[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: Wishlist for features in Skolelinux



Hej Ole,

thank you for your wishlist (there will be Xmas again ;)

I suggest to put those wishes to a wiki page (and add bug numbers to all 
wishes that have been filed as enhancements). As Debian Edu is joining 
with LinEx, there will be more Debian developers to extend the features 
of Debian Edu, hopefully. Core developers are heavily loaded with 
chasing version upgrades & releases... (thanks for carrying that burdon)

Some comments on my behalf:

Am Montag, 25. Januar 2010 schrieb José "L. Redrejo" Rodríguez:
> El lun, 25-01-2010 a las 02:02 +0100, Ole Anders Andreassen escribió:
> > The last days I have been aware of the fact that there is to little
> > communication between users (teachers at schools) and delvelopers.
> > So I thought I should present my wishlist for features in future
> > Skolelinux.
> >
> > - A netbook version of skolelinux

Possibly existing netbook distros could add a package that "docks" to 
tjener. Maybe one day, Sugar can be run on any netbook?

> > - WiFi-controller based on wrt-hardware
Please, explain. Hardware support?
> >
> >
> > - An easy way to freez all screens in a classroom. One button

Sometimes I do "ifdown eth1" on ltsperver00 ;) 
There was an approach running xlock remotely, and then there is 
controlaula and italc. 

> > - Exam-mode, where communication, internet and so on, is blocked.
> > - Send message to all users, or group of users.
There is a framework for this, and also a bug report - but no simple 
script that could be used 
(like "debian-edu-notify @students "Happy New Year!")...
> 
...
> 
> > - More than 50 static adresses for workstations (why is there a
> > limit)
> 
> I don't see this limit. In fact, in Extremadura schools there are a
>  lot more of static addresses.

This comment of yours made me actually jump in: I extended that range 
myself, and learned a lot doing so. But it took me 2-3 hours of 
concentrated work (trial & error). 
> 
> > - Print quota

Oh yes! This is implemented by a German Debian derivate called iserv. 
You have to purchase this software, but then they'd have to give you 
access to the sources as well, I think.

> > - A way to use the amount of free diskspace on "diskless
> > workstations". (they are sold with harddisk most of them)
> 
> I would say, more than a way, finding something useful to do with it.
>  We use some of them to do and update Debian mirrors in the night, so
>  the package installation is done from the LAN, saving bandwith and
>  doing it much faster.

Well, the idea of a cluster of virtual distributed disk space (a "cloud 
disk") is quite en vogue, but considering the usage of terminal at 
school, each node would be very prone for being shutdown exactly when 
you need its data. There are other models, where universities wake up 
their clients at night and use them for cloud computing.
> 
> > - Digital signage app (info screen) that runs on the server.

It would be sufficiant to me, if there was just any single distro 
anywhere that boots up with firefox in fullscreen and displaying a 
start.html that could be redirected to any URL.

> > - Wii whiteboard, or something similar.
> >
> > What is your wishlist, or vision?

Wiiboard?
> 
> I would add,
> - some tools to make content creation and distribution easier for the
> teachers, even for those teachers that are not real content creators,
> but sometimes like to do a Powerpoint (TM) creation. Personally, I
>  like the idea behind www.exelearning.org, but technically that
>  application is not usable in Debian, as its sources are a total
>  mess, and the application development has ended. Its interface is
>  really easy to use, for teachers with few technical knowledge and
>  for users who like to go a step forward to do good contents. Also,
>  it exports to scorm, which allows it make contents that are easily
>  integrated in other tools, like moodle.

> - Move more educative applications and tools to the browser: my

Well, flash and java are quite ambivalent techniques. As a matter of 
fact, they are much more consumptive in terms of CPU. We should keep in 
minds, that Debian Edu is also used in Less Developed Countries, and 
that LTSP might reach its limits if you promote your browser running its 
own OS.
> 
> My 20 cts.

Thank you, approx, 40 ptas? ;)

Regards 
Ralf


Reply to: