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.

We've been covering all manner of open source-related topics this week as part of Linux Week 2011, but Linux is hardly a new topic for Lifehacker. Here's the 10 most popular posts relating to Linux we've ever featured.

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.

Videoing presentations at conferences is pretty much the norm these days, but you won't get great results if you just stick a single camera on a tripod and hope for the best. Here's the equipment you'll need to do it effectively without spending a fortune, and some tips on making the process work.

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.

One of the much-discussed advantages of open source software is that it should make it easier for future generations to access data. But in his keynote address at Linux.conf.au in Brisbane, "father of the Internet" Vint Cerf noted that even open source systems weren't completely free from the challenge of data being created that might not be accessible to future software, a problem he refers to as "bit rot".

As the slide above illustrates, organisers for Linux.conf.au 2011 had to work through a pretty extensive to-do list when the Queensland floods meant that the original venue was no longer available. In just 10 days, they managed to relocate the whole conference and associated events. Their experience reinforces two crucial points: the importance of having back-up plans, and the importance of being willing to change almost anything at the last minute.

Getting Ubuntu running on your PC is pretty straightforward, and most of its features are fairly obvious if you've been used to a graphical user interface like Windows or Mac OS X. Here's a handful of tips to help you make the transition and find some useful features if you've started playing with Ubuntu.