The XFree86 Project has released XFree86-3.3.6, the latest version of its popular (and free) X Window system for Unix and Unix-like operating systems.

The XFree86 Project has traditionally focused on Intel x86-based platforms (which is where the "86" in the name comes from), but this release also supports other platforms. One of the project's goals is to increase the range of platforms that XFree86 runs on.

The major highlights of the new release are all the new graphics boards that it supports, including the ATI Rage128 and Rage Mobility, the SiS 540/630 and 300, Silicon Motion Lynx chipsets and the NVIDIA GeForce. The release also fixes several buggy drivers from earlier releases.

XFree86 is available at www.XFree86.org.

FreeBSD freeze

FreeBSD, like Debian, has entered code freeze for its 4.0 release. Jordan Hubbard, the release engineer, says the code freeze will last for 15 days.

This is the first release from the latest FreeBSD current development branch. Work also continues on the 3.x stable branch.

FreeBSD is an advanced BSD Unix operating system for "PC-compatible" computers and, like other open source projects, is developed and maintained by a large team of individuals.

FreeBSD offers what its proponents call advanced networking, performance, security and compatibility features which are still missing in many commercial operating systems, as well as providing a robust Internet server solution. It can also be installed directly over anonymous FTP — all you need is a pair of blank 1.44MB disks.

FreeBSD is available at www.FreeBSD.com.

Frozen potato

The Debian Project, which co-ordinates the volunteers who maintain and update Debian GNU/ Linux and the development of the Debian GNU/Hurd operating system, has announced a code freeze for Debian GNU/Linux 2.2.

"The code freeze for the next Debian release, code named 'potato,' has begun," says Richard Braakman, Debian release manager. He says he expects the freeze process to take until the middle of march. During that time, no new code will be accepted and code for the release will be available in three different distributions — "stable," "frozen" and the new "unstable."

"The new 'unstable' distribution is code named 'Woody,'" continues Braakman. The "frozen" and "unstable" distributions start out with the same set of packages. While "unstable" will be updated rapidly, "frozen" will have only bug fixes applied in preparation for its release.

Debian releases are code-named after characters from the movie Toy Story. Woody, the new unstable distribution, is named after the movie's main character, the cowboy action figure.

Debian is available on the Web at www.debian.org.

— Compiled by Owen Ferguson