[Fsfe-uk] MFS Meeting. Tue, 20 March. "GNU/Linux-libre from scratch - start"

[Michael Dorrington]

Please feel free to forward this to those that would welcome it.

You can subscribe to the Manchester Free Software mailing list at:
https://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/fsuk-manchester

* Event: Manchester Free Software's March Meeting

* Talk: GNU/Linux-libre from scratch - start
* Speaker: Michael Dorrington

* Date: Tuesday, 20th March 2018 (3rd Tuesday of the month)
* Start time: 19:00
* Finish time: 20:30 (social in Madlab until 21:00)

* Location: Madlab (Manchester Digital Laboratory)
  - https://madlab.org.uk/
* Address: 36-40 Edge Street, Manchester. M4 1HN.
  - Opposite "Common" on Edge Street, Northern Quarter.
  - https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/53.48413/-2.23639


== Details ==

The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software
philosophy.

Every meeting we start with an opportunity for informal key signing.
For an explanation of what this is about see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_signing_party


=== Talk ===

The main part of the meeting will be a talk with free discussion on the
topic.

A good choice for a general purpose free software operating system (OS)
is GNU with a kernel of Linux, the GNU/Linux system.  Sadly, the
upstream Linux code contains some non-free elements which led to the
creation of Linux-libre.  In this talk we will start building a
GNU/Linux-libre system "from scratch", that is, from the source code of
all the required programs.

By compiling from source we exercise our free software rights on the
software involved.  We get to practice patching source code and building
from source code.  We learn about how the GNU system is put together and
how it works.  We learn to really appreciate package managed systems.

If you want to follow along completely building a GNU/Linux-libre system
during the talk then you'll need to bring a laptop and, at least, one
free disk partition.  You'll need to read, at least, the first 3
chapters of [GNU/]Linux From Scratch Version 8.2.  That is, read at
least: "Introduction", "Preparing the Host System" and "Packages and
Patches".  As detailed in those chapters:

* make your host system meet the requirements
* download the packages and patches AND check md5sums
* download the Linux-libre source and signature AND check signature:
**
https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/releases/4.15.3-gnu/linux-libre-4.15.3-gnu.tar.xz
**
https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/releases/4.15.3-gnu/linux-libre-4.15.3-gnu.tar.xz.sign

If you encounter difficulties while doing this then please feel free to
ask for help on the Manchester Free Software mailing list:

* https://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/fsuk-manchester

If you don't manage this then you can still learn from the talk and then
build the system in your own time afterwards.

This is a big topic so this talk will be the start and next month,
April, we will finish the system.  This also gives the opportunity for
people to have a go at building the system in the time between the talks
and then get help finishing it off in the April meeting.

More information:

* http://linuxfromscratch.org/
* http://linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/
* https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/

If you have experience of building a GNU/Linux-libre from scratch system
or compiling parts of it then please consider giving a lightning talk at
the meeting.


== Event Planning ==

Software Freedom Day in Manchester 2018 is on Saturday, 15th September.

* https://www.softwarefreedomday.org/


== After-meeting ==

The formal meeting will be followed by informal discussion and
socialising in Madlab.


== Location ==

The meeting will take place at the usual venue of Madlab, details above.


== Transport ==


=== Parking ===

Around the venue there are parking meter bays that become zero cost
after 8pm on Tuesday so you will have to pay up until then and the
maximum stay is 2 hours BUT MAKE SURE YOU VERIFY ALL THIS on parking.

There are paid parking lots around the venue, they are marked by a blue
P in this OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab
<http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365>.  Most of those
parking lots are owned by NCP <http://www.ncp.co.uk/>.

If you can’t decide otherwise then park in Manchester Arndale
<https://www.manchesterarndale.com/visiting/directions>.


=== Public Transport ===

Manchester Victoria (MCV) train station, Shudehill tram and bus station,
and Manchester Piccadilly bus station are all fairly close to Madlab,
see OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab
<http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365>.

Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train station and Manchester Central Coach
Station are not too far away either.


== More Information ==

Information about Manchester Free Software can be found on the
Manchester Free Software pages on LibrePlanet
<https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Manchester>.

Regards,
Mike.
MFS Chair.

-- 
FSF member #9429
http://www.fsf.org/register_form?referrer=9429
http://www.fsf.org/about
"The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a nonprofit with a worldwide
mission to promote computer user freedom and to defend the rights of all
free software users."

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