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Linux4Kids: Tools and toys for all ages (Linux.com)
Linux.com covers
Linux4Kids. "Linux4Kids is a collection of more than 80
GPL-licensed "edutainment" games and educational software available to
download for free from the FileGate File Distribution Network. Linux4Kids
applications include flashcard creators, basic and scientific calculators,
typing tutors, and an assortment of other useful programs. VBuilder, a
vocabulary skills testing tool, is ideal for students learning a new
language, while Wikindx is a browser-based index card system useful for
organizing research notes and bibliographic information."
(Log in to post comments)
.rar files? .zip? Posted Sep 9, 2006 1:40 UTC (Sat) by stevenj (subscriber, #421) [Link] Why the heck are they using these old Windows-centric formats? (Not to mention that I downloaded their gtypist "gtyp25.rar" file, out of curiosity, and discovered it was a .rar archive of a .tar.gz file!) And why don't they link to the home pages of the software packages?This does not inspire confidence in the "Linux4kids" project. I also noticed with amusement that "Linux4kids" includes not one, but two home-brewing recipe calculators.
.rar files? .zip? Posted Sep 9, 2006 6:50 UTC (Sat) by tzafrir (subscriber, #11501) [Link] Right. It is strongly advised not to just download files from anywhere on the internet, as this is one of the common attack vectors on Windows.
Which of those are not in Debian, and does not appear in the menus in the proper category (education)?
.rar files? .zip? Posted Sep 9, 2006 7:38 UTC (Sat) by tzafrir (subscriber, #11501) [Link] Let's look at the first ones.
ALL10.tgz: not for home users
CP046.RAR: http://packages.debian.org/childplay (Not in Sarge. 0.81 now in Sid and Etch)
EF522.RPM: http://de.geocities.com/markusgreither/eflinux.htm has version 5.31. Aparantly not in Debian, though.
GFR4D18.TGZ: http://gnofract4d.sourceforge.net/download.html has version 3.1 . Not in Debian, though.
As you cn see, all the "lnx" collections on http://www.filegate.net were not updated since 2004. In Linux terms this makes it obsolete. We have a good method for distributing free software: the distriributions ("ports", in the BSD terms). No need for special-purpose archives where there is no clear method to verify originality.
Not to mention the fact that those files are distributed without the source and without pointing to the original homepage. Legal issues aside: if it doen't work, I need to be able to rebuild it.
Skip this and go to edubuntu LiveCD Posted Sep 9, 2006 15:46 UTC (Sat) by rjamestaylor (guest, #339) [Link] Recently I checked out edubuntu via their LiveCD (which includes the "install" option should one decide to do that) for my 3 kids (7, 5, 2; ages, not names). The entire distribution is aimed at the educational market and it benefits from this targeting. Everything is well integrated and feels "complete." No need to download rar archives of tar.gz archives and trying to figure out where to put these in a general purpose distribution.Not much is targeted to my kids age, of course. That's fine. I don't mind giving my kids something to stretch towards. My real "complaint" though is that the number of educational applications aimed at kids (of any age) is very miniscule. Especially compared to edutainment programs for Windows. That admitted, the GCompris engine and included apps are quite impressive, fun and promising. KTurtle is great for my 7 year old. If you're looking for a Linux solution for kids, I'd suggest edubuntu. If you know of something else in this area, I'm open to other suggestions, too.
Skip this and go to edubuntu LiveCD Posted Sep 10, 2006 1:33 UTC (Sun) by zotz (guest, #26117) [Link] I can't help you with you exact question, but I have a few comments that might interest you.
1. I modified one of the dog "jigsaw puzzle" games in GCompris with a picture of one of our dogs. My five year old loved this mod.
2. I have a little app I wrote for my son in python where you put up a grid of your pics and when the child either mouses over or clicks on a particular picture, it plays a corresponding audio file. I have the audio file say the name of family and neighbourhod animals in my voice. I also do english and spanish words for the types of animals. He likes this a lot as well. (I can send you the code if you are interested. - I guess I really should clean it up and put it up on google's new site.)
all the best,
drew
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