BlankOn Linux is a Linux distribution

Linux distribution

A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...

 based on Ubuntu

Ubuntu (operating system)

Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...

 developed by Yayasan Penggerak Linux Indonesia (YPLI) and Komunitas Ubuntu Indonesia (Ubuntu-id.org).

Goals

The goals of BlankOn Linux are to provide a suitable operating system for common PC users in Indonesia, especially in the academic, small/medium enterprise, and government sectors. Since BlankOn 2.0, it has had multimedia support such as mp3, vcd, and dvd, with Indonesian themes and graphics. BlankOn development is open with release frequency of once or twice per year.

Name Origins

The name BlankOn originally came from blangkon

Blangkon

A blangkon or belangkon is a traditional Javanese headdress worn by men and made of batik fabric. There are 4 different types of blangkons according to their shapes and origins: Ngayogyakarta blangkons, Surakarta blangkons, Kedu blangkons, and Banyumasan blangkons.-History:In ancient Javanese...

 an ethnic Indonesian headdress, especially common among the Javanese (Central Java, Yogyakarta, and East Java), Sundanese (West Java and Banten), Maduranese, and Balinese.

BlankOn means also blank (binary number 0) and on (binary number 1) or digital hat (modern) with ancient (classic) appearance.

Another meaning of the name could be said to be the transformation from "blank" to "on".

Philosophy

The BlankOn developers hope that every BlankOn user can be transformed from "blank" to "filled", to have knowledge that Linux can be used to increase the skills, dignity, and autonomy of the Indonesian people.

BlankOn is intended to be a motivator for the Indonesian people to use and develop Linux and other FLOSS

Free and open source software

Free and open-source software or free/libre/open-source software is software that is liberally licensed to grant users the right to use, study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code...

. BlankOn also means a crash helmet to software proprietary dependency.

BlankOn 2.0

Code Name : Konde - Released 15 November 2007

BlankOn 3.0

Code Name : Lontara - Released 27 April 2008

BlankOn 4.0

Code Name : Meuligoe - Released 15 November 2008

BlankOn 5.0

Code Name : Nanggar - Released 16 June 2009

BlankOn 6.0

Code Name : Ombilin - Released 5 July 2010

BlankOn 7.0

Code Name : Pattimura - Latest Beta (Jahitan 1) released 2 February 2011

Development

After the launching of BlankOn version 1.0 based on Fedora Core, YPLI and Komunitas Ubuntu Indonesia developed BlankOn version 2.0 (code name: "Konde") based on Ubuntu

Ubuntu (operating system)

Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...

.

BlankOn Linux version 1.0 and version 2.0 are sponsored by UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 and several other institutions.

YPLI

Yayasan Penggerak Linux Indonesia

Indonesian Linux Motivator Foundation

Yayasan Penggerak Linux Indonesia , or the Indonesian Linux Motivator Foundation, is a non-profit organization that develops Linux and other Free/Open Source Software softwares and human resources in Indonesia, including profession certification....

 (YPLI) is an organization that develops Linux software and brainware

Brainware

Brainware is an American software company that markets data capture and extraction products. The company spun out of Dulles-based SER Solutions Inc. in February 2006 when SER was acquired by The Gores Group LLC...

 in Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

.