In Progress - PC-BSD 0.8 Status Update and more!

[kmoore134]

Hello to all! And a special welcome to the many new forum users who have signed up in recent weeks :)

I just wanted to post a status update on whats being worked on right now, for PC-BSD 0.8 as well as other things.

Here's whats on tap for 0.8:

* Online Update Manager (Done)
* Online Update Scheduler (Done)
* KDE 3.4.2 (Done)
* Add / Remove users GUI (In Progress)
* Network Config GUI (Maybe - Might be in an online update later)
* Lang / Keyboard Map GUI during install (In Progress)
* PBI's now show up in /Programs/<pbiname>
* Use "sysinstall" fdisk for advanced partitioning


Here's something else i'm working on at the moment: PBI Certification. (Da DUM!!!!)

This is the working idea I have at the moment:

We will setup two different types of PBI certification. OSA (Open Source Approval), and CSA (Commercial Software Approval). See sample images below:

http://www.pcbsd.com/images/PCBSD-OSA.jpg http://www.pcbsd.com/images/PCBSD-CA.jpg

(BTW, these are very rough mock-ups I just made! If anybody with some real graphical talent can help make some new ones, let me know!)

The idea is thus: I'll setup a webpage where Open Source Developers / Packagers can submit PBI's via FTP, and then a form which lets them fill out the rest of the necessary info. On my end here, we will test each .pbi out, to confirm that they install / remove / run properly, and do not harm the OS in any way. If the .pbi file is approved, the reward is that the developer can proudly display the OSA logo on their site, and we will also host the file on our mirror servers, to help take any load of their site.

The commercial license will be similar. For x number of $, we will perform more extensive testing, helping any developer package and get their software running on PC-BSD. After the software is approved, we will have a "partners" or some such page where their software will be listed as "designed for PC-BSD", and they can list the logo on their website / boxed version of the software. Of course any developer can make and release .pbi's without certification, but getting it will boost visibility, and consumer confidence. :)


And in OTHER news, check out this new site!

http://www.pbidir.com

Charles and his company Auriance have been doing a great job of getting a PBI site setup. The site is still under development, but I figured I could give you guys a sneak preview :) Look for the site to be more fleshed out and stocked up on PBI's here in the near future.


And lastly, Just for the record, I will be out of town August 24th - Sept 2! Just in case somebody needs something before then.

[Ray]

Kris,

Thanks for the update, it is always nice to know what's going on behind the scenes and I am sure we are all grateful for the update news (sadly lacking in many other distros's).

Release 08 seems to be shaping up as something special and I am looking forward to the 'download session' :D

Ray

[Rom Raptor]

you say you will be out of town August 24th - Sept 2
is your goal to release 0.8 before or after that?

[kmoore134]

Unsure. I hope to have a release done before we go, but we'll see :) Technically with the online update manager now finished, I could release at any time, and then you guys will be automatically updated when the new GUI tools are added. I should know sometime this week though. I want to get an option for keyboard layouts put in first :) (And finish up the time-zone selection stuff, what a pain that is)

[Etenia]

it sounds realy promising, cant wait to download 8)

keep up the good work!

[lazyilmaz]

Ok when this release comes out i will install it as my second OS, i was waiting for the online update, this way i don't have to install it again.

[antik]

* Online Update Manager (Done)


Is it possible to update already existing installation or I have to backup and restore user files and .PBI Programs later?

And I have one feature request or something. Maybe it's more mature if every PCBSD release had own .PBI line so all programs built from the same source, same ports release, same version of libs. I have problem with Terminal Server installations cos I have to add RAM to satisfy all different memory hungry programs....

[Rom Raptor]

"PBI's now show up in /Programs/<pbiname>"

does this mean that older pbis install in different location?

[kmoore134]

Nothing that fancy. Basicly I've left a link from /usr/local/MyPrograms over to /Programs, so all old PBI's will work fine :)

[Rom Raptor]

ok. sounds like a good and easy solution. will that be removed later so people are forced to make correct pbis?

[kmoore134]

Possibly. It doesn't hurt to keep it in for the moment, but I may remove it at somepoint down the road :)

[Rom Raptor]

"I may remove it at somepoint down the road"

maybe that'd be the best. one wouldn't want pc-bsd to be built on quick fixes like windows :)

[pcbsdusr]

that little problem tends to fix itself. New versions of packages are being made from time to time and i am sure they will be corrected by then.

[Rom Raptor]

pcbsdusr - yep, most likely

[Mel_]

Kris thanks for the update and thanks for the distro! However sometime in the future I think you should try to come up with a way to make sure folks with install problems can get help. I have posted on the forum, last time I checked 11 views..and no response. I can't run PCBSD unless it it under VMWare which I dislike immensley. Sorry for the post here, but I was unsure how to contact you since there was no response to my post from anyone. I talk with Solarin quite a bit..so..anyway..just a FYI

[lurch]

Hi
Loking forward to the release of 0.8
Printing seems to be a problem for some people including my self.
I overcame the problem by removing the installed gimp-print and installing gimp-print WITH_CUPS=yes this gave me all the available printers and drivers. Is this something to be considered for future releases.

[kmoore134]

I'll see about this fix for printing. I might be able to get it into 0.8 if its that simple :)

[dbojan]

Here's something else i'm working on at the moment: PBI Certification. (Da DUM!!!!)

This is the working idea I have at the moment:

We will setup two different types of PBI certification. OSA (Open Source Approval), and CSA (Commercial Software Approval). See sample images below:

http://www.pcbsd.com/images/PCBSD-OSA.jpg http://www.pcbsd.com/images/PCBSD-CA.jpg

(BTW, these are very rough mock-ups I just made! If anybody with some real graphical talent can help make some new ones, let me know!)

The idea is thus: I'll setup a webpage where Open Source Developers / Packagers can submit PBI's via FTP, and then a form which lets them fill out the rest of the necessary info. On my end here, we will test each .pbi out, to confirm that they install / remove / run properly, and do not harm the OS in any way. If the .pbi file is approved, the reward is that the developer can proudly display the OSA logo on their site, and we will also host the file on our mirror servers, to help take any load of their site.

The commercial license will be similar. For x number of $, we will perform more extensive testing, helping any developer package and get their software running on PC-BSD. After the software is approved, we will have a "partners" or some such page where their software will be listed as "designed for PC-BSD", and they can list the logo on their website / boxed version of the software. Of course any developer can make and release .pbi's without certification, but getting it will boost visibility, and consumer confidence. :)



Excellent idea. Linux and BSD need more standards in software delivery.
This will hopefully increase number of commercial software ports to BSD, and maybe linux. Think Photoshop. And also maybe shareware software. Free (mostly opensource) is already in overdrive :)

[Biomech]

From: Biomech aka Richy

Hay Kris,
This is just something I worked on in photoshop for ya.
It's the new look for the OSA and CSA PBI Certification.
If you want anything changed just let me know. You can contact me
at biomech@icqmail.com.

"OSA Left", "CSA Right"

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2595/osacertification8ss.png http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/8592/csacertification8mh.png

-Richy

[berVi]

From: Biomech aka Richy

Hay Kris,
This is just something I worked on in photoshop for ya.
It's the new look for the OSA and CSA PBI Certification.
If you want anything changed just let me know. You can contact me
at biomech@icqmail.com.

"OSA Left", "CSA Right"

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2595/osacertification8ss.png http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/8592/csacertification8mh.png

-Richy
its only my opinion, but maybe the space between the pcbsd logo and the certification text is unnecessary.

[Icehat]

From: Biomech aka Richy

Hay Kris,
This is just something I worked on in photoshop for ya.
It's the new look for the OSA and CSA PBI Certification.
If you want anything changed just let me know. You can contact me
at biomech@icqmail.com.

"OSA Left", "CSA Right"

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2595/osacertification8ss.png http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/8592/csacertification8mh.png

-Richy
its only my opinion, but maybe the space between the pcbsd logo and the certification text is unnecessary.

...or add some watermarks in the white space

[kmoore134]

Those look good, but I agree. We gotta put something in the white space in the middle there. Maybe a design of some sort that is instantly reconizeable? Feel free to play around with it, let me know what you come up with :)

[lazyilmaz]

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6478/pbi6ei.png

Just a made it in ps, it's not perfect but maybe something like this will do the work :)

[asadrasheed]

Hi lazyilmaz,

This looks sexy :)

[berVi]

Hi lazyilmaz,

This looks sexy :)
yea, agree :)

[Dingens]

i´m so curios about the next version!

thx kris

[Rom Raptor]

both banners look pretty nice but couldn't they be smaller?

[Biomech]

From: Biomech aka Richy

Hay guys thanks for the input.
Here is version 2 of the PBI Certification.
If I need to add or change anything please let me know.
Thanks guys.

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/5926/osacertification23uw.pnghttp://img76.imageshack.us/img76/2731/csacertification21th.png

[pcbsdusr]

On the OSA certification, place "free" between "OSA Certification" and "Open Source Approval" lines. I belive it will be better. what do you think?

Cheers!

Renato Flórido

[Biomech]

From: Biomech aka Richy

Alright, I hope it looks better now. ^-^
Hope you guys like them.

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/9727/osacertification35od.pnghttp://img76.imageshack.us/img76/2731/csacertification21th.png

[pcbsdusr]

PERFECT!!! :D

[Biomech]

From: Biomech

Thanks, I'm happy you like it. ^-^
It felt good working on something for PC-BSD.
Down the road I might make a new logo for PC-BSD.
Don't get me wrong I like our little red devil, but I think
PC-BSD needs it's own logo. One we can all look at, and
be like wow... That's PC-BSD!

I will be playing around with a few ideas.
I will post them up as I finish them. If any of you
with some art skill want to make a few. Feel free
to join in. If Kris like's them he might pick one out
to be the new logo and face for PC-BSD.
Thanks again for all your input guys.

[OSlover]

I prefer lazyilmaz's version for the following reason:

1) less 'busy': The logo doesn't look crowded
2) more pleasing shades of colour: won't stick out like a sore thumb
3) readable fonts: notice the Biomech logo lower most fonts. They are becoming unreadable.

[lazyilmaz]

Thanks for the comments :)

I think that the logo should be made very simple, without text. When someone clicks the logo he/she should be directed to a site with the necessary information.

[DrJ]

If you have not done so, the language really ought to be run by an attorney. One of the certifications may imply that PC-BSD warrants performance of the software, which I wouldn't think is desirable in any way.

DrJ

[Dingens]

today´s evening or tomorrow i´m through with the translartion of the german part.
but it wil be nice when another german user looking all over it. :oops:

[antik]

today´s evening or tomorrow i´m through with the translartion of the german part.
but it wil be nice when another german user looking all over it. :oops:

will 0.8 KDE had other languages than english? or we have to download it separately. I don't like to break KDE with compilation from sources.

[Rom Raptor]

today being the 24th means 0.8 won't be released until sept sometime?

[epsilon&gt;0]

Any news on 0.8 :?: :?

[su_root]

tnx man it's great

Any news about that ?

[Charles]

Dunno, I'd like to have PC-BSD for amd64 :)

[chasecrum]

The logos/banners look great btw (kinda looks like an explicit lyrics warning, I dunno, cool though)...

I am interested in learning more about the update manager. Is it going to update as new versions come out so you have the latest version, like Gentoo, or is this updates for this specific version, and when a new version comes out we have to install the new version...

Thanks
-Chase

[antik]

Please, clean up old announcements. Move em to backup or something.

[TerryP]

Please, clean up old announcements. Move em to backup or something.

It would be nice to have an archive or some sort, where old announcements, Feature Requests, Bug Reports e.t.c. could be moved to after n months.

PS: I love your sig antik