This page is obsolete

Please see Officers instead.

This page is here so that officers can note what they're interested in doing. I've added a few things to start off with, based on what people wrote on the membership forms, but if you've got more ideas then please add more categories. This page is part of a Wiki, a web site which anybody can edit; if you haven't used one before, then see http://www.oddmuse.org/cgi-bin/wiki/What_Is_A_Wiki for more information.

Contents

This page is obsolete

IRC administration and development

Helping administer and develop UKCIRC. If you've got experience with doing IRC oper stuff then we'd like to hear from you.

Interested people:

bcc
eppo2
ojc4 (No proper experience mind, but willing to learn)
tdb
mhp2 (same as ojc4, no real experience, but I do kinda live on IRC !)
drb8
ah
Nick Griffiths (nbg2) - no op experience, but willing to learn.
mpb3 (Dabbled a bit with a friends ircd a while ago)
wah3
aa79
td22 (Dabbled a bit as an oper, no proper ircd config experience)
jam33 - experienced with people issues, and troublesome irc users (#christian attracts it :| )
frmb (general user/oper/conf-vi'er)

Ideas:

Talk about linking to Canterbury Christchurch University College (or whatever it's called)
#compsoc should become the Network Support Channel
Encourage greater usage, encourage usage at other campuses on the UKC network
iBot needs its own account on compsoc1 (any other bots that could use the same?)
- Question: having Compsoc hardware controlled by the uni for the purposes of accounts was raised as a probable condition of getting better external access for compsoc. Having bot accounts could preclude us from this.
  - No, it wouldn't -- loads of services run under their own accounts already. You wouldn't be able to log in as iBot; it's just a uid that iBot's processes use. - ats1
  - We wouldn't do that from compsoc1 anyway, it's in the wrong place physically (it has to be in the machine room, really) and we'd probably do this from one of the RaQ boxes on a clean install - drb8
- Monty, perhaps? I know somebody said he/she was going to look after Monty, but, compsoc could look after Monty better for the long term
  - PJM has another postgrad lined up. When we found out who, we can find out if he wants to run it on compsoc hardware.
- spambot?
  - Seems to have disappeared
An actual "misc" channel for random babble, drunkeneness etc - make cs a Computer Science channel (makes sense IMO)
- Well, #cs can mean Compsoc I suggest we leave #cs as the "main" channel. I don't think we can force people to change... #compsoc can be network support.
Not an idea but I (mpb3) think we should be careful about going power crazy, we rarely have need for an operator on IRC
- Sure -- but right at the moment, when we *do* need an operator, it's hard to find one. I'm all in favour of the hands-off approach; I just think there should be more people doing it. (ats1)
loveserv (td22)

compsoc1 user administration

Doing basic admin stuff on compsoc1: adding new user accounts, installing software. Unix sysadmin experience would be useful.

Interested people:

ats1
bcc
eppo2
ojc4
tdb
mhp2
drb8
ah
mpb3
aejm
wah3
aa79
jam33 - limited unix experience but maybe i'm handy for UKCing things

Ideas:

LDAPS auth against active directory - makes password management easier (for us, anyway) and neatly deals with having to tie in to the adminserver.
- Will this be enough to persuade Computing Service to allow us better external access? ie... we can still create accounts of our own, that they potentially can't trace to a particular person on campus.
- ^ I (jam33) suspect that more may be required for that, but will have to see!

compsoc1 (2, 3...) development

The interim committee had a few ideas about things to do with compsoc's server(s) in the future: buying a nice new rackmount machine that we could keep in a secure location, tying it in to the university account administration tools, and so on. If you can code, here'd be a good place.

Interested people:

tdb
jpw5
drb8
bcc
aa79

Machine Uses:

Thin Client in SE105 ("Socks" room) pointing at the current compsoc1
- Can we not ask CS to get the existing Sunrays setup to access compsoc1 as well as raptor?
  - [tdb] No, they can only connect to one server. I think it used to (still does?) allow you to connect to other hosts, so you could connect to compsoc1. The only issue is that the SunRays end up being used by non-CS people, which could cause issues if they got really popular.
Game Server(s)
Low-Cost (Second Hand?) SunRay's in Public PC rooms, pointing at compsoc(X)?
- Sun Rays would be a bit silly for this -- old netbooting diskless PCs would be more capable, cheaper and faster, and wouldn't require proprietary crud on compsoc1...
  - This approach works easily enough (see the library opacs, for example) - doesn't have the licensing issues of the Sunray server software. Of course, if we could get Sun to donate some kit...
- My SunRay 1 cost £15 from Americia (with £30 PnP)
  - So £45, versus free, then.
    - Actually meant to say £20 PnP, but my point is they can be cheap and shiney

Doing stuff with RaQs

As we can essentially start with items on this list NOW, I have moved this content to RaQ.

Organising LAN parties

Getting a bunch of people together with PCs and network hardware to play games. Compsoc have successfully organised several of these in the past. Some organisational ability and network/power bodging would be useful.

Interested people:

rn20 (got a nice 24 port 3com switch for such purposes
hgl2
mhp2 (have done it before in the past)
drb8 (have organised two at UKC before)
nbg2 (Nick Griffiths)
mpb3 (Got a couple of switches totaling 26 ports)
wah3
aa79
td22
jam33 - virtually unlimited supply of switches for over a weekend eg

Ideas:

Locations: Senate... or Colleges (like last time)
- We're never going to get the senate - students aren't allowed in without express permission from the registrar
- The Darwin Missing Link worked reasonably well in the past, as I recall...
  - Power is limited to about 25 PCs (from past experience), although TFTs should help this a bit.
Also, DotCafe again. (Maybe not, though)
- A good idea, since that gives us internet access (which is nye on essential for decent LAN parties - downloading patches + stuff, entertainment for people who want to take a break from gaming etc)
  - Is there not anywhere on campus with 'net access where we can do such things? Bit of discussion with systems people? (wah3)
    - It's VERY unlikely that Computing Service would allow this...
    - It's more possible that a PC with net access could be provided somewhere, on the proviso that it wasn't linked to lan. Could be used to DL then burn to CD etc (jam33)

Gaming server for the SBS

One possible use for an extra Compsoc machine would be as a dedicated gaming server for the campus. Service used to run one, but I bet we could do better... (i'd be dissapointed if we couldn't!)

mhp2 - I would be interested in maintaining this, however we'd need an IP that could broadcast to the SSB/SBS, also possibly writing a website to keep track of organised games and to act as a kind of ladder ranking system for players/teams.
- Probably the easiest thing to do would be (and dont gasp to loudly at this) have a windows xp server machine, and remote desktop in to maintain it, as it would make a lot more games playable, as most do not offer *nix dedicated server options. However, I'm not sure when/if we'd get another compsoc machine or where from, anyone care to comment?
drb8 (must talk to Jim Higham about this)
ah (partly responsible for SBS network as it is)
nbg2 (Nick Griffiths)
aa79
td22 (Really want to help set up and maintain this)
jam33 - as above like andy i may be handy for getting stuff onto the sbs network.

Games:

Counter Strike Source and Half Life 2 Dedicated is a "totally impossible" situation.
- (why?)
  - Both the server and the client have to sync to the Steam servers. Even if the clients run Steam in offline mode (requires a proper internet connection first, before they moved to the SBS) the server needs to talk to the Steam servers. We could provide a Steam Gateway, perhaps... Somehow...
Counter Strike
Call of Duty
- Hell yeah baby!
Bnetd

Web development

We could certainly use a decent, secure online voting system (if you've read the constitution, you'll understand why it might be useful). Anything else -- either applications or content -- we should have on our web site? (If you're interested in writing web apps, then it'd be a really good idea to have a decent grasp of secure programming first -- what most PHP books won't give you...)

Interested people:

rn20
hgl2
drb8
st71
aejm
wah3
aa79

Ideas:

Online Voting
Support System (We talked about using the Computer Science RT installation, or having our own -- no need to write one, just install RT!)
- RT Rocks - no need to write a new one
  - Seconded
Members Area with forum, exceed session files, links to content
Tutorials
A student feedback system in the basis of a voting mechanism for the end of teaching of course modules or set of delivered lectures from a lecturer, hence students can observe overall quality of course (useful for course reps to reflect on).

Software advice and training

Helping people decide what software they're after, answering their questions, or doing a bit of free software evangelism.

Interested people:

ats1
drb8
ah
st71
nbg2 (Nick Griffiths)
bcc
wah3
aa79

Ideas:

Don't just recommend Linux to everyone you geeks! :P
- Pffffffft. :-P
Talking of which, I'm (st71) getting about 30 Live CDs of Ubuntu Hoary in April, which I'll be eager to hand out, as well as a smaller number of install CDs. These CDs also allow you to install Gaim/Firefox/Open Office and such when run in Windows.
The Open CD?

Organising programming masterclasses

Even if you're on a Computer Science course, there's still a distinct lack of modules with titles like:

"Writing Code That Other People Can Read"
"Working on Open Source Projects"
"Shit, My Program Crashes -- What Do I Do Now?"
"Coding for the POSIX API"
"Avoiding Big Obvious Security Holes"
"Interpreting Vague Assignment Descriptions"
"Design Patterns and Model-View-Controller"
"Understanding security with PHP"
"HTML for Newbies"
"Video for Computer Scientists" -- both basic pro AV stuff (ats1; my dad's a broadcasting lecturer, so I can borrow some of his material) and issues specific to computer-encoded video (cr49)
"GPG For People Who Haven't Read Any Neal Stephenson Books"

We've got plenty of competent programmers; maybe we should look at running some seminars or workshops ourselves along these lines.

Interested people:

ats1
jpw5
drb8
nbg2 (Nick Griffiths)
bcc
aa79
td22
cr49
frmb

Organising outside speakers

Getting in touch with interesting people in the Big Wide World and getting them to come and talk to us (maybe in partnership with an academic department as a seminar or something). Cory Doctorow? Someone from FSF Europe? A favourite researcher?

Interested people:

ojc4 (Cory Doctorow would be brilliant, but in demand I imagine, especially when his new book comes out. Someone from FSF or EFF would be good.)
drb8 (How about Alan Cox? I'm sure he'd do it actually, if we paid for his coach fare... We'd get many many people to come listen to him)
- We don't want to scare people... we have to introduce open source gently!
I'd have to speak to people about this, but i know when i was a student i'd have been interested in "how does the uni do stuff" so could check if i'd be allowed to talk about this (or ask other people to talk about it) maybe (jam33)

Catering at compsoc events

Lots of people wrote "free beer/pizza/food" in the suggestions box -- maybe someone knows a brewery or takeaway that would like to sponsor a LAN party or something? I don't know...
- IIRC Westgate Kebab House do deals on huge pizza orders

Organising intoduction to Linux classes

Run some seminars on Linux, initially introducing people to what Linux is and how to install it but moving up to some more advanced topics.

Interested people:

eppo2
ojc4 (Installathon!!)
drb8
wah3
aa79
nbg2

Idea:

Before the end of the summer term, run an introduction to Linux including...
- What flavor of icecream?
- Installing Linux
- Windoze does everyfink I need it to, why does I needs Linux - stuff CS students do every day that Linux does better than Windows.
- Basic commands (oh no's! t3h command line! OMG!!11!)
- Basic layout of the UNIX filesystem.
- <someone else come up with something here>
In early September (or perhaps late summer term, before our audience have already bought their kit and chosen their ISP), when all the second years are moving in to their new houses, run a seminar on how to turn an old PC into a firewall/router.
- A little recap on routing/firewalls
- Explain (for those who don't know) why an £80 Netgear box from PC World SUCKS and how our audience don't have to spend that much money to do the same things it does.
- Why choose Linux as a firewall/router?
- Setting it up the firewall (iptables)
- Setting up other useful stuff (dns, dhcp etc)
- Little teasers to lead on to another topic - e.g. setting up a file server, accessing your server from the WWW etc (keep audience coming back for more - like CRACK!)