LinuxChix

Last updated

LinuxChix is a women-oriented Linux community. It was formed to provide both technical and social support for women Linux users, although men are encouraged to contribute. [1] Members of the community are referred to as "a Linux chick" (singular) and "LinuxChix" or "Linux Chix" (plural) regardless of gender. [2]

Contents

History

LinuxChix was founded in 1999 by Deb Richardson, who was a technical writer and web-master at an open source consulting firm. [3] [2] Her reason for founding LinuxChix was to create an alternative to the "locker room mentality" of some other Linux User Groups and forums. There are two core rules: "be polite and be helpful." [2]

LinuxChix started as an electronic mailing list called grrltalk. The growth of this mailing list led to the establishment of other mailing lists, beginning with techtalk for technical discussions and issues for discussion of women's political issues. LinuxChix received attention when ZDNet published an article on it, which was subsequently cross-posted on Slashdot. [4]

Leadership and structure

Deb Richardson oversaw the activities of LinuxChix until 2001, when she handed over global coordination and hosting to Melbourne programmer and writer Jenn Vesperman. [5] Jenn Vesperman led the community in a mostly hands-off fashion, delegating almost all tasks, including mailing list administration and website maintenance, to a group of volunteers. [6] During Jenn Vesperman's tenure, the number of mailing lists tripled with the newchix mailing list for those new to Linux, the courses mailing list used by LinuxChix to teach each other specific topics, and the grrls-only mailing list (the only list closed to male subscribers) founded by Val Henson in 2002. At around the same time, a LinuxChix IRC server was created.

The term LinuxChix refers to the organisation centered on the official website, the mailing lists and the IRC channels. The organisation has no official status, and the name is used by other loosely affiliated groups, including several local, continental, and national chapters which operate independently.

In March 2007, Jenn Vesperman announced that she was retiring as the coordinator and invited nominations for a new leader. [7] Mary Gardiner was announced as the new coordinator In April 2007, planning to serve as coordinator until 2009, [8] however she resigned in June 2007. [9] Currently the organization is led by three lead volunteers known as the "Tres Chix" who are elected by popular vote. In August 2007, Sulamita Garcia, Akkana Peck and Carla Schroder were elected to these positions. [10]

Regional chapters

LinuxChix has over 15 regional chapters around the world. [2] In 2004, a chapter was founded in Africa. [11] In March 2007, on the International Women's Day, Australia's two LinuxChix chapters united to form a nationwide chapter called "AussieChix". [12] The New Zealand chapter was established in February 2007. [13]

Events

Some local LinuxChix chapters hold regular meetings. Others only meet up on special occasions, such as visits from non-local members or in conjunction with technical conferences. In 2007, members of the Sydney chapter organized a LinuxChix miniconf at linux.conf.au at the University of New South Wales. [14] [15] [16] Events are held on other special occasions; in 2005, for example, LinuxChix Africa organized an event to celebrate Software Freedom Day at Wits University. [17]

LinuxChix labs

The Indian chapter of LinuxChix (aka IndiChix) led an initiative to establish Linux labs in a number of cities in India. These labs provide spaces equipped with PCs and internet connections where women can learn more about Linux and collaborate on contributions to the Libre software community. Labs have gone live in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">APT (software)</span> Free software package management system

Advanced package tool, or APT, is a free-software user interface that works with core libraries to handle the installation and removal of software on Debian, and Debian-based Linux distributions. APT simplifies the process of managing software on Unix-like computer systems by automating the retrieval, configuration and installation of software packages, either from precompiled files or by compiling source code.

Linux malware includes viruses, Trojans, worms and other types of malware that affect the Linux family of operating systems. Linux, Unix and other Unix-like computer operating systems are generally regarded as very well-protected against, but not immune to, computer viruses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botnet</span> Collection of compromised internet-connected devices controlled by a third party

A botnet is a group of Internet-connected devices, each of which runs one or more bots. Botnets can be used to perform Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, steal data, send spam, and allow the attacker to access the device and its connection. The owner can control the botnet using command and control (C&C) software. The word "botnet" is a portmanteau of the words "robot" and "network". The term is usually used with a negative or malicious connotation.

linux.conf.au Linux and Open Source conference

linux.conf.au is Australasia's regional Linux and Open Source conference. It is a roaming conference, held in a different Australian or New Zealand city every year, coordinated by Linux Australia and organised by local volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free and open-source software</span> Software whose source code is available and which is permissively licensed

Free and open-source software (FOSS) is a term used to refer to groups of software consisting of both free software and open-source software, where anyone is freely licensed to use, copy, study, and change the software in any way, and the source code is publicly available so that people are encouraged to improve the design of the software. This is in contrast to proprietary software, where the software is under restrictive copyright or licensing and the source code is hidden from the users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FOSS.IN</span>

FOSS.IN, previously known as Linux Bangalore, was an annual free and open source software (FOSS) conference, held in Bangalore, India from 2001 to 2012. From 2001 to 2004, it was known as Linux Bangalore, before it took on a new name and wider focus. During its lifetime, it was one of the largest FOSS events in Asia, with participants from around the world. It focused on the technical and software side of FOSS, encouraging development and contribution to FOSS projects from India. The event was held every year in late November or early December.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Waugh</span>

Jeff Waugh is an Australian free software and open source software engineer. He is known for his past prominence in the GNOME and Ubuntu projects and communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linux</span> Family of Unix-like operating systems

Linux is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution (distro), which includes the kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses and recommends the name "GNU/Linux" to emphasize the use and importance of GNU software in many distributions, causing some controversy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pia Andrews</span>

Pia Andrews, born 1979, is an open government leader and the Special Advisor, Digital & Client Data Workstream Lead for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thousand Parsec</span>

Thousand Parsec (TP) is a free and open source project with the goal of creating a framework for turn-based space empire building games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linux Foundation</span> Non-profit technology consortium to develop the Linux operating system

The Linux Foundation (LF) is a non-profit organization established in 2000 to support Linux development and open-source software projects. In addition to providing a neutral home where Linux kernel development can be fostered and accelerated, the LF is dedicated to building sustainable ecosystems around open-source projects to accelerate technology development and encourage commercial adoption.

Zarafa was an open-source groupware application that originated in the city of Delft in the Netherlands. The company that developed Zarafa, previously known as Connectux, is also called Zarafa. The Zarafa groupware provided email storage on the server side and offered its own Ajax-based mail client called WebAccess and a HTML5-based, WebApp. Advanced features were available in commercially supported versions. Zarafa has been superseded by Kopano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Oxer</span>

Jonathan Oxer is a computer programmer, Debian developer, author, entrepreneur, and Free Software activist. He lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and their two children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linux user group</span> Organization of computer users

A Linux User Group or Linux Users' Group (LUG) or GNU/Linux User Group (GLUG) is a private, generally non-profit or not-for-profit organization that provides support and/or education for Linux users, particularly for inexperienced users. The term commonly refers to local groups that meet in person but is also used to refer to online support groups that may have members spread over a very wide area and that do not organize, or are not dependent on, physical meetings. Many LUGs encompass FreeBSD and other free-software / open source Unix-based operating systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Jane Hogbin</span> Canadian free software advocate

Emma Jane Hogbin is a Canadian technical writer and free software advocate who lives in Dartmoor, United Kingdom. She is active in Drupal and the Bazaar version control system in different capacities and has contributed documentation to the Linux Documentation Project. She also speaks at various events on a range of technical and social topics. She is a member of Ubuntu Women, a group devoted in part to "Encouraging women to participate, for example, to learn to create new FLOSS software, not only to use Linux software, but to integrate backwards and learn more about it." Hogbin unsuccessfully ran for the Green Party of Canada in the Ontario riding of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound during the 2011 federal election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criticism of desktop Linux</span> Criticism of certain Linux distributions

Criticism of desktop Linux is a history of comment on the perceived shortcomings of the Linux operating system when installed on desktop computers. These criticisms have been aimed at the plethora of issues and lack of consistency between Linux distributions, their usefulness and ease of use as desktop systems for general end users, driver support and issues with multi-media playback and audio development.

The Ada Initiative was a non-profit organization that sought to increase women's participation in the free culture movement, open source technology and open culture. The organization was founded in 2011 by Linux kernel developer and open source advocate Valerie Aurora and open source developer and advocate Mary Gardiner. It was named after Ada Lovelace, who is often celebrated as the world's first computer programmer, as is the Ada programming language. In August 2015, the Ada Initiative board announced that the organization would shut down in October 2015. According to the announcement, the Initiative's executive leadership decided to step down, and the organization was unable to find acceptable replacement leaders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Gardiner</span> Australian computer scientist and activist

Mary Gardiner is an Australian Linux programmer who was director of operations at the Ada Initiative, described as a "non-profit organization dedicated to increasing participation of women in open technology and culture". She was a council member of Linux Australia until September 2011. In 2012, Gardiner and Ada Initiative co-founder Valerie Aurora were named two of the most influential people in computer security by SC Magazine.

Sage Sharp is a software engineer who has worked on the Linux kernel, including serving on the Linux Foundation's Technical Advisory Board for two years.

References

  1. ↑ "LinuxChix is a community for women who like Linux and Free Software, and for women and men who want to support women in computing. The membership ranges from novices to experienced users, and includes professional and amateur programmers, system administrators and technical writers." - LinuxChix - Main Page
  2. 1 2 3 4 "About LinuxChix". linuxchix.org. Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  3. ↑ Lisa Bowman (September 15, 1999). "She-geeks confess love for Linux". ZDNet News. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  4. ↑ Karlin Lillington (September 23, 1999). "Web Watch:Linux lasses". The Guardian . Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  5. ↑ Adam Turner (April 2, 2002). "Linux grrls break free". The Age . Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  6. ↑ Jenn Vesperman, Val Henson (June 27 – July 2, 2004). "Building and Maintaining an International Volunteer Linux Community". Proceedings of the 2004 USENIX Annual Technical Conference, FREENIX Track. Retrieved 2007-04-09.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ↑ Time for a new LinuxChix coordinator
  8. ↑ Liz Tay (LinuxWorld) (April 4, 2007). "LinuxChix announces new international coordinator". Computerworld . Archived from the original on April 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  9. ↑ Naomi Hamilton (June 19, 2007). "Girl trouble forces top LinuxChix to quit". Computerworld. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  10. ↑ "LinuxChix coordinators". LinuxChix homepage. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  11. ↑ Indo-Asian News Service (April 13, 2006). "An African bid to educate women on IT". Hindustan Times . Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  12. ↑ Melissa Draper (March 7, 2007). "Australia's LinuxChix unite to form AussieChix" . Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  13. ↑ LinuxChix NZ Press Release (February 26, 2007). "Announcing Linuxchix New Zealand" . Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  14. ↑ Women flock to Linux talkfest Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine , Original proposal
  15. ↑ Portrait: LinuxChix Brazil's Sulamita Garcia
  16. ↑ "Miniconfs - linux.conf.au 2007". linux.org.au. Archived from the original on 2016-03-20. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  17. ↑ Open source message hits Wits University Archived 2011-08-07 at the Wayback Machine
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.