openDesktop.org provides super-portal to free software sites
By Bruce Byfield
November 28, 2008
When users want the latest in free and open source software (FOSS), they are likely to think first of sites like freshmeat, or perhaps Softpedia or GnomeFiles. However, as the FOSS community has divided into specialized communities, sites for new releases have proliferated, to the point where it is difficult to keep track of them all. Since 2007, openDesktop.org has provided a portal for many of these specialized sites. Under the slogan "Let's build the desktop of the future," openDesktop.org provides a quick overview of new software that is independent of desktop or distribution.
openDesktop.org is maintained by Frank Karlitschek, a 35-year-old resident of Stuttgart, Germany. A long time GNU/Linux user, Karlitschek contributes icons and organizational assistance to KDE.
From: Aurora [#3] 28 Nov 2008 To: Cagey (KGWAGNER) [#2] 28 Nov 2008
What I am looking for is some site that translates the screwy names that FOSS developers use for their programs into useful explanations of that the programs actually do. There are so many cryptic, cute and funky names that it defies any understanding of their offerings.
From: Cagey (KGWAGNER) [#4] 28 Nov 2008 To: Aurora [#3] 28 Nov 2008
I know what you mean. It's been a pet peeve of mine for a long time, too. As much as I like to badmouth marketing weenies, that's one thing they're good for - naming things. F/OSS software names are often not even pronounceable because they're acronyms, then they don't always make sense because they're recursive or wordy or cutesy or don't follow expected acronym rules/styles.
From: IMNOTDRPHIL [#5] 29 Nov 2008 To: Cagey (KGWAGNER) [#4] 29 Nov 2008
One of the reasons you see off-the-wall names for F/OSS apps is that they don't want to be sued for trademark infringement. Some two-bit companies are basically looking for ANY chance to try to improve their stature, including launching questionable suits against not-for-profit groups. The F/OSS guys don't really have much revenue, so they can't feed any sharks to keep the other guys' sharks away and the two-bit firms know that, so they are easy pickings. By picking oddball names, the F/OSS guys guarantee they won't ever get a threatening letter in the mail because their app's name is 12% similar to somebody else's.
From: leonsk [#6] 4 Dec 2008 To: Aurora [#1] 4 Dec 2008
Looks like good place to check for apps. Amusing to see that in the right sidebar under "Hottest Groups" the top entry is "Divided We Fail". Sounds like Linux.
From: leonsk [#8] 4 Dec 2008 To: Cagey (KGWAGNER) [#7] 4 Dec 2008
No problems re the clown act passing for a government here. I was in Surabaya (Indonesia) for about a month, helping a friend on a major overhaul; pulled a Hino V10 diesel to replace with Nissan V10 500HP. Also transmission change.
Has major alignment problems while underway back, 50 miles from the land; the six bolts holding the flywheel to transmission adapter plate sheared off due to wobble from the non-alignment. Floated around due to almost no wind, got a tug to pull us back (230 ton boat). Eventually got everything in good shape then sailed for Phuket. Finally crossed the Equator, so now have my earring. Great trip with peripheral pains in the shorts.
From: Cagey (KGWAGNER) [#9] 4 Dec 2008 To: leonsk [#8] 4 Dec 2008
Good all around, then. Congrats on the earring. Seems like there'd have been a helluva vibration if things were that far out of line, but maybe on a boat that big you wouldn't notice.
From: leonsk [#10] 4 Dec 2008 To: Cagey (KGWAGNER) [#9] 4 Dec 2008
There was some vibration but it is a heavy wood construction (ironwood and teak), and always making some noise. When I looked at the bolts they had not really sheared but failed in tension (I remember the appearance from my Strength of Material lab test days), so just a bit of eccentric between the two metal plates, opening and closing at 800 RPM. Expect that one failed eventually and the others quickly followed. So we were sitting in the water, engine running fine but prop shaft sitting still. Fortunately the sea was almost flat, winds 6-8 knots.
After we got towed back the mechanics returned for two days of heavy metal moving. Also installed two locator pins in the adapter ring which was to ensure proper fit of the bolts. Seemed a bit redundant but after all the work things ran fine. I had my ear on the hull structure and the engine felt very steady afterward. Not my boat so not overly worried but still wanting to get back with minimal unplanned stops. Still had a few of those because the fuel tanks got agitated in a mild gale, and all the biosludge got stirred up, so had to change fuel filters about twice a day. Poor fuel quality in some of those remote places, also found out the owner did not believe in wasting money on Biocide.