Newsletter 3-14-04

Question

Archlinux Weekly Newsletter
*Jason Chu and Ben Mazer*
  Opening
Welcome to the ArchLinux Newsletter. This attempts to give you an ``at a
glance'' look at the world of ArchLinux.
  News
/No front page news this week/
    This Week in Dev Land
    * ArchLinux has an IRC bot. It's name is archbot. It's an infobot
      (http://www.infobot.org/). Right now we're testing it to see if it
      can help answer some of the simpler questions on IRC.
    * Damir has suggested we start having incoming-cleanup waves: where
      the oldest packages in incoming can be talked about and dealt
      with. It was suggested that he take the idea to the TUs, because
      it's more their job now. Developers will still join the discussion
      though.
    * Aurelien found a bug in our db update scripts and blew up the
      package database. A number of packages were accidently orphaned
      because of this. If anyone sees packages that used to be adopted
      by one of the developers, feel free to bring it to their attention.
    ArchStats Updates
/To participate, visit: http://archstats.coding-zone.com/
Number of registered systems: 281
Date first system was registered: 20031017
Most recent update occurred: 20040314
Longest recorded uptime: 175 days, 22 hours, 51 minutes, 55 seconds.
Average uptime: 4 days, 13 hours, 25 minutes, 41 seconds.
Lowest kernel version: 2.4.21
Highest kernel version: 2.6.4
Least packages installed on a system: 44
Average installed packages: 253
Most packages installed on a system: 563
  Discussions
    Forum Highlights
    * Drz wanted to know if all the 0.6 packages were compiled with
      GCC3.3.3 (the included compiler). The answer was no. Arch uses a
      rolling release cycle where the ISO releases are just snapshots of
      the current tree. The focus is on making the trees perfect, not
      making a good CD release. Read the thread
      here:http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?t=3155
    * LB06 posted his suggestion for the /opt folder. He did not like
      the idea of separate binary folders. The thread turned into a
      debate with no clear answer. Some people suggested that it helped
      organization, and others did not care either way. Participate in
      the thread here: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?t=3084
    * Rasat made a request for a web downloading interface to the TUR
      system. Xentac, the TUR developer was against this idea, because
      the goal with the TUR system was to interface with pacman. This
      way users wouldn't have to manually update packages themselves.
      The suggestion is still being discussed, so participate here:
      http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?t=3191.
    Mailing List Highlights
    * Brent Pitman wanted to know if it was possible to have pacman
      automatically update (unattended). There were a few solutions
      including a cron script and simply yes| pacman -Syu. This is not
      recommended though, because you may want to be notified of
      important package updates. Read the thread here:
      http://www.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch … 01075.html
      TUR Mailing List
The TUR system has been completely redone. The web interface has now
been replaced with a SFS/Subversion combination. This system will scale
much better and is hosted on the ArchLinux servers now. Because of the
downtime, many packages became out of date. Please be patient while the
TUs adjust to the new system and update packages. Please note that the
mailing list address has changed to this:
[email protected].
  Packages
    Package Highlights
    * KDE 3.2.1 was released and packaged this week. This is an
      important bugfix release, so all KDE users should upgrade. You can
      read the announcement here:
      http://kde.org/announcements/announce-3.2.1.php
    * XFCE 4.0.4 was released this week. This is a bugfix release as
      well, and all XFCE users should upgrade. The changelog is located
      here:
      http://sourceforge.net/project/shownote … _id=222635
    New Packages
kde-i18n-xh 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-zu 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-vi 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-zh_tw 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-zh_cn 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-sv 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-th 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-ven 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-ta 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-tr 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-uk 3.2.1-1
kdeaccessibility 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-fr 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-es 3.2.1-1
cvs 1.11.14-1
kde-i18n-ss 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-sk 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-sl 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-sr 3.2.1-1
acpi 0.07-1
acpid 1.0.3-1
postgresql 7.4.2-1
kernel26-scsi 2.6.4-1
gweled 0.4-1
j 0.20.2-1
kde-i18n-ru 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-se 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-ro 3.2.1-1
ices 2.0.0-1
kde-i18n-pl 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-pt 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-pt_br 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-be 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-bn 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-br 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-cy 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-az 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-nso 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-nn 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-nl 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-mk 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-mt 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-hr 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-is 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-ja 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-lt 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-he 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-hu 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-it 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-nb 3.2.1-1
galculator 1.2.0-1
patchutils 0.2.28-1
xfce4-diskperf-plugin 1.4.1-2
wine 20040309-1
mlterm 2.8.0-3
kde-i18n-et 3.2.1-1
dnsmasq 2.3-1
sylpheed-claws 0.9.10-1
kernel26 2.6.4-1
kde-i18n-eu 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-fa 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-fi 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-eo 3.2.1-1
kde-i18n-en_gb 3.2.1-1
quanta 3.2.1-1
xfwm4-themes 4.0.4-1
xffm 4.0.4-1
xffm-icons 4.0.4-1
xfprint 4.0.4-1
xfwm4 4.0.4-1
xfce-mcs-manager 4.0.4-1
xfce-mcs-plugins 4.0.4-1
xfce-utils 4.0.4-1
xfdesktop 4.0.4-1
xfce4-themes 4.0.4-1
xfce4-toys 4.0.4-1
xfce4-trigger-launcher 4.0.4-1
xfcalendar 0.1.6-1
xfce4-iconbox 4.0.4-1
xfce4-mixer 4.0.4-1
xfce4-panel 4.0.4-1
libxfce4util 4.0.4-1
libxfcegui4 4.0.4-1
kdetoys 3.2.1-1
kdeutils 3.2.1-1
kdenetwork 3.2.1-1
kdepim 3.2.1-1
kdesdk 3.2.1-1
kdegraphics 3.2.1-1
kdelibs 3.2.1-1
kdemultimedia 3.2.1-1
kdeedu 3.2.1-1
kdegames 3.2.1-1
kdeartwork 3.2.1-1
kdebase 3.2.1-1
kdebindings 3.2.1-1
arts 1.2.1-1
kdeaddons 3.2.1-1
kdeadmin 3.2.1-1
xfce4-minicmd-plugin 0.2.0-2
xfce4-netload-plugin 0.2.2-2
xfce4-datetime-plugin 0.3.0-2
xfce4-showdesktop-plugin 0.3.0-2
xfce4-battery-plugin 0.2.0-2
xfce4-clipman-plugin 0.4.0-2
xfce4-systemload-plugin 0.3.4-2
xfce4-notes-plugin 0.9.7-2
emboss 2.8.0-1
archstats 3.6-1
tidyhtml 20040308-1
emovix 0.9.0pre1-1
mp3splt 2.0-2
abiword 2.0.5-1
xmms-speex 0.9.1-1
vnc 3.3.7-1
automake 1.8.3-1
mp3wrap 0.5-1
k3b-i18n 0.11-1
xmms-kde 3.1-1
cdrtools-devel 2.01a27-1
audacity 1.2.0-1
squid 2.5.STABLE5-1
sfs 0.7.2-1
gnomemeeting 1.00-1
openh323 1.13.2-1
pwlib 1.6.3-1
      STAGING Listing
/To get access to this repository and the TURs, go to:
http://tur.archlinux.org//
abcm2ps 3.7.3-1
fox 1.0.51-s1
amule 1.2.6-s1
cdw 0.2.2-s1
chromium 0.9.12-1
cups-pdf 1.4.1-s1
fftw3 3.0.1-1
cln 1.1.6-1
giftui 0.3.1-1
gksu 1.0.3-s1
gmencoder 0.1.0-s1
gnome-alsamixer 0.9.6-s1
gnome-cups-manager 0.17-1
gnotime 2.1.7-s1
gossip 0.7.1-s1
gp 0.26-1
gtk-smooth-engine 0.5.6-s1
windowlab 1.23-s1
gtkglext 1.0.5-s1
gtkglextmm 1.0.1-s1
sylpheed-gtk2 0.9.9-s1
hwd 1.6-2
ion-devel 20030814-1
kbarcode 1.6.1-s1
ksambaplugin 0.5b2-1
labplot 1.2.2-1
libchipcard 0.9.1-1
libgnomecups 0.1.6-1
libksba 0.4.7-1
libofx 0.6.4-1
liferea 0.4.6d-s1
logjam 4.3.2-s1
loudmouth 0.15.1-s1
lwm 1.2.0-1
mage 6.30.030607-1
materm 0.1-1
mlview 0.6.2-1
monopd 0.9.0-s1
mp3burn 0.3.1-1
ms-sys 1.1.1-1
panorama-tools 2.6bml12-s1
parse-yapp 1.05-1
pixieplus 0.5.4-1
potrace 1.2-1
potracegui 0.3-s1
prekin 6.30.030607-1
prizm 0.2-s1
pychecker 0.8.13-s1
pygtkglext 1.0.1-s1
scribus-devel 1.1.5-s1
scribus-docs 1.0.1-s1
seahorse 0.7.3-2
shaaft 0.5.0-1
smb4k 0.3.1-1
smclone 0.55-1
source-highlight 1.8-s1
spe 0.4.2c-s1
texmacs 1.0.3.3-s1
tla 1.1-2
tse3 0.2.7-1
ttf-cheapskate 0.1-2
universalkopete 0.1-1
xfce4-fsguard-plugin 0.2.0-s1
xfce4-xmms-plugin 0.1.1-s1
xml-dom 1.43-1
xml-regexp 0.03-1
xml-xql 0.68-1
xpenguins_themes 1.0-1
xtermset 0.5.1-s1
xv 3.10a-1
xymms 0.9.1-s1
sip 3.10.1-s1
qscintilla 1.2-s1
  Problems
    FAQ of the Week
Q: I'm having a problem. What should I do, where should I turn? Help me!
A: ArchLinux has many places you can turn for help. First, you should
try reading the many forms of documentation. Arch has a nicely filled
WIKI available at http://wiki.archlinux.org/. There are a set of guides
located here: http://www.archlinux.org/docs/.
If your question wasn't answered in the documentation, you can
search/post in the forum located at http://bbs.archlinux.org or you can
catch people in our IRC room located at irc.freenode.net #archlinux.
Lastly, you can join the mailing list, located at:
http://www.archlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/arch/.
So you see, you are not alone with a problem. Although this may not seem
like a FAQ, we are receiving lots of questions from distressed newcomers.
    Bugs
      Bugs Closed This Week
534. K3b crashes due to mime type error.
527. Aide does not compile
529. root autologin or somewhere mention that root has no password
530. Arch Installation/Rescue CD is not capable of mounting vfat and/or
ntfs
495. Pacman ignores IgnorePkg field for packages that "replace" other
packages
502. Makefile for kernel26
498. Add other codepages to kernel
506. KDE package missing esd
487. kdelibs must be patched for kmail to print (kdebug: 72775)
522. kde html/text printing broken
526. No text in widgets for gqview, xscreensaver, and GIMP
525. XF86config template
524. bluefish needs gnome-common
523. gnome-vfs: libgnomevfs-2.so.0 missing
519. pacman-2.7.5 fails to build
      Bugs Opened This Week
538. gettext with c-sharp enable
537. JFS mounted read only after crash
536. gnome terminal missing dependency
535. gnuplot in science or multimedia ?
533. kget (kdenetwork) has threading deadlock (kdebug: 74597)
532. Ideas for the installer
531. kernel updates brake pcmcia_cs
528. kernel pkgs MUST have an echo saying: "WARNING: If you use lilo, do
'lilo -v'
  Closing
That's all for this week. Stay tuned for more exciting ArchLinux
development.

Answer 1

Dusty wrote:
sarah31 wrote:the link for the bit about jlowell bitching again doesn't work.
bah. so what?
ok, i read it on a lot of posts, and now i want to know what it means:
what do you mean with "bah"? is this a short form for something you have in canadian english or canadian français i do not know about?