Debian

Source: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1512568

This howto shows a method to download the entire source code of (any version of) the Ubuntu distribution, or selected entire branches, or arbitrary custom selections (if a preparatory editing step to the package lists created is inserted).

It is also applicable to all distributions that use dpkg/apt-get as the method to manage their packages (ie Debian, etc.)

Source: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/creating_animatic_using_auda...

An animatic is a kind of a rough sketch for a film. It’s not really meant to be an artform in itself (although some reach that point), but it is rather intended to be enough information for the filmmaker to make intelligent production decisions. It also must be cheap and easy, since effort that goes into the animatic will not appear in the final film. I have not yet fully decided what tool is right for doing the animatics for Lunatics, so I’m doing some experiments with different tools in order to decide. In this column, I’ll create an animatic for a short sequence from the pilot.

Source: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/painting_sound_arss_and_gimp

As I was working on a sound track project for a science-fiction film I’ve been working on, I remembered reading an article in Free Software Magazine, by Gianluca Pignalberi, in which he described filtering using Gimp and a command-line program then called “ARSE” (version 0.1). The program is now called “The Analysis & Resynthesis Sound Spectrograph” (“ARSS”, now version 0.2.3). Combined with an image editor of your choice (I also chose Gimp), it also turns out to be a very interesting way to make original sound effects — by painting the sound spectrum.

Source: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/easy_and_inexpensive_quad_co...

My son’s hand-me-down motherboard recently gave up the ghost, and I decided that was a good excuse for an upgrade. Shopping around, I found that multi-core CPUs were finally in my price range, so I decided to build him a quad-core system. This build worked out extremely well, with almost no configuration problems, not even for accelerated 3D graphics or ALSA sound — all using the latest Debian GNU/Linux (which means it’ll also work with Ubuntu or other derivatives). This one has that “classic” feel — everything just clicked into place. So I wanted to document it here. This also serves as a technology update to my earlier article on selecting hardware for a free-software-friendly system.

Source: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1413313

1) Introduction

Here's a longish guide to unlock, root and run Debian on your Nexus One.

It's based on various guides and forum posts around (see embedded links), but with more details, with some missing pieces and corrected mistakes, all compiled into a (hopefully) newb-friendly step by step guide.

Source: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/debian_contempt_end_user_val...

Three recent problems with packages in the last stable release of Debian GNU/Linux (“Lenny”), brought me face-to-face with what is still a major obstacle for acceptance of free software on the desktop: contempt for the values of the people who use it. Despite all the accusations of unfair trade practices or other excuses, this remains as one solid reason why free software is still perceived as “geeks only” territory. If we want to progress further, we’ve got to improve our attitudes.

Source: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/debian_adopts_time_based_rel...

You may have seen that the Debian project (my particular GNU/Linux distribution of choice) has decided to schedule fixed time-based releases in future. This has come as a surprise to many — including possibly some Debian developers — largely because of Debian’s long-standing “we ship when it’s ready” policy. So what caused this change of heart and is it a good idea.

Source: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1223363

Hello everybody. I am writing this for someone here that once did a good deed for me. If you are reading this (you know who you are), thank you, it is much appreciated.

I like to work from the command line. I find that once you get to know it, it is often quicker to do the tasks you need to do (especially as an administer). Here is a quick front-end to common management tasks (installing/removing pacakges, package information...) that you may do everyday on your machine. It's pretty well commented and include's help by just typing the command. I call it dm (debian management) and the syntax is simple:

Source: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/easy_library_catalog_tellico

Setting up an electronic “card catalog” for my books always seemed like a lot of work, so I hadn’t really attempted it before; lately, I happened across a KDE program called Tellico that made it so easy and fun that I completed my inventory in under a week. Plus, I finally found a use for that “CueCat” scanner I’ve had collecting dust for the last several years!