Lococast on Location: PyCon 2011 Day 1
Lococast on Location: PyCon 2011 Day 1
I'm down in Atl, GA for PyCon 2011. This is my report from Day 1 of events. Take a listen to see what's going on and we'll try to get some better notes up in the future. Big props to Craig for helping me get the audio out the next day.
Keep an eye out for reviews of day 2 & 3.
If you're down at PyCon, stop by during our open space time at 10am on Sunday where I'll be getting together with the guys of From Python Import Podcast and we'll be looking for some mini-interviews. Let the world know what they're missing by not attending PyCon.
Lococast Episode 14: Sitting at the same table
Lococast.net Episode 14 - Sitting at the same table
- Intro
- Events
- Freedombox and Humans are the router
- The Banshee saga goes on and on
- Books
- Craig: Pro Python
- Music
- me one more time by REVENGE from FEST OF REVENGE
- Robbotica System by Cibernetica from The Ultimate Bio Commando
- Fallout by Severed Fifth from Nightmares By Design
- Putrid Pigs by BRUTAL MURDER from Intracranial Total Insanity
- By yourself by Redmind from Step back from the edge
- Discipline by Nine Inch Nails from The Slip
Rick’s Rant Ep 6: Something for the builders out there
Rick's Rants Episode #6: Something for the builders
With all this focus on making desktop linux something for the mass market, is there a chance that we end up removing the great things that drew us to the platform as users/developers? Is it possible to have a product that wins with the mass market as well as the people that there building and developing things? Listen/watch the rant and let me know what you think. Do we need something different for Ubuntu users? What would an "Ubuntu Developer Edition" look like in your mind?
Lococast.net Episode 13 – WARNING: News overload…generating core dump
Lococast.net Episode 13 - WARNING: News overload...generating core dump
- Intro
- Events
- Ubuntu Happenings
- Ubuntu 11.04 Drops Release Candidate / News / Online / Home - Ubuntu User
- No GPLv3 Software on Windows Phone 7 / XBox app store?
- Banshee by default brings headaches for Canonical
- Nokia/MS Partnership
- http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/10/nokia-confirms-microsoft-partnership-new-leadership-team
- http://bethesignal.org/blog/2011/02/11/elopocalypse-nokia-chooses-microsoft/
- http://www.asymco.com/2011/02/11/in-memoriam-microsofts-previous-strategic-mobile-partners/
- Meego - "desktop QT is not our R&D priority right now http://labs.qt.nokia.com/2011/02/18/buckets-of-cold-water/ (KDE in danger?)
- Freedombox
- UberTwitter
- Books
- Music:
Rick’s Rant Ep 5: If you love it, put a ring on it
Rick's Rants Episode #5: If you love it, put a ring on it
I keep seeing people that don't get that you can mix money and FLOSS. In fact, if you appreciate the work that these great people creating amazing tools and programs at all, $$ will of course get involved. Time to rant on these people that don't get it and a personal challenge from me to you. Put $5 up for grabs every month, come on, I double dog dare ya!
Lococast.net Episode 12 – Cloudy with a chance of feedback
Lococast.net Episode 12 - cloudy with a chance of feedback- Intro
- Events
- One month to PyCon! Sign up for sprints
- Linux Workshop NY State Loco - Feb 19th
- Ubucon pre - SCaLE 9x Cali Loco - Feb 25th Southern Cali Linux Expo
- Feb 17th, 10.04.2 due out
- Heads up, feature freeze coming Feb 24th
- Ubuntu Happenings
- Canonical Joins Openstack (6mo release cycle)
- Dell/Ubuntu cloud offering
- Diaspora/Facebook and the openness of social networking
Rick’s Rant Ep 4: Curse of the part time developer
Rick's Rants Episode #4: Curse of the part time developer
You know the guy, the one that's never able to head over to the local LUG meeting. Never shows interest in that cool new example of that awesome bit of code you saw at the last meetup. You've found the "Part time developer" in the group. It's time to call them out. Rant on!
Episode 11: ’cause you can’t build Ubuntu without some Python
Lococast.net Episode 11 - 'cause you can't build Ubuntu without some Python- Intro
- Events
- Codemash report
- Get ready for Pycon
- Loco events
- Interview: Barry Warsaw
- Ubuntu Happenings
- Natty - alpha 2 coming next week! Feb. 3rd
- Shuttleworth - QT apps in ubuntu
- Pre-release of multitouch Ubuntu 11.04
- Software Center reviews!
- Books
- Music
Lococast Interview: Jim Barber
Lococast Interview with Jim Barber
Recently we received a note from a listener, Jim Barber. He sent us one of the most interesting stories of his usage of Ubuntu. Rather than read the note on the air, we decided to do an interview with Jim. Unfortunately, Rick was "on assignment", so Craig and Jim sat and talked. Hear about Jim's computer experiences from the past, and how he uses Ubuntu in one of the most unique settings we've come across. (Let's just say I won't be bitching about bandwidth anymore at the coffee shop).
If you've got an interesting story about Ubuntu that you'd like to share, or have any questions or comments about the show, send them our way at lococast.net.
Show Music:
Episode 10: Break time over, back to work!
Lococast.net Episode 10 - Break time over, back to work!
- Intro
- Events
- Codemash (and come check out Rick's Talk Friday)
- Pycon
- Penguicon
- PyOhio
- Ubuntu Happenings
- Books
- Craig
- Rick
- Show Music
Episode 9: Scriptlessly chatting natty
Lococast.net Episode 9 - Scriptlessly chatting natty
- Events
- Thanksgiving and Christmas. Come back after the New Year.
- Codemash 2011 Jan
- Pycon 2011 March
- 100 paper cuts
- novell bought...do we care?
- Loco teams for natty cycle
- Books:
- Craig
- Learning Javascript by Shelley Powers
- Miles Errant http://www.webscription.net/p-278-miles-errant.aspx
- Rick
- Pulling Strings with Puppet:
- JavaScript Patterns
- Craig
- Music
Episode 8: Sleepytime Show
Lococast.net Episode 8 - Sleepytime Show
- Intro - We're Back!
- Amber: http://akgraner.com/?p=763
- Events:
- Codemash Jan 12-14th Sandusky OH
- You've got some events to pub let us know feedback@lococast.net
- UDS
- Unity
- Current state, what is it? We all probably know by now
- Default...parts that are missing
- Overall goals, touch, etc
- Conflict with Gnome, still a 'gnome-toolkit' desktop?
- Other UDS highlights
- New ad they had? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYTJPaM82nQ
- Tons of youtube video
- Banshee - amazon mp3 vs U1 music store?
- http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DevWorkstation
- Developer push with things like software center, paid apps, donation for apps, trying to get more apps into center
- Unity
- Jim Barber
- Got some feedback in from a guy sailing his boat Esmeralda and uses the podcast to help pass the time from port to port. Running Ubuntu and learning python after doing some pascal stuff back in the day.
- Want to see about an interview, back from his last voyage this Dec. Try to get a skype interview going
- Books
- Nook Color - the non (E-) e-reader
Music:
- Kudai - Kudai 2.0
- Binarpilot - KDR Assault
- Reno Project - Hot Street
- Countdown - El Diablo
- REVENGE - eat me one more time
Loco Screencast Vim 4: Visual Mode
Vim provides some great tools for performing text operations on highlighted or selected blocks of text. Check out this video for a demonstration on how to use visual mode along with the column visual mode to really speed up how you do things in Vim.
Links and plugins
- http://vim.sourceforge.net/scripts/script.php?script_id=1195
- http://vim.sourceforge.net/scripts/script.php?script_id=670
- http://www.derekwyatt.org/vim/vim-tutorial-videos/vim-advanced-tutorial-videos/#globals-commands-functions
Let us know what you think by providing feedback in the video source or
emailing us at feedback@lococast.net
Episode 7: Here comes the Meerkat
Lococast.net Episode 7 - Here comes the Meerkat
- Intro
- Maverick Meerkat
- Ubuntu One Streaming Music Service
- Get your parties on: Maverick Release Parties
- Announcing new Loco Day Event
- Books
- Music
Rick’s Rants Episode 3: We’re Here Because it Rocks
Rick's Rants Episode #3: We're Here Because it Rocks
A recent post from Roberto about "Why we are here" got me thinking...do people use OSS because it's free, or do they really just use the best tool for the job. How many people feel the need to preach/convert other users out there? I've paid for commercial software I thought was better, even software for Linux. I don't take the freedom angle too deeply, but I do appreciate any software tool that can make my life easier/better, and hey, if it's open/free then all the better. I'm using the stuff I do because I firmly believe it's the best stuff out there.
Let us know, why are you here? Did you come for the free and stick around for the freedom? Or is it just giving what you're handed, what you can get for no cost?
Episode 6: Ohio Linuxfest Recap/Interviews
Lococast.net Episode 6 - Ohio Linuxfest Recap/Interviews
- Intro
- Feedback: feedback@lococast.net
- Ohio Linuxfest recap
- Closed Source Web Apps vs Freedom and Open Web Apps
- Stormy's Talk
- Mako's Article
-
Interviews
- Paul Taglamente & Jacob Peddicord from Ubuntu Ohio Loco
- Carl Richell - President System 76
- Books
- Extro
- Music:
Loco Screencast Vim 3: Powerful Buffer
We go over what a buffer is in Vim, how it differs from a window, and how we
can use windows with buffers to work on our files much faster than we can with
tabs.
Commands we talk about
- :buffers
- :buffer 2
- :buffer 3
- :b 2
- :buffers
- :sb 4
- :bnext :bn
- :bprevious :bp
- :ball
Links and plugins
Let us know what you think by providing feedback in the video source or
emailing us at feedback@lococast.net
Also available on YouTube
Lococast Interview – Amber Graner
With Amber visiting us for the last episode she was beyond awesome and filled out the questions I warned her to be ready for with full replies. So if you're into visual over audio, here's a more fleshed out version of our discussion with Amber.
Oh, while we have it, here's her book information from the podcast
Social Media
Question: Who are you, and what do you do?
Amber Graner: I'm an active Ubuntu community member and organizer who encourages everyone around her to participate, support, and learn about Ubuntu and Open Source. With a smile and a sense of humor, Amber reminds people that there is a place for everyone in the Ubuntu community – regardless of technical skill level (or lack thereof). She is constantly looking for people, places, and events within the Ubuntu community that help inspire Ubuntu users to participate actively within the Ubuntu community.
Question: How did you get into Ubuntu?
Amber Graner: Funny how this happened. My husband gave me an intrepid CD and a t-shirt that said “Linux for Human Beings” and I laughed and said yeah right. Here is my very 1st Blog post about how I got involved. http://akgraner.com/?p=70
Question: What are you up to in the Ubuntu world now?
Amber Graner: Currently I am the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter Editor in Chief and current leader of the Ubuntu News Team as well as the North Carolina LoCo Team. I also help organize various UbuCons and help organize the various Ubuntu Weeks (Open Week, App Week, App Dev Week). I also freelance for Ubuntu User Magazine by doing the interviews each week, and I have a blog on Ubuntu User Online - You in Ubuntu. http://www.ubuntu-user.com/Online/Blogs/Amber-Graner-You-in-Ubuntu
Question: How's your LoCo, how are you guys/gals active and types of recent activities?
Amber Graner: We have some great NC LoCo Team members in the Winston-Salem area who have started and kept up an Ubuntu Hour https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Hour at one of their local coffee shops. I drove there and joined in the fun for once for one of the “hours” but it's 2.5 hour drive for me to get there so it's not always possible but I think it's awesome they are doing this. Still other talented team members in the Western North Carolina in the Asheville area have helped get the WNGLUG going again. I try to go as often as I can but it's about an hour from me as well. Even more motivated team members in the Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) are great about hosting release parties, and participating in TriLUG activities. That's a little over 4 hours away from me so I haven't been there in about a year. We have people (not including me who) participate many areas of the Ubuntu Community - Ubuntu News Team, Ubuntu User Days, Ubuntu Studio, as well as helping with various LinuxFests. While we aren't as active as other LoCo Teams we are getting there and I think the team rocks!
Question: What have you found are the positives since the Locos forming (why you like your LoCo)
Amber Graner: The NC LoCo Team was formed in 2007 so I wasn't involved in it then. I only got involved in 2009. However, in the time that I have been involved I have seen more people getting involved across the state and our LoCo was approved earlier this year. I personally haven't meet the mailing list only or forums only folks on the team that I know of but I have meet many of the team members who frequent the NC LoCo team IRC channel (#ubuntu-us-nc) and I have to say I think we have an awesome team there (but I am a little bias). It's a great group and I can't wait to see what the next release cycle brings.
Question: How do you deal with people across large state? What are some of the LoCo challenges?
Amber Graner: I think for me it's just trying to connect personally with people across the state. To put a voice and or face with an IRC nick or email address. It's also making sure people anywhere in the state know they are empowered to do their own thing and making sure team members know where to find resources to support their efforts. WIkis are flat and often don't answer all of someones questions. Having a person they can call, email, or ping in IRC to ask for clarification, direction, or just a sanity check goes a long way.
I think one of the biggest challenges we face at the moment is explaining why Canonical does't just write a blank check to the LoCo and supply endless amounts of CDs. Explaining that we are marketing, supporting and advocating on behalf of Ubuntu not Canonical is tricky sometimes. Often I hear “Why doesn't Canonical (insert whatever thing someone thinks Canonical should be doing)?” Like who is going to pay postage to ship Cd's to LoCo members once they reach the contact, or I want to give out 500 CDs at the mall why won't they just give them to us? Why don't they give us money for X event we are marketing them. So that is one Challenge.
The other is making sure people understand a meritocracy and while some bureaucracy is needed if it gets too heavy or cumbersome it limits participation and often becomes exclusive rather than inclusive so finding that balance is important. It's not a balance you find once then forget about it, it's often adjusted daily.
Question: What are some of Tips or Tricks for LoCos?
Amber Graner: Remember to always have fun! Working on something especially when everyone is volunteering their time, talent and treasures - should be fun for those in all areas of participation. There should be something people get from their efforts. Some “motivational paycheck” that is gained. It could be in the form of learning something new other times it can be a heartfelt thank you from someone they admire. It could be the opportunity to go somewhere or do something they have always wanted to do like speak at an event or represent the LoCo team at an event. Try to match people up with something they would like to do or something that they have the skills to do or pair them with a mentor who is willing to teach them something they want to learn. Remember every user is someones guru - regardless of skill level everyone can teach someone something.
How do you do that? Learn who your members get to know them. This is what things like Ubuntu Hours, release parties, or just conversation in email, IRC or phone call can do. Be Social! Let them know why you are asking them though not that you are just being noisy and creepy but that you are trying to help them (if they want it) to find an area of the LoCo Team and greater Ubuntu Community they might enjoy. Some questions that help with this could be - What do they currently do for work? What do they do for their hobbies? What is it about Ubuntu that they like? What is an area they would like to know more about. What's an area they would like to see improve? Are they new to FOSS and Ubuntu or just Ubuntu? etc. However, make sure members and those interested in volunteering know that just lurking on a mailing list or in an IRC channel is cool as well and that just being an Ubuntu end user is perfectly fine and that every user doesn't need to become a super contributor or developer for the Ubuntu Project.
Question: Are their future plans or advice for other LoCos looking to be more active?
- Ubuntu Global Jam is around the corner and there is still time to plan
to get together and discuss Ubuntu. Or plan a virtual meeting in your IRC
Channel if your team can't physically get together. - Ohio LinuxFest (http://ohiolinux.org/) if you are in or near Columbus Ohio on September 10-12, 2010 then stop by the UbuCon on Friday, September 10, 2010 and Ubuntu Booth on Saturday, September 12, 2010. The more the merrier!
- Ubuntu App Dev Week (Formally Ubuntu Opportunistic Developer Week) is
coming up as well September 20-24th - Got an itch you want to scratch then
this is the week to learn how to write that application you’ve always
wanted. -
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuAppDeveloperWeek?action=show&redirect=UbuntuOpportunisticDeveloperWeek - Ubuntu 10.10.10 Maverick Meerkat - Release Parties - time to plan now
- Ubuntu Open Week will be the week of October 11, 2010.
- Ubuntu Developer Summit is scheduled for the last week of October 2010,
even if you can't attend in person but want to see or hear what is going to
be occurring in the -N cycle so you can see what members of the team might
be interested in helping with there is always remote participation. -
http://uds.ubuntu.com/ - Regular and Sustained Movement: Also making sure people who come to your
team see you are doing things that there is movement. Regular meetings,
active mailing list with worthwhile and informative information, and make
sure there are several people who can and are comfortable with answering
LoCo questions and know where to find some FAQ links. This way there is a
wiki or someone people can go to to ask the question “what can I do?” and be
given something within a couple hours or a day of asking for example. The
NC team is currently working on getting this type of wiki together.
Question: What is your history with OLF, how long have you been going, observations of change over time? What you like about it, what are you looking forward to?
Amber Graner: Ohio LinuxFest 2009 was my 1st time attending this event. I helped a little at the LinuxPro Booth, got a chance to be on my very 1st podcast as well. I also got a chance to talk to more people and get to know them a little better as new friends in the FOSS and Ubuntu communities had begun to form. I can't speak to changes but I can tell you I like the atmosphere and the event. The speakers the Ohio Linux Fest people pick seem to be able to speak to all levels of FOSS users and developers -- from the curious, to the new and novice as well as those seasoned developers who are looking their next project. The speakers, vendors, and other participants create a very inclusive and inviting event. I really enjoy attending and would encourage anyone to go especially if they are new to FOSS.
Question: What an Ubucon, give us the low down, why should we be getting down there a day early?
Amber Graner: In a nutshell this UbuCon is a one day Ubuntu Conference. This is an opportunity to spend the day in 45 minute sessions from 10am to 5pm learning more about Ubuntu and how you can participate and contribute to the project. This also gives you the opportunity to talk to some of the Ubuntu Community without the distraction of all the other awesome events that will be happening on Saturday. You can find the UbuCon schedule here http://ohiolinux.org/ubucon
Question: Anything you want to plug while we've got you answering questions for us?
Amber Graner: Yes! Myself and a friend of mine, Jeremy Foshee, have started a new podcast "Failure to Communicate". We just want to remember to laugh. In this podcast we are Southern and Irreverent and occasionally we throw in pinches and dashes of Ubuntu here and there. However, it is not meant to be an Ubuntu podcast, but the fact is I can't have a conversation with anyone without working FOSS or Ubuntu into it. We are working on a site for it, but for now it can be found on my personal blog akgraner.com. If you want to hear Episode 1 and all the mistakes we made in it got to: http://akgraner.com/?p=704
Amber Graner: Thanks guys for inviting me to do the interview both on the cast and here in the show notes. I can't wait to share your cast with other people in the community!
Episode 5: Everyone to Ohio
Lococast.net Episode 5 - Everyone to Ohio
- Intro
- Intro Guest Co-Host Amber Graner
- Interview with Amber Graner (See written : transcipt-ish version here)
- http://akgraner.com/?p=668
- http://www.ubuntu-user.com/Online/Blogs/Amber-Graner-You-in-Ubuntu
- Background
- Loco Conversation
- Ohio Linux Intro http://ohiolinux.org
- Other Events
- Global Bug Jam - This weekend, check out http://loco.ubuntu.com/ -
see when your loco is getting together - Code Mash - accepting talks - Jan 12-14th
- Global Bug Jam - This weekend, check out http://loco.ubuntu.com/ -
- Ubuntu StackExchange Follow Up
- Books
- Extro - Thanks Amber!!
- Music
- Thornwill - Midnight Hunger
- Diablo String Orchestra - Zodiac Virtues
- Countdown - 121007
- M.A.S.A.C.R.E - Conciencia Magra
- Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I:7
- Astras - The Incredible Light
Loco Screencast Vim 2: Tweaking is good for you
Lococast.net Screencasts Vim 2: Customizing is Good
Welcome to Lococast.net, screencasts. Today we make the sales pitch to go ahead and customize your vim configuration. The potential payoffs in productivity are huge for any developer. We'll run through some sample items that can make a big difference right off the bat and explain the various ways you can expect to customize things in vim.
Make sure to open this fullscreen or into a larger format so you can see it clearly. Video is recorded in 720p.
Let us know what you think or send us an email at feedback@lococast.net.
My Vim Config: http://github.com/mitechie/pyvim