DISCUSSION OF FREEPORT SOFTWARE

     Installing Freeport is difficult, initially, and it's
recommended that you have the installation performed by someone
with a programming background (formal or informal, but Unix
experience will make it easier.)  Once you've got it up and
running, it's fairly low-maintenance and easily accessible.

     There was a general endorsement of Andrew Patrick's advice
to "try out different flavours".  How this is done is simple: 
log on to other FreeNets and see how they operate;  and call
their administrators and ask them what they think of the software
they're using (Freeport of otherwise.)  Another suggestion made
was to approach the Free Software Foundation about developing a
better software for running a freenet -- something easy to
install and that will continue to provide access to the maximum
number of users.

     Making Freeport software multi-lingual is major difficulty
becaise it has English hard-coded deep into the source code -
changes are time consuming and expensive.

     Questions were raised about the usefulness of having a
standard "Town Square" first menu.  The gist of the ensuing
debate was that this would easier for roving users - but might
stifle a rich diversity.  No resolution was reached.