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diff --git a/old/interview.html b/old/interview.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b5f275 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/interview.html @@ -0,0 +1,655 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <title> Dillo Web Browser :: + + Interview + +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body {margin: 0} + .sidebar .items {background: #f8f8f8} + .sidebar h3 {font-size: 1em; margin: 0.4em 0 0.2em 0} + h1 {color: #67f; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em} + h3 {color: #56f; background: #f0f0f0} + .section {background: #f8f8f8; border-color: #e8e8e8; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0.5em} + .section h3 {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0.2em} + ul li {list-style-type: square} +</style> +</head> + +<body text="black" link="blue" vlink="#403090" bgcolor="white" + style="line-height: 1.3"> + + +<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> +<td><img src="db1.png" alt="The Dillo Web Browser"> +<td width="100%"> + <img src="db2.png" alt="The Dillo Web Browser" height="124" width="100%"> +</table> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="15" cellspacing="5" width="100%"> + <tr valign="top"> + <td class="sidebar"> + <h3>Dillo</h3> + <div class="items"> + <a href="index.html">Home</a><br> + <a href="screenshots/index.html">Screenshots</a><br> + <a href="download.html">Download</a><br> + <a href="FAQ.html" title="Frequently asked questions">FAQ</a><br> + <a href="Compatibility.html">Compatibility</a><br> + <a href="http://hg.dillo.org/dillo/raw-file/default/ChangeLog"> + Changelog</a><br> + <a href="Plans.html">Current Plans</a><br> + <a href="MList.html">Mailing List</a><br> + <a href="conferences.html">Conferences</a><br> + <a href="donations.html">Donate</a><br> + </div> + <h3>Users</h3> + <div class="items"> + <a href="dillo3-help.html">Help</a><br> + <a href="Icons/index.html">Icons</a><br> + <a href="help/bug_meter.html">Bug meter</a><br> + <br> + </div> + <h3>Bug Tracker</h3> + <div class="items"> + <small>[currently broken]</small><br> + <!-- + <a href="/bugtrack/Dbugtrack.html">Bug Track Intro</a><br> + <a href="/bugtrack/Dquery.html">View Entries</a><br> + <a href="/bugtrack/Dinsert.html">Bug Insertion</a><br> + <a href="/bugtrack/Dvolunteer.html">Volunteering</a><br> + --> + </div> + <h3>Developers</h3> + <div class="items"> + <a href="developer.html">New Developer</a><br> + <a href="documentation.html">Documentation</a> *<br> + <a href="NC_design.html">Naming&Coding</a><br> + <a href="source.html">Source repository</a><br> + <a href="dpi1.html">Dpi1 Spec</a><br> + <a href="CSS.html">CSS Spec</a><br> + <a href="D_authors.html">Authors</a><br> + <a href="authors/jcid-email.html">Security contact</a><br> + </div> + <h3>Related</h3> + <div class="items"> + <a href="press.html">Dillo in the Press!</a><br> + <a href="interview.html">Interview</a><br> + <a href="interview.es.html">Entrevista</a> + <img src="chile.png" alt="*"><br> + <a href="Links.html">Links</a><br> + <a href="logos/logos.html">Art</a><br> + </div> + <p> + <a href="authors/webmaster-email.html">Webmaster</a> + <p> + <a href="http://www.anybrowser.org/campaign/"> + <img src="abblue.gif" width="80" height="15" + alt="anybrowser"></a> + + <td valign="top" align="left" width="100%"> + + +<div lang=en> +<table border='1' cellpadding='5'> +<tr><td> + This is a revised translation of an interview I gave to tux.cl in Q4 2002. + Many thanks to Stephen Lewis and Kelson Vibber for correcting my grammar. + If any glitches remain, corrections are welcome. + <p>It's interesting that even today (2009) it keeps its relevance + on the different topics it covers. Both, about Dillo and FreeSW/OSS. + <p><small>(Original source in Spanish + <a href='interview.es.html'>here</a>)</small> + --Jorge +</td></tr> +</table> + +<br><br><h2>Basically, what's the Dillo project about?</h2> + +<p> +The project objectives are: +<ul> + <li> The democratization of Internet information access. + <li> Security and personal privacy. + <li> High software efficiency. +</ul> +<p> +and for that we're developing a web browser that is: +<ul> + <li> Completely written in C. + <li> Less than 300KB (Yes, KILOBYTES!). + <li> Free Software under the GPL license. + <li> Working on a + <a href='Compatibility.html'>broad range</a> + of hardware platforms + <li> Very fast. +</ul> +<p> +In fact, with Dillo, a 486 PC and a telephone line is enough +to enjoy a good Internet connection. +<p> +Dillo's efficiency allows it to work even on a personal digital +assistant (pocket sized computer). +<p> +In summary: we're developing a web browser that allows the user +fast, secure and efficient access to the wide information +spectrum of the Internet, keeping the hardware requirements to a +minimum. + +<br><br><h2>What would be the main use for Dillo?</h2> + +<p> +Information access! +<p> +Dillo could open the doors of a new Internet experience to tens +of millions of people in the world. +<p> +It is important to know that the entry barriers to Internet are +_artificial_. They were created and sustained with a view to make +better business profits. +<p> +(If you purchase a computer of the current year, renew it every +two or three, and in addition pay monthly for broadband service, +it is much more expensive than keeping your computer and paying +the phone bill) +<p> + Now you know: you don't need a modern computer and broadband +for Internet access. + +<br><br><h2>It is mentioned that Dillo could be used even on a 486. Is there +an "ideal" distribution for this kind of equipment?</h2> + +<p> +There is a large number of so-called minimalist distributions +seeking to accomodate different degrees of "smallness". They +range in size from a single diskette to a few tens of Megabytes. +<p> +I haven't tested them yet! - but I installed Slackware (3.5 +IIRC) on a 66Mhz 486DX once and it worked flawlessly. +<p> +Now, considering that +<a href='http://distrowatch.gds.tuwien.ac.at/drinou'>Drinou Linux</a> +is based on Slackware, and includes a packaged +dillo-0.6.6, I'd recommend it, and this is the one I'd give a try to +power a 486 machine. + +<br><br><h2>Is an estimate of the size of Dillo's userbase known?</h2> + +<p> +That's very hard to estimate, since dillo is not distributed from +our site alone: there are Debian packages, rpm, ipk, *BSD, etc. +scattered through cyberspace. There are also distributions +including it in their base systems. +<p> +If the source package alone is considered (an option far less +used than an .rpm), dillo-0.6.6 must have near 20,000 downloads +from our site. +<p> +We'd have to add a larger amount to that number. +<p> +Eventually I'll come up with a way to count them all! + +<br><br><h2>How has the acceptance of Dillo been in the GNU/Linux community?</h2> + +<p> +Very very good! +<p> +I've noticed that from the people who take some time to write and +thank us for the benefit they get from using Dillo, we've got +more fans than users. +<p> +It is extraordinarily enriching to receive the thankful letters +from so many people from such diverse parts of the world. + +<br><br><h2>How is the development of Dillo done?</h2> + +<p> +Dillo is an international project with developers of diverse +nationalities collaborating from their respective countries. All +of this is made possible by integrating several technologies that +allow the configuration of what we may call a "virtual office" +over the Internet space. +<p> +The group consists of two core developers, three steady +developers and several freelance ones. +<p> +The geographic distribution of its members is mainly in Europe +and South America! +<p> +Among the main technologies we use to create our working space we +have: HTTP servers, CGI, log analyzer, bug tracker, web browsers, +shell servers, mailing lists, ssh, CVS, FTP, IRC, scripts, +python, gcc/gdb, POSIX-compliant operating systems, debuggers, +release publishers, ..., and the English language! + + +<br><br><h2>Why GTK+ and not QT?</h2> + +<p> +For several reasons. The main one is that when the Dillo project +started, the QT libraries were not Free Software (that changed +later). Moreover, by that time, they were developing the KHTML +library for their future web browser (Konqueror). +<p> +On the other hand, gzilla was based on GTK+, and it was Free +Software, and the image rendering extensions I was planning were +assured because GTK+ was the basis for the GIMP! + + +<br><br><h2>The fact that Dillo is programmed in C makes it portable to other +operating systems. Shouldn't Windows be your principal target, +considering that the "democratization of Internet" would have +more impact because of the larger userbase of this OS?</h2> + +<p> +Definitely NOT. +<p> +Let's go by parts: the fact that Dillo is programmed in C is not +a guarantee of portability. In fact, library dependence is much +more important. +<p> +If the libraries are portable, or have equivalent APIs, is +relatively straightforward to make a version for the supporting +platform. If the function libraries do not exist in the target +platform, porting becomes a titanic task. +<p> +On to the other part, the endeavour of democratizing the access +to Internet is very much tied to these two facts: +<ul> + <li> Dillo keeps the hardware requirements low and constant. + <li> You don't need to pay software licenses to use Free Software. +</ul> +<p> +Micro$oft (windoze) is the exact opposite, and even more, it +artificially raises the hardware requirements. If someone uses +that platform, he will have to renew his computer periodically +(to do the same things he was doing before), and also pay a new +license every time there's an "upgrade". +<p> +If, on the other hand, a Free Software platform such as GNU/Linux +(with dillo) is opted for, an old or new computer can be used for +as long as the hardware lasts, without fearing that it will +stop working. And, of course, there is no need to pay a license +fee. +<p> +The second option allows people who are without an Internet +connection because of its "high costs" to enjoy the advantages of +the information era. +<p> +It is true that there's a need to educate and inform that: +<ul> + <li> It is FALSE that you need to renew your computer every three + years. + <li> It is FALSE that you need an ultra modern computer to connect + to the Internet. + <li> It is FALSE that you can't have good internet access with a + phone line. +</ul> +<p> +Those myths (when taken as true) are only the basis of a +multi-million dollar business that exploits those who believe +them! + + +<br><br><h2>What does being the project coordinator imply?</h2> + +<p> +Responsibility, knowledge, consistency and leadership. + + +<br><br><h2>Do organization problems arise?</h2> + +<p> +Yes, as in every group dynamic, but along very particular lines. +<p> +Maybe the most interesting among them is that as this is a +project made of volunteers, you can't demand that someone do a +certain task, in certain way, in a fixed amount of time. +<p> +When you want someone to perform or do a certain task, it must be +founded very well to make an agreement, and it must coincide with +the particular interest area of that developer. +<p> +Another point worthy of notice is that sometimes very valuable +time is wasted explaining/coordinating/delimiting how some task +should be done to someone, only to finally get (after a trial) an +explanation for not being able to do it. + + +<br><br><h2>Has it demanded much of your time?</h2> + +<p> +In the Dillo project I have two jobs: +<ul> + <li> Project coordinator. + <li> Lead developer. +</ul> +<p> +Moreover, considering the enormous complexity and dynamism of the +underlying technologies for a web browser, it is easy to +understand that there's much more work than time. +<p> +In fact, since the project's beginning, I've worked full time, +three years, including weekends. + + +<br><br><h2>What platform (GNU/Linux distro) do you use for developing Dillo?</h2> + +<p> +I use Slackware, but in the development group there are people +using NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, and other GNU/Linux +distros, so our software is tested on a broad spectrum of +platforms before making each release. +<p> + In my opinion, Slackware is the best distribution for one +who knows what he's doing, or wants to learn well the technical +rationale of a GNU/Linux environment. + + +<br><br><h2>How and when did you start with GNU/Linux?</h2> + +<p> +I should say around 1996, with Slackware 3.5 or 3.6, but I used +"monkey linux" over a DOS filesystem before (kernel 2.0.30!). +<p> +Anyway, my first steps on Unix environments were by 1990. + + +<br><br><h2>Why do you state Dillo is Free Software and not Open Source?</h2> + +<p> +Short answer: +<ul> + <li> Free Software is a social movement. + <li> Open Source is just a development technique. +</ul> +<p> +Medium sized answer: +<p> +After knowing there's a high-end operating system, developed by +volunteers around the world in their free time, that's +distributed as Free Software (which implies among other things +that you can use it without paying licences), any intellectually +inclined person starts to wonder what motivates the group to +devote their time to such an endeavour. +<p> +The answer is about a shared ethic and philosophy of such force +that it's able to create a social movement based on its members' +convictions. Unified by a common element, Free Software (or +Software Libre), under the shelter of the GPL. +<p> +It's silly to think that it's just for the joy of programming, or +even worse, for a development technique. +<br><br> + +What is Free Software? +<p> +It is a type of Software that grants four basic freedoms: +<ul> + <li> Freedom to use the program, for any purpose. + <li> Freedom to study how the program works and to adapt it to + your needs (source code access). + <li> Freedom to copy and distribute (you can help your neighbour). + <li> Freedom to improve the program and make the enhancements + available so all the community benefits. +</ul> +<p> +In simple terms, the GPL license is the legal mechanism that +obliges that when the program is redistributed, those freedoms +can't be restricted, denied or restrained, so they are fully +preserved for the recipients. +<p> +i.e. software under the GPL will always deliver the four basic +freedoms stated above. +<p> +These simple elements have been creating an enormous software +base, shared by lots of people around the world. In fact, all the +GNU software and the Linux kernel are under the GPL. They are +Free Software. +<p> +But, what motivates this movement's members? +<p> +The answer to this question is very broad, including the generic +level, and probably I'll write about it on other occasion, but it +is worth a remark to note that for an abstract analytical mind, +the answer may come from the analysis of competitive societies, +interchange communities and cooperation societies. +<p> +Moreover, the famous "prisoner's dilemma" sheds a lot of light on +this matter. +<p> +A detailed answer (in English) can be found by reading about the +<a href='http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/philosophy.html'>GNU +project philosophy</a>. + + +<br><br><h2>What do you think about the fact that most people don't +distinguish between Free Software and Open Source?</h2> + +<p> +It's not rare, as the term was coined in some respects to confuse. +<p> +The Free Software movement (Software Libre) antecedes the Open +Source Software (OSS) definition by far. In fact, if I remember +correctly, the GNU/Linux system existed and was already operative +before the term 'OSS' was coined. +<p> +In a few words, it happened that as Free Software produced +reticence inside the business world (because it was oriented +towards the freedoms the end user received), a small group made a +pragmatic decision: to conceal the ethical and philosophical +aspects, presenting Free Software as a development methodology +and not as the movement it is. +<p> +Thus, they elaborated an OSS definition broad enough to include +Free Software within a larger set (and thus to be able to claim that +certain software is OSS when in fact it is Free Software). +<p> +The problem is that OSS allows denying some of the freedoms +granted by Free Software. +<p> +The funny thing is, they had a tremendous success, and as most of +the written media makes its income from advertising (paid for by +enterprises), they decide to keep on using the OSS term and not +to offend their clients. +<p> +The point is, those who learned about GNU/Linux's existence from +that media began thinking it was OSS. +<p> +Today, the OSS term has caused much harm to the Free Software +Foundation and to the GNU project, whose achievements they declare +to be those of OSS, while concealing the underlying philosophy. +<p> +In fact, it was a double-edged sword: on one hand it opened the +entry door to the enterprise, and on the other, it concealed the +most important part: a matter of freedoms. +<p> +That's why today it is very important to distinguish and explain +the difference between Free Software and OSS. +<p> +I hope to have contributed to it. +<p> +Related information: about the +<a href='http://www.gnu.org/fsf/'>FSF</a>, +and about the +<a href='http://www.gnu.org/'>GNU project</a>. + + +<br><br><h2>How do you think Chilean Linuxers could be motivated to +participate in or begin Free Software projects?</h2> + +<p> +Ouch! It's not just a matter of getting in. You have to know a +lot first. +<p> +Working in a Free Software project requires people with a lot of +knowledge, not just the will to participate. +<p> +I'd recommend first to get very well informed about what Free +Software is, and if they share the underlying philosophy, to get +involved in an area they know very well (as it could be the same +as they worked on with their thesis). + + +<br><br><h2>How do you see Dillo's future?</h2> + +<p> +That's something that's not yet defined, as it regrettably +doesn't depend on us alone... +<p> +Technically, we have all the expertise, will and ideas to make +"big things" with Dillo. BTW, what we have developed thus far +already makes a big difference! +<p> +For instance, some may have heard about the "digital divide". +<p> +(the so-called "digital divide" is the gap that exists between +those who have access to information technologies and those +who don't. It is easy to see that in an interconnected world, +with an ever-growing portion of human activities being +encompassed by the informatics realm, this divide comes to +constitute what we may call the "illiteracy of the 21st +century"). +<p> +Thus, it is easy to understand why the UN and most countries +(developed or not) are concerned about it. Consequently they +hold summits to debate how to close the divide, and assign +thousands of millions of dollars to the issue. +<p> +Regrettably, as the UN's general secretary has +<a href='http://news.com.com/2010-1069-964507.html'>declared:</a> +<p> +"But bridging the digital divide is not going to be easy. Too +often, state monopolies charge exorbitant prices for the use of +bandwidth. Governments need to do much more to create effective +institutions and supportive regulatory frameworks that will +attract foreign investment; more generally, they must also review +their policies and arrangements to make sure they are not denying +their people the opportunities offered by the digital revolution. +" +(think about it) +<p> + +It is easy to see that the economic interests involved are huge. +<p> +A small example: +<p> +Dillo is a tangible demonstration that the technology to build a +PDA (pocket-sized computer) integrating a web browser and phone +EXISTS today. +<p> +Dillo is a tangible demonstration that it is possible to make a +home phone with a screen and web browser for near US $250 and +bring Internet access to a huge amount of people. +<p> +Why can't those products be found in the market? +<p> +If we consider the thousands of millions of dollars in profits +that the IT market generates as it is today, is easy to understand +why they don't want to change it! +<p> +In brief: the technology to bring low-cost Internet access to the +masses exists today. It only needs the willingness of some +government to do it. +<p> +In fact, in Chile, with GNU/Linux + Dillo, today it is possible +with an old computer and a phone line, to access a broad range of +information available from government servers, universities, +newspapers, magazines, forums, etc... (and not even according a +simple standardization policy!). +<p> +Our project is seeking funds that allow for a small team of +stable developers, with full-time dedication, with a view to +accelerate and improve our browser and thus contribute to build a +better-informed society. +<p> +All the information with regard to the Dillo project can be found +in our <a href='index.html'>web site</a>. + + +<br><br><h2>Is there any project where Dillo is used "commercially"?</h2> + +<p> +Yes. there's an +<a href='http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2869412121.html'> +interesting project</a> implementing an information intranet for +hotels over embedded devices (USA). +<p> +Moreover, I've been told that in an Australian university an +electronic information system was implemented over flat screens +controlled centrally from a web interface. +<p> +One time we received a thankful note from a person that completed +a heterogeneous research work (information retrieval) quickly and +efficiently because of using dillo. +<p> +The possibilities are many, it only takes some knowledge and the +will to do it. + + +<br><br><h2>In what ways could the Dillo project be helped?</h2> + +<p> +I think in three ways: +<ol> + <li> Making direct contributions such as patches and source code + (which requires a lot of knowledge and experience) + <li> Talking about it! Knowing the project objectives, and +communicating them to people. Making people see that it's +possible to have good Internet surfing with an old computer and a +phone line. + <p> + Reading manuals and sites, investigating with Dillo, +enjoying the speed and ease with which it can be done, and then +go spreading the word to other people. + <li> Helping us to find a way to fund the project. +</ol> + + +<br><br><h2>How do you see the Chilean Linux community?</h2> + +<p> +Really, I haven't had the time to get involved, but I think it +is active to some degree, with national gatherings, events etc. +<p> +BTW, today Nov 29, there's a national event of GNU/Linux in +Concepción. +<p> +I'd like to participate and give a speech, maybe in another +opportunity. +<p> +I also believe that the UTFSM's "linux" mailing list has done a +lot for the community, gathering a lot of people towards a common +interest focus. + + +<br><br><h2>Finally, what's your opinion of tux.cl?</h2> + +<p> +It is an interesting project that's just beginning. +<p> +How could it be improved? +<p> +First you must define what you want to do: that is, the +publication's objective. + +After surfing the net a while and getting the feel of it being +full of information about GNU/Linux, another news site is not +interesting; the point to take advantage of is that you write in +Spanish and know the Chilean grounds, so you can deliver +information that can't be found anywhere else... +</div> + + </td> + + </tr> +</table> + + +</body> +</html> + |