News Bytes #18

#### "Linux Gazette...making Linux just a little more fun!"

| ### Contents: News in General Software Announcements

### News in General

### Atlanta Linux Showcase

Linus Torvalds, the "Kernel-Kid" and creator of Linux, Jon "Maddog" Hall, Linux/Alpha team leader and inspiring Linux advocate, David Miller, the mind behind Linux/SPARC, and Phil Hughes, publisher of Linux Journal, and many more will speak at the upcoming Atlanta Linux Showcase.

For more information on the Atlanta Linux Showcase and to reserve your seat today, please visit our web site at http://www.ale.org.showcase

### Linux Speakers Bureau

SSC is currently putting together a Linux Speaker's Bureau. http://www.ssc.com/linux/lsb.html

The LSB is designed to become a collage of speakers specializing in Linux. Speakers who specialize in talks ranging from novice to advanced - technical or business are all welcome. The LSB will become an important tool for organizers of trade show talks, computer fairs and general meetings, so if you are interested in speaking at industry events, make sure to visit the LSB WWW page and register yourself as a speaker.

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

### The Linux System Administrator's Guide (SAG)

The Linux System Administrator's Guide (SAG) is a book on system administration targeted at novices. Lars Wiraenius has been writing it for some years, and it shows. He has made an official HTML version, available at the SAG home page at:
http://www.iki.fi/liw/linux/sag

Take a Look! B

### Free CORBA 2 ORB For C++ Available

The Olivetti and Oracle Research Laboratory has made available the first public release of omniORB (version 2.2.0). We also refer to this version as omniORB2.

omniORB2 is copyright Olivetti & Oracle Research Laboratory. It is free software. The programs in omniORB2 are distributed under the GNU General Public Licence as published by the Free Software Foundation. The libraries in omniORB2 are distributed under the GNU Library General Public Licence.

For more information take a look at http://www.orl.co.il/omniORB.

Source code and binary distributions are available from http://www.orl.co.uk/omniORB/omniORB.html

### The Wurd Project

The Wurd Project, a SGML Word Processor for the UNIX environment (and hopefully afterwards, Win32 and Mac) is currently looking for developers that are willing to participate in the project. Check out the site at: http://sunsite.unc.edu/paulc/wp

Mailing list archives are available, as well as the current source, documentation, programming tools and various other items can also be found at the above address.

### Linus in Wonderland

Check it out...

Here's the online copy of Metro's article on Linus...
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/cover/linux-9719.html

Enjoy!

### Software Announcements

### BlackMail 0.24

Announcing BlackMail 0.24. This is a bug-fix release over the previous release, which was made public on April 29th.

BlackMail is a mailer proxy that wraps around your existing mailer (preferrably smail) and provides protection against spammers, mail forwarding, and the like.

For those of you looking for a proxy, you may want to look into this. This is a tested product, and works very well. I am interested in getting this code incorporated into SMAIL, so if you are interested in doing this task, please feel free.

You can download blackmail from ftp://ftp.bitgate.com. You can also view the web page at http://www.bitgate.com.

### CDE--Common Desktop Environment for Linux

Red Hat Software is proud to announce the arrival of Red Hat's TriTeal CDE for Linux. Red Hat Software, makers of the award-winning, technologically advanced Red Hat Linux operating system, and TriTeal Corporation, the industry leader in CDE technology, teamed up to bring you this robust, easy to use CDE for your Linux PC.

CDE includes Red Hat's TriTeal CDE for Linux provides users with a graphical environment to access both local and remote systems. It gives you icons, pull-down menus, and folders.

Red Hat's TriTeal CDE for Linux is available in two versions. The Client Edition gives you everything you need to operate a complete licensed copy of the CDE desktop, incluidng the Motif 1.2.5 shared libraries. The Developer's Edition allows you to perform all functions of the Client Edition, and also includes a complete integrated copy of OSF Motif version 1.2.5, providing a complete development environment with static and dynamically linked libraries, Motif Window Manager, and sample Motif Sources.

CDE is an RPM-based product, and will install easily on Red Hat and other RPM-based Linux systems. We recommend using Red Hat Linux 4.2 to take full advantage of CDE features. For those who do not have Red Hat 4.2, CDE includes several Linux packages that can be automatically installed to improve its stability.

Order online at: http://www.redhat.com Or call 1-888-REDHAT1 or (919) 572-6500.

### TCFS 2.0.1

Announcing the release 2.0.1 of TCFS (Transparent Cryptographic File System) for Linux. TCFS is a cryptographic filesystem developed here at Universita' di Salerno (Italy). It operates like NFS but allow users to use a new flag X to make the files secure (encrypted). Security engine is based on DES, RC5 and IDEA.

The new release works in Linux kernel space, and may be linked as kernel module. It is developed to work on Linux 2.0.x kernels.

A mailing-list is available at tcfs-list@mikonos.dia.unisa.it. Documentation is available at http://mikonos.dia.unisa.it/tcfs. Here you can find instructions for installing TCFS and docs on how it works. Mirror site is available at http://www.globenet.it and http://www.inopera.it/~ermmau.tcfs

### Qddb 1.43p1

Qddb 1.43p1 (patch 1) is now available

Qddb is fast, powerful and flexible database software that runs on UNIX platforms, including Linux. Some of its features include:

- Tcl/Tk programming interface
- Easy to use, you can have a DB application completely up and
- running in about 5 minutes, using nxqddb.
- CGI interface for quick and easy online databases/guestbooks/etc...
- Fast, and powerful searching capability
- Report generator
- Barcharts and graphs
- Mass mailings with Email, letters and postcards

Qddb-1.43p1 is the first patch release to 1.43. This patch fixes a few minor problems and a searching bug when using cached secondary searching.

To download the patch file: ftp://ftp.hsdi.com/pub/qddb/sources/qddb-1.43p1.patch

For more information on Qddb, visit the official Qddb home page: http://www.hsdi.com/qddb

### Golgotha

AUSTIN, TX- Crack dot Com, developers of the cult-hit Abuse and the anticipated 3D action/strategy title Golgotha, recently learned that Kevin Bowen, aka Fragmaster on irc and Planet Quake, has put up the first unofficial Golgotha web site.

The new web site can be found at http://www.planetquake.com/grags/golgotha, and there is a link to the new site at http://crack.com/games/golgotha. Mr. Bowen's web site features new screenshots and music previously available only on irc.

Golgotha is Crack dot Com's first $1M game and features a careful marriage of 3D and 2D gameplay in an action/strategy format featuring new rendering technology, frantic gameplay, and a strong storyline. For more information on Golgotha, visit Crack dot Com's web site at http://crack.com/games/golgotha.

Crack dot Com is a small game development company located in Austin, Texas. The corporation was founded in 1996 by Dave Taylor, co-author of Doom and Quake, and Jonathan Clark, author of Abuse.

### ImageMagick-3.8.5-elf.tgz

ImageMagick-3.8.5-elf.tgz is now out.

This version brings together a number of minor changes made to accomodate PerlMagick and lots of minor bugs fixes including multi-page TIFF decoding and writing PNG.

ImageMagick (TM), version 3.8.5, is a package for display and interactive manipulation of images for the X Window System. ImageMagick performs, also as command line programs, among others these functions:

- Describe the format and characteristics of an image
- Convert an image from one format to another
- Transform an image or sequence of images
- Read an image from an X server and output it as an image file
- Animate a sequence of images
- Combine one or more images to create new images
- Create a composite image by combining several separate images
- Segment an image based on the color histogram
- Retrieve, list, or print files from a remote network site

ImageMagick supports also the Drag-and-Drop protocol form the OffiX package and many of the more popular image formats including JPEG, MPEG, PNG, TIFF, Photo CD, etc. Check out: ftp://ftp.wizards.dupont.com/pub/ImageMagick/linux

### Slackware 3.2 on CD-ROM

Linux Systems Labs, The Linux Publishing Company is pleased to announce Slackware 3.2 on CD-ROM This CD contains Slackware 3.2 with 39 security fixes and patches since the Official Slackware 3.2 release. The CD mirrors the slackware ftp site as of April 26, 1997. Its a great way to get started with Linux or update the most popular Linux distribution.

This version contains the 2.0.29 Linux kernel, plus recent versions of these (and other) software packages:

- Kernel modules 2.0.29
- PPP daemon 2.2.0f
- Dynamic linker (ld.so) 1.8.10
- GNU CC 2.7.2.1
- Binutils 2.7.0.9
- Linux C Library 5.4.23
- Linux C++ Library 2.7.2.1
- Termcap 2.0.8
- Procps 1.01
- Gpm 1.10
- SysVinit 2.69
- Shadow Password Suite 3.3.2 (with Linux patches) Util-linux 2.6

LSL price: $1.95

Ordering Info: http://www.lsl.com

### mtools

A new release of mtools, a collection of utilities to access MS-DOS disks from Unix without mounting them.

Mtools can currently be found at the following places: http://linux.wauug.org/pub/knaff/mtools
http://www.club.innet.lu/~year3160/mtools
ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu

Mtools-3.6 includes the features such as Msip -e which now only ejects Zip disks when they are not mounted, Mzip manpage, detection of bad passwords and more. Most GNU software is packed using the GNU `gzip' compression program. Source code is available on most sites distributing GNU software. For more information write to gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu
or look at: http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu/order/ftp.html

### CM3

CM3 version 4.1.1 is now available for Unix and Windows platforms: SunOS, Solaris, Windows NT/Intel, Windows 95, HP/UX, SGI IRIX, Linux/ELF on Intel, and Digital Unix on Alpha/AXP. For additional information, or to download an evaluation copy, contact Critical Mass, Inc. via the Internet at info@cmass.com or on the World Wide Web at
http://www.cmass.com

newsBot:
Extracts exactly what you want from your news feed. Cuts down on "noise". Sophisticated search algorithms paired with numerous filters cut out messages with ALL CAPS, too many $ signs, threads which won't die, wild cross posts and endless discussions why a Mac is superior to a Chicken, and why it isn't. newsBot is at:
http://www.dsb.com/mkt/newsbot.html

mailBot:
Provides itendical functionality but reads mailing lists and e-zines instead of news groups. Both are aimed at responsible Marketers and Information managers. The *do not* extract email addresses and cannot be mis-used for bulk mailings. mailBot is at: http://www.dsb.com/mkt/mail.bot.html

siteSee:
A search engine running on your web server and using the very same search technology: a very fast implementation of Boyer Moore. siteSee differs from other search engines in that it does not require creation and maintenance of large index files. It also becomes an integrated part of your site design. You have full control over page layout. siteSee is located at: http://www.dsb.com/publish/seitesee.html

### linkCheck

linkCheck:
A hypertext link checker, used to keep your site up to date. Its client-server implementation allows you to virtually saturate your comms link without overloading your server. LinkCheck is fast at reading and parsing HTML files and builds even large deduplicated lists of 10,000 or more cross links faster than interpreted languages take to load. linkCheck is at: http://www.dsb.com/maintain/linkckeck.html

All products require Linux, SunOS or Solaris. And all are sold as "age ware": a free trial license allows full testing. When the license expires, the products "age", forget some of their skills, but they still retain about 80% of their functionality.

A GUI text editor named "Red" is available for Linux. The editor has a full graphical interface, supports mouse and key commands, and is easy to use.

These are some of Red's features that might be interesting:

- Graphical interface
- Full mouse and key support
- 40 step undo (and redo)
- User-definable key bindings
- Automatic backup creation
- Cut/paste exchange with other X Windows applications
- On-line function list, help and manual

It can be downloaded free in binary form or with full source code.
ftp://ftp.cs.su.oz.au/mik/red
Also, take a look at the web site at:
http://www.cs.su.oz.au/~mik/red-manual/red-main-page.html

The web site also includes a full Manual - have a look if you are interested.

### Emacspeak-97++

Announcing Emacspeak-97++ (The Internet PlusPack). Based on InterActive Accessibility technology, Emacspeak-97++ provides a powerful Internet ready audio desktop that integrates Internet technologies including Web surfing and messaging into all aspects of the electronic desktop.

Major Enhancements in this release include:

- Support for WWW ACSS (Aural Cascading Style Sheets)
- Audio formatted output for rich text
- Enhanced support for browsing tables
- Support for speaking commonly used ISO Latin characters
- Speech support for the Emacs widget libraries
- Support for SGML mode
- Emacspeak now has an automatically generated users manual thanks to Jim Van Zandt.

Emacspeak-97++ can be downloaded from:
http://cs.cornell.edu/home/raman/emacspeak
ftp://ftp.cs.cornell.edu/pub/raman/emacspeak

Published in Linux Gazette Issue 18, May 1997

##### This page written and maintained by the Editor of Linux Gazette, gazette@ssc.com
Copyright © 1997 Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc.