Tomorrow
Tomorrow will be 25th November 2008. My 7th Sem Exams start tomorrow. Foss.in also opens tomorrow. I had promised to myself earlier that I would be there at foss.in this year at any cost. I had it planned out. Shreyank and I were determined to skip our exams and go to foss.in. Somewhat unexpectedly, foss.in organisers urged Shreyank not to come.They did not want us to miss our exams.
What a huge loss for us! 
On the other hand, missing the exams would also have been hugely risky. So I guess we will take it.
Results of the Linux Survey in the Ladies’ Hostels
Well the wait is finally over and the results of the survey on GNU/Linux usage by girls in the Ladies’ Hostels is out. The survey has shown that GLUG-NIT Durgapur has tremendous growth opportunity among the girl students. Out of the total 228 girls who participated in the survey, 51 use different distributions of Linux regularly either in their own personal computer or in departments as a part of sessionals. 124 girls want to install and use linux regularly but they still have not, because of lack of basic linux knowledge. Out of the 124, only 19 are from software branches(Computer Science, Information Technology and Master of Computer Applications). This shows that huge number of students of non-software branches are not only becoming aware of presence of Linux but also want to enjoy it. Also according to the survey, nearly 80% of first year girls are registered members of GLUG- NIT Durgapur. Also there are 11 students who are really “linux users” but are not registered member of GLUG- NIT Durgapur.
In case of distribution, Opensuse is the leading Linux distribution among girls. Out of 35 girls who have installed and use linux in their personal computers, 16 use Opensuse, 7 use RedHat Enterprise Limited, 5 use Fedora, 4 use Ubuntu and 3 others forgot to mention the distribution they use, hopefully they dont forget to use linux. Some of the interesting points I found is, one girl uses Opensuse 11.2 version(11.1 is yet to be released), and also some girls use linux distribution called Windows.
Some of the common problems faced by girls while using linux are:-
* Audio and video problem.
* Frequent crash of computer.
* Problems with downloading and installing softwares, like VLC.
* Internet problem.
* Less User friendly.
* Dependencies problems while installing softwares.
* Voice chat softwares like Gtalk not available.
Thanx a lot to Saptaparni, Deboleena, Sayantani and others for making the survey possible.
Thanx to Vignesh for writing this report.
New event for http://mukti09.in
Taken from http://mukti09.in/?page_id=237
Help-a-Project
Help-a-Project aims to create a community of open source developers at NIT Durgapur. It is our desire to put the excellent programming talent in the institute to good use, for all humanity, through contribution
to open source projects.
This event requires teams of two, to either work on a project form the list below, or any other *established* open source project of their choice. In case the project selected is not in the list below, mentoring from our side may not be available and one would have to look for help on the web/IRC.
1) Linux Desktop Testing Project:
Project Abstract: Linux Desktop (GUI Application) Testing Project
(LDTP) is aimed at producing high quality test automation framework
and cutting-edge tools that can be used to test Linux Desktop and
improve it.
Local Mentor: Shreyank Gupta 4th year CSE | shreyankg [AT] gmail [DOT]
com | 9836336858
External Help: http://ldtp.freedesktop.org/wiki/Mailing_list_/_IRC
Tasks one may attempt: http://ldtp.freedesktop.org/wiki/LDTP_TODO
2) Dhvani:
Project Abstract: dhvani is a text to speech system designed for
Indian Languages. The aim of this project is to ensure that literacy
and knowledge of English are not essential for using a Computer.
Local Mentor: Roshan Singh | singh.roshan08[AT]gmail[DOT]
Tasks one may attempt:
http://dhvani.sourceforge.net/doc/adding-language-support.html
3) openstreetmap:
Project Abstract: OpenStreetMap is a free editable map of the whole
world. It is made by people like you. OpenStreetMap allows you to
view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way from
anywhere on Earth.
Local Mentor: Arindam Ghosh | BCREC CSE 4th Year |
makghosh@fedoraproject.org| 9933341212 and Subhodip Biswas | BCREC IT
4th Year | subhodipbiswas@gmail.com | 9933981617
External Help: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Things_To_Do
Tasks one may attempt: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Things_To_Do
4) Indlinux- Machine Translation API :
Project Abstract: Writing a plugin for entrans[1] which uses google
machine translation API [2] to do translations automatically. Make the
translation editable and selectable for user. Integrate it with MySQL
database.
Local Mentor: Debayan Banerjee | debayanin@gmail.com | 9832195528
External Help: http://www.indlinux.org/ | #indlinux at
irc.freenode.net |
http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/indlinux-group
Tasks one may attempt:
http://workouts.foss.in/2008/index.php/Indlinux_-_machine_translations
5) Fedora Project:
Project Abstract:
Fedora is a Linux-based operating system that showcases the latest in
free and open source software. Fedora is always free for anyone to
use, modify, and distribute. It is built by people across the globe
who work together as a community: the Fedora Project. The Fedora
Project is open and anyone is welcome to join.
Local Mentor: Arindam Ghosh | BCREC CSE 4th Year |
makghosh@fedoraproject.org| 9933341212
External Help: http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-help
Tasks one may attempt: http://fedoraproject.org/en/join-fedora
There will be atleast one talk per project in the list somewhere in
the institute. Make sure you come. Keep checking
http://lug.nitdgp.ac.in for announcements.
It is advised that you join #nitdgplug on irc.freenode.net on IRC. Go
to http://www.mibbit.com and select server as Freenode from the
dropdpwn menu and type in room “#nitdgplug” and click connect. ALso
make sure you join these mailing lists:
http://groups.google.com/group/nitdgplug
http://groups.google.com/group/lugsdu
Teams are expected to interact with the online community and get as
many tasks done as possible. At the end of submission period, teams
shall submit a report of their contributions, links to patches/bug
reports if any etc. Submissions will be judged on the basis of
1) Quality of work
2) Significance/Amount of contribution
3) Degree of involvement with community
4) Degree of difficulty of the task undertaken
Use http://groups.google.com/group/lugsdu for queries and submission
of project plans.
গনূহ্/লিনাক্স ইউজার্স গ্রুপ এন্ আই টি দূর্গাপুর
Guess why we changed from Linux Users’ Group to GNU/Linux Users’ Group.
Its because, someone named RMS told us to do so! Seriously!
random note
- Have to report to Faridpur Police station today at 11 am. Police verification for passport. Dont want to pay any bribe, though they do demand 150 Rs regularly.
- Have a Phaaji (Fuzzy
) Logic test at 9:15 AM. - Mukti09 drawing closer. There is frantic activity in the lug core mailing list. There is an important meeting today.
- Fixed some problems in Varsha’s laptop. But problems reappeared. Will fix em again tomorrow.
- Made a Context Flow Diagram Maker software for Nilu using Python and wxPython and gedit and lots of google. Took PseudoDC.py from the demos folder, hacked it like crazy and churned out a working app. Learned a lot in the process.
- Good news for Bengali OCR. TesseractOCR has accepted training data from mshasnat and also accepted him as a project member. I think i can now push my work upstream. Was also contacted today via mail by a Prasenjit Samanta from ISI Kolkata seeking help in working with Tesseract and Bengali OCR! Now thats sweet dejavu. I got into OCR because some ISI Kolkata professors delivered a seminar in our college on digital image processing.
- Will soon delve into Linux kernel code.
I have a “real” blog now
Which no one knows about and about which I shall tell none. I have written the filthiest stuff that is possible for a human to conjure up, so I do not give away the link to *anyone* under *any* circumstance. I thoroughly enjoy blogging now.
A new event for http://mukti09.in
Hack-a-Project
Objective: To build an active community of opensource developers at NIT Durgapur.
Target: All interested people
Abstract: There will be a list of open source projects put up and a set of possible features that need to be added to these projects. The participant is supposed to go through the list carefully and select a project of his choice and then contact a project mentor from among us. We shall provide advice on the feasibility of the selected project based on the skill level of the participant and guide him/her along the way.
There will be approximately one hack session per week in one of the labs in the college to demonstrate the practice of hacking source code in a large project and the use of common tools for the purpose.
There will be screencasts put up on how to use CVS/SVN and how to join IRC. Each participant must blog about his progress and experiences.
One week before Mukti, they send in their contributions and blog links. We evaluate submissions based on :
- Quality of work,
- Importance/significance of work,
- Amount of work done
- Degree of involvement with community
Possible Projects: LDTP, dhvani, HindiASR, Linuxdcpp, gedit, IndicOCR
p2p helpline
Foss helpline
Abstract: Any person who has a problem regarding FOSS/Linux should be able to call a particular phone number (if it were the US, the number would be like 1800-555-LINUX) and get his problem solved. If the problem is not solvable over phone, someone close to that particular location should take it up and visit the person. The idea is to apply a distributed peer-2-peer approach to this FOSS helpline. On the other side of the helpline, people interested in helping out people, basically linux enthusiasts will register and volunteer their services. This will be done on a website. They will be asked questions such as:
- Days on which you can receive calls. From what time to what time. Maximum number of calls you can handle per day.
- Your area of expertise
- Address
- Other ways to contact you
We shall employ some opensource PBX software. The top 2 candidates look like Asterisk and FreeSWITCH.
Hardware:
- SIP Voice Terminal Adapter. DVG-2001S is from Dlink and costs around 3000 Rs.
- A server
- A telephone (will require 3-4 lines)
Software:
- PBX software
- Bugzilla issue tracker system
- Some PHP based script that ranks a prospective call taker in terms of his expertise and proximity to the caller’s location
- Ideally, we should use some VoIP protocol to transfer calls.
- A multi-line capable VOIP Adapter.
- Multiple telephone lines.
- Bandwidth, which our institute already possesses.
- Subscription to a VOIP provider.
Links:
The idea is to make this robust and extremely scalable. if successful in Bengal, should be extended to the service of the nation.
stuff
- Will start a new private blog, one which is not aggregated to the planet. Gotta write loads of filthy words and abusive stuff, just to cool down.
- Sitting in the application lab in the dept waiting for tpsw to open up.
- Slept 8 hrs in the night.
- Have been playing around with dhvani. The Bengali module needs attention.
- Today we have auditions for the 1st years for the LUG core committee. Tomorrow I will take linux classes for the first year. Will introduce them to opensource development model.
- Akash’s laptop has been stolen. He saw the thief. Should be caught in a few days.
- Servanan Sir said a new server is no problem. He went on to say that he is interested in setting up a cluster in the computer center. But he is leaving for Texas in a few days and things will only get done after Christmas. That is unacceptable by me. Will get it done sooner.
- The LUG room almirah is a treasure trove. Found around 100 CDs of RHEL, and many LFYs and many other stuff.
- lug [AT] nitdgp [dot] ac [dot] in works now.
- Nilu is no more angry at me now… but I am angry at Nilu.
- Will visit IDG this week in Kol, and we are going to change the world.
