Linux Distribution Chooser

If you have doubt's about choosing the best Gnu/Linux distribution to you, this site can help.
It will ask you some questions, inquiring you about your experience and preferences with Linux.

If you wanna see some screenshots of the different distros, go here!

PS: if you make the test, let me know about the result!
I got Ubuntu, Debian and Xubuntu! I already use Ubuntu :D !

Links:
»Linux Distribution Chooser: Homepage
»Linux Screenshots: The coding studio

Pidgin 2.4.1 (new)

Links:
Homepage: Pidgin

Emesene - IM client

Index:

• About
• Screenshots
• Install
• Conclusion

About

Emesene is a instant messenger (IM) client for the Windows Live Messenger (tm) network.
It runs at Linux, Windows and Mac OSX.
Is is very simple to use, has no ads, is compatible with Messenger Plus, allows file transfer, lots of plugins, etc...

Screenshots

[screenshots - click]

Install

• Debian based systems:
  
  1. Add repositories to source list:
     $ sudo gedit /etc/source.list

     Add:
     deb http://apt.emesene.org/ ./
deb-src http://apt.emesene.org/ ./

  2. Update
     $ sudo apt-get update

     
  3. Install
     $ sudo apt-get install emesene

     
• Installation from tar.gz (latest stable archive)
  
  1. Go to:
     http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=168206
     
  2. Download the latest version (eg:):
     $ wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/emesene/emesene-r999.tar.gz

     
• SVN version
  
  1. Visit this page for instructions:
     http://emesene.org/trac/wiki/SVN
     

Conclusion

I already tried Pidgin, Amsn but it's Emesene i like best.
Is is simple, attractive design.
It has lots of cool plugins, eg:

• Youtube video's screenshot before the link to it.
• Countdown to specific date (I'm using this one - countdown to christmas :D )
• Messenger plus
• GmailNotify
• Etc.

Just try it and have your own idea about it..

Openbox - introduction/customization

Overview: At the end your system may have this look:

[screenshots - click]

Intro:

Openbox is a windows manager (just like Metacity, sort of..), extremely light and customizable, known for its minimalistic appearance, as indicated for machines with poor performance.

The Openbox allows perform the last/all* applications that are designed/made to Gnome/Kde without any need to run these (Gnome/Kde). You can also run the Openbox within the Gnome/Kde thus combining their features. It allows us to make the desktop cleaner and faster.


Installation:

Check the homepage, or install the version available in the repositories:
# aptitude install openbox
# aptitude install obconf openbox-themes #RECOMMENDED_EXTRAS

To run Openbox:

• Logout;
• Choose the session type: (1) Gnome/Openbox; (2) openbox-kde.desktop or (3) Openbox Session;
• Login.

Option (3) runs only the Openbox, but future Gnome/Kde's applications could be executed (eg: gnome-panel)

Note: I recommend that you only [re]login (at openbox session) when thou finish the tutorial completely!


Customization:

If you choose option (3) above, you will find out that your desktop is empty, and no kind of bar is displayed. Don't stress out :D

1. Double the configuration files:
   
   $ mkdir -p ~/.config/openbox/
$ cp /etc/xdg/openbox/rc.xml ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml
$ cp /etc/xdg/openbox/menu.xml ~/.config/openbox/menu.xml
   
   
   The rc.xml file is responsible for the configuration of shortcuts, themes, virtual desktop, etc. .. While the menu.xml file is only responsible for setting the menu that appears when you click with the right mouse button on the desktop - edit this file in text mode can be boring and complicated, ahead there is a solution easier.
   
   
   
2. Alt+F2:
   
   
   The shortcut Alt + F2 aka gnome-panel-control - run-dialog does not work for Openbox. I think this command essential in any Linux distribution, so let's find an alternative solution: gmrun - installation:
   
   
   # aptitude install gmrun
   
   Define Alt-F2 as gmrun's shortcut:
   $ gedit ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml
   Add the following code before;</keyboard>

<keybind key="A-F2">
<action name="execute">
<execute>gmrun</execute>
</action>
</keybind>

   
   Note: If you noticed, the last shortcut existing in rc.xml is 'W-e', which launches Konqueror. I replaced this with Nautilus. I like it best.
   
   
   <keybind key="W-e">
<action name="Execute">
<startupnotify>
<enabled>true</enabled>
<name>Nautilus</name>
</startupnotify>
<command>nautilus</command>
</action>
</keybind>
   
   Note2:
   In my case, i had re-login the session for the shortcuts work correctly.
   
   
3. Add a panel:
   
   I think that all of us like to have some kind of panel. To see minimized windows, icon tray and some shortcuts.
   There are several alternatives such as: pypanel , fbpanel, gnome-panel, xfce4-panel, etc.
   I'll choose pypanel:
   
   $ aptitude install pypanel
   
   
   • Pypanel Customization:
     The configuration file is ~/.pypanelrc. Before change/edit him I recommend to backup it:
     $ cp ~/.pypanelrc ~/.pypanelrcbackup
     
     Now, take this code (link) a save it at:
     $ gedit ~/.pypanelrc
   
   
4. Add pypanel to startup(or some other application):
   
   $ gedit ~/.config/openbox/autostart.sh

   Paste this text:
   

   # Run the system-wide support stuff
. $GLOBALAUTOSTART
# Programs to launch at startup
pypanel &
#/opt/wicd/tray.py & #WICD
#conky & #CONKY
# all commands must end with: " &"

   
   
   Follow the example to add some other applications.
   
   
5. Edit Openbox's theme:
   
   As I earlier explain, it's possible to edit Openbox's theme at the file menu.xml. But there is a solution more user friendly: obmenu. To install obmenu:
   
   $ wget http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/obmenu/obmenu-1.0.tar.gz
$ tar xvzf obmenu-1.0.tar.gz
$ cd obmenu-1.0/
# python setup.py install

   Open obmenu:
   $ obmenu
   
   The you can add/remove/edit any kind of shortcuts, etc.
   Note: To add a new menu, in the end you need to add a shortcut at Openbox 3 menu. Watch with some attention the available examples..

Conclusion:

This tutorial gives you the main ideas how to customize your system. Of course the are more applications you might use at Openbox, but these were my choice.


Other references:

»Openbox homepage
»Pypanel homepage
»Obmenu homepage
»Archlinux wiki - openbox
»Debian wiki - openbox some interesting key shortcuts.
»Box-Look.org - themes

»Used wallpaper!

My files:
There might be some differences with the screenshot displayed.
»http://dotfiles.org/~uterrorista/.pypanelrc
»http://dotfiles.org/~uterrorista/.autostart.sh
»http://dotfiles.org/~uterrorista/menu.xml
»http://dotfiles.org/~uterrorista/rc.xml

Set the battery in conky correctly

Configure the battery at Conky can be a nightmare looking for this solution at web 'cus there isn't very information about it. I already had this problem...


ACPI battery number is given as argument, at 'funtions' battery, battery_bar and battery_percent. By default the argument is BAT0. But if it doen't work, let's find out the correct argument:

• Open the terminal and type:

$ ls /proc/acpi/battery



• There can be various kind of output:

CMB0
BAT1
BAT0
...etc
My output was: CMB0

• Open the .conkyrc file and edit to (examples):

${battery CMB0}
${battery_bar CMB0}
${battery_percent CMB0}

Obviously, replace CMB0 with the output you received earlier.

Get new Gimp's version @ Ubuntu

Today i found out that Ubuntu (& family) don't have access to the latest version of Gimp through repositories.

We're stuck with version 2.4.2 instead the new version 2.4.5.

Only Hardy Heron (8.04) will have access to it..
So lets make this happen sonner :D

• Edit the souce list:
  

$ sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list


• And add:
  

deb http://apt.schmidtke-hb.de gutsy main
deb-src http://apt.schmidtke-hb.de gutsy main


• Save and close, return to the terminal and type:

$ wget apt.schmidtke-hb.de/aptrepository.asc
$ sudo apt-key add aptrepository.asc
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get upgrade


• If you don't have Gimp yet installed, just type:

$ sudo apt-get install gimp

That's it!

Links:
»Homepage: Gimp

Debian - NVIDIA drivers

A quick and easy tutorial about how to install NVIDIA drivers as simply as possible.

Prerequisites:

As a starting point, download the latest stable drivers.

Then you’ll need to install a few packages :

$ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
Debian Sarge users have to replace linux-headers with kernel-headers.


Installation:

First you’ll need to kill the X server. You can do that by switching to console #1 : press CTRL-ALT-F1 simultaneously.

Once there, log in with your username and password.

Stop the graphical login manager :

$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
Then install the drivers :

$ sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run
and follow the installation process.

Make sure you tell the installer to automatically modify your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file so you’ll end up using the NVIDIA drivers.


Xorg.conf:

If you haven’t, then you simply have to make a few changes to your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. Here they are. Debian Sarge users have to modify /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 instead.

In Section “Modules” comment the dri and GLcore modules :

#Load "dri"
#Load "GLcore"
In Section “Device” make sure you use the NVIDIA driver :

Driver "nvidia"

And finally comment the whole Section “DRI” :

#Section "DRI"
# Mode 0666
#EndSection
Here is an example xorg.conf file with the proper changes made.


X:

Once done, load the NVIDIA module :

$ sudo modprobe nvidia
And restart the graphical login manager, which will bring back X :

$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

Tips:

If you happen to update your kernel, then you don’t need to reinstall the whole NVIDIA driver, but only the kernel module. So running this command will do the trick :

$ sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run -K