[LWN Logo]
[LWN.net]

Sections:
 Main page
 Linux in the news
 Security
 Kernel
 Distributions
 Development
 Commerce
 Announcements
 Back page
All in one big page

See also: last week's Distributions page.

Distributions


Caldera

If you want to try the 2.2 kernel on OpenLinux 1.3, check out this message from Caldera's Erik Ratcliffe and start FTPing. Some caveats apply, of course. The upgrade packages were created by a Caldera VAR as a public service; it they have no official stamp of approval, and nobody warrants that they won't explode in your face and fill the office with nasty black smoke.

Debian

[Contest entry] The Debian logo contest is ongoing, with many entries received thus far. (See the contest announcement if you've not encountered it yet). The entries received thus far can be found on the Gimp contest page.

There has been some grumpiness resulting from the requirement that all logos be created using only the Gimp. This requirement is unsurprising, since the contest is sponsored by the Gimp people. But the Debian folks do not want to rule out other submissions created with free software. It seems unlikely that the Gimp folks will change their rules, so there's not much to be done...

The slink release is getting closer. Here are a couple of lists of bugs that have to be fixed before the release can happen: one from the automatic reporter, and the other one put out by Brian White.

Is postilion free enough? Postilion is a mail reader designed after a NextStep application; it has a number of pleased users. Problems came up when the package maintainer noticed a change in the license that comes with the 0.9.0 release. Under the new license, the various graphic image files that come with the program can only be used with postilion; they can not be used in any other context.

There seemed to be a general feeling that this license was non-free, and a note was sent off to the postilion developer describing the difficulties. This developer, after some discussion, came back with a revised licensewhich addressed the concerns. Seemingly everybody will live happily ever after.

Meanwhile, interestingly, Richard Stallman came in with an opinion of his own: he thinks the original license qualified as free. He also thought it was undesirable and essentially unenforcable.

Debian en Français. A new project has been formed to translate the debian distribution - programs, documentation, and all - into French. See the announcement (surprisingly, in French) if you would like to participate.

Mandrake

Mandrake 5.3 has been released. This release ("Festen") is still based on Red Hat 5.2, but there have been enough goodies coming out (XFree86 3.3.3.1, KDE 1.1, Kernel 2.2.1, etc.) that they decided to make a new release. Also included is a new "Installation and Use Guide" document. See the announcement for details.

MkLinux

A new bug reporting address and bug reporting web page have been set up for MkLinux.

SuSE

Does SuSE not have its act together in North America? A number of SuSE users seem to think so after the distribution got stomped in one of those highly scientific Slashdot polls. Complaints range from distributions for the U.S. coming late and with problems, to the slowness of updates in the U.S. SuSE web page. In general there seems to be a feeling among U.S. SuSE users that SuSE, while providing a superior distribution, is being outmarketed on this side of the pond.

TurboLinux

TurboLinux users wishing to upgrade to the 2.2 kernel series may want to check out this note, which explains where all the necessary updates are to be found.

February 11, 1999

Please note that not every distribution will show up every week. Only distributions with recent news to report will be listed.

 

Next: Development

 
Eklektix, Inc. Linux powered! Copyright © 1999 Eklektix, Inc., all rights reserved
Linux ® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds