[KLUG Members] Term papers... yuck

[Adam Williams]

>Alan, check out how many research organizations are building supercomputers
>using linux...  check out the
>( http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/ ) the Beowulf Cluster
>article... see also http://www.hpl.hp.com/techreports/2001/HPL-2001-206.html
>check out www.top500.org and
>have fun!
>>Well, its that time of the year already where the teachers have us
>>slaving away over our books, or as it is now, our computer screens.
>>And what does that mean? Term paper time.
>>This time I have chosen to do mine on linux.  Hence this message.  I am
>>just looking for ideas on what to research.  I have a few ideas, but i
>>am open to more.  I am looking for broad topics.  A topic I am

But broad topics can not be dealt with fairly within the scope of your
average term paper (less than 20 pages).  Term papers are not merely
assignments,  they are opportunities.  Use it to gain an understanding of
something you need to understand,  or think you will need to understand in
the future.  Writing a paper (or preparing a presentation) is a great way
to test your understanding of a topic and force your squishy bio-computer
to properly organize the concepts it has in it's possession.  This
requires a deep focus on a narrow subject.

>>researching now is security.  I am just looking for a few more ideas,

How about how buffer overflows come to pass?  Attacks on the network
stacks (SYN floods, etc...)?  Or weaknessess of the UNIX, or Windows
NT, authentication models?

>>and perhaps where I could find the information.

The internet? ;)

>>I figured I would ask the experts on what hot topics regarding linux i
>>could do a section of my paper on.

For what is hot now?  Component based software developement. The concepts
behind usability. Inter-process communication (CORBA, XMLRPC, Messaging,
RPC) is always hot. XML (a broad/narrow topic if ever there was one).  IPC
*IS* a security related topic.

If you can,  make your term-paper deep enough to be worth posting on the
Internet somewhere (spread your name around),  to present to KLUG or other
organizations, etc....  By doing so you ***WILL*** reap benefits beyond
the walls of the classroom.  It may not seem like it,  but years later
some guy will say (or e-mail you) 'Hey, aren't you the guy who wrote the
shtick on XYZ,  you wouldn't happen to be "looking for"/"in the need
of"/"interested in".....'

All ceritifacations, degrees, and other fluff aside, your name (and
associated reputation) is the greatest asset you have.

I'm only preaching because I wish someone had pounded that into my head
along time ago.

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