Software

This section covers software designed primarily for a standalone computer. All the popular Linux distros come bundled with software as part of the basic installation, and that may be enough for your immediate needs. But suppose the software application you want is not part of the basic installation. The first place to look is in the application repositories. Linux software comes in packages, simply locate what you need then download and install it to customise your machine.

Video converters

Just when you think a particular video format has become the norm, then somebody goes and creates a new one, better, faster more compact etc.

Or your favourite video clip has been recorded in some proprietary format. Whatever the reason, somebody somewhere wants to convert one format to another. This is by no means a definitive list, but here are some converters which have been used and reviewed.

SME Server - Email & Webmail Part 1

Introduction

SME-Server - What is it, it is nothing short of brilliant! At it's core is the CentOS Linux system and if that puts you off then it shouldn't as SME Server is one of the easiest configurable email server money can't buy. Being Linux of course it's free SoSLUG has been using this email server without failure since at least 2008. The worst problem we have ever had is the upgrade and even that is pretty easy. First of all let me tell you what SME Server isn't, you can not just install this server and not think about security, for one thing SME Server won't let you, so planning is a must for this server build.

Bash Scripts - An example

I thought I might share with you, those that are interested that is, how you might write your own useful "bash script". Well just what is a "Bash" script? to answer that you first need to know where the word Bash comes from, it is a *nix term given to one of the many various shell(s) in use the likes of Unix, Linux and yes Mac's, of which these are only accessible from the terminal. A terminal console on it's own does very little it needs to run using a shell of some sought, these shells and by now there are a few of them for *nix family essentially do different jobs, but the one you are most likely to use is the bash shell as it is perhaps the most popular.

There are few things more satisfying than a good backup

Introduction

Backups rely for the most part, on *unix at least (something called "cron" jobs), wikipedia defines cron as follows:-

Cron is a time-based job scheduler in Unix-like computer operating systems. The name cron comes from the word "chronos", Greek for "time". Cron enables users to schedule jobs (commands or shell scripts) to run periodically at certain times or dates. It is commonly used to automate system maintenance or administration, though its general-purpose nature means that it can be used for other purposes, such as connecting to the Internet and downloading email.

Cron is without doubt the workhorse of the *unix system it schedules all the jobs you want completed at a certain time. You need to think of cron as nothing more than an alarm clock. The only difference with this alarm clock is that multiple alarms can be set to run multiple single instruction commands or scripts. You perhaps better off to think of cron as a table this table allows instructions by way of digits, wild cards and commands that can be entered on one or more instances.

Vim or V(Improved)

I came across this article today on Liinux.com there are any number of similar tutorials elsewhere on the net and each have there merits. "Vi" or "Vim" for that matter is a console application used for many functions including programming and file editing.

Note what follows in this article explicitly for beginners new to Vim.

Wall messages to server admins and users

From time to time it is important to let others know what you intend to do the server by way of maintenance to that server. It has some good points and some bad so not ideal to communicate with one another when working on the site together.

Maverick Meerkat Ubuntu Version 10.10 & "tasksel"

Tasksel is a Debian/Ubuntu tool that installs multiple related packages as a co-ordinated "task" onto your system.

This function is similar to that of meta-packages, and, in fact, most of the tasks available from tasksel are also available as meta-packages from the Ubuntu package managers (such as Synaptic Package Manager or KPackageKit).

Can you open a PDF in Office - No!!!

Introduction

What do you mean you can not edit a PDF document in Office, this certainly used to be the case! The only way SoSLUG previously found to edit a PDF file and belive you me we looked, you first needed to import any PDF into "Inkscape" and convert, whilst you can edit the file and alter it you needed to save the file either as an "Inkscape" drawing or save back to a PDF by exporting. Whilst there is little problem with this if you needed to continually edit the file it can be a bit of a pain.

Recording a Guitar solo into Audacity

First of all get your bass Guitar, DON'T plug it in your amp it may not be needed, convert the Guitar lead from standard jack down to a [3.5mm adapter] and plug it in your mic or line-in port for your sound card or laptop.

Then go to your sound preferences in puseaudio and make sure that input is enabled on the Hardware Tab (e.g. Stereo Duplex instead of Stereo Output) and select your input tab after that set your volume to 100% you can then run up [audacity] set the record In to mic then record.