BrandonSnider
About Me
I live in southern Ontario, Canada. I used to work for Dell, now I am an independent contractor fixing computers in this region. I have used Ubuntu as my everyday desktop OS going back to Breezy.
Nvidia Vdpau PPA: https://launchpad.net/~nvidia-vdpau/+archive/ppa
Personal PPA: https://launchpad.net/~brandonsnider/+archive/ppa
Testing PPA: https://launchpad.net/~nvidia-vdpau/+archive/testing-ppa
IRC Nick: bjsnider
Launchpad Page: https://launchpad.net/~brandonsnider
OpenPGP Key: E2DADE23
Email: Use the Launchpad link above, select "Contact this user".
Contributions to Ubuntu
My main contributions to Ubuntu have been through packaging.
I currently belong to the Ubuntu-X and Xorg Crack Pushers teams. I regularly add stable Nvidia driver updtes to the X-Updates PPA. Jockey is now, in Oneiric, offering users the option to use this PPA as a source for driver updates.
I created the Nvidia Vdpau Launchpad Team early in 2009. Its purpose was to provide vdpau packages and the newest Nvidia graphics drivers across multiple distros (stretching back to Hardy). The PPA contains older Nvidia graphics driver packages for some older Ubuntu releases, mplayer, smplayer, xine-lib with vdpau, and some other packages. This was when vdpau was first created by Nvidia, and I thought it would be useful to have an easy way for users to test it and submit bugs and whatnot.
I have created an alternative packaging system for the flashplugin-installer, which installs the 64-bit plugin on that build-arch rather than the 32-bit plugin+nspluginwrapper.
I have packaged the RubyRipper app in a ppa which solves an annoyance related to an out-of-date version of ruby-gnome2.
I packaged CDRTools for Ubuntu, for those who wish to use that as an alternative to the CDRKit package.
Most recently, I developed the Debian packaging for Sushi, the gnome file previewer. It has been included in Oneiric Universe.
Future Plans
I want to continue to backport software for past distros when possible, and continue to offer updated Nvidia drivers.
I'd like to try to make the Ubuntu Gnome 3.2 and beyond experience a more pleasant and surprising one for new users.
I've gotten some friends, college classmates, and co-workers onto Ubuntu and I'd like to continue to do so in the future.
Other Interests
I am a libertarian activist. I run Scott Horton's websites and Prof. Roderick Long's blog.
I follow sports, especially tennis. I play the game very well and enjoy exploring its history.