They don't make it EZ do they.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Working with Synaptic and Yum...
The NEW ability to easily install New Open Source Software in Linux sometimes makes people think it's done with Mirrors.
Well, it is. Mirrors and Repositories.
What are Mirrors and Repositories?
Mirrors are the web servers that hold the various Repositories (which are pre-packaged RPMs built for unique Distros like Ubuntu or FC6 or OpenSuSE).
Debian users use command-line Apt-Get, as do dirivatives like FC and Ubuntu.
To use just type in: apt-get -y install.
But it's easier to use a graphical frontend called: Synaptic.
Red Hat, the originators of RPM's (Redhat Package Managers) in one form or other is used by most up-to-date distributions. Open SuSE and Fedora Core 4, 5 and 6 use RPM's and most-likely the upcoming FC7 will too.
Fedora also has a front-end and it's called YUM, which came from Yellow Dog Linux, the former Apple Linux OS.
Yellow Dog Linux is now the "New" OS for Sony's PS3.
Yum stands for Yellow-Dog Update Managers, and it's what I use on my copy of FC6.
Sure you can download tarred files from SourceForge or Freshmeat, but doing so sometimes leads you into the "PIT" of dependency HELL. Yum and Synaptic checks for dependecies first, downloads them to along with the needy programs and installs them easily.
Prime example is Videolan (VLC) video player that requires over 30-plus libraries to be installed before it will compile. Make sure the necessary repositories are listed in Yum or Synaptic's look-up list and the install is just a click of the Apply.
Neat... Sweet.
A new install of a program called: Alexandria, gives you a way to keep track of your personal library.
A program I have on my Applications Accessories tab is Buoh Online Comics Reader, that gives you daily comics from the daily online newspapers to you Desktop. You pick the comics you want from a list and each day you read that day's comic by clicking on the name in you favorites List. Andy Capp, BC, The Fifth Wave, and Doonesbury are my favorites, but I still have access to 26 others.
Well, it is. Mirrors and Repositories.
What are Mirrors and Repositories?
Mirrors are the web servers that hold the various Repositories (which are pre-packaged RPMs built for unique Distros like Ubuntu or FC6 or OpenSuSE).
Debian users use command-line Apt-Get, as do dirivatives like FC and Ubuntu.
To use just type in: apt-get -y install
But it's easier to use a graphical frontend called: Synaptic.
Red Hat, the originators of RPM's (Redhat Package Managers) in one form or other is used by most up-to-date distributions. Open SuSE and Fedora Core 4, 5 and 6 use RPM's and most-likely the upcoming FC7 will too.
Fedora also has a front-end and it's called YUM, which came from Yellow Dog Linux, the former Apple Linux OS.
Yellow Dog Linux is now the "New" OS for Sony's PS3.
Yum stands for Yellow-Dog Update Managers, and it's what I use on my copy of FC6.
Sure you can download tarred files from SourceForge or Freshmeat, but doing so sometimes leads you into the "PIT" of dependency HELL. Yum and Synaptic checks for dependecies first, downloads them to along with the needy programs and installs them easily.
Prime example is Videolan (VLC) video player that requires over 30-plus libraries to be installed before it will compile. Make sure the necessary repositories are listed in Yum or Synaptic's look-up list and the install is just a click of the Apply.
Neat... Sweet.
*****
New on My FC6 Machine.
New on My FC6 Machine.
A new install of a program called: Alexandria, gives you a way to keep track of your personal library.
A program I have on my Applications Accessories tab is Buoh Online Comics Reader, that gives you daily comics from the daily online newspapers to you Desktop. You pick the comics you want from a list and each day you read that day's comic by clicking on the name in you favorites List. Andy Capp, BC, The Fifth Wave, and Doonesbury are my favorites, but I still have access to 26 others.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Bleeding EDGE Moonlight Shining
A few months ago, Microsoft showed us "Surface", the table-top computer interface system. Priced at $10,000, and aimed at corporate and casino venues, it was "nice" but a bit much for regular folks.
The software that took care of the fancy graphics was based on Microsoft's Desktop engine called: "Silverlight", a .NET, C# application.
Though not proprietary, it too was out of reach of regular folks
Enter the Desktop Gnome and .NET/Mono wizard Miguel de Acaza.
Miguel was invited to the MIX Conference in France. The Microsoft/France Conference wanted Miguel to replay the Mix event he did in Vegas.
They suggested Miguel speak during the conference keynote and show a preview of moonlight if he already had something to show.
Well, Miguel didn't. So he invited fellow Mono programmers to a Hack-a-Thon to get something to show in Paris in 20+ days.
A quick Youtube of where Moonlight is now.
Moonlight is a perfect example of what can be accomplished in Open Source.
What Mono does for .NET, Moonlight does for Silverlight. An Open Source implementation of the wizardtry of Silverlight.
The Sources ARE downloadable here, if you would like a taste for the "Bleeding Edge".
Take note: Moonlight is still a work in progress.
Also see the Mono web Page.
I'll keep you posted on the progress of this important implementation.
Open SUSE should have an easy test/install soon. And I've heard of progress being made in my OS of choice Ubuntu.
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