Development

The Meld Graphical Comparison Tool

Version 0.9.0b of Meld has just been released. Meld is a tool that gives a graphical comparison between different files, directories, and CVS contents.

Take a look at the Meld Screenshots page to see the tool in action. The page also offers more in-depth descriptions of the tool's different sections. Meld looks like a very useful tool for tracking down subtle differences in code and source trees. The output is much more human readable than that of the diff utility; it will certainly remind some readers of the emacs "ediff" tool.

Recent changes include user editable regex filters, new preferences, and compatibility with Python 2.3. The change history indicates a need for help with i18n translations. User feedback has been requested by the developer.

Meld is available for download here, see the installation instructions to get it running. Meld packages are available for several popular Linux distributions.

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System Applications

Audio Projects

ALSA 0.9.7c released

Version 0.9.7c of the ALSA sound driver has been released. The comments say: "PDE and vortex driver compilation fixes".

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Planet CCRMA Changes

The latest changes from the Planet CCRMA audio utility packaging project include a repository restructuring, updates to SWH Plugins and JackEQ, and more online documentation.

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CORBA

MICO Version 2.3.11 available

Version 2.3.11 of MICO (MICO Is CORBA), has been released. See the CHANGES document for more information on this version.

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Database Software

ZODB 3.2 released

Version 3.2 of ZODB, the Zope Object DataBase, is out. "This release is identical to the release candidate that was issued last week."

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Mail Software

bogofilter-0.15.7 Released (SourceForge)

A new version of bogofilter, a Bayesian email filter, has been announced. Changes include: "Conversion of escaped html characters to the corresponding character plus minor bugfixes and enhancements."

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Macho 0.3 released

Version 0.3 of Macho, an email web archiving system written in Common Lisp, is available. "This version uses templates instead of programmatically generating HTML, includes all required libraries, refines formatting and fixes several bugs."

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Building an Advanced Mail Server, Part 2 (O'ReillyNet)

Joe Stump continues his series on Building an Advanced Mail Server with part two. "A modern mail server just isn't quite complete unless you allow your users to roam; while secure IMAP works for some people, others swear by webmail. In the second installment of "Building an Advanced Mail Server," Joe Stump explains how to install, secure, and extend your mail server with SquirrelMail."

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Printing

Common UNIX Printing System 1.1.20rc3

Version 1.1.20rc3 of CUPS, the Common Unix Print System, has been announced. "CUPS 1.1.20 is primarily a bug fix and performance tuning release and includes fixes for 64-bit platforms, deadlock problems in the signal handling code, PDF printing issues, web interface issues, and various operating system-specific issues. The new release also adds new CUPS API functions for reading and writing files via HTTP, performing authentication, and controlling the required PPD conformance level."

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ESP Ghostscript 7.07.1 released

The CUPS project has an announcement for ESP Ghostscript version 7.07.1. "With the increasing number of Linux distributions shipping, or considering shipping CUPS as their standard printing system, we have had many requests to provide patches to the standard GNU Ghostscript source distribution so that they can ship a single version of Ghostscript. Thanks to funding from EPSON, this has finally happened. Easy Software Products now produces maintenance updates of GNU Ghostscript under the name ESP Ghostscript. These updates incorporate bug fixes to the current GNU version of Ghostscript as well as the latest CUPS, GIMP-print, and other add-ons to Ghostscript."

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Security

Xprobe 2.0.2 released

Version 2.0.2 of Xprobe, a remote active operating system fingerprinting tool, has been released.

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Web Site Development

eGroupWare pre release 0.9.99.005 (SourceForge)

Pre release 0.9.99.005 of eGroupWare is available. "In this release we have a lot of bufixes, but also, we have some new features, like the TTS with Petri Net Support. Also a new setup is available, which we will extend for the next release. eGroupWare is a multi-user web-based groupware suite written in PHP. Included are modules for Email, Adressbook, Calendar, Infolog (Notes, Todo, Phone Calls), CMS, Forum, Bookmarks, Wiki, Knowledgebase, Polls and also included is a powerful API."

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Spanish GPL Content Manager System

The Ferret CMS Spanish language content management system is now available. "openSistemas (http://www.opensistemas.com) has recently released "Ferret CMS", which is a Content Management System based on Zope. It is oriented to small to medium companies and to Government sites. It is very easy to install and manage, and has all the basic features of a CMS such as workflows, permissions or templates." Thanks to Fernando Monera Daroqui.

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Gallery 1.4-pl2 security release (SourceForge)

SourceForge has an announcement for a new security release of Gallery, a photo viewing package. "On Unix, this vulnerability only affects systems where Gallery is left in configuration mode (a relatively small percentage of Gallery users since Gallery is not operational in configuration mode)."

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mod_lisp 2.33 released

Version 2.33 of mod_lisp, the lisp bindings to the Apache web server, is available. "This version provides various additions and changes to headers."

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opensurveypilot 1.0.1RC1 released

Version 1.0.1RC1 of opensurveypilot, a web-based voting, polling, and surveying system, is available. Changes include a new install script, bug fixes, and more. Thanks to Robin Meijerink.

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A Methodology for Web Load Testing (zopemafia)

Zopemafia has an article by Chris M. on web site load testing. "Everybody seems to want their software to work at high load, but when you get down to it, nobody is really willing to pay the price to know that it will work under extreme load. But here's to hoping. The methodology I provide here might reduce confusion about what it means to do web load testing. Maybe if through some kind of methodology people have a clear idea of what load testing will accomplish (and what it won't), it will become an easier sell."

Comments (1 posted)

Miscellaneous

GNOME System Tools 0.28.0 ''Juggling knives'' is out! (GnomeDesktop)

Version 0.28.0 of the GNOME System Tools is out. "The GNOME System Tools are a fully integrated set of tools aimed to make easy the job that means the computer administration on an UNIX or Linux system. The 0.28.0 release is mostly a bugfix and distro porting release, fixing several crashers and adding full support for Mandrake and OpenNA".

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Desktop Applications

Audio Applications

Ardour 0.9beta5 released

Version 0.9 beta 5 of Ardour, a multi-track sound recording package, has been released. New features include support for the University of Glasgow's Animatics server, support for the new JACK transport API, and bug fixes.

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jackEQ 0.3.3 released

The initial package release of jackEQ version 0.3.3, an audio equalizer for the Jack Audio Connection Kit, is available.

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CAD

PythonCAD Release 10 available

Release 10 of PythonCAD has been announced. "The tenth release contains many fixes for running PythonCAD on Python 2.3. The latest Python release has a variety of internal changes, and various bits of code in PythonCAD triggered deprecation warnings from Python. All known warnings have been removed, so PythonCAD should run cleanly on this new Python release, as well as the older 2.2 releases."

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Desktop Environments

Gtk2-Perl 1.00-Final Released (GnomeDesktop)

Version 1.00-Final of Gtk2-Perl, the Gtk 2 bindings for Perl, has been announced. "This is the first stable release, supporting GTK+ 2.0.x and 2.2.x, tested on X11 and Win32."

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KDE-CVS-Digest

The October 11, 2003 KDE-CVS-Digest has been published. Here's the summary: "CSS and other bugfixes in Konqueror . amaroK adds a dcop interface. Two new applications; Viki, a visual keyboard and Kolourpaint, yet another paint program. Klaptopdaemon adds PMU support, and now compiles on your S/390."

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Icons Galore (KDE.News)

KDE.News has posted a list of new icon sets for KDE. "In the last few weeks fans of users the K Desktop Environment have been treated to a shipload of spectacular icon sets from well known and talented artists. Go ahead, liven up your desktop, there is bound to be a style that's right for you!"

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Games

Atlantik To Adopt KSVG

KDE.News reports on the adoption of KSVG by Atlantik, an open-source game client. "Atlantik will adopt KSVG to render game boards. KSVG, KDE's implementation of the Scalable Vector Graphics specification, will be included in KDE 3.2, adding support for a growing technology. KSVG has been maturing in the kdenonbeta development module for a long while and the enthusiasm of the developers is spreading to other parts of KDE. Atlantik, the leading open-source game client for Monopoly-like board games, is one of the first KDE applications slated to adopt KSVG for more than fancy icons."

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Kitten 0.0.2 released (WorldForge)

Version 0.0.2 of Kitten has been released by the WorldForge game project. "Kitten is an experimental Java based client and real-time landscape rendering engine. It is intended as a testbed for procedural landscape generation and rendering. For the moment network code and user input will take a lower priority compared to generation and rendering of terrain, forests, plants, cities, buildings, and so on."

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PCGen 5.3.12 is available (SourceForge)

Version 5.3.12 of PCGen, a character generator for role-playing games, has been announced. Version 5.4 is expected out very soon.

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Graphics

PNGwriter version 0.3.7 (SourceForge)

Version 0.3.7 of PNGwriter, a C++ library for creating PNG images, has been announced. "PNGwriter 0.3.7 is the most polished and useful version yet. First, PNGwriter is now a library! Second, the package layout has been reorganized to conform to a better standard. Significant speed increases in the line() algorithms, assignment operator overloading, better error handling, the ability to rename the file given just a number, and many more improvements."

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GUI Packages

Fltk for Tcl/Tk 0.4

Version 0.4 of Fltk for Tcl/Tk is available. "Improvements over the previous release include additional widgets, improved documentation and migration to the current release of FLTK."

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Instant Messaging

Gaim 0.71 is available (GnomeDesktop)

Version 0.71 of Gaim is available. The GnomeDesktop announcement says: "This is a major new version of Gaim, it includes an even newer Y! authentication system, re-write of Jabber protocol plugin, conversation API changes, massive core/UI splitting and more." See the ChangeLog for the complete list of new features.

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Interoperability

Samba 3.0.1pre1 available for download

Version 3.0.1 pre 1 of Samba is available. "This is a preview release of the Samba 3.0.1 code base and is provided for testing only. This release is *not* intended for production servers. Use at your own risk. There have been several bug fixes since 3.0.0 that we feel are important to make available to the Samba community for wider testing."

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Wine Traffic

Issue #191 of Wine Traffic is out. Take a look for the latest Wine project news.

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Medical Applications

Tkfp EMR supports HIPAA Insurance Format (LinuxMedNews)

LinuxMedNews reports that the Tkfp Electronic Medical Record application now supports the current US insurance claim format. "The latest version of the Tkfp open source EMR has the ability to produce the HIPAA required ANSI X12 400A1 claim format required for electronic insurance claims in the U.S. It is written in Tcl/Tk and integrates with the demographic/insurance, accounting and note generating modules of Tkfp."

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Multimedia

GStreamer "Moo" 0.6.4 released

Version 0.6.4 of GStreamer, an open-source multimedia framework, has been announced. "At this point in time GStreamer is fully functional for creating audio-based applications, as shown by applications such as gnome-sound-recorder, rhythmbox, sound-juicer and nautilus-media. The video part is known to be somewhat less functional than the audio part, but applications such as gst-player work very well."

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Office Applications

Gnumeric 1.2.1 Released (GnomeDesktop)

Version 1.2.1 of the Gnumeric spreadsheet has been announced. "Numerous minor changes were made in 1.2.1 (source). Ancient XLS files can now be imported. A new standalone binary, called "ssconvert", was added which provides command line access to Gnumeric's importers and exporters."

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Digital Photography

GNOME Photo Printer V0.5b (GnomeDesktop)

GnomeDesktop.org has an announcement for GNOME Photo Printer V0.5b. "This program is intended to make printing pictures/photos easy. It does all the calculation, transformation and arrangements of your pictures on a sheet of paper."

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Science

mmLib: Python Macromolecular Library

Version 0.3pre1 of mmLib, the Python Macromolecular Library, has been released. "The Python Macromolecular Library (mmLib) is a software toolkit and library of routines for the analysis and manipulation of macromolecular structural models, implemented in the Python programming language."

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Web Browsers

Releases from Mozilla

Mozilla 1.5 is out; see the release notes for details. Among other things, this release includes a built-in spelling checker, some tabbed browsing improvements, improved performance, and more. Also released is Mozilla Firebird 0.7 (with new auto download and web panel features) and version 0.3 of the Thunderbird mail application. The Mozilla Foundation is also offering CDs for those who don't want to download all that stuff; see mozilla.org for more information.

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Mozilla Builds for Older Linux Distributions (MozillaZine)

MozillaZine has an announcement for a project that has created Mozilla builds for Red Hat 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and SuSE 7.3 and 8.0.

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Independent Status Reports (MozillaZine)

MozillaZine has posted a summary of the October 9, 2003 Mozilla Independent Status Reports. "The latest set of status reports includes updates from QuickManager, Quote Colors, Sardine, Jazilla, HONcode, Mozedit and Camino. This will be the last set of independent status reports to be contributed by David Boswell, who is retiring after more than two years. Future updates will come from Brian King."

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Mozilla Links Newsletter

Issue #4 of the Mozilla Links Newsletter is out with another collection of Mozilla news and articles.

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Word Processors

AbiWord Weekly News

Issue #165 of the AbiWord Weekly News is out. "Two new features, Win32 on the way Real Soon Now™ and users helping users! Also, changes to come to the AWN and talk of going subscription-based/retirement."

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Miscellaneous

BloGTK 0.8 Released (GnomeDesktop)

Version 0.8 of BloGTK has been released. "BloGTK is a weblog client that allows you to post to your weblog from Linux without the need for a separate browser window. BloGTK allows you to connect with many weblog systems such as Blogger, Movable Type, pMachine, and more."

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K3b 0.10: KDE-Flavored DVD Burning

According to KDE.News, K3b is now able to burn DVDs. "Well, the basic news is quite short: K3b is now able to burn DVDs. But this would be a little too short. ;) So for all of you who do not know what K3b is (the name does not really mean anything): K3b is (was) a CD burning application for KDE (screenshots). It uses cdrecord and cdrdao for actually burning the CDs but implements its own methods for all CD information retrieval functionality."

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Linux Brochure Project 1.1.0 available

Version 1.1.0 of the Linux Brochure Project has been released. The project was examined in last week's LWN development section. The latest version adds support for A4 sized paper.

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SCREEM 0.8.2 & 0.9.0 Released (GnomeDesktop)

GnomeDesktop.org has an announcement for a stable and an unstable release of SCREEM, a tag-based html editor.

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Languages and Tools

Caml

Caml Weekly News

The Caml Weekly News for October 7-14, 2003 is out with another week's worth of Caml language development news.

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The Caml Light / OCaml Hump

Take a look at the The Caml Light / OCaml Hump to see the latest Caml language application releases.

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Lisp

pg-dot-lisp 0.19 released

Version 0.19 of pg-dot-lisp is available. "Pg-dot-lisp is a Common Lisp library implementing the socket-level client protocol for accessing the PostgreSQL DBMS."

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Perl

This Week on perl5-porters (use Perl)

The October 6-12, 2003 edition of This Week on perl5-porters is online. Take a look for the latest Perl 5 news.

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A Refactoring Example (O'Reilly)

Michael Schwern shows how to clean up Perl code on O'Reilly. "In his book, Martin Fowler defines Refactoring as "the process of changing a software system in such a way that it does not alter the external behavior of the code yet improves its internal structure." In other words, you clean up your code but don't change what it does."

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PHP

PHP Weekly Summary for October 13, 2003

The PHP Weekly Summary for October 13, 2003 is out. Topics include: PHP REP, object equality issue, Apache's scoreboard, version_compare(), long standing bison bug, SimpleXML schema support, Array_merge changes.

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Turck MMCache for PHP version 2.4.2 is released (SourceForge)

Version 2.4.2 of Turck MMCache, a PHP Accelerator, Optimizer, Encoder and Dynamic Content Cache, has been announced. Numerous bugs have been fixed.

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PHP Security, Part 3 (O'ReillyNet)

O'Reilly has published part three of John Coggeshall's series on PHP Security. "A malicious user will likely start his attack by using your system in ways you never anticipated. Your system logs are an oft-neglected defense tool. John Coggeshall shows how PHP's error logging and reporting functions can help you secure your applications."

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Python

python-dev Summary

The python-dev Summary for September 16-30, 2003 is out with another round of Python language articles and links.

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Data Structures and Algorithms with Object-Oriented Design Patterns in Python

Bruno R. Preiss has published an online version of his book on working with data structures in Python. "This book is about the fundamentals of data structures and algorithms--the basic elements from which large and complex software artifacts are built."

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Tcl/Tk

Dr. Dobb's Tcl-URL!

The October 13, 2003 edition of Dr. Dobb's Tcl-URL! is out with the week's Tcl/Tk development news.

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XML

XML Parsing in a Producer-Consumer Model (O'Reilly)

Prabu Arumugam parses XML in Java on O'Reilly. "XML plays a vital role in integrating business-to-business applications. To parse XML files, these applications use either a Simple API for XML (SAX) or a Document Object Model (DOM) parser. Parsing in single-threaded applications is straightforward. However, it is quite complex and challenging in a multithreaded application, such as an application server, because the applications often create a dedicated thread to parse XML, serving many concurrently running threads with the parsed data. This article describes one implementation of parsing XML in concurrent applications."

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Namespaces, Name With Spaces, and Attribute Values (O'Reilly)

John E. Simpson answers XML name space questions in the O'Reilly XML Q&A column. "Although the W3 Schema specification uses the namespace prefix xsd:, it looks as though in current practice only xs: is used. Could you please confirm if this is the case and is the reason just that it is shorter?"

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Diagramming the XML Family (O'Reilly)

Daniel Zambonini presents an overview of XML family members on O'Reilly. "In this article we'll introduce some of the XML family members and discuss how they relate to one another. We'll then use these technologies to create a diagram of their relationships in order to demonstrate how they work together in practice."

Comments (1 posted)

Miscellaneous

OpenSP 1.5.1 released (SourceForge)

OpenSP 1.5.1 is available. "This is mainly a maintenance release - added support for new compilers etc. OpenSP is a free, object-oriented toolkit for SGML parsing and entity management maintained by the OpenJade project."

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