[Sugar-devel] [HARMONIC] Harmonic Distribution 0.4 development release

[Aleksey Lim]

New development release of projects that conform Harmonic
Distribution[1] effort, Sweets Distribution[2] (packages with
base software) and Sugar Network[3] (content delivering/sharing
system).


== General Notes ==


* Clear separation in Sugar Network development between software
  project and deployment efforts in Peru processed by Sugar Labs Peru
  under brand of Red Azúcar.

  Obviously, development process is more localized and core development
  team includes the following people (in alphabetical order):

    * Aleksey Lim, server side and client library developer
    * Laura Vargas, UI Designer
    * Sebastian Silva, Web UI developer

  The Red Azúcar, from another side, is a pure deployment effort processed
  by Sugar Labs Peru. It is intended to be a "final product" to bring Sugar
  Network to people in the field. Red Azúcar involves much more people
  [than development process] of different categories. Consult Red Azúcar
  home page for more information:

    http://pe.sugarlabs.org/go/Red_Az%C3%BAcar

  These release notes are covering only development process of software
  project Sugar Network.

* From the beginning, the whole development process is being funded by
  donations from community members. To make situation more clear for
  possible donators, the funding request was split into:

    * funding software project named "Sugar Network", request is mostly
      being targeted to community members to follow regular crowd
      funding model.

        http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Crowd_funding/Sugar_Network

      We are looking for better ways to accept donations. Suggestions
      are welcome.

    * funding Red Azúcar deployment product to distribute Sugar Network
      in Peru.

        http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Crowd_funding/Sugar_Network#The_product

* Created Sweets Distribution translate.sugarlabs.org project

    http://translate.sugarlabs.org/projects/sweets/

  It is intended to translate strings from projects included to
  Sweets Distribution. Right now, only Sugar Network related strings.


== Sugar Network general notes ==

* Offline scenarios.

  The initial Sugar Network's design assumed covering offline
  environments. From 0.4, Sugar Network provides some feasible
  functionality. It is possible to start Sugar Network Node on, e.g.,
  a XO laptop (XO-1.5 is preferable) to start serving clients around.

    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sugar_Network/Sneakernet

* Another offline related feature is a possibility to view Sugar Network
  data placed to removable device. There are might be several use cases:

    * If Sugar box is a Sugar Network Node when its data is on removable
      device (see previous paragraph)

    * Sugar Network content that is intended to be available only
      for local user, i.e., a way to extend local space to, e.g., keep
      more activities. This feature is not yet Implemented.

  Web UI has a way (palette for 1st button in toolbar) to switch between
  Sugar Network content:

    * "Network" for content placed on Master or Node server;
    * "Home" content in user's home directory;
    * content from mounted removable devices.

* In Web UI, it is possible to create Projects. Projects are intended
  to be more general [in comparing with Activities] top-level entities
  in Sugar Network to collect efforts, e.g., feedback resources,
  in one place.
  
  For example, Sugar Network itself is represented as a "Sugar Network"
  project:

    http://network-testing.sugarlabs.org/context/all/sugar-network


== Sugar Network Web UI notes ==


* Implemented the ability for authors to edit feedback resources
  created by them. 

* It is possible to delete one's own comments.

* It's possible to browse all kinds of feedback resources
  as a network activity timeline.

* Toolbar design has been reworked.

* Sugar-like menu palettes have been implemented.

* Context browser grid now offers to view Projects and
  Activities separately.

* Context information panel has been reworked and now informs about
  context's authors.

Visit Web UI home page for further information:

    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sugar_Network/Web_UI


== Try the release ==


Follow regular Sweets Distribution instructions to setup Factory
repository and start using it on supported platforms[5]:

    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sweets_Distribution#Installation
    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sweets_Distribution#Usage

Right after installation, Sugar Network integration will be disabled, to
enable it:

    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sweets_Distribution/Factory/Features#Sugar_Network_integration

In addition, there are XO images created within the Hexokinase[6]
project. Follow the instructions to flash the images (images might
contain outdated packages, update them on the first start):

    http://pe.sugarlabs.org/go/Proyecto_Piloto_Hexoquinasa/Install

Sugar Network usage tutorial was updated by Thomas C Gilliard:

    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_Network/Tutorial

For features and possible issues, consult Sweets Distribution Factory pages:

    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sweets_Distribution/Factory/Issues
    http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Sweets_Distribution/Factory/Features


== Credits ==


* Peruvian community that supports this work. Especially by exposing the real need
  in such kind projects and help with making deployment (of Harmonic Distribution
  based project[2]) possible.

* World wide community members who donated funds to make full time
  working possible.

* People from mailing lists and IRC channels who are helping in
  development process.


[1] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Harmonic_Distribution
[2] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sweets_Distribution
[3] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_Network
[5] http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Platform_Team/Harmonic_Distribution/Supported_platforms#Map
[6] http://pe.sugarlabs.org/go/Proyecto_Piloto_Hexoquinasa