LWN Weekly Edition
Front pageSecurity
Kernel development
Distributions
Development
Linux in the news
Announcements
->One big page
This page
Previous weekFollowing week
| Weekly edition | Kernel | Security | Distributions | Search |
| Archives | Calendar | Subscribe | Write for LWN | LWN.net FAQ |
Distributions
News and Editorials
Fedora 7 Features
Fedora 7 was originally scheduled to be released on May 24, 2007. That target slipped a week, to May 31, 2007, so it may be out by the time you read this article. Fedora 7 has been called "the most ambitious release of Fedora that we've undertaken". The merger of Core and Extras alone was an ambitious project, and F7 has much more.Not all of the features that were targeted for Fedora 7 made it in, but very many new features will be found in this release. Here's a list of some of the new features in Fedora 7:
- Consolidated dictionaries for each language - instead of a separate dictionary for OpenOffice.org, Firefox, Thunderbird and aspell there is only one dictionary shared by these applications.
- Eclipse plugins.
- Fast User Switching allows multiple desktop sessions that are easily switched between without logging out.
- An Install Everything spin for those who want it all.
- A KDE spin for those who want KDE and not GNOME.
- The Prime spin can be used for a desktop/workstation/developer/server install.
- The ability to create a Targeted spin - include only the packages you want without the clutter.
- An improved firewire stack.
- Support for KVM in the kernel and virtualization tools.
- F7 uses libata for parallel ATA support, instead of the 'old-ide' stack.
- Installable Live CDs and DVDs.
- Core and Extras merged into a single CVS root and a single build system.
- A snapshot of the nouveau driver.
- RPM and Yum Enhancements.
- The default kernel is tickless for improved power management.
- Bodhi is the new Fedora Update System, rewritten for the new combined universe.
- Pungi is used for tree building instead of the internal builddistro/etc scripts.
- More wireless firmware support.
- Smolt is a hardware reporting tool that will allow Fedora developers to understand the hardware that Fedora runs on better.
Additional documentation for Fedora can be found here.
New Releases
Technalign releases Pioneer Basic Release 2.1 desktop Linux operating system
Technalign, Inc. has announced the release of their Pioneer Basic 2.1 desktop Linux operating system. "Pioneer Basic R2.1 is similar to Basic R2.0 with several exceptions. The biggest exception is that Pioneer Release 2.1 is based on Feisty and not Edgy while it continues to be based on Kubuntu. Adept is nolonger incorporated as the update manager, but is now replaced with Synaptic per the business and consumer communities. Also notable are the Guarddog Firewall as well as the KlamAV anti-virus utilities that have been added and OpenOffice 2.2."
Distribution News
HP releases Linux Common Operating Environment 4.0
HP has announced the release of version 4.0 of its Linux Common Operating Environment system. "Essentially, it lets someone custom design a system running Linux via the LinuxCOE System Designer website (choosing from over 100 Linux distributions), download a customized boot image onto a USB drive or CD and then install elsewhere according to the original design. Once a system is up and running, LinuxCOE provides continued lifecycle support for patch and package updates."
Wanted: introductory page for all Debian teams
There are many teams within Debian, each with its own habits and tools. A wiki site is currently under construction that will help people find out more about Debian teams.
Synergy for Familiar 0.8.4
Familiar is a Linux distribution for handheld devices. Synergy allows you to share a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems, each with its own display, without special hardware. So, if you have a handheld device running Familiar you can now use Synergy to control your handheld with your computer mouse and keyboard.
Fedora Project Web gets a face lift
The Fedora Project website has received a face lift. "Prior to today that site went straight to the wiki, which is largely developer content with good (but somewhat hard to find) docs. Now we're expanding on fedoraproject.org and adding some more user-centric content like that found at http://docs.fedoraproject.org/."
OpenPKG supports rpm5.org
OpenPKG has announced its support (and use) of RPM5. "As OpenPKG depends on RPM and Ralf S. Engelschall is both an Open Source software developer and a strong supporter of important foreign Open Source software projects, he agreed to actively support Jeff Johnson's new stated roadmap towards the forthcoming RPM 5.0 by providing him and his newly formed RPM project team the necessary central project infrastructure. rpm5.org was chosen by Jeff Johnson as the new location, under which today the RPM project was finally relaunched by him."
SVN repositories on svn.opensuse.org
OpenSUSE has moved both YaST and ZYPP to svn.opensuse.org - other repositories will soon follow.
MOTU Mentors list!
A new mailing list has been created for Ubuntu Masters Of The Universe mentoring. If you would like to become a MOTU, this list is for you.
Distribution Newsletters
Fedora Weekly News Issue 89
The Fedora Weekly News for May 26, 2007 covers the Fedora Project Web face lift, Fedora 7 RC2 "Fedora" spin i386 available, Fedora 7 at Respins.org and much more.
Ubuntu Weekly News: Issue #42
The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter for May 27, 2007 covers Dell's long awaited release of computers with Ubuntu preinstalled, the newly created Wine team, a new planet has been added to our blog solar system for US LoCos, an interview with Corey Burger, the newly approved Community Council member, a quick summary on the new procedure to become an Ubuntu Core Developer, and the spotlight is on the Catalan Team this week which was recently officially approved.
DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 204
The DistroWatch Weekly for May 28, 2007 is out. "Fedora 7, the latest and arguably most ambitious release from the increasingly community-friendly Fedora Project, will hit the download mirrors later this week. With its installable live CDs, merged package repositories and much improved artwork, the new Fedora should prove a major attraction on the 2nd quarter release calendar. But will it be able to regain some of the market share it lost in recent years to the more aggressive desktop Linux distributions? We'll have to wait and see. In other major news of the week, Dell has fulfilled its promise and started shipping the first desktop computers with Ubuntu pre-installed. Finally, don't miss our first look review of PCLinuxOS 2007 by Chris Smart and check out the list of four new Linux distributions that have been added to the DistroWatch database: BeaFanatIX, Granular Linux, Openfiler and Parted Magic."
Miscellaneous Articles
HowtoForge articles
HowtoForge has tutorials on setting up the perfect server with Mandriva 2007 Spring and the perfect desktop with PCLinuxOS 2007.
Distribution reviews
Gentoo's Secret Sauce is sweet and sour (Linux.com)
Linux.com reviews Gentoo 2007.0 code-named Secret Sauce. "Gentoo 2007.0 is available in several formats for various platforms. As per its torrent download statistics, most popular are the live DVD, the live CD, and the minimal CD for x86 and AMD64 platforms. The live CD contains Linux kernel 2.6.19, Xorg 7.2, GNOME 2.16.0, OpenOffice.org 2.1.0, Firefox 2.0.0.3, Thunderbird 1.5.0.10, Evolution 2.8.2.1, and X-Chat and Gaim (now Pidgin) for IRC and instant messaging. The DVD version has everything the CD has, along with KDE 3.5.5, XFCE 4.4.0, GIMP 2.2.14, Abiword 2.4.6, KOffice 1.6.1, and several other applications, tools, and libraries."
Free Linux distro turns PS3 into light-duty server (LinuxDevices)
LinuxDevices looks at a server-oriented Linux distribution for Sony's Playstation3. "Helios describes its PS3 distro as a version of TerraSoft's Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) for the PS3 that has been simplified and optimized for use as a server OS. The simplifications are said to result in 40 percent more RAM available for server applications. Optimizations include AppleTalk support in the kernel, and a Java 1.5 environment pre-installed." A press release is available from HELIOS.
Tip of the Trade: Voyage Linux (ServerWatch)
ServerWatch takes a look at Voyage Linux. "Voyage Linux is pretty amazing. The stock image can be run from a bootable live CD or installed into any storage medium you want. It supports all bootable media, including PXE network boot. It's designed for wireless routers, but because it includes apt-get it is easily and highly customizable. If you've been wishing for a tiny Linux you can easily tweak to meet your needs, starting from the smallest possible image and adding what you want, this just might be it."
Page editor: Rebecca Sobol
Next page: Development>>