Recent discussions around SEUL have centered on the availability of existing scientific software for Linux. The Linux in Science reports have highlighted a number of different programs, yet the large majority of these are only in source form. As more scientific users turn to Linux, many find the prospect of compiling their own software a daunting one and strongly prefer using RPM or DEB packages for their installs. To alleviate this problem, we are actively looking for scientific software programs not currently available in RPM or DEB packages, as well as people interested in helping to package the software and help others to do likewise. The previous Linux in Science report described how one SEUL-sci developer, Matias Mutchinick, was involved with an effort at the academic level to produce a distro of software relevant to academic work.
Many people feel that having a distro specifically for scientific users in general is appropriate.
We have been investigating Linux in the lab. I have played with several distro's and as of now have decided on Corel Linux due to the ease of getting Windows networking integration up and the easy interface. This decision was necessitated by a boss who feels that Linux should be as easy as Windows for him to use it. I agree and was hoping SEUL would come up with a GNU alternative to the current distributions. I want to try it on a Thinkpad 755CX that I have in the lab.