KOSH [Kommunity Orientated Software Hardware]

Weekly Summary

Week Commencing: 24th April 1999

Number: 018

Mailing List: kosh-general

In the mailing list this week, the following items were discussed. Please do
not email the scribe regarding any of these topics, it is not his job to answer
these questions but merely to report  the topics of conversation. If you have
any queries about this summary, please email ben@kosh.net, stating the Summary
Number, and Mailing List Name, and he will try to answer your queries.

a)

Subject: Location of KOSH Book List

Summary of debate: It was expressed that a mirror of the KOSH Book List should
                   be on the main http://www.kosh.net site.


b)

Subject: Query on the survey content (continued)

Summary of debate: Following from last weeks query as to whether a KOSH survey
                   should ask if alien file formats should be supported (see
                   point "n" from last weeks survey) it was suggested that the
                   question should be posed as this would give an idea as to
                   whether this should be setup in KOSH as a default or
                   optional setting.

                   A question like this could present an insentive to fill in
                   the questionnaire and would give people the feeling that
                   their views are being heard.

                   Alternatively the question "What file formats would you like
                   supported initially in KOSH?" could be asked. This could
                   generate a list too large to implement or could result in
                   people worrying that they had forgotten to include one in
                   their reply to the survey.

                   With KOSH, as with datatypes, virtually any format can be
                   supported - if not initially then simply by adding the
                   relevant object to the sea.

                   One suggestion in answer to the questions posed was that we
                   could have a range of useful data objects, one for each form
                   of data, one for lossy compression (with options for
                   different packing) and a very powerful import/export filter
                   to speak to non KOSH systems.

                   For further details please consult the KOSH Surveying
                   Working Group.


c)

Subject: The Free Expression Project

Summary of debate: This project aims "to develop a copylefted suite of
                   streaming media tools (server, client, encoders, and
                   codec(s)...[The aim] is to provide free tools for artists
                   who want to use the Web as a distribution medium..., and to
                   make Linux a viable platform for them to use."

                   See: http://www.free-expression.org/ from which the above
                   quote was taken.

                   It was mentioned that this is part of an attempt to ensure
                   free formats to spread free news feeds and entertainment.
                   It appears to be targeted at a few large organisations who
                   currently control the market.

                   Presumably the activities of Free Expression are something
                   KOSH could be involved with.


d)

Subject: Developers for KOSH

Summary of debate: See: http://java.oreilly.com/news/newos_0499.html which
                   could be a niche for KOSH and provide volunteers for
                   development.


e)

Subject: KOSH matter

Summary of debate: The fact that there are two levels of "matter" available
                   when discussing data in KOSH, bit streams and structures was
                   described. A data entity is always a bit stream; anything
                   above that is dependent upon the applied structure.

                   It was favourably expressed that this applied structure
                   could be defined using XML, with a DTD for every structure
                   that we use.


f)

Subject: Books on OS development

Summary of debate: A number of books were described on the above subject.
                   Details of them can be found on the KOSH Book list site (yes
                   that's an attempt to get everyone to look at it). The URL is
                   in previous summaries (yes that's an attempt to get
                   everyone to re-read them...you do read them don't you?).


g)

Subject: Web Author for KOSH wanted

Summary of debate: A web author/designer/coder for the KOSH project is
                   currently wanted by a number of people on the General
                   Mailing List. If you are interested in this voluntary post
                   then please contact the ML (email:kosh-general@kosh.net).

                   We need someone who has the ability and time to help get the
                   KOSH URL back up and running.

                   Please note that although this post is completely voluntary.
                   There is currently no funds available to pay for any work
                   done (including costs incurred from, for example uploading
                   via a charged telephone call). Pay -may- (no guarantee) come
                   about in the end in the form of KOSH Virtual Credits.

                   Further, the above post has been "created" by your humble
                   scribe as a result of the posts to the General KOSH ML. It
                   is not "official" (if anything truly is with the way KOSH is
                   organised to allow anyone to help in any way). Even so, if
                   you are interested and can demonstrate that you have both
                   the time and ability to help create a URL we would -very-
                   much like to hear from you.


h)

Subject: File formats

Summary of debate: A lot of information on file formats can be found at
                   http://www.wotsit.org


i)

Subject: KOSH Web Site revamped with regular columns on relevant subjects

Summary of debate: The KOSH URL will soon be back up and running (it may be by
                   the time you read this). Greg Webb would like to hear from
                   anyone who would like to write a column - one off or a
                   series on anything related to KOSH. Ideally this will be in
                   English, but any language is OK if a proof reader is
                   available.

                   Please email greg@gpwebb.freeserve.co.uk if you can help.