Gentoo Weekly Newsletter 16 October 2006

Chris Gianelloni <[email protected]> Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:15:19 -0400
Newsgroups	gmane.linux.gentoo.weekly-news
Message-ID	<[email protected]>
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Gentoo Weekly Newsletter
http://www.gentoo.org/news/en/gwn/current.xml
This is the Gentoo Weekly Newsletter for the week of 16 October 2006.
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1. Gentoo news
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New Java system marked stable
-----------------------------
 =20
With great pleasure, the Gentoo/Java team[1] wishes to announce that the=20
new Java system has been marked stable on all architectures with a=20
supported Java implementation (amd64, ia64, ppc, ppc64, and x86). This=20
represents the culmination of over a year of development and is a giant=20
step forward for Java on Gentoo.=20

 1. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/java
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In case you have missed the previous announcements, here is a brief=20
summary of the new Java system:=20
=20
 * Ability to switch the current VM on the fly=20
 * Changes to the user and system VM take effect immediately and are not=20
tied to the shell environment, which means you no longer have to run=20
env-update followed by source /etc/profile when you switch the system VM=20
 * New concept of a "build VM", which is used to emerge packages, and is=20
configured independently of the system VM=20
 * For each version of Java, ie 1.4, 1.5, etc, the build VM can be=20
configured as to which vendor and version of a VM to use=20
 * The VM at emerge time will be switched on the fly according to its=20
configuration, as well as the dependency of the package. For example, som=
e=20
packages won't compile with 1.5. In these cases, a 1.4 VM will be used at=
=20
build time=20
 * Java 1.5 has now been marked stable.=20
 * Configuration of VM and browser plugin using eselect=20
 * We will be prepared for Java 1.6 when it is released this December=20
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Updated user documentation can be found at=20
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/java.xml=20
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Documentation about upgrading to the new system can be found at=20
http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/java/java-upgrade.xml=20
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KDE 3.5.5 released
------------------
 =20
The Gentoo KDE team[2] would like to announce the release and unmasking o=
f=20
KDE 3.5.5 in the tree. The biggest change for Gentoo's KDE users will be=20
the deprecation of net-im/kopete in favor of kde-base/kopete, which is no=
w=20
only released with mainline KDE.=20

 2. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/desktop/kde
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2. Heard in the community
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gentoo-user
-----------
 =20
Where is aislerot?
=20
Darren Kirby had misplaced his favorite GNOME time waster, the solitaire=20
application aislerot. He had installed the gnome-games package, but the=20
aislerot binary was absent.=20
=20
Michael Sullivan to the rescue. Sullivan pointed out that the guile USE=20
flag needed to be enabled. kirby recompiled and reported problem solved.=20
=20
 * http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.user/172009=20
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gentoo-dev
----------
 =20
GLEP: RESTRICT=3Dinteractive
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In theory, ebuilds should not require interactions from users during the=20
compilation process. In the real world, interaction may be needed as is=20
the case of a game where the CD may need to be inserted.=20
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Marius Mauch intends to submit a GLEP adding a RESTRICT=3D"interactive"=20
option to portage to indicate interaction-required ebuilds. Users would b=
e=20
warned that interaction may be needed during compilation so they would no=
t=20
include the offending package in unattended overnight compilation=20
sessions.=20
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The draft GLEP can be found at=20
http://dev.gentoo.org/~genone/docs/interactive-restrict-glep.html=20
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Commenters noted that all other restricted flags were in the form=20
"RESTRICT=3DThing_You_Don't_Want". Sentiment seemed to be running in favo=
r=20
of a "RESTRICT=3Dunattended" syntax which would parallel the other RESTRI=
CT=20
flags.=20
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 * http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.devel/43195=20
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Is it time for bash 3?
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Donnie Berkholz had received a patch to the mesa ebuild which used some o=
f=20
the new features in bash3. Instead of having dependencies at the ebuild=20
level, Berkholz thought that a minimum version of bash should be added to=
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the list of applications required by the base gentoo profile. Since bash =
3=20
had been required by baselayout for over two years, it was likely most=20
users had it and the change would be a non-issue for almost all. The=20
change would make the better bash 3 feature set available for all ebuilds=
.=20
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Marius Mauch and Vlastimil Babka noted that for users who had not made th=
e=20
change, the inclusion of bash 3 in system would not help. Mauch proposed =
a=20
number of either bruteforce or complex solutions to the issue. Further,=20
Babka noted that the Mac OS X may still use bash 2.59.=20
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Berkholz stated he was implementation agnostic and just wanted the change=
=20
made. Mike Frysinger stated that the last time he tried to use a bash 2=20
system portage fell apart entirely anyway, and that therefore the simple=20
change to the base profile was preferable.=20
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 * http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.devel/43174=20
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gentoo-embedded
---------------
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NSLU2 as a DNS server
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wireless writes in to gentoo-embedded wondering if it would be possible t=
o=20
turn a Linksys NSLU2[3] into a lightweight DNS server. He worries that=20
only having 32MB of RAM may make this goal impossible and wonders if ther=
e=20
are ways to increase its RAM capacity or if there was another embedded=20
device with more capability. However, many on gentoo-embedded, unhampered=
=20
by so called "limitations," suggested trying dnsmasq as a lightweight=20
alternative to other larger DNS solutions.=20

 3. http://www.nslu2-linux.org
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 * http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.embedded/1107=20
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gentoo-security
---------------
 =20
Securing dhcpcd (client)
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7v5w7go9ub0o writes into gentoo-security with worries about the security=20
of running dhcpcd as root on his laptop at hotspots. There was talk about=
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patching dhcpcd (similar to a patch that already exists in other=20
distributions for dhcpd) to be able to drop privileges, and about using=20
alternatives to dhcpcd that already have this functionality.=20
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 * http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.security/2911=20
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3. Gentoo in the press
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SearchOpenSource.com (11 Oct 2006)
----------------------------------
 =20
Author Patrick Green discusses 64-bit blade servers and running Linux on=20
them. He recommends buyers to ensure that they have a proper match of=20
hardware and software before undertaking such a challenge. Green goes on=20
to discuss various Linux distributions and their various caveats. He=20
explains the primary differences in support options between commercial an=
d=20
community-based distributions. His take on Gentoo?=20
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"Well, Gentoo is not for the faint of heart when it comes to installation=
=20
and configuration; but once it is set up, Gentoo's Portage and Emerge mak=
e=20
your life pretty trouble-free. Pain on the front end for an easy ride?=20
Sweet!"=20
=20
We would have to agree, Patrick.=20
=20
 * http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid39_gci1222912,0=
0.html=20
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4. Gentoo developer moves
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Moves
-----
 =20
The following developers recently left the Gentoo project:=20
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 * Thierry Carrez (Koon)=20
 * Gerald J. Normandin Jr. (gerrynjr)=20
 * D.M.D. Ljungmark (Spider)=20
   =20
Adds
----
 =20
The following developers recently joined the Gentoo project:=20
=20
 * David Shakaryan (omp) desktop-misc/commonbox=20
 * Alexis Ballier (aballier) media-sound/media-video=20
   =20
Changes
-------
 =20
The following developers recently changed roles within the Gentoo project=
:=20
=20
 * none this week=20
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5. Upcoming package removals
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  =20
This is a list of packages that have been announced to be removed in the=20
future. The package removals come from many locations, including the=20
Treecleaners[4] and various developers.=20

 4. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/qa/treecleaners
   =20
Last Rites:
-----------
 =20
 Package: Removal date: Contact:  sys-fs/ocfs-tools 09 Nov 06 Donnie=20
Berkholz[5]  net-im/kopete* 12 Nov 06 Diego Petten=C3=B2[6] =20
net-im/universalkopete 14 Nov 06 Alec Warner[7]  app-admin/sus 14 Nov 06=20
Christian Heim[8]  app-admin/linup 14 Nov 06 Christian Heim[9] =20
media-libs/gltt 14 Nov 06 Christian Heim[10]  media-radio/xastir 14 Nov 0=
6=20
Christian Heim[11]  app-misc/gpsdrive 14 Nov 06 Christian Heim[12] =20

 5. [email protected]
 6. [email protected]
 7. [email protected]
 8. [email protected]
 9. [email protected]
 10. [email protected]
 11. [email protected]
 12. [email protected]
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*Kopete remains part of kde-base; only the net-im ebuild will be deleted.=
=20
   =20
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6. Bugzilla
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 =20
Summary
-------
 =20
 * Statistics=20
 * Closed bug ranking=20
 * New bug rankings=20
   =20
Statistics
----------
 =20
The Gentoo community uses Bugzilla (bugs.gentoo.org[13]) to record and=20
track bugs, notifications, suggestions and other interactions with the=20
development team. Between 08 October 2006 and 15 October 2006, activity o=
n=20
the site has resulted in:=20

 5. http://bugs.gentoo.org
=20
 * 978 new bugs during this period=20
 * 535 bugs closed or resolved during this period=20
 * 44 previously closed bugs were reopened this period=20
 * 149 closed as NEEDINFO/WONTFIX/CANTFIX/INVALID/UPSTREAM during this=20
period=20
 * 156 bugs marked as duplicates during this period=20
=20
Of the 11099 currently open bugs: 35 are labeled 'blocker', 122 are=20
labeled 'critical', and 503 are labeled 'major'.=20
   =20
Closed bug rankings
-------------------
 =20
The developers and teams who have closed the most bugs during this period=
=20
are:=20
=20
 * Desktop Misc. Team[14], with 26 closed bugs[15] =20
 * Gentoo Games[16], with 25 closed bugs[17] =20
 * AMD64 Project[18], with 22 closed bugs[19] =20
 * Netmon Herd[20], with 20 closed bugs[21] =20
 * CJK Team[22], with 20 closed bugs[23] =20
 * Gentoo KDE team[24], with 19 closed bugs[25] =20
 * Portage team[26], with 19 closed bugs[27] =20
 * Java team[28], with 16 closed bugs[29] =20
 14. [email protected]
 15.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]
 16. [email protected]
 17.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]
 18. [email protected]
 19.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]
 20. [email protected]
 21.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]
 22. [email protected]
 23.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]
 24. [email protected]
 25.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]
 26. [email protected]
 27.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]
 28. [email protected]
 29.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DRESOLVED&bug_status=3DCLO=
SED&chfield=3Dbug_status&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chfieldto=3D2006-10-15&=
resolution=3DFIXED&[email protected]

   =20
New bug rankings
----------------
 =20
The developers and teams who have been assigned the most new bugs during=20
this period are:=20
=20
 * Default Assignee for New Packages[30], with 33 new bugs[31] =20
 * Default Assignee for Orphaned Packages[32], with 22 new bugs[33] =20
 * Gentoo's Team for Core System packages[34], with 12 new bugs[35] =20
 * Python Gentoo Team[36], with 8 new bugs[37] =20
 * Gentoo Linux Gnome Desktop Team[38], with 8 new bugs[39] =20
 * Robin Johnson[40], with 6 new bugs[41] =20
 * Gentoo KDE team[42], with 6 new bugs[43] =20
 * Gentoo Games[44], with 6 new bugs[45] =20
 30. [email protected]
 31.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]
 32. [email protected]
 33.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]
 34. [email protected]
 35.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]
 36. [email protected]
 37.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]
 38. [email protected]
 39.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]
 40. [email protected]
 41.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]
 42. [email protected]
 43.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]
 44. [email protected]
 45.=20
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=3DNEW&bug_status=3DASSIGNED=
&bug_status=3DREOPENED&chfield=3Dassigned_to&chfieldfrom=3D2006-10-08&chf=
ieldto=3D2006-10-15&[email protected]

   =20
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7. GWN feedback
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
  =20
Please send us your feedback[46] and help make the GWN better.=20

 38. [email protected]
   =20
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
8. GWN subscription information
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
  =20
To subscribe to the Gentoo Weekly Newsletter, send a blank e-mail to=20
[email protected].=20
=20
To unsubscribe to the Gentoo Weekly Newsletter, send a blank e-mail to=20
[email protected] from the e-mail address you are=20
subscribed under.=20
   =20
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9. Other languages
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  =20
The Gentoo Weekly Newsletter is also available in the following languages=
:=20
=20
 * Chinese (Simplified)[47] =20
 * Danish[48] =20
 * Dutch[49] =20
 * English[50] =20
 * German[51] =20
 * Greek[52] =20
 * French[53] =20
 * Korean[54] =20
 * Japanese[55] =20
 * Italian[56] =20
 * Polish[57] =20
 * Portuguese (Brazil)[58] =20
 * Portuguese (Portugal)[59] =20
 * Russian[60] =20
 * Slovak[61] =20
 * Spanish[62]  =20
 47. http://www.gentoo.org/news/zh_cn/gwn/gwn.xml
 48. http://www.gentoo.org/news/da/gwn/gwn.xml
 49. http://www.gentoo.org/news/nl/gwn/gwn.xml
 50. http://www.gentoo.org/news/en/gwn/gwn.xml
 51. http://www.gentoo.org/news/de/gwn/gwn.xml
 52. http://www.gentoo.org/news/el/gwn/gwn.xml
 53. http://www.gentoo.org/news/fr/gwn/gwn.xml
 54. http://www.gentoo.org/news/ko/gwn/gwn.xml
 55. http://www.gentoo.org/news/ja/gwn/gwn.xml
 56. http://www.gentoo.org/news/it/gwn/gwn.xml
 57. http://www.gentoo.org/news/pl/gwn/gwn.xml
 58. http://www.gentoo.org/news/pt_br/gwn/gwn.xml
 59. http://www.gentoo.org/news/pt/gwn/gwn.xml
 60. http://www.gentoo.org/news/ru/gwn/gwn.xml
 61. http://www.gentoo.org/news/sk/gwn/gwn.xml
 62. http://www.gentoo.org/news/es/gwn/gwn.xml

  =20
Ulrich Plate <[email protected]> - Editor
Josh Nichols <[email protected]> - Author
Chris Atkinson <[email protected]> - Author
Kyle Bishop <[email protected]> - Author
Chris Gianelloni <[email protected]> - Author



--=20
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