Hello,
We are preparing the Linux Genealogy Live CD. The purpose
of this CD is to give people a chance to see the state of
genealogy software on Linux. Granted, this will not include
things like self-maintained SQL databases, only user-space
programs designed for Aunt Martha. The Live CD allows people
without installed Linux to see what is available on Linux.
We all have friends and relatives who can benefit from this,
I believe.
The CD is based on Ubuntu (preview of Breezy Badger release,
expected this October) and features easy installation where
things Just Work (tm).
Now, so far we have included GRAMPS, GeneWeb, and LifeLines
on this CD. Java apps cannot be installed because Ubuntu does
not provide any JRE, due to legal licensing reasons. This
excludes GenJ and other java applications. PhpGedView is still
not available in deb due to licensing reasons. Even though we
could install it from source, we don't want to enter into
distributing legally uncertain package.
Is there any other applications that could/should be installed
on this CD to give a fair preview of genealogical software for
Linux? Preference will be given to user-space tools, as opposed
to things where new kernel modules have to be compiled or new
device drivers installed :-) After all, the Live CD is for the
Linux newbies.
Another question to this extent is about the distribution
of this CD when it is ready. The CD image is around 700MB.
We cannot afford offering it for download from gramps-project
web site, because it will quickly eat up our monthly badnwidth.
Hence we are looking into other ways to distribute it.
There are a couple of parties (myself included) that may try
selling physical CDs. If there are people on this list
interested in selling such CDs to the public, please let
us know so that we can coordinate. If there are people or
projects willing to provide downloads (free or for a fee)
for the 700MB beast and have the ability to do so, please
let us know as well. As the whole thing is Free Software,
nobody prevents any person from selling or giving away
(or both :-) this contents.
Finally, we're looking forward to any feedback on this CD.
If anybody is interested in looking at it and voicing an
opinion (the more detailed, the better), we would be very
grateful and happy to try arranging it. The best thing would
be to have an FTP server that I could upload the iso to.
If this does not work then we can think something up, on a
case by case basis.
If somebody wants to do a similar thing, this is the site
with pretty good instructions:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveCDCustomizationHowToWe're striving to make this Live CD as good and useful as
possible. Please feel free to help us if you feel like it.
Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks,
Alex
--
Alexander Roitman
http://www.gramps-project.org