Open Source at SF State University - Code

EveryBlock's code GPL'd

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:33:56 -0700

Everyblock's code has been released under the GPL. Everyblock is a site that aggregates and geocodes local data -- news, crime, fire, restaurant inspections, and lets users define their interests down to the block-level.From O'Reilly's Radar:

"Django fans, Python geohackers and anyone who wants to build a local data aggregator are going to be thrilled. Adrian was one of the co-creators of Django and was one of the first Google Maps Mashup creators."

Salesforce Nonprofit Starter Pack goes open source

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:50:54 -0700

From their site:

"I'm very pleased to announce that the Nonprofit Starter Pack is released today as an open source software project! We've heard feedback from our community of users and partners and decided opening up the code and processes around the Nonprofit Starter Pack was the way to maximize the benefit to the nonprofits we serve. In this post I'll let you know why we're open sourcing, what we hope to accomplish, and how we're going about it. I'll also be asking you to join in our effort to help nonprofits using Salesforce.com be as effective as possible."

openpub - The Open Publication Distribution System

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:59:06 -0700

Passing along an interesting project link http://code.google.com/p/openpub/wiki/OPDS. From their site:

"This document describes the Open Publication Distribution System (OPDS) an application of the Atom Syndication Format intended to enable content creators and distributors to distribute digital books via a simple catalog format. This format is designed works interoperably across multiple desktop and device software programs for acquiring and consuming eBooks ("Reading Systems"). The focus of this document is to outline the requirements for preparing catalogs for use by compatible Reading Systems; formal compliance requirements for Reading Systems will be documented elsewhere. This application of Atom was initially defined and implemented by Lexcycle for the Stanza application."

It answers the long-standing question of what format to use when creating content for computer-based or computer-mediated learning environments.

DisplayLink finally LGPLs its USB-to-VGA code

Sun, 17 May 2009 22:54:49 -0700

Yay! Finally, I can use my Thinkpad X300's USB dock to do all chores including VGA. I can also use it with my OLPC XO-1 hopefully.

From http://freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/libdlo:

Libraries and time travel

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:26:12 -0700

Obviously, libraries are important institutions. Why else would civilizations have one and why else would new rulers destroy them? I'm talking about a slightly different library though - a digital one. This is the one created by the Internet Archive Project (http://archive.org). I distinctly remember that a few years ago, when I mentioned the Internet Archive at a committee meeting, the idea was scoffed at, and as one member put it "Haven't they heard of the Library of Congress?".

A cloud that smells good!

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:31:17 -0700

Cloud computing is very popular these days. You are almost worthless if you can't wing it about cloud computing. It goes well with hand gestures... "Don't worry, it all happens over there in the cloud". A cure-all for 2009.

If you always wanted your very own cloud, but didn't know how, here's your chance. A DIY cloud project called EUCALYPTUS from the good folks at UC, Santa Barbara (my tax dollars at work!). From their website:

HP's Linux GUI for netbooks

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:32:57 -0800

From Slashdot: http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/02/06/177231&from=rss

...a new custom version of Ubuntu aimed at netbooks and based on 8.04 Hardy Heron has been released by HP. Targeted to the HP Mini 1000 Mi, the netbook customization comes complete with OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird, Pidgin, and a few others. "Overall, HP has created one of the best thought out Linux interfaces for netbooks. The software is designed so that users who have never used Linux should have no trouble performing basic tasks. But experienced Linux users can always fire up a terminal window by hitting Alt+F2 and entering 'gnome-terminal.'"

VMWare open sources its client

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:10:11 -0800

http://ostatic.com/blog/vmware-saw-the-threat-releases-open-source-virtualization-client

"The CEO replacement who entered VMware last year was Paul Maritz, a long-time Microsoft executive with intimate familiarity with how Windows swallowed up entire categories of utility software as it grew up by simply wrapping free utilities into the operating system. Paul knows about that, and he had to have seen last year the dual threats to VMware of open source virtualization offerings and virtualization on board in operating systems. The VMware View Open Client allows businesses to host virtualized desktops in the data center, and users can access their desktops from any device. Going with an open source solution like this was VMware's only choice, especially as Microsoft includes Hyper-V virtualization in Windows Server. I'm sure Maritz was very focused on the Microsoft threat, because he used to be behind similar threats. VMware can grab market share with this move, stave off Microsoft's dominance, and offer support and services around its open source offering.'"

Locking up Public Domain?

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:00:03 -0800

A very interesting review at http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/12/24/teleread-book-review-the-public-domain-enclosing-the-commons-of-the-mind-by-james-boyle/ about a new book that's out. The book is called "The Public Domain: Enclosing the Commons of the Mind" by James Boyle. The term "Public Domain" is often undervalued in comparison to other concepts such as copyrights, patents, etc. The book is available as a free download from http://feedbooks.com/book/3471.

OLPC-SF November meeting report

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:27:40 -0800

November's meeting pulled in a dozen people or so. We discussed OLPC India (slides are up at http://www.slideshare.net/sverma/olpc-and-india-my-observations-presentation).

OLPC and India: My Observations

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: education reliance)

Exploring, Sharing, Reflecting, Learning: One Laptop Per Child

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:36:37 -0700

I've been invited to present on Free and Open Source Software and the One Laptop Per Child project as part of the Computer Science Graduate Seminar series at the Computer Science department at SF State. The topic is: Exploring, Sharing, Reflecting, Learning: One Laptop Per Child

Abstract:

This seminar will address how Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and its thinking is propelling the dream of a laptop for every child around the world; a laptop as a learning tool, and not just a computer. Can cheap laptops educate the masses? Do we need different software paradigms for such an endeavor? We will look at these and many other aspects and how FOSS is helping, from idea creation to software implementation and use. We will also look at how efforts such as Creative Commons are being used to create learning materials for children worldwide. On a larger scale, these issues point to a sustainable process of building a free and open digital commons for generations to come. Maybe you can help build it!

It is coming...

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:03:35 -0700

There is this scene in "Gandhi", one of my all time favorite movies, where one of the policemen says "He is coming" referring to Gandhi's arrival in Champaran (See video clip here. Its quite impressive). Well, when I think of the upcoming availability of the XO laptop on Amazon starting November 17, I am reminded of that phrase - "He is coming". While the XO isn't quite Gandhi himself, its impact can be quite revolutionary. Powered by Sugar (no Windows XP for the November sale) it essentially democratizes the access to computing, and hence information. We've witnessed what crowdsourcing can do in cases of Wikipedia and Free and Open Source Software.

When Red Stripe leads to Ogg heaven

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:35:10 -0700

Just yesterday, I was telling one of my friends how all my music is in FLAC and Ogg Vorbis. He wasn't sure what the value proposition was. So, we listened to some tracks in FLAC and Ogg, and smoothed the process with a few social lubricants (Red Stripes to be precise), and managed to nail that one. Its my media. I want it to be unencumbered. FLAC for lossless and Ogg for the car player. Its that simple.

Interesting tidbit for playing ISOs via VLC

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:45:05 -0700

Here's an interesting tidbit for playing a DVD ISO without having to burn it to disc. My house has stacks of CDs and DVDs of legal free and open source software and Videos, where I burned it all to discs. To avoid such a clutter, you can use VLC, the Free and Open Source media player to run it directly from an ISO file, by using a simple command:

vlc dvdsimple:///home/sverma/Desktop/iso/codebreakers.iso

Amazingly simple and true! BTW, in the example above, I use this to play the BBC documentary called "The Codebreakers".

Facilitating a Digital Commons with Free and Open Source Software: Paving the Way for Generations to Come

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:07:19 -0700

I am currently on sabbatical leave, visiting the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica. As part of the Software Freedom Day 2008 celebrations at UWI Mona, we had a colloquium on "Facilitating a Digital Commons with Free and Open Source Software: Paving the Way for Generations to Come". The colloquium address issues of research, teaching and service and how Free and Open Source Software along with with free and open standards can be used to create a sustainable and thriving digital commons for generations to come.Specific examples presented were with respect to a study of FOSS diffusion and Adoption in the ASEAN group of countries (inspirational for the Carribean), Open Source Maturity Model and its relevance in software selection and use, and the One Laptop per Child project as a community outreach element.