User group Linux

A user group Linux is an association within which meet users and in favor of the Operating system GNU/Linux and free software. To indicate these groups, one also usually uses the acronym S GUL or LUG coming from English Linux User Group . This acronym has also meant for a few years User group of Free software for many participants in these associations (one meets sometimes the orthography GULL).

Similar organizations such that the User groups FreeBSD exist, even if much LUGs practices also FreeBSD and others UNIX Libres.

Since GNU/Linux is not controlled by an institutional or governmental entity, GULs are more important for the users of GNU/Linux than any other kind of users' associations. The support under GNU/Linux is primarily resulting from the users and is thus much easier by telephone or in person that by Courriel or on Usenet.

However, GULs are always primarily concentrated on the hobbyists and the professionals who want car-to be formed.

According to the HOWTO Groups Linux Users,

the groups of users of computers, at least in the United States, are not a new phenomenon; in fact, they played a big role in the history of the personal computer. The personal computer evolved/moved mainly to satisfy the request of the electronics specialists, the radio amateurs, and other groups of users amateurs, like that of the exposures and the living rooms, for a personal and cheap access to the computer's resources. Of course, of the giants as IBM discovered thereafter that PC was something of good and profitable, but the passion for the PC came from the people, by the people, and for the people.

to give only one indication of the differences between a GUL and a traditional group of users, I draw the attention of the reader to a strange fact: the groups of traditional users had to maintain a control relatively tight on the kinds of software which their users copied and sold at the time of the meetings. Whereas illegal copyings of commercial software were certainly done at the time of these meetings, this practice was officially disapproved, and due. On the contrary, at the time of a living room of a GUL, this frame of mind is completely except subject. Far from being the kind of thing which a GUL must disapprove, the free copying of Linux must be one of the pillars of a GUL. In fact, anecdotes show sometimes that the groups of traditional users need a time of adaptation to understand that Linux can be copied free as much of time than one needs some or than it is wished.

Typical activities

Typically, the members of a GUL find themselves once a month in places lent freely by universities, colleges… for the occasion. For example members of the SVLUG of Silicon Valley found themselves during 10 years with the back of the restaurant Carl' S Jr., then found themselves in meeting rooms of Cisco; whereas the members of the BALUG (Bay Area LUG) since always found in a room of banquet above the restaurant “The Four Seas” in the district of Chinatown of San Francisco.
Many GUL are free and do not ask any monthly or annual contribution. In many cases, the participants are encouraged to sponsor new hosts.

In France, the majority of the User groups Linux are organized in the form of Association S Loi 1901, gathering the users of a city where of an area. Very many departments has their group, including overseas. In France, most known are ABUL (Bordeaux), ALDIL (Lyon), Chtinux (Lille), CLX (Northern), COAGUL (Dijon), GULLIVER (Rennes), Linux62 (Calais), Linux Azur (Cagnes on sea), Linux-Nantes (Nantes), Parinux (Paris) or Rotomalug (Rouen).

List of GUL and users' associations of free software

Belgium

France

Quebec

Switzerland

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

Official site of Linuq (GUL Quebec)

Lists

Lists of French-speaking GULs of the AFUL

Charts

Chart of LUGs on Linux-French (obsolete)
Chart of LUGs on the diary of free the

Diary

the Diary of Free and the events of the Free software in France, with bonds towards many GUL.

HOWTO

HOWTO Groups users Linux

References

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