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[john@unixen.org: [nylug-talk] NY Linux Users Grp. 17 November Meeting: Benjamin Mako Hill -on- Fork Yours With Debian GNU/Linux]

Greetings,

I'm going to be giving the talk for the next New York Linux User group
on Custom Debian Distributions, Ubuntu, and some other models for
forking (or not forking, depending on who you ask) from Debian while
maximizing the good in both Debian and your derived distro and in
minimizing the bad. I thought some of you all would be interested in
attending.

There will be a keysigning party afterward in a bar a block or so
away. All the information should be in the announcement.

Regards,
Mako

-- 
Benjamin Mako Hill
mako@debian.org
http://mako.yukidoke.org/
--- Begin Message --- 
November 17th, 2004
Wednesday
6:30PM-8:00PM
IBM Headquarters Building
590 Madison Avenue at 57th Street
12th Floor, home to the IBM Linux Center of Competency

** RSVP Instructions **
    NEW POLICY: You must R.S.V.P. for *EVERY* meeting.  <-------<<<<
    Register at http://rsvp.nylug.org/                  <-------<<<<
    Check in with photo ID at the lobby for badge and room number.


                        Benjamin Mako Hill (Ubuntu Linux)
                                      -on-
                        Fork Yours With Debian GNU/Linux


   Debian is the largest GNU/Linux distribution in terms of size and
   participation. That is a declarative statement, no hedging, but oh so true.
   As projects including Ubuntu, Knoppix, UserLinux, Lindows, Debian-NP
   realize. Empirically Debian is a firm foundation upon which to build new
   Linux distributions. Benjamin Mako Hill, free software advocate, Debian
   developer will present this November 17 on Debian as the basis for new
   Linux distributions.

   Customizing Debian has become so widespread that most Debian users (in a
   loose sense of the word) never know their system is Debian-based. The
   benefits of deriving distributions are clear; the hidden drawbacks are just
   as real. This talk engages both perspectives and introduces some possible
   solutions. The rest of this announcement covers the details of the
   presentation.

   To begin, Mako will introduce Debian as a basis for customization and
   describe why it is a useful place to begin work. This is followed by a look
   at the customizers' goals, achieved by breaking down the types of
   customizations:
     
     * Custom software selection
     * Custom software configuration
     * Software replacement
     * Custom installers/envrionments

   Next. Why is customization (in these ways) problematic? what sorts of
   problems are introduced? The reproduced labor peril? free software can save
   you. There are several solutions that different groups are employing, each
   with their limitations. Three examples serve to clarify:
     
     * UserLinux -- do all the work in Debian and rely soley metapackages
     * Skolelinux -- working within Debian but creating a seperate
       distribution with a multi-tier configuration infrastructure
     * Ubuntu -- a sort of semi-fork balanced by patching and version control
       infrastructure

   Mako will then analyze the nature of customization. As case in point he
   will discuss the following technologies:
     
     * The Custom Debian Distribution (CDD) framework
     * metapackages (autogenerated and otherwise)
     * DebConf preseeding combined with the addition of low-priority DebConf
       questions
     * cfengine tweaks
     * distribution aware version control tools

   Each concept will be pored over, and how projects use them.

   In summation, this presentation discusses some of the tricks and concepts
   that constitute the likes of Xandros, MEPIS, Skolelinux, and by extension
   show you what you need to start considering if you want to create your
   fork. As usual, Stammtisch will be the perfect place to press the flesh,
   meet, and elicit Mako's freed mindshare.

For More Information Visit:

     * Debian GNU/Linux
        http://www.debian.org/
     * Custom Debian Distributions:
         a. CDD Wiki Page
             http://wiki.debian.net/index.cgi?CustomDebian
         b. CDD Project Homepage
             http://cdd.alioth.debian.org/
         c. Debian-Nonprofit
             http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-nonprofit/
         d. Debian-Edu/Skolelinux
             http://www.skolelinux.org/portal/
         e. Andreas Tille's CDD Talk slides
             http://people.debian.org/~tille/debian-med/talks/200409_florenz_user/
     * Ubuntu:
         a. Ubuntu Homepage
             http://www.ubuntulinux.org/
         b. The Ubuntu Wiki
             http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/
         c. Free Ubuntu Pressed CDs
             http://shipit.ubuntulinux.org/
     * Mako's Website
        http://mako.yukidoke.org/

About Benjamin Mako Hill:

   Benjamin Mako Hill is a Debian Developer, Debian Project Leader delegate
   and the Vice President of Software in the Public Interest. He founded the
   Debian-NP Custom Distribution and is the community "dude" for the
   commercial Debian derived Ubuntu. He is a transplanted Seattlite, a writer
   on issues of intellectual property, and "copyrighteous" blogger.

Swag (Give Away) - During the meeting... unusally terrific swag of
   non-predetermined origin will be given out to all attendees at the regular
   meeting for free as usual.

Stammtisch - After the meeting ... Join us around 8:15pm or so at TGI
   Friday located at 677 Lexington Avenue and 56th Street, second floor.
   Northeast corner.

Free Stuff!
    Swag of undetermined value and quantity may be distributed on a
    first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early for the best selection.

Keysignings
    GPG cryptography. Immediately after the presentation and continuing
    at Stammtisch we will be gathering for a keysigning. For those who
    already have keys, please remember to bring paper printouts of your
    40-character key fingerprint, as per the instructions in our howto
    docs. If you haven't created a key yet, and for keysigning details,
    our howto docs are a must read. http://www.nylug.org/keys

Stammtisch
    After the meeting ... Join us around 8:30pm or so at TGI Friday's,
    located at 677 Lexington Avenue and 56th Street, second floor.
    Northeast corner.

Please see our home page at http://www.nylug.org for the HTMLized
version of this announcement, our archives, and a lot of other good
stuff.

Monthly Reminder!
    Please read the NYLUG-Talk Posting Guidelines at:
    http://www.nylug.org/mlistguide/

________________________________________________________________________
November 2004 - The New York Linux Users Group, NYLUG.org
_____________________________________________________________________________
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