My Ubuntu Blog

Ubuntu Story is a new web site promoting Ubuntu by sharing the stories of people who use Ubuntu as their operating system. The web site has a beautiful design that highlights the key benefits of using Ubuntu Linux. These key benefits are:

1. Flexibility
2. Speed
3. Simplicity
4. Appearance
5. Stability
6. Freedom
7. Security
8. Community

Most user stories revolve around these benefits. They are the main reason for many people to switch from Windows/Mac/other Linux distros to Ubuntu Linux. I have talked many people about Ubuntu. I tried to convert my friends, family and neighbours to Ubuntu. I noticed that it is appearance, visual appeal and simplicity that impresses new users at first. Once they have used Ubuntu for a month they start loving it for security, stability and freedom.

During last few weeks I had been working on the Localization of Ubuntu and Gnome into Urdu. As part of Ubuntu Urdu Translators Team and Gnome Localization Project on UrduWeb, I spent my time organizing the teams and translating some files. I also made a tool Word Bank for Urdu software translators. This little utility acts as a glossary of terms used in software translations. Any one can add an English phrase and its translation in Urdu.

I didn’t get much out of the Ubuntu team, because:

• It is difficult to communicate with team members.
• Most team members are not very enthusiastic. I hardly see any reply from team members on the mailing list and even after several emails I failed to get them work on Rosetta.
• They don’t have the tools (ability to read and write Urdu on their computers) and knowledge (Working knowledge of English and Urdu languages) necessary to work on the project.

I tried my best to develop an interest and enthusiasm among team members but so far it hasn’t worked out the way I expected.

On the other hand UrduWeb already had a localization team and some very enthusiastic members when I joined them to get help with Ubuntu Translators. Admins at Urdu Web approved my suggestions and provided me the freedom to carry out my projects and helped me implement them. We are not seeing great progress on Urdu Web front either, but it is moving a head, slowly but steadily.

After the launch of Word Bank we sparked an interest and hope among Urdu Web Localization team members. We created a Localization Policy Guideline and I took responsibility to coordinate the team effort. We have also made a team to review the quality of translations on Word Bank and Gnome. The glossary we have made on Urdu Word Bank is the greatest achievement we have made so far. It is going to help lots of translators in the future. I am now working hard to get Gnome translated on UrduWeb and then I will upload those po files on Rosetta.

We have recently made little but very significant progress toward the translation of Ubuntu in Urdu. When I joined the Ubuntu community, we already had Ubuntu Pakistani Team and Ubuntu Urdu Translators team. Both had a few members, bad Wiki pages and no community leaders at all. Following the guidelines provided by Ubuntu I stepped into the role of community leader and made the following changes:

• Improved the wiki pages for Ubuntu Urdu Translators and Pakistani teams.
• Persuaded the Canonical and got a mailing list for Ubuntu Urdu translators.
• Encouraged the teams to actively take part in the translation efforts.
• Discussed the collabration with Gnome Urdu Translation group.
• Encouraged the team to adopt a goal oriented strategy.

Currently I am involved in the translation of some templates on Ubuntu. I will be spending more time on developing a small software to assist Urdu Translators everywhere to find out the translations of most commonly used terms and phrases and add new translations. This project will provide a web interface to search for an English term and provide its translation in Urdu. It is not a dictionary but a word bank where any one can deposit, change, improve and look up for translations. With this project in action, I am hoping to see great improvements in the quality and progress of open source software translations in Urdu. Every one is invited to join the team or start translating templates without joining the team. Below are some links that would help new contributors get started:

• Ubuntu Urdu Translation Templates
• Ubuntu Urdu Translators Team
• Ubuntu Urdu Translators Mailing list

Once you have Ubuntu GNU/Linux installed and you find it useful then it is the time for you to consider ways to contribute in Ubuntu. Ubuntu Wiki now has a detailed page Contribute to Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is most of all a community. All of the software, artwork and documentation in Ubuntu has been created, tested, used and discussed openly by people around the world participating in the Open Source community made possible by the Internet. Anyone who uses Ubuntu is part of this global community, and we invite you to help shape Ubuntu to better meet your needs. To make it yours!

Here is a list of how I am contributing to Ubuntu GNU/Linux. It is not much comparing to what so many others are doing for the community. But I think showing off contributions is one way to inspire others specially those who are un-familiar with open and free software philosophy.

• The easiest way to contribute is to use Ubuntu. I am using it for five months now.
• I have distributed Ubuntu Linux CDs to some friends. Successfully convinced one of them to use Ubuntu at home.
• I am spreading the word on Ubuntu by blogging and writing about my Ubuntu experience on various local forums.
• Currently I am trying to improve the out of box Urdu support in Ubuntu. I am trying to get in touch with MOTU’s and Developers.

I am also a member of Urdu Translators and Ubuntu Pakistan Teams. Not much progress going on in both of these teams I think we don’t have good leaders to motivate rest of the team members. We need to organize small events in Pakistan to promote Ubuntu particularly for schools, Internet Cafes, small businesses and home users. We also need translators for Urdu translation of Ubuntu. I want to do lots of things but it seems like may be I am over excited or the other community members are busy somewhere else.

I was asking myself, if Linux and GNU based software are so good, free and legal then why Pakistanis don’t go for them. Some reasons are pretty obvious and others, we will have to figure those out.

1. Pakistanis who spend their time in front of computers at work are forced to work in a Microsoft Windows environment.
2. Home users in Pakistan demand full multimedia support so that they could watch pirated videos on their computers and enjoy pirated music. So who cares about using a free legal software.
3. Young computer users prefer to spend their time playing games and most such games are made for Windows. They also don’t like the way Linux based distros treat Instant Messaging. You can not show or view web cam of your MSN Buddies using Gaim.
4. Small Businesses, aren’t they aware of the fact that Linux has tools which could increase their productivity.
5. What about schools? Does any body ever tried to sell thin clients running on Linux to any local school? Like that $100 laptop thingie, can’t we do such a thing in Pakistan? May be we can not create a laptop but we can atleast equip schools with low price, highly reliable and better learning machines. Reading about edubuntu I think that it has so many learning oppurtunities, it is a great tool for schools.

There is a lot more to it. Please add your reasons in comments. Why you think Linux is not catching up in Pakistan?

Speaking honestly, when migrating to Ubuntu GNU/Linux , I didn’t realize the meaning of word free. I wanted to get rid of the guilt I felt using illegal software, which I used because like many other people from my country I can not afford to buy licenses for an Operating system, anti virus utility and an office suite. I needed something legal and free and this is how I thought about free software at that time. Later, as Free Software Foundation puts it that lots of people come to understand the meaning of word Free in free software when they are totally relying on them. The word free here stands for freedom. It is freedom to do whatever you want to do with your computer and your open operating system. See philosophy of GNU project.

I also came to understand the meaning of word open in open source. Unlike the software sold by closed vendors open source software are open for everyone to modify them, redistribute them and build something totally different around them.

Now I also understand what it means to be a part of Open Source community. It is a very large and diverse group of people who prefer freedom, open and community software development over closed, limited and corporate software development.

Like I had this little problem with Urdu fonts display and I immediately found many people who are also facing the similar problem. I found people who are using different distros and seeing the same symptoms with similar software. Together we have filed bug reports, support requests, we have discussed the problem on our Urdu Forum and found some temporary solutions to our problem. Just because there was a community, eager to help each other, and just because the software we are using are open, we have found temporary solution with in hours. Thats the spirit of Ubuntu, Linux, GNU, Free Software and Open Source movement.

When I first installed Ubuntu, I had this impression in my mind that may be I would be the only person using Ubuntu in Pakistan. Later, I found many other people from my own city and country. We have forums in Urdu and English, we have mailing lists, we have lists of software vendors and much more. Some groups even organize events to create awareness among masses. I am glad that I have become part of such a wonderful community.