Debian Weekly News - August 13th, 2002
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Debian Weekly News
http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2002/31/
Debian Weekly News - August 13th, 2002
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Welcome to this year's 31st issue of DWN, the weekly newsletter for
the Debian community. This was a guiet week as well, except for
security updates. However, we don't want you to get bored. Check out
this [1]Free Software licensing quiz. The Linux users group of Davis
collected articles about Free Software and compiled a [2]list of
reasons to avoid certain non-free systems.
1. http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/license-quiz.cgi
2. http://www.lugod.org/microsoft/
New Python Version? Torsten Landschoff [3]wondered when Python 2.2
will become the default version for Debian, since the new upstream
source of python-gnome for Gnome 2 requires Python 2.2 for building.
Chris Lawrence [4]explained that there was a consensus apparently,
that Debian would move to Python 2.3 as the next default Python
version, skipping 2.2 entirely.
3. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00347.html
4. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00356.html
Ceasing db1 from GNU libc. Ben Collins [5]announced that db1 has been
gone from glibc proper since after glibc 2.1.3. The only reason it was
kept around was for backward compatibility. According to Ben, it's now
time to dump this old version early in the sarge release cycle so we
have time work out the details. The announcement contains an FAQ,
explaining that db2/3/4 all provide compatibility layers. Adrian Bunk
later [6]requested a dummy package to support a smooth upgrade.
5. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00538.html
6. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00611.html
Library Name Conflict. Simon Law [7]discovered a doubly used library
name libdnet. Supported in Debian for quite a while is the [8]DECnet
library. The new [9]library with the same name provides a portable
interface to several low-level networking routines. Apparently, one of
these libraries needs to be renamed, however, the DECnet library has a
historical background and the new library is already in use in the
OpenBSD ports collection.
7. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00572.html
8. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/libs/libdnet.html
9. http://libdnet.sourceforge.net/
Large File Support. Oliver Elphick [10]asked whether it is safe to
turn on large file support for PostgreSQL binary packages. Miquel van
Smoorenburg [11]explained that adding large file support (i.e.
supporting files that are larger than 2 GB) will not break with older
kernels, but it will only work with 2.4 kernels.
10. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00597.html
11. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00618.html
Mozilla 1.1beta? It was asked whether Debian will support packages for
Mozilla 1.1beta which was recently released upstream. Erich Schubert
[12]pointed out there are mozilla-snapshot packages for that very
purpose. He also noted that Mozilla 1.1beta will break at least
Galeon, Skipstone and Nautilus. Even when Mozilla 1.1 final is
released, these packages need to be upgraded in sync.
12. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00640.html
Upgrading to Gtk 2? Oohara Yuuma [13]wondered how the transition plan
to Gtk 2.0 spells. Erich Schubert [14]explained that Gtk 1 and Gtk 2
are not interface compatible, so simply recompiling all affected
packages is likely to be an insufficient solution. Hence, we will have
to wait for upstream to port their packages to Gtk 2. The transition
is partially discussed [15]here.
13. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00671.html
14. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0208/msg00674.html
15. http://lists.debian.org/debian-ctte-0207/msg00033.html
Security Updates. The security team has prepared fixes for a couple of
security related bugs in the stable distribution. If your machines
running Debian are connected to the Internet you should update these
packages if you haven't done so already. It would probably be a good
idea to subscribe to the [16]debian-security-announce list and add the
security line for apt as pointed out on the [17]security page.
Updating regularily won't make your system secure but would fix some
known problems at least. The following packages were updated since the
last issue of DWN.
16. http://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/
17. http://www.debian.org/security/
* [18]tinyproxy -- Doubly freed memory.
* [19]dietlibc -- Integer overflows.
* [20]mailman -- Cross-site scripting.
* [21]hylafax -- Buffer overflows and format string vulnerabilities.
* [22]GNU Libc -- Integer overflows.
* [23]Interchange -- Illegal file exposition.
* [24]xinetd -- Pipe exposure denial of service.
* [25]l2tpd -- Missing random seed.
18. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-145
19. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-146
20. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-147
21. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-148
22. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-149
23. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-150
24. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-151
25. http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-152
New or Noteworthy Packages. The following packages were added to the
Debian archive recently or contain important updates.
* [26]ap-utils -- Access Point SNMP Utils for Linux.
* [27]apt-rdepends -- Recursively lists package dependencies.
* [28]bozohttpd -- Bozotic HTTP server.
* [29]dbmix -- A DJ mixer for digital audio streams.
* [30]elscreen -- Screen for Emacsen.
* [31]gcc-3.2 -- The GNU C compiler.
* [32]golem -- A lightweight X11 Window Manager.
* [33]greenwich -- A graphical whois client for GNOME.
* [34]iozone3 -- Filesystem and Disk Benchmarking Tool.
* [35]mimedefang -- Electronic mail filter program.
* [36]monitorit -- A multi-purpose monitoring tool for X11.
* [37]mp3c -- MP3Creator - Creator for MP3-files.
* [38]openwebmail -- WebMail based on Neomail.
* [39]p0f -- Passive OS fingerprinting tool.
* [40]pip -- Make any program a filter.
* [41]tardy -- A tar(5) post-processor.
* [42]tiemu -- Texas Instruments calculators emulator.
* [43]trafficd -- Frogfoot Networks Quality of Service daemon.
* [44]tuxtime -- A client for submitting uptimes to the TuxTime
project.
* [45]www6to4 -- Lightweight WWW proxy that communicates over IPv4
and IPv6.
* [46]xkbset -- Small utility to change the AccessX settings of
XKEYBOARD.
* [47]zwmenu -- Zadka's Window Manager Menu.
26. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/ap-utils.html
27. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/apt-rdepends.html
28. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/bozohttpd.html
29. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/sound/dbmix.html
30. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/elscreen.html
31. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/gcc-3.2.html
32. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/golem.html
33. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/greenwich.html
34. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/iozone3.html
35. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/mail/mimedefang.html
36. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/monitorit.html
37. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/sound/mp3c.html
38. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/web/openwebmail.html
39. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/p0f.html
40. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/pip.html
41. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/tardy.html
42. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/math/tiemu.html
43. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/trafficd.html
44. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/tuxtime.html
45. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/www6to4.html
46. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/xkbset.html
47. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/zwmenu.html
Orphaned Packages. 3 packages were orphaned this week and require a
new maintainer. This makes a total of 100 orphaned packages. Many
thanks to the previous maintainers who contributed to the Free
Software community. Please see the [48]WNPP pages for the full list,
and please add a note to the bug report and retitle it to ITA: if you
plan to take over a package.
48. http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/
* [49]junkfilter -- A junk-email filtering program for procmail.
([50]Bug#156097)
* [51]pclock -- Clock Dock app for Window Maker window manager.
([52]Bug#156523)
* [53]xtrojka -- Fast paced columns-like game. ([54]Bug#156524)
49. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/mail/junkfilter.html
50. http://bugs.debian.org/156097
51. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/pclock.html
52. http://bugs.debian.org/156523
53. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/xtrojka.html
54. http://bugs.debian.org/156524
Seen something interesting? Please drop us a note whenever you see
something noteworthy that you think is appropriate for inclusion in
DWN. We don't notice everything, unfortunately. Of course, we are also
thankful for completely written items from volunteer writers. Please
see the [55]contributing page. We're looking forward to receiving your
mail at [56]dwn@debian.org.
55. http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/contributing
56. mailto:dwn@debian.org
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