Bootcamp notes

These are just some rough notes on what we can cover at a bootcamp and how we can go about it. They are by no means meant to be interpreted as a solid plan, and they will be changing constantly. We won’t have time to do it all, so we will need to distil this onto the bootcamp schedule page.

Please do not edit this page unless you are a SLUG Committee member or have been asked to do so by a Committee member. If you have any suggestions, let the Committee know and they will make the necessary changes/additions to this page.

• need general helpers to answer questions & help installing

• intended audience
  • the main focus is on switching people who are already reasonably comfortable with Windows/Mac but are new to FOSS and Linux
  • this is not a basic computer literacy course! Some experience with Win/Mac is assumed.
  • this is not an installfest!
    • the primary focus is on demonstrating how an already-installed Linux system works, at the GUI application level
    • we might have talks about distribution installation routines
    • if we have the time and resources, we might be able to help get things installed on people’s own machines

• don’t fill the whole time with talks
  • allow time for people to digest the information & experiment
  • maybe have a gap between each talk?
  • allow extra time for requests from attendees

• have an introductory talk explaining FOSS & Linux, and what makes them so powerful
  • focus on the community

• talk on open standards, and why they are so important to information freedom and compatibility across applications and platforms

• don’t cover apps that aren’t easy to install in mainstream distros
  • we will be using Ubuntu on Tap on at least some of the machines
  • other distros (e.g. Fedora) on others

• focus on
  • GUI apps
  • cross-platform apps
    • for these, show how it looks in both Windows and Linux to demonstrate ease of migration
  • compatibility with windows apps
  • simple solutions, for existing Windows users
  • community & other strengths of FOSS

• emphasise the similarities between distributions, not the differences
  • the intended audience just want a desktop distro that works ⇒ highlighting the (minor) differences between the main desktop distros would only create confusion amongst newbies and an impression of division within the community
  • need to investigate the similarities/differences between GUI package management and system management tools on different distros ⇒ are they different enough to warrant some discussion at the event?
  • possible basic format as follows:
    1. perhaps have tutorials on how to install some mainstream distros, with dual-boot
    2. once they are installed, the apps are basically the same ⇒ generic application tutorials will suffice

• don’t be too anti-Windows
  • we do not want to alienate our audience
  • people get scared when they feel that they have to get rid of Windows ⇒ we should show them how the OSs can co-exist.

• to what extent should we show FOSS for Windows?

• dual-booting
• virtualisation
  • KVM (free), VMware (proprietary)
  • VMware Player with pre-made linux image
• WINE
  • Crossover, Cedega

• how to install/remove/manage apps
• file management
  • basic layout of files on a Linux system
  • file permissions

• desktop customisation
  • theming
    • GTK/GNOME, KDE, Firefox
      • styles, colours, icons, pointers, skins
  • installing/changing fonts
• desktop effects
  • Beryl/Compiz
  • accessibility with 3D desktops, e.g. screen magnification, high contrast modes

• Web browsers
  • firefox, epiphany, konqueror
• mail clients
  • evolution, thunderbird
• calendaring
  • evolution, kontact/korganiser, thunderbird with lightning extension, sunbird

• office & productivity
  • openoffice, koffice, gnome office
  • compatibility with MS Office files

• IM
  • gaim, kopete, amsn
• VoIP
  • ekiga, skype

• encryption
  • ecryptfs, truecrypt, luks
• compression/archiving/backup
• CD/DVD burning
• DVD authoring
• media
  • graphics: f-spot, digikam, picasa (proprietary)
  • audio: amarok, rhythmbox, banshee
  • video: totem, kaffeine
  • MythTV (LinuxMCE, KnoppMyth)
• graphics editing
  • GIMP, Krita
  • TuxPaint, Kolourpaint
  • agave
  • Inkscape, Xara
  • synfig
  • blender, k-3d
  • qcad
• audio editing
  • audacity, ardour, jokosher, rosegarden, wired, hydrogen, terminatorx
• video editing
  • kino, avidemux, pitivi, diva, jahshaka, cinepaint, stopmotion
• fonts editing
  • fontforge

• proprietary codecs & drivers

• accessibility
  • orca, braille, dasher, screen magnification (especially with Beryl), high/low contrast themes
  • demonstrate how to do common tasks with accessibility tools

• internationalisation
  • language support

• children’s programmes
  • edubuntu
  • skolelinux

• games
  • get a console instead!
    • Xbox & PS3 run Linux
  • WINE, Cedega
    • World of Warcraft
  • Second Life
  • Neverwinter Nights
  • FPS: Quake, Doom, UT, Cube
  • FOSS games: Wesnoth, etc.

• simple servers
  • samba, nfs
    • join/create windows domain
  • basic Apache setup
    • make your own blog

• hardware support/configuration
  • NetworkManager
  • printers
  • scanners
  • removable storage
  • iPods
  • suspend/resume