San Diego Computer Society Information

LUGs Linux User Groups

Operating systems specialists are always concerned with the improvement and development of their products. The Linux User Group or LUG is technically a group of IT specialists, which may function as a private and usually non-profit organization, and which is concerned with providing the support that Linux users needs. A part of the group's activity is intended for the inexperienced Linux users. Traditionally the LUG term is used to describe local groups that meet regularly in person but it may also be used to refer to online support groups. In this latter case, the members of the group can be spread over a very wide area and which do not organize around actual meetings (physically speaking).

In general, Linux User Groups meet every week or monthly and their main task is to provide support or to arrange and host presentations designed especially for Linux users. The activity of these groups is so much more important given the fact that Linux is not dominated by any corporate. As a result, the groups' meetings involve dealing with a wide range of topics that are designed to be supportive and productive for hobbyist users and for professionals who are engaged in self-directed study. Most of these groups provide their services for free, without asking for any monthly or annual fees. The participants are however encouraged to patronize the hosts such as buying dinner. The meetings may be formal or informal, but in most cases there is a tendency for the latter. Members sit around and brainstorm about the Linux OS and other topics that are related to the main one. They may hold presentations which are mostly interesting technicalities for those passionate about the topic, and they are very rarely (close to never) sales oriented. In the end, the aim of these groups is to improve the Linux OS and provide its users with support, and not to sell any related product.