November 2013 - openSUSE Project - openSUSE Mailing Lists

[opensuse-project] How we will use the GSoC money
by Vincent Untz 18 Jul '24

18 Jul '24

Hi, (let's see how a public discussion about money goes :-)) The Google Summer of Code brings us great students, but also means that the openSUSE project will get $8000 (if I'm not mistaken) at the end of the summer. That's $500 per student. A while ago, I requested comments on my blog about what to do with the money, but didn't get any feedback. So I take this as "do what you feel is best", and this mail is about the plan. As a reminder, the main issue is that we will likely not have the openSUSE Foundation created in time for this. For instance, Google would like us to get some form filled before the end of June; this is not a mandatory timeline, but I think it shows that we won't be ready with the Foundation for that. The current plan is to give that money to another organization we feel close to, and I have two candidates in mind: - the Software Freedom Conservancy (http://sfconservancy.org/) it's a really nice org that provides a home for various cool projects (see http://sfconservancy.org/members/current/) and those projects help make openSUSE a great project. - the Desktop Summit (https://www.desktopsummit.org/) it's one of the biggest event this year, and this would help us have some more visibility (since we'd be sponsors, I guess). I'm sure they would welcome this to secure their budget. Note that an alternative solution would be to leave the money to Google for a future GSoC or similar program, but I feel it's better to use the money where it can make a difference today. Now, it's not too late to change the plan. If you have a better suggestion, please tell us. There's no need to argue forever about it, just explain why you think it's good. Keep in mind that if we cannot receive the money ourselves, this also means that we cannot use it to buy stuff for openSUSE. Pavol and I will take the final decision since we are the GSoC admins for openSUSE. Thanks, Vincent -- Les gens heureux ne sont pas pressés. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] opensuse-user not on gmane any more?
by Jim Henderson 19 Nov '14

19 Nov '14

I just noticed today that the gmane.linux.suse.opensuse.user group is missing from gmane.org - did the project request the list be removed from gmane? Just wondering if it was intentional or if something went wrong somewhere. Thanks, Jim -- Jim Henderson Please keep on-topic replies on the list so everyone benefits -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] FOSDEM 2014
by Agustin Benito Bethencourt 06 Jan '14

06 Jan '14

Hi, deadline for lightning talks and stands at FOSDEM is 20th November: https://fosdem.org/2014/news/2013-09-17-call-for-participation-part-two/ Saludos -- Agustin Benito Bethencourt openSUSE Team Lead at SUSE abebe(a)suse.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] openSUSE 2016 picture
by agustin benito bethencourt 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

Hi, following yesterday's mail[1], we introduce some of the ideas we would like to discuss with you in order to create a common big picture we can share. This big picture is relevant in order to define the actions to execute the following months/ years. [1] http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-project/2013-11/msg00094.html What do we want to achieve? Goals ================================= 1) Add focus to increase alignment among contributors. 2) Foster the community and the user base. - Starting from our current community, we want to keep increasing the number of contributors, specially those working on core parts of the distribution/project. - The openSUSE user base needs to grow. We propose to be even more open to new niches. 3) Catalyze openSUSE maturity process. - openSUSE has an interesting number of contributors. Now we think it is time to reinforce our structures. - Having more solid structures/groups will allow openSUSE to assume more responsibilities and deliver. - In general, we think we need few rules but good ones, easy to follow and analyze. 4) Attract new players by becoming more attractive to new players. - The Free Software ecosystem is now full of companies/non-profits that use, deploy, develop and/or understand Free Software and its benefits. - We want to support ideas toward increasing our value for them so they come to openSUSE and become good citizens of the project. Based on these goals, there are 4 aspects we propose to focus on: Enhanced Factory ================ We would like to put effort in Factory in the following direction: * New process getting the best of Factory, Tumbeweed and devel projects. We need everybody contributing in a single point for a single purpose. We are just too few to spread efforts. * Improve development process based on our strengths. What are we very good at? Let's base the new process on that. * Clarify roles and responsibilities. Redesign processes so we increase the community participation in key areas. Teams instead of champions. * More stability and QA. Testing before submitting. Factory should be usable. * Rolling distribution based on release early/release often principle. This proposal will be more in depth described tomorrow on Factory mailing list where we will expand the bullet points mentioned here. Overhauled openSUSE Release =========================== Once we have established the basis, we think we can concentrate in our current user base. That is, end users and non-OS developers that needs a solid base. We see the openSUSE Release focused on two main targets: * A desktop and a server oriented release that target end users that work everyday with their computers. * Using OBS repositories to cover further use cases. - The idea is to initially target developers that need a stable base and tools on top. - Another interesting use case are derivatives. There could be more. Principles that would drive our efforts: * Stability and quality as core values. - We can make the more stable distribution for users based on Green values. * Longer release cycle. * Enhanced maintenance model * OBS can be use in a smart and efficient way to add flexibility to this model. - People that needs stable base but recent version of tools. - New niches: big data, NoSQL, new programming languages, cloud.... Open Governance Model ===================== Our Governance model has improved over the years. We would like to work with the community the following years in taking some steps further. * Technical governance model adapted to our new development processes: very few but clearer rules. Mentoring ecosystem. * Project governance model: evolution from our current model while keeping our core values. More efficient structure to accomplish the project goals. - SUSE role evolution: Owner (2005) -> Main sponsor -> Patron, together with other players. Where can SUSE add value, beyond supporting ideas like the ones described (or others)? Ralf Flaxa in his keynote [2] pointed some ideas where SUSE could complement openSUSE, increasing SUSE's contribution. We would like to hear your feedback about these or other ideas to define how we can achieve this goal. [2] http://youtu.be/fdroo2JZano In summary, we propose to focus in the direction where we already shine: The Linux you work with, for a living. Share your thoughts =================== There are some questions we would like you to answer: 1) Do you agree with the proposed goals? 2) Are there any other aspects relevant in this discussion? Can you summarize them? 3) Which are the major risks you see in this view? 4) How do you think we should proceed in order to go from these ideas to real actions? 5) What suggestions do you have for this "New Factory" and "New Release"? Please add any other comments or ideas you have in this or a separate thread. Saludos -- Agustin Benito Bethencourt openSUSE Team Lead at SUSE abebe(a)suse.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] three necessary steps?
by jdd 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

Hello, this is partly related to the discussion about priorities, but I don't want to hijack this other thread. I just wanted to say that I noticed three important blocking steps in my geecko life. I don't ask you to solve *my* problem, but I thing the project in his whole could benefit if more people could pass these steps more easily. * use of bugzilla. I was part of the very first open office french gteam loooooooooooooong time ago, an,d I had to wait several *years* before being able to manage bugzilla. We need still something more progressive to guide new geeckos to make usefull bugzilla reports (I'm not even sure mine are good) * use of the wiki. I started the french wiki and was from the beginning in the opensuse adventure. But when the wiki was re-organised, I stopped completely using it. A wiki is *by nature* unorganised and anyway accessed mostly through google or other search engine. Having to find where to put my participation was relly too difficult. - there is at least a need of better explanation of where do what work. * right now, or better said one year ago I wanted to help a friend developer entering his software (EKD=EnKoderDemixer) in OBS. I was never able to do so. Not for OBS itself, but I don't understand hos to write a spec file. I don't even understand the vocabulary used in the help files.... I compile kernel since nearly 20 years now so I should be able to do OBS. I probably could achieve this if I had not other (family) problems at the same time, but this is anyway a blocking part. Better doc? as I still have this work to do, I may help :-) thanks jdd -- http://www.dodin.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] Getting S... Done.
by Klaas Freitag 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

Hi, since it is right now possible to take a breath between the waves of planning I like to share a thought. In the last mails we read a couple of good ideas especially around the distro which are worth to think about and act upon. We also seem to widely agree that a bit more "innovation" would be cool. Topic examples: - Gaming on openSUSE - Clouding with openSUSE - Free Communication, as in "No, thanks, I don't use M$ Skype, but connect my using XYZ on openSUSE". - Documentation ideas - more All of these ideas would now require more investigation and _work_ to get it into Factory etc. pp. We need experts for each of the topics, which we seem to have, and people who want to learn, help and finally contribute. I often think that the missing link seems to be that somebody says: "Hey, I wonna work on 'Gaming on openSUSE', this is the rough idea, how about you help me and we have fun on this?" and people who do not feel able to start such a "big" topic themselves but are interested can say: "Well, yes, sure, if there would be a task for me..." That is what worked in the past. So I wonder if there is anything how we could help this process to work better in our community. These let's call them 'interest-groups' exist, sometimes as one-man shows, but are they visible enough? Can, for example, somebody who would like to spent a little bit of time helping somewhere, find the spots where help is needed? Has ever somebody called for help in openSUSE? How would one do that? I wonder if this can somehow be improved. What do you think? Klaas -- ...und freier Mut gebiert die Tat! Erich Mühsam. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] openSUSE 2016: taking a picture of openSUSE today
by agustin benito bethencourt 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

Hi, Once openSUSE 13.1 has been released, it is time for the openSUSE Team to focus on the future. We want to share some ideas we have about the project in general and factory in particular. The topic is not easy. so this mail is a little long and dense, but hopefully worth it. It won't be the last one so let me know how to improve it. INTRODUCTION/GOALS This is the first of a series of mails we will publish the following days with different ideas. The process we are proposing has no intention of pointing at anybody, revisiting the past or enforce any situation within the community. Our goals are: * Share a picture as a starting point of discussion. * Use the discussed picture as a reference to agree on actions we all can/want to execute. FIRST STEP: PIECES OF THE PUZZLE One of the first things we did was digging into numbers that provided us information about the status of the project. Data cannot be the only source to create a complete picture, but it is helpful as first step. In order to better understand the rest of the mail, you probably want to look the following references: * Alberto Planas talk at oSC13: openSUSE in Numbers[1] * Alberto Planas' slides from the above talk[2] * First openSUSE Team blog post: Numbers in openSUSE[3] * Second openSUSE Team blog post: More on statistics[4] * Jos post about numbers[5] One important note about the numbers: since most of the behaviors of the variables reflected on the graphs were consolidated, at some point we decided to stop adding effort in collecting numbers until 13.1 was released. Once the Release is well established, we will update them and evaluate the influence of this Release in the global picture. I won't try to go very deep in the analysis. It would be too long. There are many interpretations that can be done based on the graphs. I will just point out the most relevant for our purpose. Feel free to add others. Following Alberto Planas' order from his slides[2]... 1.- Downloads The number of downloads do not measure our user base, but provide hints about the impact of the work done every 8 months, the potential new users we might bring to the project and, looking at pre-release downloads, the number of testers. Taking a look at the graphs, we can see that the overall number of downloads is growing at a slow path (slope). This behavior is not consistent in every release. For instance, 12.1 was more downloaded that 12.2 or 12.3. More and more people uses zypper for updating the distribution though. 2.- UUIDs (installations that update regularly) * Looking at the number of machines that regularly update against openSUSE repositories (daily, weekly and monthly), we can easily conclude that the situation is very stable. The speed of growth (daily and weekly stats) or decline (monthly) is low. * What the graph do not show is the acceleration. It has been negative (small in value) for quiet some time now. * When looking at the architectures, we see that x86_64 is more popular than i586. This behavior is accelerating, as confirmed in the download numbers collected for 12.3 * When looking at the mediums where those installations come from, we clearly see three dominant ones: .iso (dvd version), ftp (net installs) and Live CD. * There is a relevant detail that Alberto mentioned in his talk. More than half, almost 2/3, of openSUSE installations are not using the last version many weeks after Release date. There is also a significant amount of installations using unmaintained or Evergreen versions. 3.- Factory and Tumbleweed installations/"users" Factory is our ongoing development effort. As you can see in the graph, the number of Factory installations is constant. Tumbleweed was very successful when it came out. Many developers and bleeding edge users liked it. Its popularity is decreasing though. 4.- Contributors to factory and devel projects The numbers of users that are submitting request to factory/devel projects is increasing. Now we have more non SUSE contributors. SUSE ones remain constant. The overall growth is about 27 new contributors per year, a little bit more than 2 new contributors per month. 5.- Social media and comparison with Fedora openSUSE is, in the social media channels evaluated, in the range of Fedora. Comparing our numbers, I guess we all agree with this general trend that states that openSUSE is a more user oriented distribution than Fedora is. We have less downloads but more users (installations updating regularly). SOLVING THE PUZZLE All the above pieces shows a stable picture. Every sign of growth or decline is, in absolute and/or relative numbers, small except social media, due to their explosion as communication channels (which I do not think is way different from what other Free Software communities are experiencing). ADDING CONTEXT TO THE PICTURE openSUSE coexist with other "coopetitors" (Free Software competitors + cooperators) and competitors (closed sources distributions). Touchscreens, cloud, big data, games...the Linux ecosystem is evolving and there are new users with new needs. New players are consolidating their positions: Arch, Chakra, Mint... Ubuntu is moving to the mobile space, Debian is getting some attention back from previous Ubuntu users.... On the other hand, some distros that were relevant in the past have disappeared, our 13.1 has got more attention than previous ones, SUSE is healthy and willing to invest more in openSUSE in the future ... In the above context, how is our "stable" situation perceived? How do we think it should be perceived? INTERPRETING THE PICTURE If we agree that the overall number of users of Linux based server + "traditional" desktop OS (let's remove the mobile/embedded space and cloud for now), is growing, not following the "market" growing trend might be perceived as a wake up call, a clear sign that improvements needs to be done. But if we agree that we are playing in a risky and challenging field, stability can be perceived as a healthy sign. After these months of analysis and discussions with both, contributors and users, I would like to ask you if you agree with the the idea that the first picture is more prominent than the second one. But, does the second one provide us a good platform to improve our current position? SHARE YOUR OWN PICTURE Let me propose you some questions: 1.- What other variables we should put in place to create an accurate picture of the current state of the project? 2.- What is the perception you think others have from the project? 3.- What is your perception, your picture? To get some context you might want to take a look at the following contents: * Current strategy[6] * Ralf Flaxa keynote at oSC'13[7] * Jos article: Strategy and Stable[8] * Jos article: Strategy and Factory[9] REFERENCES: Please point us to other relevant references: [1] Alberto Planas talk at oSC13: openSUSE in Numbers: http://youtu.be/NwfohZ8RBd8 [2] Alberto Planas' slides from the above talk: https://github.com/aplanas/opensuse-data/tree/master/osc13 [3] First openSUSE at SUSE team blog post: Numbers in openSUSE http://lizards.opensuse.org/2013/07/04/numbers-is-opensuse/ [4] Second openSUSE at SUSE team blog post: More on statistics http://lizards.opensuse.org/2013/08/23/more-on-statistics/ [5] Jos article about numbers: http://blog.jospoortvliet.com/2013/08/on-distributions-numbers-and-breaking… [6] Current strategy: http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Strategy [7] Ralf Flaxa keynote at oSC'13: http://youtu.be/fdroo2JZano [8] Jos article: Strategy and Factory: http://blog.jospoortvliet.com/2013/07/osc13-strategy-and-factory.html [9] Jos article: Strategy and Stable: http://blog.jospoortvliet.com/2013/08/osc13-strategy-and-stable.html Saludos -- Agustin Benito Bethencourt openSUSE Team Lead at SUSE abebe(a)suse.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] Single point of failure : nvidia
by Bruno Friedmann 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

With the increasing number of new users, trying out openSUSE 13.1 there's also an increasing complaint rate about the non availability of Nvidia drivers. Why we should care about them, after all they are not free drivers. But as we in the past & recent present offer them by being prepared internally at SUSE then pushed to nvidia people in charge of publishing them. The work done by Stefan Dirsch has always been a great addition to end users that were not able to use nouveau for their daily task. I don't want to talk about philosophy in this tread, I'm only interested by the action, we (community side), openSUSE Team (as favorite SUSE internal point of contact), SUSE, can provide to finally better serve our end users. For 13.1, it look like the package on obs were ready to build since 1st November, so then why we don't have it? Stefan's holidays? Unfortunately this "accident" has already happened in the past, so I feel it's time create some process to be make it impossible to happen. I perfectly know that nothing is easy as it look (license, responsibility etc). So my vision is perhaps naive. 1st idea : Is it possible to have a Stefan's backup internally, who will be able to build the package, and have the keys to forward them to nvidia? 2nd idea : Should the community be in charge of it? We have get some success with the AMD equivalent situation even if everything is not failure proof as I would like. Keep experts of it preparing the package as it is now. Would the repository owner accept sr if some comes like (update, improvements etc)? 2a variant : building this package on packman -> then publish there 2b variant : build it locally (it works) and then publish them somewhere 3rd idea : yours ? Thanks to stay on topic, we just all want a solution. -- Bruno Friedmann Ioda-Net Sàrl www.ioda-net.ch openSUSE Member GPG KEY : D5C9B751C4653227 irc: tigerfoot -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] oSC14 dates confirmed, IRC meeting on further organization activities
by Svebor Prstačić 02 Dec '13

02 Dec '13

Dear all, The dates for oSC14 have been fixed today, and they are: 24th - 28th April, 2014. I would like to invite all who would kindly help with the organization to an IRC meeting. The proposed date for the meeting to take place is this Friday, November 29th, 17:00 hours CET. The proposed channel is: #openSUSE-project - irc://irc.opensuse.org/openSUSE-project. I am sending the two lists below, which are the proposed table of contents for the meeting. - A short status report is on the first list. - Things we have to start doing, that we really need help with from the community, are on the second list. 1. Things happening, report: - University of Dubrovnik and Suse are preparing a venue contract, -- University of Dubrovnik has confirmed the dates (24th - 28th April, 2014) - Free Software Foundation Europe is interested in puting a booth at oSC14, -- Karsten Gerloff (president of FSFE) is interested in giving a talk. Can we suggest a title? -- Program commitee needs to be formed to decide on this - There is an idea to have a business track at the conference -- Program commitee needs to be formed to decide about this, -- Program commitee would need to define what it would look like (if we will have it) - one day or more days; wanted topics etc... - We have been talking with the Tourist board of Dubrovnik about deals for accommodation. I hope we'll be able to start making bookings in a week or two. -- There is possibility of City of Dubrovnik sponsoring the event - Tomo (in Dubrovnik) is making a list of locations/bars for parties, will post info to choose at some time in the near future. 2. Things we need to start doing quickly - A conference program commitee has to be defined - Artwork and web design is needed - talked briefly with Carlos, he's interested to help, but we need more people to help with this -- We have a local designer, she can help if needed, with suggestions to make artwork local; coordinate production of materials locally if/when needed. - A CMS for the conference web is needed -- We can now publish dates and details about the conference venue so we should get this ready - We need to deploy OSEM (Contacted Henne, we were waiting for the dates) -- We need a logo for this - Call for papers needs to be published - program commitee via mail to -project and news release via news.o.o - Marketing machine has to be put in motion -- We should get the announcement texts ready -- news articles; g+ articles... -- notify tech portals -- openSUSE conference marketing at FOSDEM - is there a plan for openSUSE booth at FOSDEM? - Schedule regular IRC meetings If there is anything else you think should be talked about, please bring it up during the meeting, or before by email. Best regards, Svebor -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-project] openSUSE board election 2013 - Platform
by Bruno Friedmann 01 Dec '13

01 Dec '13

Dear fellow's members, just a quick message to announce the publication of my platform. http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Board_election_platform_2013_tigerfoot There's a nice place at the end of the page called "Endorsements" which shouldn't stay empty :-) This is your place, I already thanks any of your support. If there's questions, how does the election committee wish to handle them? Any direct personal will get a personal answer from my side. All the rest here in the mailing list? We all know that any vote counts. Our community can send a strong signal how healthy it is if we have an awesome participation rate this year. So ping your fellows community member friends to participate to the election. Truly yours. -- Bruno Friedmann openSUSE Member GPG KEY : D5C9B751C4653227 irc: tigerfoot -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner(a)opensuse.org

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