Debian Weekly News - April 8th, 2003
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Debian Weekly News
http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2003/14/
Debian Weekly News - April 8th, 2003
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Welcome to this year's 14th issue of DWN, the weekly newsletter for
the Debian community. Since the last issue was released on April 1st,
some of you should've been more careful with its content. We knew very
well that Gentoo's move to RPM and the additional IPv4 header were
just pranks. However, we didn't want to leave you without our own
April fools [1]prank, courtesy of Thomas Bliesener and Andreas
Schuldei. However, the new [2]law in Germany was real.
1. http://people.debian.org/~andreas/newmaint.html
2. http://www.usk.de/JuSchG/
SPI Resolutions about Donations. Bdale Garbee [3]reported about the
most recent board meeting of [4]Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
(SPI). Donations prior to January 2002 for which not enough
documentation exist anymore are [5]considered to be earmarked for
Debian by 95 %. Donations made later will be [6]credited entirely to
the projects for which they were earmarked.
3. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce-0304/msg00000.html
4. http://www.spi-inc.org/
5. http://lists.spi-inc.org/pipermail/spi-announce/2003/000049.html
6. http://lists.spi-inc.org/pipermail/spi-announce/2003/000050.html
Acquiring Government Support. In an article on [7]NewsForge Alex
Perry talks about his [8]ideas about how Free Software developers can
get more U.S. government contracts. His idea is to create very
specialized CDs containing a base installation, an office suite and a
full distribution, which would be sold at rather high prices but
including support and training. This would compete better with
proprietary vendors' offerings and would support Free Software
projects if the contractor would be SPI for example.
7. http://newsforge.com/
8. http://newsforge.com/newsforge/03/03/25/1539222.shtml
Installing Debian Woody. Jonathan Oxer contributed an [9]article to
[10]linmagau entitled "The Debian Universe". He admits that the
current Debian installer is ugly but also notes that some people
believe that a not so easy installer will keep horde of unwashed
masses away from Debian who aren't worthy of such a fine OS! In the
article Jonathan describes in detail how the installer works and how
packages are installed.
9. http://www.linmagau.org/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=46
10. http://www.linmagau.org/
Policy compliant init Scripts. Bill Allombert [11]noticed that a lot
of init.d scripts [12]fail to implement policy properly. Bill wants
all init.d script to behave the same and supposed to standardise on
the [13]LSB 1.3 which has an extended description of init.d scripts
behaviour.
11. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00079.html
12. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00100.html
13. http://www.linuxbase.org/spec/refspecs/LSB_1.3.0/gLSB/gLSB/iniscrptact.html
Debian Usability Research. After the enthusiasm gathered at the
[14]Linux Conference Australia, Enrico Zini [15]announced the birth of
a new [16]Debian effort. The Debian Usability Research is a volunteer
research effort focused on identifying and addressing Debian-specific
usability issues, not necessarily tied to the desktop.
14. http://www.debian.org/events/2003/0120-linuxconf
15. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00127.html
16. http://deb-usability.alioth.debian.org/
First Metadistros Coordination Meeting. Teófilo Ruiz Suárez
[17]announced the first project coordination meeting for
[18]Metadistros, which tries to simplify the process of building
customized Debian-based distributions ([19]whitepaper), for example
live CDs. Hispalinux organises this meeting on April 14th and 15th at
the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid, Spain.
17. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00134.html
18. http://metadistros.hispalinux.es/
19. http://metadistros.hispalinux.es/whitepaper.pdf
Revised LaTeX Project Public License. Jeff Licquia [20]posted a new
working draft of the LaTeX Project Public License (LPPL). After the
debate that took place months ago, Jeff and several members of the
LaTeX Project worked off and on towards solving the [21]problems that
had been raised before. This version, a near-total rewrite, is the
result.
20. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal-0304/msg00006.html
21. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal-0207/msg00250.html
Security Administration with Debian GNU/Linux. José Salvador González
Rivera wrote a [22]paper on security administration with Debian
GNU/Linux. Jose concentrates on specific issues and situations not
considered frequently, such as the use of limits and files attributes.
He hopes that the article can help people get a little bit more
interest in GNU/Linux security, and specifically with Debian.
22. http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue89/gonzales.html
Apt-get for Users. Thomas Petazzoni [23]wondered if it would be
possible to enable normal users to install software in their home
directories with apt-get on systems where only the administrator has
root access. Chad Walstrom [24]pointed out several problems with the
idea, including binaries with hardcoded paths. Emile van Bergen
[25]thought these could be overcome, although Corrin Lakeland
[26]suggested that it might only be achieved by using apt-src instead
of apt-get because so many packages need to be configured at compile
time.
23. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00348.html
24. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00385.html
25. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00391.html
26. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00395.html
Installing WINE. The issue of [27]installing wine was raised this week
on the [28]DebianHelp forums. A user discovered that apt-get install
wine winesetuptk gave him an installation without the necessary
wine.conf file and his attempts to run winesetup were unsuccessful.
The problem stemmed from trying to run winesetup as root. After
installing wine, winesetup should be run in normal user mode.
27. http://www.debianhelp.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&topic=1179
28. http://www.debianhelp.org/
Debconf Template Translation Management. Andre Luis Lopes [29]planned
to provide patches for packages that aren't using po-debconf for
managing debconf template translations yet. This, however, requires a
build dependency against po-debconf. He wonders if a stronger
dependency against debconf would be sufficient. Andre Luis also has
the impression that changing packages to use po-debconf will actually
make things worse for backporters who are trying to make packages
build correctly on woody.
29. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00366.html
Familiar Packages for Debian? Russell Coker [30]pondered packaging the
[31]Familiar distribution of Linux for Debian. It consists of a boot
loader (non-linux binary), an image of the root file system (JFFS2
file system image) which is about 13 MB, a kernel patch for 2.4.19,
gcc and binutils for cross-compiling ARM code on an i386 platform and
finally a complete tool chain. This is a total of about 130 MB.
30. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-0304/msg00398.html
31. http://familiar.handhelds.org/
Security Updates. You know the drill. Please make sure that you update
your systems if you have any of these packages installed.
* [32]lpr-ppd -- Local root exploit.
* [33]S/390 kernel -- Local root exploit.
* [34]apcupsd -- Local root exploit.
* [35]sendmail -- DoS and arbitrary code execution.
* [36]metrics -- Insecure temporary file.
* [37]Samba -- Local root exploit.
* [38]moxftp -- Arbitrary code execution.
32. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-275
33. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-276
34. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-277
35. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-278
36. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-279
37. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-280
38. http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-280
New or Noteworthy Packages. The following packages were added to the
unstable Debian archive recently or contain important updates.
* [39]chipcard-tools -- Tools for accessing chip card readers and
chip cards.
* [40]datefudge -- Fake the system date.
* [41]fiaif -- Easy to use, yet complex firewall.
* [42]gambit -- Game theory analysis software and tools.
* [43]iisemulator -- Emulation for the IIS web server.
* [44]iperf -- Internet bandwidth measuring tool.
* [45]lmule -- eMule client.
* [46]lufs-utils -- Linux Userland Filesystem - utilities.
* [47]pimd -- PIMv2 multicast routing daemon.
* [48]sork-passwd -- Horde2 module for users to change their
password.
* [49]wiliki -- Yet another Wiki clone written in Scheme.
* [50]wy60 -- Curses based emulator for the Wyse 60tm terminal.
39. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/misc/chipcard-tools.html
40. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/datefudge.html
41. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/fiaif.html
42. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/math/gambit.html
43. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/admin/iisemulator.html
44. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/iperf.html
45. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/lmule.html
46. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/lufs-utils.html
47. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/pimd.html
48. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/web/sork-passwd.html
49. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/web/wiliki.html
50. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/wy60.html
Orphaned Packages. 27 packages were orphaned this week and require a
new maintainer. This makes a total of 203 orphaned packages. Many
thanks to the previous maintainers who contributed to the Free
Software community. Please see the [51]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.
51. http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/
* [52]blatte -- Powerful text markup and transformation language.
([53]Bug#188179)
* [54]cdcd -- Command line or console based CD player.
([55]Bug#188044)
* [56]dia2code -- Dia-UML to C/C++/Java code generator.
([57]Bug#187731)
* [58]exim-tls -- Exim Mailer - with TLS (SSL) support.
([59]Bug#188170)
* [60]filerunner -- X-Based FTP program & file manager.
([61]Bug#188175)
* [62]gnuhtml2latex -- Perl script that converts html files to
latex. ([63]Bug#188174)
* [64]greg -- Tool testing framework. ([65]Bug#188103)
* [66]gstar -- GTK front-end for the starchart program.
([67]Bug#188183)
* [68]hdate -- Prints Hijra (Islamic lunar) dates, calendar, Islamic
prayer times. ([69]Bug#188178)
* [70]kernel-patch-2.2.18-openwall -- patch to add extra
security-related features. ([71]Bug#188172)
* [72]kernel-patch-int -- International patch for the Linux kernel.
([73]Bug#188173)
* [74]latte -- The Language for Transforming Text (currently to
html). ([75]Bug#188177)
* [76]libcdaudio -- Library for controlling a CD-ROM when playing
audio CDs. ([77]Bug#188104)
* [78]libnids -- IP defragmentation TCP segment reassembly library.
([79]Bug#188171)
* [80]netenv -- Configure your system for different network
environments. ([81]Bug#188167)
* [82]quickppp -- PPP configuration tool. ([83]Bug#188176)
* [84]sing -- Fully programmable ping replacement. ([85]Bug#188168)
* [86]stringlist -- StringList - library for handling misc
Enlightenment functions. ([87]Bug#188182)
* [88]tardy -- tar(5) post-processor. ([89]Bug#188105)
* [90]udhcp -- Very small DHCP client and server. ([91]Bug#188106)
* [92]webbase -- Crawler/indexer for the Internet.
([93]Bug#187261)
* [94]xcb -- Pigeon holes for your cut and paste selections.
([95]Bug#187732)
* [96]xonix-jahu -- Xonix clone for X11. ([97]Bug#188169)
* [98]xpaste -- Program to display the contents of the primary
paste buffer. ([99]Bug#188180)
* [100]zcip -- Autonomously obtain an IP address. ([101]Bug#188107)
* [102]zed -- Powerful, multipurpose, configurable text editor.
([103]Bug#188181)
* [104]zope-worldpilot -- Web based organizer and messenger built on
zope. ([105]Bug#187449)
52. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/text/blatte.html
53. http://bugs.debian.org/188179
54. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/sound/cdcd.html
55. http://bugs.debian.org/188044
56. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/dia2code.html
57. http://bugs.debian.org/187731
58. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/non-us/exim-tls.html
59. http://bugs.debian.org/188170
60. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/filerunner.html
61. http://bugs.debian.org/188175
62. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/text/gnuhtml2latex.html
63. http://bugs.debian.org/188174
64. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/misc/greg.html
65. http://bugs.debian.org/188103
66. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/science/gstar.html
67. http://bugs.debian.org/188183
68. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/misc/hdate.html
69. http://bugs.debian.org/188178
70. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/kernel-patch-2.2.18-openwall.html
71. http://bugs.debian.org/188172
72. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/non-us/kernel-patch-int.html
73. http://bugs.debian.org/188173
74. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/web/latte.html
75. http://bugs.debian.org/188177
76. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/libs/libcdaudio0.html
77. http://bugs.debian.org/188104
78. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/libs/libnids1.html
79. http://bugs.debian.org/188171
80. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/admin/netenv.html
81. http://bugs.debian.org/188167
82. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/quickppp.html
83. http://bugs.debian.org/188176
84. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/sing.html
85. http://bugs.debian.org/188168
86. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/libs/libstringlist0.html
87. http://bugs.debian.org/188182
88. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/tardy.html
89. http://bugs.debian.org/188105
90. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/udhcpd.html
91. http://bugs.debian.org/188106
92. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/web/webbase.html
93. http://bugs.debian.org/187261
94. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/xcb.html
95. http://bugs.debian.org/187732
96. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/xonix-jahu.html
97. http://bugs.debian.org/188169
98. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/xpaste.html
99. http://bugs.debian.org/188180
100. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/zcip.html
101. http://bugs.debian.org/188107
102. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/editors/zed.html
103. http://bugs.debian.org/188181
104. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/web/zope-worldpilot.html
105. http://bugs.debian.org/187449
Want to continue reading DWN? Please help us create this newsletter.
Some people are submitting items already, but we are still in need of
volunteer writers who prepare items. Please see the [106]contributing
page to find out how to help. We're looking forward to receiving your
mail at [107]dwn@debian.org.
106. http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/contributing
107. mailto:dwn@debian.org
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