It's actually our 75th InstallFest, not our 72nd. On Fri, Oct 23, 2026 at 7:42 PM Jerry Feldman via Announce < announce@lists.blu.org> wrote: > When: Saturday October 24, 2026, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm EDT > Where: UMASS Boston. CS CCS Conference Room 3rd floor McCormack Building > room 0721 a short walk from The Campus Center. > > Park in the Campus Center garage or take the UMASS shuttle bus from the > JFK/UMass station on the MBTA Red Line. This bus goes to The Campus > Center. Please see https://blu.org/cgi-bin/calendar/2025-ifest72 for > more detailed directions and maps. > > What you need to bring: Your computer, monitor, power strips and your > Linux distributions. We do have copies of some distributions. > In general we have expertise with most distros, but if you need special > expertise, please email the BLU discussion list in advance. Today, most > distros are using Live images that you can try out and then install. > This can be copied to DVDs or USB sticks.There are a number of USB > creators, such as UNetbootin (https://unetbootin.github.io/). Both > Fedora and Ubuntu have a USB creator built in. > > COST: It's free! However, we DO have expenses, and contributions are > welcome. Please consider contributing $25 per machine. UMass Boston > students and faculty no cost. > > Our volunteers will help you to install Linux on your own system. While > Linux runs on most systems, some systems do have configurations and > hardware that may not be supported. Please consult the following web > pages for hardware compatibility. While we prefer you to bring your own > distros, our volunteers will normally have > > Linux Howto Pages: http://tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/howtos.html > Linux Frequently Asked Questions: http://tldp.org/docs.html#faq > > Additionally, there are forums and listservs for most distro > > Windows Subsystem for Linux > <https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install> (WSL) may be the > easiest choice for Windows users. > > > Generally our volunteers have sets of the latest Fedora, Ubuntu, and > Mint distributions on Live USB. > * Fedora - https://getfedora.org/ (Fedora 42) > * Ubuntu - http://www.ubuntu.com ( 24.04LTS or 25.04) > * Linux Mint - https://linuxmint.com/ (22.1) > * other distros can easily be downloaded at the Installfest > > We generally have them on local drives and can burn USBs. > Since there are many variants of these distros, we advise you to > bring an empty USB stick with sufficient memory to hold one of the > distros. Live images require about 1.5GB. I usually have some USBs > prepared or can easily burn a USB. > > We usually have both a Wired and Wireless network available. > > > Additionally, you can run Linux on your Windows PC through a virtual > machine manager, such as Virtualbox. You can install this in your > Windows machine and run Linux as a guest OS, or install it in your Linux > machine and run Windows as a guest. Linux has a built-in virtual memory > system, but you can also download and install VirtualBox 6.0 > (http://www.virtualbox.org) which is free and is available for Linux, > and Windows > > > Please refer to the BLU website (http://www.blu.org) for further > information and directions. > > > > -- > Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> > Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org > PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 > PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 > _______________________________________________ > Announce mailing list > Announce@lists.blu.org > https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.blu.org > https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > -- John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix Email: abreauj@gmail.com / WWW http://www.abreau.net / PGP-Key-ID 0x920063C6 PGP-Key-Fingerprint A5AD 6BE1 FEFE 8E4F 5C23 C2D0 E885 E17C 9200 63C6 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
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Friday, October 23, 2026
Boston Linux and Unix InstallFest LXXII reminder, tomorrow Saturday October 24, 2026 Umass Boston
When: Saturday October 24, 2026, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm EDT Where: UMASS Boston. CS CCS Conference Room 3rd floor McCormack Building room 0721 a short walk from The Campus Center. Park in the Campus Center garage or take the UMASS shuttle bus from the JFK/UMass station on the MBTA Red Line. This bus goes to The Campus Center. Please see https://blu.org/cgi-bin/calendar/2025-ifest72 for more detailed directions and maps. What you need to bring: Your computer, monitor, power strips and your Linux distributions. We do have copies of some distributions. In general we have expertise with most distros, but if you need special expertise, please email the BLU discussion list in advance. Today, most distros are using Live images that you can try out and then install. This can be copied to DVDs or USB sticks.There are a number of USB creators, such as UNetbootin (https://unetbootin.github.io/). Both Fedora and Ubuntu have a USB creator built in. COST: It's free! However, we DO have expenses, and contributions are welcome. Please consider contributing $25 per machine. UMass Boston students and faculty no cost. Our volunteers will help you to install Linux on your own system. While Linux runs on most systems, some systems do have configurations and hardware that may not be supported. Please consult the following web pages for hardware compatibility. While we prefer you to bring your own distros, our volunteers will normally have Linux Howto Pages: http://tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/howtos.html Linux Frequently Asked Questions: http://tldp.org/docs.html#faq Additionally, there are forums and listservs for most distro Windows Subsystem for Linux <https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install> (WSL) may be the easiest choice for Windows users. Generally our volunteers have sets of the latest Fedora, Ubuntu, and Mint distributions on Live USB. * Fedora - https://getfedora.org/ (Fedora 42) * Ubuntu - http://www.ubuntu.com ( 24.04LTS or 25.04) * Linux Mint - https://linuxmint.com/ (22.1) * other distros can easily be downloaded at the Installfest We generally have them on local drives and can burn USBs. Since there are many variants of these distros, we advise you to bring an empty USB stick with sufficient memory to hold one of the distros. Live images require about 1.5GB. I usually have some USBs prepared or can easily burn a USB. We usually have both a Wired and Wireless network available. Additionally, you can run Linux on your Windows PC through a virtual machine manager, such as Virtualbox. You can install this in your Windows machine and run Linux as a guest OS, or install it in your Linux machine and run Windows as a guest. Linux has a built-in virtual memory system, but you can also download and install VirtualBox 6.0 (http://www.virtualbox.org) which is free and is available for Linux, and Windows Please refer to the BLU website (http://www.blu.org) for further information and directions. -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting, Reminder, tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21, 2026 - Managing LLM Drift with Forensic Logging
When: October 21, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic:Managing LLM Drift with Forensic Logging Presenters: John Abreau Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Note: JITSI just imposed a 95 minute limit on meetings. While we have been discussing a solution, temporarily we will create a temporary meeting room and announce it prior to the meeting expiration so that everyone in the meeting will get a chance to log in to the new meeting room. Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: An approach for managing LLM drift by logging session's ground truth and packaging it as a boot prompt for the subsequent session Abstract: As LLM sessions stretch on, the context window fills. The model begins to silently compress details, drift from established rules, or drop constraints entirely. I'm developing a workflow for extracting the raw data of an LLM session and and filtering it into a bootable state for the next session. I'll be presenting a Chromium extension I'm working on to extract the raw forensic data from each round, including the user's prompt, the model's reasoning, and the model's response, along with associated metadata. For further meeting info please visit http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting, Wednesday, October 21, 2026 - Managing LLM Drift with Forensic Logging
When: October 21, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic:Managing LLM Drift with Forensic Logging Presenters: John Abreau Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: An approach for managing LLM drift by logging session's ground truth and packaging it as a boot prompt for the subsequent session Abstract: As LLM sessions stretch on, the context window fills. The model begins to silently compress details, drift from established rules, or drop constraints entirely. I'm developing a workflow for extracting the raw data of an LLM session and and filtering it into a bootable state for the next session. I'll be presenting a Chromium extension I'm working on to extract the raw forensic data from each round, including the user's prompt, the model's reasoning, and the model's response, along with associated metadata. For further meeting info please visit http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Friday, October 16, 2026
Boston Linux and Unix InstallFest LXXII Saturday October 24, 2026 Umass Boston
When: Saturday October 24, 2026, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm EDT Where: UMASS Boston. CS CCS Conference Room 3rd floor McCormack Building room 0721 a short walk from The Campus Center. Park in the Campus Center garage or take the UMASS shuttle bus from the JFK/UMass station on the MBTA Red Line. This bus goes to The Campus Center. Please see https://blu.org/cgi-bin/calendar/2025-ifest72 for more detailed directions and maps. What you need to bring: Your computer, monitor, power strips and your Linux distributions. We do have copies of some distributions. In general we have expertise with most distros, but if you need special expertise, please email the BLU discussion list in advance. Today, most distros are using Live images that you can try out and then install. This can be copied to DVDs or USB sticks.There are a number of USB creators, such as UNetbootin (https://unetbootin.github.io/). Both Fedora and Ubuntu have a USB creator built in. COST: It's free! However, we DO have expenses, and contributions are welcome. Please consider contributing $25 per machine. UMass Boston students and faculty no cost. Our volunteers will help you to install Linux on your own system. While Linux runs on most systems, some systems do have configurations and hardware that may not be supported. Please consult the following web pages for hardware compatibility. While we prefer you to bring your own distros, our volunteers will normally have Linux Howto Pages: http://tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/howtos.html Linux Frequently Asked Questions: http://tldp.org/docs.html#faq Additionally, there are forums and listservs for most distro Windows Subsystem for Linux <https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install> (WSL) may be the easiest choice for Windows users. Generally our volunteers have sets of the latest Fedora, Ubuntu, and Mint distributions on Live USB. * Fedora - https://getfedora.org/ (Fedora 42) * Ubuntu - http://www.ubuntu.com ( 24.04LTS or 25.04) * Linux Mint - https://linuxmint.com/ (22.1) * other distros can easily be downloaded at the Installfest We generally have them on local drives and can burn USBs. Since there are many variants of these distros, we advise you to bring an empty USB stick with sufficient memory to hold one of the distros. Live images require about 1.5GB. I usually have some USBs prepared or can easily burn a USB. We usually have both a Wired and Wireless network available. Additionally, you can run Linux on your Windows PC through a virtual machine manager, such as Virtualbox. You can install this in your Windows machine and run Linux as a guest OS, or install it in your Linux machine and run Windows as a guest. Linux has a built-in virtual memory system, but you can also download and install VirtualBox 6.0 (http://www.virtualbox.org) which is free and is available for Linux, and Windows Please refer to the BLU website (http://www.blu.org) for further information and directions. -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Sunday, October 11, 2026
September BLU meeting video published
The video of the September 16, 2026 BLU meeting has been posted to YouTube. https://blu.org/video/ https://youtu.be/B1Q0WSp9kY4 -- John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix Email: abreauj@gmail.com / WWW http://www.abreau.net / PGP-Key-ID 0x920063C6 PGP-Key-Fingerprint A5AD 6BE1 FEFE 8E4F 5C23 C2D0 E885 E17C 9200 63C6 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Boston Linux and Unix InstallFest LXXV Saturday September 26, 2026 Umass Boston has been postponed. The new date will be posted on the BLU web site
When: Saturday September 26, 2026, has been postponed due to the upcoming Noreaster. Please refer to the BLU website (http://www.blu.org) for further information.. -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, September 16, 2026 - Annual Cryptology News Update & Historical Vignette
When: September 16, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: Annual Cryptology News Update & Historical Vignette Presenters: Bill Ricker Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: Bill's annual crypto and security roundup Abstract: Details to follow http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Boston Linux and Unix Annual Summer BBQ XXX Saturday, August 29, 2026 1:00 PM EDT
Boston Linux and Unix Annual Summer BBQ XXX When: Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Where: John and Shelley Chambers' home 33 Cedarwood Avenue, Waltham, MA. BYOF - Bring Your Own Food and drinks Boston Linux & Unix is holding its twenty-fifth annual summer BBQ on Saturday, August 29, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Guests are encouraged to bring along something for the grill and the snack table. We're holding the barbecue at the same location as the past few years, John and Shelley Chambers' home at 33 Cedarwood Avenue, Waltham,MA. Please refer to the BLU website (https://blu.org/cgi-bin/calendar/2026-bbq30) for further details and directions. Weather forecast is for partly cloudy in high 70s low 80s. -- Jerry Feldman <gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unix http://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting reminder, tomorrow, Wednesday, August 19, 2026 - Commonwealth Fusion Systems
When: August 19, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic:Commonwealth Fusion Systems Presenters: Jessica Strunkin, Ryan Taylor Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: Designing and building commercial fusion systems to provide limitless, clean energy to the world Abstract: Commomwealth Fusion Systems is the worlds largest commercial fusion energy company. They are currently constructing the SPARC fusion reactor in Devens, Ma to be operational by 2027. SPARC is the proof of concept system that will be paving the way to their ARC generator that will be supplying power to the grid in Northern Virginia in the 2030s. Last month, CFS raised a $1B investment bringing their investsments to $4B. Attachment: https://cfs.energy http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, August 19, 2026 - Commonwealth Fusion Systems
When: August 19, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic:Commonwealth Fusion Systems Presenters: Jessica Strunkin, Ryan Taylor Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: Designing and building commercial fusion systems to provide limitless, clean energy to the world Abstract: Commomwealth Fusion Systems is the worlds largest commercial fusion energy company. They are currently constructing the SPARC fusion reactor in Devens, Ma to be operational by 2027. SPARC is the proof of concept system that will be paving the way to their ARC generator that will be supplying power to the grid in Northern Virginia in the 2030s. Last month, CFS raised a $1B investment bringing their investsments to $4B. Attachment: https://cfs.energy http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting reminder, tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - Anthropic's Claude and a small bit of 3D Printing
When: July 15, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic:Anthropic's Claude and a sa=mall bit of 3D printing Presenters: Bob Frankston Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: Bob Frankston will talk about using Anthropic's claude as a programming language and some of his 3D printing projects. Abstract: Bob with talk about his several projects where he uses Claude as a programming language. And maybe a small bit on 3D printing. Bio: Bob Frankston is probably best known as co-creator of the original spreadsheet application, VisiCalc. His detailed bio is at http://rmf.vc/bob_frankston_bio [rmf.vc]_ _ http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Re: Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, July 16, 2026 - Claude and 3D Printing
Sounds good Bob Jerry Feldman <gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unix http://www.blu.org/ On Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 9:51 PM Bob Frankston <bob.frankston@gmail.com> wrote: > It's all about 3d printing - that's just one use case I'd explain. I call > it out because it does takes outside of the programming and even open claw > framing. I find Open Claw amusing as if people discovered programming all > over again. > > > > On 7/11/2026, 7:44:18 PM, Jerry Feldman <gaf.linux@gmail.com> wrote: > > When: July 16, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) > > Topic:Anthropic's Claude and 3D printing > > Presenters: Bob Frankston > > Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org > > Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be > posted: https://blu.org/video/ > > Summary: > > Bob Frankston will talk about using Anthropic's claude as a programming > language and some of his 3D printing projects. > Abstract: > > <http://www.blu.org>TBD > Bio: > > *Bob Frankston is probably best known as co-creator of the original > spreadsheet application, VisiCalc. His detailed bio is at > http://rmf.vc/bob_frankston_bio [rmf.vc]* > http://www.blu.org <http://www.blu.org> > > Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: > http://www.blu.org/video/ <http://blu.org/video/> > > -- > Jerry Feldman href="mailto:gaf.linux@gmail.com" moz-do-not-send="true"><gaf.linux@gmail.com> > Boston Linux and Unix href="http://www.blu.org" moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.blu.org > PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 > PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 > > _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, July 16, 2026 - Claude and 3D Printing
When: July 16, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic:Anthropic's Claude and 3D printing Presenters: Bob Frankston Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: Bob Frankston will talk about using Anthropic's claude as a programming language and some of his 3D printing projects. Abstract: TBD Bio: _Bob Frankston is probably best known as co-creator of the original spreadsheet application, VisiCalc. His detailed bio is at http://rmf.vc/bob_frankston_bio [rmf.vc] _ http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Thursday, June 18, 2026
InstallFest postponed
Due to unforseen circumstanaces, we need to postpone the InstallFest that was scheduled for June 27. We're aiming for a new date in late September or early October. -- John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix Email: jabr@blu.org / WWW http://www.blu.org PGP-Key-Fingerprint 87B1 6003 9962 0824 0406 8B93 B184 3040 5640 D33F _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - Short Takes III: Energy Efficient Datacenters, Crypto Ethics, and Home Infrastructures
When: June 17, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: Short Takes III: Energy Efficient Datacenters, Crypto Ethics, and Home Infrastructures Presenters: Bill Ricker, John Abreau, Kurt Keville Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: An assortment of short topics Abstract: Several expert talks on efficient data centers, Crypto Ethics, and Home Infrastructures. http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Friday, June 12, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, June 17, 2026
When: June 17, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: TBD Presenters: TBD Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: We are still in te process of selecting a speaker Abstract: For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site: http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://www.blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting reminder, tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2026 corrected date in subject : The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II
When: May 20, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II Presenters: Chuck Oriss Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II Abstract: It should be no surprise that your luck at poker will significantly increase if you peek at your opponents cards. What's true in poker is also true in war.s Chuck Pross presents a short, non-technical talk on how cryptanalysis (code-breaking) helped shorten World War II by as much as two years, and in doing so, saved millions of lives. Much of code-breaking during World War II was classified until well into the 1980's, long after most of the history of that war was written, so much of it's role is not well known. Chuck will share a brief history of the roles of codes and code-breaking, then discuss the significant events of World War II where cryptanalysis played a pivotal role in the allies final victory. The discussion will end with a short discussion of how today codes play a vital role in our modern society. Bio Chuck graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute as an Electrical Engineer and did graduate work at Northeastern University. He worked at IBM's Advanced Development Laboratories, General Electric's Ordnance Division, and at NASA's Electronic Research Center in Cambridge, MA, before being recruited by the NSA to do several years of classified development work. He returned to NASA, where he served as Technical Director for the Earth Orbiting Satellite Data Information System and retired in 2001. For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site: http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting reminder, tomorrow, Wednesday, May 29, 2026 The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II
When: May 20, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II Presenters: Chuck Oriss Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II Abstract: It should be no surprise that your luck at poker will significantly increase if you peek at your opponents cards. What's true in poker is also true in war.s Chuck Pross presents a short, non-technical talk on how cryptanalysis (code-breaking) helped shorten World War II by as much as two years, and in doing so, saved millions of lives. Much of code-breaking during World War II was classified until well into the 1980's, long after most of the history of that war was written, so much of it's role is not well known. Chuck will share a brief history of the roles of codes and code-breaking, then discuss the significant events of World War II where cryptanalysis played a pivotal role in the allies final victory. The discussion will end with a short discussion of how today codes play a vital role in our modern society. Bio Chuck graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute as an Electrical Engineer and did graduate work at Northeastern University. He worked at IBM's Advanced Development Laboratories, General Electric's Ordnance Division, and at NASA's Electronic Research Center in Cambridge, MA, before being recruited by the NSA to do several years of classified development work. He returned to NASA, where he served as Technical Director for the Earth Orbiting Satellite Data Information System and retired in 2001. For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site: http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, May 20, 2026 - The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II
When: May 20, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: The Role of Code-Breaking in World War II Presenters: Chuck Pross Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: A historical retrospective of NSA code-breaking during World War II Abstract: It should be no surprise that your luck at poker will significantly increase if you peek at your opponents cards. What's true in poker is also true in war.s Chuck Pross presents a short, non-technical talk on how cryptanalysis (code-breaking) helped shorten World War II by as much as two years, and in doing so, saved millions of lives. Much of code-breaking during World War II was classified until well into the 1980's, long after most of the history of that war was written, so much of it's role is not well known. Chuck will share a brief history of the roles of codes and code-breaking, then discuss the significant events of World War II where cryptanalysis played a pivotal role in the allies final victory. The discussion will end with a short discussion of how today codes play a vital role in our modern society. Bio Chuck graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute as an Electrical Engineer and did graduate work at Northeastern University. He worked at IBM's Advanced Development Laboratories, General Electric's Ordnance Division, and at NASA's Electronic Research Center in Cambridge, MA, before being recruited by the NSA to do several years of classified development work. He returned to NASA, where he served as Technical Director for the Earth Orbiting Satellite Data Information System and retired in 2001. For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site: http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting reminder, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - What is and Isn't Linux
When: April 15,, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: What is and Isn't Linux Presenters: Chris Allen Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: A discussion of what is and what isn't Linux Abstract: Linux Desktop environments are often compared to MacOS and MS Windows environments, but in reality Linux is just the Kernel. The desktop environments, developer toolchains, and application software are separate from the kernel, and many of them also run on a variety of other UNIX platforms. Chris reviews various hardware architectures, the history of C and UNIX, the GNU toolchain, the Linux kernel, and the low-level components that make the kernel usable. For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site: http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - What is and Isn't Linux Correction
When: April 15,, 2026 7:00PM EDT (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: What is and Isn't Linux Presenters: Chris Allen Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: A discussion of what is and what isn't Linux Abstract: Linux Desktop environments are often compared to MacOS and MS Windows environments, but in reality Linux is just the Kernel. The desktop environments, developer toolchains, and application software are separate from the kernel, and many of them also run on a variety of other UNIX platforms. Chris reviews various hardware architectures, the history of C and UNIX, the GNU toolchain, the Linux kernel, and the low-level components that make the kernel usable. For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site: http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - Open Source Business Crash Course
When: April 15,, 2026 7:00PM EST (6:30PM for Q&A) Topic: What is and Isn't Linux Presenters: Chris Allen Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be posted: https://blu.org/video/ Summary: A discussion of what is and what isn't Linux Abstract: Linux Desktop environments are often compared to MacOS and MS Windows environments, but in reality Linux is just the Kernel. The desktop environments, developer toolchains, and application software are separate from the kernel, and many of them also run on a variety of other UNIX platforms. Chris reviews various hardware architectures, the history of C and UNIX, the GNU toolchain, the Linux kernel, and the low-level components that make the kernel usable. For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site: http://www.blu.org Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/ -- Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com> Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7 PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce@lists.blu.org https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting reminder,, tomorroew, Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - Exploring the A.I. Chip Landscape
Topic: Exploring the A.I. Chip Landscape
Presenter: Shankar Viswanathan
Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org
Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be
posted: https://blu.org/video/
Summary:
A roundup of the various AI chips on the market and under development
Abstract:
"The talk will be a "literature survey" of different AI hardware: both
chips used in the datacenter as well as on user devices."
Bio
Shankar Viswanathan is the lead performance architect for AMD's
Strategic Silicon products. He has worked on the design and
verification of several generations of AMD processors. Most
recently, he was on the design team for the SoCs that power game
consoles such as the PlayStation5 and the Steam Deck. His
general interests like at the intersection of performance and
security in hardware platforms.
*Attachments:
*https://www.nextsilicon.com/insights/elads-blog-heterogeneous-harmony
For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site:
Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/
--
Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com>
Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org
PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7
PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@lists.blu.org
https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - Exploring the A.I. Chip Landscape
Topic: Exploring the A.I. Chip Landscape
Presenter: Shankar Viswanathan
Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org
Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be
posted: https://blu.org/video/
Summary:
A roundup of the various AI chips on the market and under development
Abstract:
Details to follow
Bio
Shankar Viswanathan is the lead performance architect for AMD's
Strategic Silicon products. He has worked on the design and
verification of several generations of AMD processors. Most
recently, he was on the design team for the SoCs that power game
consoles such as the PlayStation5 and the Steam Deck. His
general interests like at the intersection of performance and
security in hardware platforms.
*Attachments:
*https://www.nextsilicon.com/insights/elads-blog-heterogeneous-harmony
For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site:
Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/
--
Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com>
Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org
PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7
PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@lists.blu.org
https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting reminder, tomorrow Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Open Source Business Crash Course
Topic: Open Source Business Crash Course
Presenters: Federico Lucifredi, Kurt Keville
Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org
Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be
posted: https://blu.org/video/
Summary:
Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls
Abstract:
We review Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls for
entrepreneurs new to its promise and challenges.
Of course, you know Open Source and Free Software are a development
model, not a business model. Or maybe you don't, in which case this is
definitely the session for you!
Graduate from :Open Source -> Giant Ecosystem -> Profit" naive thinking
to understanding how product and project ecosystems work, and what's in
it for the business and its customers – as well as what tradeoffs come
in the bargain.
As VCs no longer accept open-ended business plans starting with Open
Source code, building an ecosystem, and unexplained profit as the third
step, a more nuanced view is needed for the next generation of
entrepreneurs. We review the fundamental structure of Open Source
business, illustrate the known mistakes that others have made before you
so you can actually avoid them, and dissect the fundamental strategies
to monetizing Open Source.
The aim is to chart a path for your business to grow harmoniously
alongside its project and Community, not in tension degenerating into
rivalry with it. Let us show you what is well understood, so you can
make new, exciting mistakes instead of repeating the old ones.
Bio
Federico Lucifredi is The Ceph Storage Product Management Director
at Red Hat, formerly the Ubuntu Server PM at Canonical, and the
Linux "Systems Management Czar" at SUSE.
For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site:
Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/
--
Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com>
Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org
PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7
PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@lists.blu.org
https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Open Source Business Crash Course
Topic: Open Source Business Crash Course
Presenters: Federico Lucifredi, Kurt Keville
Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org
Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be
posted: https://blu.org/video/
Summary:
Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls
Abstract:
We review Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls for
entrepreneurs new to its promise and challenges.
Of course, you know Open Source and Free Software are a development
model, not a business model. Or maybe you don't, in which case this is
definitely the session for you!
Graduate from :Open Source -> Giant Ecosystem -> Profit" naive thinking
to understanding how product and project ecosystems work, and what's in
it for the business and its customers – as well as what tradeoffs come
in the bargain.
As VCs no longer accept open-ended business plans starting with Open
Source code, building an ecosystem, and unexplained profit as the third
step, a more nuanced view is needed for the next generation of
entrepreneurs. We review the fundamental structure of Open Source
business, illustrate the known mistakes that others have made before you
so you can actually avoid them, and dissect the fundamental strategies
to monetizing Open Source.
The aim is to chart a path for your business to grow harmoniously
alongside its project and Community, not in tension degenerating into
rivalry with it. Let us show you what is well understood, so you can
make new, exciting mistakes instead of repeating the old ones.
Bio
Federico Lucifredi is The Ceph Storage Product Management Director
at Red Hat, formerly the Ubuntu Server PM at Canonical, and the
Linux "Systems Management Czar" at SUSE.
For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site:
Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/
--
Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com>
Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org
PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7
PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@lists.blu.org
https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Next BLU InstallFest is at UMass/Boston on Saturday, February 21st
Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
We'll be in the University Hall, on the second floor, in Room 2110.
The campus parking garage has elevators under University Hall, and
Uass/Boston has a shuttle bus from the JFK/UMass subway stop.
https://blu.org/cgi-bin/calendar/2026-ifest74
--
John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix
Email: abreauj@gmail.com / WWW http://www.abreau.net / PGP-Key-ID 0x920063C6
PGP-Key-Fingerprint A5AD 6BE1 FEFE 8E4F 5C23 C2D0 E885 E17C 9200 63C6
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - Open Source Business Crash Course
Topic: Open Source Business Crash Course
Presenters: Federico Lucifredi, Kurt Keville
Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org
Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be
posted: https://blu.org/video/
Summary:
Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls
Abstract:
We review Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls for
entrepreneurs new to its promise and challenges.
Of course, you know Open Source and Free Software are a development
model, not a business model. Or maybe you don't, in which case this is
definitely the session for you!
Graduate from :Open Source -> Giant Ecosystem -> Profit" naive thinking
to understanding how product and project ecosystems work, and what's in
it for the business and its customers – as well as what tradeoffs come
in the bargain.
As VCs no longer accept open-ended business plans starting with Open
Source code, building an ecosystem, and unexplained profit as the third
step, a more nuanced view is needed for the next generation of
entrepreneurs. We review the fundamental structure of Open Source
business, illustrate the known mistakes that others have made before you
so you can actually avoid them, and dissect the fundamental strategies
to monetizing Open Source.
The aim is to chart a path for your business to grow harmoniously
alongside its project and Community, not in tension degenerating into
rivalry with it. Let us show you what is well understood, so you can
make new, exciting mistakes instead of repeating the old ones.
Bio
Federico Lucifredi is The Ceph Storage Product Management Director
at Red Hat, formerly the Ubuntu Server PM at Canonical, and the
Linux "Systems Management Czar" at SUSE.
For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site:
Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/
--
Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com>
Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org
PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7
PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@lists.blu.org
https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Boston Linux VIRTUAL Meeting Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - Open Source Business Crash Course
Topic: Open Source Business Crash Course
Presenters: Federico Lucifredi, Kurt Keville
Location: Online: https://meet.jit.si/blu.org
Meeting will be recorded, but not live streamed. Recordings will be
posted: https://blu.org/video/
Summary:
Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls
Abstract:
We review Open Source business models, trade-offs, and pitfalls for
entrepreneurs new to its promise and challenges.
Of course, you know Open Source and Free Software are a development
model, not a business model. Or maybe you don't, in which case this is
definitely the session for you!
Graduate from :Open Source -> Giant Ecosystem -> Profit" naive thinking
to understanding how product and project ecosystems work, and what's in
it for the business and its customers – as well as what tradeoffs come
in the bargain.
As VCs no longer accept open-ended business plans starting with Open
Source code, building an ecosystem, and unexplained profit as the third
step, a more nuanced view is needed for the next generation of
entrepreneurs. We review the fundamental structure of Open Source
business, illustrate the known mistakes that others have made before you
so you can actually avoid them, and dissect the fundamental strategies
to monetizing Open Source.
The aim is to chart a path for your business to grow harmoniously
alongside its project and Community, not in tension degenerating into
rivalry with it. Let us show you what is well understood, so you can
make new, exciting mistakes instead of repeating the old ones.
Bio
Federico Lucifredi is The Ceph Storage Product Management Director
at Red Hat, formerly the Ubuntu Server PM at Canonical, and the
Linux "Systems Management Czar" at SUSE.
For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site:
Our meeting recordings are found on the Video tab: http://blu.org/video/
--
Jerry Feldman<gaf.linux@gmail.com>
Boston Linux and Unixhttp://www.blu.org
PGP key id: 6F6BB6E7
PGP Key fingerprint: 0EDC 2FF5 53A6 8EED 84D1 3050 5715 B88D 6F6B B6E7
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@lists.blu.org
https://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce