[OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G2009 to reach those who cannot attend

Massimo Di Stefano massimodisasha at yahoo.it
Sat Aug 1 09:19:00 EDT 2009


I tried to answer this mail ..

apologize me if it will be a bit confused and for any my mistake.

i'm newbie in live-dvd preparation so maybe is possible i'm ignoring  
something
but i hope you can point me on the right direction to follow.


Il giorno 01/ago/09, alle ore 13:28, Cameron Shorter ha scritto:

> Maning, Massimo, Alex, Ravi,
>
> Thank you all for your kinds offers of help with the LiveDVD. This  
> is greatly appreciated, will be very valuable, and will also make  
> space for the overly committed FOSS4G local organising committee to  
> focus on the other aspects of the FOSS4G conference.
>
> As I see it, this is what needs to be done:
> 1. Anyone who is interested, please subscribe to the live-dvd email  
> list, where we can continue the rest of this discussion. http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/live-demo

i'm already subscribed to the list,
i read the previouse topic and i agree that the main distro to be used  
must be a debian/debian-based distro.

as live-builder system, i'm tring the remastersys tool
i find it really complete and works fine on ubuntu and debian but need  
to be hacked to works on sidux.
(the best solution for me is to have a custom script to produce a  
live.iso from an installed linux-distro based on sidux, i prefer to  
chose sidux beacouse it has updated packages (it include the debian- 
gis repository, and beacouse has an updated kernel and some  
virtualizzation .. is the only distro that works fine on my HW  
"macbook pro 15'' 2,2 with ati 1600 video card))

>
> The wiki associated with this project is at:
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Live_DVD
> and
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Live_GIS_Disc

i tried to describe the procedure i'm using to build some gis SW on  
sidux installing the svn version on the osgeo wiki page (search for  
gfoss.it in the search tool)


I agree with you that for a live projet we need to use the debian-gis

however i prefer to have the last version installed from source. (at  
least for the main app osgeo project)

why? :

building from source we'll have all the dev-package installed in the  
live

this implies that a live-dvd user can choose to install the live on  
its hard-drive  (install option is handled by remastersys)
and having all the dependencies already installed will simplify the  
life to an user that want update to the latest version for the source- 
installed gis app

(this will guarantee a long life for the live ptroject and avoid  
intense dependence from repository)

obviously is not my intent to build all from source, but only the main  
osgeo project like :
Gdal, Grass, Ossim, Qgis, ...+?

>
> 2. We need someone who can continually keep track of the status of  
> the LiveDVD. Determine what it contains, what package versions are  
> on it, how much space is being used, what should and should not be  
> on it etc.
> This data should be kept up to date in this wiki:
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Live_DVD

i done a list of apt-get-able packages related to scientiphic and  
geographics software, icluding python dependencies for qgis plug-in
R package to handle spatial data, other sw more or less related to  
academic/sciantific world


>
> 2b. Revise the LiveDVD schedule, and then track to it.
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Schedule




>
> 3. The LiveDVD needs to be tested, and make sure that the current,  
> and any future packages all work together without impacting each  
> other. Any issues found need to be tracked in the issue tracker.
>
> 4. Someone needs to contact all interested parties for the LiveDVD,  
> and encourage them to provide data or software, or configurations,  
> etc for the LiveDVD. This includes:
> * Workshop and tutorial authors who may want to hand out a DVD at  
> the conference.
> * OSGeo projects already on the LiveDVD, or who want to get on the DVD
> * UbuntuGIS, DebianGIS, GISVM, OSGeo4W packaging projects, which  
> have significant synergies with the LiveDVD
> * And any other people who want to help out.

tring variouse live-dvd build  i had some different problems on  
different distro :

ubuntu 9.04 :

problem to build ossim (mailed the dev list about my issue)
some problems with pyQwt (use python 2.5 while the python used as  
default is 2.6)

debian+ubuntu :

kernel minor than 2.6.30 has proble to get a working driver on mac  
laptop using ati video card.
again on generic hardware i need to manually install the video driver  
to enable a full 3d environment

Sidux :

the driver installed as default works well on mac laptop and the 3d  
environment work out of box on different hardware
whitout need to install additional drivers
but the problem is :

using remastersys (script dedicated to debian and ubuntu distro) i  
need to hack the script to figure out a kernel module problems :
remastersys try to find a pakage "squashfs-module" that on sidux is  
included in the kernel .. so remastersys fail to check the module  
presence (but it exists)
to figure out this problem i commented out the relative "if statment"  
to check the module presence.
after this littlle hack i have remastersys "semi-working" on sidux too.
the live-dvd produced has a working gis software (also 3d with  
ossimplanet) but unluky the script fails to configure the network  
(resolvconf problems)
and it has missed the "install to hd" tools.
(i'm subsribed to the remastersys forum and i'm tring to get support  
about this problem)




in short word :

using debian or ubuntu i'm not able to have a really platform  
independent 3d environment but i have an installable live-dvd

while on sidux i have all working in live-mode except to the  
resolvconf-dhcp problem (i'll meet a server-mantainers in the next   
days to face out this problem)

again the live is not yet installable on HD (i'm tring to solve this  
on the remastersys forum).


>
> 5. Add what ever new packages, linux software, windows installers,  
> etc to the LiveDVD. This is the technical grunt work.
> Note that the packaging projects like DebianGIS and UbuntuGIS are  
> quite robust, and have been very helpful in getting new people  
> started with packaging, and many of these people are also on the  
> LiveDVD email list.

i've discuss about the osgeo live-dvd project on our local-chapter  
list, we'll be avaiable to produce a local dataset and localized  
documents.

my idea is to use as example data a common dataset based on global  
data + a localized dataset based on local-free data if avaiable.
however we need a common tutorial/how-to workshop files to follow as  
guide-line for the local chapters.


just a littel consideration maybe is is obviouse,
i'm tring the variouse .iso produced and is my idea that the live.iso  
works really more fast if it is booted in a virtualbox machine
i do some test on the live.iso, i find that running it in a VirtualBox  
Machine,  it is really fast rather than a boot from cd.



thanks to read this long-confuse mail and for any feedback.

Massimo.

>
> Welcome aboard.
> I suggest that any volunteers join the live-demo email list, and  
> respond to this email suggesting how you might want to help.
> Cameron Shorter, FOSS4G chair.
>
> Ravi wrote:
>> Hi,
>> volunteer:
>> Happy to note a good discussion.
>> I can help in seeing the draft of workshops/Labs that deal with  
>> Vector-GIS and GIS that focuses on Geoscience. Can help in advising  
>> where necessary, to tune the material such that those multitudes  
>> not attending the event can equally use the material with ease.
>> Cheers
>> Ravi Kumar
>>
>> --- On Fri, 31/7/09, Alex Borrell <borrellalex at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> From: Alex Borrell <borrellalex at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G2009 to reach those who cannot  
>>> attend
>>> To: "OSGeo Discussions" <discuss at lists.osgeo.org>
>>> Cc: "Cameron Shorter" <cameron.shorter at lisasoft.com>
>>> Date: Friday, 31 July, 2009, 8:12 PM
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 5:55 AM,
>>> Massimo Di Stefano <massimodisasha at yahoo.it>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm  working on a live dvd project based on GIS
>>> software,
>>>
>>> i'm avaiable for any help on the dvd creation.
>>>
>>> let me know.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ciao,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Massimo.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Il giorno 31/lug/09, alle ore 11:11, Cameron Shorter ha
>>> scritto:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Ravi,
>>>
>>> Yes, you are so right, we do need to collect as much of the
>>> material from the FOSS4G conference as we can.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> One way we hope to facilitate this has been to give every
>>> attendee a LiveDVD which can be populated with all the
>>> material from the workshops. This means that if workshop
>>> presenters can get their data onto the DVD, then they know
>>> all attendees will receive it.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So we have budget for the LiveDVD. We have an old version
>>> of the LiveDVD (based on FOSS4G 2008). What we need to
>>> continue through to completion is to have someone who will
>>> coordinate the compiling of the DVD.  This is primarily a
>>> project management role, keeping track of what is on the DVD
>>> and what should be on it, contacting workshop authors, and
>>> project leads and helping them get their projects onto the
>>> DVD etc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sound like you? It would be an incredibly valuable
>>> contribution to FOSS4G and the greater OSGeo community at
>>> large.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jody Garnett wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> These are all kind thoughts. Would you consider
>>> volunteering to help
>>>
>>> put together the conference live DVD? You can see an
>>> example from
>>>
>>> FOSS4G2008 etc...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jody
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 8:20 AM, <ravivundavalli at yahoo.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> FOSS4G every year is a keenly followed event. Many await
>>> the publication of material on the website eagerly such that
>>> they can follow labs, workshops and presentations of
>>> choice.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So the present organisers may please request those
>>> especially conducting labs/workshops to keep in mind the
>>> multitudes who browse them through the internet can have
>>> equal benefit. This can be achieved my keeping on the
>>> internet for download
>>>
>>>
>>> 1. All the binaries that are required for the exercise
>>>
>>> 2. All the data that are required for the exercise
>>>
>>> 3. All the printed material provided for the exercise
>>>
>>> 4. All the other material provided to the attendees, CD or
>>> DVD etc
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I agree that most of it is done each time, except for a few
>>> instances
>>>
>>> Example:'Download data from the CD provided', is
>>> given in the lab pdf.. but the data is not given for
>>> download...
>>>
>>> Example:'Run the pg_setenv.bat file first,'
>>> (FOSS4G2007).. even on date a nice archive is available from
>>> the FOSS4G2007 website, data, text etc..
>>>
>>> but, the pg_setenv.bat, not there.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This may be trivial for experts, but for those learning
>>> through the internet and depending on 'Discuss
>>> Lists', it will be a roadblock.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Ravi Kumar
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>    See the Web's breaking stories, chosen by people
>>> like you. Check out Yahoo! Buzz. http://in.buzz.yahoo.com/
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>>
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>>
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>>
>>> Cameron Shorter
>>>
>>> Geospatial Systems Architect
>>>
>>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
>>>
>>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Think Globally, Fix Locally
>>>
>>> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open
>>> Source
>>>
>>> http://www.lisasoft.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>>
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>>
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>>
>>> I think Massimo is right, there are lots of people who can
>>> not attend FOSSG4, but would like to learn
>>> through Internet the workshops and conferences. As it is a
>>> fast growing field, the sooner the better. Please,
>>>
>>> if there is a way to help this happen, let me know!
>>>
>>> I am from Mexico, so if there is some need for spanish
>>> translation, or any other work I'll be glad to help.
>>>
>>> Alex Borrell
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
> -- 
> Cameron Shorter
> Geospatial Systems Architect
> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>
> Think Globally, Fix Locally
> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
> http://www.lisasoft.com
>



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