What's an 'apostate distro'?

Anyhow, not all librarians work in roles where data recovery is the priority, so prioritizing data recovery wouldn't apply to all librarians. For those librarians who do work in a role where for some or all of their systems data recovery is a focus... why wouldn't you use the existing distro(s) that focus on that?

Developing and maintaining a distro such that is secure, reliable, and has a good "total cost of ownership" for users (back/forwards compatibility, etc)... is a very 'expensive' (labor intensive) proposition.  I think you are having trouble explaining what the benefits you see to doing this are, and convincing people they are worth the expense/risk. Unless you can make such a case (and show that you understand the 'costs' involved), I think you will have trouble recruiting people for your project. 

Jonathan
________________________________________
From: Code for Libraries [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Cornel Darden Jr. [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2014 1:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Linux distro for librarians

Hello,

I'm not proposing that all librarians should use the same operating system. I think different people have different needs. When looking at the operating system that I found on foss4lib it had many programs that librarians'could' use in their work. I wish there were a better one. Maybe I'll eventually get to it and start a community. I think discovery is important here. Similar to many data recovery distros like knoppix. Doesn't need to be apostate distro, but point is data recovery, and gathering all the tools necessary for that end is the purpose of the operating system. This would be similar to one for librarians.


It sounds like we are starting a Linux debate. That was not my intention. But Linux, I believe is much better for information professionals. There are lots of things to work out: security, oppressive IT regimes, coding skills of librarians, compatibility, etc. I'm certain this is the century of open source. The things were currently trying to with technology demands it. Large adoption by librarians may be the missing link to the Linux and open source revolution.

But again, the debate was not my intent, just wanted to know If such an operating system exists.

Thanks,

Cornel Darden Jr.
MSLIS
Library Department Chair
South Suburban College
7087052945

"Our Mission is to Serve our Students and the Community through lifelong learning."

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 19, 2014, at 8:30 AM, Craig Boman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hi Cornel,
>
> As a linux librarian myself, there may be some issues with having a linux
> OS for librarians, as follows.
>
> First is security. Although linux is supposedly better for security, linux
> security requires setting up your own PC firewall rules where Windows or
> Macs have most of these predetermined. Most university IT departments, I
> would presume, have Windows anti-virus vendors which they encourage library
> IT to use. And also almost all of our university's technology
> infrastructure is more friendly towards PC. For example pay-for-print
> systems, etc. If individual librarians have linux, they wouldn't be able to
> print easily at our university.
>
> What about the differing needs of librarians? Are you presuming the needs
> of all librarians are similar? My needs in library IT are drastically
> different than your needs in reference using Ubuntu. Technical services
> staff have differing needs from IT. And most library staff don't have a
> choice what they get to use, due to how universities purchase PC's with
> Windows pre-installed.
>
> There appear to be a lot of technical and practical limitations to making a
> linux software for librarians. From a library IT standpoint, having
> different operating systems which we in IT then have to troubleshoot would
> be a bit of a nightmare; standardization does have some benefits.
>
> Please elaborate on how a linux for librarians would make our jobs easier?
> Are you referring to automation? Surely any automation features available
> in linux can be emulated in Windows, no? Have you looked at AutoIT or
> AutoHotKey?
>
> All the best,
> Craig Boman, MLIS
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Oct 19, 2014 at 2:32 AM, Cornel Darden Jr. <[log in to unmask]
>> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I did find Potthakalya on foss4lib. I'm not sure if it has a very active
>> development: https://foss4lib.org/package/potthakalaya
>> But it was what I was looking for. It looks like a linux operating system
>> built on puppy linux that comes pre-packaged with software for librarians
>> that make our jobs easier and more efficient! Does anyone know of anything
>> similar. Something like this is very helpful to the field.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 8:30 PM, Pottinger, Hardy J. <
>> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> Honestly, your Host distro doesn't much matter, everything will be in
>>> Docker soon. Here's a quick way to get there
>>>
>>> https://coreos.com/blog/coreos-just-got-easier-to-try-with-panamax/
>>>
>>> But if you want a non-nonsense just get things done distro, try Crunch
>> Bang
>>>
>>> http://crunchbang.org/
>>>
>>> --Hardy
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>> On Oct 18, 2014, at 7:47 PM, "Cornel Darden Jr." <
>> [log in to unmask]
>>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I believe librarians are special people. It would be nice if there were
>> an
>>> operating system created by us. Haven't come across one though.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Cornel Darden Jr.
>>> MSLIS
>>> Library Department Chair
>>> South Suburban College
>>> 7087052945
>>>
>>> "Our Mission is to Serve our Students and the Community through lifelong
>>> learning."
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Oct 18, 2014, at 7:13 PM, Henry Mensch <[log in to unmask]<mailto:
>>> [log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>>>
>>> because there aren't enough other distributions out there? :)
>>>
>>> ---Sent from Boxer | http://getboxer.com
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Every now and then I consider switching my main operating system. I've
>>> been using Ubuntu for years. Does anyone know of any Linux distros made
>> by
>>> librarians or One that's most used by librarians?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Cornel Darden Jr.
>>> MSLIS
>>>
>>> Library Department Chair
>>>
>>> South Suburban College
>>>
>>> 7087052945
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Our Mission is to Serve our Students and the Community through lifelong
>>> learning."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cornel Darden Jr.
>> MSLIS
>>
>> "Compound interest is the greatest invention in the history of mankind."
>>
>>
>>
>> - Albert Einstein-
>>