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.

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.

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.

Australia's key Linux event Linux.conf.au is taking place in Brisbane this week — it takes more than floods to stop the open source community. Lifehacker is attending the conference, and all week we'll be supplementing our regular fare with Linux tips and tutorials. Enjoy!

Its planned Brisbane riverside location at the QUT Garden Point campus meant that plans for Linux.conf.au were in a state of flux after last week's floods. However, organisers have confirmed that the event will still go ahead, with backup plans for accommodation and conference venues in place pending a final assessment on Wednesday evening. Wherever it happens, Lifehacker will be there, and is looking forward to it!

Linux.conf.au is an entirely organised and run by volunteers, and still keeps to schedule better than most paid conferences I attend. The call has gone out for Brisbane geeks to assist at the 2011 event in January. If you're keen to help further the cause of open source software, hit the link for more details.

There's not much more than a week to go before early bird registration prices close for Linux.conf.au 2011 in Brisbane (and the rates can disappear earlier if the event sells out). If you need an added incentive, "father of the Internet" Vint Cerf has been confirmed as one of the keynote speakers. LCA 2011

We've known since January that Linux.conf.au 2011 would be in Brisbane, and now registration for Australia's key Linux event has opened up. Early bird rates apply until November 8 for the conference, which takes place from January 24-29. As usual, Lifehacker will be attending, and we heartily recommend the event for Linux and open source enthusiasts.

The closing ceremony for Linux.conf.au always features an announcement of the venue for the following year. The 2010 conference in Wellington has gone off well, but Australians won't need to travel quite so far for the 2011 event, which will take place in Brisbane. No fixed dates, but early February at QUT looks likely.

Finding a meeting time that works for everyone often requires lots of back-and-forth email and schedule shuffling. But under some circumstances, picking the most inconvenient time may actually be a better option.

Open source has bought us some great products, but even if you're a programming genius, working out how to get involved in a project can be challenging. The TeachingOpenSource.org site offers a wealth of material to help you learn the basics.

The most common question about Google Wave is "what on earth would I actually use it for?". Gina offered up some ideas on this last week, but Google developers have some more suggestions.

Printers that won't use non-branded cartridges. DVD region coding. Software with arbitrary memory restrictions. PC companies that charge you not to include crapware on your system. Smart phones that restrict development. The world of technology is filled with examples of design aimed at making more money for companies rather than making life simpler for users.

It's no surprise that when Google decided to host a "miniconf" about Google Wave at linux.conf.au, company staff encouraged the use of Wave itself to take notes on the sessions. But while there's a lot to recommend Wave for this process, there's one big reason why it's not yet up to the task.