Open Source Alliance Cyberjaya

New U.S. regulations went into effect today that could change how vendors of devices with software-defined radios (SDR) use open-source software. The new rules could impact manufacturers of mobile phones, WiFi cards, and other devices that use SDR technologies.

SDR technologies are commonly used in today’s mobile phones and WiFi equipment. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new regulations are apparently aimed at ensuring that users of such equipment cannot access source code needed to reprogram it — for example, to output more power, or operate on inappropriate frequencies, either of which could conceivably endanger public safety.

A summary document published by the FCC suggests that the new regulations were actually proposed by Cisco, a vendor of wireless cards and other networking equipment. The summary document suggests that because of the new rules, SDR device vendors who use open-source software in certain capacities could face challenges getting FCC approval.

The FCC’s summary report reads, in part:

The Commission hereby states that … manufacturers should not intentionally make the distinctive elements that implement that manufacturer’s particular security measures in a software defined radio public, if doing so would increase the risk that these security measures could be defeated or otherwise circumvented to allow operation of the radio in a manner that violates the Commission’s rules. A system that is wholly dependent on open source elements will have a high burden to demonstrate that it is sufficiently secure to warrant authorization as a software defined radio.

Read more: LinuxDevices

When you’re talking Linux development tools, chances are you’re talking about decades-old programming editors like vi and EMACS. These are fine for an older generation of programmers, but today’s developers, weaned on Microsoft Visual Studio, want integrated development environments.

At the recent Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit, it was decided to start making Eclipse, the open-source development platform, the Visual Studio for Linux.

Several issues have led to this decision. The first is simply that developers want an IDE. Several IDEs were discussed at a Linux Foundation breakout session led by Marc Miller, AMD’s open-source ambassador, and Robert Schweikert, programmer and LSB (Linux Standard Base) developer.

In the end, Eclipse emerged as a favored IDE solution for the gaps found in other existing developer tools now widely used by the community. As Miller said, “I think the consensus was that Visual Studio-era users want a good IDE, and the only open-source IDE with serious momentum is Eclipse, so we should start looking at making that work well for LSB development.”

Read more: eWeek

Thanks to generous sponsorship you can promote your Open Source project, group or campaign FREE in the .ORG village (sponsored by uklinux.net) at LinuxWorld Expo 2007 (London Olympia 2, 23rd & 24th October 2007). Closing date for applying for space in the .ORG village is 31st July 2007.

It doesn’t matter what your project or campaign is (so long as it’s Open Source related and you can’t afford to buy stand space yourselves) – if you’ve got the enthusiasm to promote it in the village and you think that other pepole will be interested, then please apply for space.

An important part of the exhibition is the .ORG village which allows Open Source projects to show off their wares to a large, influential audience at minimum cost – the display space in the village is provided free of charge, promotion on the www.linuxexpo.org.uk website is provided free of charge and you even get a poster for your stand – free of charge!

This is an invitation for exhibitors to take space in the .ORG Village at the LinuxWorld Expo 2007. Space is very limited and not all projects will get space, so please reply to geoff “at” uklinux.net or peter.russell “at” mac.com as soon as possible to register your interest.

This is a great opportunity to promote your project to a large audience at minimal (no) cost, and also to help make the .Org Village a lively discussion and meeting place for the Linux community.

Read more: LXer