Double-Dreaded Fedora 20 Yum "Group Does Not Exist" Error -- Remedy

by Dietrich Schmitz

Okay, things have been going along swimmingly with Fedora 20 and I did have this error message turn up during the beta testing phase.  I thought they nipped it in the bud, but apparently not.  Anyhow, here is a link to a FedoraForum.org post which can fix the error message, including this screen snapshot of the forum page. Oh the Humanity. -- Dietrich

Fedora 20 Yum "Group Does Not Exist" Error Remedy

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Fedora 20 Linux for the Masses

by Dietrich Schmitz

Hey, you never know.  It could happen.  That is, Fedora will become the 'de facto' long-term Linux Community Distribution standard after 5 years.  I give to you below embedded my Google Plus stream of consciousness uncensored, unabridged for your consumption. :)

-- Dietrich

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A Kumbayah Moment: New Ubuntu Community Website

by Dietrich Schmitz

Oh let's join hands now and sing the Coke song or Kumbayah, shall we?  I am feeling so inspired now that (tout d'un coup) a new Ubuntu community website is open.

Isn't that exciting?  What? No?

Agreed.  I mean, why now?  Do you think Canonical Ltd. realize they have a public relations nightmare 'image' problem on their hands?

No, Let's call it major 'damage control'.

And yet, more 'window dressing' being applied slap dab by corporate in a failed effort to prop up a sagging morale.  Don't be anybody's fool.  Take a close look at the picture on the website and you'll see those are Canonical Ltd. employees.

Label this latest move as 'symptomatic' of what I have previously written about: Ubuntu is NOT a Community Project.

It's time for a fork people.  Power to the community, right on.  openUbuntu.  Rise up.

-- Dietrich

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Fork Ubuntu to Preserve Community Participation

by Dietrich Schmitz

Members of the Ubuntu community may have reacted negatively to my story Ubuntu is NOT a Community Project.  When they are done being upset and settle down, they can then realize what is happening.

Things are not within your control?  Ask yourself what can be done to regain control: Fork Ubuntu and declare a jihad and move all Ubuntu community developers to an openUbuntu fork. (Image credit: colas.nahaboo.net)

Does this make sense?  I submit to you it does.  What can be gained from it?

It will create a true "arm's length" relationship between Canonical Ltd. governance and true community FOSS participation.  Each has their own interests, some are mutually beneficial, others are at conflict.

Having this division is necessary so that the community regains control of consensus-based decision making.

I submit that members of the Ubuntu community do not have that now.  It has been taken away and you are not part of the important decision making process.

Break the conflicts of interest, make your own determinations and maintain your moral integrity.  Consider doing a fork of Ubuntu.

--Dietrich

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Debian: A SpeedBump on the Road to Innovation

by Dietrich Schmitz

I've watched the progress of Linux over quite some time and can't help but conclude that development in the Debian community has become dogmatic, stodgy, and held back for no other reason than pure politics and control issues.

There is nothing creative or innovative about that.  The Debian priesthood make their proclamations, anoint new members and continue to exert control of the pace of development with no interest in changing their software release management policy speed knob, currently set to: slow.  Slow as in 'sloth' slow.

As Debian prefers to resist change, change besets them.  You see, change is occurring on Internet time all around them in fact.  That's fast for those who watch trends in application development like me.  And the constant that is ever-present that Debian cannot ignore is that change will continue in overdrive while the Debian community sit on their collective hands satisfied by not doing what needs to be done.

Innovating on Internet time doesn't mean one has to lose control, nor does it mean that one will lose stability at the risk of frequent change.  It means that the pulse is being followed and striking while the iron is hot is imperative to reach profitability and bring product to market when and where it's needed--today and now.

So, life goes on, with or without Debian.  They have made their bed and sleep in it.  The need to politic continues unabated and the camp has their wagons drawn into a circle as if to prepare for attack.

It is fractious, unnecessary, and drives a wedge into the process of community sharing.  Sharing of ideas, sharing of resources is divided along political lines.  It is divisive and leads to internal turmoil all avoidable but the control must continue.  And it does.

Debian leadership will continue to apply their full will with impunity and seek comfort in their ability to exert only control, not innovation, not creativity, not sharing--just pragmatic politics--and continue to recede into irrelevance.  Happy Easter.

-- Dietrich

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Rosa Guillén on Why Linux?

by Guest Writer +Rosa Guillén

When I started six years ago in Linux, I didn't know that not only would my operating system change, but also my life.

I am a basic user of Ubuntu and in these several years I have met many people using Linux, ranging from new user to Distro Developer, to those with their wallpapers or those who created the countdown banners to  those who file [package] a new application.

But, they all had one thing in common and that to me makes Linux great: dedication.

The selfless work, unconditional support and satisfaction of knowing that what you contribute will serve thousands of people without having to pay license fees is satisfying and its own reward.

The feeling of not feeling never just before a problem is important and never felt once. Blogs, Linux, forums and lots of people readily willing to share with you their knowledge is what I found during this time most appealing.

I've also encountered a few radicals (radical about everything), who want to force others to use a specific distro or who despise the work of others.  

This I have never understood, because,  Linux is free and everyone is entitled to make their own individual choice.  We are all in the same boat, no matter if you use Fedora, OpenSuse, Ubuntu or any other distro.  We are all on the same side.

I also consider myself most fortunate to live in a country where Linux is given importantance.  Many communities have created their own layouts placing them in public [governmental] bodies (should be more) and in many schools.

Distros like Trisquel (Galicia), Asturix (Asturias), Lliurex (Valencia), Guadalinex(Andalusia), gnuLinEx (Extremadura), and many others, make Spain a country supporting Free Software and that makes me proud.

-- Rosa Guillén

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