LDP Weekly News for December 30, 2003

The Linux Documentation Project Weekly News

Issue Number : 35 and 36
Publication Date : 2003-12-30
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Table of Contents
1. Documents submitted for review
2. New document proposals
3. Updated HOWTOs, FAQs and Guides
4. News in The LDP world
    4.1. Jamie sets the example
   
   
5. Discussions on TLDP lists
    5.1. Licensing
    5.2. Documenting non-free software?
   
   
6. HOWTO contribute to TLDP

1. Documents submitted for review

  * Feiyun Wang sent in a finalized version of a document he would like to
    call the [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?5:mss:6768:200312:
    konkimegkjeambdiipla] Linux i386 Boot Code HOWTO, a study guide and
    source commentary to the Linux i386 boot code.
   
  * Adrian Offerman submitted a new [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?5:mss:
    6778:200312:chhbgdgdnpopnokgfpcf] MMBase Installation HOWTO, describing
    the installation of the MMBase content management system on a Red Hat
    Linux distribution, using the Tomcat application server, and integrating
    it with MySQL and Apache. The [http://www.ibiblio.org/mdw/HOWTO/
    MMBase.html] current MMBase mini-HOWTO describes the setup of the
    management system on Debian Woody.
   
  * Daniel Quintiliani sent in v2.11 of the [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?
    5:mss:6824:200312:dahpibnceeobmhehdekd] Windows Newsreaders under Linux
    HOWTO, which has more info on sounds in Xnews.
   
  * We received v1.4.16 of the [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?5:mss:6876:
    200312:ipgledljmnhigilikgkk] WordPerfect on Linux FAQ, maybe in answer to
    the long discussions about [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?1:mss:6239:
    200312:bnijmdbhinokiigafgam] TLDP documenting proprietary software, and
    v1.7.4 of the [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?5:mss:6877:200312:
    fmmbocmbfdobkmphigeo] Linux User Group HOWTO.
   

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2. New document proposals

  * Rahul Sundaram has been probing to find co-authors for a really big
    guide, that would be a sort of always-up-to-date Linux bible, which would
    connect all TLDP documents, after the example of [freebsd.org/handbook]
    the FreeBSD Handbook.
   

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3. Updated HOWTOs, FAQs and Guides

  * Chr. Clemens Lee just published v3.0 of his [http://tldp.org/HOWTO/
    Debian-Binary-Package-Building-HOWTO/] Debian Binary Package Building
    HOWTO, which contains minor fixes and applies feedback from readers.
   
  * Charles Curley's [http://tldp.org/HOWTO/
    Linux-Complete-Backup-and-Recovery-HOWTO/] Linux Complete Backup and
    Recovery HOWTO v1.5 contains notes on Fedora and Grub.
   
  * David Braun updated the links in v1.3 of the [http://tldp.org/HOWTO/
    Disk-Encryption-HOWTO/] Disk Encryption HOWTO.
   
  * Binh Nguyen published two updates: v0.63 of the [http://www.tldp.org/LDP/
    Linux-Filesystem-Hierarchy/html/] Linux Filesystem Hierarchy, and v0.12
    of the [http://www.tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Dictionary/html/] Linux Dictionary.
   

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4. News in The LDP world

4.1. Jamie sets the example

Reviewers are highly in demand, yet we recently had the joy of welcoming a
few. They mysteriously appeared out of nowhere to offer their much-needed
services to our project. One of those new-comers is Jamie Patterson. Not that
long ago, he found the TLDP web site, while looking for Linux documentation.
He must have approved of our system, because he volunteered as a reviewer: "I
wanted to help improve and build on the foundation blocks of the
ever-expanding Linux Community."

Jamie reviews for content suitability, checks grammar and spelling and,
probably the most important thing: ease of reading. Tabatha, our
head-reviewer, thinks he's one of the most faithful reviewers she works with.
However devoted, Jamie can make his voice heard. As his colleagues say, in an
appreciative tone of voice: "He's a little outspoken in his comments."

Jamie joined the project only recently, but is already training other
reviewers. Jamie is thirteen years old. We're told he does a good job.

We also want to welcome the rest of the flock, among others:

  * Jennifer Riley, with a master's degree in both English and by experience
    in programming in all kinds of languages, does language review but hopes
    to start on technical reviewing soon.
   
  * Emma Jane Hogbin admits that spelling is not her cup of tea, so she does
    technical reviews. She is also the [http://www.ibiblio.org/mdw/HOWTO/
    ACPI-HOWTO/index.html] ACPI HOWTO.
   
  * Doris Cross is getting her own business off the ground, and says that
    technical editing for TLDP is an asset because it keeps her skills up to
    date.
   

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5. Discussions on TLDP lists

5.1. Licensing

As David Lawyer states, the current LDP license contains [http://
lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?1:mss:6280:200312:mhljllnlecdgghdoohcl] a loophole.

Therefor, Rick Moen wrote a proposal for a [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?
1:mss:6268:200312:idnijccbcjnijmgbpjbb] new license which is now being
discussed. Rick did [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?1:mss:6231:200312:
bhlldbihdlbgodochdkp] quite some research on the subject of licensing.
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5.2. Documenting non-free software?

The [http://lists.tldp.org/index.cgi?1:mss:5875:200312:ihpahginmljdgbhooeje]
sponsorship thread started last week evolved into a discussion about whether
is right to document non-free software, even if it runs on Linux. However, it
was generally agreed that we would have to drop a lot of documents if we were
going to be that fierce about the subject.
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6. HOWTO contribute to TLDP

The Linux Documentation Project (TLDP) is working on developing free, high
quality documentation for the GNU/Linux operating system. If you want to help
TLDP, consider joining <discuss-subscribe@en.tldp.org>.

Help us create this newsletter. We need volunteers who follow the community
(mailing lists, newsgroups, web channels) and report events related to free
software documentation. Write to us at <feedback@en.tldp.org>.

LDP Weekly News is compiled and edited by Machtelt Garrels and Y Giridhar
Appaji Nag with help from several other people.