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Home Server Operating System

From the BBS Scene Community sparks the idea of a BBSing Operating System. You don't have to understand exactly what the "BBS Scene" is or the vast history that dates back as far as the late 1970's. All of this can be discovered later.

What is very important however, is that you've paid for your computer, so shouldn't you be getting the most out of it as humanly possible? Based on Ubuntu Linux and using Synchronet for most of its "core services", SyncLinux is an attempt to bridge the great divide between client and server.

You've probably heard the terms "client" and "server" before. You use them every day. Things like Instant Messengers and Web Broswers are "clients". Servers are the sites on the Internet that you connect to. The main stream would have you beleive that a "server" is some expensive, complicated, uber-elite piece of machinery only reserved for large corporations.

A server is simply a piece of software, just like any other. You probably don't realize that your computer performs server functions every day! A server is just a peice of software that "serves" content. When you send your friend a file by way of a direct connection via Instant Messenger, your computer is performing a server function. When someone connects to your Desktop using things like PCanywhere or VNC, thats a server function, too. When you enable file sharing on your ICQ Client, your PC is providing a server function. When you use a Peer-2-Peer (P2P) Network, your computer is yet again "serving" content to someone else.

To the dismay of the corporations, every day more and more people are discovering the freedom that home servers give you. The big boys don't want you to know that your PC is capable of absolutely everything they like to provide you on their ad-spammed psudeo-free hosts or expensive pay services. Their stomachs really start to become queezy when people find out that you don't need to have some phat coprorate internet pipe to securely and publically share content with the world directly from your home PC. Seeing as it's unlike that you're going to be the next Google (and if you did become the next Google, you'd also become flithy rich so theres really nothing to complain about either way), your Home Broadband Connection is all you need to provide for yourself all the services that you want and to be able to share whatever content you want to with the world -- even if you only have a Dynamic IP Address!

What Is Linux?

You've probably heard of Linux in passing. Most likely something to the effect of a very fast, efficent and secure Operarting System that is difficult to install and use. Well, the first part is right, the second part is pure stigma and gossip.

Linux is 100% immune from all spyware, 99% immune from virus', is very fast, secure and stable and yes, it's even easy to use, too! Most of us Linux Geeks have done crazy things like setting up Linux Machines for our parents, family and friends. A lot of these people are about as technial as an abacus. The feedback us Linux Geeks have received -- and without fail or exception -- is that Linux is by far easier and more user friendly than Microsoft Windows!

If you're still looking for the Main Stream Opinion, Linux is widely accepted and used by most large corporations, including but not limited to Dell and Walmart! Yes, both Dell and Walmart sell computers for home use with Linux preloaded as the Operating System.

As people become frustrated with Windows XP and appualed by the disaster that is Vista, they desperately search for alternatives. Linux is a descendant of Unix, as is MAC OS. Seeing as MAC's are "Personal Computers" and not "Personal Vacuume Cleaners" please don't buy into the propaganda that "PC = Windows" because they're just so incredibly full of it.

So now your thinking "whats the catch 22? does Linux have flaws?". Well of course Linux has flaws, doesn't everything in this world? Your new car has flaws, the human body has flaws and even the chair your sitting on right now in front of your computer has flaws. Linux is not a perfect OS. There isn't really such a thing as a perfect "anything". So you have to do your best to find the things that have the LEAST AMOUNT of flaws, because you won't find anything that is flawless on this Earth.

Anti-Corporate Idiology

What we mean by Anti-Corporate is not that we hate the business world or that we expect everything for nothing -- that would be silly. Our OS is simply our attempt at damage control to the lack of real community between people on the Internet as people live in fear of the next scam around the corner. Microsoft's OS breaking more than it works, the RIAA suing little kids and grandmothers in an attempt to establish a monopoly over all music on earth, the Cellular Companies advertising a $29.95/mo package that really ends up being more like $199.95/mo, the MPAA and RIAA trying to hinder indivduals from being able to freely syndicate FAIR USE content, Internet Providers with endless catch 22's in their terms of service and so many more examples of the Great Corporate Rip-off. It's hard to tell who's legit and who's trying to pull one over on you anymore.

SyncLinux is being designed to help inform you, protect you and give you the freedoms you've been lacking. A real sense of community and cooperation in the BBS Scene can help you research the "real deal" so that you know whats good and what to avoid. An efficent Operating System that "just works" as we do our best to follow the KISS Rule (Keep It Simple Stupid) to advance with innovative technologies without simultaneously overcomplicating things that should always remain simple. To directly integrate server services that can save you money because you won't need to rely on the Corporate Big Boys as much as you used to. To impliment API's of existing main stream services that don't suck -- and that you're already familar with using.

We just want to try to make things better for individuals and small businesses. We don't think thats too much for anyone to ask of us. You're a person, not a number or a dollar sign. You should be treated with respect.

How Can I Help?

Well, you don't have to be some mad skill coder to be of valued assistance to this project. Theres a variety of ways people with all different skill levels can be of help.

If you've any experience what so ever with Linux -- even if it's not incredibly much, there are things you can help us with. If you've got ANSI, ASCII, SVGA or Website Design talents, you can help. If you're not a coder but you're pretty descent with scripting languages (Baja, JS, Bash, Perl, Python, etc...) you can help. If you know just enough about programming to be able to read / write / modify text file configs. If you know even just a tiny bit of QBasic, TurboPascal or ASM. If you've ever Administered a Home Server or are fluent with running a Scene BBS (Bulletin Board System). If you're good at writting documentation files for things. If you're good with FTN / QWK Networking. If you've got good team leader / coordination skills. If you're the author of any third party utilities -- we'll concider integrating them. If you've a knack for spotting problems, troubleshooting and comming up with new ideas. If you've got Musical Talent (would be nice to have a descent sound theme for the Desktop). You can help just by running the OS and reporting your experiences back to us. If all else fails -- you can help by telling your friends about this website or posting about it in forums you frequent (please don't spam anyone elses site, or we'll hunt you down and sodomize you with household kitchen appliances).

the BBS Xchange