Development Machine

I'm in the beginning stages of a new software project, so I've been experimenting with various tools and services.

To start with, I looked into building a development environment. Since I had decided on using the Python/Django platform for the project, I needed something to take me beyond using GEdit to monkey with text files.

I've heard of Eclipse quite a bit, but I was not familiar with the extent of its extensibility and how developers have taken advantage to extend the platform in all directions. It wasn't until I found PyDev, an Eclispe add in for Python, that I considered using the tool.

Installs of both Eclipse and PyDev were quick and easy, and I'm already liking the results. Once I get more comfortable with Python and get more experience with Eclipse, I feel that I will be happy with the environment.

Something else that I needed for the project was a version control system. I've never used a formal tool, but I've used backups and strict procedures to simulate the process. Since my internet hosting company, Dreamhost, offers quick and easy setup of Subversion respositories, I decided to give it a shot.

Before Eclipse came on the scene, I was using the command line SVN tools to communicate with the repository, and I'm pretty comfortable with the process. However, on a whim I decided to search for a Subversion add-in for Eclispe, and I found Subclipse almost right away. After I installed it and tweaked the connectors for a bit, it is working without issue. Very nice.

Since Python comes with the SQLite dbms included, I haven't thought much about database yet. An advantage of SQLite is that it runs on the client with no additional software to install. Very portable. I can setup MySQL on Dreamhost when testing multi-user, but I'm hoping for a connector to SQL Server or Oracle at some point. That's probably 6 months away.

Finally, I've been looking for a way to organize my thoughts. I'm a notebook guy at work, but I don't want to mix notes on my extra-curricular projects with work related things. Dreamhost also offers Mediawiki installs, so I'm trying it out. It's not the best for taking notes, but it's easy to use. We'll see.

At some point, I may involve others in this project, so the version control tool and wiki will help us share notes and source code. I could also setup a Google Apps domain for email and calendaring.

With all of the tools I'm using, all but one are open source, and even Google Apps is no charge. Imagine trying to do this 10 or 15 years ago, when much expensive Microsoft software would be required to even get off the ground. This modern economic model is great for start ups and small projects. My only cost is for the hosting service, and I set that up more for family use.

I'll report back on the progress in a few months.

CrossOver Linux Professional

I'm finding that I rarely boot up the Windows partition any more on my laptop; Linux Mint 5.0 (based on Ubuntu 8.04) is serving me quite well.

However, there are a few Windows apps I still like to use.  Specifically, I like Media Monkey over any of the Linux based music player/organizer programs I've seen.  Also, Photoshop Elements has a couple of features I can't seem to emulate in The GIMP.

I've tried running these programs inside Wine, but with no success.

However, the other day I came upon a posting on Lifehacker (one of my daily reads) talking about a one day offer to get a free license for CrossOver.  I chose the Linux Professional version.

The key arrived the other day, and the install was uneventful.

First thing I tried was Media Monkey.  The install went quickly, but there was immediately an error saying that the player couldn't initialize.  I could perform other functions, but couldn't play anything.  There is a setting in the CrossOver configuration covering sound drivers, and I'll have to do a little research on that.

Next, I'll try Photoshop Elements.  The program offers presets for installing the full strength Photoshop in several versions, so I'm hoping they have this program covered as well.

More later.

UPDATE:

I installed Photoshop Elements and it works, but it is god-awful slow.

Linux on the Purdue Campus

(BTW, just for fun I'm entering this post using lynx, my favorite browser)

I took my laptop to work today, as I had an early meeting out of the office, and I had hoped to check up on email at the site.

Since I had connected to the University wireless network (PAL - Purdue Air Link) in the past, and I still had the instructions, it should have been easy to connect again. However, things didn't work out quite so well.

I spent 10 minutes trying to connect. All of the steps seemed to work, but each time I tried, I ended up on the open network telling me to use PAL. After 4 tries, I gave up.

Next, I thought I would just use a wired connection, so I wandered around the building until I found an Ethernet cable. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be a live Ethernet jack (AKA PIC - Purdue Information Connection). Five more minutes wasted.

In desparation, I fired up Vista instead of Linux. It came up, but spent the next 10 minutes in a virus scan and Windows update process before the network connected and I could continue. Since I don't boot that operating system very often, it seems to save up the housekeeping tasks and fire them all at once. In Vista's favor, it did connect to PAL quickly, and I was able to check my mail - two minutes before the meeting started and after most of the attendees had arrived.

To avoid being rude, I only read a couple of the most urgent messages and powered down.

Later, I tried the 'new' PAL VPN client for Linux provided by the University, but it wouldn't even install. I left the task of working with the help desk for another day.

UPDATE: here

User Interface Tricks

Next for my laptop linux install, I'm playing with compiz-fusion. This page from Lifehacker shows some of the neat effects, and I found a page at the How To Forge that explains what to install (I skipped the video card section).

No problems! I enabled some extra things on the configuration application, and they all seem to be working well except for the Expose effect. I especially like the super task switcher.

Next, I wanted to setup a dock at the bottom of the screen. Avant Window Navigator seems to be the thing, and a thread in Ubuntu Forums explains it all. AWN requires xserver-xgl, which in turn requires a 3D card. Now, I'm sure my built-in Intel video system is not 3D, but I figured I'd try it anyway. The dock worked pretty well, and some of the compiz-fusion effects were a little quicker, but window drawing, moving, and especially scrolling were dog slow. I played around a little, but ended up removing both. Oh well!

Linux Mint Dual Boot Install Started

I actually started my Linux Mint/Vista dual boot install yesterday, using this page as a basic guide. Unfortunately, the Vista Disk Management Shrink Volume tool wasn't able to give me any space. It declared that no space was available due to the use of a page file.

No matter, I can use something else. I found an old copy of gparted in my pile of Linux CDs, but decided to download a newer version. V 0.3.4-11 is the latest. I burned it and fired it up. However, I could never get it to boot, as it hung trying to install something for RAID disks (of which I have none). I tried to boot on another machine, just to see if the CD was OK, and it got past that point quickly, only to fail to start X. Just for yucks, I tried my older version (0.2.4.3) from last year. It booted fine, but the device scan never finished.

Time to punt. This morning I booted up to the Linux Mint Live CD and attempted to install gparted, and I found it was already there! V 0.3.3-2 is close enough to new for me! It ran fine, and I was able to shave 30GB from the hard drive in about 10 minutes. Suddenly, things are getting easy.

gparted - After Shrink

Before I go any further, I'm going to reboot into Vista to let it scan the disk and make sure things are OK.

...

After a quick scan, all is well (although Vista picked that moment to install some quick security fix that required another reboot - no biggie).

I guess now it's time to hit the Install icon and see what happens.

...

I like this graphical install tool better than the character based one I used with Ubuntu 7.04. I selected language, keyboard, and time zone without incident.

Whenever I get to the disk partition step, I get a little nervous. Sure, I've backed up the important stuff from the Vista partition, but it would still take a lot of time to get that back to the way I like it. Fingers crossed, I forged ahead.

My plan is to have a fat32 partition that I can use in both operating systems. It can be used to store shared configurations for Firefox and Thunderbird, and to store other files I may need from either, such as downloaded files and music. Here's a screen shot of the the partitioner just before I committed the changes:



It didn't like the fat32 partion mounted as /home, so I changed it to /shared while pushing the size down to 10GB. The root partition was increased to 20GB. This config was approved.

Well, it's time to push the final button. Here goes!

...

Success! I booted into Mint without incident. Interestingly, there are two entries for Vista in the GRUB list. I'll have to try them both out to see what they do.

After I logged in, I was notified that there were proprietary drivers available for the wireless - as covered in this earlier post. I'll configure it shortly.

I've got other things to work on: video settings for the two screens (monitor and laptop display), wireless, server access, and other software I've read about and would like to try. Watch for new posts as I try things out.

Wireless on the Laptop with Linux Mint

My experiments today involve using the laptop's wireless networking facilities with Linux Mint 4.0 (based on Ubuntu 7.10 Gusty). I had written earlier about the same attempts on Ubuntu 7.04, but found that those instructions no longer work (a URL involved in the configuration is no longer working).

Anyway, here's what I did:

(Note that I used a wired network connection during this configuration.)

First, this page outlined the steps to download and activate the restricted driver for the BCM4311 wireless chipset. Not too tough.

Unfortunately, the wireless didn't jump to life when I yanked the wire. The next step was to turn off the roaming mode and configure the network. I opened the Network Settings dialog and selected Properties on the wireless connection. After unchecking the Enable Roaming Mode box, I entered the network name (case sensitive!), password type (mine is WEP Key hexidecimal), and the network password (mine is ... hey!). I also selected Automatic Configuration (DHCP) under Connection Settings. I clicked OK and things were good!

Obviously, your settings will vary.

With roaming mode off, I guess I will have to reconfigure for each network I use. That will be the subject of a later experiment.

UPDATE: I almost forgot, use the iwlist eth1 scan command to search for wireless networks in your area. (Substitute your Ethernet adapter name for 'eth1', or leave it out to try them all.)

ANOTHER UPDATE: I'm having a tough time reproducing this configuration. In six tries, I've connected to the wireless network twice. (I even tried it with the standard issue Ubuntu 7.10 instead of Mint.) I can't really say what made it work, except possible reentering the wireless password. Probably not that.

It's tough to say that I would like to dump Vista for Linux, as I did XP on the old machine, since Vista just seems to work on this laptop. Sure, it's slow and there's the fear of viruses, trojans, worms, etc, but I was happy to come back after playing with the Mint Live CD today. I'll still setup a dual boot soon, just to play, and it may even become my primary operating system at some point, but I'm not taking Vista off quite yet.