UP DESKTOP GNU/LINUX DISTRIBUTION PROJECT

I. Proponents

Project Leader: Ariel S. Betan (ariel.betan@up.edu.ph)
Lead Project Developer: Eric Manuel N. Pareja (xenos@upm.edu.ph)

II. Project Summary

GNU/Linux is an Open Source / Free Software operating system written from scratch by Linus Torvalds of Finland in 1991 and improved upon by a host of other individuals from all over the world.

The UP Desktop Linux Distribution Project aims at producing a single CD installer of GNU / Linux that is customized for use by UP faculty, students and personnel. The UP Desktop Linux Distribution Project consolidates and distributes products developed for UP consumption.

The aim of the project is to minimize the hurdles to migration from proprietary operating system environments to open source and free software operating system environments. A shift to GNU/Linux will be much easier if a single CD installer containing the most commonly used software and configurations is built for that purpose.

III. Description of the UP Desktop GNU/Linux Distribution

The UP Desktop GNU/Linux Distribution (Codename: IskoLinux) is based on BeatrIX, which is based on Knoppix and Ubuntu, which in turn are based on Debian GNU/Linux. The Debian distribution was used as the base for the distribution since Debian is the true GNU/Linux that contains only free and open source software unlike other distribution base which contains additional proprietary, closed source and / or limited use license applications. The project merged some ideas from SkoleLinux to produce a package that UP end-users can use.

The IskoLinux is both a ``live CD'' and installer rolled into one. Users can opt to run IskoLinux from the CD or install it directly to the hard drive. It automatically detects the hardware specifications of the computer targeted for installation and then installs the necessary drivers.

The IskoLinux system is a basic system that makes adding new
packages for deployment easier. Most of what a student/employee/faculty
needs to do work at the University is already included. Other Open Source related projects are also envisioned to be integrated to IskoLinux.


Currently at Beta version, IskoLinux includes:
·         Linux kernel 2.6.7
·         Gnome 2.8 Desktop pending the addition of Dugong UP Gnome Themes which is being developed by a separate project proponent
·         OpenOffice.org 1.1.2 - High Quality Office Productivity Suite
-        includes UP OpenOffice.org Templates pending incorporation of UP OpenOffice.org
·         Eye of Gnome - Graphics Viewer Program
·         Evolution - Groupware suite/Email program an open source alternative to MS Outlook
·         GQView - Another Graphics Viewer very much similar to ACDSee
·         GIMP 2 - Graphical Image Manipulation Program - an open source alternative to Adobe Photoshop
·         InkScape - Vector Based Drawing Tool (SVG) - an open source alternative to Corel Draw
·         GAIM - Multi-protocol Instant Messaging client (AOL IM, YahooIM, Jabber, ICQ, MSN Messenger)
·         Nautilus file manager/browser - like MS Windows Explorer with more features
·         File Roller - Archive Manager (like WinZip)
·         GPDF - PDF Viewer
·         CUPS - Common UNIX Printing System for easy printing
·         Metacity A lightweight Window manager
·         Mozilla Firefox - Web browser with AdBlock enabled better than Internet Explorer
·         NVU - WebSite Publisher similar to Microsoft FrontPage
·         Scribus - Desktop Publishing program similar to Aldus PageMaker
·         Bluefish (HTML editor)
·         Synaptic - Graphical program installer for Debian
·         XChat 2.08 - IRC client - like mIRC
·         Gedit 2.8.1 A text editor
·         Beep Media Player An alternative to Windows Media Player
·         Various screensavers

Current features in the works are:
·         Localization
-        Installer in Filipino
-        Main Desktop environment in Filipino
-        Applications with Filipino interfaces
-        Installation Manual in Filipino
-        User Manual in Filipino
·         Customized Icons
·         Desktop wallpapers of UP scenery
The current CD image size is 224 Megabytes. The installed system
footprint is about 703 Megabytes.

IV. Availability and Continuous Development of IskoLinux

IskoLinux Beta is currently available for download through BitTorrent at:
http://www.upm.edu.ph/~xenos/iskolinux.iso.torrent

It will also be made available at the download site of:
http://os.up.edu.ph

An IskoLinux website will soon be available that will feature among others:
·         Forum for volunteer developers and users of the distribution
·         Concurrent Versioning System site for developers
·         Repository of the distribution image, packages and future updates and additional open source application
·         Installation and User Manuals and FAQs

The Developers are committed to continue maintaining and upgrading IskoLinux through user and volunteer developers feedback and contribution.