NEWS BRIEFS
Framingham, MASS. — IDG World Expo announced that Debian is the recipient of the $25,000 IDG/Linus Torvalds Community Award. Linux creator Linus Torvalds and Charlie Greco, president and CEO of IDG World Expo will present the $25,000 award at LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, following Michael Dell’s keynote address on Tuesday, August 15, 2000 at the San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA.
“Debian is a perfect example of open source computing working the way it was meant to,” said Charlie Greco, IDG World Expo president and CEO. “LinuxWorld Conference and Expo is dedicated to showcasing the newest and the very best that the Linux community has to offer. The IDG/Linus Torvalds Community Award recognizes individuals and organizations who epitomize the spirit of open source technology.”
Debian is an open source operating system that currently uses the Linux kernel. However, the organization plans to provide Debian Technology for other kernels as well. In keeping with the Linux philosophy, Debian founders believe that the license for a component using their kernel may not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software and that the program must include a source code.
“The IDG/Linus Torvalds Community Award puts Debian in very good company,” said Wichert Akkerman, project leader, Debian. “The Linux community works hard to further the open source software movement. Debian is thrilled to be chosen as one of the groups who have helped the movement in a significant way.”
The first IDG/Linus Torvalds Community Award was presented at LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in March, 1999 to two winners, Jay Sulzberger and Stampede Foundation for their exemplary work in the open source community. Since then, the IDG/Linux Community Award has given away $100,000 to companies and organizations whose use of the Linux operating system involves a combination of both innovation and usefulness. Debian furthers the cause of open source software by promising to keep the Debian GNU/Linux distribution entirely free and never to make the system depend on an item of non-free software.
The sold out LinuxWorld Conference & Expo will feature over 160 exhibitors including Debian. Keynote speakers include Michael Dell, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Dell Computers; Ransom Love, president and chief executive officer of Caldera Systems, Inc.; and Joel Birnbaum, chief scientist, Hewlett-Packard Company.
IDG World Expo previously made these announcements about the upcoming LinuxWorld Conference & Expo.
— The event has sold out all exhibit space, despite adding another 60% to capacity. LinuxWorld Conference & Expo is expected to generate the largest and most demographically appealing attendance in its history.
— The next West Coast LinuxWorld Conference & Expo will move to San Francisco to accommodate the need for more space.
— “Boot Camps” and testing for Sair Linux and GNU Certified Administrator (LCA) Level, a $5,100 value will be offered free to all conference attendees.
— The event will include a “no-holds-barred” roundtable of top Linux executives hosted by Patricia Sabga, the co-anchor of CNNfn’s The N.E.W. Show (“The New Economy Watch”).
— The “Linux Geek Bowl”, a live quiz show, will be moderated by Nicholas Petreley, contributing editor, LinuxWorld Magazine and InfoWorld.
For more information about keynote addresses and feature presentations visit the LinuxWorld Conference & Expo Web site at http://www.linuxworldexpo.com .
============================================================