This book takes a project based approach to implementing your own MythTV setup, from selecting hardware right through to advanced customization. You will learn how to record your favorite television shows, store your DVDs for later playback, create a music library out of your CD collection, and even use your personal video recorder (PVR) to do Voice Over IP. This is a book for hobbyists and technology do-it-yourselfers that wish to create their own PVR or media center. With this book as a guide they will be able to choose the right hardware (or recycle existing hardware) and then install all the necessary software.

Ubuntu Linux is the fastest growing Linux-based operating system, and Beginning Ubuntu Linux, Fifth Edition teaches all of us—including those who have never used Linux—how to use it productively, whether you come from Windows or the Mac or the world of open source. Beginning Ubuntu Linux, Fifth Edition shows you how to take advantage of Lucid Lynx. Based on the best-selling previous edition, Emilio Raggi maintains a fine balance between teaching Ubuntu and introducing new features. Whether you aim to use it in the home or in the office, you'll be introduced to the world of Ubuntu Linux, from simple word processing to using cloud services. You'll learn how to control the Ubuntu system, which you just installed from the book's DVD, as you are guided through common tasks such as configuring the system's graphical user interface (GUI), listening to audio CDs and MP3s, producing documents, using VoIP and chat, and of course, general system maintenance. This book also supplies a series of comprehensive tutorials on Ubuntu administration and security—essential for any Ubuntu user—while not neglecting matters pertaining to office applications and the cloud.

Linux users can now control their homes remotely! Are you a Linux user who has ever wanted to turn on the lights in your house, or open and close the curtains, while away on holiday? Want to be able to play the same music in every room, controlled from your laptop or mobile phone? Do you want to do these things without an expensive off-the-shelf kit? In Smart Home Automation with Linux, Steven Goodwin will show you how a house can be fully controlled by its occupants, all using open source software. From appliances to kettles to curtains, control your home remotely!

Mark Sobell presents a comprehensive start-to-finish reference for installing, configuring, and working with Ubuntu Linux desktop and servers.

The fact that Linux has more multimedia application choices than Mac OS X and Windows combined may come as a surprise to many, but not to those who know Linux well. In Linux Multimedia Hacks, author Kyle Rankin showcases the best available multimedia tools so you can maximize the entertainment capabilities of your favorite OS. Included are tips and tricks for connecting to iPods, creating MP3s and Oggs, watching and making DVDs, turning your Linux box into a Tivo ala MythTV, and much more. You don't have to be a Linux server guru to make use of this book. Linux Multimedia Hacks takes the best of Linux's multimedia tools and with step-by-step instructions shows even novice users how to do cool and useful things with images, audio, and video. It includes entry level hacks that nearly all Linux users will want, such as installing codecs for audio and video playback and managing thousands of photographs. Later, you'll find hacks that cover a variety of advanced projects, from ripping and organizing media files with metatags, to editing video and audio tracks, to creating your own DVDs. Basic or advanced, each hack stands on its own, so you can feel free to jump around to only the sections that interest you. The book is divided into five easy-to-understand chapters: Images: tips range from basic image edits to automated image manipulation Audio: hacks include audio format conversion and tweaking metadata within audio files Video: learn how to covert between video formats, plus how to create your own VCDs and DVDs Broadcast Media: tips include how to access and create you own web broadcasts as well as watch and record TV Web: learn how to make your multimedia creations available to the world As one of the most powerful multimedia platforms around, Linux has far more capabilities and features than meets the eye. This latest Hacks book gives you the technical chops to enjoy them all.

We are very pleased to introduce Open Source Development, Communities and Quality. The International Conference on Open Source Systems has come to its fourth edition – OSS 2008. Now, Free, Libre, and Open Source software is by all means now one of the most relevant subjects of study in several disciplines, ranging from information technology to social sciences and including also law, business, and political sciences. There are several conference tracks devoted to open source software with several publications appearing in high quality journals and magazines. OSS 2008 has been organized with the purpose of being the reference venue for those working in this area, being the most prominent conference in this area. For this th reason OSS 2008 has been located within the frameworks of the 20 World Computer Congress, WCC 2008, in Milan, the largest event of IFIP in 2008. We believe that this conference series, and the IFIP working group it represents, can play an important role in meeting these challenges, and hope that this book will become a valuable contribution to the open source body of research.

Shell scripts are everywhere, especially those written in bash-compatible syntax. But these scripts can be complex and obscure. Complexity is the enemy of security, but it's also the enemy of readability and understanding. With this practical book, you'll learn how to decipher old bash code and write new code that's as clear and readable as possible. Authors Carl Albing and JP Vossen show you how to use the power and flexibility of the shell to your advantage. You may know enough bash to get by, but this book will take your skills from manageable to magnificent. Whether you use Linux, Unix, Windows, or a Mac, you'll learn how to read and write scripts like an expert. Your future you will thank you. You'll explore the clear idioms to use and obscure ones to avoid, so that you can: Write useful, flexible, and readable bash code with style Decode bash code such as ${MAKEMELC,,} and ${PATHNAME##*/} Save time and ensure consistency when automating tasks Discover how bash idioms can make your code clean and concise