Michigan!/usr/group

Impress.js

Ryan Kather will be presenting on Impress.js, a presentation framework (think Microsoft Powerpoint) but open source and based on HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. It’s based on ideas from Prezi.com (scaling/zooming to dramatic effect). Developers are able to code good-looking presentations quickly with Impress.js without having to deal with Powerpoint or OpenOffice Impress. Presentations are also fully portable as all that is needed is a modern browser for viewing.

Raspberry Pi

Remember the “good ol’ days” programming on your Atari 800 or Commodore 64 micro-computer? Those simpler computers were lots of fun, but developing on today’s machines requires a substantial investment. Raspberry Pi is an inexpensive computer tha hearkens back to the dawn of the micro-computer age. The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized computer board that plugs into a TV and a keyboard. This ARM-based PC can do many of the things that a desktop PC can do, like spreadsheets, word-processing, games, and High-Definition video. Brian Hill, a system administrator working for Nexcess, will discuss the Raspberry Pi platform and show us this inexpensive and interesting platform.

And we’ll also have our normal MUG meeting features: Jobs Looking For People, People Looking for Jobs, news and events, and much much more.

Hope to see you there!

Macintosh for UNIX natives: Stranger in a not-so-strange land

In April we discussed how an UNIX Native could survive with their sanity intact on a Windows machine. This month we’ll take a closer look the Macintosh OS X operating system. It’s not quite as strange as you might think; having a UNIX operating system at it’s very core, but there are notable differences. Wolf will come to talk with us about surviving on a Mac OSX system as a UNIX user. This will be an interesting and enlightening talk for anyone who is considering using a Macintosh machine, or for those who want to get the most out of the UNIX side of their OS. You won’t want to miss this!

Google Maps API

Whenever you’re out in strange territory, it’s always helpful to have a map handy. Google has an excellent maps API that is available for use. Jim McQuillan and Will Fuqua have played a bit with the Google Maps API, and will talk about their usage of the Google Maps API. If you’ve ever wanted to write an application that required mapping, you’ll definitely want to check this out!

And we’ll also have our normal MUG meeting features: Jobs Looking For People, People Looking for Jobs, news and events, and much much more.

Hope to see you there!

Making Out with Make

We’ve all run `make install` to get something installed at some point in time, but did you know you can use it for more than just installing C packages? How about providing shortcuts and tools for your own scripts? How about installing packages and config files for a new system? Rick Harding will show us the basics of Make and show you how you can put it to use today to make your daily life easier and more efficient.

CiviCRM

We’re trying something new with the mug.org website, and we need your help to test it. We’ve implemented CiviCRM to handle some of the user group managent. Craig Maloney will demonstrate some of the added functionality, and give a quick peek into what to expect in the coming months.

Fishbowl

We had a great time with this discussion participation activity. Bring you topics for discussion, and let’s talk!

And of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you there!

Shawn Powers – LTSP

We’re excited that Shawn Powers will be coming down-state to share his experiences with LTSP with us. Shawn is the Associate Editor of Linux Journal Magazine, and the gadget review guy at Linuxjournal.com, but by day he works extensively with LTSP (which was the subject of an extensive three-part series in Linux Journal, from issues 215-217. Another interesting fact is that LTSP was created by our own Jim McQuillan). Shawn will talk about his recent experiences with LTSP, with a focus on getting technology into the hands of kids. You won’t want to miss this!

Command of the Moment

If we still have some time, we’ll jump back into our continuing series: Command of the Moment. We’ll pick some UNIX commands at random and ask folks to take 5-10 minutes to discuss them. A list of the commands we’ll be picking from is available here.

And of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you there!

Stranger in a Strange Land (UNIX Survival under Windows)

We all know that UNIX and Linux are a great place to get things done, but some of us have to spend our darker days slaving away in the dark, dank mines of Windows machines. OK, maybe it’s not so melodramatic, but there are times when we’ve been found wanting something more UNIX-like in the Windows shell. Will Fuqua will lead the discussion about some of the tools for how to use UNIX Utils, PuTTY, Private key management, a little about Cygwin, and how to integrate git on Windows. Bring your tips and tricks for how to work with UNIX-like utilities under Windows.

Stranger in a Not-so strange land (UNIX Survival under Mac OS)

With a growing number of people using Mac OS, it’s only fitting that we also show how a Linux/Unix user can survive on Mac OS. It’s really not that hard, considering Mac OS is based on BSD UNIX. Wolf will be here showing us how to get the most out of Mac OS X. Wolf has given us several presentations in the past and they’re always insightful and entertaining.

Command of the Moment

We’re trying something new with the Command of the Month. We’ll pick some UNIX commands at random and ask folks to take 5-10 minutes to discuss them. A list of the commands we’ll be picking from is available here.

And of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you there!

Main Presentation – Squeezebox

Our main presentation features the Logitech Squeezebox ecosystem. If you’ve ever thought about having multiple-room, multiple device playback of audio, playing local or Internet-based content, then the Logitech (formerly Slim Devices) Squeezebox platform is for you. Craig Maloney will present what the Squeezebox platform is, what it can do, and how you can set it up tonight without making an emergency stop to the computer store. This presentation will focus on the open source aspects of the Squeezebox platform, as well as discuss how you can expand the platform to meet your music listening needs. As an added bonus, Logitech has generously provided us with discount coupons good for a considerable discount on their online store. If you have ever dreamed of having multiple-room music using open-source software, you won’t want to miss this!

Elections for the Board of Directors of Mug.org

We’ll hold the elections for the board of directors at this month’s meeting.

We currently have the following nominations:

• Jim McQuillan
• Dave Satwicz
• Jim Glutting
• James Hice
• Gibson Nichols
• Craig Maloney
• Will Fuqua

Nominations are open until just before the vote starts at the meeting on the 13th.

In addition to the normal voting that will take place at the meeting, we’re also accepting votes submitted via Email.

For paid members that can’t make it to the normal meeting, you can submit your vote for the 6 people you’d like to see on the board of directors in 2012 by sending an email to: vote@mug.org

You can submit your vote anytime between now and 18:00:00 EST (That’s 6pm local time) on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012. Any votes received after 6pm on the 13th will not be counted.

Command of the Moment

We’re trying something new with the Command of the Month. We’ll pick some UNIX commands at random and ask folks to take 5-10 minutes to discuss them. A list of the commands we’ll be picking from is available here.

And of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you at 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012.

We are back at the Farmington Community Library (map)
We’ll be in the large auditorium upstairs.

For our main presentation, we have Steve Pierce giving a presentation titled: Wireless Ypsi and why your community needs free WiFi

Steve Pierce founded HDL in 1987, an Internet and web consultancy founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Now living in Ypsilanti, he came to Michigan for true love; his wife moved for a job.

After relocating to Michigan, Steve was a partner inOpAve, one of the first wireless Internet Service providers in Michigan. He relaunched ABQ.com as an email services company and for five years ran MailAndNews.com. With nearly 2 million subscribers it was the second oldest free email service provider behind Hotmail.

Steve launched Wireless Ypsi in January 2008, a free wifi Internet service in Ypsilanti. Since January, Steve has assisted the City of Dearborn, Lincoln Park, Trenton, Wayne County and a number of other communities in deploying similar free wireless networks using the Wireless Ypsi model. Today over 435,000 have used free Internet networks Steve helped design and install.

In 2006, Steve launched YpsiNews.com, an on-line news journal covering Ypsilanti and the surrounding area. He has also been involved in a number of start-ups (including US1 Internet), has been a consultant and teacher for the military, universities, Department of Energy, and NATO and has worked for a number of major corporations as a network designer and security analyst.

Steve can frequently be seen about town riding on a Segway or his Ford Escape Hybrid. In his spare time, he and his wife Maggie have restored three homes in Ypsilanti including the historically significant Glover House, which was a three year $1 million renovation. He shares his home with two German Shepherds named Dax and Ryker. Yes, he is a Trek fan too.
Elections for the Board of Directors of Mug.org
We’ll hold the elections for the board of directors at this month’s meeting.

We currently have the following nominations:

• Jim McQuillan
• Dave Satwicz
• Jim Glutting
• James Hice
• Gibson Nichols
• Craig Maloney
• Will Fuqua

Nominations are open until just before the vote starts at the meeting on the 14th.

Considering the fact that the meeting will conflict with Valentines day, we are trying something new. In addition to the normal voting that will take place at the meeting, we’re also accepting votes submitted via Email.

For paid members that can’t make it to the normal meeting, you can submit your vote for the 6 people you’d like to see on the board of directors in 2012 by sending an email to: vote@mug.org

You can submit your vote anytime between now and 18:00:00 EST (That’s 6pm local time) on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012. Any votes received after 6pm on the 14th will not be counted.
And Of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you at 6:30pm on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012.

We are back at the Farmington Community Library (map)
We’ll be in the large auditorium upstairs.

For our main presentation, we have Bill Allie giving a presentation titled: “An Introduction to the Ext-JS Web Application Development Framework”

Ext-JS is a pure JavaScript application framework that will work in browsers from IE6 to Chrome 11. Using Ext-JS, you can create cross-platform applications using only a browser. It has an extensive APi that provides you with the tools and wigets you will need for your application.

This presentation will provide an introduction to Ext-JS and provide an overview of the basic framework and the core components (widgets) provided by the framework. Also, examples of using the framework as well as lessons learned while using the framework will be presented.
For the second presentation, Craig Maloney will present a command called “pv”.

pv, or “progress viewer” is one of those commands that you probably won’t use on a day-to-day basis, but is extremely handy for long-running jobs where you’re left wondering “just how far along IS it,anyway?”
Nominations
In addition to the two presentations outlined above, we’ll kick off the new year with the opening of nominations for the “Board of directors” of MUG. Every year at this time we offer members a chance to help MUG either by nominating themselves or someone they think will help lead our group through the next 12 months.
The nominations will officially open on Tuesday, Jan 10th and the election will be held on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 (Weather permitting).
And Of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you at 6:30pm on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012.

We are back at the Farmington Community Library (map)
We’ll be in the large auditorium upstairs.

For our main presentation, we have Craig Maloney giving a presentation titled: “A Brief History of Unix”

Description

There’s an awful lot of history surrounding the UNIX operating system, and Craig will distill it to the point where it fits into a nice, neat, entertaining 40 minute period where everyone can smile and feel great about how awesome UNIX and Linux are. There may even be a little show and tell for the presentation.

So, come on out and learn something about our shared UNIX heritage.

The second presentation will cover “Troubleshooting techniques for Linux and Unix”

Description

Have you ever plugged in a USB memory stick and not been able to figure out how mount it? How about trying to figure out what kind of Video card you have installed without opening the cover? Maybe you’ve had trouble getting your wireless card working. We’ll be covering that and a whole lot more this month.

Of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you at 6:30pm on Tuesday, December 13th.

We are back at the Farmington Community Library (map)
We’ll be in the large auditorium upstairs.

For our main presentation, we have Les Orchard showing us about Web Development and Virtual Machines.

Excerpt

Description

Open Source projects are most successful when they attract enthusiastic and capable contributors. But, often the first thing a new contributor to a web development project faces is a README file with a long list of instructions needed to even get the thing running.

And that’s if they’re lucky: Just as often, the necessary documentation is incomplete or missing entirely, leaving a new hacker no way to get involved without investing a lot of time up front.

This is no way to treat potential volunteers; they’re doing us favors by spending time with our projects. In return for their time, we should do the best we can to make our projects accessible and rewarding without unreasonable demands.

To that end, we can use modern tools like VirtualBox, Vagrant, and Puppet to turn walls of text into virtual machines. We can offer simple bootstraps and even bootable disk images to can get new developers started quickly, allowing them to explore a running system rather than demand they understand the complete stack before the first page view.

Bio

Les Orchard is a {web,mad,computer} scientist and {tech,scifi} writer from the Detroit, MI area working for the webdev team at the Mozilla Corporation.

Of course we’ll have some of the other great features you’ve come to enjoy at our meetings, including current events and Job/People seekers.

Hope to see you at 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 8th.

We are back at the Farmington Community Library (map)
Unless otherwise noted, we’ll be holding our meetings at the library, in the main auditorium. But, for the October and November 2011 meetings, we’ll be in the smaller meeting room upstairs, near the larger auditorium.