This is an outline to a book I was asked to write in 2003 to be titled Open Source Gems. It was to focus on the best open source software for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. The book didn't work out, but I thought the outline I prepared might be of interest to someone, if for no other reason than seeing what was considered popular or useful in 2003.

1. Pre-preparation
   1. A mixed network of 5-100 Linux, Mac OS X, & Windows machines
   2. Linux is your server
   3. The joys of automation
   4. Filesharing is setup on each machine & on your server
2. Preparation
   1. Cygwin: Provide a Unix environment on Windows
      1. Installation & configuration
   2. User Mode Linux: Create virtual Linux machines
      1. Installation & configuration on your Linux server
      2. A test of UMLâ•?s power: rm -rf /*
   3. OpenLDAP: Provide centralized authentication
      1. Installation & configuration on your Linux server
      2. Set up your Linux clients to authenticate using LDAP
      3. Set up your Mac OS X clients to authenticate using LDAP
      4. Set up your Windows clients to authenticate using LDAP
   4. Samba: Share files & printers between Windows, Mac OS X, & Linux
      1. Installation & configuration on your Linux server
      2. Configure your Linux client for shared file & printer access
      3. Configure your Mac OS X client for shared file & printer access
      4. Configure your Windows client for shared file & printer access
      5. Share files the smart (& sane) way
      6. What about shared printers connected to usersâ•? machines?
3. Software Installation & Maintenance
   1. APT/YUM: Update your Linux machines regularly
      1. Installation & configuration on your Linux server
      2. Set up your Linux clients to grab updates from your APT/YUM server
   2. CheckInstall: Compile software easier
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. A better way to compile
      3. A side benefit: RPMs
4. Backup
   1. Unison: Backup & synchronize files
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Synchronize files on a laptop & a desktop
      3. Use Unison for incremental backup instead of rsync
   2. K3b: Create as-needed backups onto CD-RW
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Backup files
      3. Burn ISO images
5. Administration
   1. VNC: Control machines remotely
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Using VNC to connect to a Windows or Mac OS X box
      3. Using VNC to connect to a Linux box
      4. Using VNC securely: tunnel VNC over SSH
   2. Webmin: Administer Linux & Mac OS X machines using the Web
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. A quick walk through Webmin
   3. Knoppix: Disaster recovery
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Recover data when Windows crashes
      3. Install Knoppix on a hard drive
   4. Krename: Rename files & folders
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Some sample uses of Krename
6. Utilities
   1. 7-Zip: Compress & uncompress files on Windows
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Compress files
      3. Uncompress files
      4. A note on common compression formats
   2. File Roller: Compress & uncompress files on Linux
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Compress files
      3. Uncompress files
7. Office Applications
   1. OpenOffice.org: A full-featured office suite
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Get fonts & printers set up
      3. How do I print labels?
      4. Where are the tables in presentations?
   2. Dia: Create diagrams
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Create a diagram of your network
      3. Create a diagram of something else
8. Internet: Server Tools
   1. Kroupware: A groupware server for email and shared contacts, calendars, & tasks
      1. Installation & configuration on your Linux server
      2. Usage
   2. OpenLDAP: Set up a shared address server
      1. Installation & configuration on your Linux server
      2. The importance of LDIF files
      3. Managing addresses on your LDAP server
   3. Jabber: Instant messaging
      1. Installation & configuration on your Linux server
      2. Install gateways for AIM, ICQ, MSN, & Yahoo
   4. Blosxom: Publish a blog
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Publish your first blog post
      3. Some blog pointers
   5. Plone: Create a Web portal
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Add content to your Plone site
      3. Understanding structured text
      4. Authenticate users with LDAP
      5. Create a blog & enable people to subscribe to it
   6. TikiWiki: Collaborate via the Web
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Authenticate users with LDAP
      3. Add content to your site
9. Internet: Client Tools
   1. Mozilla Firebird: Browse the Web
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. The joy of tabs
      3. Customize your toolbar
      4. Extend Mozilla Firebird with extensions
      5. Extend Mozilla Firebird further with bookmarklets
      6. A better printing system: kprinter
      7. Use the Bookmarks Toolbar effectively
   2. Mozilla Thunderbird: Read & send email
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Creating accounts
      3. Get rid of spam with Bayesian filters
   3. Kontact: The official groupware client for Kroupware
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Connect to your Kroupware server
   4. Evolution: Manage personal information
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Import & export data into & our of Evolution
      3. Use virtual folders to organize your email
      4. Connect to your LDAP server for addresses
      5. Which is appropriate: Kontact or Evolution?
   5. GAIM: Instant messaging client
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Connect to your Jabber server
      3. Connect to other IM networks
   6. AmphetaDesk: Gather & read blog posts with a Web-based client
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Subscribe to RSS feeds
   7. SharpReader: Gather & read blog posts on Windows
      1. Installation & configuration
      2. Subscribe to RSS feeds
10. Security
    1. Nessus: Scan computers for vulnerabilities
       1. Installation & configuration
       2. Test your network for vulnerabilities
    2. Kismet: Detect wireless networks
       1. Installation & configuration
       2. Find open wireless networks
    3. Privoxy: Block Internet annoyances
       1. Installation & configuration
       2. Test Privoxy
       3. Whitelist necessary sites
       4. Toggle Privoxy on and off with bookmarklets