--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debian Weekly News http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2003/14/ Debian Weekly News - April 8th, 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
Debian Weekly News – April 8, 2003
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