We've already taken the required look back over the year; we've even put the "year of" debate through one more round. Now, all that's left to do is formulate the hopes, dreams and resolutions that will carry us forward into 2011.
That, at least, is what Linux bloggers have been doing in recent days down at the blogosphere's seedy Broken Windows Lounge, where the snow drifts have now all but blocked any remaining view out of the already grimy windows.
The mood has been somber and contemplative, aided no doubt by the Peppermint Penguins, the Sudo Santas and the Command Lime Coolers that have been so freely flowing.
What are FOSS geeks hoping might happen in this coming year? What are their own resolutions and plans? Linux Girl settled into her favorite bar stool and took it upon herself to find out.
"For the FOSS world, I'm hoping for better video driver support," Montreal consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack offered. "I would love to see the end of Nvidia's (Nasdaq: NVDA) proprietary drivers and see the free ones match the performance."
As for Mack's own plans, "2011 will be the year I retest the IPv6 support on the software I maintain," he added. "It looks like we will be out of IPv4 addresses by this fall, and the ISPs are barely getting started supporting IPv6."
Chris Travers, a Slashdot blogger who works on the LedgerSMB project, had similarly practical plans.
"I'm resolving to get LedgerSMB 1.3 released in 2011 and get working on LedgerSMB 2.0, which will be a complete rewrite, be more modular, etc.," Travers explained.
For Slashdot blogger yagu, "one resolution is to do real Linux development again and complete at least one solid application," he told Linux Girl. "I've let workload and other events lead me away from more intense Linux dialogs -- I need to get back on that horse."
Yagu also plans "to get more involved with efforts to push Linux one step closer to the 'Year of the Linux Desktop,'" he added bravely. "Yes, darn it! This is definitely going to be the year of the.... ummmm, hmmmm, never mind. Slipped into fantasy land again. Still hoping, though..."
Continuing to advocate "for all things Open Source or built with Open Source" is also on yagu's 2011 to-do list -- "and I resolve to call out any and all reaping the benefits of Open Source who don't give back."
Finally, "I resolve to be respectful and humble in regards to everything Microsoft," he asserted sincerely before adding, "I always like to pick at least one resolution I can break early."
Ha -- for a moment there, Linux Girl was worried.
Slashdot blogger hairyfeet said he's resolving to get further away from technology -- not closer to it.
"Spend more time with my GF, try not to spend so much time in front of the PC, get back to playing on stage again with a band," he explained. In short, he's hoping to "just get away from the silicon and not be so computer-centric."
After achieving two of last year's resolutions -- "I lost that 5 pounds and I found a new job" -- Barbara Hudson, a blogger on Slashdot who goes by "Tom" on the site, had similarly non-technical plans.
"The one thing I didn't do was write three stories, so that goes on next year's list, as does redecorating the bedroom and living room," she explained.
In the world of FOSS, meanwhile, "as long as things continue like they've been going, with steady improvement and better awareness, I'm a happy camper," Hudson told Linux Girl.
"People will switch when they're ready, if they know there are alternatives available that can be trusted," she added. "For most people, it won't happen next year, but eventually."
Last but certainly not least, blogger Robert Pogson took a high-level view of the upcoming year.
"I think 2010 was the year ARM+GNU/Linux (Android) emerged on the world's stage; 2011 will be the year ARM+GNU/Linux goes head-to-head against x86 and that other OS," Pogson told Linux Girl.
"The world wants small, cheap computers, and they do not get any smaller and cheaper than GNU/Linux on ARM," Pogson explained. "Wintel is not big enough to buy off all the suppliers and retailers."
By this time next year, in fact, "I expect retail shelves will have netbooks, notebooks, desktops and thin clients running GNU/Linux on ARM," Pogson predicted. "It has happened first in mobile because smaller is more mobile, but there is no barrier to moving to less mobility for the workplace or home. Thin clients will be a major part of this."
As for Linux Girl? Well, she's resolving to spend more time trying out distros other than her favorites, Ubuntu and Mint. After all, variety is the spice of life, right?
She also hopes to continue opening more people's eyes to free and open source software.
Most of all, however, Linux Girl looks forward to another year of bringing you, dear readers, all the news that's fit to print from the streets and watering holes of the Linux blogosphere, where a dull moment has yet to be found.
Happy New Year! 
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