Full Circle (magazine)
{{Short description|British computer magazine}}
{{Primary sources|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox Magazine
| title = Full Circle
| image_file = Full Circle magazine issue 210 cover.webp
| image_size =
| image_caption = Cover of issue 210 (October 2024)
| editor_title = Editor
| frequency = Monthly
| circulation =
| category = Linux magazine
| company = Full Circle Team
| publisher =
| firstdate = {{Start date and age|2007|04}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| website = {{URL|fullcirclemagazine.org}}
| issn =
|logo=Fcmlogo-new.png|logo_size=200px}}
Full Circle is a free distribution Portable Document Format magazine that was founded by Ronnie Tucker in April 2007. It is released on the last Friday of every month in PDF, EPUB ebook format and also on the Issuu electronic publishing platform. The magazine is an independent publication and is not affiliated with Canonical Ltd., the sponsors of the Ubuntu operating system. It relies on volunteer writers for most of its editorial content.{{cite web|url = http://dl.fullcirclemagazine.org/issue25_en.pdf|title=Full Circle Magazine Issue 25 |accessdate = 2009-06-09 |work=Full Circle Magazine|date=May 2009}}{{cite web|url = http://cybernetnews.com/2007/05/22/full-circle-magazine-for-ubuntu-users/|title = Full Circle Magazine for Ubuntu Users|accessdate = 2009-06-09|last = Ryan|date=May 2007}}{{cite web|url = https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMagazine|title = Ubuntu Magazine - Full Circle|accessdate = 2009-06-09|work= Canonical Ltd.|date=May 2009}}
All text and images contained in the magazine are released under the Attribution-By-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons license.
The publication is aimed at users of the Ubuntu operating system and all its derivatives, including Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Edubuntu, as well as others like Linux Mint and its derivatives. It focuses on product reviews, community news, how-to articles, programming and troubleshooting tips. The latest issue is currently available in 23 languages but that number changes depending on community members willing to translate to their native tongue. The first edition was produced in English, Estonian, Romanian, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Galician, Dutch and Indonesian.{{cite web|url = http://www.ubuntumini.com/2009/03/full-circle-magazine.html|title = Full Circle Magazine|accessdate = 2009-06-09|last = Ubuntu on the Dell Mini 9|authorlink = |date=March 2009}}{{cite web|url = http://fullcirclemagazine.org/downloads/issue-0/|title = Issue 0|accessdate = 2009-06-15|last = Full Circle Magazine|authorlink = |date = April 2007|archive-date = 2012-06-24|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120624052541/http://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-0/|url-status = dead}}{{cite web|url = http://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-24/|title = Issue 24|accessdate = 2009-06-15|work = Full Circle Magazine|date = April 2009|archive-date = 2012-04-27|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120427125253/http://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-24/|url-status = dead}}
A number of Full Circle Special Editions have been compiled by contributors Robin Catling and Jonathan Hoskin. These group together article series for easy download by readers. Currently there are issues for Inkscape, Python, GIMP, Scribus and LibreOffice.{{cite web|url = http://fullcirclemagazine.org/tag/special/ |title = Special|access-date = 30 September 2019|work =Full circle |date = 5 May 2018|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170929234739/https://fullcirclemagazine.org/tag/special/|archivedate = 29 September 2017}}
History
File:Full Circle magazine issue-0 cover.png
The publication was initially proposed by Tucker on 29 March 2007, as a posting on the Ubuntu Forums. Forum participates quickly contributed proposed logos for the new publication.{{cite web|url = https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=396003|title = Help me make a free 'buntu emag... |access-date = 30 September 2019|last = Tucker|first = Ronnie|work = Ubuntu Forums|date = 29 March 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20151014030146/https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=396003|archivedate = 14 October 2015}}
Issue 0 of Full Circle was released in April 2007 and featured stories about Ubuntu's history, features including desktop effects and new Linux games. This first edition was 17 pages in length, in portrait format.{{cite web|url = http://fullcirclemagazine.org/download-manager.php?id=3|title = Full Circle Magazine Issue 0|accessdate = 2009-06-09|work = Full Circle Magazine|date = April 2007|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081228223356/http://fullcirclemagazine.org/download-manager.php?id=3|archivedate = 2008-12-28}}
Issue 1 came out in May 2007 in English, Chinese, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish.{{cite web|url = https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-1/|title = Issue 1|access-date = 30 September 2019 |work = Full Circle|date = May 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011174542/https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-1/|archivedate =11 October 2007 }}
Issue 4 saw a switch to PDF landscape format, for easier viewing on computer screens. By Issue 25 the magazine had grown to 28 pages.{{cite web|url = https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-4/|title = Issue 4|access-date = 30 September 2019|work = Full Circle|date = 30 April 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071004223925/https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-4/|archivedate = 4 October 2007}}
In December 2007, the Full Circle Podcast started. After two episodes, the podcast stopped production, due to the host unable to dedicate time to the podcast. In March 2010, the podcast was re-established by Robin Catling, along with Ed Hewitt and Dave Wilkins, with an entirely new format. Each episode, the podcast covers news, round up of the latest issue of the magazine, interviews, reviews and feedback from listeners.{{cite web|url = http://fullcirclemagazine.org/category/podcast/|title = Podcast|accessdate = 7 June 2010|work = Full Circle Magazine|date = May 2010|archive-date = 21 May 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120521171837/http://fullcirclemagazine.org/category/podcast/|url-status = dead}}
Issue 40, published in August 2010, saw the magazine update to a new logo from German designer Thorsten Wilms and switch to using Ubuntu font.{{cite web|url = https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-40/|title = Issue 40|access-date = 30 September 2019 |work = Full Circle|date = 15 September 2019|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101122143157/https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-40/|archivedate = 22 November 2010}}{{cite web|url = https://thorwil.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/full-circle-magazine-logo/|title = Full Circle Magazine Logo|access-date = 15 September 2019|last = Wilms|first =Thorsten |date = 30 September 2019|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190701201340/https://thorwil.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/full-circle-magazine-logo/|archivedate = 1 July 2019}}{{cite web|url = https://thorwil.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/full-circle-magazine-logo-2/|title = Full Circle Magazine Logo 2|access-date = 30 September 2019|last = Wilms|first =Thorsten |date = 3 August 2010|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190620013228/https://thorwil.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/full-circle-magazine-logo-2/|archivedate = 20 June 2019}}{{cite web|url = https://thorwil.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/full-circle-magazine-logo-3/|title = Full Circle Magazine Logo 3|access-date = 30 September 2019|last = Wilms|first =Thorsten |date = 4 August 2010|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190522185713/https://thorwil.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/full-circle-magazine-logo-3/|archivedate = 22 May 2019}}
In 2010 the publication started partnering with Ubuntu User, a quarterly paper magazine. Each publication provided banner ads for the other, seeing the publications and complementary to each other. Rikki Kite, the Associate Publisher of both Ubuntu User and Linux Pro Magazine wrote, "Ubuntu User magazine and Full Circle are working together to help promote our publications. Full Circle is a monthly online magazine, whereas Ubuntu User is a quarterly print publication. We think that many Ubuntu users will want to read both magazines, so our agreement with Full Circle to cross promote our products seemed like a great way to connect to the growing Ubuntu community."{{cite web|url = https://www.ubuntu-user.com/Online/Blogs/Amber-Graner-You-in-Ubuntu/Ubuntu-User-and-Full-Circle-Magazine|title =Ubuntu User and Full Circle Magazine |access-date = 28 September 2019|author= Linux New Media USA, LLC |work =Ubuntu User |date = 11 January 2010|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130721005534/https://www.ubuntu-user.com/Online/Blogs/Amber-Graner-You-in-Ubuntu/Ubuntu-User-and-Full-Circle-Magazine|archivedate =21 July 2013}}
In 2012 the editorial staff worked together to create the Official Full Circle Style Guide, which gives guidance to contributors to standardize the writing style for submissions.{{cite web|url = https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nCy0yD7DBPvMdDzMRGLaKyvRlUyS7bLwjyRmqYPh270/edit|title = The Official Full Circle Magazine Style Guide|access-date = 30 September 2019|work = Full Circle|year=2012}}
In July 2012 Les Pounder and the Blackpool Linux User Group took over hosting the podcast, starting with episode 29.{{cite web|url = https://fullcirclemagazine.org/podcast/full-circle-weekly-news-29/|title = Full Circle Weekly News #29|access-date = 30 September 2019 |work = Full Circle podcast|date = 6 August 2016|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20161228141121/http://fullcirclemagazine.org/podcast/full-circle-weekly-news-29/|archivedate = 28 December 2016}}
In early 2016 Tucker started the Full Circle Weekly News, a short audiocast. Each episode has up to 20 news items, originally read by Tucker. The hosts changed several times. Leo Chavez took over the show with Episode 127 on April 22, 2019, and since April 6, 2021 (Episode #204) is hosted by Moss Bliss.{{cite web|url = https://fullcirclemagazine.org/podcast/|title = Archives|access-date = 30 September 2019|work = Full Circle|date = 24 September 2019|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190518185105/https://fullcirclemagazine.org/podcast/|archivedate = 18 May 2019}}
In September 2019 Tucker issued a published plea for more material to be submitted by volunteer writers to keep the magazine going. He indicated that a number of long time columnists were coming to the end of their work and other writers would be needed if the publication was to survive.{{cite web|url = https://fullcirclemagazine.org/2019/09/10/full-circle-really-needs-your-help/|title = Full Circle REALLY needs your help!|access-date = 28 September 2019|last =Tucker |first =Ronnie |work =Full Circle |date = 10 September 2019|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190929010041/https://fullcirclemagazine.org/2019/09/10/full-circle-really-needs-your-help/|archivedate =29 September 2019 }}
Staff
The production staff consisted in 2019 of:{{Cite web|url=https://dl.fullcirclemagazine.org/issue145_en.pdf|title="Full Circle Magazine Issue 145"|website=Full Circle Magazine|access-date=2019-06-02}} Editor Ronnie Tucker, Webmaster Lucas Westermann, the editorial staff include Jim Dyer, Mike Kennedy, Gord Campbell, Robert Orsino, Josh Hertel, Bert Jerred, Emily Gonyer, and Podcaster Moss Bliss.