Press "Enter" to skip to content

FOSS Force

Dealing With Real-Life, Everyday Security Threats

By Robin "Roblimo" Miller on April 13, 2017 |

Humor and Security

Dealing With Real-Life, Everyday Security Threatssecurity

No one has ever been shot by a hacker who was breaking into their computer through the Internet. Not so for thieves coming in through the back door.

Roblimo’s Hideaway

security

I wrote a piece titled No, Evil Hackers Aren’t After You, and promptly had 17 zillion readers (by actual count) get mad at me for not taking their security concerns seriously. I still think the idea of a giant robot eyeball on a flexible stalk growing out of your microwave oven is still a little silly, and I believe there are many simple, down-to-Earth security problems to worry about before you try to spot rogue CIA agents watching your house from a grassy knoll in Dallas.

Continue readingDealing With Real-Life, Everyday Security Threats
Open Source Adapted Bicycle Pedal Comes to the RescueBicycle

Open Source Adapted Bicycle Pedal Comes to the Rescue

By Phil Shapiro on April 11, 2017 |

Accessibility and Video

Accessibility has always been important to designers of open source software. Now that open source has come to design, that’s more true than ever, as demonstrated with this open source bicycle pedal.

The Screening Room

Bicycle

Smart engineering students at Brigham Young University have devised an open source solution that extends the joy of bicycle riding to some who otherwise would not experience that joy. Watch this heartwarming story in this short video.

Continue readingOpen Source Adapted Bicycle Pedal Comes to the Rescue

Review of BeansBooks, Released Under ‘Open Code’ License

By Phil Shapiro on April 7, 2017 |

Software, Tutorial and Video

Before using BeansBooks, be sure to take a look at its “open code” license, which is a free software license but incompatible with the GPL and all GPL compatible licenses, whether “copyleft” or “permissive.”

The Screening Room

Open software often reduces the barrier to entry for small businesses. FOSS fans might well have heard of personal and small-business accounting software GnuCash, which is taught in the Penn Manor School District in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and described in Charlie Reisinger’s book The Open Schoolhouse. Less well known is BeanBooks, an “open code” SaaS accounting program created by the well-known folks at System76, which came onto my radar just recently. This screencast review of the software does a good job showing you its features.

Continue readingReview of BeansBooks, Released Under ‘Open Code’ License
Libreboot Reorganizes: Seeks to Make AmendsLibreboot logo

Libreboot Reorganizes: Seeks to Make Amends

By Christine Hall on April 5, 2017 |

Community, News and Software

It appears the people developing Libreboot have done some of the hard work necessary to fix potentially toxic personal dynamics after last year’s controversy, when the project removed itself from the FSF and GNU.

Libreboot logo

You may remember, back in September FOSS Force reported that the open source project Libreboot announced it was withdrawing from the Free Software Foundation and the GNU Project. Libreboot, which produces free, open source and blob-free software to replace proprietary BIOS firmware, had been endorsed by the FSF and became an official GNU project on May 14. The final removal of the project from GNU was made official in a public email from Richard Stallman on January 5.

Continue readingLibreboot Reorganizes: Seeks to Make Amends
Cheap Arm Project: Affordable, Open Source DIY RoboticsCHAP Cheap Arm Project

Cheap Arm Project: Affordable, Open Source DIY Robotics

By Phil Shapiro on April 4, 2017 |

Maker Movement and Video

Not so long ago, when we mentioned “open source,” we were nearly always talking about software. These days, open source can refer to almost anything — like this affordable DIY robot from “Cheap Arm Project.”

The Screening Room

CHAP Cheap Arm Project

When someone creates a new GitHub repository for a project that could help people around the world extend the reach of their limbs, I get a lump in my throat. The YouTube description of this open source hardware/software project describes the project in much better ways than I ever could.

“The video shows first design of teleoperated mobile robotic manipulator produced in the Cheap Arm Project (CHAP). It costs less than $2,000, uses easily available parts and can be assembled by anybody with basic technical skills. The manipulator can reach objects from floor-level up to shelves at a height of 170cm using a new low-cost arm design. Teleoperation is done using a tablet, smartphone or browser. The cost could be further reduced by using different servomotors. The design and assembly instructions are made available on the open-source repository GitHub, with the hope that the community will build and improve the design.

Continue readingCheap Arm Project: Affordable, Open Source DIY Robotics
The Linux Foundation: Not a Friend of Desktop Linux, the GPL, or OpennessLinux Foundation Linux.com screenshot

The Linux Foundation: Not a Friend of Desktop Linux, the GPL, or Openness

By Christine Hall on April 3, 2017 |

Business, Community, Media, News, Operating Systems and Opinion

After stirring up a ruckus by using words like “restrictive” and “virus” to describe the GPL in a Linux.com article, the Linux Foundation responds by quietly removing the post from the website.

Linux Foundation Linux.com screenshot

The Linux Foundation has no respect for FOSS. Nor does it seem care about any users of Linux who aren’t connected with the enterprise. It’s been that way since the beginning. It now appears that the Foundation also has little respect for the GPL…you know, Linux’s license. Nor does it appear to be much of a believer in the notion of transparency.

Continue readingThe Linux Foundation: Not a Friend of Desktop Linux, the GPL, or Openness
Written Using Gnu Lilypond, Orchestrated in Linux MultiMedia StudioLilypond

Written Using Gnu Lilypond, Orchestrated in Linux MultiMedia Studio

By Phil Shapiro on March 31, 2017 |

Software and Video

Music written and created entirely using the FOSS apps Lilypond and Linux Multimedia Studio. Nothing else could be so beautiful, we think.

The Screening Room

Lilypond

Open source music software never seems to get the attention it deserves, so I was delighted to see this YouTube video created using GNU Lilypond.

Continue readingWritten Using Gnu Lilypond, Orchestrated in Linux MultiMedia Studio
Linux Action Show to End Eleven-Year Run at LFNWLinus Action Show LAS

Linux Action Show to End Eleven-Year Run at LFNW

By Christine Hall on March 28, 2017 |

Media and News

Six more episodes before the popular Linux podcast, Linux Action Show, ends its nearly 11-year run in a live broadcast from LinuxFest Northwest.

Media

Linux Action Show LAS

Jupiter Broadcasting’s long-running podcast, Linux Action Show, will soon be signing off the air…er, fiber cable, for the last time. The show first streamed on June 10, 2006 and was hosted by “Linux Tycoon” Bryan Lunduke and Jupiter Broadcasting founder Chris Fisher. Lunduke left the show in 2012, replaced by Matt Hartley, who served as co-host for about three years. The show is currently hosted by Fisher and Noah Chelliah, president of Altispeed, an open source technology company located in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Continue readingLinux Action Show to End Eleven-Year Run at LFNW

HospitalRun: Open Source Software for the Developing World

By Phil Shapiro on March 28, 2017 |

Community, Software and Video

Much open source software is being developed to help improve conditions throughout the world, such as this software developed by CURE International.

The Screening Room

When open source software is used for global health and global relief work, its benefits shine bright. The benefits of open source become very clear when human health and human lives are on the line. In this YouTube video, hear Harrisburg, Pennsylvania software developer Joel Worrall explain about HospitalRun software – open source cloud-based software used at developing world healthcare facilities.

Continue readingHospitalRun: Open Source Software for the Developing World