Introduction to Computer Networking

November 5th, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on October 19th, 2009 12:59 p.m.
Last Updated on October 19th, 2009 2:05 p.m.

Does having to configure network settings stress you out? Do things like netmasks, DHCP, static IPs, and gateways seem a little confusing? Could you use some help in troubleshooting and fixing problems relating to networking? This presentation will cover all the basics of networking, from the basic ideas required to set up a small network to the more interesting troubleshooting techniques required to diagnose pesky network problems. BYU's own Dr. Daniel Zappala will be presenting.

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Introduction to LaTeX:

October 15th, 2009

Posted by Matthew Gardner on October 12th, 2009 4:58 p.m.
Last Updated on October 12th, 2009 5 p.m.

Tired of using Microsoft Office or Open Office for everything? WYSIWYG document editors got you down? Come learn how to use LaTeX, a powerful document preparation system.

LaTeX is a document editor that separates the content of your document from the specifics of how it is displayed. It is most commonly used for writing scholarly papers that need complex mathematical equations, but it can be used for every day assignments too. LaTeX helps you separate the content of your paper from its presentation, letting you turn a conference paper into part of a Masters Thesis or into a set of slides with very little reformatting.

If you're brand new to LaTeX or have used it before and want to get to know it better, this presentation is for you!

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Introduction to SELinux

September 17th, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on September 11th, 2009 2:58 p.m.
Last Updated on September 11th, 2009 3:06 p.m.

Introduction to SELinux
by Stuart Jansen

The traditional Unix security model is simple and beautiful. For decades it has been good enough for most people. However, it is starting to show its age. In the highest security environments, a more fine grained control system is needed. In the past, this meant using expensive, complicated, special purpose versions of Unix: trusted systems. (Trusted Solaris, Trusted AIX, Trusted HP-UX)

SELinux, created by the National Security Agency, is the most mature and complete response to the need for Trusted Linux systems. Unfortunately, because of the difficulty creating and maintaining trusted systems, their success has been limited. This is no longer acceptable.

Today, even desktop systems and cell phones need high quality security. Imagine being able to sandbox your Web browser and e-mail client. The traditional Unix model makes this difficult and only partially possible. SELinux, on the other hand, makes fine grained security ... Read More

Django: An Introduction

September 3rd, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on August 27th, 2009 5:40 p.m.
Last Updated on August 27th, 2009 5:53 p.m.

Django: An Introduction
presented by: Jeff Anderson

Django is a high-level Python Web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. Using Django makes web programming fast and fun, and it will even make your teeth whiter. Django provides tools and libraries that help streamline the development of just about any web application. Let's look at how we can take this Python power, and make it fit all together and purr like a kitten. This is for you web developers out there who want to build your applications faster, better, and more securely using this wonderful, modern web framework.

This presentation will be jam-packed with practical stuff that isn't made obvious in the Django tutorial. You'll learn how everything fits together. Some basic HTML familiarity needed. Programming and web programming (even a little) is very beneficial, as we will look at several code examples. A brain picking session will ... Read More

Surviving Windows: Cygwin and Other Tools

August 6th, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on July 31st, 2009 4:19 p.m.
Last Updated on July 31st, 2009 4:22 p.m.

Unfortunately, sometimes you just have to use Windows. Perhaps your class demands Windows, or you can't install Linux on your employer's computers. Whatever the reason for this, I feel your pain. There are several ways of surviving the oppression of Windows. You can install Linux inside a virtual machine. Another option involves Linux emulation. Alternatively, Cygwin allows Linux code to be compiled so that it will run in Windows natively. Together with the Cygwin package manager and a pre-compiled set of common Linux tools, Cygwin can provide an almost fully functional Linux environment within Windows itself. We will discuss some of these essential tools for Surviving
Windows!

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Security Basics

July 23rd, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on July 21st, 2009 4:51 p.m.
Last Updated on July 21st, 2009 4:53 p.m.

Cryptography, its applications, and a little bit of mischief

Is somebody reading your email?
Is somebody spying on you while you bank on-line?
How did Topher steal my Facebook password?

There are a few basic ideas about computer security that everyone should
know. We will learn about some simple methods of cryptography and
popular technologies that use these methods to protect you and your
information. We'll also cover some ways that people of questionable
moral character steal and abuse your information.

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Introduction to Linux Kernel Development

July 9th, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on July 6th, 2009 3:22 p.m.
Last Updated on July 6th, 2009 3:26 p.m.

Introduction to Linux Kernel Development
- Thursday, July 9
- 7:00 pm
- Room 230 Tanner Building

Although the Linux kernel may seem huge and complex, it's just a big
program. This is your chance to get to know that program a little
better and start you down the road to kernel development.

What we'll cover:
- Kernel development model
- How the kernel gets from boot loader to shell prompt
- A tour of kernel subsystems
- Hooking up a debugger
- Writing a simple kernel module

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Getting Rid of Optical Media

June 25th, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on June 18th, 2009 3:57 p.m.
Last Updated on June 18th, 2009 4 p.m.

CDs and DVDs are so 1990s:
Getting rid of the optical media in your life
presented by: Andrew McNabb

Who in their right mind would spin a thin piece of plastic at 26000 RPM?
Not only are optical disks loud, slow, and inefficient, but damaged
disks can even explode (see Mythbusters).

Fortunately, CDs and DVDs are becoming unnecessary. Install Linux from
a thumb drive or network instead of downloading and burning disk images.
Import your music and movies to your hard drive and put your disks in
the closet. Back up your data to bare hard drives instead of unreliable
optical disks.

Learn how to live without optical media and share your experiences with
the rest of the group.

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jQuery Introduction

June 11th, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on June 8th, 2009 5:09 p.m.
Last Updated on June 8th, 2009 5:11 p.m.

Introduction to jQuery
by Brian Whitmer

jQuery is a fast, concise, and cross-browser JavaScript library that
simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and AJAX
interactions for rapid web development. jQuery is designed to change
the way that you write JavaScript.

jQuery supports these browsers:
* Firefox 2.0+
* Internet Explorer 6+
* Safari 3+
* Opera 9+
* Chrome 1+

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Ruby, Rack, and Sinatra

May 28th, 2009

Posted by Topher Fischer on May 22nd, 2009 5:41 p.m.
Last Updated on May 22nd, 2009 5:43 p.m.

Ruby, Rack, and Sinatra
The Wonders of Middleware
by Devlin Daley

Learn the role of middleware in today's advanced web applications. Use
the same tools to rapidly develop stand-alone web services. Devlin's
presentation will cover the basics of the HTTP protocol, the design
philosophy behind web middleware, an intro to Rack (a simple Ruby API
for creating web services), and an intro to Sinatra (another Ruby API
that uses Rack to make creating web services really simple).

No prior knowledge of Ruby is assumed.

Thursday May 28
7:00pm

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Qt Meeting

February 26th, 2009

Posted by Todd Millecam on February 7th, 2009 4:04 p.m.
Last Updated on February 18th, 2009 4:14 p.m.

Qt is becoming more pervasive than ever as a cross-platform GUI
development toolkit, especially with the upcoming release of version
4.5.0, which will be licensed under the LGPL on all platforms. I've been
hacking Qt code for nearly 5 years on Linux and Windows, and I love it.
Qt is much more than a GUI toolkit though, it's a complete C++ framework
for developing all kinds of applications, and not just GUIs. It even
includes a Qt API to webkit, so your apps can have a built-in, fully
functional web browser (yes, you can even view YouTube videos in your
own Qt GUIs as of 4.5.0).

During the meeting I would like to create a real program with a
graphical user interface. We could do all kinds of different things from
the classic CD collection manager (becoming increasingly irrelevant) to ... Read More

Open Source LAN party

February 12th, 2009

Posted by Todd Millecam on January 26th, 2009 9:38 a.m.
Last Updated on January 26th, 2009 9:43 a.m.

For all you gamers: We are hosting a LAN party on Feb 12 in room 230 TNRB at 6:30. BYOC (this room is very close to a parking lot, so feel free to bring your full tower). Non-linux-user friends are welcome to attend. Food and drinks are permitted, and encouraged. The club will provide Pizza.
The games that we will--for certain--play are: Tremulous, Open-Arena, and Warzone 2100. If you would like to add a game for consideration--please post it on the mailing list.

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Window Manager Shoot-out

January 29th, 2009

Posted by Todd Millecam on January 26th, 2009 9:34 a.m.
Last Updated on January 26th, 2009 9:38 a.m.

Each window manager gets 5 minutes to convince a panel of non-technically astute judges why theirs is the best. After the five-minute presentation, we'll go around the room and everyone will have a chance to highlight a feature of their window manager.
Meeting is in room 230 TNRB on Thursday (29th), at 6:30. Show-off and tell will be skipped this meeting, since the whole meeting is essentially a show-off and tell. Please email me (president at uug.byu.edu) to sign up for a window manager.
May the best window-manager win!

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Second session: install fest

January 20th, 2009

Posted by Todd Millecam on January 19th, 2009 6:09 p.m.
Last Updated on January 19th, 2009 6:10 p.m.

To finish helping people, and to cater to a number of people who couldn't come on Thursday, we are repeating the install fest. It will be at 6:30PM in 251 TNRB

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Scheduling

January 16th, 2009

Posted by Todd Millecam on January 12th, 2009 8:34 a.m.
Last Updated on January 12th, 2009 9:06 a.m.

In order to appeal to a larger audience--and because BYU is holding a career fair on Wednesday and Thursday, the booth will only be available on Tuesday and Friday. We'll have a repeat install fest on Tuesday.

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