see for SUSE and openSUSE? Here below are the questions I put forward and Jeff’s current thoughts. –Jos > > > > 1. **Open Source** > > What is Attachmate’s history with open source projects? > > Attachmate does not have a corporate track record in the open source business. However, we recognize the importance of open source technology, particularly Linux, and the growing value it brings to enterprises globally. We also recognize and value the openSUSE project, the contribution that the community makes to the SUSE business and most importantly, the many ways in which the community benefits SUSE customers. > > At the end of the day, we are a technology company that is customer-driven, made up of engineers and technology enthusiasts. We have a lot of individuals that are long-time users of open source and participants in the open source movement. We recognize and understand what the community has developed, particularly over the last decade, and we are excited to be part of its future. > > What is Attachmate’s view of open source software? > > Attachmate recognizes that enterprises all over the world are utilizing more open source technology in their infrastructures, data centers and desktops every year. We believe this is a trend that will continue and that’s why we are excited about the Open Platform Solutions business and in particular, the SUSE Linux community. > > It is easy for people to assume that because we are not currently in the open source business, we don’t value or understand it. This is far from the case. We are in the business of meeting customer needs and they see great value in utilizing open source technology solutions. Because of its open nature, open source is being adopted by enterprises in all industries around the world. Our intent is to keep it that way and continue to foster what has made it so successful for the Open Platforms Solutions business. > > 2. **SUSE** > > Ok, then what is the plan for SUSE? > > We cannot speak to specifics until after close, but what we can communicate now is our intention to establish a SUSE business unit on par with the existing Attachmate and NetIQ business units. We believe that establishing SUSE as its own business unit will give greater focus and flexibility to grow within a competitive market. We view SUSE as a well regarded and proven technology in the open source and enterprise Linux community and we want to further build upon that. We intend for SUSE to continue to provide the same high quality open source technology solutions, such as SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, needed to meet users’ demands for scalability, interoperability and cost effectiveness. > > What will the SUSE business unit be – what do you mean by “business unit”? > > A business unit brings together all the resources, IP, people and infrastructure needed to operate – to build product, deliver solutions and support customers. So, what is known today as Open Platform Solutions will now be centralized within the SUSE business unit. In most respects SUSE will continue to operate as it did as OPS, but will benefit from being a dedicated and more visible brand with a focused business unit behind it. > > Does Attachmate intend to immediately sell the SUSE business? > > I want to be clear here: all of our efforts will be focused on doing the things necessary to make SUSE the highest performing business with the strongest openSUSE community that we can. This is a healthy, growing dynamic business. We want to continue to nurture this business and grow it. This is why we want to elevate the SUSE brand and operate that part of the business as a distinct unit where it will receive greater visibility and focus. > > How do you plan to compete in the Linux market? > > We’re excited about SUSE because of the great competitive advantages it already has. With thousands of certified ISV applications, the best interoperability and unsurpassed scalability, it provides the best value and the lowest cost of ownership on the market. Attachmate intends to continue that commitment to high quality and cost-effective solutions. > > What are your intentions for open source initiatives sponsored by Novell today? > > No decisions have been made regarding any specific projects or sponsorships. Much more integration work needs to happen before discussions of changing the status of individual projects can occur. But we can say that the new SUSE business unit will stay committed to participating in the projects and initiatives that are most important to the SUSE business and its customers. > > Will Attachmate continue to support Linux kernel development by employees as Novell has done? > > Yes, we will. Key contributions to the Linux kernel are a benefit to everyone in the community. This sort of contribution is a key element of what makes the synergy between business and open source so successful and we intend to continue support it. > > 3. **openSUSE** > > Will Attachmate increase or decrease the investments in development and marketing for openSUSE? > > There is a lot of integration work to do before those decisions are made and some of that work cannot be done until after the transaction has closed. Our intent is to continue to sponsor and participate in the openSUSE project. > > Will this impact the initiative to create an independent foundation for openSUSE? > > No decisions on this initiative have been made. This is a complex topic that has been actively debated in the community for some time. We look forward to continuing that discussion with the community after the close of the transaction. > > Will Attachmate continue to support the openSUSE conference? > > No decisions have been made about the ongoing sponsorship of openSUSE conference. It is simply too early to reach conclusions on specific areas such as this – more integration work and collaboration with the SUSE team is needed. Our overall intent is to maintain the continuity of success we see within the SUSE business and that includes continuing to work closely with the openSUSE community. > > Will the acquisition have any other effects on the openSUSE project or community? > > We look forward to learning more about the project and working together with the community to figure out what’s working well, what could be done differently or improved. This will be a highly collaborative relationship. > > Does Attachmate intend to shut down the openSUSE community project? > > No, we don’t. Attachmate intends to continue the sponsorship and collaboration with the openSUSE project. We view the openSUSE project and its extended community as an important part of the overall SUSE business and we value its contributions to the technology that forms the heart of the SUSE offerings (see related statement on the Attachmate website here). > > 4. **Intellectual Property** > > What IP assets are being purchased by CPTN Holdings LLC? > > Attachmate cannot provide details on the IP assets being purchased, but we can clarify that CPTN is NOT purchasing products. They are purchasing 882 patents and patent applications as described in the initial 8-K filed by Novell. > > The purchase does not include the Novell UNIX copyrights (see related statement on the Novell website here). It does not include the product source code or product implementations. > > Attachmate would not buy a company and not preserve what is working nor hamper our ability to operate this business. So, SUSE will retain all the technology, rights and IP needed to continue and grow. > > Does the purchase by CPTN Holdings impact the openSUSE project or the SUSE enterprise business? > > After the merger is complete, the SUSE business unit will retain all the IP and technology rights needed to operate, continue its sponsorship of the openSUSE project and supporting SUSE customers. > > What happens to the Novell UNIX copyrights after the sale of IP assets to CPTN Holdings? > > No change. The purchase of IP assets by CPTN Holdings does not include the UNIX copyrights and the copyrights will continue to be owned by Novell (see related statement on the Novell website here). > > > > FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS > > This communication contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (such as statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should be considered forward-looking statements. Among others, the following risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: (i) the risk that the merger may be delayed or may not be consummated; (ii) the risk that the definitive merger agreement may be terminated in circumstances that require Novell to pay Attachmate a termination fee of $60 million; (iii) risks related to the diversion of management’s attention from Novell’s ongoing business operations; (iv) risks regarding the failure of Attachmate to obtain the necessary financing to complete the merger; (v) the effect of the announcement of the patent sale or the merger on Novell’s business relationships (including, without limitation, partners and customers), operating results and business generally; and (vi) risks related to obtaining the requisite consents to the patent sale and the merger, including, without limitation, the timing (including possible delays) and receipt of regulatory approvals from various governmental entities (including any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on these approvals) and the risk that one or more governmental entities may deny approval. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Novell’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Novell’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, which are available at the SEC’s website //www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected. Novell expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change of expectations with regard thereto or to reflect any change in events, conditions or circumstances. > > ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT > > In connection with the merger, Novell filed a preliminary proxy statement regarding the merger with the SEC on December 14, 2010 and intends to file a definitive proxy statement regarding the merger and other relevant documents with the SEC in the future. Investors and security holders of Novell are urged to read these documents, including the definitive proxy statement, if and when they become available, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they contain or will contain important information about Novell, the merger and the other parties to the merger. Investors and security holders may obtain these documents (and any other documents filed by Novell and Attachmate with the SEC) free of charge at the SEC’s website at //www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed with the SEC by Novell may be obtained free of charge by directing such request to: Novell Investor Relations at 1-800-317-3195 or from the investor relations portion of Novell’s website at //www.novell.com/company/ir/. **Investors and security holders are urged to read the definitive proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the merger.** Novell and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Novell’s stockholders in respect of the merger. Information regarding Novell’s directors and executive officers is contained in Novell’s proxy statement for its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, dated February 26, 2010, and subsequent filings which Novell has made with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. Stockholders may obtain additional information about the directors and executive officers of Novell and their respective interests with respect to the merger by security holdings or otherwise, which may be different than those of Novell’s stockholders generally, by reading the preliminary proxy statement and the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents regarding the merger, when filed with the SEC. Each of these documents is, or will be, available as described above. Other Sources: [phoronix](//bit.ly/own1551) [h-online](//www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Attachmate-says-future-of-SUSE-Linux-is-secure-1157083.html) > >

** [Board Meeting Summary 15 December 2010](//news.opensuse.org/2010/12/21/board-meeting-summary-15-december-2010/) ** > > For the full transcript of the last openSUSE Board meeting, see our [logs](//community.opensuse.org/meetings/opensuse-project/2010/opensuse-project.2010-12-15-19.01.log.html). > > **Introduction of new openSUSE Board Chairman – Alan Clark ** > > We opened with an introduction to new Board Chairman, Alan Clark who answered general questions from the community about his role and goals. To the question of what Clark’s goals are he answered: > > 1. The top goal is as a Board to get the Foundation up and operational. As we continue to work towards this, I’m sure that we will uncover other issues that we will need to address > > 2. Grow the Community > > 3. Is a personal goal: Tune up my decoder ring for all these alias cloaking and get to know as many people as possible -simply because that is the fun part of being in a community. > > 4. Let people get their work done; er “have a lot of fun” > > Alan also provided his background experience with open source projects, both within Novell and outside Novell. > > **Foundation Creation** > > Several board members expressed a desire to develop a more open and transparent process in communicating the development of the openSUSE Foundation than what currently exists. Some believe there has been a disconnect in how we become aware of what everyone is doing and keeping the momentum of the process going forward, as well as ensuring that all those with a vested interest are able to participate in the process. > > We all agreed that we must begin to identify who are the stakeholders and take steps immediately to open up the process. To that end, a new open mailing list will be created and Alan will create a wiki page where we will collect all the relevant information for the foundation creation. Relevant points and concerns of the stakeholders will be listed and the progress of the creation will be documented. > > **Membership Approval Concerns** > > Membership approval team members expressed concern about the clarity of the rules for consideration and eligibility. > > In the current rules, it states that a membership application is processed after receiving four votes. It was unclear whether that meant four votes in sum or four votes of either positive or negative. With a minor edit of the rules, we stated that an application is considered processed once it has received either four positive votes or four negative votes. > > Additionally, there was concern about a recent email request to process a particular application expeditiously. Team members felt this was an inappropriate breach of protocol and that all applications are equal and that no single application should be placed ahead of existing applications. We agreed and declared that henceforth, such requests should not be honored. > > **Where do we fail?** > > Our regular topic to identify areas where we fail and can quickly remedy brought up a topic of concern regarding communication. To this, we agreed that the Board will begin regularly posting summaries of meetings (which is what you are reading now.) > > We also took a general board action item to review [opensuse.org product category in openFATE](https://features.opensuse.org/statistic/product/opensuse.org) to ensure we stay on top of “Where do we fail?” concerns that are not brought up during board meetings. > > Read here for the [full meeting transcript](//community.opensuse.org/meetings/opensuse-project/2010/opensuse-project.2010-12-15-19.01.log.html). > > **Next Meeting** > > With the holidays coming up, we will have our next Board meeting on 12 January, 2011. > >

** [openSUSE Announces Fifth Development Milestone with Kernel Interactivity Patch](//news.opensuse.org/2010/12/23/opensuse-announces-fifth-development-milestone-with-kernel-interactivity-patch/) ** > > The openSUSE project released the fifth of six milestones in the development of openSUSE 11.4 some days ago. **Milestone 5 (M5)** brings a wide range of updates, both major and minor. As usual, you can get it [here](//software.opensuse.org/developer/en). > > **Major Features**: > > * Kernel 2.6.37rc5-12 is the basis of M5, including the famous “200 line” per tty task groups patch to improve desktop interactivity, and featuring the almost-complete removal of the so-called ‘Big Kernel Lock’, which should improve scalability. This kernel supports new drivers, including Broadcom wireless and updated open-source graphics drivers, and a host of the usual other improvements. > > * Libzypp 8.10.2 adds improved support and fixes for metalinks, the multiple download URL specification. > > * On the desktop, the KDE Platform makes the leap to version 4.6 beta with many improvements in the UI and underlying infrastructure. This includes a complete rewrite of Kontact and is undergoing heavy testing. There is a serious chance KDE PIM 4.6 will not make it into the final openSUSE 11.4 release, testing and development is needed! > > * KOffice is updated to 2.3 RC superseding beta1, including the exciting Krita natural media painting app. Meanwhile OpenOffice.org is removed, having been succeeded by LibreOffice which is updated to 3.3.0.1. > > * GNOME 2.32.1 is now available as the 2.32.2 is the final version planned for openSUSE 11.4, which is notable for being the last stable release before GNOME 3 in March. > > * GNUCash 2.4 RC comes with a new complete dress-up. > > * Pidgin updates fixes several MSN and ICQ issues. > > * In the Virtualization area, available now are kernel-xen 2.5.37 features and kernel-ec2 2.6.37 with improvements for cloud sync services and Virtual Box 4 Beta including USB devices support and more than 2GB RAM support on 32 bit guest, Intel HD Audio, asynchronous I/O for iSCSI, VMDK, VHD and Parallels image support. > > * systemd 15 provides aggressive parallelization capabilities to start multiple daemons at the same time with dependencies which offers improvements to the boot times on some systems. More testing (and porting of init scripts) is still needed for systemd, which will most likely make it into 11.4 as experimental and optional feature. > > **Get it!** > > A list of most annoying bugs is being compiled; please check it before installing. We look forward to your bug reports and test experiences! Automated testing and the openSUSE Factory team have been very active to ensure that your download of M5 will be at least minimally functional, thanks for that! now go and [download it!](//software.opensuse.org/developer/en) > > The next milestone is scheduled for Thursday, Jan 20 2011, and will be the openSUSE 11.4 Milestone 6 release. The final openSUSE 11.4 is planned to be released in March 2011. > > Other Souces: [ h-online](//www.h-online.com/open/news/item/openSUSE-11-4-Milestone-5-released-1158848.html) [Linux.com](//www.linux.com/news/enterprise/biz-enterprise/392669:opensuse-114-milestone-5-released) > >

Status Updates

Board

**openSUSE Weekly News searches for contributors** > > **Figure 1. Merry Christmas (c) Péronne vd Ham / pixelio.de** > > >

 >

> > > > Hello Mates. The last year was a great year. We had seen many funny things. The Relaunch of the openSUSE BuildService now provides many Features for packager. Then the kde-obs-generator makes the life easier for cross packaging. The openSUSE Conference was another interesting Highlight, and last but not least the sell of Novell. > > The openSUSE Weekly News Team searches the whole week for new things. Now we searching one or two new Contributors who are collecting news with us. In the past we have given one part of the news to one person, and that person was responsible for this part of the Weekly News. As Example you provide the Section "Tips and Tricks" so you can add and remove that Section what do you think is the best. > > ATM we can give the following Sections to a good Hand: > > * Tips and Tricks > > * In the Community > > * On the Web. > > What do you need for working in the english newsletter? If you can read and a little bit write XML, and you know how to svn up, then you're the perfect Candidate. If you can't this things, and would like to learn it, you are a perfect Candidate. > > If you're interested in helping us, just send a Mail to: [saigkill@opensuse.org](mailto:saigkill@opensuse.org) > > Last but not least the openSUSE Weekly News team with the translations into hungarian, greek and japanese wishes merry cristmas to all people across the world. > >

Distribution

Important Links

• Detailed Bugzilla Report

• Submitting Bug Reports

• Bug Reporting FAQ

SUSE Studio

** [Holger Hetterich: SMBTA Stresstest 0.0.1 released](//holger123.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/smbta-stresstest-0-0-1-released/) ** > > **SMBTA Stresstest** is an appliance based on openSUSE 11.3 for long-time- or stress testing the [SMB Traffic Analyzer](//holger123.wordpress.com/smb-traffic-analyzer/) software suite. It is used mainly by the SMBTA development team to check the behaviour of SMB Traffic Analyzer under certain traffic conditions. It also can easily be used to just try out SMB Traffic Analyzer. > > **Figure 2. SMBTA Stresstest running in VirtualBox** > > >

 >

> > > > With this first release, **SMBTA Stresstest** Figure 2, “SMBTA Stresstest running in VirtualBox” comes with a **Samba** Server that is configured for two shares, “Officespace” and “music”, and logs traffic on those shares using SMB Traffic Analyzer. Two users are preconfigured, “holger” and “john”, and for those two instances of the **smbtatorture** program is started, producing infinite traffic on the shares. > > The appliance is configured for port 3491 as the connection port for the smbtatools, which allows to inspect the generated traffic from an other machine. > > SMBTA Stresstester has been created using the fabulous [SUSE Studio](//www.susestudio.com) and comes in [OVF format](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Virtualization_Format), and should be able to run on **KVM**, **VMware**, and **VirtualBox**. The appliance is completely self-contained, runs the smbtatorture processes directly after reaching runlevel 3,and Built with SUSE Studio if your virtual machine is setup to be reachable from the host’s network, all the SMBTA tools like rrddriver or smbtaquery can be run against it, once you know the IP adress of SMBTA Stresstester (the appliance root password is “linux”): > > smbtaquery -i 3491 -h 192.168.178.26 -q ‘global, usage rw;’ > > SMBTA Stresstest is available in the [SUSE Gallery](//susegallery.com/a/HkqPEE/smbta-stresstest), and we also uploaded it to [this place](//morelias.org/smbta/SMBTA_Stresstest.i686-0.0.1.ovf.tar.gz). For more information on SMB Traffic Analyzer, please check out it’s [homepage](//holger123.wordpress.com/smb-traffic-analyzer/). Merry Christmas and a happy new year. > >

Team Report

Art Team

** [Sirko Kemter: openSUSE 11.4 – Color trouble](//karl-tux-stadt.de/ktuxs/?p=2950) ** > > If you have the last Milestone of openSUSE, thats already number 5, installed then you can take a look into the history. You would see a dark splash as I planned them long time ago. You also see the KDM in the color I planned in August. > > >

 >

> > 2 weeks ago Coolo asked for some artwork for integrate it into the next Milestone, a weekend with lot of work, for Javier and me. After that some people woke up. First the KDE team wanted the color changed to celadon, whats also is the codename for 11.4. Thats ok for me, its there choice and it would be work with the grey what I planned for the GNOME side. > > >

 >

> > But now the GNOME team also want it changed. And that becomes now harder to do. There are some possibilities and also some borders for the work. Right now there is a little discussion on the mailinglist. But the default background of GNOME would be definitly not happen, he is nice but the blue works not with the celadon green tone. Also change that background to celadon green, wouldnt work because I have to choose one of the backgrounds for the bootsplash. Hope they find a solution I can work with. I would prefer a grey one, with a celadon geeko on it and change the green tone in sonar to celadon green also. > >

Marketing Team

** [Jos Poortvliet: Writing!](//lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-marketing/2010-12/msg00168.html) ** > > Again thanks for participating in the collaboration day on Social Media. I have written an overview, I hope one of the news editors on this list has time to take a look and maybe find a pretty picture to accompany our success story. > > Meanwhile there are a few things which are close to being finished, but aren't there just yet. My pet peeve: the short descriptions of openSUSE. They are here: [//ietherpad.com/idAZ997QVS](//ietherpad.com/idAZ997QVS) > > I have used part of that text to make a start on the two folders that we'll need: > > * [//piratepad.net/xKoBE4vmSM](//piratepad.net/xKoBE4vmSM) for potential contributors > > * [//piratepad.net/d8xWTUwHq3](//piratepad.net/xKoBE4vmSM) for potential users > > Both need a lot of work and any help here is appreciated too! > > I really appreciated the work done on the feature guide, I worked on it some more and I hope we can get it a bit further and finish it during the marketing meeting in Februari. Anyone who has some spare time, check it out here: //manugupt1.ietherpad.com/4 > > I can however hapilly tell you that the article we wanted to write about new openSUSE projects is pretty much there now - some finishing touches and it can go live on news.opensuse.org! Great work all involved! > > Wow. That's a large bunch of writing things. I know not all of you like that stuff, so - who comes up with tasks that are less writy? ;-) > > Let me name one: we need themes for Identi.ca, Blogger and Twitter! Shouldn't be incredibly hard to make and I'm sure Robert Lihm, gnokki, Javier and our other artists can and will help here. > >

openFATE Team

Top voted Features

**Features with highest vote, but no one has been assigned to yet. We are looking for volunteers to implement. **

** [Run download and install in parallel (Score: 327)](https://features.opensuse.org/120340) ** > > "Network installation could be improved by running package download and package installation in parallel." > >

** [Look at plymouth for splash during boot (Score: 153)](https://features.opensuse.org/305493) ** > > "I wanted to open a fate feature about this when I first heard of plymouth, but reading //fedoramagazine.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/interview-fedora-10s-better-startup/ really makes me think we should go this way. > > Ray's comment starting with "Every flicker and mode change in the boot process takes away from the whole experience." is especially interesting. Is it okay to track the "don't show grub by default" here?" > >

** [1-click uninstall (Score: 121)](https://features.opensuse.org/305305) ** > > "An easy way to remove Software! > > For example: you installed an application with "1-click install" (which will install all the packages that you need), there should be an easy way (also with 1 click) to remove what you have installed with that 1-click operation... in another words: an "1-click Uninstall" to remove installed software (dependencies and packages included)." > >

** [Please, replacement for Sax2 in 11.3, and now for 11.4 (Score: 92)](https://features.opensuse.org/308357) ** > > "We need a replacement for sax2 in 11.3, as a safety measure for when auto configuration fails to detect certain monitors/keyboards/mice. (...)" > >

** [Popularity contest (Score: 74)](https://features.opensuse.org/305877) ** > > "We need a feedback about packages that are preferred by users and actively used. Debian already has a tool named Popularity contest (popcon) (...)" > >

** [YaST-Qt: More informative "Installation Summary" (Score: 60)](https://features.opensuse.org/305548) ** > > "The YaST Qt package manager should provide as much information in the "Installation Summary" view as zypper, esp the overall download size to expect and how much disk space will be freed/used after performing the operation." > >

** [Off-Line one click install (MSI for Linux) (Score: 54)](https://features.opensuse.org/305582) ** > > "Idea from community member Raúl García. Same concept as MSI packages for Windows but exploiting the One Click Install concept of openSUSE (and therefore inheriting the simplicity, code and security. (...)" > >

Recently requested features

Features newly requested last week. Please vote and/or comment if you get interested.

** [[Bash] Signing scripts](https://features.opensuse.org/310995) ** > > "Actually many distribution force scripts to have x privileges set. In KDE it will appear a dialog, when user try to run Desktop/Executable file. > > I think, that we should also add a way to write checksums and fingerprints to scripts/executables. User won't allow to run command if vendor are untrusted." > >

** [Non-PAE versions of kernels](https://features.opensuse.org/310996) ** > > "In openSUSE 11.0, when kernels were packaged, the developers used a -pae flag to show that the kernel had PAE enabled, so if I wanted a realtime kernel I could choose between kernel-rt and kernel-rtpae. Now (from 11.2 up) it seems that all the kernels have PAE enabled, except kernel-default; and they are not marked as such, so kernel-rt STILL has PAE enabled. (...)" > >

** [partition manager with compression](https://features.opensuse.org/310997) ** > > "The partition manager allows backup and resotre of whole partitions, unfortunately it does a 1:1 copy, without compression. > > Compression would be great to save some disk space on the image." > >

** [create a build-essential metapackage](https://features.opensuse.org/311001) ** > > "This feature is a continuation of https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=657607 I agreed with J.W. that there should be a "build-essential" meta-package that depends on things like gcc, make, automake. Those are always pre-installed in OBS and thus missing from the explicit BuildRequires list of packages. Currently, the exact list of implicit BuildRequires might only be known in the osc build script. > > This build-essential could then be fetched by "zypper si PACKAGENAME" and also be used in OBS to not have to maintain the list of packages in two places." > >

** [xprint](https://features.opensuse.org/311008) ** > > "[Xprint](//xprint.mozdev.org/) is an advanced printing system which enables X11 applications to use devices like printers, FAX or create documents in formats like PostScript, PDF, PCL, etc." > >

** [printer-enabled indicator](https://features.opensuse.org/311010) ** > > "with yast->printer->edit there is at bottom of that window a little box "Enable Printing" which must be activated to print. (...)" > >

** [Boot option "toram"](https://features.opensuse.org/311011) ** > > "I've long been amazed about the speed of DamnSmallLinux on a low spec machine when run completely in RAM. I've also seen that this is possible with Gentoo and Ubuntu nowadays. (...)" > >

** [Create a wow effect for the openSUSE 12 (2012)](https://features.opensuse.org/311014) ** > > "Next openSUSE will be 11.4. How can we have a really good reason to go to *12* and not 11.5 there after. > > We have to create something specially related to openSUSE (not GNOME, not Kde...). One thing or several, something that makes people say "wow!!" (...)" > >

** [desktop synchronization](https://features.opensuse.org/311016) ** > > "portable across multiple suse installations of the kde/gnome settings... everywhere is like home." > >

** [External language loaded from external media(liveCD)](https://features.opensuse.org/311018) ** > > "Many users are frustrated, that OpenSUSE don't support He/She's native language well. Allow to load native language files on system startup. Simply initramfs/initrd could load very base system, create ramdisk and asks to remove system CD them insert language support CD. System will install packages with additional language onto ramdisk and asks to insert base system CD again. > > After this process is performed, system will boot normally." > >

Feature Statistics

Statistics for openSUSE 11.4 in openFATE

Testing Team

** [Larry Finger: Weekly News for December 25](//lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-testing/2010-12/msg00011.html) ** > > The next Testing Core Team IRC meeting to discuss 11.4 Milestone 5 will be held December 27 at 1800 UTC. > > As most of you are aware, openSUSE 11.4 Milestone 5 was released on schedule. Many of us have had a chance to test it, and found few problems. The only bug added to the "most annoying" list is that zypper is slow on Live-installs (Bug #659864). There is a workaround. > > I repeat my plea for readers of these news to test, test, test, and and report all bugs to the Novell bugzilla. > > A very happy holiday for all. > >

Translation Team

• Daily updated translation statistics are available on the openSUSE Localization Portal.

• Trunk Top-List – Localization Guide

In the Community

Events & Meetings

Past

• December 20, 2010 : openFATE screening day in #opensuse-project

• December 21, 2010 : Marketing Collaboration Day - PR and Social Media Review

• December 22, 2010 : German Wiki Team Meeting

• December 23, 2010 : openSUSE KDE Team meeting

Upcoming

• December 27, 2010 : openSUSE Testing Core Team IRC Meeting

• December 29, 2010 : German Wiki Team Meeting

You can find more informations on other events at: openSUSE News/Events. - Local Events

openSUSE for your Ears

The openSUSE Weekly News are available as livestream or podcast in German. You can hear it or download it on Radiotux.

Communication

• The Mailinglists

• The openSUSE Forums

Contributors

• The User Directory

New/Updated Applications @ openSUSE

**[Packman: puddletag 0.9.10-0.pm](//packman.links2linux.org/package/puddletag)** > > “puddletag is a tag editor for Linux loosely based on mp3tag. It uses a table layout so that all the tags you want to edit by hand are visible and easily editable. puddletag excels at automating repetitive tasks like extracting tag information from filenames, tagging files from a text file or the clipboard, renaming or moving files and folders based on tags by using patterns, and manipulating tags using actions and regular expressions. Supported formats include id3v1, id3v2 (.mp3), AAC (.m4a), VorbisComments (.ogg, .flac), and APEv2 (.ape). Much of mp3tag's functionality has been replicated with added enhancements and tweaks.” > >

**[Packman: xmms2 0.7-13.pm](//packman.links2linux.org/package/xmms2)** > > “XMMS2 is an audio framework, but it is not a general multimedia player - it will not play videos. It has a modular framework and plugin architecture for audio processing, visualisation and output, but this framework has not been designed to support video. Also the client-server design of XMMS2 (and the daemon being independent of any graphics output) practically prevents direct video output being implemented. It has support for a wide range of audio formats, which is expandable via plugins. It includes a basic CLI interface to the XMMS2 framework, but most users will want to install a graphical XMMS2 client (such as gxmms2 or esperanza).” > >

**[Packman: gxine 0.5.905-2](//packman.links2linux.org/package/gxine)** > > This is a GTK+ based GUI for the libxine video player library. It provides gxine, a media player that can play all the audio/video formats that libxine supports. Currently, this includes MPEG1/2, some AVI and Quicktime files, some network streaming methods and disc based media (VCD, SVCD, DVD). > >

**[Packman: equalizer 0.9.1-0.pm](//packman.links2linux.org/package/equalizer/)** > > Equalizer is the standard middleware to create and deploy parallel OpenGL-based applications. It enables applications to benefit from multiple graphics cards, processors and computers to scale the rendering performance, visual quality and display size. An Equalizer application runs unmodified on any visualization system, from a simple workstation to large scale graphics clusters, multi-GPU workstations and Virtual Reality installations. (...) > >

You can find other interesting Packages at:

• Packman

• openSUSE Build Service

Security Updates

To view the security announcements in full, or to receive them as soon as they’re released, refer to the openSUSE Security Announce mailing list.

Tips and Tricks

For Desktop Users

** [Stefan Schubert: Easy use of WebYaST for OpenSuSE 11.3](//lizards.opensuse.org/2010/12/21/easy-use-of-webyast-for-opensuse-11-3/) ** > > **Have you ever tried WebYaST ? No ? Then it is time for.** > > We have noticed that WebYaST is not really known in the OpenSuSE community. One reason for is that WebYaST is not really user friendly regarding the installation. > > So we have investigate here some effort. Lets see…. > > **Installation** > > The simplest way is the one-click installation which is already installed on your OpenSuSE 11.3. > > Just use a web browser (like firefox) with the url: [//download.opensuse.org/repositories/YaST:/Web/openSUSE_11.3/webyast.ymp](//download.opensuse.org/repositories/YaST:/Web/openSUSE_11.3/webyast.ymp) > > The browser will ask you to start the installation via the one-click installation. Start the installation and go through the installation workflow. > > **Starting and managing WebYaST** > > WebYaST is a web application which runs on two http servers on your system. For starting and managing these servers Thomas Goettlicher has written a nice Qt-applet which can be started e.g. in KDE: > > >

 >

> > After starting the WebYaST applet the WebYaST icon appears on the right edge of the frame : > > > > > >

> >  > > >	WebYaST is disabled >
> >  > > >	WebYaST is enabled >

> > With the right mouse click you can manage WebYaST: > > >

 >

> > With this applet you can start WebYaST in your browser too. After accepting the GPG-key please login with your “root” account. > > And that’s WebYaST: > > >

 >

> > That’s all. > > (Yes, I know that sentence is written almost in every post here. Even in posts where problems just starting after the sentence has been read. :-) )But I think that should be really all. If not, please use bugzilla and blame us ! Have fun ! > > (Yes, I know that’s the second sentence which should be in every blog :-) ) > >

** [Make Tech Easier/Tavis J. Hampton: How to Change Linux Displays on the Fly with Disper](//maketecheasier.com/change-linux-displays-on-the-fly-with-disper/2010/12/22) ** > > Using Linux on a laptop has always been a hit and miss affair. With sometimes obscure proprietary hardware, many laptop manufacturers have showed no interest in supporting the free operating system. Nevertheless, through hard work by developers and support from some hardware manufacturers, Linux now supports a wide variety of laptops and netbooks. (...) > >

For Commandline/Script Newbies

** [Tuxarena/Craciun Dan: 8 More Bash Tips for Working Faster With the Shell (Part 2 of 2)](//www.tuxarena.com/?p=508) ** > > This is the second article in this series, and brings eight additional tips for working faster with the shell. [Here](//www.tuxarena.com/?p=257) is the first article of the series, containing 10 tips. (...) > >

For Developers and Programmers

** [Developer.com/Jason Gilmore: 10 Ways Git Version Control Can Streamline Your Writing Projects](//www.developer.com/open/10-ways-git-version-control-can-streamline-your-writing-projects.html) ** > > Establishing a rigorous version control process is a standard part of any software project, and [Git](//git-scm.com/) is a powerful system for enabling such version control. But Git's advantages extend beyond just software development. For instance, I use Git to manage all of my writing projects, including [books](//www.wjgilmore.com/) and my articles published on Developer.com (including this one). Git offers writers a fantastic set of features for producing material in an impressively fast, efficient and organized manner. In this article I'll introduce you to 10 Git tips and tricks I regularly apply within my own writing projects! Even if you're using Git solely for software development, you'll still be able to apply these tips to your projects! (...) > >

For System Administrators

** [Sascha Peilicke: Reclaim me blocks!](https://saschpe.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/reclaim-me-blocks/) ** > > Ever wondered why your filesystems fill up so quickly and why those new discs aren’t as big as advertised? While the latter may have several reasons (measuring units, the metric system or just damn lies), it may also be just an overly precautious default filesystem setting. On Linux, every filesystem gets some 5% of the available blocks reserved for the root user. This way, you can still work on your machine even if you forgot to rotate your log files Changing this default to something more realistic on today’s big hard discs may come with a nice surprises. Here’s my laptops root partition before: > > saschpe@minime:~% df -h > Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on > /dev/sda1 168G 144G 16G 91% / > > Now let’s do a courageous tune2fs changing this to 0.2% (more than enough to be able to login and remove logfiles): > > sudo tune2fs -m 0.2 /dev/sda1 > > And check again: > > saschpe@minime:~/download% df -h > Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on > /dev/sda1 168G 144G 24G 86% / > > How neat, 8 fresh new gigs of storage :-) > >

** [HowtoForge/thebrain.ca: SSL Certificates For PostgreSQL](//www.howtoforge.com/postgresql-ssl-certificates) ** > > This describes how to set up ssl certificates to enable encrypted connections from PgAdmin on some client machine to postgresql on a server machine. The assumption is that postgresql (compiled with ssl support) and openssl are already installed and functional on the server (Linux). PgAdmin is already installed on the client (either Windows or Linux). (...) > >

Planet SUSE

**[Andres Silva: New Idea About Chat Program](//anditosan.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-idea-about-chat-program.html)** > > “I am a good user of social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. They have used very interesting features on their websites, such as instant messaging. By that I do not mean the chat application that Facebook uses, or the immediate update on Twitter messages. I am talking about the idea of instant messaging on settled messages. For example, when a person posts a comment on Facebook and is able to keep a conversation from one person to the next. It is a minifeed that also includes the rest of the present contacts that are involved in the message box.” > > **Figure 3. Facebook Minifeed** > > >

 >

> > > > “Twitter is a little similar, you are able to scroll through the many messages on your home page as well as the rest of the contacts who have posted messages on your Twitter. (...)Figure 3, “Facebook Minifeed”” > >

**[Martin Vidner: network-autoconfig: Find a connected eth interface and create an ifcfg for it](//mvidner.blogspot.com/2010/12/network-autoconfig-find-connected-eth.html)** > > Use case: I want to create an appliance image for a build farm worker machine. I don't know its hardware configuration beforehand; in particular, it may have multiple network interfaces and I don't want to bother figuring out which is which. I will simply include **network-autoconfig.rpm** and plug the cable into any socket before booting. > > network-autoconfig helps setting up machines with multiple network interfaces. At the first boot, all available Ethernet interfaces are cycled until one is successfully configured with DHCP. > > I have submitted it to openSUSE:Factory now. Enjoy it in the upcoming openSUSE 11.4! > > It is referenced as [Feature#311012](https://features.opensuse.org/311012). You are welcome to improve it on [Gitorious](//gitorious.org/opensuse/network-autoconfig). (...) > >

**[Nelson Marques: More ‘Unity’ news…](//lizards.opensuse.org/2010/12/23/more-unity-news/)** > > I’ve finished with the base packages required for Unity, in fact Unity already builds, though I’ve not really tested it yet as some components still need to take care… so far what’s done: > > * dee – is now properly packaged and ready for submission (no patching required); > > * bamf – is now properly packaged and ready for submission (includes a patch modified by Adam Williamson based on a Debian patch); > > * ux – builds and in a way it’s ready, though I want to split this package in the nearby future. > > * unity – builds for the time being… though it requires proper integration on the system. This build also builds with support for Indicators, since the dependencies are already prepared. Will take now a bit of time due to integration. I will offer this package installed on /opt/unity and not on usual system path. > > While fighting for dependencies there emerged a small problem with ‘glewmx’, which builds from the same sources of ‘glew’. I’m currently working on this package as a priority to fix it and submit it to ‘multimedia:libs’ which also hosts ‘glew’. This package has also a small patch by Adam Williamson which was already submitted upstream that allows the proper build of ‘libGLEWmx.so*’ and glewmx.pc. Currently I’ve built this package only offering the libs. I’ve removed the binaries (and made a dependency on ‘glew’ for the binaries) and I’ve also removed the headers from the includes which will be shared with ‘glew’ and made a proper dependency. I’ve consulted Dimstar regarding this operation which promptly offered some quick guidance on the process and showed a couple of useful examples on how to this ‘the openSUSE way’. > > I hope that before the new year there’s a test package of Unity for Factory users. I would also take this opportunity to thank everyone which has helped me so far on this ‘one man inglorious rush’ towards bringing Unity to openSUSE as an option for those who want to check it out. > > My sincere thanks to the following: > > * Vincent Untz (openSUSE/Novell); > > * Ken Vandine (Canonical); > > * Cristopher Roges (Ubuntu); > > * Adam Williamson (Fedora/Red Hat); > > * openSUSE GNOME team; > > * The openSUSE community, specially those which have supported this effort since day #1. > > * Arch Linux contributors (which were working on this and from which I got some guidance from their ‘forums’); > > Nelson Marques > >

**[Josef Reidinger: Easy scripting actions with susestudio alias new rubygem studio_api](//lizards.opensuse.org/2010/12/23/rubygem-studio_api/)** > > Now I work for SLMS ( Suse Lifecycle Management Server ) project. It cooperate with SuSE studio and use its API. I get idea that more people could benefit from easy access to studio API from ruby so I extract functionality and improve behavior, documentation and testing and now there is new rubygem studio_api. Why you should use this gem? > > * ActiveResource Behavior > > * Actively maintained ( and will be due to SLMS support ) > > * Tightly developed with guys from studio team > > * Well documented with yard > > * Good test coverage. > > I think then a lot of glory words is better to show example. It is example based on example from documentation. Example goal is simple. Create new appliance in studio, add own cool rpm and build appliance with it. It can be useful to test your new version of software in stable environment and have automatic appliance in which you can test it. (...) > >

openSUSE Forums

**X-mas holidays in the forums: [ Happy Holidays ](//forums.opensuse.org/english/community/general-chit-chat/451335-happy-holiday.html) and [ All I want for Christmas is..... ](//forums.opensuse.org/english/community/general-chit-chat/451437-all-i-want-christmas-other.html)** > > On behalf of the [openSUSE Forums Team](//en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Forums_team) I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy en Open New Year. The threads above are the ones I found in the forums, read to get yourself in a holiday state of mind. > >

**[ XP first? openSUSE first? ](//forums.opensuse.org/english/get-help-here/install-boot-login/451624-xp-first-opensuse-first.html)** > > A question, asked a lot in the [openSUSE Forums](//forums.opensuse.org). This member needs to have both openSUSE and XP installed on a fresh new disk. The replies not only supply the answer to this question, they also help the thread's starter to a good partitioning scheme of the new disk. > >

**[Network printer kills internet connection](//forums.opensuse.org/english/get-help-here/hardware/451584-network-printer-kills-internet-connection.html)** > > A nice example of a good thread opener: a clear title, a good description of what happens. Quote: "After setting up to print using wireless access, printing works fine, there is however no longer any internet access available, wired or wireless ( from PCLOS, Mandriva, openSUSE, win7, or whatever!) To restore internet access requires rebooting the router and turning off the printer (or disabling its networking) similar issues with wired network printing." > >

**This week's subforum: [Wireless](//forums.opensuse.org/english/get-help-here/wireless/)** > > This forum of the [openSUSE Forums](//forums.opensuse.org)is a subforum of [Get Help Here](//forums.opensuse.org/english/get-help-here/). Top thread on the list is a "sticky" : [Getting your wireless to work ](//forums.opensuse.org/english/get-help-here/wireless/410319-getting-your-wireless-work.html), it's writen in 2009, but still a very good set of instructions and explanations. Does your card not work after following this, use the search function of the forums, search for the brand of the wifi device. Chances are high you find a post that leads to a working device. > >

On the Web

Announcements

** [The Document Foundation joins Open Invention Network](//listarchives.documentfoundation.org/www/announce/msg00021.html) ** > > The Document Foundation has joined the Open Invention Network (OIN), to further extend the free software ecosystems. By becoming a licensee, The Document Foundation - developer of LibreOffice, a free office suite for personal and corporate productivity - has joined the growing list of organizations that recognize the importance of participating in the Open Invention Network, in order to protect the free software ecosystem from the risks associated to software patents. > > “The Document Foundation is a major free software project, and LibreOffice a key office suite for creating, managing and sharing documents. By becoming a licensee of the Open Invention Network, we fight software patents - which stifle innovation and encourage predatory business practices - and at the same time we improve the protection of our software projects,” said Charles Schulz, Member of TDF Steering Committee. > > Patents owned by Open Invention Network are available royalty-free to whichever company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against free software. Through this network of developers, distributors, sellers, resellers and end-users that license its patent portfolio, Open Invention Network is creating a supportive and shielded ecosystem to ensure the growth and adoption of free and open source software. This enables OIN licensees like The Document Foundation to make significant investments, helping to fuel economic growth. > > OIN has amassed a broad portfolio of patents, including patents held by nominees on its behalf. These patents are available to all licensees as part of the patent portfolio that OIN is creating in support of free software. The license agreement is at [//www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_license_agreement.php](//www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_license_agreement.php) > > The home of The Document Foundation is at [//www.documentfoundation.org.](//www.documentfoundation.org) > > The Document Foundation has the mission to facilitate the evolution of the OOo Community into a new open, independent, and meritocratic organization within the next few months. An independent Foundation is a better match to the values of contributors, users and supporters, and will enable a more effective, efficient, transparent, and inclusive Community. TDF will protect past investments by building on the achievements of the first decade, will encourage wide participation in the Community, and will co-ordinate activity across the Community. > >

** [dot.kde.org: KDE e.V. Joins Open Invention Network](//dot.kde.org/2010/12/21/kde-ev-joins-open-invention-network) ** > > KDE e.V. is [pleased to announce](//www.openinventionnetwork.com/press_release12_21_10.php) that we have joined the Open Invention Network community as a licensee. > > Open Invention Network was founded as a way to help defend the Linux ecosystem, and by extension much of the Free and Open Source software world, from the risks associated with software patents. Patents owned by Open Invention Network are available royalty-free to any company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against the Linux System, creating an umbrella of protection for its members. > > “We view an OIN license as one of the key methods through which open source innovators can deter patent aggression,” said Adriaan de Groot, vice president of KDE. “We are committed to freedom of action in Linux, and in taking a license we help to address the threat from companies that support proprietary platforms to the exclusion of open source initiatives, and whose behaviors reflect a disdain for inventiveness and collaboration.” > > “Given its leadership in creating a user-friendly computing experience, including its advanced graphical desktop for the Linux community, we are pleased to have KDE become a licensee,” said Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. “By doing so, KDE affirms its continued support for open source. We applaud their foresight in taking this step to support both itself and the open source community broadly.” > > While KDE maintains our position against software patents, this development provides an additional safety net for KDE when it comes to the risks Free Software is facing from such patents today. > >

** [KDE Software Compilation 4.6 RC1 Released: Codename Chanukkah](//kde.org/announcements/announce-4.6-rc1.php) ** > > December 23rd, 2010. Right before christmas, KDE has published the first candidate for the upcoming release of KDE 4.6.0. The focus at this stage is on fixing bugs and completing translations and artwork. As such, the rework of the Oxygen icon set is nearing completion, many bugs reported by testers in the past weeks have been fixed and stabilization is still in full swing. KDE's release team has decided to not include the new release of KDE-PIM, containing the Kontact groupware client and the new KMail2 which is based on the Akonadi groupware cache in this release due to open issue with migration of large sets of data from the traditional client. These bugs are being worked on as we speak, but the risk at this point is too high to include the new Kontact in the 4.6.0 release. Therefore, it has been decided to release KMail2 and its companions together with one of the subsequent 4.6 releases, likely 4.6.1 one month later. A 3rd beta version of the kdepim module is available already. As the other components of the frameworks, workspaces and applications are nearing release date, KDE encourages testers to give their favorite software some final thorough testing. The last chance for feedback will be the second release candidate, planned for January, 5th 2011. The final release of 4.6.0 will be [available](//www.kdedevelopers.org/node/4365) on January, 26th 2011. > > >

 >

> > To find out more about the KDE Plasma desktop and applications, please also refer to the [4.5.0](//www.kde.org/announcements/4.5/), [4.4.0](//www.kde.org/announcements/4.4/), [4.3.0](//www.kde.org/announcements/4.3/), [4.2.0](//www.kde.org/announcements/4.2/), [4.1.0](//www.kde.org/announcements/4.1/) and [4.0.0](//www.kde.org/announcements/4.0/) release notes. > > KDE, including all its libraries and its applications, is available for free under Open Source licenses. KDE can be obtained in source and various binary formats from [//download.kde.org](//download.kde.org/unstable/4.5.90/) and can also be obtained on CD-ROM or with any of the major GNU/Linux and UNIX systems shipping today. > > **Editors Note**: The openSUSE Packages of KDE SC 4.6 RC1 are placed in [KDE:Distro:Factory](//download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Distro:/Factory/) Repository. > >

**[winetricks 20101222 released](//wine-reviews.net/wine-reviews/winetricks/winetricks-20101222-released.html) ** > > Another month, another Winetricks. > > Dan Kegel released winetricks 20101008 today. new verbs icodecs, msnasn1, opensymbol, wmi, xmllite; removed obsolete verbs audioio, dcom98, eadm, urlmon > > wsh57 now works with vb scripts, the code has undergone some spring cleaning, so watch out for regressions. (We've fixed a few already.) In particular, the audioio, dcom98, eadm, and urlmon verbs are gone, let me know if you really need those! > > There's a new --optin commandline option that will tells winetricks to phone home after each run with info about which verbs really get used. Please consider using this, it will help future winetricks development. (You only have to give that option once, it sticks. You can turn it off with the --optout option, or by removing ~/.cache/winetricks.) (...) > >

Call for participation

** [QT Apps: Win 10.000,- EUR at the "Qtest Mobile App Port"](//qt-apps.org/news/?id=340) ** > > Welcome to the Qtest Mobile App Port! As developers of applications using Qt, you already know how great it is to work with - but how about on mobile platforms, such as Symbian and MeeGo? How would you like to take that step you have been wanting to take, but not been able to justify: Take your application from the desktop and bring it into the hand-held world via the Ovi store. Let this contest be the justification, with the possibility of a new phone or even 10,000 euros waiting at the end. > > **Dates**: The contest starts on 20th of December, 2010, and runs till 28th of February. The 31st of December is important for you if you wish to take part in the Early Bird competition. If you do no win, you will still take part in the main competition, and will be allowed to continue your work and submit new versions to the Ovi Store. The 28th of February is the deadline for taking part in the main competition. > > **Developer Sprint**: There will be a sponsored developer sprint organized together with the KDE e.V. during the competition. The travel and stay can be paid for if you do not have the budget yourself. Further details will be made public at a later time, and all participants will be notified of this information via email. > > **Judging and prizes**: The Qtest Mobile App Port is evaluated by a panel of judges which will be announced in the next few days. The jury will pic 5 winners at 31th of December as the early bird winners. Every winner gets a free N900 phone. The main competition first prize is EUR 10,000, which will be awarded to the application which the judges find to be the best ported application. The second to sixth price will be another 5 N900 phones. > > >

 >

> > And, finally: Everybody who takes part in the competition will be awarded a gift bag, with a T-shirt and other merchandise. > > **Eligibility**: To be able to take part in the contest, the ported application must be submitted for Ovi Store signing by one of the two deadlines: - Early bird entries must be submitted by December 31st - Standard entries must be submitted by February 28th. > > You also have to submit your application to the "Mobile Contest" category on Qt-Apps.org or MeeGo-Central.org > > You can submit your application to the Ovi Store as many times as you wish during the competition. This allows you to get feedback from the public on your software. It´s possible to submit new or existing KDE/Qt applications. > > So have fun and good luck everybody! > >

Reports

** [h-online: X.org 7.6 supports udev and modularized configuration](//www.h-online.com/open/news/item/X-org-7-6-supports-udev-and-modularized-configuration-1157824.html) ** > > The X.org developers have released version X11R7.6 of their graphics system, which contains the X Server version 1.9.3. One of the innovations in 7.6 is that it uses udev for hardware detection and hot-plug notification; a HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) is no longer required. > > Xorg configuration directories now allow the X Server configuration to be saved as individual module files. For instance, the input device driver matching rules previously provided in HAL .fdi files are now provided as InputClass sections in .conf files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d. > > The [sources](//www.x.org/releases/X11R7.6/src/) for the current release, the [release notes](//www.x.org/releases/X11R7.6/doc/xorg-docs/ReleaseNotes.txt), the detailed [Change Log](//www.x.org/releases/X11R7.6/changelog.txt) and the [project wiki](//www.x.org/wiki/) are all available from the X.org project web site. X11R7.8 is released under the [MIT licence.](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X11_License) > >

** [h-online: Google launches open source YouTube channel](//www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Google-launches-open-source-YouTube-channel-1157267.html) ** > > Google has launched an[ official YouTube channel](//www.youtube.com/user/googleOSPO) for its[ Open Source Programs Office](//code.google.com/opensource/) (OSPO). According to Google Open Source Team member Ellen Ko, the new channel is aimed at organizing videos related to Google and other open source projects in a single place. > > A number of playlists with videos of, for example, [Google Tech Talks](//www.youtube.com/googletechtalks) that feature open source projects have already been added. Other videos from Jeremy Allison’s [Geek Time](//www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7FC162E0B1E7C602) series, as well as of Googlers speaking at open source conferences are also available. The Google OSPO YouTube channel currently has 14 videos, with links to a variety of other videos from other channels and users. > > Google's current open source projects include the [Chrome](//www.h-online.com/news/item/Google-releases-Chrome-8-0-stable-1147222.html) web browser, which is based on [Chromium](//www.chromium.org/) , the Android mobile operating system, [Chrome OS](//www.h-online.com/news/item/Google-previews-Chrome-OS-Cloud-computing-but-without-touch-1149420.html) and many others. > >

** [ConsortiumInfo.org/Andy Updegrove: EC Takes One Step Forward, Two Steps Back in Openness](//www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20101221084910541) ** > > Last Thursday the European Commission took a major step forward on the “openness” scale. The occasion was the release of a new version of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) which definitively endorsed the use of open source friendly standards when providing “public services” within the EU. This result was rightly hailed by open source advocates like [Open Forum Europe](//www.openforumeurope.org/press-room/press-releases/EIF%20PR3%2016.12.10.pdf). (...) > >

Reviews and Essays

** [Linux Journal/Susan Linton: Ubuntu Indicators in openSUSE?](//www.linuxjournal.com/content/ubuntu-indicators-opensuse) ** > > Ubuntu takes a lot of punches from time to time for its marketing and even its interface. Some feel Ubuntu is dumbed down and oversimplified, while many others think it's innovative and user-friendly. Where ever you fall in the debate, one developer thinks some elements of Ubuntu should land into openSUSE. In fact, he has packaged up and pushed them to openSUSE:Contrib. > > **Nelson Marques**, Fedora and openSUSE contributor, thinks Ubuntu indicators are the bee's knees. Actually, since Ubuntu is the dominant distribution in his corner of the world he thinks using some of its more familiar elements might help users migrate to openSUSE. He said, "We don’t want to make of openSUSE a ‘clone’ of Ubuntu, instead we want to make the openSUSE experience more close to what people already use." (...) Other Sources: [ostatic](//ostatic.com/blog/unity-coming-to-opensuse-too) > >

** [LinuxLinks.com: 21 More Notable Free Linux Games (Part 2 of 3)](//www.linuxlinks.com/article/2010121106112994/NotableGamesPart2.html) ** > > We have always been strong advocates of computer games. Rather than rotting the brain, computer games are interactive, teach essential life skills, and can stimulate learning. They also have been proven to enhance skills such as creativity, cooperation, teamplay, as well as encouraging innovative and strategic thinking and improving hand-eye coordination. > > Linux is not championed as a viable gaming platform in many communities, in part because of its smaller user base and the relatively low number of commercially supported native Linux games that are released each year. However, there are a number of encouraging developments on this front. For example, the Unigine engine should enable developers to produce high-quality 3D games with up-to-date visuals and advanced rendering. One title to be released using this engine is OilRush. This eagerly awaited title fuses a classical real time strategy with a Tower Wars genre. > > Notwithstanding these developments, Linux has an ever-expanding library of tens of thousands of free games, many of which are released under an open source license. A good proportion of these titles are entertaining, highly addictive, offer captivating gameplay, and are challenging. (...) > >

** [Ostatic/Susan Linton: My Top Five Favorite Distributions for 2010](//ostatic.com/blog/my-top-five-favorite-distributions-for-2010) ** > > Ms. Carla Schroder shared a list of her “bestest distros” recently, so I thought I might follow suit. She called hers “not-usual” and looking at her list, I'd say my choices are probably a little more usual. In any case, here are my top five favorite Linux distributions for 2010, in no real order. > > > > 1. [MEPIS](//www.mepis.org/) > > SimplyMEPIS has always been one of my favorite distributions for several reasons. SimplyMEPIS was one of the first to understand that looks do matter and so does out of the box functionality. It includes proprietary drivers, codecs, and browser plugins that make using Linux enjoyable. It leans toward the conservative side concerning new version of its components, but that makes for an extremely stable operating system. In all its years I only ran into one release that gave me any trouble, and that was about three or four years ago - possibly when it went through its Ubuntu phase. It is truly one of the best. > > 2. [openSUSE](//www.opensuse.org/) > > openSUSE has been one of my favorites since it first opened up to community involvement in 2005. Novell's agreement with Microsoft did damper my enthusiasm a bit, but the distro itself remains one of the most polished and professional offerings we have. It just has a commercial feel to it. Like SimplyMEPIS, I only encountered one release that gave me any trouble. Otherwise, its been a slick and attractive distro. I don't run it full time mainly because I'd have to hunt up some one-clicks (that are available for openSUSE) or install codecs and stuff myself to get going and then worry about those updates. But it always remains high on my radar. I follow its development very closely. I'm a little worried about what will become of it despite assurances. But as long as it lives, so will my admiration. (...) > > > >

** [2indiya.com/Nilanka: Advantages of OpenSUSE’s YaST Software Management](//www.2indya.com/2010/12/23/advantages-of-opensuse%E2%80%99s-yast-software-management/) ** > > Different Linux distributions use their own tools for software, or more precisely, package management. As an example, Ubuntu uses its Synaptic, Fedora uses Yum, Gentoo uses Portage, and OpenSUSE uses YaST. > > YaST stands for ‘Yet another Setup Tool’. YaST is an easy to use package management system for Linux distributions that support rpm based packages. Although YaST features in many commercial Linux distributions, it is free and open source software released under GPL. Therefore, it is free to be used by any party interested. > > YaST features many functionality the advanced package management tools offer. Let’s take the appearance as an example. YaST offers the end users both a GUI front-end as well as CLI front-end. The CLI front-end is especially useful for the installation done through networks where everything is performed through a terminal or a command line interface. Due to this support, the installation of OpenSUSE systems can be done over slow Internet connections and while the X server is not present in the system (such as a server installation). (...) > >

**[Linux.com/Nathan Willis: Weekend Project - Replace Delicious with an Open Source Bookmark Service](//www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/392855:weekend-project-replace-delicious-with-an-open-source-bookmark-service) ** > > The past two weeks have been rough for users of the Yahoo-owned "social bookmarking" service, [Delicious](//www.delicious.com/). First, reports leaked out that Yahoo was shutting the site down. Then the Delicious team [fired back](//blog.delicious.com/) saying essentially don't worry, all is well — we're simply getting sold off. That's cold comfort if you use the service to manage and tag a large collection of links, though. If you're not comfortable with the uncertainty, what better solution is there than installing your own open source replacement? > > Running your own Web bookmarking application has two key advantages over a proprietary commercial service. First, you can change and adapt the system to fit your way of working. Don't care about sharing your collection with the world at large? You can run a single-user instance and keep your bookmarks private. Second, you can host it on your own server, whether a small box in your closet at home, or on a co-located hosting plan — either way, you're in control. > > There are several Web-based bookmarking applications suitable for running on a LAMP server setup, but the option that most closely matches the Delicious service is [Scuttle](//sourceforge.net/projects/scuttle/). It implements the Delicious API, supports multiple user accounts, and even allows you to import your bookmark collection from Delicious. Scuttle requires MySQL and PHP, and the most recent release is version 0.8.0, from December 21st of 2010. That is recent enough that although some Linux distributions provide builds through their package management systems, most will not have caught up yet. > > That means you'll have to grab a [source package](//sourceforge.net/projects/scuttle/files/) from the project's Web site if you want to run the latest and greatest, but don't let it frighten you away. As a pure LAMP app, you don't have to worry about compilation — the setup process is straightforward. We'll take a look at installing and configuring the basic Scuttle application, then talk about some alternatives, including an interesting Scuttle derivative. (...) > >

Warning!

** [h-online: Phrack hole closed in ProFTPD ](//www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Phrack-hole-closed-in-ProFTPD-1156782.html) ** > > The development team behind [ProFTPD](//www.proftpd.org/) has released version [1.3.3d](//www.proftpd.org/docs/RELEASE_NOTES-1.3.3d), which closes a critical security hole in the SQL module of all previous versions. The flaw was [reported](//www.phrack.org/issues.html) roughly a month ago in Phrack, the hacker magazine. A buffer overflow in the function sql_prepare_where() allows attackers to remotely execute arbitrary code on the server. The developers themselves suffered when this vulnerability was exploited by still unknown parties, who entered the project server and [installed](//www.h-online.com/news/item/Back-door-in-ProFTPD-FTP-server-1146592.html) a back door in the source code. > > The new version also fixes a number of additional [bugs](//www.proftpd.org/docs/NEWS-1.3.3d); as a result, the GPL-licensed server is reportedly now more stable. At the same time, the developers have also published the first release candidate for version [1.3.4](//www.proftpd.org/docs/RELEASE_NOTES-1.3.4rc1). (...) > >

LOL

** [XKCD: Incident](//xkcd.com/838/) ** > > >

 >

> > This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License. > >

** [PCWorld/Jeff Bertolucci: 15 Crazy Japanese Tech Gizmos](//www.pcworld.com/article/214710/15_crazy_japanese_tech_gizmos.html) ** > > The Japanese have proven their techie prowess over the decades. Where would we be without the transistor radio, the camcorder, or the Sony Walkman? But sometimes they jump the technological shark with whimsical and weird gear, some of which is downright loopy. Here are our favorite examples of oddball tech that could be made only in Japan. > >

Credits

We thank for this Issue:

• Sascha Manns, Editor in Chief

• Satoru Matsumoto, Editorial Office

• Gertjan Lettink, Forums Section

• Thomas Hofstätter, Eventeditor

• Thomas Schraitle, DocBook-Consultant

Feedback

Do you have comments on any of the things mentioned in this article? Then head right over to the comment section and let us know!

Or if you would like to be part of the openSUSE:Weekly news team then check out our team page and join!

Or Communicate with or get help from the wider openSUSE community via IRC, forums, or mailing lists see Communicate.

Visit our Facebook Fanpage: Fanpage

Since a few minutes you can use Bugzilla and openFATE for give your Feedback.

You can subscribe to the openSUSE Weekly News RSS feed at news.opensuse.org.

Translations

openSUSE Weekly News is translated into many languages. Issue 155 is available in:

• English

Coming soon:

You can follow the status of the translation there.

• Japanese

• Greek

• German