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OS Distributions

Jeff Cosper's picture
Course organiser: Jeff Cosper
About the Course Organiser: 

Since graduating college in 2009, I've been working as an accountant.  I've always had a big interest in the development of technology and how it can be utilized in making our lives more efficient, effective and enjoyable.  Though I received my degree in a completely unrelated field, I have enjoyed experimenting with open-source platforms and applications over the years.

My curiosity about the development and customization of operating systems is my reason for running this course and I hope to work with other participants in understanding the systems that we use every day and how we can make them more relevant to our lives.

No of Seats: 
44
Course Status: 
Completed

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What is an open-source operating system? Does an open platform facilitate high level customization and how can you utilize it?

Summary

This course dives into the basic skills required to install and modify an open-source operating system to your liking. You will learn what goes into creating an operating system, what open-source distributions are available and how they differ from Windows/Mac, how to modify an existing distribution and you will explore some of the economic models and legal aspects of open licensing.

The focus of the course will be on exploring how individuals and groups can utilize open-source software to create a more enjoyable and individualized experience with technology.

We will be using material from the Free Technology Academy and a few other sources.

Learning objectives

  • Understand how open-source operating systems and licensing works
  • Understand the legal aspects of open-licensing
  • Identify systems available for use and modification

Schedule/Syllabus

Comments

I see this is drafted...I'd

Brandy Clark's picture
Brandy Clark
Sat, 2011-01-08 15:55

I see this is drafted...I'd love for it to become a course...I have the Sign-up Task done...

Testing CSS, etc. This is a

James Cummings's picture
James Cummings
Tue, 2011-01-25 23:02

Testing CSS, etc. This is a reply to the first comment on this course.

I just signed up for this

andy gomer's picture
andy gomer
Mon, 2011-01-10 06:21

I just signed up for this course. I am very excited.

I signed up as well...can't

Brandy Clark's picture
Brandy Clark
Wed, 2011-01-12 06:38

I signed up as well...can't wait for the class to start!!

You know if your interested

andy gomer's picture
andy gomer
Wed, 2011-01-12 18:52

You know if your interested in stuff like this you might be interested in Linux From Scratch. Linux From Scratch will allow you to build your own Linux System entirely from the source code. I have included a link that explains more about what Linux From Scratch is:

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/

That is a course in and of

James Cummings's picture
James Cummings
Thu, 2011-01-20 09:00

@Andy Gomer : That is a course in and of itself. One which I am in the process of attempting. Their book !=textBook clarity, which is saying something... Wanna put something together?

Very cool Andy!!

Brandy Clark's picture
Brandy Clark
Wed, 2011-01-12 21:47

Very cool Andy!!

I am now excited for the

Roy Jieviv Saguran's picture
Roy Jieviv Saguran
Thu, 2011-01-13 11:29

I am now excited for the start of this session.

Lets open the source !!:)

Zohaib Amin's picture
Zohaib Amin
Thu, 2011-01-13 13:14

Lets open the source !!:)

When will we know if we will

andy gomer's picture
andy gomer
Wed, 2011-01-19 02:58

When will we know if we will be accepted into this class?

hopefully soon...course seems

Brandy Clark's picture
Brandy Clark
Wed, 2011-01-19 18:32

hopefully soon...course seems really interesting!!

Has anyone found out whether

James Cummings's picture
James Cummings
Tue, 2011-01-25 12:22

Has anyone found out whether they are approved yet? It starts this week... Please say this Institution is not going to cancel things due to "lack of interest". I.e. THEY expected a higher interest than all of us losers. We count for nothing, possibly... Hate it when that happens.

I haven't heard a thing,

Brandy Clark's picture
Brandy Clark
Tue, 2011-01-25 17:54

I haven't heard a thing, though I wish I would...I hate the "lack of interest" excuse as well!!

started a meetup event for

pborzel's picture
pborzel
Thu, 2011-01-20 20:41

started a meetup event for folks in Edmonton, AB Canada. date, time and place are negotiable so don't let the Feb 4th TBD scare you off, make a suggestion. http://www.meetup.com/p2pu/Edmonton-CA/57284/

Cheers!

Same here, my application is

andy gomer's picture
andy gomer
Tue, 2011-01-25 20:11

Same here, my application is still pending and class starts tomorrow so I guess we'll know either by tonight or early tomorrow.

Testing CSS, this is a reply.

James Cummings's picture
James Cummings
Tue, 2011-01-25 23:01

Testing CSS, this is a reply.

Hey all, I'd like to get into

Donald Almeida's picture
Donald Almeida
Wed, 2011-01-26 18:22

Hey all, I'd like to get into it, too, BUT I don't know the answer to #2 of the appl. task! Does anyone might give a hint? 8)

I am not going to tell you

andy gomer's picture
andy gomer
Thu, 2011-01-27 01:19

I am not going to tell you the answer. But if you want to find out check out the Free Software Foundation and look for their recommended operating systems

Buenas tardes disculpen

Luis Pinto's picture
Luis Pinto
Thu, 2011-01-27 01:14

Buenas tardes disculpen alguien sabe cuando se dará inicio este curso? según leí iniciaba hoy 26/01/2011 pero aun en mi solicitud de participación me dice que aun estoy pendiente entonces no se que sucede! si alguien sabe muchas gracias...

So, is this class going to

Jeffrey Ryan's picture
Jeffrey Ryan
Thu, 2011-01-27 02:22

So, is this class going to happen?

So I don't see "pending"

James Cummings's picture
James Cummings
Thu, 2011-01-27 03:51

So I don't see "pending" anywhere, but I don't see approved either. I think I'm in because this is now listed as a current course on my http://www.p2pu.org/general/user page. Haven't seen any materials change, or "Day 1" reading or any assignment. GMT-7 and the day is mostly over...

I think we need a conference

Roy Jieviv Saguran's picture
Roy Jieviv Saguran
Thu, 2011-01-27 05:30

I think we need a conference chat to clarify the road map of this course. We can do collaboration on some things and ideas to work things out.

I hope I am not rushing into things but these are some of my questions:

- Are we focusing on a number of Linux flavor or we will just choose one specific OS?
- Should we create a more detailed course outline?
- Are we talking about on a Linux as Server or Linux as a Desktop? The two would need different approach in regards on tracks we will take.

Just some thoughts.

@Roy I agree, there are a lot

James Cummings's picture
James Cummings
Thu, 2011-01-27 08:18

@Roy I agree, there are a lot of things we need to further define. I'm also in the works with the admins around here for further definition of the chat arena, and registration of the channels.

That's nice James, I am

Roy Jieviv Saguran's picture
Roy Jieviv Saguran
Thu, 2011-01-27 09:32

That's nice James, I am really optimistic on this course and hope to build a community of I.T. helping each other..

Hello ...

Sivasubramanian Muthusamy's picture
Sivasubramanian M...
Thu, 2011-01-27 14:39

Hello ...

hmm, after much deliberation

pborzel's picture
pborzel
Thu, 2011-01-27 19:03

hmm, after much deliberation and searching, i think we may have to play student and teacher. given the scale of the "open source operating systems", there really is a lot to cover, as i am sure you all agree. i am wondering if this course is going to have to be postponed until a more clear direction as to where it is going can be formed (by us perhaps)? i personally like the idea of exploring the different Linux flavors as well as the BSD flavors and the "other" os choices as well (freedos, beos, etc.) couple that with Roy's question about server vs. desktop, this course has the potential for a 4 yr degree appose to a 3 month course.

I am game for discussions on direction of this course, if/when you all are. I think this course could have some real movement if defined properly.

Cheers!

also, if we could find a time

pborzel's picture
pborzel
Thu, 2011-01-27 19:04

also, if we could find a time that work for every one to get in to chat about this, with this sites IRC channel for the course.

I feel that there is the

Douglas Allen's picture
Douglas Allen
Thu, 2011-01-27 19:59

I feel that there is the possibility of over thinking this. Desktop versus Server?, really? This is an introduction, servers should not be considered. Building from scratch (see earlier posts)? The synopsis of the course (in my opinion) states:
1. basic installation/configuration
2. what on o/s does
3. open source vs windows/mac
4. licensing

If this course is going to morph into something other than that, count me out.

perhaps your right, i was

pborzel's picture
pborzel
Thu, 2011-01-27 22:47

perhaps your right, i was looking at it from a philosophy aspect, server vs. desktop, build vs. recompiled, etc. But I suppose after rethinking this, it really is matter of personal taste. Perhaps a list of what each of us is looking to get out of this course, then perhaps select the common themes?

There is some really great

Jeff Cosper's picture
Jeff Cosper
Fri, 2011-01-28 00:06

There is some really great discussion going on here!

@Douglas Allen - I would tend to agree with your synopsis of the course but I might reorder the list as follows:
1. Open source licensing
2. What an o/s does
3. Open source vs. proprietary
4. Basic installation/configuration
What do you think?

@pborzel - I agree with your perspective on finding a more clear direction for the course. I also think that you're right that the desktop/server discussion is at a higher level and requires assembling code and that sort of thing. My aim is to make this course about understanding the licensing issues involved in the open source community, exposing different operating systems and how they differ, and, perhaps as a project of some kind, exploring the ways (simple ways, that is) that a user can configure and customize an operating system to their needs.

On that note, as there is a lot of constructive discussion going on here, why don't we move it to the forum where it is a little more slick and easier to follow?

And did everyone get the message that I sent out yesterday?