Tokyo Linux Users Group

Overview

The Tokyo Linux Users Group is a non-profit non-political volunteer organization that seeks to

1. spread the use of Linux in Japan,
2. provide quality information on Linux related technology to its membership, and
3. serve as a gateway between the Japanese Linux community and the rest of the Linux world.

History

• June 16, 1994: establishment of a Linux conference on a local ISP by Jim Tittsler. The beginning of TLUG.
• September 1994: first physical meeting at Ed Harter's house. Over large quantities of Mexican food and a couple of beers, the name Tokyo Linux Users Group (TLUG) is decided upon through voting.
• September 1994: Craig Oda begins TLUG web site
• 1994: Nori Nishigaya sets up the first mailing list on his Linux box called Metanoia.
• July 9, 1995: Craig moves mailing list to his ISP after Metanoia crashes. Digest is created and both the list and digest are archived for public access. All data is backed up on tape. :-)
• 1996: Jim Schweizer becomes first official TLUG Webmaster
• October 1997: first election of club officers.
• March 1998: TLUG gets its own server compliments Pacific High Tech

Features and Benefits

Mailing Lists

TLUG

The TLUG mailing list is the main forum for discussion. Everyone is welcome to join and post questions in either Japanese or English.

To join the mailing list send e-mail to tlug-request@tlug.jp and include '''''subscribe '''''' in the subject line.

TLUG-DIGEST

A digest version of the TLUG mailing list is avaiable. The digest can be subscribed to in place of the mailing list. It is useful for people that receive large volumes of mail.

To subscribe to the TLUG digest, send mail to tlug-digest-request@tlug.jp and include subscribe in the subject line.

To unsubscribe to the list or digest, replace the word subscribe with unsubscribe in the subject line.

TLUG-ADMIN

TLUG has a separate list for discussion of administrivia: tlug-admin. If you'd like to help out with the administration of TLUG, or just want to make sure your voice is heard, feel free to subscribe. It is an open list and not moderated.

To subscribe to the TLUG-ADMIN mailing list send e-mail to tlug-admin-request@tlug.jp and include subscribe in the subject line.

More information about these lists is available on the mailing list page.

Archive Access

All e-mail messages sent to the mailing lists are archived and available to TLUG members.

The searchable main list archive is available at: the archive site. You can also browse the tlug-admin archive and the tlug-advocacy archive.

Web Site

The TLUG web site is accessible at http://www.tlug.jp

Some of the features of the TLUG Web Site are:

• meeting information
• archive of meeting minutes and pictures
• listing of member home pages
• Linux links
• Linux in Japan information
• information on the mailing list

Comments or offers to help should be sent to the TLUG webmaster.

Meetings

TLUG techincal meetings are held on the second Saturday of every odd month. Demonstrations, talks, and equipment are made available for the membership.

See the meeting page for details about upcoming meetings.

Parties

Parties are held on a week night of every even month. The social interaction, beer, and food is an excellent way to create a stronger Linux community spirit.

See the meeting page for details about upcoming parties.

Discounts

TLUG is a member of GLUE and qualifies for discounts on SCC publications, including Linux Journal. WGS also offers TLUG members a discount.

Prizes

TLUG negotiates donations from corporations and individuals and distributes software and hardware to the membership. The prizes are usually given out at the meetings as part of a game. TLUG has given out stickers, Linux distributions, Linux Journals, Sparc hardware, PCs, keyboards, T-Shirts, monitors, books, and a lot more.

Software and Book Library

TLUG is creating a library of books and software that can be loaned out to members.

Size of Group

The size of TLUG is calculated as the combined number of people on the TLUG mailing list and TLUG digest. There are over 240 people actively using the mailing list. The April 11th, 1998 meeting brought together over 65 Linux enthusiasts in Tokyo, including Tague Griffith of Netscape Communication's I18N division and Cliff Miller, the first President of TurboLinux.

Structure of Group

TLUG is loosely structured. If you want to volunteer, don't be shy - we can use your help. A rough organization chart is available at TLUG:Organization

Joining TLUG

If you join the mailing list, you're considered a member. There are no membership dues or fees. Anyone is free to show up for the meetings or parties and to leave at any time. We try to get a listing of attendees prior to the meeting date so we can make reservations, but if someone has free time at the last minute, feel free to drop by. Since the group tries to promote Linux use, it encourages everyone in Tokyo to drop by.

Language hasn't been a problem. Japanese and English have been mixing smoothly. There are pockets of Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. Pictures of the members are available on the member pages, so you can look at the crowd before you venture to a meeting.

If you can't make it to Tokyo, you can still join and participate through electronic mail.

Fees

Currently there are no membership dues or fees. There are no plans to change this in the foreseeable future.

Helping Out

TLUG is always looking for volunteers for both club administration and for various projects.

Volunteers needed to

• organize the parties (contact tlug-admin@tlug.jp)
• expand membership, solicit corporate donations
• establish better balance between number of male and number of female membership by increasing benefits of TLUG membership for females

Remember, helping out others on the mailing list with technical questions is helping the Linux community in general.

If nothing interests you at the moment, join the mailing list and say something like, “I want to volunteer for something.”

Using TLUG Resources

The TLUG server currently offers the following lists:
* lingo

• tlug
• tlug-admin
• tlug-digest

See the TLUG list page for more info on how to subscribe to the lists.

The main tlug list is for technical discussion only. Posts are firmly limited to the following:

• Software issues concerning linux/unix operating systems
• Software issues concerning tools, programs, etc.
• Software issues concerning Open Source Code
• Hardware-related issues
• Books / Book reviews What is Linux
• What is Open Source Code Software?
• Why does Open Source Code work?
• Jokes, General Conversation (hopefully linux related :-)

The tlug-admin list is used to discuss matters relating to the administration of TLUG. As such, the posts concern:

• Tlug server issues
• Tlug webpages
• Tlug mailing Lists
• Tlug meetings/Nomikais
• Tlug finances
• Tlug projects (CDRoms, T-Shirts, etc)

Feel free to join the lists.

The Lingo list is for natural language related discussions, such as use of Japanese etc.

Cross-posting between lists is to be restricted to tlug announcments such as:

• tlug meeting announcements
• tlug server announcements
• tlug FAQ announcements

Replies to these postings should be to only one list, preferably tlug-admin or tlug.

Appropriate Material for TLUG Mailing Lists

It is important for people posting to the TLUG list to be good net.citizens and to remember that they are part of the Linux Community if they choose to be. Experience shows that the following kinds of topics are appropriate and useful on selected TLUG lists:

• Linux specific technical questions and answers in any language, though English and Japanese are the two major languages.
• Really easy Linux questions that you feel embarrassed to ask.
• Really techie programming or hardware questions that makes make you feel like a geek when you ask them.
• Linux announcements, information, anything Linux-centric you want to share.
• Job postings appropriate for Linux users or Job search as long as they are in good taste. (we can vote on this if it becomes an issue. Right now, it appears to be okay, but headhunters seem to be regarded as evil)
• Looking to sell, buy, or give away Linux hardware or software.
• General Internet, network, TCP/IP, UNIX questions.
• General questions about where to buy software, hardware, books, and other techie things in Tokyo or Akihabara.
• Anything that you feel is appropriate after you've read a TLUG list for a while. However, please try to keep the majority of posts Linux-centric.

Inappropriate Material for Mailing Lists

“Praise in public; criticize in private.” Some disagreements will inevitably arise, but flames must be sent privately and off-line. If you feel you need to correct factual errors on the list, be polite and correct just the facts. Personal attacks on the author are not tolerated.

• Random emotional complaints about Linux, or any operating system or software system, used to vent a person's frustration.
• Repeated and frequent questions on non-Linux operating systems such as Windows2000, Mac, Novell that have no connection to Linux. The occasional question appears to be okay, but if you get the response `Erm, why aren't you using the Linux version of Swiss Army Knife? It's perfect for that application!' that's only natural. Complaining about the Linux software's lack of features would likely be an inappropriate followup, unless you are proposing to implement them (note: you don't need to volunteer to do the coding!) or requesting a workaround for the missing feature.
• Overly large postings or messages will automatically be bounced. If you want to share a large file, place it on the Internet and announce the location of the file.
• Any topic that members vote on and don't feel is appropriate.

Strategies for Dealing With the Mailing List Volume

TLUG can generate between 5 and 50 postings per day. There are several strategies to deal with the volume of notes.

Sort by Sender

The list mail is sent from owner-tlug@tlug.jp. You can filter the mail using procmail or a similar filter as it comes in. Your MUA (Mail User Agent) may allow you to sort by other fields such as To: or Subject:. Mail sent to TLUG will have 'tlug' in the subject.

Subscribe to the TLUG Digest

The digest automatically collects TLUG mailing list messages and puts them into a digest with a table of contents. The digest is sent out once a day or when a maximum size has been reached. The digest and mailing list contain the same information, so a TLUG member may unsubscribe from the mailing list and still participate using the digest.

Thread the subject line

Certain mailers such as mutt, xfmail, netscape and I think mew can thread the subject line. A thread is the topic of discussion generated by use of the reply function. If the thread is not interesting, the TLUG member can skip over the thread.

Organization Information

Although TLUG is non-profit, it is not officially registered as an organization. If anyone wants to register TLUG, feel free to volunteer to lead the effort.

TLUG's expenses are met by donations, mainly by companies or members donating computer hardware/software which is auctioned off at technical meetings.