The conference sessions were less than inspiring, but the show had plenty of chemistry.

This column looks into projects and current affairs in the world of free software from the perspective of the GNU Project and the FSF. In this issue, I’lll focus on Comspari and the EU decision on software patents.

Free software covers such a diverse range of utilities, applications, and other assorted projects, that it is hard to find the perfect tool. We pick the best of the bunch. This month, we’ll examine DRBD, Fink, and the Debian project leader election.

The PHP-based Drupal framework makes dynamic websites simple. The modular system is extensible using free modules and the appearance is template-driven. In this article, we will be delving into Drupal’s range of functions and discussing installation and basic configuration.

The best way of organizing collaboration on the Web is with a Wiki. Mediawiki, the Wiki behind the famous Wikipedia project, sets the standard for web-based collaboration tools.