|
|
Participate in serious philanthropy,
at no out-of-pocket cost to yourself. |
Here is a sample of projects that The Linux Fund has supported financially since our inception in 1999:
- Simple DirectMedia Layer Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform multimedia library designed to provide fast access to the graphics frame buffer and audio device. It is used by MPEG playback software, emulators, and many popular games.
In addition to audio and video services, Simple DirectMedia Layer provides other services commonly used by multi-media applications, including threads and synchronization primitives, timer services, platform-independent OpenGL, input from various types of devices, and CD-ROM audio control.
- Benetech develops, markets, and distributes socially beneficial technologies "for the people who need them the most."
- Ocularis A project to advance multilaterally Open Source accessibility. Ocularis has recently broadened its scope from a distribution of Linux for the visually impaired to a means of helping communication between and progress of Open Source Accessibility efforts. The project provides a medium through which developers can further current accessibility-related free software and create completely new software. Ocularis already includes many sub projects, including one that aims to create distribution of the Linux Operating System that will allow the visually impaired to communicate, work, and express themselves through computers as well as to install and customize their system, independent of sighted assistance. Other sub projects are UIML Implementation (User Interface Markup Language), GSpeech Advancement, Linux-Magnification-HOWTO, and X Windows Simulation. The ocularis-desktop package (currently in version 0.0.1) focuses on providing console-based applications that serve common functions. The development of Ocularis is already underway and all software is created by volunteers and is released under the GNU Public License.
- Leviathan Project: A GNU Library System. - Create a complete system for libraries to use for book check in/out, renewals, holds, and Patron Mail. I am proposing creating a complete library system for all library transactions.
Development will begin with the SQL backend. It will be developed using Postgresql and DB2 and Oracle for compatibility.
MySQL is not a choice since it does not support transactions or foreign key referential integrity.
Once the SQL tables are in place work will begin on the second tier.
At this point all configuration points must be deciphered.
A problem is that almost every library system is completely different at several levels.
The configuration options must be able to allow each library system to have complete control over how they want their library system to work.
The API interface will also be designed at this point.
Care must be taken to separate out the RDBMS API to each RDBMS specified in the C code.
A possible future development is to allow connections to multiple Leviathan RDBMS for migration capabilities, i.e. moving from Postgresql to DB2.
Finally the patron and staff interfaces will be developed. Once these two final interfaces are complete a v1.0 release date can be finalized.
- GNUpdate Open source universal package management and auto-updater tool for Linux
GNUpdate is an open source, universal package management system. What does this mean? Well for starters, it will allow RedHat users to install debian packages, Debian users to install RedHat packages, and so on. It does this through its Pack man library, which provides a single API for accessing multiple package formats and package databases. GNUpdate provides its own package database, composed entirely of RDF (XML Resource Description Format). However, this does not prevent users from continuing to use their existing package database. The RDF database is accessed via the Gnu Rdf library, which provides an easy way to open, create, modify, and search RDF files. GNUpdate is also capable of automatically updating packages without the need to download them manually. It can do this from a command line tool (gap), or by using the graphical (and themeable) GNUpdate package manager. It queries online package databases via the PQL (Package Query Language) library. This library provides a simple interface for querying package database servers, and can be used by any application to provide self-upgrading functionality. One of the features that I think will be invaluable to many developers is GNUpdate\'s (planned) ability to update a local CVS repository, scan for package information files (RPM .spec files, for example), compile, install, and then update the local database. GNUpdate will be able to do the same with source tarballs. Another feature for developers is the capability to convert package files to other formats, providing the developer the option of providing packages of their software to multiple Linux distributions. All GNUpdate libraries are licensed under the LGPL, and the GNUpdate front-end tools and server are under the GPL.
-
Ogg Vorbis is a fully Open, non-proprietary, patent-and-royalty-free general purpose compressed audio format for high quality (44.1-48.0kHz, 16+ bit, polyphonic) audio and music at fixed and variable bitrates from 16 to 128 kbps/channel. - From the Ogg Vorbis FAQ at http://www.xiph.org
The aim of this project is to implement a Vorbis decoder in hardware, and to create the software needed to interface with and control that hardware.
The current mainstay of audio compression formats, MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (hereafter referred to as MP3), is encumbered by patents held by the members of the MPEG consortium. These patents place a legal and financial strain on projects (even free and open-source ones) interested in using current audio-compression technology. Quite simply, Vorbis provides a free, roughly comparable, and open source alternative to MP3 audio. Development Of An Open Hardware-Based Vorbis Decoder
- Xiph.org Foundationa non-profit corporation dedicated to protecting the foundations of Internet multimedia from control by private interests. Our purpose is to support and develop free, open protocols and software to serve the public, developer and business markets. Our projects, like Ogg Vorbis, Icecast and Theora are well-known, but we could sure use more funding.
- Film Gimp Motion Picture Image Editor.
Film Gimp is a variant of Gimp that has increased dynamic range (16-bit instead of 8) and additional features to make it more suitable for motion picture image retouching. It is the most successful open source tool in feature motion picture production today, and used on the movies Scoobie-Doo, Harry Potter, Stuart Little, and others.
Film Gimp is based on the rather ancient 1.0.4 branch of Gimp. We are invigorating the Film Gimp project.
Developers propose to rendezvous Film Gimp with Gimp 1.2.3, to make GUI changes that improve motion picture workflow efficiency, provide clear user documentation (currently none), and add a macro recording capability.
Further information at http://filmgimp.sourceforge.net/.
- jahshaka The worlds first OpenSource Editing and Effects System. Jahshaka takes advantage of the power of OpenGL and OpenML to give its users realtime functionality. We currently support Linux, Irix and Windows, and Mac OsX is coming! Jahshaka is GPL.
http://www.jahshaka.com/
- Dillo is a very lightweight web browser written from scratch in C. It currently supports much of HTML 4.01, cookies, XHTML, images, and forms. It still lacks support for frames, SSL (a prototype exists), cascading style sheets, and active content. The primary goal of the Dillo Project is to allow users of low end machines and embedded devices quick and easy access to the WWW. Especially in threshold nations, fast and efficient software is essential to bridge what is commonly called the "digital divide". Furthermore, in the growing embedded market, a fast and free browser component could quickly become a standard, as opposed to a proprietary solution. See our objectives for further information.
Currently users who want a fast graphical browser have no free software choice -- Dillo wants to give them that choice. Dillo's developers are grateful for any and all funding they receive.
- Nonprofit Open Source Initiative Open Source Cyber Cafe Project
- Software Suspend a project that implements suspend-to-disk for Linux, similar to the hibernate functionality of recent versions of Windows. It is hosted at swsusp.sf.net.
Other Project Grants
- OpenDecoder
- FreeDesktop.org XServer,
- SpiTux
- Kismet
- Tux4Kids
- Durito, an XML-RDF app for Mexican History Archive
- GNU Rope
- BitTorrent
- Ganeshas Project
- Blue Linux,
- Crystal Space
- K12LTSP
- Kavlon
- FoxServ
- LPBN
- OpenBIOS
- Reptile
- AnonNet
- MetaNet
- Wellenreiter
- NeoEngine Platform independent Open Source 3D game engine
Other Grants:
- LinuxFund sent Medfield High School 6 SCSI hard drives we had for their project Linux based X-terminals for Medfield High School.
- The LinuxFund.org's Hardware Giveaway announced two winners: Kathy Miles and Chuck Peters. These two stories received top ranking as decided by our users. Congratulations to both of our winners of a Dell Computer.
Scholarships:
- LinuxFund designed a scholarship program for college students interested
in OpenSource software in 2002 or 2003. We don't know if any scholarships were
given out.
Other Projects:
- Student internships:
LinuxFund funded student interns to work on OpenSource projects from time to
time between 2001 and 2004. In particular, an intern was funded to work on a
couple Drupal modules which were needed for LinuxFund's Drupal based web site.
These modules were useful to the Drupal community at large and code developed
was contributed to the Drupal project. Other interns were funded for other
projects as well.
- OpenOregon:
OpenOregon was an attempt to build an OpenSource incubator from 2002 to 2004.
LinuxFund rented an old run down warehouse in inner Portland and volunteers
from OpenOregon started
remodeling it with the idea of building facilities where OpenSource user
groups and community based OpenSource projects could pool their
limited resources. This was a good concept, but the project's promoters
weren't able to find enough sponsors and project died costing LinuxFund more
than anticipated.
------------------
Last updated: February 2006 - minor correction in Sept 2006
|
