From: Greg Rice <grice@accesspr.com>
To: "'LWN@LWN.NET'" <LWN@LWN.NET>
Subject: OSDN Releases freshmeat II
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 09:13:30 -0800



The Open Source Development Network (OSDN), a division of VA Linux Systems
today unveiled freshmeat II, a major enhancement of freshmeat, the largest
index of Linux and Open Source software on the web. Many of the new features
in freshmeat II expand the ability of the site's users to customize their
personal accounts in ways that make it easier and faster to find what they
want and communicate with each other.  Please see the press release below
for further details.

Please contact a member of the VA Linux/OSDN team with any questions:

Chris Loncto, 917.522.3524, cloncto@accesspr.com
Randee Seligsohn, 917.522.3512, rseligsohn@accesspr.com


OPEN SOURCE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK UNVEILS FRESHMEAT II

Major Features Enhancement of Web's Largest Index of Linux
 and Open Source Software


ACTON, MA - January 30, 2001 - The Open Source Development Network
(OSDN.com), a division of VA Linux Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: LNUX), today
announced the highly anticipated release of freshmeat II, the result of a
year-long development effort to enhance freshmeat.net.  

Founded in 1997, freshmeat.net (http://freshmeat.net/) is the largest index
of Linux and Open Source software on the Web.  With thousands of
applications meticulously catalogued in the freshmeat database and links to
new code added daily, freshmeat.net is the first stop for users hunting for
the software they need.  freshmeat.net is well known for providing the
latest news on new Open Source software releases, as well as extensive
archives of project release histories, links and spirited discussion and
commentary.

Many of the new features in freshmeat II expand the ability of the site's
users to customize their personal accounts in ways that make it easier and
faster to find what they want and communicate with each other.  Among the
most important advances are:

?	Filtering and email notification.  freshmeat II makes it easier for
users to track the software they want by filtering out specific categories
of software by application type and/or release priority.  Users can also
receive email notification of software updates and user commentary. 
?	Improved ease of use.  Submitting software for inclusion on
freshmeat.net is easier than ever, thanks to refinements in freshmeat's
administration and maintenance interfaces.  freshmeat II also introduces
screenshots, public and private user pages and extended search capabilities.
* Easier communication and real-time feedback.  Threaded comments and
instant messaging allow users to send notes to each other.
* Branches and improved categorization.  Projects in the freshmeat database
can be split into branches (e.g., "stable" vs. "development").  freshmeat II
has adopted the Trove categorization system, which will make it easier for
freshmeat.net to work with SourceForge.net, the world's largest ASP for Open
Source development, as well as other archives using Trove.
* Expanded statistics.  The freshmeat statistics page now tracks the top 20
projects by hit count and the top 20 users by logins, in addition to many
other useful numbers.

"Thanks to the feature requests and enthusiastic feedback from our readers
and contributors, freshmeat.net now provides a much more powerful toolset,"
said Patrick "scoop" Lenz, founder of freshmeat.net.  "We hope that by
making freshmeat II even easier to use, we encourage more developers to
release early and often."

OSDN's Linux Kernel Month on freshmeat.net

In addition to the launch of freshmeat II, freshmeat.net kicks off the month
of February with weekly features on Linux kernel-related issues, as part of
OSDN's Linux Kernel Month.  Highlights will include: "2.4: What's in it for
me?" by freshmeat.net editor Jeff Covey; a behind-the-scenes look at how
Linux distributions prepare for major kernel releases; and an in-depth
discussion of journaling file systems for Linux.
Further information on OSDN's Linux Kernel Month activities is available at
The Kernel Bazaar at http://osdn.com/bazaar/linuxkernel/.  Information on
how to sponsor Linux Kernel Month and future OSDN Technology Months is
available via email at sponsorship@osdn.com.


About OSDN

OSDN (Open Source Development Network), a division of VA Linux Systems,
Inc., is the leading Linux and Open Source destination on the Internet.
OSDN is a network and community outreach organization committed to
accelerating Open Source software development, which also serves as a
gateway for individuals and organizations worldwide to understand and join
this revolution.  Serving 100 million page impressions to more than 4
million users each month, OSDN includes the leading Open Source sites for
news, information and discussion (Slashdot, NewsForge and Linux.com), the
largest sites for collaborative Open Source development and support
(SourceForge.net and QuestionExchange), the most popular sites for Open
Source software distribution (freshmeat.net and Themes.org), online shopping
for technical enthusiasts (ThinkGeek), a new print publication (Open
magazine), and community discussion forums and personalized content on
OSDN.com.

Certain statements in this press release, including statements about future
growth in Open Source software development and future features,
functionality and growth of freshmeat.net, are forward-looking statements
that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be
materially different from expectations.  Such risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, the ability of VA Linux and OSDN to attract
and retain qualified personnel; industry trends related to Open Source and
Linux; and other risks detailed in VA Linux's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be accessed through the SEC's
web site at www.sec.gov.

Note:  VA Linux Systems, "Open Source Development Network (OSDN)",
SourceForge, Slashdot, freshmeat.net, QuestionExchange, ThinkGeek, and
NewsForge are trademarks of VA Linux Systems, Inc.  Linux is a registered
trademark of Linus Torvalds.  All other trademarks are property of their
respective owners.


Contact:
Randee Seligsohn		Chris Loncto	
Access Communications		Access Communications
(917)522-3512		(917)522-3524
rseligsohn@accesspr.com		cloncto@accesspr.com	

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30-Jan-01