Posts

Posted on

Mint – Ubuntu preinstalled with mp3 codecs, flash 9 and Java plugins

mintlogo.png

Linux Mint is a variant of one of the most popular linux distro, Ubuntu with few differences. It emphasis on convenience for users to get non free softwares or softwares under patent without much hassle.

For example, out from the box Linux Mint installs allow you to :

  • Play MP3 files
  • Watch Realmedia, quicktime and encrypted dvd
  • Get Sun Java 1.5 Update 9 (and Java plugin) preinstalled
  • Surf Website with Flash 9 plugins
  • Compile application with gcc

These capabilities is also enabled in its LiveCD session.

In addition, Linux Mint enables all Ubuntu repositories including Multiverse (non-free) and Universe repo as well as other binary only 3rd party repositories. However, the presence of binary only package means that Linux Mint is only available for x86 32bit platform only.
The latest release of Linux Mint 2.0 is compatible with Ubuntu Edgy Eft which it is based upon. Linux Mint is created for the convenience of users who have hard time to part with non-free plugins or software.

You can think Linux Mint as the opposite of gNewsense which I’ve reviewed earlier which emphasis on having only 100% free software on their distribution.

[tags]linux,ubuntu,edgy eft,opensource,livecd,distro[/tags]

Posted on

hacking dict.org with ubuntu linux

I got bored one day and decided to try out some of the functionalities offered by the dict.org server. Dict is dictionary server protocol designed to give access to definitions from a set of natural language dictionary databases.

Here’s how I access dict.org server using only ‘telnet’ application available on my Ubuntu desktop.

  • Launch a terminal app, telnet to dict.org port 2628
  • List all available dictionaries by typing “show db”
  • Get definitions of word using, “define [dictionary] word” (define wn boring)
  • In this case i choose ‘boring’, since I’m pretty bored at this time to do this stuffs
  • For more dict commands, please refer to RFC 2229

Screenshot dict on Linux

A friendly dict client (named “Dictionary Lookup‘) is included as a panel applet in Ubuntu. You can easily lookup word definitions from your desktop panel :

And with the information on the RFC 2229, i’m there’s a lot more of dict clients out there, that might suit your needs.
[tags]ubuntu,debian,dict,dictionary,rfc[/tags]
Posted on

gobby – Collaborative programmers text editor with chat function

gobby is a cross-platform programmers text editor which supports real-time editing with another user. Gobby features syntax highlighting for most programming languages (c, perl, python, java, ruby, etc) and has IRC-like chat interface for communicating with your partners while coding.


Gobby functionality as a collaborative text-editor makes it possible to work on the same code with your partners remotely, combining coding efforts while working on the same application.

Additionally, gobby also has document synchronisation feature that allow both you and your partner keep documents updated in an efficient manners.

gobby was developed using GTK+ library and available in GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows and *BSD operating system.

Gobby Project Website

Posted on

Sun has Open Source Java under GNU/GPL

After a long wait, Sun has finally released its key Java implementations – Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE – OpenJDK), Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME – phoneME) and Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE – Glassfish) under the GNU General Public License version 2.0.

Maybe this news is insignificant for some, but finally i can run a completely free (as in free speech) Java platform in my operating system. I use a lot of Java in my hobby of developing mobile phone apps, and yes, I’d like to see the open sourced phoneME feature MR1 (JavaME implementation) running on my Ubuntu.

Hopefully by the end of next year, I’ll be able to install Sun OpenJDK on my GNU/Linux workstation from my distro’s software repositories.

p/s: Additionally, James Gosling – Father of Java has announced in his blog that they have made Duke the Java mascot images free under the revised BSD License. You can get Duke’s images at https://duke.dev.java.net/.

[tags]java,open source, openjdk, javame, j2me,gnu/gpl[/tags]

Posted on

Download NetBSD Live! 2007 LiveCD

netbsd live mypapit

NetBSD Project has released NetBSD Live! 2007 based on NetBSD 4 Beta. The LiveCD comes with an array of softwares that include KDE 3.4.5 (includes KOffice), Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6 (renamed Deer Park for copyright reasons), GIMP 2.2, vim 6.2.14, gcc 4.1.2 and various utilities for accesing foreign filesystems.

Instead of using the normal bsd bootloader, NetBSD Live! uses GNU GRUB that has been adapted for use with the livecd. NetBSD Live! offers 3 kernel; generic kernel, ACPI-enabled kernel and a Laptop-optimized kernel. These kernels are available for boot at the GRUB bootloader screen

Sadly, i’m unable to use the LiveCD on the laptop that i tried (Compaq Presario v2613), because the LiveCD can’t detect the laptop’s keyboard input. However I manage to get it work on my desktop, which works almost flawlessly.

I think it’s about time NetBSD has its own LiveCD. I always think LiveCD as a preview CD. which simplifies the task of demonstrating operating system and as a multipurpose rescue cd.

The NetBSD Live! 2007 iso is available from NetBSD mirrors or via Bittorrent

[tags]netbsd,bsd,livecd,distro,knoppix,freesbie[/tags]

Posted on

gNewSense 1.0 GNU Linux distro Screenshot

Here’s the screenshot of a GNU/Linux distro derived from Ubuntu. gNewsense is a project started by two guys from Ireland with an aim to provide users with 100% Free Software operating system. You can find out more about it at gNewSense Official Website

You can see that the gNewsense theme and? repo is similar as the normal Ubuntu except for minor changes which the Universe repositories are enabled by default and Ubuntu logo are changed to gNewsense’s to reflect the new distribution (and copyright issue).

Here’s the complete screenshot walkthrough of gNewSense 1.0

[tags]gnewsense,ubuntu,dapper drake,dapper,free software,gnu,livecd[/tags]