Me, You, and Ubuntu
Hi Everyone! What a thrill it is to have another place to share things about the Ubuntu Community. With the launch of Ubuntu User magazine back in May 2009, I have felt like the gap between the developer community and the end user is closing and the reality of one blended community is just around the corner. So let's talk a little about the events that are happening in and around the community. These events need people like you to jump in and get involved.
Ubuntu Global Jam Weekend was held on October 2-4, 2009. In the past the jams have been more focused on one thing like Bugs, Translations, Testing, Packaging, and Documentation. People who felt like they were non-technical end users would want to participate but didn't know where or how to help. Enter the idea of just a Jam, where you and your Ubuntu Local Community (LoCo) Team can do anything Ubuntu related and just help where you are comfortable helping – learn something new, sharpen skills you already have, advocate the availability of options to proprietary software and operating systems, and much, much more. The Global Jam is only limited by your imagination. To see some of the fun that was happening through-out the LoCo community, take a peek at Planet Ubuntu.
Next up: Ubuntu 9.10, Karmic Koala (a.k.a., Karmic) release candidate (RC) call for testing. The RC is the last image before a release rolls out as the final polished operating system (OS). Usually the RC will be the final version; however, a call for testing goes out to the community for people to grab the image and test to make sure there are no show-stopping issues, such as the OS failing to boot up. Look for this announcement here or Planet Ubuntu on October 22, 2009.
Karmic is scheduled to be release on October 29, 2009. This event is when everyone can come together, party-style, and just have fun celebrating another successful release cycle. On release day people all over the globe plan to get together to celebrate the release. Find out whether a release party is being planned in your area, and if you don't see one, you can plan one.
If you love using IRC (Internet Chat Relay) to connect with awesome energy of the community, join the #ubuntu-release-party; you won't find that channel populated until just before the 29th. Hop in there and celebrate with all the other people waiting to grab Karmic Koala.
Mark Shuttleworth announced the Ubuntu 10.04 name at the recent Atlanta Linux Fest via video, thus kicking off the start of another awesome release cycle. In mid-November work on Ubuntu 10.04 – Lucid Lynx – planning will gain momentum and start taking shape at the Ubuntu Developer Summit (UDS) in Dallas, Texas. At UDS, the paid developers and the awesome community developers come together, plan, and begin executing the vision they and the greater community have for Lucid Lynx. Plans for UDS are still in progress, so check back for updates.
Whether you just installed Ubuntu yesterday or you are a seasoned Open Source developer, Ubuntu has something to offer you. Are you looking for a LoCo community to join? Or consider joining a mailing list, jumping into the forums, or checking out an IRC channel and get your feet wet.
Welcome to the Ubuntu Community! Lets map it out together and see where being an Ubuntu user can take us.
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