Kathenas - General

Astronomy packaging for Enterprise Linux

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 08:35:00 +0100

This week is further work on Astronomy packages for Enterprise Linux (EL). Filing requests for builds into Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL), building updated packages for both EL 9 and 10 and some contribution to Fedora Linux in and among.

Kathenas Mantis Tracker Instance

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 21:34:00 +0100

With my blocking from the Debian Community and its infrastructure, I have setup a Mantis bug tracker instance at Kathenas Tracker to track the upstream and GNU Linux Distribution projects I have an interest in.

You may wish to help, so feel free to create an account and let's do our little bit for these projects.

Looking for volunteering opportunities in Doncaster

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:54:00 +0100

I am currently looking for volunteering opportunities in Doncaster. Organisations can take advantage of my:

- Computer skills
- Mentoring
- Teaching and teaching assistance.
- Administration

I am always open to the learning of new skills and support an organisations goals.

I am power wheelchair bound, so appropriate access is required.

Any organisations interested in me volunteering for them can contact me using the email address below.

Email: philip.wyett@kathenas.org

Volunteering - UK 2010 Equality Act

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:43:00 +0100

As I found out recently, the 2010 Equality Act. here in the U.K. does not protect volunteers. This information provided to me by the Equality Advisory Support Service is very shocking. This lack of protection allows Companies, Charities and Not For Profit Organisations to mistreat and discriminate groups or individuals at will as I have found out myself.

I may circle round back to this after I have done further research and update on further actions taken or to be taken.

Update: 2025-08-25

I would ask those in the U.K. to consider signing the below linked petition and hopefully stir the U.K. government into looking at the rights of volunteers and others in extracurricular activities e.g. contributing to Debian.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/733537

I believe that this type of safeguarding I would hope expands to cover groups such as Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora and other organised volunteer (in whole or part) projects.

I will be following the petitions progress.

Contribution is ongoing

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 19:45:00 +0100

Since deciding to stop Debian contribution in the area of Debian Mentors, I have not been idle. I have been doing commits for packages I maintain and also contribute to i.e. upstream projects and other activities that include Ubuntu bug squashing etc.

With my disabilities, it is important to face challenges be they during my daily activities or within the Free/Open Source Software community. These challenges are hard, fun and make me feel useful.

Onwards and upwards.

Kathenas - Wheelchair and dangerous

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:20:00 +0100

This week resigning myself to needing help in daily life and wider, getting out and about. I have this week acquired a Karma E40 Robooter electric wheelchair. This will allow me to go out now and hopefully help in general living.

Kathenas - Support Free/Open Source Contributors

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:16:00 +0100

Most of the money you see in and around Free / Open Source Software, Hardware and other projects is in the hands of large companies, groups and self styled organisations, with little or none reaching the actually contributors/maintainer/developers of your favourite projects who actually do the day to day work.

If you wish to support my efforts, please click on the image below to donate.

Kathenas - Debian 11 support

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 12:04:00 +0100

After long consideration, I am ending Debian 11 support by myself. Any packages I maintain will only receive critical and security updates.

Debian - June 2025 was a busy-ish month

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 04:48:00 +0100

With freezes in place and much work being done to prepare for Debian 13, it has been a hectic month.

I have been:

1. Reviewing packages and mentoring as part of my contribution to Debian Mentors[1].

2. Making sure the packages I maintain are ready for Debian 13.

3. Doing testing of what will be Debian 13 and its packages.

I have not:

1. Had any movement of my Debian Developer (DD) application.

More to follow soon on this one.

[1] Debian Mentors

DebCamp and DebConf 2025, Brest, France

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:33:00 +0100

DebCamp and DebConf 2025 being held in Brest, France is almost here.

DebCamp: 07-07-2025 to 13-07-2025

DebConf: 14-07-2025 to 19-07-2025

For details on the conference, see link below.

DebCamp and DebConf 2025

Addendum, 2025-0706:

I shall not be attending the conferences in person or virtually - I do not feel welcome with situations as they are.

New Blog

philip.wyett@kathenas.org (Phil Wyett) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:01:00 +0100

Finally found Serendipity, a simple blog platform with easy configuration and gets out of the way so I can just create posts.

The new blog will feature a variety of posts on many different subjects.

Watch this space...