Re: [OS:N:] FLOSS on Windows for kids

[Robert Citek <rwcitek alum calberkeley org>]

On Nov 28, 2005, at 4:55 PM, Bill Kendrick wrote:
> On Mon, Nov 28, 2005 at 10:11:38AM -0600, Robert Citek wrote:
> > Does a FLOSS for Windows CD exist that contains software geared
> > towards kids?
>
> I've never heard of one, but I think it'd be a great idea!

Actually, I'm beginning to think that what I really want is  
broadcatching[1], but I'm not sure.

Ideally, I'd like something like podcasting[2] for Free/Libre/ 
OpenSource Software (FLOSS).  Instead of using a podcatcher to  
subscribe to a podcast which distributes the latest version of audio  
files, I would use a flosscatcher to subscribe to a flosscast which  
distributes the latest version of FLOSS packages.  For large files  
the flosscatcher can download torrent files which then can then be  
used by my favorite bittorrent[3] client.  Then whenever I want to  
build a CD, I run my flosscatcher and assemble the downloaded  
packages into a CD.  No more need to check every FLOSS project by hand.

Using a flosscatcher would greatly automate and simplify the  
distribution of FLOSS.  For example, I could set up a server to do  
the following:

 1) in a crontab have the flosscatcher run every hour and deposit  
the torrent files in a common torrent folder
 2) have a bittorrent (BT) client continuously monitoring the  
torrent folder.  Whenever a new torrent arrives, the BT client  
automatically starts downloading and sharing the new file.

The only manual step would be the initial set up and then  
periodically add new subscriptions.

SourceForge almost has it right with RSS feeds for their project  
announcements.  Unfortunately, they don't include a tag with a link  
to the latest version of files, like the "enclosure" tag for podcasts.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcatching
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittorrent

Regards,
- Robert
http://www.cwelug.org/downloads
Help others get OpenSource software.  Distribute FLOSS
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