CoffeeScript is a simple, clean, fast language which compiles to JavaScript, either at build time, with a caching framework plugin on the server, or at runtime in the browser.

The syntax looks like a cross between Python and Haskell and, generally speaking, is used similarly enough to Python that you’ll have little trouble picking it up and using it comfortably.

Read the full thing at http://blog.ssokolow.com/archives/2011/05/07/a-python-programmers-first-impression-of-coffeescript/

A couple of days ago Michael Meeks published a blog called 'LibreOffice is the future of Free Software Office suites'. Michael is one of the lead developers of LibreOffice and also one of the founders of the Document Foundation, the organization behind LibreOffice.

Read the full thing at http://ingwa2.blogspot.com/2011/05/calligra-is-future-of-free-software.html

If it weren't for RedHat Linux, I might not have ever found PostgreSQL. In early 2001, I was running the tech side of a company with an ISP component to it. After starting with RedHat 4.2 in 1997, we'd standardized all the servers by then on RedHat 7.0, refusing to upgrade from its 2.2 kernel even when new versions with 2.4 appeared.

Read the full thing at http://blog.2ndquadrant.com/en/2011/05/the-rise-and-fall-of-centos.html

There are not many people that are immune from the charms of computer games at some stage of their life. Even the father of Linux, Linus Torvalds, is reported to have been hooked on playing a single game for a month.

In some circles games are regarded as a distraction and a time waster. However, there are many benefits to playing computer games other than the obvious simple unadulterated fun that they offer. Games can help break up the monotony of the daily grind, offering an escape from the harsh reality of real life. Some games offer cooperative gameplay, which focus on fun and interaction with others, encouraging participation and working as a team solving task-oriented goals. Other sorts of games help to exercise the grey matter instead. These are just a few examples of the positive attributes of computer games.

Read the full thing at http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20110506182300381/Up-and-Coming-Games.html

OpenDocument is a great format, but sure, it has its problems. One of these problems is the lack of specification for some features. For instance, which image format should be supported ? PNG, JPEG, GIF, these one are only logical. SVG too nowadays… But we could create the Calligra Picture Format if we wanted to, store it in the OpenDocument file… And every other office suite would be lost.

Read the full thing at http://blog.pinaraf.info/2011/04/reverse-engineering-libreoffice/

The forum discussion surrounding TransGaming's GameTree Linux and Cedega Technology continues, with some Linux gamers regretting that they ever even supported TransGaming. One user also brings up the past from when -- back in 2000~2001 -- TransGaming had pledged to open up their code-base once they reached 20,000 subscribers. They believed in an open-source philosophy at that time, but they never ended up opening up their code once hitting that milestone. Even though Cedega as we know it is now dead, this former fork of the X11-licensed Wine is still closed.

Read the full thing at http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTM0Mg

As programmers, we deal with a lot of unusual keyboard characters that typical users rarely need to type, much less think about.

Even the characters that are fairly regularly used in everyday writing -- such as the humble dash, parens, period, and question mark -- have radically different meaning in programming languages.

Read the full thing at http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/06/ascii-pronunciation-rules-for-programmers.html

I often get the feeling that developers of the major Linux desktop environments suffer from commercial envy. It seems they’re always trying to make Linux more “user friendly” for the .01% of Windows or Mac users that might halfway consider making the switch, while ever increasingly ignoring the 99% of full time Linux desktop users who just want easy customization and solid performance. Many argue that the major environments (KDE, GNOME) aren’t for Linux power users, who should use one of the more bare bones environments available.

Read the full thing at http://onezerothrice.com/?p=233

MeeGo is a flavor of Linux, with a similar purpose as Android in the mobile computing space (being a versatile, open-source OS for phones, tablets and other mobile devices).

I root for MeeGo because it has a lot of advantages over Android and iOS

Read the full thing at http://soltesza.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/why-i-root-for-meego/

The MeeGo project released a pre-alpha version of its promised Tablet User Experience (UX), officially opening up development for the UI layer. Based on MeeGo v1.2 core and Linux 2.6.37, the preview version includes a touch-optimized user interface for tablets, as well as a new panel UI concept and a suite of built-in browser, personal information management, and media playback apps.

Read the full thing at http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/MeeGo-preview-tablet-UX/