Recent Posts

11476

General Software Discussion / Re: Print counter

« Last post by 40hz on August 20, 2008, 01:23 PM »

Take a look at CZ Print Job Tracker - Free Edition

Info, Download link & screenshot:

www.bestfreewaredownload.com/freeware/t-free-cz-print-job-tracker-free-edition-freeware-jvikyphv.html

11477

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 20, 2008, 05:33 AM »

How many Linux distros are there?

-TucknDar (August 13, 2008, 01:58 PM)

The quasi-official number is somewhere around 359.

However, recent scientific research now puts the number of Linux distros at 1.5 times the number of actual Linux users.

-40hz (August 13, 2008, 02:31 PM)

DistroWatch database summary 08/19/2008

    * Number of all distributions in the database: 572
    * Number of all active distributions in the database: 349
    * Number of discontinued distributions: 137
    * Number of distributions on the waiting list: 201

11478

Living Room / Re: Do you remember your first programming job?

« Last post by 40hz on August 18, 2008, 11:16 AM »

It was a scrap metal pricing and tracking system. It was written in BASIC and ran on an IBM 5110. It took me a week to write and test. I asked for $50 to do it, with $10 up front.

I got my $10, but I never got the rest despite my "customer" constantly praising my program and promising to send me a check for the balance.

That incident was the most valuable lesson I ever learned about writing code.

(BTW: $40 x 18% interest x 28 years = $4119 they now owe me!)

11479

Living Room / Re: Which part of the Internets crack you up?

« Last post by 40hz on August 18, 2008, 10:40 AM »

The Website is Down!

Anybody who has ever been responsible for a server or end-user support will find a lot to recognize and laugh about here:

http://www.thewebsiteisdown.com/

11480

Living Room / Re: What do you do during your free time?

« Last post by 40hz on August 18, 2008, 09:58 AM »

And the biggest problem of all this is that in this country there are more women than men...and since I am a 'gringo' here a lot of females take notice of me when I do go and/or eat out.

-Shades (August 14, 2008, 11:08 PM)

Yeah, that can be a real bummer...

11481

Living Room / Re: What do you do during your free time?

« Last post by 40hz on August 18, 2008, 09:53 AM »

What is this thing 'free time' and where can I get some?

-cranioscopical (August 18, 2008, 08:52 AM)

Me too. I'd like to know where I can just "get" some free time.

So far, the only free time I've ever enjoyed was the kind I went out and made for myself.

11482

General Software Discussion / Re: What would your ideal Operating System be like?

« Last post by 40hz on August 18, 2008, 09:31 AM »

AFAIAC, version, revision and patch level are completely arbitrary conventions - when does a programmer decide it's no longer a patch but a revision, no longer a revision but a major version change, etc.
I've seen programs that jump version numbers because programmers decided the patch number was getting too high, (don't ask, long time ago).

My optimum version numbering system would be a lot simpler, (although it results in a longer number), and requires no input from the programmer, (the compiler does it automatically):

-4wd (August 17, 2008, 07:00 PM)

Good points. 

But my suggestion has a purely pragmatic goal.

I don't really care how the programmer decides what version or patch level he/she is on. Nor do I care how they want to number, jump, bump, or skip their releases. It's their app, so it's only fair to let them make their own determination.

All I'm looking for is a simple version topology that allows me (and an update utility) to quickly and accurately determine: (a) what version of an app I currently have; and, (b) what the current released version is.

This code doesn't even need to be displayed or used in marketing the product. Which is something to consider, since version numbers are all the rage in magazine and web reviews. It can be buried in a properties tag for all I care, so long as it's there. That way I can stop worrying about "Wumpus Elite Pro Edition Gold 2008."  If I know I have Wumpus 01.00.0000, and Wumpus 02.10.3241 is out, then I know I have a significantly older version and may want to investigate getting an upgrade. It's also a good way to stay on top of where you stand with security patches.

I'm not trying to save the world.or even have it make sense. I'm just trying to simplify the things that could be simplified.

11483

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 17, 2008, 08:15 PM »

Not at all - thanks for that (sounds like my credit card is in for another beating!).

-Carol Haynes (August 17, 2008, 05:35 PM)

Not necessarily. Look here first for Samba info:

http://us1.samba.org/samba/docs/

Also note, the O'Reilly Using Samba 2nd ed. book is available online at no charge. 3rd ed. should be up soon.

http://us1.samba.org...using_samba/toc.html

11484

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 17, 2008, 08:08 PM »

Not at all - thanks for that (sounds like my credit card is in for another beating!).

-Carol Haynes (August 17, 2008, 05:35 PM)

If you're doing Server 2K8 look here first:

Windows Server 2008 Step-by-Step Guides

http://www.microsoft...playLang=en#filelist

Might provide everything needed without your having to purchase anything.

11485

General Software Discussion / Re: What would your ideal Operating System be like?

« Last post by 40hz on August 17, 2008, 05:29 PM »

I guess this is going to be short because I'd want the UI totally divorced from the underlying OS. I don't think anything in userland should be built in to the underlying OS. That's what desktop managers are for.

All I'd want in the ideal OS is are these five things:

1. A 128-bit address space (just to get it over with once and for all)

2. Bulletproof memory protection (with built-in garbage collection)

3. All hardware fully abstracted, with all access strictly controlled through a well-documented I/O layer. No direct kernal calls permitted.

4. All applications install in their own unique single directory. One application per directory. Each new version installs to a new directory. It would also be nice to establish a formal version numbering system. Something like nn.ss.pppp where nn is version; ss is service pack or minor version; and pppp is patch level. (Ex: Wumpus V01.02.0003 = version 1, revision 2, patch level 3)

5. Complete and accurate documentation of all system services, calls, etc. (I can work/live with anything as long as it's fully documented) Access to the source code would be a definite plus.

11486

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 17, 2008, 05:18 PM »

Part of my experiment was to work on setting up a network server (not a webserver). I figure I should at least learn the rudimentary set up details to get an effective and secure network setup in case I am ever asked to do it for work. I figure I need to get to grips with Samba and Windows 2003/8 Server.

-Carol Haynes (August 16, 2008, 11:10 AM)

Windows 2003 Server is pretty straight forward to set up compared to previous versions. They have quasi-wizards to walk you through all the major setup and administrative tasks. If you're remembering the old NT or 2K servers, you're in for a pleasant surprise. That being said, you also run the risk of throwing out the baby with the bath water when you do a setup that way since a lot of decisions get made for you.

Recommendation: 

Mastering Windows Server 2003 by Mark Minasi, Christa Anderson, Michele Beverridge, and C. A. Callahan

Read this book. Know this book. Love this book.

Also check out this one afterwards: Mark Minasi's Windows XP and Server 2003 Resource Kit

Between the two, you have everything you need for Windows server. The 2008 versions are either out by now or will be shortly.

As far as Samba goes, the O'Reilly Using Samba text is the classic and the best. I think it's up to the 3rd edition by now. The best way to get a grip on Samba is to install it and just have at it. The configuration file is huge, but oddly logical once you get your feet wet. Don't get too distracted by GUI configs if you want to grok the little bugger. Well worth the investment of time. You'll probably have fun as well. Most people I know who got involved with Samba really enjoyed playing with it.

ANother good Samba text is Samba-3 by Example: Practical Exercises to Successful Deployment. Well worth the read once you've got the basics down.

Sorry I'm flinging text titles at you. I'm a voracious reader so I tend to have a book for just about everything. And you seem to be the intellectual type (re: your search engine thread ) so I figured you wouldn't mind.

11487

Living Room / Re: Favorite part of the Beijing Olympics so far?

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2008, 12:34 PM »

Actually, the best thing about this Olympic competition has to be the camerawork. Here's an interesting article on the "Dive-Cam."

Now Diving: Sir Isaac Newton
Low-Tech Camera Uses
No-Tech Gravity to Drop
Viewers Into the Pool
By BARRY NEWMAN
August 13, 2008; Page A18

BEIJING -- High-tech televisual bells and whistles have carried couch-based Olympic watching way beyond the mere reality of being here. Thousands of cameras are catching the action in China -- every one of them high-definition. Yet for a feat of engineering magic that dazzles as it baffles, nothing beats the DiveCam.


On TV, a diver walks out onto a platform. The camera fixes on him. He waits. He leaps. And then -- somehow -- the camera stays with him as he plunges. In the instant it takes him to break the water's surface, the picture suddenly cuts to an underwater shot -- and we watch in disbelief as the dive culminates in a burst of bubbles.

Full story link:  http://online.wsj.co...856740339434067.html

11488

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2008, 10:50 AM »

Update: Enough already ... I have given up with Openfiler.

-Carol Haynes (August 16, 2008, 07:51 AM)

I did too. There are people that swear by it. (I myself wound up swearing at it.)

I like FreeNAS - which I've blathered about elsewhere.

Can't say much about Barracuda. The demo I saw had the user uploading and downloading files locally and over the web. Probably more like FTP in that regard, although the web interface made it pretty easy.

Of course for a home file server, a box with a minimal install of XP might also suffice if heavy-duty security isn't an issue. Last I looked you were allowed to share with something like 10 users.

Put XP on a small partition, and setup the rest of the drive as the storage share area. Or better yet, attach one of those 500mb external monsters, and use that for your files. That way, if your home-brew server ever dies, you can just plug the external drive into any other machine and get to your stuff with the minimum bother.

11489

Living Room / Re: Anyone good with search engines - I am thoroughly frustrated!

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2008, 07:09 AM »

It has become a matter of pride to track the b**** down!

-Carol Haynes (August 16, 2008, 06:00 AM)

The sign of the true student. And also the true master now that I think about it.

Bravo!

11490

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2008, 06:44 AM »

Thanks I will have a look

-Carol Haynes (August 16, 2008, 06:39 AM)

Apologies. Was updating while you posted. I thought I'd better give you a little more info on Barracuda since I neglected to mention it wasn't your normal Nix app.

11491

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2008, 06:28 AM »

Out of curiosity is there a distro that is aimed at being a pure minimalist Samba server. I would like to set up a file server on my network but don't want to have the hassle of installing a full distribution as I don't really need hardware support beyond keyboard, mouse, monitor and discs. Any ideas?

-Carol Haynes (August 14, 2008, 02:10 PM)

The following will do that. But they're not exactly minimalist implementations.

FreeNAS  http://www.freenas.o...;id=19&Itemid=37

Openfiler www.openfiler.com/community/openfiler-community

This was mentioned at a LUG meeting I recently attended. Can't vouch for it since I've never tried it, but it does look interesting. There is a non-free Windows version, and free binaries for Mac and Nix appliances. THe LUG presentation was using a Linksys NSLU2 NAS device. (Hmmmm...now where did I put that little Linksys gadget that never worked right?)

http://barracudaserv...products/HomeServer/
 

11492

Living Room / Re: Anyone good with search engines - I am thoroughly frustrated!

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2008, 05:34 AM »

You may have identified a topic that could be approved for a Doctoral dissertation considering how obscure the text your looking for seems to be.

I don't know how it works over in the UK, but over here the rule seems to be: If it can be Googled, it is not sufficiently 'scholarly' for a dissertation.

11493

General Software Discussion / Re: What would your ideal Operating System be like?

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2008, 03:23 PM »

The Amiga system rocked - we had multitasking way before Win3.1

-f0dder (August 15, 2008, 01:14 AM)

OS-9 had it before that. I remember seeing it run on a Tandy/Radio-Shack CoCo.
http://en.wikipedia....-9#21st_century_uses

The OS-9 version 2.4 manual had this entry describing UNIX in the Glossary of Appendix C of "Using Professional OS-9":

UNIX:
An operating system similar to OS-9, but with less functionality and
special features designed to soak up excess memory, disk space and CPU
time on large, expensive computers.

I just discovered OS-9 is still available (in a vastly updated form) for embedded systems:

http://www.microware...uctdatasheetsid=1412

11494

Living Room / Re: Anyone good with search engines - I am thoroughly frustrated!

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2008, 02:57 PM »

You might try to contact The International Byron Society. Possibly someone there could point you in the right direction.

http://www.internati...nalbyronsociety.org/

Or try their American counterpart:

http://byronsociety.org/bsa/


Another possible source might be the archive for the Robert Schumann Society of Zwickau

http://www.zwickau.d...rs_haus/e_archiv.htm

Located at:    

Hauptmarkt 5, 08056 Zwickau
   
Phone:    

+49 (0)375-215269 (general office)
+49 (0)375-81885116 (ticket office)
Fax:    

+49 (0)375-281101
email:    

[email protected]
Director:   
   

Dr. Thomas Synofzik
Archiving and Public Relations: Anette Müller

Good luck.

11495

Living Room / Re: What is a mouser? What does it mean to mouser someone?

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2008, 11:19 AM »

I'll have to update my Dynamic Apathy Seminar to include the term "mousering."

Or I would, but what's the point?

11496

General Software Discussion / Re: New Linux Distro specifically designed for programmers

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2008, 10:20 AM »

How many Linux distros are there?

-TucknDar (August 13, 2008, 01:58 PM)

Too many

-f0dder (August 14, 2008, 02:51 PM)

Interestingly enough, that seems to be the general consensus of most of the Linux community.

11497

General Software Discussion / Re: Any virtual printer for .doc or .rtf?

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2008, 07:30 PM »

Have you tried PrimoPDF? (FREE)

http://www.primopdf.com

I use this to grab web pages all the time. I does a great job of preserving layout and it has selectable output optimizations (i.e. best for print, screen, etc.).

The problem with "printing" to RTF or DOC is that you cannot retain web layout formatting. Since most of the things you mention probably reside within frames or text boxes on the webpage, Word has no option other than to treat them as separate pages or sections when it converts html since it wouldn't know how to anchor them to other objects.

If you just want the text on a page, you could just select and copy, then paste to a Word document after running your clip through PureText to strip out everything that isn't text.

PureText can be downloaded here: www.stevemiller.net/puretext/  

11498

Living Room / Re: Which part of the Internets crack you up?

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2008, 07:13 PM »

I've can always count on Ashleigh Brilliant to make me simultaneously laugh and think. His "Pot-Shots" are small masterpieces.

And what is a Pot-Shot?

From http://www.ashleighb...liant.com/index.html

[b]WHAT EXACTLY IS A "POT-SHOT" OR "BRILLIANT THOUGHT?"[/b]

 Pot-Shots are epigrams, composed according to the following very strict rules.

The length must never exceed 17 English words. Note that this is a maximum. Some Pot-Shots are much shorter. Hyphenated words count as a single word.

Pot-Shots must be easy to translate into other languages. Therefore there can be no use of rhyme or rhythm, idioms, puns, or other word-play.

Pot-Shots should be capable of being appreciated in all times and cultures. Topical and cultural references must be avoided.

Every Pot-Shot should be as different as possible from every other one.

Every Pot-Shot must be totally original, and unlike anything else the author, or anyone else, has ever said before.

The words of a Pot-Shot must be able to stand on their own, and not require any illustration in order to be understood or appreciated.

Whatever is being said should be worth saying, and said in the best possible way.

NOTE: These are ideal standards, and I myself have failed to meet some of them occasionally -- but in general I have adhered to them quite scrupulously.

Here's an example

11499

Living Room / Re: Chandler V1 is officially out.

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2008, 12:44 PM »

Well, Chandler is not just a pim thou.

-kartal (August 14, 2008, 11:15 AM)

Despite reading Dreaming in Code and trying the previous version of the software, I'm still a little confused as to what exactly Chandler is supposed to be about.

It kind of reminded me of Lotus Notes, which was very powerful and flexible - but conceptually hard for me to get my head around. Was it primarily a database wedded to an e-mail paradigm, a groupware tool, or what?

Am I alone in just "not getting" Chandler?

11500

General Software Discussion / Re: GNU/Linux Desktop Market Share is 4%

« Last post by 40hz on August 13, 2008, 05:59 PM »

And I now leave people with this url: http://www.allowe.co...umor/SwitchLinux.htm

I believe this to be zaine, in carnate

-Josh (August 13, 2008, 05:25 PM)

I especially liked the goats and evil Fembots.