X-Git-Url: https://git.shemshak.org/gitweb.cgi/~bandali/bndl.org/blobdiff_plain/46e00845fab171c8a35b2455e60f59e51463ca3d..c468ea86fe03b0000d6377079118da7e78e6ca4f:/notes.atom diff --git a/notes.atom b/notes.atom new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f4e1b56 --- /dev/null +++ b/notes.atom @@ -0,0 +1,310 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> +<feed xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"> +<title>bandali's personal site</title> +<subtitle>notes and blog posts by bandali</subtitle> +<id>tag:bndl.org,2020:notes.atom</id> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/notes.atom" rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" /> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/notes.rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" /> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/bandali.fa.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/notes.atom" rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/notes.rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/bandali.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<updated>2021-10-22T03:49:09+00:00</updated> + +<entry xml:base="https://bndl.org"> +<author><name>bandali</name></author> +<id>tag:bndl.org,2020:notes.atom:libreplanet-2021</id> +<published>2021-03-20T00:00:00+00:00</published> +<updated>2021-03-21T00:00:00+00:00</updated> +<link href="https://bndl.org/2021/03/20/libreplanet-2021.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/2021/03/20/libreplanet-2021.html" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<title>LibrePlanet 2021: Jami and how it empowers users — bandali</title> +<content type="html"><![CDATA[ +<p>I am giving my very first +<a href="https://libreplanet.org/2021/">LibrePlanet</a> talk today on +March 20th. I will be talking about +<a href="https://jami.net">Jami</a>, the GNU package for universal +communication that respects the freedoms and privacy of its users. +I'll be giving an introduction to Jami and its architecture, sharing +important and exciting development news from the Jami team about +<a href="https://jami.net/together-the-new-version-of-jami-and-a-new-step-forward/">rendezvous +points</a>, <a href="https://jami.biz/jams-user-guide">JAMS</a>, +the <a href="https://jami.net/plugins-sdk">plugin SDK</a>, +<a href="https://jami.net/swarm-introducing-a-new-generation-of-group-conversations">Swarm +chats</a>, and more; and how these features each help empower users to +communicate with their loved ones without sacrificing their privacy or +freedom.</p> + +<p>Here is the abstract for my talk, also available on the +<a href="https://libreplanet.org/2021/speakers/#4285">LibrePlanet +2021's speakers</a> page:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>Jami is free software for universal communication that respects the +freedoms and privacy of its users. Jami is an official GNU package +with a main goal of providing a framework for virtual communications, +along with a series of end-user applications for audio/video calling +and conferencing, text messaging, and file transfer.</p> + +<p>With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home has +become the norm for many workers around the world. More and more +people are using videoconferencing tools to work or communicate with +their loved ones. The emergence of these tools has been followed by +many questions and scandals concerning the privacy and freedom of +users.</p> + +<p>This talk gives an introduction to Jami, a free/libre, truly +distributed, and peer-to-peer solution, and explains why and how it +differs from all other existing solutions and how it empowers +users.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>I have been an attendee of LibrePlanet for some years, and am very +excited to be giving my first ever talk at LibrePlanet 2021 this year! +You can watch my talk and other speakers' talks live this weekend, +from the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2021/live/">LibrePlanet 2021 +- Live</a> page. Attendance is gratis (no cost), and you can register +at <a href="https://u.fsf.org/lp21-sp">https://u.fsf.org/lp21-sp</a>.</p> + +<p>Presentation slides: +<a href="https://p.bndl.org/bandali-jami-libreplanet-2021.pdf">pdf</a> +(<a href="https://p.bndl.org/bandali-jami-libreplanet-2021-with-notes.pdf">with notes</a>) | +<a href="https://bndl.org/bandali.bib">bib</a><br /> + +<span class="tex">L<sup>a</sup>T<sub>e</sub>X</span> sources: +<a href="https://p.bndl.org/bandali-jami-libreplanet-2021.tar.gz">tar.gz</a> | +<a href="https://p.bndl.org/bandali-jami-libreplanet-2021.zip">zip</a></p> + +<p>I hope to see you around this year's all-online LibrePlanet +conference this weekend!</p> + +<p class="box">LibrePlanet is a conference about software freedom, +happening March 20 through 21, 2021. The event is hosted by the Free +Software Foundation (FSF), and brings together software developers, +law and policy experts, activists, students, and computer users to +learn skills, celebrate free software accomplishments, and face +upcoming challenges. Newcomers are always welcome, and LibrePlanet +2021 will feature programming for all ages and experience levels.</p> +]]></content></entry> + +<entry xml:base="https://bndl.org"> +<author><name>bandali</name></author> +<id>tag:bndl.org,2020:notes.atom:fsf-internship-beyond</id> +<published>2020-12-18T00:00:00+00:00</published> +<updated>2020-12-18T00:00:00+00:00</updated> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/2020/12/18/fsf-internship-beyond.fa.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/2020/12/18/fsf-internship-beyond.html" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/2020/12/18/fsf-internship-beyond.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/2020/12/18/fsf-internship-beyond.html" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<title>My internship with the FSF tech team and beyond — bandali</title> +<content type="html"><![CDATA[ +<p class="box">Originally published on the Free Software Foundation's +sysadmin blog:<br /> +<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/my-internship-with-the-fsf-tech-team-and-beyond">My +internship with the FSF tech team and beyond</a></p> + +<p>Hello! I'm +<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-bandali-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team">Amin +Bandali</a>, and this is my second blog post on the FSF sysadmin blog, +concluding my internship with the FSF tech team this year.</p> + +<p>Throughout my internship with the tech team, I have worked mainly +on sysadmin tasks related to setting up and/or managing FSF's +GNU/Linux servers. Perhaps most significantly, I set up an instance +of the <a href="https://sourcehut.org">Sourcehut</a> forge software to +help +<a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/FSF_2020_forge_evaluation">evaluate</a> +it as a candidate for the upcoming +<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/coming-soon-a-new-site-for-fully-free-collaboration">FSF +forge project</a>. I documented the installation and setup process of +Sourcehut's various components in the form of a literate GNU Emacs +Org-mode file, where source blocks are interspersed with comments and +prose explaining them. One can then progressively evaluate and +execute the source blocks, and optionally have their results stored +back in the Org file itself to help with +documentation/demonstration.</p> + +<p>I have also been slowly working on various improvements for the +server running www.gnu.org, and will continue doing work on it as a +volunteer after the end of my internship. This will hopefully be +beneficial to the FSF sysadmins running the server, the GNU webmasters +who do webmastering work on gnu.org, and the general public browsing +and using gnu.org's pages. Notably, changes included upgrading the +server to the latest release of Trisquel GNU/Linux, and revamping and +improving the search mechanism for gnu.org's pages. Additionally, +there are several other projects that I would like to tackle with the +tech team in the near future.</p> + +<p>During my internship with the FSF tech team, I picked up a variety +of new skills and learned more about a diverse set of topics and +tools. This included building and installing a complex piece of +software like Sourcehut and debugging issues encountered along the +way, using Ansible for managing and deploying infrastructure, as well +as learning more about the Exim mail transfer agent used to run FSF +and GNU's array of mail servers.</p> + +<p>In conclusion to my internship and the year 2020, it's safe to say +that this year has been an eventful year for many people, including +myself. I started my internship with the tech team back in May, and +as a graduate student at the time, I was expecting a reasonable and +balanced workload for my work on my thesis over the coming months. +However, early on (less than two weeks) into my internship I learned +that due to a number of reasons, I needed to complete my master's +studies on a two-month deadline. I told the tech team about the +issue, asking whether I could take a hiatus to complete my studies +without affecting my internship. I am beyond thankful to the tech +team and the FSF as whole for being accommodating, and for their +flexibility in allowing me to take a leave to focus on writing my +thesis and wrapping up my master's studies. I managed to successfully +wrap up my studies in that short timeline, and focus on my internship +afterwards.</p> + +<p>However, all good things must come to an end, and this internship +is no exception. I am incredibly grateful to the members of the FSF +tech team — Ian, Andrew, Ruben, and Michael — for +welcoming me to the team as an intern and mentoring me, answering my +many questions, and helping me learn more. It has been an honour and +a wonderful experience for me all around working with you all and +seeing the energy and passion with which you take on the work and +responsibilities that come with being an FSF sysadmin and Web +developer. While most of my interactions were with the tech team, I +also got to interact with FSF staffers from several other teams during +my internship, and I'm thankful for our conversations and the chance +to get to know and appreciate the important work you do.</p> + +<p>This internship has come to an end, but I will carry with me all of +the good memories and the lessons I learned along the way, and will +happily to continue working with you as a volunteer. The things I +learned have been invaluable and greatly helpful to me, as I +transitioned into my new full-time job at Savoir-faire Linux as a Free +Software Consultant, where I get to work on various parts and aspects +of Jami, a GNU package for universal communication which respects the +freedoms and privacy of its users.</p> + +<p>I would like to thank the FSF for providing me this excellent +opportunity to work alongside the tech team as an intern, and take +away so many valuable lessons and great memories.</p> + +<p class="box">Interested in interning for the Free Software +Foundation? The application period for spring 2021 internships is +currently open. Please see +<a href="https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships">https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships</a> +for more details and information on how to apply!</p> +]]></content></entry> + +<entry xml:base="https://bndl.org"> +<author><name>bandali</name></author> +<id>tag:bndl.org,2020:notes.atom:fsf-internship-intro</id> +<published>2020-05-29T00:00:00+00:00</published> +<updated>2020-05-29T00:00:00+00:00</updated> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/2020/05/29/fsf-internship-intro.fa.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/2020/05/29/fsf-internship-intro.html" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/2020/05/29/fsf-internship-intro.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/2020/05/29/fsf-internship-intro.html" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<title>Internship with the FSF tech team — bandali</title> +<content type="html"><![CDATA[ +<p class="box">Originally published on the Free Software Foundation's +sysadmin blog:<br /> +<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-bandali-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team">Introducing +Amin Bandali, intern with the FSF tech team</a></p> + +<p>Hi there, I'm Amin Bandali, often just <code>bandali</code> on the +interwebs. I wear a few different hats around GNU as a maintainer, +webmaster, and Savannah hacker, and I'm very excited to be extending +that to the Free Software Foundation (FSF) as an intern with the FSF +tech team for spring 2020.</p> + +<p>Growing up around parents with backgrounds in computer engineering +and programming, it did not take long for me to find an interest in +tinkering and playing with computers as a kid, and I first came into +contact with GNU/Linux in my teenage years. My first introduction to +the world of free software came a few years later, when a friend +kindly pointed out to me that what I had vaguely known and referred to +as "open source" software is more properly referred to as free +software, and helped me see +<a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">why +"open source" misses the point of free software</a>. After learning +about and absorbing the ideas and ideals of free software, I have +since become a free software activist. As a computer scientist who +enjoys studying and hacking on various programs and sometimes writing +my own, I have made a point of releasing all I can under strong +copyleft licenses, particularly the +<a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html">GNU AGPL</a> +license.</p> + +<p>My involvement with the <a href="https://www.gnu.org">GNU +Project</a> started in 2016, first as a volunteer webmaster, and later +as one of the maintainers of +<a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/">GNUzilla and +IceCat</a> late last year. Also around the same time, I led a group +of volunteers in organizing and holding +<a href="https://emacsconf.org/2019">EmacsConf 2019</a> as a +completely online conference, using only free software tools, much +like the excellent +<a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020">LibrePlanet +2020</a>. I love <a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/">GNU +Emacs</a>, and use it more than any other program. GNU Emacs helps me +do a wide variety of tasks such as programming, reading and composing +emails, and chatting via IRC.</p> + +<p>More closely related to my internship with the FSF tech team, I +have been familiarizing myself with various pieces of the +<a href="https://savannah.gnu.org">GNU Savannah</a> infrastructure +with help from veteran Savannah hacker Bob Proulx, gradually learning +and picking up tasks helping with the administration and maintenance +of Savannah. I am also a member of the Systems Committee of my +university's computer science club, overseeing and maintaining a large +fleet of GNU/Linux servers for our club members.</p> + +<p>For my internship with the Free Software Foundation, I will be +working with the FSF tech team on a number of tasks, including helping +with +the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/coming-soon-a-new-site-for-fully-free-collaboration">free +software forge</a> project, as well as various improvements for +gnu.org. I look forward to learning many new things and picking up +valuable skills through my internship with the FSF's exceptional tech +team, who do <em>so much</em> for the GNU project and the wider free +software community.</p> +]]></content></entry> + +<entry xml:base="https://bndl.org"> +<author><name>bandali</name></author> +<id>tag:bndl.org,2020:notes.atom:computing</id> +<published>2019-09-14T00:00:00+00:00</published> +<updated>2021-02-28T00:00:00+00:00</updated> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/bandali-computing.fa.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link hreflang="fa" href="https://bndl.org/fa/computing.html" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/bandali-computing.txt" rel="alternate" type="text/plain" /> +<link href="https://bndl.org/computing.html" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /> +<title>How I do my computing — bandali</title> +<content type="html"><![CDATA[ +<p class="box">inspired by the computing page of +<a href="https://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html">rms</a></p> + +<h2>Computers</h2> +<p>My <a href="https://libreboot.org">librebooted</a> ThinkPad X200 +computer is the machine I use the most and where I do most of my +computing. I also have the privilege of having access to a fleet of +servers through our school's +<a href="https://csclub.uwaterloo.ca">Computer Science Club</a> that I +use for some more computationally intensive tasks every now and +again.</p> + +<h2>GNU/Linux distribution</h2> +<p>I used a wide variety of distros over the years; but I have since +found <a href="https://trisquel.info">Trisquel</a> to be my favourite +and it's put my "distro-hopping" days behind me. Sometimes I pair it +up with <a href="https://guix.gnu.org">GNU Guix</a>. For the kernel, +I usually use +<a href="https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/">GNU +Linux-libre</a> from jxself's +<a href="https://jxself.org/linux-libre/">APT repository</a>.</p> + +<h2>Actual computing</h2> +<p>I spend most of my time in +<a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/">GNU Emacs</a>.</p> +<p>TODO: elaborate</p> +]]></content></entry> +</feed>