SLX Debian labs
Skolelinux Norway - SLX Debian Labs
Forskningsparken, Gaustadalle 21,
N-0349 OSLO

Oslo Sept. 20th, 2005

Input to the chapter B.4.3 SLX, Skolelinux Debian Labs

The Skolelinux project started as a voluntary effort June 2nd 2001. The project is now a formal part of the Custom Debian Distribution[NN] known as Debian-Edu[NN]. The first developer gathering was held in January 2002. During the last three and a half years our organisation has facilitated 19 developer gatherings with 15 to 190 participants. Participants have mainly been from the Nordic and European countries. One of these gatherings was Debconf 3[NN], which took place at the University of Oslo with developers from 25 nations. We have also done a lot of promotional information work at schools, universities, and university colleges in Norway. Related to these efforts, we have mentored 13 student projects with free software development.

NN. http://www.debconf.org/debconf3/

NN. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skolelinux

NN. http://wiki.debian.net/index.cgi?CustomDebian

Late in 2002 the effort started with contribute our work back to Debian. This was mainly done two ways. We were heavily engaged making Debian-installer usable as a turn-key solution that could be adjusted to different installation mediums, and different customisations adapted to specific needs e.g schools, health, office and so on. Our other contribution was to make a framework that other derivatives of Debian could cooperate as a Custom Debian Distribution project.

NN. http://people.debian.org/~tille/cdd/ch-inside.en.html

The foundation SLX Debian Labs is financially responsible for this kind of projects. SLX Debian Labs[NN] was established in the fall 2003. The goal is to give the work with free and open source software (FOSS) a credible organizational environment in Norway, working together with free and open source developers internationally. This in answer to a question from The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research (NER). They want to contribute so that the large voluntary work done by Skolelinux and others, can continue to the advantage of the schools, providing a proper framework for following up these efforts. SLX Debian Labs are now an operator for a project writing management procedures which a municipality, or company could mange its IT-operation in Schools according to IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)[NN].

NN. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IT_Infrastructure_Library

Key staff. The Debian-edu CDD-project consist of 130 active developers. Some of them are more active than others. Some are more central than others, and have done most of the technical and logistical work. USIT, the Centre for Information Technology at the University at Oslo is hosting out build servers, and does the upkeep of the CDD building environment.

Petter Reinholdtsen – (Cand.Mag) The chief architect in the Skolelinux project. Responsible for making and releasing Skolelinux 1.0. He has been the technical coordinator between Debian and Debian-Edu internationally. He has a various background from the Norwegian Telephone company (Telenor) to Opera Software before starting his job at USIT, the Centre for Information Technology at the University at Oslo.

Joey Hess – Is responsible for coordinating and developing the effort with Debian-installer tailor-made for turn-key solutions with CDDs. He has participated in the Debian project since 1999 as a developer. From 1999 to March 2001 he also edited the Debian Weekly News.

Finn-Arne Johansen – Is the contributor who builds and releases Edu version of the Custom Debian Distribution today on Intel and Power PC platforms. He has former work experiences at Ericsson as a system engineer and a adviser at the educational department at the city of Oslo.

Knut Yrvin – (Cand.Scient) The project leader of Skolelinux. Writing the applications, and reports from the different efforts in SLX Debian Labs. Has former background from the Norwegian Telephone company (Telenor), Norwegian Central Securities Depository, and Objectware.

SLX Debian Labs will hire technical experienced people with building CDDs in addition to the persons in this resume. We have 3 1/2 years of experience with financing voluntary free software projects, In the report “Problems and Strategies in Financing Voluntary Free Software Projects”[NN] Benjamin Mako Hill states that SLX Debian Labs in Norway has effectively used the funding of sprints to accomplish time-based development goals.

NN. http://mako.cc/writing/funding_volunteers/

The “cost model” is FCF

By Knut Yrivn <knuty AT skolelinux no>
Project manager (cel: +47 908 95 765)