By sami_k on

This is the second of the Etopian Drupal Distributions. It contains all the themes, most of the modules, and one consolidated additional database schema for mysql. Once again, this is not sponsored, supported, or checked by drupal.org.

File is about 8 megs, hence the mega:
http://drupal.etopian.net/mega_drupal

Cheers,
Sami

Comments

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

There were some problems so I decided to pull the file until I am sure it's fully functional. I am still looking for people to beta test this thing or even work on it to whatever extent, if anyone is interested contact me.

--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

I put out a beta on the site, if you try it out and see problems please let me know either through the contact form or leave a comment on the website.
--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

Well,

I have yet to hear any problems and there seems to have been some downloads of it... So those people who actually downloaded it, any reactions... I guess at this point I could probably put it out as a release... Any thoughts?

--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

nsk’s picture

nsk commented

Shouldn't you use another name for it? I mean, Drupal is supposed to be used by... Drupal, but people may think that "Mega Drupal" is also supported by Drupal team. It would be a good idea to ask the trade mark owner of the Drupal mark/brand whether he has any objections to the use of the Drupal name in other products (I don't know, maybe he hasn't any).

--
NSK, Founder of the Wikinerds Community. See my Drupal site, the Wikinerds Portal.

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

If I am asked to do so, I will comply. Mega Drupal is Drupal, it's the sum of its parts which are supported (or at the least hosted) by Drupal. So technically speaking each part is supported (or hosted) by Drupal. BTW, Drupal modules are not supported by Drupal.org, but they are listed here. I don't know, what does Dries or the upcoming Drupal Foundation think?

--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

We have just seen the launch of Planet Drupal (former Drupal Talk), so what's different with Mega Drupal ? The first was by Uwe Hermann, and the other by Sami Khan; other than that I don't see many relevant differences. One gives accolades by Drupal regulars, while the other gives gripes. It seems more a clique thing, but it's too early to tell.
;-)

The attitude so far has been a little agnostic to answering anything about Drupal legal issues, other than some emotional RTFM outcries. Beware that many Drupal developers offer aspiring commercial services and might frown on competition.

In my opinion these questions should better be resolved, rather than silenced or intimidated.

In my opinion, and with the precedence of names like Drupal Talk - I think you are currently in the clear.
:-)

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

I changed it to Mega D, and I guess I will refer to it as "D" until such time as legal issues are established. I have tried to make it clear as possible, though I personally would like to be more directly involved with drupal.org I have yet to figure out how to properly interface with it.
--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

nsk’s picture

nsk commented

yeah it's probably better to name it MegaD. I believe your project is useful and I encourage you to continue it. The issue about "Mega Drupal" was that it could potentially confuse users.

Pay attention to my conversation with someone that I had recently:


Someone: Hey, what's up? How's your GNU/Linux box?

Me: It's working fine, but I want to switch from suse to a community distro... I can't decide between opensuse and debian.

Someone: which Debian?

Me: There is only one Debian GNU/Linux, what do you mean?

Someone: Er, you mean the real Debian?

Me: Is there any other Debian out there?

Someone: I thought you were talking about a Debian-based distro.

Me: Ah, no, but it's possible I may switch to any of them.. but their name is not Debian, there are Ubuntu, Kubuntu, etc but they are different projects that just used Debian as their base.

Users get confused easily. Even with projects that share code and use their own names, there people who got confused. Imagine the confusion of two different projects that share code and also share the same name: Users of Drupal would ask for support from you, while users of MegaDrupal would demand support from the Drupal community. While asking for support for Drupal-based projects in Drupal.org isn't always a bad thing, it is generally a good idea to keep things more organised by ensuring that users can tell the difference between Drupal-based projects by giving each one its own distinct name.

Of course I don't know what Dries thinks about this, that's just my own personal opinion as a Drupal user.

--
NSK, Founder of the Wikinerds Community. See my Drupal site, the Wikinerds Portal.

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

"Someone" asked of GNU Linux ... there is only one official GNU Linux distribution. Egghead just didn't know that it was called Debian.

Debian is of course the ultimate in Linux administrators distributions.
;-)

Other desktop-friendlier Debian-based distributions like Corel's one and others make great successes too. Some deal with faster update cycles.

In the example the "someone" seemed pretty misinformed or clueless about Linux. You should have said you were running the original Linux (some SLS or Slackware running on pre-0.9x kernel). What about things like RTLinux and the like ... ?
;-)

I think it's perfectly ok, and not the least confusing - only for the unitiated which quickly gets wiser when hanging around.

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

If anybody has objections to Mega Drupal, it's not about the name, and it's not about cliques. It's about the quality of the idea. With two distro options already available, Drupal (bare bones) and CivicSpace (nearly 30 vetted, tested and pre-integrated modules, installer, extra documentation), it is hard to see what value *all* of the modules and *all* of the themes brings to a download. It just seems like wasted bandwidth. That said, I'm glad to see people using Drupal to do the things that interest them, and therefore wish Sami Khan the best of luck achieving whatever goal it is that Mega Drupal is trying to achieve.

If someone wants to repackage Drupal, they have to follow the GPL. Hire a GPL lawyer if you're concerned.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

Thanks for dissing the idea... Really appreciate your insight ;) Why did I put this out? Well, because somebody asked me to make it and I thought that the community could use it... Seems like 15 people already have found some use to download it and a couple have beta-tested it. So I would say that it has some use to some people... As for my end, I support Drupal and use Drupal it's a great piece of software and I want to contribute something back... Why are you not more sensitive, I don't know... ;)
--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

On the other hand, if you wanted to make the Drupal for Bloggers that was so heatedly discussed, I think that's a great idea. Especially if you could use CivicSpace's installer and configuration wizzard to set up different blogger profiles. I know a lot of people get nervous about distros, and go nuts when people threaten to fork, but a nice collection of blog friendly themes and modules plus automatic configuration to 2 or three blogger profiles... that'd be very valuable.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

It is no secret that Drupal is booming. If anything, the existing Drupal service providers need more developers, more themers and more evangelists available. I don't know anyone who feels threatened by competition.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

.. you say "booming" as in "making money". The very short list of "condoned Drupal developers" offering commercial services has been pretty static for a long, long, long time.

Is that because noone than the Drupal inner circle guys have asked to be put on that list ?
;-)

Please read some humor into participating in these forums, and don't be to serious about all that lawyer-talking. It's perfectly possible for anyone else than a 2-bit lawyer to answer simple questions. I don't call my lawyer before I pass another car doing 220 kmph on the autobahn.
:-D

Nor would I do so before writing electronically or in paper form about the obvious creative commons license which would embrace the contents of the Drupal forums. Things to think about when writing up...

PS! Asking to call a lawyer about simple questions like this is obviously very intimidating to newcomers indeed. See the Drupal Licensing information needs a handbook page-thread. We should expect a more greetings-friendly attitude to newcomers and others with basic questions like it has been outlined in the Can we have a forum called "absolute beginners"?-thread.

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

I don't know why the list is so short. I'm not on there because I haven't asked to be put there, so that accounts for one missing slot. I haven't heard about lots of people asking to be there but getting rejected. Furthermore, the three core committers, Dries, Steven and Kjartan, all have other activities (jobs/school) and don't do very much along the lines of paid Drupal work, so they're certainly not trying to fend off competition.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

.. are also Dries and Kjartan, so I don't imagine they would have to.
;-)

ica’s picture

ica commented

http://drupal.org/drupal-services

Why putting details on drupal-services book page is not open to Dropal users/public?
if not so could someone make clear what is the criterias of approval?

Just curiosity arised after reading related posts. I do not intend to list on it :)

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

That's not exactly what I meant. I meant, rather, that lots of people are being drawn to it as an attractive platform to make their sites.

As for making money, there are lots of people making money with Drupal, myself included. This is a good thing. Anyone who sees it otherwise is not looking at the whole picture. Furthermore, I think there is room for a whole army of programmers and consultants aiming to make money with Drupal, thus my comments about not feeling threatened by competition.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

.. they should be properly informed about it. And not being told to contact their lawyer first. Because saying so is definitely going to be perceived as intimidating when coming from someone with perceived clout informing newcomers or others on basic questions.
Wouldn't you agree ?

Besides, "booming" is mostly used to describe financial progress, if you confer the most famous expression of them all: business is booming.

There is a time to stand down, and admit wrongdoing or that things can be done better.

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

I stand by my statement. If you really want to know what you can do with the name "Drupal" or with Drupal code, in terms of basing your business on it, and you have any questions about fair use, ask your lawyer. As far as I know, there are very few lawyers who hang out on Drupal.org and answer questions about copyrights, trademarks and licenses. These things vary from country to country, and Drupal isn't even a well defined legal entity yet. If you have a serious question about using the code in a given context, ask your laywer.

That is no more intimidating than the reality of doing business. If you're not doing business, you don't have to be worried about these things. If you *are* doing business with Drupal, well, that's life. Why do you think SCO and IBM are spending hundreds of millions of dollars discussing the GPL at this very moment?

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

.. both between developers and in the way they see copyright licenses as well as lawyers and their views.

For now, I have no qualms about quoting the FSF on their stance and letting newcomers know this. That you prefer to tell them to contact their lawyer is just plain sad, really.

Other opensource projects manage perfectly well to inform those who are curious about basic questions. Why should Drupal treat newcomers differently, and not with the same courtesy ?

All these questions were raised on the back of testy comments in the forum. You make it sound like the testy style of comments should not go away.

Like you said in your book excerpt, online communities deal with positive users and abusers in it's own way. I think this is an example of how perceived arrogance and ill-temperedness makes members of the community react.

If someone tells me to RTFM to something, you can be sure I'll corner them if I'd like and clobber them too. Community clout is a community illusion if that's all one has to go by, like I stated earlier.
;-)

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

You don't need to clobber me. Poor Sami, this thread went thoroughly off topic.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

.. when there's something happening which isn't right.

When I was a martial arts instructor I was known for being pretty strict with anyone who laughed or ridiculed others in the dojang. It would mean 50 pushups on the knuckles in front of everyone or on the side of the dojang. If they wouldn't behave, I would send them off.

Recently in Norway there was a tribunal about a guy who was mugged at a bus stop. He followed the attackers back on the bus, trying to claim his wallet back. He was savagely crippled by the youngsters who repeatedly kicked him in the head when he was unconscious. As a result he is now completely paralyzed and brain damaged. The bus was full of spectators who did nothing.

Another time I was walking with friends and saw someone hit a woman and then kick her when she fell over in central Oslo. I ran towards the guys doing it (one of them her boyfriend) which responded by trying to attack me and grabbed them. A bit of a struggle afterwards the police quickly came to the site and handcuffed the perps.

I don't back off from something when it's doing others an injustice, because I loathe the passive acceptance of letting it pass. So, somtimes some need a reality check when they get clobbered to the floor or cornered on community forums.

Anyway, that's how change needs to happen sometimes. If we did nothing and let some pass their gripes on the newcomers, the community would wain away or become a shallow clique for the accepted elite. So it's self preservation and keeping the community healthy which can be seen as the underlying motive.

When I think I have the means to do it, I won't hesitate to confront someone if needed. I'm not looking for a policing function, but my personal philosophy compels me to take opportune targets down when strong self-interests are involved, so to speak.

RTFM or "contact your lawyer" still is not friendly speaking when talking to newcomers or anyone with legitimate basic questions which answers are well known to many of us. If one doesn't know, why not keep quiet or let it be known that one is clueless. Both strategies would work much better than the aggressive brushing off the question.

Geary’s picture

Geary commented

I'm trying to figure out what bus stops in Norway have to do with Drupal. :-)

eldarin, I sympathize with your desire to make the Drupal forums a friendlier place, I really do. Could we lead by example and be friendly, instead of blowing up simple comments into heated arguments?

One place to start would be to assume good intentions on the part of other forum members. People are just trying to be helpful here, even if we all do have our imperfect personalities.

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

I gave my honest advice. If you have questions about licensing, copyrights, patents or anything else, don't ask your question on a developer forum or a CMS forum. Ask your lawyer.

Now that I've clarified my position, you are free to take it as friendly or unfriendly advice. Your choice. However, I'd like to point out that you have repeatedly tried to link me to characters in your off topic narratives who do things like kick women and paralyze people. I do resent this, and I do take it personally. I'd like to think that I'm a helpful guy in these forums, and I never tell people to RTFM or Search First.

Perhaps you should be more outright; what did I say that was so offensive to you? PS you can take this "clobbering" of yours offline if you'd like - my contact form is turned on.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

I have the patience of a brick of concrete sometimes, although I like to think I'm above it in some respects.
;-)
I also have a sense of humor and a smile on my face.

My point has consistently been that the behaviours of those with community clout is not always exemplary. Sometimes they need correction, for the good of the community or for the well-being of those looking to join the community.

Now, who can muster the courage to speak up about inate flaws in the way community authority is used, especially when adressed to those who have none - the guests and newcomers ?

I have no qualms about addressing whoever when I think it's needed. Like I stated very early on in this "tirade" I have followed the last days, the very nature of us as human beings is to bicker in social groupings. It could be jockeying for position, looking for respect and clout - or whatever.

The verbal clobbering (a word which goes to show my sense of humor) was of course needed in my opinion, and you came looking for more - and you got it. So why are you complaining ?
;-)

Sure, one way would be to "cut through the crap" and say: "eldarin, stop you ugly troll!" ;-) But I'm not trolling for the sake of it, I'm sticking to a logical red thread which is the source of newcomers worries when greeted her in the house of drupal.org by some of those who live here as regulars.

Censoring this would in no way serve a useful purpose for the community's future. The careful welcoming of newcomers and their questions with respectful and socially accepted behaviour is what's needed. When open discussion about the relationships or behaviors under the Drupal roof needs to be ventilated by the pressure cooking of many drops heating their heads into gasesous states and goiing ballistsic, that is something beneficial. Ask any relations expert - it's good to get it out in the open and not letting it lie hidden.

My background lets me spar verbally without losing my temper, but learning from it as in any social exchange I participate in.

What have you learned ? You asked about the community for insight into your upcoming book ...
;-)

robertdouglass’s picture

robertdouglass commented

Well, since you pointed out a very valid and interesting weakness in the relationship between comments and nodes, I can say that participating in a community means that you can learn from people even if they are somewhat unpleasant to talk to.

- Robert Douglass

-----
Rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/
I recommend CivicSpace: www.civicspacelabs.org
My sites: www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

.. it doesn't have to be. Not for you, and not for newcomers.

Remember that one, and you'll be all well.
;-)

PS! It helps being at least right about things when looking for "clobbering" - i.e testing someone else's knowledge and skills. It would give you at least a fighting chance. Remember, even a newbie could give you a surprise, since he might have some former experience.

Crap, managed some pretty verbose "zen" output today as well ...

PPS! the comment_render call in node_show is my biggest gripe about Drupal overall, and was why I had to write my forum module with a design completely from scratch. Otherwise I would have probably built on the comment system. It's truly a design flaw which gives Drupal the blog-like comment-listing feel, and not a full fledge forum feel.

Zethris1’s picture

Zethris1 commented

It is illegal in the USA to offer "official" legal advice unless you are a licenced lawyer who passed the B.A.R. By practice, it is better to recommend legal council, rather than to just step in and offer advice as you understand it. Especially for a business who may be considering drupal as their mission critical CMS.

While most aren't prosecuted for offering legal advice illegalyanyways, you can become liable if something disasterous happens, and the real incentive to always refer to a lawyer is because of the fact that it would be easy for them to come after you and sue you and win because you offered them flawed legal advice.

While you are right in principal and in what you say, unfortunatly it cannot apply in an un-principaled society.

Zethris
Aikido Blackbelt 5th dan :D

Visit http://www.thinkingpost.net to add your thoughts and ideas to the community.

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

:( I am truly heart broken.

--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

goggie’s picture

goggie commented

Well I am new to Drupal and had to chuckle when I read the personal bickering (spelling?!).... I guess that is what members of every family do!

Sami, just remember that Drupal cannot remain a living organism without evolving. Your effort is part of this evolving process ....

Just imagine all of us still working on XT's with Hercules screens. Well we could always cluster them with ArcNet!

Keep up the work... remember no news is good news!

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

It's all good fun :) I have only recently realized that... Not taking any of this too seriously. I do what I want to, and as long as everyone else is doing the same, I am happy.

--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

nsk’s picture

nsk commented

booming is a general word and can be used for anything, not only business.

--
NSK, Founder of the Wikinerds Community. See my Drupal site, the Wikinerds Portal.

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

Not for exactly anything, but for many things, yes. It's most common usage is for describing financial progress, however.

Luckily the english language is the richest in the world with regards to expressions and meanings. Although not superior on every subject (i.e types of snow), it goes a long way in being able to find some common ground.
;-)

laura s’s picture

laura s commented

Technically I don't qualify, as I have not yet contributed to Drupal.org a theme or module, only a smidgen of documentation. FWIW, I'm held up b/c I lost my CVS password, so have no access. I suppose I should reapply for a new account under a new name. But count me as one commercial service provider who is not listed, and likely will not be listed any time soon.

Laura
===
pingVision • scattered sunshine

_____ ____ ___ __ _ _
Laura Scott :: design » blog » tweet

sepeck’s picture

sepeck commented

Laura,
Here is the relavant section of the page with the requirements to be listed.

To be listed in the service directory: post an e-mail to Drupal developer mailing list (subscription required) with the appropriate details. The current page maintainer will then add your organization to the directory

Perhaps activity in the forums. Patch review, patch submission (does not require cvs access). Essentially, demonstrate involvement I suspect. I shall ask Dries for clarification, but I certainly read it that way.

-sp
---------
Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide -|- Black Mountain

-Steven Peck
---------
Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide

laura s’s picture

laura s commented

It seems the page has been changed in the past few weeks. Thanks for noting that.

Laura
===
pingVision • scattered sunshine

_____ ____ ___ __ _ _
Laura Scott :: design » blog » tweet

sepeck’s picture

sepeck commented

That anyone can check the box in their profile and be listed here.

http://drupal.org/profile/drupal-services

-sp
---------
Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide -|- Black Mountain

-Steven Peck
---------
Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide

fax8’s picture

fax8 commented

I like your idea..

good for people which haven't tryed all of the modules
and they like to have a fast look at them.

I'd like that you add all the directory for each modules:
is not a good idea adding .module files only without
a documentation for them.

----
My websites adrenalinteam.it - windsmpeg.tk - falcoarredamenti.it

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

i will do that in the next release.

--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Modules and Drupal Services)

pamphile’s picture

pamphile commented

This is interesting... saves some of us from a lot of work.

Thanks
Marcel
Wholesale DIrectory
Business Letters
Free Classifieds

bilgehan’s picture

bilgehan commented

Thanks a lot Sami for sharing this with the community. I wanted to try all the modules and themes to have a better idea what can be done with the existing stuff.
I have downloaded and installed it. It seems great. One thing is that most of the modules need to have their tables created. It would be great to include a file which has the SQL setup scripts for creating database tables
Best regards.

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

.

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

4.6.4 released at http://drupal.etopian.net/mega_drupal

Includes 4.6.4 with the check url patch.
--
Please read the handbook, search the forums, then ask...
http://drupal.etopian.net (Drupal Support) | http://www.drupalshowcase.com

keym’s picture

keym commented

I think the link to the megaDrupal may be dead (temporarily)?

sami_k’s picture

sami_k commented

It's gone, didn't really see a point in maintaing it, go ahead and try civicspace if you need a distro with many modules... civicspace also has an installer.
http://civicspacelabs.org/home/developers/download

If someone thinks that it should exist, then please provide reasoning... Actually I would be willing to take on a few people to help me put a such a distro.

sami
--
reduce, reuse, recycle