People of openSUSE: Matthias Fehring

Please introduce yourself!

I was born almost 26 years ago in the Westphalian province in Germany, where I lived the most time of my hithero life with my three sisters and my parents in a small, but really funny village named Eissen (which can also be found in the German and English Wikipedia ;-) ) on the farm of my parents. Currently I am living in Dresden, where I studied political science, philosophy and German literature, and where I now write my thesis. In the moment of answering this questions I am single and have no pets. ;-)

Tell us about the background to your computer use.

The first computer I could use was an i386SX 16MHz PC, which my father needed in the beginning of the 90s (I think 1991) for an agricultural management application (Ackerschlagkartei, which had a funny LPT-Dongle). I used it mostly for playing. Doom II leaded to a full hard disk, so that some files of my father must go away; but I survived that.

I have tried some times to learn programming, but it seems as it should not be. ;-)

I use my computer(s) today mostly for writing, communication, multimedia, web browsing and playing (mostly RPG and Strategy). And I think, I can not live without an internet flatrate. :-D I have one since this payment model is available in Germany.

When and why did you start using openSUSE/SUSE Linux?

My first contact to Linux and SUSE Linux was SUSE Linux 6.2 which I bought together with a friend. The motivation was the old “Windows annoyances”…. But this motivation did not lead quickly to a big love. So the most time the box collected dust in the rack. But at times the boredom hit me and I installed it many times new. It was more a game to install it, then really usage. But with SUSE Linux 7.0 I started to use it regularly and after some time I used Windows only for playing games. In the meantime I tried also Ubuntu, Gentoo and CCux Linux, but went always back to SUSE Linux. By the way: Two month ago, my mother found the old SL 6.2 box on the attic. I am not nostalgic and throw it away… ;-)

When did you join the openSUSE community and what made you do that?

I think, I started to write in the openSUSE wiki since it is there. I was pleased that the best distribution became completely open. My motivation is the joy of writing and to be part of the community. Short: to have fun :)

In what way do you participate in the openSUSE project?

I write in the German openSUSE wiki and I am a sys-op there. Since some time I also build some little packages in the build service, in my home project and in KDE:KDE4:*:Community.

What especially motivates you to participate in the openSUSE project?

Mostly the fun to write and to be part of the community. I like the idea of freedom.

What do you think was your most important contribution to the openSUSE project/community or what is the contribution that you’re most proud of?

Ouh, I do not know. Maybe the package management howtos in the German wiki?

When do you usually spend time on the openSUSE project?

When I have time for it. :)

Three words to describe openSUSE? Or make up a proper slogan!

Easy, innovative, free.

What do you think is missing or underrated in the distribution or the project?

Good central forums (I know, they are on the way).

What do you think the future holds for the openSUSE project?

The evolution goes on.

A person asks you why he/she should choose openSUSE instead of other distribution/OS. What would be your arguments to convince him/her to pick up openSUSE?

YaST and Build Service, and for Germans the great userbase in the German language area.

Which members of the openSUSE community have you met in person?

No one.

How many icons are currently on your desktop?

One, the trash can plasmoid. And the analog clock plasmoid, but that is not an icon, isn’t it?

What is the application you can’t live without? And why?

There is more than one. Kontact (KDEPIM), Kopete, Amarok, Firefox (in no order) I think the cause for this list is self explaining. ;-)

Which application or feature should be invented as soon as possible?

It would be nice when KDEPIM already uses Akonadi. But anticipation is the greatest joy. :-)

Which is your preferred text editor? And why?

Kate, because of syntax highlighting, session management and many other nice features.

Which famous person would you want to join the openSUSE community?

I give nothing to celebs.

Which computer related skills would you like to have?

Programming would be nice, but I fear that ends like my wish to can play bagpipe. But who knows…

The Internet crashes for a whole week. How would you feel, what would you do?

Shit happens, but good time for drinking more beer with many friends. Or to read anymore books.

Which is your favorite movie scene?

There are too many movies, but I would say the scene in “Hot Fuzz”, when the old man beats the sea mine with his rifle.

Star Trek or Star Wars?

I do not like them both really, but from this selection I would choose Star Wars.

What is your favorite food and drink?

Drink: beer, coffee, wine, the most natural juices, milk and water

Food: probably all, but as Westphalian I really like Himmel und Erde (Sky and Earth, mashed potatoes mixed with apple compote) with fried black pudding and onions.

Favorite game or console (in your childhood and nowadays)?

In the past Pirates! and Monkey Island I and II and today the Gothic serial, the Total War serial, Sacred and the Spellforce serial.

Which city would you like to visit?

Many.

What is your preferred way to spend your vacation?

Driving around with a car, camping and make a little bit sightseeing and taste the regional beer. Or only enjoy the spare time to read anymore books and make party.

Someone gives you $1.000.000. What would you do with the money?

At first I would give a big party. Then I will invest the rest (I hope there will be a rest) to make it more. If it is enough I will try to buy one of the best breweries in the world: Schloßbrauerei Rheder ;-)

If traveling through time was possible, when would we be most likely to meet you?

March 18, 1848 on the barricades in Berlin.

There’s a thunderstorm outside. Do you turn off your computer?

No, should I? My computers survived an electronical failure in the house connection of the power line, which killed many other devices. So, I have no more fear.

Have your ever missed an appointment because you forgot about it while sitting at your computer?

Again and again, but the same happens also while reading books or magazines…

Show us a picture of something, you have always wanted to share!

The view out of my window in Dresden.

You couldn’t live without…

Computer/internet, beer, music, books, my friends, my family; all the things that makes the life nice.

Which question was the hardest to answer?

All the “What is your favorite….” questions, where the selection was to small….

What other question would you like to answer? And what would you answer?

Why Buschmann (engl. bushman) as nickname? This is not because of my hairs! ;-) I got this name when they was really short. The origin of the name is Half-Life Deathmatch, where I used a character like a cannibal. This brought one of my friends about to call me Buschmann, and over the time many other people, which never played the game, start to call me so, too.