Debian Etch is here..

At last the wait is over, a fruitful one, after 21 months of development, Debian Project has released Debian GNU/Linux Etch 4.0, Its celebration time once again....


The most trusted Swathanthra Software OS on the planet has
released its latest version. :::

Debian GNU/Linux "Etch" "Version 4.0".

http://www.debian.org/News/2007/20070408

About Debian

Debian GNU/Linux is a free operating system, developed by more than a thousand volunteers from all over the world who collaborate via the Internet. Debian's dedication to Free Software, its non-profit nature, and its open development model make it unique among GNU/Linux distributions.

The Debian project's key strengths are its volunteer base, its dedication to the Debian Social Contract, and its commitment to provide the best operating system possible. Debian 4.0 is another important step in that direction.

Indeed Debian is undoubtedly one of the worlds most powerful OS till date mainly because it carries the concept of Freedom, which has
been utilized by a community of developers all around the
world to create a high quality OS.

Debian is powerful in all aspects, but the most important
factors are :
- Debian GNU/Linux is truly Free Software meaning users do not have to
compromise their Freedoms for the latest stable technology.

- Debian GNU/Linux Etch is truly Stable because it has been tested by a community of developers and maintainers who believe that stability
for use is the most important factor, than the latest
unstable technology.

- Debian GNU/Linux is Secure because it is backed by a community
who help fix the security flaws and issues, because
they believe that an OS belongs to an entire society
not just a company.

- Debian GNU/Linux has the worlds largest collection of software,
because after all Free Software is the future and what is
needed is a distribution that can satisfy the user's needs,
without entirely relying on other sources like the Internet.

- Debian GNU/Linux can used on several different hardware
platforms(11 processor architectures) enabling its use in a
wide range of scenarios.

The present version of Debian has over 18000 Free Software applications
bundled with it. It comes as a set of 3 DVDs or 21 CDS.

www.debian.org can tell you everything

Why do we need Debian GNU/Linux,

- Because first and foremost we need that absolute Freedom, the
Freedom that will help us break from the bondages of others
and help us think on our own.

- Second we do not need just another operating system, neither do
we need an OS that provides us only the advanced technologies
but one that can provide us transparency, reliability and
flexibility.

- Thirdly we need an OS that has been designed and developed
in accordance with the requirement of the community.

- Also we need access to all the other Free Software applications,
along with the OS without relying on other methods like Internet

- We also need to have the Freedom and capabilities to modify
or create customised OS flavours so as to suit our requirements.

- Finally we need to have the chance to be part of the community
who have developed this OS and contribute our part to them.

We must also not forget the community members, who have
donated their time, money, and effort to help build such
a robust OS. Without these people it would not be possible
to talk about this new release.

We must also not forget that money is the important requirement
and hence we must support these community members by donating
to the Free Software Foundation and the Debian GNU/Linux Project.

Swathanthra Software is a necessity and Debian GNU/Linux is
the perfect answer. What we need for now is Debian GNU/Linux
"Etch".

Second article continued in Madhyamam..

The continuation of the second article published in Info Madhyamam on April 6th 2007 deals with the GNU/Linux Distribution and its technical aspects, creating a path towards the installation of the system.

Gandhi Peace Foundation Seminar

The Gandhi Peace foundation seminar was held on Saturday 7th april 2007. Although the number of people who attended the seminar was lesser than the ILUG team, the seminar was pretty interactive. We were amazed at the level of knowledge some people showed while we spoke.

Reju, JJ, Balakrishnan Sir and me spoke.

Reju gave an introduction to the human values and how Swathanthra Software was important to us.

JJ gave an actual idea of how Freedom is in the field of Software just like in all other fields.

Balakrishnan Sir tried to focus on the concept of Freedom compared to the Freedom we gained as a country and how the concept of community can evolve.

I talked about how we need to learn about technology and understand its basics and how we can utilize this freedom for the good of the society.

It was a good experience for the members due to the in depth analysis of the philosophy and ethics behind Free Software.

Second article in Madhyamam

The second article by the member of "The Indian Linux Users Group, Cochin Chapter " has been published in the Madhyamam supplement, Info Madhayamam. The article is published as a two part series, with the second part appearing next week.

The title goes "Swathanthra Software Distribution". Unfortunately the title has an ambiguity in it, with the term "distribution" looking like a verb rather than a noun. But a screenshot of the Debian Website, with a size enough to capture the readers attention to the text in the website, talks about the Debian GNU/Linux OS, hence can reduce the misconception regarding the intended aim of the article.

I personally thank Mr V K Abdu, Editor of Info Madhyamam and applaud Madhayamam's initiative for the concept of Freedom and Free Software.

The article basically talks about the GNU/Linux Distribution and Debian specifically. It talks about the basics of an OS installation with specific references to GNU/Linux.

The article will help a new user understand the basic concept of Installation and take him through the installation steps in the coming weeks.