The Cencula Homepage

I've been using Linux since March of 1999 and am continually impressed with the capabilities of this operating system.

Besides that, the open-source nature of Linux software appeals to my utopian desires. The folks that write open-source software generally aren't in it for the money. Rather, they have an interest in solving problems, a love of computers, and a do-it-yourself attitude that isn't common among the flaccid masses we find these days. The open-source model is a near-perfect example of individuals working for the common good. It's not a product of selfish desires. People don't write open-source software because they have have to pay the bills or put food on the table. Instead, they do it because they're enthusiastic about the work...or maybe they want to make a difference in some way. Whatever the reason, I applaud these individuals.

People like Richard Stallman, Linus Torvalds, Alan Cox, Eric Raymond, and countless others have led not just a computing revolution, but also a social revolution that encourages individuals to find their niche in life...finding work they love and doing it as best they can. If we all did this, we would undoubtedly have a much happier planet.

I've used RedHat and Fedora for quite a while. I also ran my servers on Trustix for a couple years. Recently, however, I've started running Ubuntu (or rather Kubuntu) on the desktop and Debian on my servers. I'm still using Fedora for my DVR. My firewall is Devil-Linux. I'm hoping that running Debian will eliminate (or reduce) the need to make custom packages for software which I want to run but isn't available with the distribution. The Debian package system is quite a bit different than what I'm used to, so it's a bit of a learning curve. Strictly speaking of updates, though...apt rocks!

I hope you find some information here that is useful. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about anything you find on these pages.