The iPhone is Australia’s most popular smartphone, and it’s very much in evidence at Linux.conf.au 2012 in Ballarat. But in the opening keynote for the conference, leading open source advocate Bruce Perens argued that the continued success of the iPhone threatens not just the potential success of open source, but the future of democracy
I’m no stranger to the annual open source shenanigans of Linux.conf.au. Indeed, the 2012 event in Ballarat marks the seventh time I’ve attended this conference, but it feels strange this year for two particular reasons. It’s the first time I’ve ever chosen to use the on-campus accommodation and I’m actually doing a presentation this year, which means that I’m both reverting to a student lifestyle and panicking like crazy.
The original closing date for paper submissions for Linux.conf.au 2012 was last Friday, and no doubt many people (including the editor of this very site) rushed to meet the deadline. However, there’s now been an extension until August 7, so if you’ve got a brilliant vision for an open source-themed presentation and fancy a trip to Ballarat in January next year, you’ve got another week to get your submission in for judging. (Lifehacker will be attending whether I’m presenting or not.) [Linux.conf.au]
“Father of the Internet” Vint Cerf reckonsreckons that cloud computing is great, but that it needs standards for systems to communicate. Sendmail pioneer Eric Allman argues that too many people fail to realise that cloud computing involves a return to computing approaches from decades ago.
A belated closing note to our Linux week coverage: Linux.conf.au 2012 will be held in Ballarat, marking the first regional city to host the event. We had a great time in Brisbane (and still have a few more posts to write covering the last day of the conference), and trust that Ballarat will be just as useful and informative. [LCA Under The Stars Ballarat 2012]
Our forthcoming Techlines panel discussion is going to examine a wide range of issues surrounding the pros and cons of cloud computing. One topic that’s sure to get an airing is the question of how different cloud environments can communicate with each other, which has also been on a hot topic at Linux.conf.au this week.
The point in a job interview where the tables are turned and you are asked if you have any questions can sometimes be challenging. If the person interviewing you is also likely to be your boss if you get the job, one good thing to ask is how they keep track of the projects they’re responsible for managing.
When you’re trying to kick off a passion project that involves software in some way, it can often seem like getting the actual code up and running is the most important step. However, if you don’t also put the effort into making sure your efforts get documented, you greatly reduce the odds of anyone else getting enthused about your project.
Extensions are one of the key reasons we love Firefox. However, one extension developer found the security model for Firefox extensions so disturbing that she’s stopped using them altogether.
I’m not making any great productivity claims here, OK? But this video — of Tux being flown over Adelaide by Project Horus, a high-altitude balloon project that uses open source technology — was just too cool not to share during Linux Week 2011. And it is a public holiday, after all.
