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The rPath Forum goes Live!
2008-02-01 21:57:00
Here at rPath we use our own Mediawiki appliance for documentation (what is a software appliance?). While this is an excellent way of getting things documented quickly (as wiki’s are) it is NOT a great place for community based questions to influx nor a good place for knowledgebase questions to be stored. Often, the discussion tab on wiki’s go ignored with issue tracking systems replacing problems users have.The problem with issue tracking systems is they have workflows of their own and often are impartial where they don’t need to be . Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a place where like users of software could come together to ask questions and help each other reach conclusive answers? Hence, the rPath Forum was born.Stef created the Simple Machines Forum Appliance, which you can install and run in various formats such as VMWare, Xen, ISO, RAW, and even a Live CD (in x86 and x86_64 bit flavors!). What a wonderful concept...to be able to quickly download a...

gmrun and openbox
2008-01-27 01:02:00
My friend Og Maciel and I had a short package session today where we updated some openbox items that we use such as Nitrogen for wallpaper, pypanel, and something we didn’t package before...gmrun. Install it with:CODE:sudo conary update&nb sp;gmrunI’ve patched the default gmrunrc file so that when it executes, it places itself toward the top right hand side of the desktop. To override this, create a .gmrunrc from the default.CODE:cp /usr/share/gmrun/gmr unrc ~/.gmrunrcalter the left and top values to move it around on the screen. Width may also be adjusted. You can also use openbox to bind this to Alt-F2 or a key combo of your choosing. Open up ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml and add the following in the <keyboard> section:CODE:<keybind key="A -F2"></p><p><actio n name="execute"><ex ecute>gmrun</execute></action ></p><p></keybind>Th ere are also some built in macros...

Google Reader, You Suck
2008-01-26 21:07:00
When I’m not using BlogBridge (that is, when I’m checking my feeds from someone elses computer) I check via Google Reader . It’s been quite nice for me to check out what’s happening in the world of Linux while away from my standard feed reading environment.Recently though, they have changed the default behavior. Now when I want to mark an entire feed read (feeds with a large number of unread feeds), an annoying confirmation dialog box pops up and I have to confirm that I truly do want to mark all of my feeds as read (in true Microsoftian-esque style mind you).Whoever enabled this needs to be sentenced to a life of annoying popup dialog boxes. Make their primary desktop be Vista and make them turn on the UAC and make them do their normal job. Sentence them to an entire year of stupid annoying popups. I despise popup dialogs...the demon brain children of the department of redundancy department... (a department google must now have created...and here I thoug...
More About: Google Reader , Suck

Foresight KDE Alpha3
2008-01-23 17:58:00
NOTE: For clarification purposes...this is not an official release. It is only accessible to developers. It is called Foresight KDE Alpha3 because it is based on the underlying architecture in Foresight Gnome alpha3 release.For those of you with developer status or above on the Foresight Linux project, there is a KDE build available for testing (along with XFCE if you really have ambitions). Login to rBuilder Online, Click on the Foresight Linux Project, go to Manage Builds and search for Foresight Linux KDE Alpha3 and click it (DVD only). I downloaded and tested this build release to see how things are going.Foresight KDE inherits all the goodness from the Foresight Linux project. This means the install is tar based and completes in less than 7 minutes. It also means Syslinux, Compiz Fusion, and more from the Release Notes. If you are interested in helping us develop further, please visit us in freenode #foresight-kde.FindingsI found 3 major issues during testing. First, u...

Empowering the Linux Community
2008-01-18 18:58:00
From a Linux Developer point of view, when users are no longer developing with you...you’ve lost.  Empowerment is key to a successful community in Linux.  The day the community is no longer empowered to improve is the day the distribution dies.  What kills empowerment?  Helplessness.  Despair.  Inability.As an example, a user might not like it if you tell them their bug will not be fixed for the next release.  This is normal practice in many major distributions.  But if you tell a user that their bug won’t be fixed through 4 releases, you may have a problem.  Unfortunately, this also is becoming a normal practice for some major distributions. Continue reading "Empowering the Linux Community "

Use Foresight Linux? Add Some Spice to Your Life!
2008-01-15 21:32:00
Hot on the heels of the .4 beta release of Spice bird and a Life hacker article previewing spicebird (with many screenshots and functionality tests) I bring you the Conary package available for your consumption. To install spicebird on Foresight :CODE:sudo conary upda te spicebird=/foresight.rpath.org@fl :1-contribWhat is Spicebird? From the Spicebird.com homepage: Spicebird is your one platform for many collaboration needs. It provides e-mail, calendaring and instant messaging with intuitive integration and unlimited extensibility. View the DemoSee ScreenshotsCheck the RoadmapPlease remember that Spicebird is beta software currently so use it at your own risk. Enjoy!
More About: Linux

Is the iPhone killing the Playstation?
2008-01-11 16:48:00
What? The Playstation and iPhone? You bet. First, some background and reference material for that background. Now using the same information linked above, I can logically say that the iPhone may be killing the Playstation. After all, this comparison can be drawn...both have browsers right? Both are on platforms that aren’t PC’s. I draw this conclusion of course to show the fallacy represented in the article above.I love market share studies. They’re ultimately inaccurate. Yet many websites quote them and use them in drawing conclusions to appeal to readers. Good idea to get your click through rate to soar and score some cash on the old advertisements... Most market share studies are most likely based on two things: Computers that are sold and what operating system is pre-installed on the computerBrowser statisticsI’m going to assume that NetApplications, who published the chart, were using browser statistics...because it makes more sense than the pr...
More About: Iphone , Killing

Are You Secure?
2007-12-18 18:51:00
When I was little, I was afraid of heights (to a degree, I still am). Therefore, you hardly ever caught me climbing trees or swinging high...anytime anyone wanted to elevate past my head level in any shape and form I was grounded..literally. The feeling of security given when my feet touched the ground was comforting. I knew from experience that the ground would be there...it wasn’t going to swallow me up whole (didn’t know much about earthquakes at this time). There were no pitfalls that I was aware of.Fast forward to today.I still get a sense of security by the ground being under my feet...this time with my operating system. I know that Linux doesn’t have any pitfalls, no security breached backdoors...because I can SEE the code. It’s like I am Indiana Jones being given a map of every single boobie trap before he enters the temple to get the artifact. Continue reading "Are You Secure ?"

Follow-Up: BBC Caves on iPlayer - Linux Support Added
2007-12-14 06:48:00
Looks like the BBC buckled under backlash from bloggers (say that 20 times fast). They’ll be offering their iPlayer in Mac and Linux flavors I talked about what a crock they had begun to simmer with a Windows only version a few weeks ago. Glad to see that they have understood that the benefits outweigh the caveats many times over.It’s much like standards compliant web pages...you only limit yourself by making your page non-compliant...because it won’t display in all browsers. You lose business if you have an ecommerce site...you lost hits if you have a blog. The BBC now understands that by limiting the ability of those to use its player, it shut the door to those users. It also knows that a network of bloggers is a powerful force to be reckoned with.Whether Linux and Mac users be a small number or a large number, the BBC has set precedent here that I hope they follow in the future. Keep Open BBC!
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Thoughts on Package Management
2007-12-12 23:28:00
The Change in Distro-LandDistros have changed. In the past, they were made up of a small, tightly knit group collaborators working toward a common goal. With distributions today we now have an informal, large group of collaborators...some of which may not even be aware of the main goal of the distro. That informal collaborator may just want package foo version 2.2 included in his/her distribution so that he/she can use it on their desktop. How does that informal collaborator become empowered? How can the developers reap what that collaborator sows and harness the collective collaboration of thousands of informal contributors? The answer for many software projects is version control. But how can this system benefit package management?What If?What if you could combine SVN/CVS/git behavior and packages? What if when you build the package properly, it is checked into the software development tree. You’d be eliminating an entire step in the process (i.e. working more effic...
More About: Management , Thoughts , Package

Alltray in Foresight
2007-11-28 17:45:00
I’ve recently packaged up Alltray, a handy tool for keeping items minimized to the gnome task bar, in Foresight Linux. For those of you who new to my blog...I’ve recently switched jobs to from the state of Virginia (project management) to work for rPath, Inc. rPath is responsible for some innovative software development tools centered around the Conary package manager and also creates a minimalistic linux distribution that serves as source for Foresight Linux. I’ve recently become active in helping develop the KDE Version of Foresight Linux. I’m by no means a programmer. I’ve been hired on as a documentation specialist. Yet, Conary is simplistic enough that I can roll my own packages. I’m quite impressed by it’s simplicity and power. If you’d like to help out or are curious about KDE Foresight or the Conary package manager, visit us on freenode #foresight-kdeFor those of you wanting alltray goodness...update via Packagekit by...

Print Readable Man Pages
2007-11-14 20:49:00
Ever wonder how you can get a man page in into a format you can read and print? There’s many methods of doing it (copy and paste is one) but one the easiest I’ve found is:CODE:man command | col& nbsp;-x -b  > &nbs p;command.txtWhere command is the Linux command man page you want to print/view.  From there, open up command.txt in your favorite gui text editor (gedit, kate) and you have a readable format that could be printed quite easily for reference.
More About: Print , Pages , Ages

Botnets: Storm, Rbot, and Bobax - How to Beat Them
2007-11-09 21:42:00
If your Windows based computer is running slow, having random popups, and doing all sorts of weird things...chances are you’re a member of a botnet. Hackers are using your computer to email, spam, and infect other computers and users around the globe. You’re being used by these people to make money on the misfortune and deception of others. There is hope though...you can be rid of this. You can win against them.Install Linux on your computer today and all that will disappear. Linux doesn’t have botnets. Linux doesn’t have viruses (only a few known and you have to actually type a command to start the virus running). Linux has no spyware. If you’re just getting your start, I recommend PCLinuxOS, SimplyMEPIS, and Ubuntu.If you don’t want to install Linux, you can buy a computer with it preinstalled from various vendors here at the Pre-installed linux vendor database.Once you are set free from having to worry about being infected by some virus...
More About: Storm , Beat , Botnets

Linux, the BBC and Your Rights
2007-11-09 02:56:00
Imagine a world where you were told how to think, feel, and act. You were told what to buy...told what not to buy. Having trouble imagining these things? Maybe I can help. Check out a short story I wrote on the subject of Digital Rights Management (DRM).We’re not as far off as you may imagine.Websites we visit tell us what browsers we must use to visit. Software tells us what operating system we must use to install it. CD’s tell us that we cannot use music that we’ve bought and own. Televisions will soon tell us that we must have cable as over the air broadcasting of free television ceases in 2012. Your Miranda rights no longer exist according to the Patriot Act; they only have to label you a terrorist and you can be held without charge indefinitely.It’s a wide scope of things to swallow that ranges from technology to social, political and economic portions of our world. How does one combat these issues? How do we make a difference? While I cannot ...
More About: Linux

The Absent PCLinuxOS Release Cycle
2007-10-23 18:31:00
During distro comparisons, many call a lack of release cycle for PCLinuxOS one of its negative aspects. In my opinion, this is the most attractive and positive aspects of the small distribution. Not to take away from a distribution that sets a release cycle...I understand that normal release cycles are a must with companies and software engineering. However, I think PCLinuxOS has a unique approach to releases and updates. Allow me a bit of time to show you the method in my madness on this one. Continue reading "The Absent PCLinuxOS Release Cycle "

Remove Root from PCLinuxOS Login Screen
2007-09-24 00:52:00
Just a quick tip on how to remove the root user from the PCLinuxOS login screen. This should work for most if not all KDE based distributions. Go to the Kmenu >> Run Command >> kdesu kcontrolEnter your root password when prompted for it. You should now see the KDE Control Center. The difference here is that you’re running this as the root user so changes will be made at the root (super user) level. Go to System Administration >> Logi n Manager. You should have something similar to the screenshot.Next up, go to the ‘Users’ tab and look in the center. There you can see all the system users. Check the box for root. This will hide the root user from the front KDM Login Screen . This won’t prevent you from logging in as root, but it will prevent it from displaying by default.More PCLinuxOS tips and tricks coming soon
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KDE and Xorg, Fonts and DPI
2007-09-20 17:18:00
Today, I’d like to share a tip I found out while working with a beta release for a distirbution of Linux with KDE’s 3.5.7 version.  As many readers of this blog know, I use PCLinuxOS 2007 as my main desktop and have done so since about 2005.  The font configuration in PCLinuxOS is quite nice.  I have a 19 inch LCD Monitor at home with 1280x1024 resolution.  I notice no problems with the font on that monitor.Working on a separate 20 inch monitor with a distribution in development however is another story.  The fonts didn’t look beautiful at all.  After some installation of custom fonts, things looked better, but the resolution is a bit higher on this LCD at 1400x1050.  Easy to fix right?  Just increase the DPI in the KDE Control Center to 120 right?  Not so fast...even when it’s set to 96x96 there, it isn’t always set to 96x96.  So let’s take a look at how you can force KDE to run at the correct DPI for your monitor which will, in turn, m...
More About: Fonts , Xorg

Zimbra or Google Calendar with Thunderbird and Lightning
2007-09-11 17:04:00
The title sounds a bit Mythological eh? I originally published this entry on my work blog but felt that some people might be able to get some use out of this tip. To use it, you’ll need Zimbra or Google Calendar. I’ll cover Zimbra mostly and then give a link on how to setup Google Calendar at the end. For those interested, my work blog is here.If you don’t have Zimbra, they have a free Open Source Community Edition available. It’s feature rich and quite configurable for your email. It can even be used to retrieve multiple email sources and bring them all into one place...it also has identity management so you can send from multiple accounts. Very nice stuff."I use Thunderbird for my email client. It’s quite speedy and nice. Coming from various places of employment that used Outlook and Exchange, I miss being able to schedule appointments via my email client (of course, with Zimbra, I’m able to do this via the web interface..but I like ...
More About: Lightning

How-To: PCLinuxOS 2007 and MythTV
2007-08-30 18:02:00
For those of you who always thought PCLinuxOS and MythTV would go together...you’re quite right, they do fit well together...though there are a few bumps on the road. Hopefully, this how-to will help you along the way.First, let’s mention what this guide will not cover:Remote ControlsIR BlastersPicture Quality SettingsWhy won’t I cover those? Because there are infinite possibilities for each one...and it would be impossible for me to investigate them all...hardware not in my possession besides. So, this will cover installing mythtv and omit the items above. Mythtv has those items covered quite well in their documentation.Hardware Specifications:HP a1520nATI x300 PCIe VPUPVR150 and PVR350Sharp Aquos 37" LCD TVUSR MaxG PCI Card Continue reading "How-To: PCLinuxOS 2007 and MythTV"

Convert Audio with Ease in KDE
2007-08-16 06:13:00
I ripped a couple of CD’s for my son this evening. In the process, I decided to setup Kalarm and Korganizer on his computer so that he could set alarms to remind him to do various chores around the house. While doing all of this, I needed a .wav file so that he could use a song for his alarm. Of course, he wanted one of the songs I had just ripped from his CD. Since I had ripped his songs to .ogg format, I had to investigate which program could convert from .ogg to .wav this the easiest in KDE. I’ve not used many of the whiz bang functions of KDE and desktop Linux...I’ve been more of a browser, mail, and RSS type of guy for many years. Now that I’ve been using Linux at work and at home, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to figure out how to do things that I’ve never done before. In this case, convert audio to .wav, .ogg, or .mp3 with ease. There is a tool called audiokonverter available in PCLinuxOS 2007 repositories that makes this a...
More About: Audio , Convert , Ease , Vert

Autostart Apps in PCLinuxOS 2007 (KDE)
2007-08-14 05:08:00
There’s a question that is often asked via IRC on freenode #pclinuxos-support. Many people want to know how to get programs to startup immediately upon login.Now there are two ways to do this...kind of. Actually, there is only one way to get programs to autostart but there is another way you can have programs startup when you login...let’s look at both of them.The First WayFirst, go to the PC Menu (or kmenu) >> Run Command >> konqueror --profile filemanagementWhen Konqueror opens, navigate to /home/user/.kde/autostart (replace user with your login name). Now minimize that window...we’ll come back to it later. Next up, click on the My Computer icon on your desktop (or for other users, open up Konqueror and put the following in the addressbar: system:/). When that opens, click on applications and minimize the window and place it side by side with the previously opened window.Hieronymus has posted a helpful tip that simplifies the process above.  Aft...

Install extra Themes and Icons in PCLinuxOS
2007-08-09 03:31:00
Are you a PCLinuxOS 2007 user?Are you one of the many that love the default theme and think it’s eye catching but wish you could change it and make it your own? Do you wish there were more themes, icon sets, and bling for your desktop that would be easy to add? I did too. Here’s how I was able to customize PCLinuxOS 2007:PCLOS DefaultPCLOS Custom Continue reading "Install extra Themes and Icons in PCLinuxOS"
More About: Extra , Cons , Xtra

Laying to Rest the Mandriva/PCLOS Debate
2007-07-30 15:52:00
The one thing about FOSS that I love is that you can take whatever you need from various sources and build what you opine is a better wheel. Take Ubuntu for instance...they took Debian and made it into something that many users are happy with. Is this wrong? Not at all. Each day, many non-commercial distro makes wake up and check various distributions for updated security fixes. They pull source rpms, updated tar.gz’s, and debs into their distro, make minor adjustments, and drop it into their repository. Distros share with one another...they take and hopefully give back. If not monetarily, at least by the number of users that they have that may report bugs or provide fixes.So what’s the beef that some Distrowatch Weekly commenter’s seem to have with PCLinuxOS? During the past 3 weeks of comments on the DW, some have been hounding PCLinuxOS with accusations saying that the developers hide things from their community and that PCLinuxOS eradicates changelogs a...
More About: Debate , Rest , Mandriva , Riva , The Man

Coming Full Circle on PCLinuxOS Magazine
2007-07-12 00:51:00
I see articles like OSWeekly’s "The Future of Publishing with Linux Magazine s" and I chuckle a bit. Mainly because PCLinuxOS Magazine will have its 12 monthly issue published next month. That’s right, we’ve been here a year. Now, I can’t take credit for this fantastic Linux resource because I only sponsor it and help make executive decisions regarding hosting and other things like that...it’s in the hands of great editors and contributors and is continually growing. The staff is well over 10 people strong and gaining.You’d think that OSWeekly would take this magazine into consideration when writing this article...but they instead opt mentioning and considering the fate of Full Circle Magazine in the Ubuntu community. Now don’t get me wrong, Full Circle is a great magazine and we’re glad they’re also producing a quality magazine for their community...It just perturbs me a bit that the hard working editors, contribut...
More About: Ming

PCLinuxOS & What Sets it Apart: Part I
2007-06-24 17:28:00
I originally intended this post to be a review of 2007 Final for PCLinuxOS. However, after finishing it up, I realized that posting a review wouldn’t have the desired effect of truly showing off PCLinuxOS to everyone. It would just be a “business as usual” type of post. So, I decided to do a analysis on what I feel sets PCLinuxOS apart from many Linux distributions.I often see people steer new Linux users to other distros such as OpenSuse, Ubuntu, and SimplyMEPIS...even Sabayon in a few instances. This is fine...they’re good, solid distros. However, out of those distros, I’d recommend only one...OpenSuse. Why? Because of YAST. A New user needs to feel comfortable with system configuration tasks. Not everyone is ready to drop to the shell when coming in from that other operating system. Not every 65 year old grandmother is ready to crack a Konsole and vi their way to .conf bliss. Ubuntu’s control panel is continually getting better but Y...
More About: Sets , Part

On Open Source Dying...
2007-06-24 06:18:00
Let me make it clear for you Michael Hickins of Eweek. Your Article "Is Open Source Dying ?" doesn’t even make it into the outer ring of the target for facts. If you were trying to shoot an arrow into the air with this article, you’d miss.I can help you though...I can set you straight. Not that I’m an ALL WISE & KNOWING person, just that I have the ability to do research, ingest said research, digest the research and learn from the research. You stop at ‘do research’. Let us examine where your train derailed (not the physical place...because this obviously is at the beginning...but rather, where in your subject you go wrong).Open Document does not equal Open SourceAny conclusions you try to draw between adoption or non-adoption of ODF in any state or local government amounts to NOTHING. Whether ODF succeeds in being adopted or not does not mean Open Source will succeed or not. They are not inversely proportional and they are not direc...
More About: Open-Source

The New Linux Distro
2007-06-14 18:44:00
How much does it cost to buy you? Do you have a price? Can you be paid off? I’m sure many of the CEO’s and CTO’s of various Linux companies are now asking themselves this very question this week (or should be asking themselves) as Microsoft announced yet another “patent deal”...this time, with LG Electronics.With this, the Xandros deal, the Novell Deal, and anything else Microsoft has up its sleeve (I look for several other distros to “indemnify” themselves in the next few months...for example, Linspire and Mandriva are two prime targets for MS...the bullseye is probably painted) I think that Microsoft has created it’s own “Linux Distribution” so to speak. Let me share with you why I think they have... Continue reading "The New Linux Distro "

Continuing Saga - Dell E521 vs. Linux. Fight!
2007-06-04 23:51:00
By now, I feel pretty punch drunk.  My Dell E521 has been kicking my beehind for quite a few days as I’ve tried to install PCLinux OS 2007 Final.  I’ve used all the boot options in my arsenal and couldn’t stop it from freezing after 30 minutes.I turned off ACPI, turned it on, turned on APM, turned it off.  Disabled every service I could possibly disable, then turned them on.  No matter what I did, it seemed that it always froze at the wrong time...that time being just after I blogged that I had solved the problem (see previous post).  Actually, can you just ignore that previous post? Thanks to a comment by reader jsnyder, I was told of an unreleased version of the Dell E521 BIOS (version 1.1..  After a BIOS flash, PCLinuxOS Final ran all weekend long without a single freezeup.  Go figure :)  Where can you get this unreleased BIOS from?  Why, it’s rather simple...the Dell public download ftp server of course!Connect to:  ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/bios/Loo...
More About: Fight , Saga , Conti

PCLinuxOS - 30 Days to #1
2007-06-04 23:36:00
PCLinuxOS has continued its upward climb on the distrowatch page hit meter. It is #1 over the span of 30 days...most likely due to the recent release of 2007 Final. Is it really that good? I think it is. It’s powerful enough to satisfy my nerdiest inclination to program and yet soft enough to pad my wife’s computing needs as well. I’ve found it suitable for all my computing needs. Does this mean I’m done looking for the perfect desktop? Far from it! I’ll continue that hunt until I can’t continue it at all.For now, PCLinuxOS is my #1 desktop choice for my main computer...with other computers in my household rotating distros at quite a good pace. This blog often focuses on items of interest to the desktop Linux user...and it’s updated quite infrequently. This should change after June as I’ll begin a new job in a new city working with Linux on a daily basis Look for more frequent updates and more robust content. I’m also...
More About: Days

Dell E521 and PCLinuxOS 2007 Final
2007-05-29 00:45:00
It’s been a process of elimination to get my Dell E521 working. Previous workarounds with boot options didn’t work...so I had to use a combination of boot options to get things working nice and stable.I powered up the PCLinuxOS 2007 Fina l LiveCD and began the installation to disk. During the bootloader configuration I appended the following text to the end of my linux, failsafe, and framebuffer entry:CODE:noacpi irqpoll pci=r outeirqFrom there, I saved, closed all programs and rebooted. Upon first boot I opened Synaptic and installed the PCLinuxOS .a64 Kernel which is optimized for 64 bit processors. I then opened up the PCLinuxOS Control Center yet again, went to the boot section and altered my grub bootloader again with the same information in the code above. I rebooted to make sure my changes worked.When logging in this time, I opened Synaptic and installed the Nvidia 97xx drivers for my graphics card (Fata1ity 7600GT). After this installs you’re ...