Welcome to the

Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts

Promoting Linux and Open Source Software Freedom in Atlanta Since 1994
Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts (ALE) is a diverse group of friendly people who enjoy the freedoms and benefits of GNU Linux Computing and Free Liberating Open Source Software technologies. From novices to network administrators, from smart phones to data centers, we strive to empower every information technology user with freely distributable software and to improve every computing environment with the superior security, functionality and flexibility of Open Source Operating System solutions. -- more about ALE --
For information about upcoming weekly and monthly meetings, please check the ALE Meetup Group Calendar. We do not, and never will, require anyone to sign up with Meetup (or any other service) to attend any of our meetings; we only use it as an additional platform to connect with others in the local Atlanta area who are also interested in Linux.

Atlanta Linux Fest 2008 & Software Freedom Day:
Saturday, Sept. 20th!

Filed at 12:11 pm August 28, 2008 under by Ruscetta

Celebrate this year’s
Software Freedom Day
by joining ALE at the

Atlanta Linux Fest 2008!
Saturday, September 20th, 11am to 6pm

The Linux Fest event is being hosted by IBM at their
IBM Hillside Conference Center
4111 Northside Pkwy.
Atlanta, GA. 30327

(Northwest Atlanta, I-75 @ Northside Pkwy)

The Atlanta Linux Fest 2008 is an opportunity to learn more about the many freedoms that Linux OS environments and GNU Open Source Software are providing throughout the world. It emphasizes the benefits of using freely distributable open source software in education, in government, at home, and in business — in short, everywhere! Software Freedom Day sponsors include Google, Sun, Canonical [Ubuntu], the Free Software Foundation and many other computer industry leaders and innovators.

There will be demos of all the major Linux distributions, installation help, user support for all your favorite Open Source software tools, and drawings for prizes! All you have to do is register to come (it’s free!) and there will be pizza available for a $5 donation to the event.

Additional details and optional registration (required for Wifi network access at the event) can be found at the Atlanta Linux Fest 2008 home page.

About Software Freedom Day:
Software Freedom Day (SFD) is a worldwide celebration of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) intended to raise public awareness of the phenomenal benefits and freedoms of using high quality FOSS everywhere that computers and information technology are used. The non-profit company Software Freedom International coordinates SFD at a global level, providing support, giveaways and a point of collaboration, but volunteer teams around the world organize the local SFD events to impact their own communities.
( more details available at the Software Freedom Day home page. )

When our exchanges of information are handled by computer programs, open standards and Free Software are essential to the survival of Free Speech. We hope you will join us in celebrating and protecting your rights to Freedom of Speech at the Atlanta Linux Fest, 2008!

ALE CENTRAL MTG. for Thursday, August 21, 2008

Filed at 10:41 pm August 18, 2008 under by Ruscetta

Our Featured Presentation for the
Thursday, August 21st, 7:30pm
ALE Central meeting will be

“Using OpenOffice & Base with External Databases”

— or —
“Poking a Lance at Micro$oft Abscess”

presented by James Kinney

Synopsis:
— OpenOffice.org BASE is the database module initially released with OpenOffice.org version 2.0 and, for simple single user applications, it is currently on the HSQLDB database engine written in Java. However, BASE also has native drivers allowing OpenOffice.org users to connect to external full-featured SQL database servers such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and even Oracle through ODBC or JDBC drivers. OpenOffice.org BASE can hence act as a GUI front end for SQL views, table design and query. In addition, OpenOffice.org has its own Form wizard to create dialog windows for form filling and updates. Our presentation will be looking at some of the ways these OpenOffice BASE connections to external databases can be implemented and utilized for both single user applications and in a multi-user local network environment.
(reference Wikipedia entry on OOo Base)

Bio:
— James has been a Linux user since 1993 (Go Slackware!) and a raving loon about open source ever since. He masquerades by day as a Linux admin to support his hardware acquisition addiction. Outside of work, James spends countless hours tinkering with Linux systems in between long bouts of Linux software testing and researching things to do with Linux systems. He has been known to carry Fedora DVD’s into places that sell computers and give them to innocent bystanders while lecturing about how they should be using Linux and not the other stuff. Occasionally, James brews beer and organizes gatherings of beer drinkers around Linux topics. He is actively involved in working to displace other computer platforms in schools as a founding member of Georgia Open Source Education Foundation (gosef.org) and works with community groups such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Clarkston Community Center to set up Linux thin client systems to support these groups need for reliable, low cost computing platforms for social support.
— James claims to have a family life as well, one where he is (mostly) tolerated by his wonderful wife, (often) dismissed by his teenage daughter and (usually) worshiped by his pre-teen super-geeky son. In addition to helping feed those mouths, he also feeds a collection of 4 legged creatures that bark or meow and a small orange thing that swims in a tiny tank of water. Of course, his additional claim to a also having stand up comedy career is dubious at best.

Links:
OpenOffice.org BASE page
Tech Tip on curing an Abscess data base by importing to OpenOffice.org BASE

============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).

Return of ALE Northeast Meetings Postponed

Filed at 1:19 am August 7, 2008 under by Administrator

Due to schedule demands on the moderator and some red tape delays in securing a meeting room the August 7th, 2008 ALE Northeast meeting has been canceled.

Our apologies for any inconvenience, but we do expect to resume the regular First Thursday schedule of ALE Northeast meetings beginning with September 4th, 2008.