We are a group of enthusiasts dedicated to teaching and learning about Linux and Unix. There is no membership fee to join. We welcome people of all levels of experience.

To learn more about PLUG please read our FAQ.

General Meeting Information

Our general meetings are usually held at 7:00 PM on the first Thursday of every month, unless the first Thursday falls on a major holiday. Our meetings are generally held in Room FAB 86-01 of The Fariborz Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science Building at Portland State University. This room is hidden away in the basement; but go into the Fariborz Maseeh College of Engineering building, go to down stairs to the basement and wonder around the halls and you will find it. If you are really having trouble call David Mandel on his cell phone at 541-730-5285. Our meetings are almost always in this location, but check a few days before a meeting as we do need to change meeting locations once in a while. The Fariborz Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science Building (also nick named The New Engineering Building) is on SW 4th across from SW College Street. (See location H-10 on the map at http://pdxLinux.org/campus_map.jpg )

Our next meeting will be 7 PM Thursday July 3, 2008 in Room Room FAB 86-01 of The Fariborz Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science Building at Portland State University. This building (also nick named The New Engineering Building) is on SW 4th across from SW College Street. (See location H-10 on the map at http://pdxLinux.org/campus_map.jpg )

The presentation will be: 


                          Stupid USB Keyboard Tricks
           Reading magstripes, barcodes, 10-key pads, and keyboards
                                     with
                                   libusb.

                                      by

                                 Eric Wilhelm
                         

     An overview of libusb, how usb keyboards (and keyboard-like 
     devices) are handled by Linux and X, and how they can be 
     disconnected from the main input driver for use and abuse 
     by user-space code.

     This technology has useful applications such as connecting 
     USB credit-card and barcode readers to point-of-sale software 
     independently from the keyboard focus or keymap.  It also allows 
     silly things like multi-player text editors or a 105-command 
     program launcher.  Or you could just use it to change songs in xmms.

     Code will shown in small doses of Perl and C.  Hands-on 
     demonstrations will be included as time allows.

     Caution:  presentation may result in a desire to attach one 
     or more additional devices to your computer.

Please note: We have moved the PLUG meetings from Smith Memorial Center to the New Engineering Building at Portland State University. The New Engineering Building is on SW 4th across from SW College Street. (See location H-10 on the map at http://pdxLinux.org/campus_map.jpg ) We expect to be at the new location for all of 2008, and maybe much longer.

Many presenters at our meetings put their presentation notes on the Internet. We have a list of presentations with links to their presentation notes, but sadly, this archive is incomplete. If you have knowledge of any presentations online we do not link to here, please contact the webmaster <geoff AT pdxlinux DOT org> so that they can be added!

Linux Advanced Topics Talk

We have a monthly talk about topics for advanced Linux users, which usually meets once a month every third Monday at 7:00pm, following very specific rules.

The topic of the next meeting, 19 November, will be announced.

The meeting will be at Jax 826 SW 2nd Ave, Portland OR. Jax is on the MAX Line, next to Bally's Fitness.

The meeting time is 7:00pm, and the usual meeting rules apply. Void where prohibited by natural law or a plausible imitation. Happy Hour meal prices apply for the first hour. (But you have to buy at least one drink to get those prices.)

John Todd has made the powerpoint slides from his presentation at the August, 2003 meeting on Asterisk available on the web. He asks, "if that you use this slideshow or portions of it, that you retain my name, email address, and copyright notices for those sections. I feel no remorse in asking you to give me some ad space in front of your CFO if you're using my slides."

PLUG Clinics resume!

Due to popular demand, PLUG volunteers are once again holding a monthly clinic to help one and all with their Linux (and other *NIX) computer problems on the third Sunday of every month.
This month's clinic will be 17 August, 1-5 pm.

LOCATION: Free Geek Community Technology Center, 1731 SE 10th Avenue, Portland, OR

NOTE: Free Geek is closed Sundays, and no one will be answering the phones. Please enter through the south door, next to the Thrift Store. We'll have a sign by the door.

Web page news

12 Mar 2004 Mail list archives are now available without needing to log in.
Older Web page news

. . .  and that's PLUG as in “adapter”, not as in “your ears”!