- SFD-discuss - lists.mailman3.com

Re: [SFD-discuss] [SFD-announce] Document Freedom Day 2018

by Marcos Marado

The website seems to be down... On Mon, 5 Mar 2018, 08:58 Frederic Muller - DFF, < fred(a)digitalfreedomfoundation.org> wrote: > Dear all, > > It is with great pleasure that we're announcing registration opening for > DFD 2018. As you may know the process is slightly different now as you > need to create a wiki page for your event first at > http://wiki.documentfreedom.org/2018 and then register your event in > order to appear on the map at > http://www.documentfreedom.org/cgi-bin/register.py > > This avoids all the issues we had in the past with some addresses we > could not find on OpenStreetMap as you now manually select the place. > > As usual Document Freedom Day is on the last Wednesday of March which > will be Wednesday 28 this year. As usual you can find more information > about the things you can do on our website at > http://www.documentfreedom.org/getinvolved . > > A big thank you goes to our usual sponsors and more specifically Google, > Linode and Ubuntu who have been supporting us for years. Then we have > our partners in crime such as the FSFE and the FSF and the happy media > sponsors. More about them here: > http://www.digitalfreedomfoundation.org/index.php/sponsors > > Should anyone have any issue or question please let us know on the > mailing list. > > Thank you very much and have a colorful Document Freedom Day 2018! > > Kind regards, > > Frederic Muller > ---------------- > Digital Freedom Foundation > > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-announce mailing list > SFD-announce(a)sf-day.org > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-announce >

March 27, 2018

Re: [SFD-discuss] Open Source personal assistants

by Maren Hachmann

Am 17.03.2018 um 18:17 schrieb LM: > My apologies on that last post. That was supposed to go to the > Schoolforge mailing list and I accidentally hit the wrong e-mail > address. Hope the Open Source projects I'm mentioned are at least of > interest to someone on this list as well. Actually, yes :) Thanks for sharing. (MyCroft supports DeepSpeech locally now!... Definitely need to make time to test it.) Maren > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list > SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss >

March 17, 2018

Re: [SFD-discuss] Open Source personal assistants

by LM

My apologies on that last post. That was supposed to go to the Schoolforge mailing list and I accidentally hit the wrong e-mail address. Hope the Open Source projects I'm mentioned are at least of interest to someone on this list as well.

March 17, 2018

Open Source personal assistants

by LM

Our school district's tech conference had a few speakers talking about voice assistants like Google Home and Alexa. One speaker mentioned his students were creating their own programs to use with Alexa using Amazon's API. That got we wondering if there were Open Source options that would let students see how to build their own personal assistants not just add code to a commercial project. So, below are some related links on the subject. If you know of others, please share. I am especially interested in finding a decent C or C++ Speech to Text library. If anyone has ideas on that topic, please let me know. Would like to include it in some Open Source software I'm porting to improve accessibility. Thanks. The FSF has more information on personal assistants and this is one of their priorities for Free Software development: https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/personalassistant Open Source voice assistant projects: http://openassistant.org/tools/ https://github.com/MycroftAI https://github.com/claritylab/lucida https://jasperproject.github.io/ http://www.theadrianproject.com/ Open Source Speech to Text resources: https://github.com/cmusphinx/pocketsphinx https://github.com/cmusphinx/sphinxbase/tree/master/src https://github.com/sphinxsearch/sphinx https://github.com/kaldi-asr/kaldi https://github.com/julius-speech/julius DeepSpeech (which uses tensorflow): https://github.com/mozilla/DeepSpeech/tree/master/native_client https://github.com/mozilla/tensorflow/ https://github.com/arthurv/srec Text to Speech resources: http://www.festvox.org/flite/index.html http://espeak.sourceforge.net/ https://github.com/espeak-ng/espeak-ng https://github.com/MycroftAI/mimic

March 17, 2018

Re: [SFD-discuss] Introducing TTCS OSSWIN online resource of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows

by LM

Adonay Felipe Nogueira wrote: > As far as I know they do include other platforms besides GNU+Linux, but > this one must be supported by the software seeking to be listed > there. That is: the FSD doesn't accept Windows-only "free software" > (sic). My interest is mainly in cross-platform software. So, if it only works on Windows, I'm typically not interested in it. I do port software to various platforms. Most of the time I end up porting Linux/BSD/Unix applications to Windows. However, sometimes I'll run across an interesting program for Windows and port it to other systems like Linux. > I must say that you all have done an awesome work with Schoolforge, I've > been planning to integrate Schoolforge into FSD for quite some time. I'm sure the members of the Schoolforge project would greatly appreciate that. We're trying to find new people who might want to get involved. The mailing list has been pretty quiet lately. > Oh, be very careful with Android, I'm not a developer, but I was told by > Replicant project that Android has somethings that don't come with stock > Android, or that are not essential to make the operating system work in > minimum level, even if you do development with Android that came from > Google. Am familiar with that. I am working strictly with Open Source libraries/compilers or standards that have Open Source options available. I tried out Android-x86 ( http://www.android-x86.org/ ) and VirtualBox for testing. The Android-x86 project seems to be doing a nice job. I just recently tested building some software with the Debian Android packages. Was reading that Debian and Ubuntu were good platforms for Android development on Linux. Was able to build Android packages and compile Java with their tools. However, was very surprised that they don't have a package for the NDK/cross-compilers needed to support porting C/C++ code to Android. (Actually, they do have one package, but it just does a wget and downloads from Google.) Recently asked about it on one of their mailing lists. Also, I've been reading that Google intends to switch from using gcc to llvm/clang. I'd personally prefer to stick with gcc, but it's being deprecated from the NDK and will be removed in future versions. I think creating a GNU gcc cross-compiler toolchain with ABI compatibility to the Google NDK should be an important step for working with Free Software on Android. So far, I haven't found anyone working on a project like that or even interested in it. I'd certainly be willing to volunteer to help out if someone did put a project like that together. There are also lots of great FLOSS programs written in C/C++. Many would port to Android with some modifications. The priority for most people seems to be to write new programs from scratch in Java or Kotlin rather than make use of what is already available. I think it's a shame there aren't more projects supporting FLOSS C/C++ development for Android. > However, I find it odd that they refused. Considering that I don't have > the full context of the conversation (patch submission requests and > replies), I can't agree that it was due to lack of interest on > cross-platform compatibility, but I can't deny either. I know the developers from some of the projects I contacted didn't want to support a specific platform (such as Windows), because they told me. I have it in writing from them. > I would also like to add that free/libre software proponents discuss and > care for other topics and issues that most "open source" people don't > care to, like: > > - digital restrictions management, such as those found in most Android > and Apple devices; >... A lot of the issues the FSF tries to promote are very important. It's nice that the FSF advocates them. Many of those issues often get ignored by projects that are Open Source but not Free. I read some of the articles about Android at the GNU site and was very interested in them. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a lot of information on how to get involved further. I did check out projects like Replicant, F-Droid and some others, Haven't had any luck finding a project I could volunteer with that could use my particular talents. I'm not thrilled with closed source online app stores and the abilities of companies to limit who can put software on devices. The idea of owning a computer (even if it's a tablet) and not being able to put software I wrote on it is abhorrent. That's one reason I'm a proponent of cross-platform software. I want to avoid vendor lock-in. The FSF covers many important philosophical topics. I was, however, surprised by their stance or lack of interest in respecting patents though. I understand software patents can cripple development and it's a shame when a patent is given for something that's universal and should not be proprietary. However, if one expects the courts to uphold things like software licenses then one should respect the legality of patents in countries where they are the law. I had to check commercial sites like Red Hat to find relevant information regarding FLOSS and patents. Most of the GNU compliant Linux distributions that I looked up ignore the issue. I think Free Software is at a crucial period. More people are now using tablets/phones rather than desktop systems as their computers. With things like secure boot, operating systems making it hard to install anything that isn't from their app store of choice and other hardware and software restrictions that promote specific vendors, it's getting very difficult to get Free Software to people. I also feel like software development isn't a level playing field any more. Large companies have the resources to build complex software that might require a lot of computing power to create such as AIs, Speech to Text engines, etc. Would like to see Free Software alternatives that can compete. Otherwise, developers are left with little choice but to use proprietary solutions when customers want specific features in their software. If you know of any good mailing lists or other places to discuss topics like the NDK/gcc one I mentioned, avoiding vendor lock-in or just talking about sharing/advocating FLOSS software in general, please let me know. Thanks.

March 16, 2018

Re: [SFD-discuss] Introducing TTCS OSSWIN online ? a online resource of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows

by Adonay Felipe Nogueira

> The FSF directory is also very useful. It's nice that you include > other platforms besides just Linux. As far as I know they do include other platforms besides GNU+Linux, but this one must be supported by the software seeking to be listed there. That is: the FSD doesn't accept Windows-only "free software" (sic). I don't know if the FSD has some special guideline for how to review software which supports other platforms besides GNU+Linux --- it's been a long time since I don't rediscuss the guidelines with them ---, but I would imagine that they don't, because as far as I understand, not having such "special guideline" would mean that the non-GNU+Linux-supporting part of the software would also be required to depend only on free/libre software, except on the cases permitted by a very tiny breach present in GPL-3.0 and GPL-3.0-or-later's "System Libraries" and other related exceptions. > Didn't know you had a chat. That sounds like a lot of fun. Indeed it is... sometimes we eventually create memes there too, or make jokes on the unusual behavior of some non-free software (including those forced to the guest/user of a website through JavaScript or any automatically-executed web browser language). > I've been helping out with maintaining the Schoolforge web site's list > of Free Software: https://www.schoolforge.net/ I'm sure there are a > lot more interesting and useful Free and Open Source programs that > could be added to the site. I add new information when I have time. I must say that you all have done an awesome work with Schoolforge, I've been planning to integrate Schoolforge into FSD for quite some time. > of those lists. I'm currently working on porting some of them to > Android as well. Unfortunately, haven't found too many good ways to Oh, be very careful with Android, I'm not a developer, but I was told by Replicant project that Android has somethings that don't come with stock Android, or that are not essential to make the operating system work in minimum level, even if you do development with Android that came from Google. A possible shortcut is to make the development based on Replicant instead of Android. > Android as well. Unfortunately, haven't found too many good ways to > share the programs once I port them. Typically, my first try is to > send the patches back to the developer, but I've found out that > several Open Source developers/projects are not usually interested in > cross-platform support. At present, I'm concentrating on SDL, FLTK I agree that a good first step is always to try to push things upstream (that is: submit your patches to the affected projects). However, I find it odd that they refused. Considering that I don't have the full context of the conversation (patch submission requests and replies), I can't agree that it was due to lack of interest on cross-platform compatibility, but I can't deny either. Perhaps there's other motive for the upstream for refusing the patches. All in all, when we say that "free/libre is ideologically different from open source, but *mostly* equal in practice", it's said so based on careful choice of words, and studies. Neutrally speaking FLOSS proponents (not to be confused with the ambiguous "FOSS") --- that is: both groups of people that support free/libre software, and also those which support open source software --- provide the possibility of improving the software and related things, but only free/libre software proponents --- with their philosophy and movement --- are attempting to make this and other features durable and applicable even for the end-user of the forth/twentieth/hundredth derivation of a given FLOSS, I would also like to add that free/libre software proponents discuss and care for other topics and issues that most "open source" people don't care to, like: - digital restrictions management, such as those found in most Android and Apple devices; - politics, like the capability theory/approach to political philosophy; - sociology; - economics, like the tragedy of the anticommons; - web and communications federation; - standardization of file formats; - web accessibility, which, now with the recent discovery of Meltdown and Spectre ([1]), includes having a website that runs no client-side scripting such as JavaScript, or that has these scripts but with license information not just readable, but understandable for the most novice guest/user, besides having to be accompanied with an indication on how to get the source files of given script (GNU LibreJS can help web developers on doing and testing these changes, [2]); - peaceful protests to pressure for changes in these and other areas of interest. > Best wishes. I wish you success and peace. [1] <https://mikegerwitz.com/2018/01/Meltdown-Spectre-and-the-Web>. [2] <https://www.gnu.org/software/librejs/> or <https://www.gnu.org/s/librejs/>.

March 14, 2018

Re: [SFD-discuss] Introducing TTCS OSSWIN online ? a online resource of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows

by LM

> Dev Anand Teelucksingh wrote: > In essence it is the same web interface from the TTCS OSSWIN project > (which makes the collection of Free and Open Source Software for > Windows as a 4GB download, along with a web based interface) ? the key > difference being that no installers are shown, just the link to the > program?s website. Wanted to thank your group for the wonderful job you all do on the OSSWIN project. I gave away some of the OSSWIN CDs at our school district's tech conference in past years. It was a big hit. Look forward to checking out the online interface. I'm always looking for interesting new cross-platform software to try out. > Adonay Felipe Nogueira wrote: > Awesome, at Free Software Directory --- co-run by UNESCO in the early > 2000s, but now carried by FSF --- there's similar facility, see [1] for > a pretty printing of all software that we know to run on Windows. The FSF directory is also very useful. It's nice that you include other platforms besides just Linux. > Every Friday we get together in #fsf at chat.freenode.net IRC to update > the FSD, see [3] for more information on which time the meeting > happens. But you can contribute every day, it's just nice to get > together to talk in some predefined time. :D Didn't know you had a chat. That sounds like a lot of fun. I've been helping out with maintaining the Schoolforge web site's list of Free Software: https://www.schoolforge.net/ I'm sure there are a lot more interesting and useful Free and Open Source programs that could be added to the site. I add new information when I have time. Also, I do a lot of porting of Open Source software, so I'd be willing to bet I have some applications working on Windows that are not in any of those lists. I'm currently working on porting some of them to Android as well. Unfortunately, haven't found too many good ways to share the programs once I port them. Typically, my first try is to send the patches back to the developer, but I've found out that several Open Source developers/projects are not usually interested in cross-platform support. At present, I'm concentrating on SDL, FLTK and PDcurses/ncurses based applications, because many of them port well to a large variety of platforms (including Android and even FreeDOS). Always enjoy finding new and interesting programs. It's great to be able to discuss and share Free and Open Source software or recommend useful and educational programs to others. Best wishes. Laura http://www.distasis.com/cpp/osrclist.htm

March 12, 2018

Re: [SFD-discuss] Introducing TTCS OSSWIN online – a online resource of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows

by Adonay Felipe Nogueira

> the FSD, see [3] for more information on which time the meeting Correction: see [4] for more information on which time the meeting > [3] <https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page>. Correction: it's the 4th reference.

March 9, 2018

Re: [SFD-discuss] Introducing TTCS OSSWIN online – a online resource of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows

by Adonay Felipe Nogueira

Awesome, at Free Software Directory --- co-run by UNESCO in the early 2000s, but now carried by FSF --- there's similar facility, see [1] for a pretty printing of all software that we know to run on Windows. Or if you want to make advanced queries (such as crossing categories), you can use the [[Special:Ask]] page ([2]), as is done in [3] --- where it's asked for a table listing the software which runs on Windows *and* which also is a game. The page in [1] is also an "Ask" query, but with a pretty printing template. Every Friday we get together in #fsf at chat.freenode.net IRC to update the FSD, see [3] for more information on which time the meeting happens. But you can contribute every day, it's just nice to get together to talk in some predefined time. :D [1] <https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Category/Runs-on/Windows>. [2] <https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Special:Ask>. [3] <https://directory.fsf.org/wiki?title=Special%3AAsk&q=%5B%5BRuns-on%3A%3AWin…>. [3] <https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page>. -- - https://libreplanet.org/wiki/User:Adfeno - Palestrante e consultor sobre /software/ livre (não confundir com gratis). - "WhatsApp"? Ele não é livre. Por favor, veja formas de se comunicar instantaneamente comigo no endereço abaixo. - Contato: https://libreplanet.org/wiki/User:Adfeno#vCard - Arquivos comuns aceitos (apenas sem DRM): Corel Draw, Microsoft Office, MP3, MP4, WMA, WMV. - Arquivos comuns aceitos e enviados: CSV, GNU Dia, GNU Emacs Org, GNU GIMP, Inkscape SVG, JPG, LibreOffice (padrão ODF), OGG, OPUS, PDF (apenas sem DRM), PNG, TXT, WEBM.

March 9, 2018

Introducing TTCS OSSWIN 2.0 - a collection of Free and Open Source Software for Windows available for download with an all new web user interface and video clips of various programs

by Dev Anand Teelucksingh

Hello All, The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society is pleased to announce the release of the TTCS OSSWIN v2.00, a collection of the latest version of Free and Open Source Software for Microsoft Windows 10/8/7. You can use your web browser to read detailed information about each program in this compilation : what the program does, view a screenshot or video of the program, and to find links to the program’s website and to download/install the program from the TTCS OSSWIN collection. The web-based interface allows you to quickly browse the variety of software organised into the following categories: Desktop Applications Educational Games Graphics Internet Server Sound and Video Utilities The web-based interface was redesigned to take advantage of modern web standards (HTML5, CSS3) and should be usable on Windows 10 touchscreen tablets. Also, the web UI attempts to autodetect whether your machine is running a 32 bit version of Windows or a 64 bit version of Windows to offer the appropriate installer so you can install programs as quickly as possible and browse the programs in the various software categories quickly. In addition, several programs have screencasts with sound to give the user a better idea of the program capabilities. Visit the TTCS OSSWIN page at http://www.ttcs.tt/osswin for more details and to download the collection as an ISO file for extracting to your harddrive or USB storage device and/or burning on to a DVD. Regards, Dev Anand Teelucksingh

March 9, 2018