startubuntu team mailing list archive

[XP to Linux <contact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

    On 09/18/2013 00:13, Shorya Raj wrote:
>     Hello All
>     I am SbSpider, and I started using Ubuntu Desktop a few years ago,
>     because my laptop then did not have the specs required to run even
>     the starter edition of Windows 7 stably - and it was a beautiful
>     decision. Now, with a more powerfull laptop, I use windows 8 and
>     dual boot into Linux Mint, for the more programming and
>     collaborative based projects, while running my own Ubuntu Server
>     installation.
>
>     I hope to spread knowledge of Ubuntu by joining this team, as I
>     found it a great shift from my then not so stable system - and
>     hence help others.
>
>     Extra bits of information:
>     To help, as I can not help by word of mouth, I am going to be
>     helping design a website for this project. I have already begun,
>     and am making my website in ASP.NET <http://ASP.NET> (C# code
>     behind). Therefore, if you know the C# language, HTML, Javascript,
>     or any other script, then please contact me. You can also grab the
>     code off of launchpad by using " bzr pull lp:startubuntu ". If you
>     can do graphic design, then please add the photos to the website
>     as well, or contact me, as I can then add the graphics to the
>     website. Also, if you can host the website (aka run your own
>     server, preferably a Windows Server due to the C# code behind, but
>     a Ubuntu Server running mono may work as well), then that would be
>     helpful - my own machine is out for a while, and also, having
>     multiple machines would allow for load balancing.
>
>
>     Thanks
>     Spider

    On Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 2:12 PM, XP to Linux <contact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    <mailto:contact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:

    Hello SbSpider!

    I don't mean to be rude in my first email, but I like to express
    myself frankly! I don't think building a website with closed source,
    proprietary Microsoft technologies (ASP.NET <http://ASP.NET>) and
    programing language (C#) is a wise step if you want to promote the
    usage of free software. I even think it is totally counterproductive
    and illogical.

    It's ok if you want to go on using proprietary spyware/software side
    by side with free software for your personal and private use, but
    starting a project called "Start Ubuntu" with a website running on
    Microsoft technology is not a step in the right direction I'm afraid

    :-)

    What do you think?

    What specific features of the website you're planning to create
    could not be implemented with free, open source, software?

    Can't you see the ethical and logical problem of telling people
    "(stop using Microsoft Windows products and) Start Ubuntu!" on a
    website based entirely on Microsoft software?

    jérôme
    www.cryptoparty.fr <http://www.cryptoparty.fr>
    www.xptolinux.com <http://www.xptolinux.com>
    www.helios.im <http://www.helios.im>

    On 09/18/2013 04:20, Shorya Raj wrote:

    Hello Jerome
    I see what you mean. It is simply because I still have yet to learn
    most of the other languages. I started of with C#, because the
    teacher who taught me programming liked it. So, I have grown a base
    in C# and ASP.NET <http://ASP.NET>, and can program very powerful
    websites wth that . However, I have begun learning python and Java,
    and so could make a website in that if needed, although it would
    take proportionally longer until I learn the language (not a problem
    though).


    Thanks
    Spider

Thank you for your positive answer! :-)

The Python Software Foundation License (PSFL) is a BSD-style, permissive
free software license which is compatible with the GNU General Public
License (GPL). Java has a GPL license. I guess your decision to learn
those two free software programin languages is a very good one!

The fact that your school or university decided to teach a closed source
proprietary language is very worrying. That's part of the whole problem:
Microsoft gives out cheap licenses to and puts a lot of pressure on
universities and schools around the world so that the students are
taught on Windows computers, or with Microsoft programing language.
Students get used to those operating systems and become faithful clients
of Microsoft.

In France, my university is forwarding commercials about Apple products
in its emails. It's supposedly about winning this iThink or that iBad,
but it's in fact commercial and marketing propaganda sent to thousands
of students, the cheapest kind of publicity! Apple gives out a few
devices and get a huge publicity in exchange. I think it is
inacceptable, and I guess there is probably a degree of corruption involved.

See French parliament says free software is a priority in education
<https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/community/osor/news/french-parliament-says-free-software-priority-education>
an initiative that many lobbies are working hard to make it fail.

I wish you good luck in your study of those free languages!

What do you think could be done to change the mind of your teacher (and
school) about the use of free software? Where are you from? Are you
still studying in this school?

jérôme