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+<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>
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