Jamie Strandboge

Age: 36
Location: Rochester, NY USA
IRC Nick:jdstrand

How long have you used Linux and what was your first distro?
I was introduced to Linux in 1997, and installed Redhat 5.0 on my home system in 1998. I started using Debian not too long after that.

How long have you been using Ubuntu?
Since Breezy.

When did you get involved with the MOTU team and how?
I became a MOTU in December 2007 and I got involved by reviewing universe security updates for sponsorship.

What helped you learn packaging and how Ubuntu teams work?
I learned most of what I know about packaging through my work on the Gnome 2.2 backport for Debian Woody from several years ago. I am a big fan of Debian Policy and package nearly everything I want to put on more than one computer. As far as learning how teams work, if I don’t know something, I read the wiki and ask someone if something isn’t clear.

Favorite part of working with the MOTU?
Easy– the people. It is very satisfying working with people who share the same passions and want to make Ubuntu even better!

Any advice for people wanting to help out MOTU?
Start doing the work, ask questions and most importantly don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something or made a mistake. This gets back to learning how Ubuntu teams work– there is a lot to learn but one of the strengths of our community is that we have a tremendous collective knowledge-base.

You have been working on a lot of different packages in the last cycles, what are you going to focus on in Hardy?
My priority is always security updates, but I am also working on the soon-to-be-uploaded ufw, ubuntu-cve-tracker, apparmor profiles, and network authentication (among other things).

How do you think Hardy will special for our users?
As an LTS release, Hardy will provide polish and many improvements for all users. I am particularly excited about Ubuntu Server, as there is a great community surrounding it and lot of new features since Gutsy and especially Dapper.

Favorite quote?
I’ll give the first two that popped into my head:

• “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Leviticus 19:18
• “Do or do not… there is no try.” Yoda from ‘The Empire Strikes Back’

Words to live (and work on Ubuntu) by.

What do you do in your other spare time?
Hmm, ’spare time’. Well, Wikipedia says: “Leisure or free time, is a period of time spent out of work and essential domestic activity.” I find the idea of ’spare time’ intriguing and would like to explore it more….

Seriously though, when not at the computer I spend time with my family, greyhounds, and playing music.

Harald Sitter

Age: 19

Location: Austria, Europe, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe

IRC Nick: apachelogger

How long have you used Linux and what was your first distro?
In 2003 I started off with Red Hat Linux 9, didn’t last for long though. I soon switched over to SUSE (9 I think), where I fell in love with KDE.

How long have you been using Ubuntu?
Since Breezy Badger in dual boot with SUSE, since Dapper Drake only Ubuntu.

When did you get involved with the MOTU team and how?
I think it was when I published my first package at kde-apps.org (didn’t even think about including it into Ubuntu), due to this Raphaël Pinson asked me whether I actually want to contribute to Ubuntu and maintain the package there. I joined the Kubuntu tribe and started creating more packages.

What helped you learn packaging and how Ubuntu teams work?
The first package was done following a howto on ubuntuforums.org, later on the all mighty Ubuntu wiki and the Kubuntu crew (well, also a very well known web search engine ).

Favorite part of working with the MOTU?
Everything. Really, since every part is having the higher goal of making (K)Ubuntu more usable I really enjoy everything. Though I guess mostly it’s introducing hot new KDE/Qt software and helping new contributors to join Ubuntu development.

Any advice for people wanting to help out MOTU?
Poke me More general though: never hesitate to ask.

You have been working on a lot of different packages in the last cycles, what are you going to focus on in Hardy?
Updates, sponsoring and getting all the shiny new KDE 4 software into universe *muhahahaha*

How do you think Hardy will special for our users?
Well, Kubuntu Hardy is going to be the first release which ships with KDE 4.0 (I’m actually using it as kind of default since November, and can honestly say it totally rocks, even more than ponies At the same time we are also providing KDE 3.5.8, this makes Hardy most awesome because of two resulting advantages: those who want to checkout 4.0 can do so, hence report bugs, hence improve whatever KDE 4.0.x is going to be shipped in Hardy+1 and those who just want a stable, reliable system can use 3.5.

Favorite quote?
Nothing is impossible. Not if you can imagine it. – Professor Hubert Farnsworth

What do you do in your other spare time?
Managing marketing/promotion, releases and everything else within the Amarok project as well as giving support on Amarok, Kubunu and KDE, and if there is any time left -> sleep

Till Kamppeter

Age: 37
Location: Coimbra, Portugal
IRC Nick: tkamppeter

How long have you used Linux and what was your first distro?
From 1997 on, my first experience is with SUSE 5.1.

How long have you been using Ubuntu?
Since middle of 2006.

When did you get involved with the MOTU team and how?
As I got contracted part-time as printing developer by Canonical middle of 2006.

What helped you learn packaging and how Ubuntu teams work?
Before starting at Ubuntu I was full-time employee at Mandriva (mid 2000 – mid 2006) and so I had already a lot of experience with free software developement and RPM packaging. I learned Debian packaging then by the Debian developer documentation and the #ubuntu-devel channel on IRC. I got mainly help by pitti, who did most of the printing development before. I have also been on the UDS in Mountain View.

In my main employment I am manager of the OpenPrinting project at the Linux Foundation, so I have also upstream development experience.

Favorite part of working with the MOTU?
The printing part of Ubuntu. It is not really MOTU, as printing is a core part of the OS and therefore all these packages are in main.

Any advice for people wanting to help out MOTU?
First, report and triage bugs, especially assign the bugs to the right packages, so that the appropriate developer teams at Ubuntu get note of the problems. Second, if you find great software, debianize it (if Debian did no do so already) and suggest it for Ubuntu.

You have been working on a lot of different packages in the last cycles, what are you going to focus on in Hardy?
I will continue with printing stuff, especially continuing the upstream development of system-config-printer, hal-cups-utils, and Foomatic, especially for auto-download of printer drivers, work together with manufacturers to provide auto-downloadable drivers, generally work on making printing “just work”, …

How do you think Hardy will special for our users?
Important things in hardware support will be much easier, especially X Window setup with more than one monitor and/or a projector and also printing due to auto-downloadable drivers, more reliable assigning of drivers to auto-detected printers, easy networked printing with Mac OS X boxes, …

We are moving from the rocket science of structured deposition of ink and toner particles on paper substrates to “just print” …