自由軟體開發者的悲哀 發文者:K. M. Lau 日期:23 Aug 2007

最近想裝xoop玩,在網上搜尋了一會,但發覺xoop開發組織上出了很大轉變。令我有一些感觸。

由於xoop (http://www.xoops.org/)之成功,開發團隊不斷擴大。
 這本是好事,但人數多了,不同的聲音及意見也多了。 最後xoop之原創者小野Onokazu等人的xoop管理權被開發團隊剝奪了。

即被踢出局。最後xoop分裂出另一組織xoopscube.  
http://www.xoopscube.tw/modules/news/article.php?storyid=424

 自由軟體開發原創者被踢出局,是由於多數的自由軟體開發,如有不同意見,是由開發團隊一人一票決定的.

這看似自由的運作模式,看似很公平,但對自由軟體開發者來說,還要很小心處理.不然的話,會是很悲哀的。

因為他過去所付出的心血,都沒有了。

自由軟體的開發,最初是由原創者發表及發展,當軟體吸引到廣大用戶使用後,有興趣參加開發的人自然會越多。

人多,意見就多。這時原創者就要小心留意組織中的政治及擁有權問題,例如自己是否有很多自己友(票),否則很容易會被忽然奪網,被踢出局。

這是自由選舉的遊戲規則,人多欺人小。

這情況,在自由軟體開發社群也發生多次了。例如 debian 也曾發生類似事件。

但對於自由軟體開發者來說,他們通常都不會留意這個問題。當被踢出局後才醒覺,就太遲了。

(refer to my blog :

Ubuntu 7.04 installation on HP Compaq 6515b notebook installation- AMD Turion(tm) 64 MK-38 )

I found that a lot of 32 bit application are not ready on 64 bit Linux.

The most impact are the lack of plugin for FireFox browser, such as Flash and java plugin for 64 bit linux.

Flash and Jave are almost the must have plugins for web browsing.

i.e. You will not be able to watch Youtube with out them.

Most of the desktop user may stop to use the 64 bit linux for the problem on web browsing .

For the Flash plugin , Adobe currently provides the latest version of Flash for Linux x86 only not for 64bit Linux.

Although I saw a strong request to Adobe to develop 64bit flash plugin for 64 bit Linux by the Web users ,

Adobe has not response the request and do nothing to support 64 bit Linux at this point.

See the links : http://www.petitiononline.com/lin64swf/petition.html

My HP 6515b notebook came with Window Vista 64 bit installed,. I downloaded FlashPlayer Version 9,0,45,0 from Adobe.

The Windows Vista 64 bit can run the flash and watch Youtub both on IE 7 and FireFox with out problem.

Therefore , I guest that Adobe may be facing a big pressure form Microsoft to not support 64 bit Linux for business reason.

However , this is not fair to the Linux 64 bit users in the world.

I suggest the lawer in USA and European court should have a look in this case .

Will it be possible to fire a law suite to Adobe and Microsoft for abused monopoly power in its handling of 64 bit Desktop Operating System sales

and Web browser sales by controlling the most popular browser plugins .

We have to watch the monopoly on 64 bit OS . The 64 bit world is coming.

Ubuntu suggested to install two open-source implementations currently under development. One is Gnash and the other is Swfdec.

I tried both of them. Swfdec did not work both on Youtub and Adobe flash site. Gnash was hanged when start to play the flash. Both open-source implementations are not working .

So, there are no solution for Debian and Ubuntu 64 Bit Linux for flash plugin now .

To be cont...

Thanks for Voide referecne link. I have installed Ubuntu 7.04 on HP Compaq 6515b notebook .

Below are the  How to and outstanding problem to share with you :

Ubuntu 7.04  install on HP Compaq 6515b notebook

AMD AMD Turion(tm) 64 MK-38、AMD M690T chipset、512M DDR2 667 RAM、80GB SATA Hard Drive、ATI Mobility Radeon Xpress 1270 display card、14 inch “WXGA”LCD display with 1280×800、

The Ubuntu live CD does not work with ATIMobility Radeon Xpress 1270 display card.
The BroadCOM wireless LAN ，does not work with Ubuntu too。

The solution:

Download AMD 64 Ubuntu7.04 alternate ISO，burn to a CD. Boot the CD to start installation，choose text mode installation。Choose English language (don't choose Chinese ).

After install Ubuntu7.04 , you will see error message on X start up, then will drop you into text console.

Login and do the following :

1、ATI driver installation

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx

sudo depmod -a

sudo aticonfig --initial

Reboot , you should  see the gdm running and the X window will work 。

Remark:6515b display resolution is 1280x800.

2、Wireless LAN driver installation

disable bcm43xx driver

sudo rmmod bcm43xx

add the keneal driver into black list：

sudo vim /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Add the line：

blacklist bcm43xx

Go to HP website to download Windows XP driver for the wireless LAN card.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp?&lang=en&cc=us...

Extract the file under Windows XP, you will get a directory :

   C:/SWSetup.

There are two driver version, one is 5.0 another is 6.0

I have not try the 6.0 version. But the 5.0 Version will work. If someone tested the 6.0 version, please let me know.

Copy it to your ubuntu home directory for ndiswrapper use later.  

Now, atp-get diswrapper-utils-1.9

sudo ndiswrapper -i /the location of/SWSetup/the location of version5 driver/bcmwl5.inf

Check ndiswrapper driver :

sudo ndiswrapper -l

You should see :

bcmwl5 : driver installed
        device (14E4:4312) present (alternate driver: bcm43xx)

Write wlan0 to ndiswrapper alias

sudo ndiswrapper -m

start ndiswrapper：
sudo modprobe ndiswrapper

Start netwrok admin tools to configurate the Wireless LAN:

System -> administration -> network

Finally, enable the system to load ndiswrapper when reboot.

edit /etc/modules，

add the line

ndiswrapper

Remark :

The update manager will ask you to update the ubuntu.

But don't update the kernel to 2.6.20-16. I tred but the ndiswrapper did not work and the notebook will hang when reboot.

I don't know why.

Outstanding issues:

1. APIC error

kernel: [ 1282.069369] APIC error on CPU0: 40(40)

This error message keep generated to fill up the syslog.

I have searched the web , but there are no real solution on this error.

Ubuntu and Debian only suggest to disable the APIC in kernel to prevent this error message happen.

But this is not a solution to the problem.

If a notbook runing with out APIC , you are lost all power management function. You battery will run out very quickly.

Also you will not be able to power down your notebook by shutdown command.

You have to press the power button to power off your notebook manually.

If any one have soltuion , please let me know.

2. Fringerprint : not working

Don't know where to get driver to make it work.

3. Suspend to RAM & Disk : Don't know how to set it up.

Any one can help to solve the above problem ?

K. M. Lau

I have brought a new HP Compaq n6515b notebook which came with  AMD Turion(tm) 64 MK-38 CPU.

This noteBook is very new model form HP. I think it was lunched in HK at Apr 2007.

Actually , there are many problems to install AMD64 bit linux OS for a new model notebook.

This notebook took me one week to install the AMD64 bit Linux on it.

I am going to post my feeling and problem facing in the Blog. Hope to share with the Debian lovers.

Problem 1 : Choose of Debian Linux version

I love to use Debian , However the Ubuntu did a good job on Linux Desktop. Therefore , I start it with

Ubuntu 7.01 AMD64 version.

The first blood, Ubuntu  7.01 AMD64 live CD boot fails  and drop me into  console mode with  Kernel microcode  error message.

Oh, no, this is very bad, Ubuntu was broken my heart . Does Ubuntu 7.01 AMD64 version not work with the new AMD

AMD Turion(tm) 64 MK-38 CPU ?

... to be continued

I have installed Adobe reader 7.0 in Debian Sarge, however the default installation (of the English version) did not include any Chinese font packs.

Therefore, you will not be able to read Chinese pdf file in Debian Sarge with Adobe reader 7.0. This is not good for Hong Kong users like me.

Another way is to install xpdf with chinese package, but xpdf is slow and not good enough when compare with Adobe reader 7.0.

I assume you already know the way to install Adobe Reader 7.0 in Debian Sarge. If not, please search on LinuxHall or Debian HK web site.

Below is the way to install Chinese font packs only for Adobe Reader 7.0 in Debian Sarge:

1. Download the Asian font packs from
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/acrrasianfontpack.html

2. Follow the the Adobe site instruction to download the Chinese Simplied and Traditional font pack. You have to select the Linux X86 Platform in the OS platform.

3. Double-click the newly downloaded .tar file.

FontPack705_cht_i386-linux.tar.gz
FontPack705_chs_i386-linux.tar.gz

4. Uncompress or gunzip the file.

5. Change to the uncompressed directory.

CHSKIT

6. Run the INSTALL script as root :

sh INSTALL

Follow the instruction, when asking the location of your installed Adobe Reader,

type in the following location :

/usr/lib/Adobe/Acrobat7.0

The Screen was captured as follow :
----------------------------------------------------
/CHSKIT# sh INSTALL

Welcome to the Asian Language Kit installation.

This installation will not work if you do not have the
Unix Adobe Reader version 7.0 installed prior to this installation.
If you do not have Adobe Reader version 7.0 already installed on your
system please do so before installing this Asian Language Kit.

Continue installation? [y] y

The font software contained in this package is being licensed to you solely
for use with the Adobe Reader product ("Adobe Reader") subject to
the terms and conditions of the Electronic End User License Agreement
accompanying the Adobe Reader.

Please type "accept" to accept the terms and conditions of license agreement; Type "decline" to exit. accept

Enter the location where you installed the Adobe Reader [/usr/local/Adobe/Acrobat7.0] /usr/lib/Adobe/Acrobat7.0

Installing Common binaries ... Done

Installing Common resources ... Done

Installing Simplified Chinese language resources ... Done

Installation completed.

5. Change to the uncompressed directory

CHTKIT

6. Run the INSTALL script as root :

sh INSTALL

Follow the instruction, when asking the location of your installed Adobe Reader,

type in the following location :

/usr/lib/Adobe/Acrobat7.0

The Screen was captured as follow :
----------------------------------------------------
/CHTKIT# sh INSTALL

Welcome to the Asian Language Kit installation.

This installation will not work if you do not have the
Unix Adobe Reader version 7.0 installed prior to this installation.
If you do not have Adobe Reader version 7.0 already installed on your
system please do so before installing this Asian Language Kit.

Continue installation? [y] y

The font software contained in this package is being licensed to you solely
for use with the Adobe Reader product ("Adobe Reader") subject to
the terms and conditions of the Electronic End User License Agreement
accompanying the Adobe Reader.

Please type "accept" to accept the terms and conditions of license agreement; Type "decline" to exit. accept

Enter the location where you installed the Adobe Reader [/usr/local/Adobe/Acrobat7.0] /usr/lib/Adobe/Acrobat7.0

Installing Common binaries ... Done

Installing Common resources ... Done

Installing Traditional Chinese language resources ... Done

Installation completed.

----------------------------------------------------------------

I hope this How To may help the Hong Kong Debian User .

Regards,
A Debian lover.
Kim Man Lau

Debian-Administration.org

This is a simple weblog which is designed to contain interesting and useful information related to the System Administration of Debian GNU/Linux systems.

Whilst there are several sites where users can post questions and have answers contributed by other users there are no other sites on the web which are specifically targetted at distributing articles of interest to Debian administrators.

It is highly recommand to all of you.

K. M. Lau

但回家後發覺部機吾識認舊電池, 話個電池充不滿, 然後自動關機.

知道吾對路, 回去更換並即時測試, 結果換到第4 個才識認.

檔主說是電池上的 smart IC 有問題.

所以, 到 298 WaiChai 2/F 買兼容電池 要小心及要即試.

K. M. Lau

I just brought a HP iPAQ 2210 ( Intel Xscale). Want to run on debian embeded Linux. But the information on Handhelds.org is for old iPAQ ( ARM ) models.

Any one know any web link to find the iPAQ 2210 ( Intel Xscale) Linux port information ?

I remember that there are some HK embeded Linux user group , where are their website ?

來醫 (feed): Is it prossible to open a new forum for this ?

K. M. Lau