Alexandre Oliva
Encyclopedia
Alexandre "Alex" Oliva, is a free software
activist, developer and founding member of Free Software Foundation Latin America
(FSFLA). He is currently on-hold from his PhD studies at the Institute of Computing of the State University of Campinas, Brazil
whilst working as a compiler engineer at Red Hat
, contributing in the GCC
compiler. He is the maintainer of Linux-libre
, a fork of the Linux kernel
which removes non-free software components, such as binary blobs from the kernel. The Linux-libre kernels are used in GNU/Linux distributions such as gNewSense
, Trisquel
and BLAG
, all of which are recommended by the Free Software Foundation
and the GNU Project.
In 2008, Oliva translated and produced "O Porco e a Caixa", a Brazilian Portuguese translation of MCM
's "The Pig and the Box
" -- a book that teaches the perils of DRM
to children. Over 10,000 copies were eventually printed by the FISL conference in Porto Alegre
, Brazil
.
He is an official GNU and Free Software Speaker.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
activist, developer and founding member of Free Software Foundation Latin America
Free Software Foundation Latin America
Free Software Foundation Latin America is the Latin American sister organisation of the Free Software Foundation. It is the fourth sister organisation of FSF, after Free Software Foundation Europe and Free Software Foundation India...
(FSFLA). He is currently on-hold from his PhD studies at the Institute of Computing of the State University of Campinas, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
whilst working as a compiler engineer at Red Hat
Red Hat
Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide....
, contributing in the GCC
GNU Compiler Collection
The GNU Compiler Collection is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting various programming languages. GCC is a key component of the GNU toolchain...
compiler. He is the maintainer of Linux-libre
Linux-libre
Linux-libre is a project that aims to publish and maintain modified versions of the Linux kernel that include only free software. This is accomplished by removing software modules without included source code , obfuscated code or portions of code under proprietary licenses.This project is endorsed...
, a fork of the Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
which removes non-free software components, such as binary blobs from the kernel. The Linux-libre kernels are used in GNU/Linux distributions such as gNewSense
GNewSense
gNewSense is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. Its goal is to maintain the user-friendliness of Ubuntu, but with all non FSF approved software and binary blobs removed. The Free Software Foundation considers gNewSense to be a Linux distribution composed entirely of free software.gNewSense takes...
, Trisquel
Trisquel
Trisquel GNU/Linux is a Linux distribution using a free version of the Linux kernel as distributed by the Linux-libre project. The main goals of the project are the production of a fully free software system that must be easy to use, complete, and with good language support.Trisquel's name comes...
and BLAG
BLAG Linux and GNU
BLAG Linux and GNU is a GNU/Linux distribution made by the Brixton Linux Action Group.BLAG is a single-CD distro with applications desktop users "expect" from a desktop including multimedia, graphics, desktop internet applications and more. BLAG also includes a collection of server packages...
, all of which are recommended by the Free Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
and the GNU Project.
In 2008, Oliva translated and produced "O Porco e a Caixa", a Brazilian Portuguese translation of MCM
MCM
-Science and technology:* Thousand circular mils or kcmil, the wire gauge is equivalent cross sectional area * Million cubic metre, the unit of volume...
's "The Pig and the Box
The Pig and the Box
The Pig and the Box is a children's book written and drawn by a Canadian writer, producer and programmer known as "MCM".Written in July 2006, The Pig and the Box is a book about the negative sides of DRM, written as a reaction to Access Copyright's Captain Copyright campaign directed at kids.The...
" -- a book that teaches the perils of DRM
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
to children. Over 10,000 copies were eventually printed by the FISL conference in Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
He is an official GNU and Free Software Speaker.