Many of us, including myself, are home brew linux users. I'd like to hear a little from the Professional IT or Software Developers guys/gals about their current projects. In the buisness world there are always projects. I'd be honored to hear, from those who get paid to play, about some of the projects cooking up. Feel free to be as detail or as vague as you prefer. I understand you that many sign non-disclosures about certain aspects of their jobs. But if possible give LQ the 411 on you're lastest assignments/tasks/projects etc...

Working with my org. to promote OSS usage in Asia region. Any tips :-) ?
Counterparts are universities and govs as well as it could be private sector.
Problem is here, in India for example, that computing is relatively new so that IT-profs are not grown up with 'playing' with linux/unix or alternatives like in e.g. US/EU. They go straight into the IT that maks money, many are not into IT for liking IT but for escaping having no job... meaning they do not care so much about IT and closed or open source etc.
Therefore they have the risk of neglecting the importance of exposing student to OSS while it is a great way of better understanding Oper. Systems . And other risks: like not including OSS in reducing piracy policies, security policies, cost-reduction etc

Working on converting our AS/400 over to the Linux installation of Icoms(billing software).
Working on converting Remedy(ticketing system) over to Unix because Linux isn't stable with that software.
Getting nagios working to a great level.

Hmm... I'm sure you've heard most of the suggestions but I'd thought I'd write anyway.
Cost: The fees licensing and tech support are astronomically smaller.
Security: Vastly more secure. A given, however, its security configurations allow flexibility with infrastruture and applications. It provides the organization security without hindering the system's purpose.
Support: Linux might not be supported with a formal establishment like OS X or Windows but its "geek" user base of knowledgable people outways any competitor.
Training: My supervisors will throw the training issue into your face claiming that trainging or retraining employees will be costly an wasted time. With linux the system can be customized via GUI like Fluxbox and others to create something intuitive. Formal traing programs exists to help train a user. There are so many that they often compete, which ultimately helps, the trainees to have better skills.

I'm sure these all sound familar. But, sometimes hearing the same 'advantage' explained differently my help your boss to understand the importance of switching.

A great common buisness phrase I've heard and will share:

To be a leader in a dynamicly competitive environment, adaptibility is essential to survial.
(And that includes your software aswell.)


You can always mention successful corporations, there are many, that utilize a *nix distribution.

As you can guess from my development projects, these are all specific to the practice of law.

An Apache/MySQL/PHP web app to track hedge fund regulatory compliance. To include auto-email reminders to fund managers to provide data. Tracking of responses, workflow, tickler for those slow in responding. Auto generation of compliance filing forms. Whatever else the attorneys can come up with. Browser independent.

Expert consultant/witness history tracking, also web based. Includes links to relevant documents produced by experts. Allows commenting by attorneys on expert's performance for a given matter. Fee history, expertise, education, qualifications, and certifications. Testimony history including court, judge, matter.

Web app for media tracking and accountability. Tracks media provided by clients, vendors, and firm generated work product. Can be used to demonstrate chain of custody.

Forensic imaging of hard drives using a LFS Live CD and the dd command.

Others that escape my attention at the moment.

The firm is a MS only shop, so it is just killing the IT department that even someone of my limited talents and Linux experience can churn these things out orders of magnitude faster than the .Net centric "Software Development Group". But since I'm generating revenue, they can't say s**t about it. "You don't like it? Take it up with the partner that authorized the work." Conversation ends there.

That's the best part.

The same thing I do every night...

Try to take over the world!

I think so Bwain, but me and Pippy Longstockings - I mean, what would the children look like?

Don't get me started on Pinky And The Brain