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- #
- # See COPYING file distributed along with the PyMVPA package for the
- # copyright and license terms.
- #
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.. _faq:
Frequently Asked Questions
**************************
+Why NeuroDebian?
+----------------
+
+ In the course of our own research endeavors |we| have joined forces to
+ develop `PyMVPA -- a Python framework for multivariate pattern analysis of
+ neural data <http://www.pymvpa.org>`_. To conveniently deploy PyMVPA for
+ anyone using Debian-derived distributions this package repository was created
+ initially. Besides the PyMVPA_ project |we| collaborate with the `NiPy team
+ <http://neuroimaging.scipy.org>`_ on various projects, such as NiBabel_ and
+ NiPype_. Quickly NeuroDebian_ became the ultimate integrated environment for
+ all these projects -- and we are constantly working on enriching this
+ environment with as many additional relevant software as possible.
+
Why is NeuroDebian not a Pure Blend?
------------------------------------
- Because there is not need for it to become one, as the existing Debian Pure
+ Because there is no need for it to become one, as the existing Debian Pure
Blends already offer the desired functionality *within* Debian. Similar to
Pure Blends, NeuroDebian's goal is to provide software for neuroscientists
using the Debian operating system, and therefore the ultimate goal is to get
However, various reasons exist that prevent a particular software from
entering Debian. Some are temporary, i.e. a package is already useable, but
- some technical bits do not meet Debian's standard yet or a licensing issue
+ some technical bits do not meet Debian's standards (yet) or a licensing issue
needs to be resolved first. For some software the licensing is so restrictive
that it cannot be distributed by Debian, and hence cannot even go into its
*non-free* branch. Unfortunately, sometimes these issues cannot be solved to
a degree that is acceptable for Debian. For some other packages Debian itself
is not ready yet, e.g. huge data packages with neuroscience data (:ref:`with
- sometimes over 1GB <pkg_fsl-first-data>`)
+ sometimes over 1GB <pkg_fsl-first-data>`).
NeuroDebian aims to be a platform that provides a staging area for
neuroscience software packages on their way into Debian. All packages are
- properly registered with the relevant `Debian Pure Blends`_, e.g.
- `Debian-Science Cognitive Neuroscience`_ or `Debian-Med Imaging`_. Inside
+ properly registered in the relevant `Debian Pure Blends`_, e.g.
+ `Debian Science Cognitive Neuroscience`_ or `Debian Med Imaging`_. Inside
Debian these efforts already provide a suitable framework for this purpose,
and hence there is no need to establish yet another one.
.. _Debian Pure Blends: http://wiki.debian.org/DebianPureBlends
-.. _Debian-Science Cognitive Neuroscience: http://blends.alioth.debian.org/science/tasks/neuroscience-cognitive
-.. _Debian-Med Imaging: http://debian-med.alioth.debian.org/tasks/imaging
+.. _Debian Science Cognitive Neuroscience: http://blends.alioth.debian.org/science/tasks/neuroscience-cognitive
+.. _Debian Med Imaging: http://debian-med.alioth.debian.org/tasks/imaging
+
+
+I want to help. How do I get involved?
+--------------------------------------
+
+ We always need people to help maintaining existing packages. If you need
+ some additional software packaged and you want to try it on your own, we would
+ be happy to mentor you. We also have a :ref:`list of ongoing and planned
+ projects <projects>`, each listing a number of tasks that need to be done.
+
+ If you found something you are interested in, please email the
+ neurodebian-devel_ mailing list and let us know about it. Thanks!
When does a package migrate from NeuroDebian into Debian proper?
--------------------------------------------
NeuroDebian offers backported binary packages for recent Ubuntu releases
- whenever possible. However, since Ubuntu is a rather thin shell around Debian
- it is more efficient to spend time packaging for Debian. After the appearance
- of new packages in Debian, Ubuntu typically synchronizes them quickly and
- they become available in the *Ubuntu universe* -- a repository of Debian
- packages rebuilt for a particular Ubuntu release.
+ whenever possible. However, since Ubuntu (like many other derivatives) uses
+ Debian as its foundation, it is more efficient to spend time maintaining
+ packages in Debian, instead of having to directly contribute to countless
+ child-distributions. After the appearance of new packages in Debian, Ubuntu
+ typically synchronizes them quickly and they become available in the *Ubuntu
+ universe* -- a repository of Debian packages rebuilt for a particular Ubuntu
+ release. We are not constantly rebuilding of all available NeuroDebian
+ packages for new Ubuntu releases. Therefore, you might find some packages
+ temporarily being available for older Ubuntu releases only -- until the point
+ when a new package version is made and gets built for all currently supported
+ releases.
How to create a mirror of the repository?
-----------------------------------------
The NeuroDebian repository can be mirrored with rsync. If you are interested
- in sponsoring storage space and bandwidth for another mirror, please contact
- pkg-exppsy-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org.
+ in sponsoring storage space and bandwidth for another mirror, please
+ `contact us <team@neuro.debian.net>`_.
+
+
+How do I get a new neuroscience-related FOSS into (Neuro)Debian?
+----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The goal of NeuroDebian is to package neuroscience software for Debian. Hence
+getting software into NeuroDebian means trying to get it into Debian. There are
+at least two possibilities to achieve that:
+
+* You can approach packaging it yourself. Start by filing an ITP_ (Intent to
+ package) bugreport) and `ask us <team@neuro.debian.net>`_ to mentor your
+ upload to Debian_, if you are not a Debian developer.
+
+* `Contact us <team@neuro.debian.net>`_ -- but then it might take a little
+ longer, depending on our current workload and interest in a particular
+ software.
+
+
+I have heard that some packages are non-free. Will you charge me for them?
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ No. The term :term:`non-free` refers to an archive section. NeuroDebian uses
+ exactly the same `archive sections as Debian proper
+ <http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html>`_. The *non-free*
+ section contains packages that have certain restrictions regarding **your
+ freedom** to employ them for a particular purpose. In contrast, for packages
+ in the *main* section your are completely free to do whatever and in whatever
+ context you like. Regardless of the actual license or archive section, all
+ packages in NeuroDebian are provided free of charge and under the licensing
+ terms of the original developers.
+
+.. _sec_pkg_authentication:
+
+What means "The following signatures couldn't be verified..."?
+--------------------------------------------------------------
+
+When you start using this repository, you probably get warning messages
+like this::
+
+ The following signatures couldn't be verified because
+ the public key is not available.
+
+Or you will be asked questions like this over and over::
+
+ WARNING: The following packages cannot be authenticated!
+ ...
+ Install these packages without verification [y/N]?
+
+This is because your APT installation initially does not know the GPG
+key that is used to sign the release files of this repository. It is easy to
+make APT happy again. The simplest way is to install the ``neurodebian-keyring``
+package that is available from the NeuroDebian repository. Alternatively:
+
+1. Get the key. Either download the `repository key from here
+ <_static/neuro.debian.net.asc>`_
+ or fetch it from http://wwwkeys.pgp.net (2649A5A9).
+
+2. Now feed the key into APT by invoking::
+
+ apt-key add #file#
+
+ Where `#file#` has to be replaced with the location of the key file you just
+ downloaded. You need to have superuser-privileges to do this (either do it
+ as root or use sudo).
+
+
+How can I cite NeuroDebian?
+---------------------------
+
+Please cite the following paper:
+
+ Halchenko, Y. O. & Hanke, M. (2012). `Open is not enough. Let’s take the
+ next step: An integrated, community-driven computing platform for neuroscience
+ <http://www.frontiersin.org/Neuroinformatics/10.3389/fninf.2012.00022/full>`_.
+ *Frontiers in Neuroinformatics*, 6:22.
+
+.. include:: link_names.txt
+.. include:: substitutions.txt
projects / neurodebian.git / blobdiff