Debian Project News - February 28th, 2011
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The Debian Project http://www.debian.org/
Debian Project News debian-publicity@lists.debian.org
February 28th, 2011 http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2011/03/
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Welcome to this year's third issue of DPN, the newsletter for the
Debian community. Topics covered in this issue include:
* Debian 6.0 "Squeeze" released
* New layout and website related news
* Backports for "Squeeze" easier for users
* Volatile replaced by new updates suite
* Bits from the Debian Project Leader
* DebConf communication channels and decisions
* Handling Debian Merchandise
* Debian Google Code-in 2010-2011 report
* Further "This week in Debian" interviews
* ... and much more.
Debian 6.0 "Squeeze" released
-----------------------------
Almost two years after Debian 5.0 "Lenny" was released,Debian 6.0 [1]
"Squeeze" was released on the 6th of February, 2011. Among other
improvements, the completely free Linux kernel now shipped in Debian
has been welcomed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) [2].
1 : http://www.debian.org/News/2011/20110205a
2 : http://www.fsf.org/news/debian-squeeze-makes-key-progress-toward-being-a-fully-free-distribution
Adam D. Barratt, Release Team manager, has already announced a first
point release planned for next month [3] and gave advice to maintainers
about further uploads to "unstable": "Wheezy" is already on people's
minds.
3 : http://lists.debian.org/1296956851.16209.5044.camel@hathi.jungle.funky-badger.org
New layout and website related news
-----------------------------------
The new look for Debian's websites [4] is already available on some of
the Debian project's main web interfaces. Gerfried Fuchs sent a report
about the last WWW Sprint [5] where members of the team prepared this
new layout, smashed and triaged some bugs filed against the
www.debian.org pseudo-package, and discussed other topics such as
whether there is any interest in moving away from CVS. Martin
Zobel-Helas, member of the DSA team who actively worked for this to
happen, thanked the team [6] for putting the new layout proposed by
Kalle Söderman on line in time for the release of Debian "Squeeze".
4 : http://www.debian.org/News/2011/20110205b
5 : http://lists.debian.org/20110202134918.GA3275@anguilla.debian.or.at
6 : http://lists.debian.org/20110206015402.GA22858@ftbfs.de
Backports for "Squeeze" easier for users
----------------------------------------
Alexander Wirt announced the start of the next generation of backports
[7]. Users of "Squeeze" (and "Lenny") will be offered new versions of
packages available in testing ("Wheezy") viasqueeze-backports (and
lenny-backports-sloppy). He also explained to maintainers how to upload
packages to the backports archive. A recent change introduced in APT
makes out-of-the-box use of squeeze-backports easier than ever before
[8], without the need to configure pinning for the backports repository
in order to handle upgrades to new versions of packages installed from
there.
7 : http://lists.debian.org/20110208223822.GB21292@smithers.snow-crash.org
8 : http://backports.debian.org/Instructions/
Volatile replaced by new updates suite
--------------------------------------
The Debian Volatile archive has been replaced by the new updates suite
[9]: starting from this stable release ("Squeeze"), packages that were
handled via the Volatile repository will enter the official release via
thesqueeze-updates suite. Updated packages will also be included in the
stable point release following the announcement published in the
debian-stable-announce mailing list [10].
9 : http://www.debian.org/News/2011/20110215
10 : http://lists.debian.org/debian-stable-announce/
Bits from the Debian Project Leader
-----------------------------------
Debian Project Leader Stefano Zacchiroli sent another bits from the DPL
[11] report. He discusses collaboration with others (via for example
the Debian derivatives census [12] or the cross-distribution meeting
[13]) and communication with people from other projects and companies
(via his latest [14] "Who the bloody hell cares about Debian?" talk).
He also touches on the relationship between Debian and DebConf in
matters such as the goals [15] that were recently published, and is
looking for volunteers as DebConf chairs.
Stefano has also been interviewed for Linux Outlaws Podcast [16].
11 : http://lists.debian.org/20110204151502.GA10245@upsilon.cc
12 : http://www.debian.org/News/2011/20110124
13 : http://www.enricozini.org/2011/debian/appinstaller2011/
14 : http://lca2011.linux.org.au/programme/schedule/view_talk/153
15 : http://www.debconf.org/goals.shtml
16 : http://www.linuxoutlaws.com/podcast/191
DebConf communication channels and decisions
--------------------------------------------
Richard Darst blogged on the Debian Administration site [17] about the
various communication channels in the DebConf organization. DebConf is
the group that manages the yearly Debian Conference. He mentioned the
various connected media that the DebConf team uses, including IRC,
wiki, and mailing lists, describing how each channel is used and how to
contribute.
17 : http://www.debian-administration.org/users/rkd/weblog/16
Handling Debian Merchandise
---------------------------
Have you ever wondered where Debian T-Shirts and other goodies come
from? How can you get your hands on a cool "Squeeze" T-Shirt? Well, the
answer lies with the Debian Merchandising team who co-ordinate Debian
merchandise for the various events where a Debian representative
appears. Luca Capello, known as Gismo, wrote about the Merchandising
team [18] to explain how it all works. You can also have a look at an
overview of what Debian offers [19].
18 : http://lists.debian.org/debian-publicity/2011/02/msg00101.html
19 : http://www.debian.org/misc/merchandise
Debian Google Code-in 2010-2011 report
--------------------------------------
Ana Guerrero López blogged about the Debian participation at this
year's Google Code-in [20]. Even though preparation for the contest
started quite late, and few tasks were open to those without a Debian
installation, "we got a moderate success". As Ana says: about 30
students have participated, doing 39 tasks mostly related to
translation, bug triaging, and writing documentation.
20 : http://ekaia.org/blog/2011/02/01/debian-at-the-google-code-in-2010-11/
Further "This week in Debian" interviews
----------------------------------------
Since the last issue of the Debian Project News, two new issues of the
[21] "This week in Debian" podcast have been published: with Andreas
Tille [22], from the Debian Med Team, discussing Debian Pure Blends;
and with Raphaël Hertzog [23], co-maintainer of dpkg.
21 : http://wiki.debian.org/ThisWeekInDebian
22 : http://frostbitemedia.libsyn.com/this-week-in-debian-episode-17
23 : http://frostbitemedia.libsyn.com/this-week-in-debian-episode-18
There has also been two further "People behind Debian" interviews:
with Mike Hommey [24], Firefox/Iceweasel maintainer; and with Maximilian
Attems [25], member of the kernel team.
24 : http://raphaelhertzog.com/2011/02/03/people-behind-debian-mike-hommey-firefox-iceweasel-maintainer/
25 : http://raphaelhertzog.com/2011/02/17/people-behind-debian-maximilian-attems-member-of-the-kernel-team/
Other news
----------
The 24th issue of the miscellaneous news for developers [26] has been
released and covers the following topics:
26 : http://lists.debian.org/1296533206.2811.26.camel@chianamo
* Debian QA meeting
* "Squeeze" release live microblogging
* Debian derivatives census
* planet.debian.org policy
* List of override disparities
Cyril Brulebois published the third [27], fourth [28], fifth [29], and
sixth [30] issues of "Debian XSF News", summarising many recent events
around X.org packaging in Debian -- new version uploads to
"experimental", "unstable", and "stable" distributions; initial testing
of Wayland [31]; removal requests for unmaintained drivers; preparation
of reference documentation on dependency handling between the X server
and the drivers; and much more. He also thanked submitters for their
bug reports.
27 : http://blog.ikibiki.org/2011/02/01/DXN-3/
28 : http://blog.ikibiki.org/2011/02/08/DXN-4/
29 : http://blog.ikibiki.org/2011/02/17/DXN-5/
30 : http://blog.ikibiki.org/2011/02/21/DXN-6/
31 : http://wayland.freedesktop.org/
David Paleino has reported that after almost six years from the
original ITP bug, Code::Blocks is now in Debian [32].
32 : http://www.hanskalabs.net/posts/codeblocks-in-debian/
New Debian Contributors
-----------------------
2 applicants have been accepted [33] as Debian Developers, 1 applicant
has been accepted [34] as a Debian Maintainer, and 19 people have
started to maintain packages [35] since the previous issue of the
Debian Project News. Please welcome Stefano Rivera, Frédéric-Emmanuel
Picca, Javier Merino Cacho, Pedro Ribeiro, Julien Viard de Galbert,
Markus Schulz, Nik Lutz, Thomas Krennwallner, Qijiang Fan, Rafael
Kitover, Andy Bailey, Andrey Rahmatullin, David Kalnischkies, Damian
Johnson, Dmitry Eremin-Solenikov, Benoît Knecht, Nicolas Dandrimont,
Alessandro Ghedini, Simon Ochsenreither, Julian Taylor, Pierre Saramito
and Olaf van der Spek into our project!
33 : https://nm.debian.org/nmlist.php#newmaint
34 : http://lists.debian.org/E1PpADs-00032v-SX@franck.debian.org
35 : http://udd.debian.org/cgi-bin/new-maintainers.cgi
Important Debian Security Advisories
------------------------------------
Debian's Security Team recently released advisories for these packages
(among others): pcscd [36], postgresql-8.3, postgresql-8.4, and
postgresql-9.0 [37], cgiirc [38], vlc [39], tomcat6 [40], openjdk-6
[41], openssl [42], python-django [43], shadow [44], ffmpeg-debian
[45], chromium-browser [46], phpmyadmin [47], openafs [48],
telepathy-gabble [49], mailman [50], asterisk [51], moodle [52],
pam-pgsql [53] and avahi [54]. Please read them carefully and take the
proper measures.
36 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2156
37 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2157
38 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2158
39 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2159
40 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2160
41 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2161
42 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2162
43 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2163
44 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2164
45 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2165
46 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2166
47 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2167
48 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2168
49 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2169
50 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2170
51 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2171
52 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2172
53 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2173
54 : http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2174
Debian's Backports Team releases advisories for these packages: git
[55] and openafs [56]. Please read them carefully and take the proper
measures.
55 : http://lists.debian.org/20110214090905.GD16462@chough.tokkee.org
56 : http://lists.debian.org/87tyfvzvpe.fsf@windlord.stanford.edu
Please note that these are a selection of the more important security
advisories of the last weeks. If you need to be kept up to date about
security advisories released by the Debian Security Team, please
subscribe to the security mailing list [57] (and the separate backports
list [58], and stable updates list [59] or volatile list [60], for
"Lenny" , the oldstable distribution) for announcements.
57 : http://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/
58 : http://lists.debian.org/debian-backports-announce/
59 : http://lists.debian.org/debian-stable-announce
60 : http://lists.debian.org/debian-volatile-announce
New and noteworthy packages
---------------------------
The following packages were added to the unstable Debian archive
recently (among many others [61]):
61 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/newpkg
* aha -- ANSI to HTML converter [62]
* apng2gif -- convert APNG animated images to GIF files [63]
* autodock-vina -- docking of small molecules to proteins [64]
* banshee-meego -- media management and playback application -- MeeGo extension [65]
* between -- game about consciousness and isolation [66]
* bitcoin-cli -- peer-to-peer network based anonymous digital currency -- CLI tools [67]
* bliss -- tool to compute graph automorphisms and labelings [68]
* bluez-tools -- set of tools to manage Bluetooth devices for Linux [69]
* ceph -- distributed storage and file system [70]
* clasp -- conflict-driven nogood learning answer set solver [71]
* codeblocks -- Code::Blocks integrated development environment (IDE) [72]
* djview-plugin -- browser plugin for the DjVu image format [73]
* docvert-libreoffice -- converts word processor files to HTML using LibreOffice [74]
* elastix -- toolbox for rigid and nonrigid registration of images [75]
* foo-yc20 -- YC-20 organ emulation [76]
* frogr -- Flickr remote organizer for GNOME [77]
* fuse-emulator-utils -- free Unix Spectrum emulator -- utilities [78]
* gcp -- advanced command line file copy system [79]
* gummi -- graphical LaTeX editor with live preview [80]
* icli -- command line interface for the icinga monitoring system [81]
* identicurse -- simple Identi.ca client with a curses-based UI [82]
* iok -- Indic onscreen keyboard [83]
* jodreports-cli -- merge OpenDocument text with data -- command line tool [84]
* ocaml-melt -- LaTeX with OCaml (tools) [85]
* openclipart-libreoffice -- clip art for OpenOffice.org/LibreOffice gallery [86]
* openvpn-auth-radius -- OpenVPN RADIUS authentication module [87]
* pd-mapping -- Pd library for creatively mapping data [88]
* pino -- simple and fast microblogging client [89]
* plasma-widget-veromix -- plasma widget to control PulseAudio [90]
* raptor2-utils -- Raptor 2 RDF parser and serializer utilities [91]
* roundcube-plugins -- skinnable AJAX based webmail solution for IMAP servers -- plugins [92]
* valac-0.10 -- C# like language for the GObject system [93]
* visolate -- tool for engraving PCBs using CNCs [94]
* wiican -- simple Wiimote usage assistant and mapping manager [95]
* xserver-xorg-input-multitouch -- multi-touch X input driver [96]
* xtables-addons-dkms -- extensions targets and matches for iptables [97]
62 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/aha
63 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/apng2gif
64 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/autodock-vina
65 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/banshee-meego
66 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/between
67 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/bitcoin-cli
68 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/bliss
69 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/bluez-tools
70 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/ceph
71 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/clasp
72 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/codeblocks
73 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/djview-plugin
74 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/docvert-libreoffice
75 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/elastix
76 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/foo-yc20
77 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/frogr
78 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/fuse-emulator-utils
79 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/gcp
80 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/gummi
81 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/icli
82 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/identicurse
83 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/iok
84 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/jodreports-cli
85 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/ocaml-melt
86 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/openclipart-libreoffice
87 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/openvpn-auth-radius
88 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/pd-mapping
89 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/pino
90 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/plasma-widget-veromix
91 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/raptor2-utils
92 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/roundcube-plugins
93 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/valac-0.10
94 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/visolate
95 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/wiican
96 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/xserver-xorg-input-multitouch
97 : http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/xtables-addons-dkms
Work-needing packages
---------------------
Currently 379 packages are orphaned and 139 packages are up for
adoption: please visit the complete list of packages which need your
help [98].
98 : http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/help_requested
Want to continue reading DPN?
-----------------------------
Please help us create this newsletter. We still need more volunteer
writers to watch the Debian community and report about what is going
on. Please see the contributing page [99] to find out how to help.
We're looking forward to receiving your mail at
debian-publicity@lists.debian.org [100].
99 : http://wiki.debian.org/ProjectNews/HowToContribute
100 : mailto:debian-publicity@lists.debian.org
This issue of Debian Project News was edited by Francesca Ciceri,
Jeremiah C. Foster, Alexander Reshetov and David Prévot [101].
101 : mailto:debian-publicity@lists.debian.org
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