Czajkowski

Baffling, I know I’m a list whore, but not even I can seem to manage to get a week lately where there isn’t one event or another happening so much so I’ve gone and left the blog alone for a bit and really only updated via identi.ca/twitter which them means friends who are not on there are wondering where I’ve gone and hidden myself under.

So it’s the end of August already, a month since the Geeknic where we had 27 adults and 7 kids turn up.  It was a lovely day at farmleigh, sunshine, fresh food, music and great conversations were had.  It was great to get away from the computer screens and I am a firm believer in the fact a community is successful with more face to face interaction if it can be done. IRC is great and mailing lists are good for discussion, but a face to face chat can solve so many questions in a timely manner.

The geeknics during the summer have proved this, as many more people who don’t use IRC or are possibly quiet on mailing lists have come along and introduced themselves to the rest of the LoCo.  Another thing of not just going to the pub this means that people who don’t want to go to a pub come along and are more inclined to take part, the final big factor for the great turn out was having it on the weekend, where everyone could relax and weren’t tied down with having to go home early.  Many people brought along their families making it a real day out and this was also great as it really focused the idea about the day about getting away from the computers! Going by the photos, everyone enjoyed themselves.

Ubuntu-ie LoCo members having a picnic

That night we met some of the canonical folks who were over in Dublin for a sprint. It was great to meet more of the folks behind the system I use every day. Even better was I remembered the names from meeting them at UDS, lordie I need name tags for folks!

This week has been hectic, working on the final bits and bobs for ossbarcamp. Timetable is all done and dusted, rooms booked and double checked and the pub (the important bit) was confirmed, though this was after a light heart attack of ringing them and no answer only to find the pub had closed up and was for sale, 20 min panic later and new pub sorted.  Not really a shortage of pubs over here really.

The barcamp has talks covering a diverse topic range so there should be something for everyone.

• Teach your boss how to Floss
• Growing Eucalyptus with Ubuntu
• Automated Documentation
• Landscape Server, easy management and lots of Ubuntu  boxes – HEAnet
• Using Free Culture in an internet free world

Are just a sample of some of the talks, so looking forward to that, and a great way to celebrate Software Freedom Day, there seems to be a lot going on which is great!

This evening I was working on the Ubuntu-NGO project and working with Jan Stedehouder on working on what way we should approach NGO’s and also by going through the case studies and making it a bit clearer how they are benefiting using open source and why others should use it!

So it’s been busy and also had to fit work in around all of this, no rest for the wicked!

The Ubuntu Global jam is nearly here and hopefully will be even better than last year as we’ve a few new editions.  Global Jam takes place from Friday 2nd October to Sunday 4th October, instead of just focusing on bugs this year it’s going to encompas more. From Translations, to documentaion, to packaging for those who are up for it. I’ve even heard of some teams sping cleaning their wiki’s and getting rid of obsolete pages or typod pages.

So what is a bug jam and why should you do it?

A world-wide online and face-to-face event to get people together to fix Ubuntu bugs – we want to get as many people online fixing bugs, having a great time doing so, and putting their brick in the wall for free software. This is not only a great opportunity to really help Ubuntu, but to also get together with other Ubuntu fans to make a difference together, either via your LoCo team, your LUG, other free software group, or just getting people together in your house/apartment to fix bugs and have a great time

How do you do it, how do you take part ?

You need a place to meet, with a decent internet connection, as you’re going to be online most of the day! Either bring your laptops, or some live CD’s so you can work on Ubuntu, and great people to share the work.  I find the best place not only for net connection and also to get people involved is a University/College. It’s also helpful as many of them have language departments if you are looking to work on translations.

So when you have the venue sorted, what next?

Well this is where you need to sit down a couple of weeks before hand and work out the areas you and your team would like to work on.  You do not have to work on all of the areas! Work on the ones you can.  If it’s your first jam session, perhaps working on bugs and bug triaging would be a good start, next up some translations and take it from there. Another suggestion would be to have some talks that day, we did that last year by having someone explain how to log into Launchpad, how to find bugs, triage them and work on them. Try and cater for everyone, encourage people to get involved. Remember people may never have done this before and may be nervous doing it.

So a simple start may be some bugs – there are a lot there just sitting, not assigned to any package, have a look and see what you can do, maybe add a comment asking for further information.  Also try and reproduce the error, always a helpful one comment what you did to also get the same issue.

Translations work on areas as a team, I find working on one package at a time works so you can see you are making a difference and help one another when stuck

Documentation you don’t need to get too technical if you don’t feel you are able for this, however one nice way to help is clear up wikis that may have typos in them, or are duplicates due to misspellings.

Remember its a face to face meet up, you are working on the internet but do try and spend some time getting to mix with your fellow members, after it’s all done, maybe go for something to eat,  or take a break during the day and mingle and get to know one another, you are all working on the same project and it should be a fun day! The Ubuntu-ie LoCo took part last year and we’re doing so again!

Ubuntu-ie Global Bug jam