Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya released the localized Linux Distribution, NepaLinux 2.0 .

What is NepaLinux?
NepaLinux is a localized Debian and Morphix based GNU/Linux Distribution in Nepali. It is a Free Open Source Software released under the GNU General Public License(GPL). It has been developed and released by Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya, Nepal under the PAN Localization Project supported by International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada. So far two different versions of NepaLinux 1.0 and 1.1 have been released, respectively in December 2005 and October 2006. NepaLinux 1.1 is a revised and a relatively bug-free version of NepaLinux 1.0 .

NepaLinux 2.0
NepaLinux 2.0 is a continuity to NepaLinux, the localized operating system. The NepaLinux Development Team at Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya aims to make the system as much user-friendly and as less technical as possible with every new release of NepaLinux. In this regard, NepaLinux 2.0 comes up with additional choices to the end-users in the sense that it offers two different localized working Desktop Environments, respectively, GNOME and KDE. The NepaLinux 2.0 package comprises two separate CDs with GNOME Desktop Environment bundled in one of them whereas KDE Desktop Environment in the other. After having looked at the Desktop Environments via the Live CD facility, users may then decide finally which one to install in his/her computer. The introduction of the localized KDE Desktop Environment is one of the chief attractions of NepaLinux 2.0 package.

Special Features of NepaLinux 2.0

1. Linux Kernel 2.6.18
2. Localized and updated GNOME Desktop Environment 2.14
3. Localized KDE Desktop Environment 3.5.5
4. Localized OpenOffice.org 2.2 with upgraded Nepali Spell Checker.
5. Localized Seamonkey Suite
6. XKB and SCIM input systems
7. Better hardware detection and compatibility
8. Enhanced and consistent translation

Targeted end-users of NepaLinux

1. Individual Desktop users
2. Government & Private Sector
3. Schools, colleges, universities, cyber-cafes and telecenters

Further works on NepaLinux include NepaLinux 3.0, scheduled to get released in March 2008. In the future releases of

NepaLinux, several new features and applications are being planned to develop. Besides, a major focus would be on

making the system administration(installation and troubleshooting part) as less technical as possible.  

Promotion of NepaLinux in Nepal

Establishing NepaLinux in Nepal and among the Nepali speaking population elsewhere cannot be achieved solely by the

efforts of Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya in isolation. The awareness on the essence and vitality of Free Open Source

Software and localized applications like NepaLinux in the context of Nepal having a relatively small English proficient

population is yet to be reached to the general masses. The role of Free Open Source Software (FOSS) community, civil

society, government and others will be very significant for creating the required awareness. Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya

would like to kindly appeal all of the above institutions to play a constructive role in promoting NepaLinux thus joining hands

in the objectives of bridging the digital divide existing in Nepal between the "haves" and "have-nots", between "English

proficients" and "English non proficients". The official website for NepaLinux is www.nepalinux.org.

Support Links:

• Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya support forum: www.mpp.org.np/mppforum
• NepaLinux Mailing List: www.nepalinux.org/lists
• NepaLinux Wiki: www.nepalinux.org/wiki
• IRC for realtime queries (#nepalinux on irc.freenode.net)

Minimum Hardware Requirements

• Pentium I or equivalent Processor
• 128 MB of RAM
• 3.0 GB of Hard disk space
• CD ROM Drive

About Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya

Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya (MPP) is the archive library of writing and media in the languages of Nepal. Since the year 2002, it also has been involved in Nepali language computing and software localization. NepaLinux is one of such attempts under software localization, being run at Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya.