#use wml::debian::projectnews::header PUBDATE="2011-XX-XX" SUMMARY=""
#use wml::debian::acronyms

# $Id$
# $Rev$
# Status: open-for-edit

<define-tag MID whitespace=delete>http://lists.debian.org/$0</define-tag>

# Copyright (c) 2011 Alexander Reichle-Schmehl
# Copyright (c) 2011 Jeremiah C. Foster
# Add other people here
# All rights reserved.
# 
# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
# met:
# 
#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
#       documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
# 
# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS
# IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
# TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
# PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
# OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
# SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
# LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
# THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

#
# TODO:
#
# * On the maintainability of Ruby
#    http://lwn.net/SubscriberLink/423732/c34f84797bcca07a/
#    http://www.lucas-nussbaum.net/blog/?p=617
#    http://paul.luon.net/journal/debian/AlsoGivingUpOnRubyPackaging.html
#     Note:  Lucas might write a follow-up blog post in time for that
# * Debunking 6 Myths About !Debian's Firmware (Non-)Removal
#   http://blog.schmehl.info/Debian/myths-and-facts-about-firmware
# * Debian XSF News
#   http://blog.ikibiki.org/2011/01/21/DXN-2/
# * Upcoming events
#   http://www.debian.org/events (and there will be a sepperate
#   announcement for that)
# * crypto declaration file number to the French authorities
#   http://bugs.debian.org/610872
#   Might be worth to be mentioned in Other News?
# * Mention removal of packages in Wheezy? Or is that considered 
#   non-news?
# * Debian running Debian on its servers?
#   http://raphaelhertzog.com/2011/01/24/debian-is-eating-its-own-dog-food-more-than-ever/
#   Not sure about that; maybe just a small note in Other news?

<a name="0"></a>
<p>Welcome to this year's second issue of DPN, the newsletter for the
Debian community. Topics covered in this issue include:</p>
<ul>
  <li><a href="#1">Bits from Debian GIS</a></li>
  <li><a href="#2">Join the DebConf team</a></li>
  <li><a href="#3">Bits from the Security Team</a></li>
  <li><a href="#4">Updated Debian GNU/Linux: 5.0.8 released</a></li>
  <li><a href="#5">Debian Installer 6.0 RC2 released</a></li>
  <li><a href="#X">Further <q>This week in Debian</q> interviews</a></li>
  <li><a href="#X">... and much more</a>.</li>
</ul>


<a name="1"></a>
<h2>Debian 6.0 <q>Squeeze</q> to be released this weekend</h2>

<p>Release Manager Neil McGovern <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/20110118193635.GC4061@halon.org.uk">announced the release date of Debian 6.0
<q>Squeeze</q></a>:  On the very next weekend, the weekend of the 5th and
6th February  Debian 6.0 <q>Squeeze</q> will finally be realed as a stable
release!  Final work towards has began, inlcuding preparation for <a
href="http://wiki.debian.org/ReleasePartySqueeze">release parties</a> all
over the world!</p>

<p>For those of the community waiting impatiently for the release, <a
href="http://news.debian.net/2011/01/22/join-us-in-the-countdown-to-squeeze/">news.debian.net</a>
provides a <a href="http://news.debian.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/squeeze_countdown.png">countdown
banner</a>.  As the release process takes quite some time, members of the
Debian Project while provide live comments and interesting facts via <a
href="http://identi.ca/debian">Debian's official identica account</a>.</p>

<p>One interesting number has already <a
href="http://blog.schmehl.info/Debian/bugs-closed-for-squeeze">been noted
down</a>:  In the two years of development of Debian 6.0 <q>Squeeze</q>
the Debian Project has closed 149,862 bugs. Thank you everyone for this
fantastic work!</p>


<a name="2"></a>
<h2>Join the DebConf team</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.debconf.org/">DebConf</a> is a yearly conference for the Debian community. Like 
everything else in Debian, DebConf is run completely by volunteers. Organizing 
a conference is a lot of work as you might imagine, so it is no surprise that
the DebConf team is eager to have people help out. As Richard Darst <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2011/01/msg00004.html">writes</a>:</p>
<q>DebConf is a huge process, and there are many things we could use help
on.  People come and go, and are usually overworked after a year or
two &mdash; so we would love new people to get involved.  If you have new
ideas, we'd love to hear about them and we can discuss if they'd work
and how to make them happen. And by the way, if you are looking for a
good way to get involved with Debian and don't know where to start,
this might be among the best options!</q></p>


<a name="3"></a>
<h2>Bits from the Security Team</h2>

<p>
Thijs Kinkhorst sent some <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/201101232332.11736.thijs@debian.org">bits from
the Debian Security Team</a> reporting about the group's meeting at the <a href="http://www.linuxhotel.de/">Linux
Hotel</a> in Essen, Germany. Among the things they discussed was various
improvements to the team workflow, particularly regarding therelease
process of Debian Security Advisories - redesigned from the ground up; a longer security support for Debian
stable - still a proposal - and backports security support. The report also
mentions various other interesting topics as <q>Beta testing</q> of security
updates, a README.test file to include into packages to explain how its
functionality can be tested, and the problem of some specific packages which
are difficult to handled because of they include a lot of source packages.
The mail ends with a call for volunteers. More details can be read on the
full <a
href="http://wiki.debian.org/DebianSecurity/Meetings/2011-01-14">minutes of
the meeting</a>.
</p>

<p>In related news, Simon Paillard from our mirrors team, gave some <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/20110126221211.GA8460@toshi">news
for sponsors of Debian mirrors</a>.  An interesting part of it was his
request for help to provide more official mirrors of the security archive.
He's especially interested in new official mirrors in South America, Asia
and Africa.</p>


<a name="4"></a>
<h2>Updated Debian GNU/Linux: 5.0.8 released</h2>

<p>
A new <a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2011/20110122">update for Debian
GNU/Linux 5.0 <q>Lenny</q></a> has been released. This update mainly adds
corrections for security problems to the stable release, along with a few
adjustment to serious problems.
</p>


<a name="5"></a>
<h2>Debian Installer 6.0 RC2 released</h2>

<p>
The second release candidate of the installer for Debian Squeeze was <a
href="http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/News/2011/20110122">released
on January 22nd</a>. Some fixes, e.g. keyboard configuration for the
graphical installer fixed for several languages, have been included in this
releases of the installer.
<br />
The <a href="http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/errata">errata</a>
collects some details and a full list of known issues. You are encouraged to
test the installer and report bugs; media and further information are
available on the <a
href="http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/">Debian Installer
page</a>.
</p>

<p>In related news, Matthew Palmer announced test images of the <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/20110121035943.GK3846@hezmatt.org">debian-installer
supporting IPv6 </a>(suitable for IPv6-only networks) and <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/20110124104234.GH20367@hezmatt.org">test
images supporting Wi-Fi Protected Access</a> (WPA).  He calls for testers
for both images.</p>

<a name="6"></a>
<h2>Cross-distro Application Installer</h2>

<p>
Enrico Zini has published on his blog a <a
href="http://www.enricozini.org/2011/debian/appinstaller2011/">report</a>of
his partecipation at the <a
href="http://distributions.freedesktop.org/wiki/Meetings/AppInstaller2011">Cross-distro
Meeting on Application Installer</a>.
The meeting, organised by <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/20110127021338.GA18879@upsilon.cc">Vincent
Untz</a>, was focused on metadata (both from
packages and users) and how to share them between distributions or, at
least,
how to define some standards for these metadata. Enrico has presented <a
href="http://debtags.alioth.debian.org/">Debtags</a> and <a
href="http://www.enricozini.org/sw/apt-xapian-index/">apt-xapian-index</a>,
two of the most powerful tools for handle package metadata in Debian. As 
a result of the meeting, there's now the intent of match package names 
across distributions.
</p>


<a name="1"></a>

<h2>Bits from Debian GIS</h2>
<p>The mailing list for general discussion of GIS issues in Debian
was moved from Alioth to <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-gis/">lists.debian.org</a>.
As usual at <tt>lists.debian.org</tt> is open also for non-subscribers, has
a more generic name and hopefully can attract more GIS users and
developers in Debian to discuss relevant issues.</p>
<p>The Debian GIS Blend has defined a new task <q>SAR and earth
observation</q>
at their <a href="http://blends.alioth.debian.org/gis/tasks">tasks page</a>
which contains a list of not yet official packages which are potential
targets for inclusion into Debian.  Feel free to discuss this task or
other ideas you might have about the GIS relevant packages on the
mailing list mentioned above.</p>
<p>Please note that Debian GIS also maintains OpenStreetMap-related
packages, together with the Debian OpenStreetMap Team
(<a href="https://alioth.debian.org/projects/pkg-osm/">pkg-osm on
Alioth</a>).
Feel free to join us!</p>


<a name="X"></a>
<h2>Further <q>This week in Debian</q> interviews</h2>

<p>Since the last issue of the Debian Project News, two new issues of the
<a href="http://wiki.debian.org/ThisWeekInDebian"><q>This week in
Debian</q> podcast</a> have been published:  with
<a href="http://frostbitemedia.libsyn.com/this-week-in-debian-episode-XXX">XXX</a>, xxx; and with
<a href="http://frostbitemedia.libsyn.com/this-week-in-debian-episode-XXX">XXX</a>, xxx.
</p>


<a name="10"></a>
<h2>Other news</h2>

<p>The xxth issue of the
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/">miscellaneous news for developers</a> 
has been released and covers the following topics:</p>
<ul>
  <li></li>
  <li></li>
  <li></li>
  <li></li>
  <li></li>
</ul>

<p>Aurelien Jarno announced the new <a
href="http://lists.debian.org/20110112184950.GA5244@hall.aurel32.net">debian-ports
archive signing key</a>, which will be used signing the archive with
unofficial ports.</p>

<p>The <a href="http://www.debian-administration.org">Debian
Administration</a> blog published a howto about <a
href="http://www.debian-administration.org/article/Installing_an_encrypted_openvpn_on_Lenny">installing
an encrypted openvpn on <q>Lenny</q></a> and one about <a
href="http://www.debian-administration.org/article/Creating_dynamic_volumes_with_loop_devices">creating
dynamic volumes with loop devices</a>.</p>

<p>Mike Hommey bloged about <a
href="http://glandium.org/blog/?p=1529">Changes to the Debian Mozilla team
APT archive</a>, where test versions of several Mozilla products (like
Firefox 3.6 and 4.0) are made available.</p>


<a name="11"></a>
<h2>New Debian Contributors</h2>

	<p>
XXX applicants have been
<a href="https://nm.debian.org/nmlist.php#newmaint">accepted</a>
	as Debian Developers and
XXX applicants has been
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/...">accepted</a>
	as Debian Maintainer and
XXX people <a href="http://udd.debian.org/cgi-bin/new-maintainers.cgi">started
        to maintain packages</a> since the previous issue of the Debian
	Project News. Please welcome
X, Y, and Z
	into our project!</p>


<a name="12"></a>
<h2>Release-critical bugs statistics for the upcoming release</h2>

	<p>According to the <a href="http://udd.debian.org/bugs.cgi">Bugs Search
        interface of the Ultimate Debian Database</a>, the upcoming release,
	Debian 6.0 <q>Squeeze</q>, is currently affected by
XXX release-critical bugs. Ignoring bugs which are easily solved
	or on the way to being solved, roughly speaking, about
XXX release-critical bugs remain to be solved for the
	release to happen.</p>

	<p>There are also <a
href="http://blog.schmehl.info/Debian/rc-stats/#2010-XX">more detailed
	statistics</a> as well as some <a
	href="http://wiki.debian.org/ProjectNews/RC-Stats">hints on how to
	interpret</a> these numbers.</p>


<a name="13"></a>
<h2>Important Debian Security Advisories</h2>

	<p>Debian's Security Team recently released
	advisories for these packages (among others):
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2144">wireshark</a>,
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2145">libsmi</a>,
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2146">mydms</a>,
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2147">pimd</a>,
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2148">tor</a>,
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2149">dbus</a>,
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2150">request-tracker3.6</a>,
<a href="$(HOME)/security/2011/dsa-2151">openoffice.org</a>,
	Please read them carefully and take the proper measures.</p>

        <p>Debian's Backports Team releases advisories for these packages:
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/20110115153937.GA10631@edna.deb.at">egroupware (removal)</a>,
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/20110115162646.GA15463@edna.deb.at">kvm (removal)</a>,
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/201101240810.01018.waja@cyconet.org">request-tracker3.8</a>,
        Please read them carefully and take the proper measures.</p>

        <p>Debian's Volatile Team released an update announcement for the package:
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/"></a>.
        Please read it carefully and take the proper measures.</p>


<p>Please note that these are a selection of the more important security
advisories of the last weeks. If you need to be kept up to date about
security advisories released by the Debian Security Team, please
subscribe to the <a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/">security mailing
list</a> (and the separate <a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-backports-announce/">backports
list</a> and <a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-volatile-announce">volatile list</a>) for announcements.</p>


<a name="14"></a>
<h2>New and noteworthy packages</h2>

<p>The following packages were added to the unstable Debian archive
recently (<a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/newpkg">among
others</a>):</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/clipit">clipit &mdash; lightweight GTK+ clipboard manager</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/devrplay3">devrplay3 &mdash; rplay network audio system - basic library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/evernote-mode">evernote-mode &mdash; Emacs major mode for editing Evernote directly</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/fgfs-aircraft-base">fgfs-aircraft-base &mdash; Flight Gear Flight Simulator -- standard aircraft</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/fgfs-models-base">fgfs-models-base &mdash; Flight Gear Flight Simulator -- standard models</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/focuswriter">focuswriter &mdash; A fullscreen, distraction-free writing program</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/gammu-doc">gammu-doc &mdash; The Gammu Manual</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/geotranz-help">geotranz-help &mdash; GEOgraphic coordinates TRANslator (help files)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/kde">kde &mdash; a dummy transitional package (lenny to squeeze)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/kde-core">kde-core &mdash; a dummy transitional package (lenny to squeeze)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libconqat-simulink-java">libconqat-simulink-java &mdash; Simulink parsing library for Java</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libconqat-simulink-java-doc">libconqat-simulink-java-doc &mdash; Simulink parsing library for Java</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libcsv-java-doc">libcsv-java-doc &mdash; CSV IO library for Java (documentation)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libdist-zilla-plugins-cjm-perl">libdist-zilla-plugins-cjm-perl &mdash; collection of CJM's plugins for Dist --:Zilla</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libgeotranz3">libgeotranz3 &mdash; GEOgraphic coordinates TRANslator (runtime library)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libgeotranz3-dev">libgeotranz3-dev &mdash; GEOgraphic coordinates TRANslator (development files)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libghc6-hfuse-dev">libghc6-hfuse-dev &mdash; Haskell binding for the Linux FUSE library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libghc6-hfuse-doc">libghc6-hfuse-doc &mdash; Haskell binding for the Linux FUSE library; documentation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libghc6-hfuse-prof">libghc6-hfuse-prof &mdash; Haskell binding for the Linux FUSE library; profiling library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libmtdev-dev">libmtdev-dev &mdash; Multitouch Protocol Translation Library - dev files</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libmtdev1">libmtdev1 &mdash; Multitouch Protocol Translation Library - shared library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libocrad-dev">libocrad-dev &mdash; Optical character recognition library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libparrot2.9.1">libparrot2.9.1 &mdash; Parrot shared library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libpe-rules2">libpe-rules2 &mdash; The Pacemaker libraries - rules for P-Engine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libpe-rules2-dev">libpe-rules2-dev &mdash; Development file for pacemaker's rules library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libpe-status2">libpe-status2 &mdash; The Pacemaker libraries - status for P-Engine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/libpe-status2-dev">libpe-status2-dev &mdash; Development file for pacemaker's status library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/librplay-perl">librplay-perl &mdash; rplay network audio system - perl modules</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/mtdev-tools">mtdev-tools &mdash; Multitouch Protocol Translation Library - test tools</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/ocamlify">ocamlify &mdash; include files in OCaml code</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/openvswitch-ipsec">openvswitch-ipsec &mdash; Open vSwitch GRE-over-IPsec support</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/pd-windowing">pd-windowing &mdash; a library of windowing functions in Pd</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/psi-plus-plugin-psimedia">psi-plus-plugin-psimedia &mdash; Plugin for Psi/Psi+ for audio and video calls</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-jsonrpc2">python-jsonrpc2 &mdash; Python WSGI Framework for JSON RPC 2.0</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-lunch">python-lunch &mdash; distributed process launcher</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-openvswitch">python-openvswitch &mdash; Python bindings for Open vSwitch</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-pgmagick">python-pgmagick &mdash; Yet Another Python wrapper for GraphicsMagick</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-pyalsa">python-pyalsa &mdash; Official ALSA Python binding library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-pytc">python-pytc &mdash; Python bindings for the Tokyo Cabinet database</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-pytc-dbg">python-pytc-dbg &mdash; Python bindings for the Tokyo Cabinet database (debug extension)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/rdfind">rdfind &mdash; find duplicate files utility</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/simgear2.0.0">simgear2.0.0 &mdash; Simulator Construction Gear -- shared libraries</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/spamassassin-heatu">spamassassin-heatu &mdash; Heuristic Email Address Tracker Utility for Spamassassin</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/tilestache">tilestache &mdash; map tiles caching system</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/u-boot-tools">u-boot-tools &mdash; companion tools for Das U-Boot</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/xen-linux-system-2.6-xen-686">xen-linux-system-2.6-xen-686 &mdash; Xen system with Linux 2.6 for modern PCs (meta-package)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/xen-linux-system-2.6-xen-amd64">xen-linux-system-2.6-xen-amd64 &mdash; Xen system with Linux 2.6 for 64-bit PCs (meta-package)</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Please note that due to the <a
href="$(HOME)/News/2010/20100806">freeze of the upcoming
Debian 6.0 <q>Squeeze</q></a> acceptance of new packages has almost ceased.</p>


<a name="15"></a>
<h2>Work-needing packages</h2>

	<p>Currently
XXX packages are orphaned and
XXX packages are up for adoption. Please take a look at the
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2010/...">recent</a>
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2010/...">reports</a>
	to see if there are packages you are interested in or view the complete
	list of <a href="$(DEVEL)/wnpp/help_requested">packages
	which need your help</a>.</p>


<a name="16"></a>
<h2>Want to continue reading DPN?</h2>

<p>Please help us create this newsletter.  We still need more volunteer writers
to watch the Debian community and report about what is going on. Please see the
<a href="http://wiki.debian.org/ProjectNews/HowToContribute">contributing
page</a> to find out how to help. We're looking forward to receiving your mail
at <a href="mailto:debian-publicity@lists.debian.org">debian-publicity@lists.debian.org</a>.</p>


#use wml::debian::projectnews::footer editor="XXX, XXX, Alexander Reichle-Schmehl"
# Translators may also add a translator="foo, bar, baz" to the previous line