Computer and Technology | Ubuntu Linux | Web Development

I’ve been using Linux for over 5 years now I guess.  I’ve used Fedora, Slackware, Xandros, Mepis, plain Debian, Xubuntu, Kubuntu and now Ubuntu.  If you’re used to Windows or Mac, you’re probably surprised (or maybe confused) at the many different Linux distributions available.  Among these, I personally favor Ubuntu. 

Prior to my Linux days, I used MS-DOS (and PC-DOS), Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP and now Windows Vista.  I had my laptop configured so that I can choose to boot in Linux or in Windows.  For years, my default was Linux and I only booted in Windows when I need to test websites and web applications I design across different browsers.

For years, I was satisfied with Linux.  I’ve never encountered a single virus and I never have to worry much about security issues.  But Linux has its downsides.  New hardware such as printers and webcams seldom work or require tweaking before they worked.  Also, I’ve always had ACPI problems in Linux – either it won’t suspend/hibernate right or the LCD brightness won’t work and yes, I can’t even have a decent voice/video chat with my friends on Yahoo.

Linux has its strengths especially when it comes to security.  In fact, I think it’s the #1 alternative to Microsoft Windows and it allows many tasks to be done but still I find it lacking in many aspects.  I know that Linux is not to blame for the lack of support for certain software and hardware but that’s beside the point.  Actually, Linux developers are working hard to develop alternative software and compatible drivers to make the Linux user’s life as easy as it can be.

I don’t like Windows.  It’s expensive and highly susceptible to viruses, trojans and worms.  I haven’t installed any antivirus software in Linux and that’s something that I cannot do in Windows.  It would be akin to killing myself if I don’t take the necessary steps to secure my Windows-based machine.

But yet, I’ll be going back to Windows, more specifically Windows Vista.  So I fired up my Laptop’s system restore disk and gave control back to the monstrous Windows Vista.  Logging in was like going to hell but I guess I just have to endure the flames until I get used to it.  Don’t get me wrong – Linux wasn’t heaven either.  I chose to make compromises and get the best of both worlds instead.

To do that, here’s what I did after restoring Vista to my laptop.

1. I removed all unneccessary applications that came with the laptop bundle, namely
   • All the pre-installed games
   • MS Office Trial
   • MS Works
   • McAfee Antivirus
2. I then installed the following applications:
   • Open Office – as replacement to MS Office
   • Digsby – for my multiprotocol chat client
   • Yahoo Messenger – for full YM support
   • Google Chrome – as my main browser
   • Mozilla Firefox – for websites that won’t work in Google Chrome
   • VirtualBox – so I can run Ubuntu inside Windows

After doing those, I then installed Ubuntu using VirtualBox.  This allows me to access Ubuntu inside Windows enabling me to setup my Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP (a.k.a. L.A.M.P.) development environment.  Under Ubuntu, I also installed the following via Ubuntu’s Synaptic Package Manager:

• Bluefish – as my PHP editor
• Meld – my “diff” viewer
• SVN-Workbench – my subversion client
• Subversion – my commandline subversion client
• Gimp – my graphics editing software (already pre-installed)

I also removed the following from the default Ubuntu install because I already have them (or have something similar to them) in Windows:

• Open Office
• Firefox
• Pidgin
• Rhythmbox
• Totem
• Games

I also configured VirtualBox to use “Host Interface” networking so I can test the websites and web applications from my Windows-based browsers.  For those who don’t know, VirtualBox allows you to install a separate Operating System under your “main” operating system.

Now, I’m back in Windows and still use Ubuntu at the same time.  This I believe will be going to my “setup” for the next few years.  It’s not perfect but it’s the only solution I can find that allows me to get the best of both worlds.  I hope I get settled in this new environment really quick.

Here’s what I did to install the Group Message plugin for Pidgin on my Ubuntu Intrepid machine. Note that this worked for me but doesn’t mean that it will work for you. If you’re using Ubuntu or any of the Ubuntu flavors then you might want to give it a try.

Note: You have to do the following as root

Step 1: Get the Build Dependencies

$ apt-get build-dep pidgin-plugin-pack

Step 2: Prepare the Source

$ mkdir pidgin-plugin-pack; cd pidgin-plugin-pack
$ apt-get source pidgin-plugin-pack
$ cd purple-plugin-pack*

Step 3: Enable the Group Message plugin

$ rm groupmsg/.abusive
$ touch groupmsg/.build

Step 4: Build the Pidgin Plugin Pack Package

$ dpkg-buildpackage -b -nc

Step 5: Install the Pidgin Plugin Pack Package

$ cd ../
$ dpkg -i pidgin-plugin-pack*

Step 6: (Optional) Do some clean-up

$ cd ../
$ rm -dfr pidgin-plugin-pack
$ apt-get autoremove

Now, all you have to do is re-start Pidgin and enable the plugin. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Don’t spam people with this plugin.

I hope this helps!

As you may already know, I recently took the plunge into Gnome world when I chose to leave Kubuntu Intrepid (KDE) in favor of Ubuntu Intrepid (Gnome) on my Laptop.  So far, I only encountered a few quirks and one of them is Adobe Flash not having sound in Firefox.  5 minutes of searching on Google took me to “HOWTO: PulseAudio Fixes & System-Wide Equalizer Support“.  I followed the guide and sound now magically works in Flash.

Thought that many Ubuntu Intrepid users are having the same problem so I wrote this post in an effort to make it easier for them to find the fix.

I was using Kubuntu since Feisty days and I have to say that I’m happy with it. However, I’ve been having problems with Kubuntu Intrepid’s KDE4 interface recently that I decided to give plain old Ubuntu which uses Gnome a try. I downloaded the Ubuntu LiveCD ISO last night, installed it on a USB stick using UNetBootin and gave it a try. I was quite happy with the results so I decided to move over to it and leave my old friend Kubuntu behind.

Gnome is an entirely different thing from KDE so comparing the two will be like comparing apples with oranges. They have different ways of achieving the same results which means I have to make some habit adjustments. It’ll probably give me a week to get used to the new way of doing things with Gnome.

Will I stay with Gnome? Yes. Will I replace KDE with Gnome on my other computers? Maybe not yet because the family is already used to KDE and I don’t want them to keep on bugging me asking what to do. Maybe next year.

P.S. I Love GnomeDo which is way better than KDE’s Katapult.

Just got the news from a a Twitter friend about a teacher in Austin who threatened to have the organizer of the HeliOS Project investigated by the police when she saw one of her students showcasing the ability of a Linux-powered laptop and handing out Linux disks.

“Mr. Starks, I am sure you strongly believe in what you are doing but I cannot either support your efforts or allow them to happen in my classroom. At this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful,” she says.

But that ain’t the worst part yet because she also said this, “This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer, and putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping these children at all.“

Obviously this teacher doesn’t know what Linux is and most probably has not heard of the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).  Truly a misinformed teacher she is!

Read the full story here.

The United States government is phasing out Analog TV this coming February 17, 2009 and will be switching over to Digital TV or DTV.  As a result, all those who are using analog TVs will no longer be able to watch anything on their television sets.  While this may be a drawback for many, there are also benefits to it.

The DTV Website F.A.Q. states:

An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband)

The move from analog to digital have more benefits than one may think.  One such benefit is to be able to watch different programs on a single channel via a process called multicasting.  Multicasting allows you to watch one program at channel 7-1, another program at channel 7-2 and so on.

Now, on to the part that sucks…  If you still wish to enjoy watching TV after Feb 17, 2009 then you need to either have a Digital TV or a Digital-to-Analog Converter Box.  A Digital-to-Analog converter will allow you to receive Digital TV broadcasts without having to replace your existing TV set and it’s cheaper.  Products such as the Zinwell ZAT-970A Digital Converter Box can be bought for as low as $19.95 if you have a coupon.

You can also give Internet TV a try which allows you watch TV right on your computer or laptop.

All-in-all, I think the move to Digital TV is a good idea.  It’s a better technology and it allows other technologies to make good use of the freed broadcast spectrum.