Friday_Cool_Nix_Links #3

[littleman]

Largo loves Linux [newsforge.com]
This is a fascinating article about how the competent and cost conscious IT department of the City of Largo was able to cut their computer infrastructure costs down to 1/3 a typical computer infrastructure for municipalities by using open source solutions when ever feasible.

The Rule Project [rule-project.org]
Purposes of the project

* Modify the current Red Hat Linux installer so that it runs in less than 32 MB of RAM, or create a new one if needed (done)
* Select, test, and (if needed) package the system and desktop applications which give the greatest real functionality with the smallest consumption of CPU and RAM resources
* Create another installation option of the Red Hat Linux distribution (not another distribution, see the FAQ), containing all and only the packages above, optimized to run either a server, or a basic desktop on obsolete hardware with very little RAM and HD space.
* Promote and support (especially in developing countries) the use of this install option with schools, public and private organizations.

I really like this project, it has a vision of Linux for the masses -- bringing new technology to old hardware. The First world's junk can turn into the Developing world's work horse or education tool.

It would be nice if it was Debian based...

[Duckula]

The Debian installer already runs well at (less then) 32M of ram, I think; and installing only the base system gives a "greatest real functionality with the smallest consumption of CPU and RAM resources" already. Maybe what's needed are more tasks for small resource systems; the desktop task, for example, is probably too heavy for those.