Debian Weekly News - January 17th, 2006

Posted by tadelste on Jan 17, 2006 1:43 PM EDT
Mailing list; By Martin Schulze
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Welcome to this year's 3rd issue of DWN, the weekly newsletter for the Debian community.

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Debian Weekly News
http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2006/03/
Debian Weekly News - January 17th, 2006
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Simon Josefsson [1]proposed a license sufficient for Debian and FreeBSD for the [2]Internet Engineering Task Force that releases RFC documents. Michael Banck [3]announced the availability of X.org packages for the Hurd.

1. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2005/11/msg00214.html 2. http://www.ietf.org/ 3. http://lists.debian.org/debian-hurd/2006/01/msg00018.html

Status of the m68k Port. Wouter Verhelst [4]announced future plans of the m68k port team after it lacks too many [5]requirements for [6]etch. [7]Freescale's m68k successor, the [8]ColdFire variant with MMU (memory management unit) would boost the buildds' speed by factor 4 and more compared to the actual buildds. For the purpose of evaluating the possibilities of such an hybrid port, Freescale offered Debian five ColdFire boards which are currently on the way to the Debian m68k port team.

4. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2006/01/msg00005.html 5. http://release.debian.org/etch_arch_qualify.html 6. http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/ 7. http://www.freescale.com/ 8. http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/homepage.jsp?nodeId=02VS0lDFTQYTLC

Debian Mirror Split. Anthony Towns [9]announced that the primary Debian mirror will soon only contain the [10]i386 architecture instead of all, the [11]amd64 architecture may be added later. For other architectures special host names will be created. He asked for help communicating with mirror admins and maintaining the master mirror list.

9. http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2006/01/msg00007.html 10. http://www.debian.org/ports/i386/ 11. http://www.debian.org/ports/amd64/

Releasing Software under the GPL. Svante Signell [12]wondered how to mark files in a software package that is to be released under the GNU [13]General Public License (GPL). Justin Pryzby [14]stated that all files with creative content should be marked accordingly. Brian Nelson [15]added that most of these questions are [16]answered by the Free Software Foundation already.

12. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2005/11/msg00202.html 13. http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html 14. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2005/11/msg00204.html 15. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2005/11/msg00206.html 16. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html

Discovering neglected Packages. Thomas Huriaux [17]wrote a number of scripts to [18]discover packages that have been neglected by their maintainers. The output should help developers to decide which package to help working on. The list is sorted by the number of [19]bugs, [20]date of the last maintainer upload, number of [21]non-maintainer uploads and the number of [22]release-critical bugs.

17. http://lists.debian.org/debian-qa/2005/12/msg00023.html 18. http://haydn.debian.org/~thuriaux-guest/qa/ 19. http://haydn.debian.org/~thuriaux-guest/qa/bugs.html 20. http://haydn.debian.org/~thuriaux-guest/qa/date.html 21. http://haydn.debian.org/~thuriaux-guest/qa/nmu.html 22. http://haydn.debian.org/~thuriaux-guest/qa/rc_bugs.html

Distributing GPL Software. Daniel Carrera [23]wondered how he is supposed to fulfil the source code requirement of the GNU [24]GPL when he is handing out OpenOffice.org CDs during an exhibition. Andrew Suffield [25]explained that the easiest way is to prepare copies of the source and give them to anybody who asks for them.

23. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/01/msg00118.html 24. http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html 25. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/01/msg00134.html

Collaborative Maintenance of Packages. Following the last discussion at the Debian-QA meeting in Darmstadt, Raphaël Hertzog [26]described the [27]basics for maintaining packages by a team using a version control system. The goal is to find a decent way for Debian to let external contributors integrate their work within Debian.

26. http://lists.debian.org/debian-qa/2005/12/msg00026.html 27. http://wiki.debian.org/CollaborativeMaintenance

Security Updates. You know the drill. Please make sure that you update your systems if you have any of these packages installed.

* DSA 935: [28]libapache2-mod-auth-pgsql -- Format string vulnerability. * DSA 936: [29]libextractor -- Arbitrary code execution. * DSA 937: [30]tetex-bin -- Arbitrary code execution. * DSA 938: [31]koffice -- Arbitrary code execution. * DSA 939: [32]fetchmail -- Denial of service. * DSA 940: [33]gpdf -- Arbitrary code execution. * DSA 941: [34]tuxpaint -- Insecure temporary file creation. * DSA 942: [35]albatross -- Arbitrary code execution. * DSA 943: [36]perl -- Arbitrary code execution. * DSA 944: [37]mantis -- Several vulnerabilities. * DSA 945: [38]antiword -- Insecure temporary file creation.

28. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-935 29. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-936 30. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-937 31. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-938 32. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-939 33. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-940 34. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-941 35. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-942 36. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-943 37. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-944 38. http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-945

New or Noteworthy Packages. The following packages were added to the unstable Debian archive [39]recently or contain important updates.

39. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/newpkg_main

* [40]alacarte -- Easy GNOME menu editing tool. * [41]bcrelay -- Broadcast relay daemon. * [42]blinken -- KDE version of the Simon Says electronic memory game. * [43]bluemon -- Activate or deactivate programs based on bluetooth link quality. * [44]cue2toc -- Converts CUE files to cdrdao's TOC format. * [45]debian-archive-keyring -- GnuPG archive keys of the Debian archive. * [46]fatsort -- Utility for sorting FAT directory structures. * [47]freetalk -- Console based Jabber client. * [48]havp -- HTTP Anti Virus Proxy. * [49]k3dsurf -- Tool for mathematical surfaces. * [50]kanagram -- Letter order game for KDE. * [51]kitty -- Qt/KDE based RSS podcast and video aggregator. * [52]kmobiletools -- KDE control application for the mobile phone. * [53]knetwalk -- Game for system administrators. * [54]kthesaurus -- Thesaurus for the KDE Office Suite. * [55]kunittest -- Unit testing library for KDE. * [56]linuxprinting.org-ppds -- Linuxprinting.org printer support - PostScript PPD files. * [57]pcsx -- Sony PlayStation emulator. * [58]update-manager -- GNOME application that manages apt updates. * [59]zsnes -- Emulator of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (TM).

40. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/alacarte 41. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/bcrelay 42. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/blinken 43. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/bluemon 44. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/cue2toc 45. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/misc/debian-archive-keyring 46. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/fatsort 47. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/freetalk 48. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/havp 49. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/kde/k3dsurf 50. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/kanagram 51. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/kitty 52. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/kde/kmobiletools 53. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/knetwalk 54. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/kde/kthesaurus 55. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/kunittest 56. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/text/linuxprinting.org-ppds 57. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/pcsx 58. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/gnome/update-manager 59. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/otherosfs/zsnes

Orphaned Packages. 7 packages were orphaned this week and require a new maintainer. This makes a total of 171 orphaned packages. Many thanks to the previous maintainers who contributed to the Free Software community. Please see the [60]WNPP pages for the full list, and please add a note to the bug report and retitle it to ITA: if you plan to take over a package.

60. http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/

* [61]boson-base -- Core package for the Boson OpenGL war game. ([62]Bug#348062) * [63]installwatch -- Track installation of local software. ([64]Bug#347469) * [65]oneko -- Cat chases the cursor (now a mouse) around the screen. ([66]Bug#348199, [67]Bug#348205) * [68]wmtop -- Dockapp that displays 3 top memory or CPU using processes. ([69]Bug#347529) * [70]x-symbol -- WYSIWYG TeX mode for XEmacs. ([71]Bug#348060) * [72]xmix -- Xt based mixer for X11. ([73]Bug#348196) * [74]xtalk -- BSD talk compatible X Window System client. ([75]Bug#347571)

61. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/boson-base 62. http://bugs.debian.org/348062 63. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/utils/installwatch 64. http://bugs.debian.org/347469 65. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/games/oneko 66. http://bugs.debian.org/348199 67. http://bugs.debian.org/348205 68. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/x11/wmtop 69. http://bugs.debian.org/347529 70. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/editors/x-symbol 71. http://bugs.debian.org/348060 72. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/sound/xmix 73. http://bugs.debian.org/348196 74. http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/xtalk 75. http://bugs.debian.org/347571

Removed Packages. 22 packages have been [76]removed from the Debian archive during the past week:

76. http://ftp-master.debian.org/removals.txt

* zope-backtalk -- Document annotation, editing, and production system - Zope [77]Bug#310673: Request of maintainer, orphaned package * eli -- Compiler construction kit [78]Bug#319463: Request of maintainer, very few users and up for adoption for several months * openmosix -- Open Source Linux Cluster Project [79]Bug#319817: Request of QA, outdated and buggy * polypaudio -- Development files for the polypaudio sound server library [80]Bug#339589: Request of maintainer, has never been part of a stable release; dead upstream * gwydion-dylan, libpng-dylan -- Gwydion Dylan [81]Bug#342860: Request of QA, FTBFS; RC-buggy; maintainer MIA? * torsmo -- System monitor that sits in the corner of your desktop [82]Bug#342919: Request of maintainer, superseded by conky; dead upstream * php-clamav -- PHP bindings for libclamav [83]Bug#343908: Request of maintainer, superseded by php-clamavlib; dead upstream * libtoolbutton-java -- extension of Java swing component JButton [84]Bug#344129: Request of maintainer, superseded by libtoolbar-java; no rev-deps * gtk-engines-icegradient -- Ice-Gradient theme for GTK+ [85]Bug#344249: Request of maintainer, dead upstream * libbusiness-onlinepayment-bankofamerica-perl -- Bank of America backend for Business::OnlinePayment [86]Bug#344326: Request of maintainer, obsolete, doesn't work anymore * ubit -- Development files for libubit [87]Bug#344597: Request of QA, orphaned, out-of-date, unnoticed grave breakage * xerces25 -- Validating XML parser library for C++ (development files) [88]Bug#344860: Request of maintainer, superseded by xerces27 * figfonts -- User contributed fonts for figlet [89]Bug#345743: included fonts are undistributable due to lack of license information * pmp-common -- hotplug/udev scripts for portable music players [90]Bug#346131: Request of maintainer, obsolete * rbscrobbler -- Send rhythmbox track information to audioscrobbler [91]Bug#347471: Request of maintainer, orphaned; obsolete * winesetuptk -- Windows Emulator (Configuration and Setup Tool) [92]Bug#347640: Request of maintainer, superseded by wine-fg, unmaintained * pcmcia-modules-2.4.26-i386 -- PCMCIA modules for Linux (kernel 2.4.26-1-386) [93]Bug#344839: Request of QA, obsoleted, unusable in Debian * webmin-* -- Web interface for system maintenance, and modules [94]Bug#343897: Request of maintainer, outdated; unmaintained * zope-loginmanager, zope-zpatters -- Zope modules [95]Bug#312864: Request of maintainer, orphaned, superseded * 855resolution -- Resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset [96]Bug#347310: Request of maintainer, superseded by 915resolution * mooix -- MOO built on top of the Unix system [97]Bug#347811: Request of maintainer, not suitable for release * oftc-hybrid -- Hybrid 7 IRC daemon - OFTC branch [98]Bug#347874: Request of maintainer, unmaintained

77. http://bugs.debian.org/310673 78. http://bugs.debian.org/319463 79. http://bugs.debian.org/319817 80. http://bugs.debian.org/339589 81. http://bugs.debian.org/342860 82. http://bugs.debian.org/342919 83. http://bugs.debian.org/343908 84. http://bugs.debian.org/344129 85. http://bugs.debian.org/344249 86. http://bugs.debian.org/344326 87. http://bugs.debian.org/344597 88. http://bugs.debian.org/344860 89. http://bugs.debian.org/345743 90. http://bugs.debian.org/346131 91. http://bugs.debian.org/347471 92. http://bugs.debian.org/347640 93. http://bugs.debian.org/344839 94. http://bugs.debian.org/343897 95. http://bugs.debian.org/312864 96. http://bugs.debian.org/347310 97. http://bugs.debian.org/347811 98. http://bugs.debian.org/347874

Want to continue reading DWN? Please help us create this newsletter. We still need more volunteer writers who watch the Debian community and report about what is going on. Please see the [99]contributing page to find out how to help. We're looking forward to receiving your mail at [100]dwn@debian.org.

99. http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/contributing 100. mailto:dwn@debian.org



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