<div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
> I have a request. At the next meeting would it be possible to get<br>
> members views (strictly for my benefit) on what they think is the<br>
> primary function of a LUG.<br>
<br>
</div></blockquote><div> </div></div>To free the world from the tyranny of closed source software so that our descendants, innumerable, can continue to enjoy the same four software freedoms that we enjoy today.<br><br>Or maybe not. I'm not that die-hard a Stallmanist. I think the LUG has to change for the 21st century. In the beginning it was about introducing people to the free software and extolling the benefits of it over proprietory operating systems and programs. <br>
<br>Today, free software is mainstream. Firefox has 20% market share, Google uses it run their data centres, Netbooks are shipping with Linux pre-installed. Sun Microsystems is open-sourcing every part of their technology stack.<br>
<br>Of course, the goal of a LUG should still continue to promote the political philosophy of free software. But in my view, the political philopsohy is the weakest reason for using free software. Free software is higher quality, runs on more platforms and leads to a more vibrant community of software developers. <br>
<br>For example, I think that Windows 7 is a vast improvement over Windows Vista. I'd like Windows 7 as a replacement to my XP machine at work. Would I install it at home? Absolutely not.<br><br>Windows 7 feels like the siberian wilderness. Out of the box the system is barely usable. There's no sensible package management. If I want to develop a program, the only real contender these days is .NET (also owned by Microsoft). If I want a decent text editor, I have to get the free software program Notepad++. If I want a decent image manipulation program I need Paint.NET (Free software). If I want a good FTP client I need to use Filezilla (Free software). <br>
<br>If I'm using so much free software just to make Windows usable, then why not get rid of the costly, closed software, operating system and replace it with an OS that lives and breathes free software?<br><br>We're now at the point where lots of people have used free software on Windows. We just need people to take the final step. That's one goal of a LUG, to increase awareness.<br>
<br>The other is to discuss technical topics with like minded individuals. Personally, I prefer this side of the modern LUG to the politics.<br><br>Simon. <br><br><br>