Looking forward - what linux needs to beat microsoft

Yesterday was a very sad day for me...i sometimes like to play some games (Doom 3, Halflife 2, etc...) and linux just can't do it as good as windows...so i installed windows so i could play games...i still use linux as my primary OS but have windows just so i can play games from time to time...i was thinking what could bring linux to the next level so it could beat microsoft and become the primary OS for most of the computing nation...I decided linux needed the following improvements (comments on ones you think i missed):
Easier for home use; more media options --> direct X 10 and under support, hardware exelerated drivers, faster 3d, the option of simplicity, games working out-of-the-box; perfect hardware support and auto config; always up-to-date; pretty (xgl/compiz option that comes as default). Well that's all that i have time for today...cheers.

NetBeans 6.0 M2 - First look

Today NetBeans 6.0 M2 came out and i decided i would give it a try...i also downloaded the NetBeans Profiler 6.0 M2 and have it installed as well...i have included some screenshots and thaughts/sugestions:

The installer for Netbeans 6.0 M2 and NetBeans Profiler 6.0 M2 look basicly the same as the installers from NetBeans 5.5 beta 1/2. Once installed this is NetBeans 6.0 M2 booting up:
As soon as i had NetBeans 6.0 M2 running i opened the update center to update everything and add extra functionality...There are no changes to the update center that i can see...one feature i would really like to see in NetBeans is better "module management"...at the moment i can turn modules on and off but i would like to see a blacklist feature in the update center...so you can blacklist modules you never want to install (so for me that would include the modules that disable the default cvs support)...Here is a screen shot of the update center of NetBeans 6.0 M2:
After i finished running the update center i had to restart the IDE...this is what it looked like:
Once the IDE is running again i looked around for some cool stuff...first i looked at full screen mode:
Pretty cool but i wish it support the whole screen like in the windows verion...maybe when jdk 6 Mustang comes out with gtk+ support then it will be able to get rid of the gnome panels...Also i can't wait to see how NetBeans will look under linux (gtk+) with Mustang...it will be awesome...because right now i can't say it is the pretties thing i have ever seen (although the interface is very intuitive and there is nothing netbeans could have really done about the way it looks....there are ways to buitify NetBeans (Substance) i would prefer native look and feel). Note: nothing against the UI team at NetBeans...the UI is great, very intuitive and user friendly and will be capped off on linux when Mustang comes out with gtk+ support to make it "sexy" on linux. Here is a screen shot of Full screen mode in Ubuntu 6.06 dapper:In a couple of days after using it for a little while i will report back with more things i like/dislike/like to see improved with screenshots.

Things i want to see in future releases of Netbeans

I have been learning C/C++ and gtk+ and gtkmm (the C++ bindings to gtk+). So i was thinking what i would like to see from my favourite IDE, NetBeans and i thaught tha having a cross platform gui builder for C/C++ apps using gtk+/gtkmm would be cool...gtk+ and gtkmm are cross platform so all NetBeans would have to do is create a killer gui builder like Matisse...I am very excited to try out the new Matisse in NetBeans 5.5 and NetBeans 6.0. I also recently dound out from Roumen Strobl that Jdk Mustang supports gtk++...this make me very happy because i am a linux user (i have not had windows on my laptop for about 3 months :) and i am very happy with ubuntu :)). Anyway sorry if my thaughts are a little scrambled but it is late over here in Canada. Cheers.

This is what i have set as my nickname for MSN/Yahoo/ICQ/etc.. enjoy :)
Have you had enough with windows? Yeah you have...becuase there is somthing much better...it's called linux ;) Get it today...it is free!!

Endless Information

I am setting some goals for myself for this year and in the future...Here is a list of all the things i would like to acomplish this school year (September to June).
1. Work hard at school and stay on the honor role all year
2. Do the best i can do (give a full effort)

Programming objectives (over the next couple of years)
1. Make sure i know all of J2SE like the back of my hand and make sure i know all the new Mustang API's
2. Learn J2ME and all of its API's
3. Learn J2EE and all the fun stuff that comes along with it.
4. Learn C
5. Learn C++
6. Learn the linux C API's (gtk)
7. Learn the linux C++ API's (gtkmm)
8. Learn C# and Mono
9. Learn some scripting languages like js, perl, groovy, beanshell, etc...
10. Learn Python
11. Keep up to date on all of the langauges and thier API's

It is quite the list but i think it is possable to do...it is a lot of learning but it will be fun :)

Ignorance Kills

I was googling around looking for something interesting and come across an article called "Is You Son a Computer Hacker?" by Reginald Gibbons. I thaught i would look interesting so i went and started reading... after a couple minuites i was very, very upset because the article was total BS!! After a little bit of thinking i thaught it might be a joke but i found that it was not...i was frustrated by his ignorance in writting about something he had apsolutly no clue about. I will give you an overview of the article with my thaughts on each part.

How to determine if your kid is a Hacker Acording to Reginald Gibbons

1. Has your son asked you to change ISPs?
Gibbons: "If your child is becoming a hacker, one of his first steps will be to request a change to a more hacker friendly provider."

Me: This is tottal BS...changing to a different ISP is not a sign of becoming a hacker...especialy if you are switching from slow AOL...

2. Are you finding programs on your computer that you don't remember installing?
Gibbons: "Your son will probably try to install some hacker software." ... "Popular hacker software includes 'Comet Cursor', 'Bonzi Buddy' and 'Flash'."

Me: [[Comet Cursor: A program which allows websites to change your mouse cursor when you are on their website to get the full effect of the webpage]]. It is by no means a hacker program AT ALL. You would have to be a complete idiot to think so!! [[Bonzi Buddy: A web enhancing program packaged with various other programs]]...this is just a little app that is packed with spyware/malware/adware that helps you browse the internet...hackers have apsolutly no uses for this program...what are they going to do with it? ask the monkey what to do next? At the end of Gibbons list is 'Flash'...when i say this is was just shocked that somebody could be soo ignorant...Flash has no uses for hackers at all!! All it does is enhance the experiance of internet users.

3. Has your child asked for new hardware?
Gibbons: "Computer hackers are often limited by conventional computer hardware. They may request 'faster' video cards, and larger hard drives, or even more memory. " ... "If your son has requested a new 'processor' from a company called 'AMD', this is genuine cause for alarm. AMD is a third-world based company who make inferior, "knock-off" copies of American processor chips. They use child labor extensively in their third world sweatshops, and they deliberately disable the security features that American processor makers, such as Intel, use to prevent hacking. AMD chips are never sold in stores, and you will most likely be told that you have to order them from internet sites. Do not buy this chip! This is one request that you must refuse your son, if you are to have any hope of raising him well."

Me: First off as a geek i love getting new hardware...not because i am a hacker and am "limited by conventional harware" but because i enjoy getting the best performance from my machine. Gibbons mentions that hackers may request hardware like a faster videocard, a larger harddrive or more memory...A hacker would not prosper by having a faster videocard..it would not effect him at all...most hacking is done through a console unlike most hacker movie show (eg. Swordfish and the hacking GUI). Then he comes to saying that "AMD is a third-world based company who make inferior, "knock-off" copies of American processor chips." This is the one of the stupidest thing i think i have ever heard... [[AMD is the second largest microprocessor producer in the world]] and just because they leave thier processors more open so they can be overclocked easier does not mean they are more hacker friendly. [[Most computers you buy retail now have AMD chips in them, because they are less expensive, and much quicker, thus enhancing the computing experience]].

4. Does your child read hacking manuals?
Gibbons: "There are, unfortunately, many hacking manuals available in bookshops today. A few titles to be on the lookout for are: 'Snow Crash' and 'Cryptonomicon' by Neal Stephenson; 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson; 'Programming with Perl' by Timothy O'Reilly; 'Geeks' by Jon Katz; 'The Hacker Crackdown' by Bruce Sterling; 'Microserfs' by Douglas Coupland; 'Hackers' by Steven Levy; and 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar' by Eric S. Raymond." ... "If you find any of these hacking manuals in your child's possession, confiscate them immediately."

Me: Sure there are many hacker books on the market...it is an interesting topic. [[Oh man...Programming With Perl? Your son would not like to become a hacker, but rather a coder for a large computer software company or internet company. Thanks, dad, for crushing his dreams of one day becoming a multimillionaire.]]

5. How much time does your child spend using the computer each day?
Gibbons: "If your son spends more than thirty minutes each day on the computer, he may be using it to DOS other peoples sites." ... "This can take up to eight hours."

Me: Most teens don't spend thier time on the computer using Dos to gain control of other peoples computer...they spend their time playing games and don't harm anything. By the way Dos'ing is more commonly known as 'flooding'. [[DOS'ing usually doesn't take 8 hours, although I can see that on AOL...It'd take 8 hours just to send out that many signals to one system, and more than likely it wouldn't be effective. ]]

6. Does your son use Quake?
Gibbons: "Quake is an online virtual reality used by hackers. t is a popular meeting place and training ground, where they discuss hacking and train in the use of various firearms. Many hackers develop anti-social tendencies due to the use of this virtual world, and it may cause erratic behaviour at home and at school."

Me: Quake is a GAME not a virtual reality used by hackers to train. Train in the use of variouse firearms? It is just a game...a first person shooter...the guns are not real!!

7. Is your son becoming argumentative and surly in his social behaviour?
Gibbons: "As a child enters the electronic world of hacking, he may become disaffected with the real world. He may lose the ability to control his actions, or judge the rightness or wrongness of a course of behaviour. This will manifest itself soonest in the way he treats others. Those whom he disagrees with will be met with scorn, bitterness, and even foul language. He may utter threats of violence of a real or electronic nature."

Me: Just because a child is interested in computers doesn't mean he will become disconnected with the "real world". Hackers are people too, and they function like all other people...just becuase they are hackers doesn't mean they fit the hacker stereo type... Also note that adolence could be effecting thier behavior.

8. Is your son obsessed with "Lunix"?
Gibbons: "BSD, Lunix, Debian and Mandrake are all versions of an illegal hacker operation system, invented by a Soviet computer hacker named Linyos Torovoltos, before the Russians lost the Cold War. It is based on a program called 'xenix', which was written by Microsoft for the US government. These programs are used by hackers to break into other people's computer systems to steal credit card numbers. They may also be used to break into people's stereos to steal their music, using the "mp3" program. Torovoltos is a notorious hacker, responsible for writing many hacker programs, such as "telnet", which is used by hackers to connect to machines on the internet without using a telephone.

Your son may try to install 'lunix' on your hard drive. If he is careful, you may not notice its presence, however, lunix is a capricious beast, and if handled incorrectly, your son may damage your computer, and even break it completely by deleting Windows, at which point you will have to have your computer repaired by a professional."

Me: When i read this section i was enraged...Lunix is a usinx based operating system for the commador 64...if your kid is still using one of those you should consider upgrading. First off linux is not an illegal operating system!! Lunix is different from every other example Gibbons gave... the rest use the linux kernel where Lunix has it's own. The linux kernel developed by Linyos Torovoltos is not based on xenix but is inspired by Minix. I have no clue where Gibbons comes up with his facts but i have yet to find one that is true. I have no clue what gibbons was doing when he wrote this article but this section is TOTTAL BS and makes no sence what so ever. [[Break into their stereos? In case you didn't notice when you were setting up your system, you didn't hook your stereo up to your computer...or wait, did you? God knows what happened when you set that thing up. MP3 files are compressed CD Audio files, and are used widely in the daily range of activities. And what's this bullsh*t about not noticing if Linux is installed? IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEM THAT REPLACES WINDOWS!!! It's impossible not to notice it. It'd be clear as day when your dumb ass couldn't figure out why the f*ck your system had completely changed. And Linux is very easily removed by inserting your Compaq Recovery CD. And just for your info, when you send your computer back to the manufacturer, they're going to just restore it using the recovery CD, and laugh all day because of how idiotic you are.]]

9. Has your son radically changed his appearance?
Gibbons: "If your son has undergone a sudden change in his style of dress, you may have a hacker on your hands. Hackers tend to dress in bright, day-glo colors. They may wear baggy pants, bright colored shirts and spiky hair dyed in bright colors to match their clothes. They may take to carrying "glow-sticks" and some wear pacifiers around their necks. (I have no idea why they do this) There are many such hackers in schools today, and your son may have started to associate with them. If you notice that your son's group of friends includes people dressed like this, it is time to think about a severe curfew, to protect him from dangerous influences."

Me: In the section above Gibbons mentions that the creator of the linux kernel, Linyos Torovoltos is a computer hacker...to the left is a picture of him. Does he meet the description of a hacker acording to Gibbons? No because hes is NOT a hacker. [[I believer you're referring to the ever-growing group of stylists known as "ravers". They go to parties known as raves, and usually are on some form of sedative or the like. Special-K, i.e. Ketamine is highly popular, because it is easy to find and cheap to purchase. It is cat tranquilizer in small doses, and horse tranquilizer in large doses. Nextly, E, or extasy, is the next most popular drug. It is ingested in the form of a pill, and cause people to "roll" at raves, because of the intense lightshows. If your son was wearing raver clothing, more than likely you shouldn't worry about him being a hacker, but rather being under the influence of some drug or another. Nice detective work, Sherlock.]]

10. Is your son struggling academically?
Gibbons: "

If your son is failing courses in school, or performing poorly on sports teams, he may be involved in a hacking group, such as the infamous "Otaku" hacker association. Excessive time spent on the computer, communicating with his fellow hackers may cause temporary damage to the eyes and brain, from the electromagnetic radiation. This will cause his marks to slip dramatically, particularly in difficult subjects such as Math, and Chemistry. In extreme cases, over-exposure to computer radiation can cause schizophrenia, meningitis and other psychological diseases. Also, the reduction in exercise may cause him to lose muscle mass, and even to start gaining weight. For the sake of your child's mental and physical health, you must put a stop to his hacking, and limit his computer time drastically.
I encourage all parents to read through this guide carefully. Your child's future may depend upon it. Hacking is an illegal and dangerous activity, that may land your child in prison, and tear your family apart. It cannot be taken too seriously."

Me: Computers help chiI was googling around looking for something interesting and come across an article called "Is You Son a Computer Hacker?" by Reginald Gibbons. I thaught i would look interesting so i went and started reading... after a couple minuites i was very, very upset because the article was total BS!! After a little bit of thinking i thaught it might be a joke but i found that it was not...i was frustrated by his ignorance in writting about something he had apsolutly no clue about. I will give you an overview of the article with my thaughts on each part.

How to determine if your kid is a Hacker Acording to Reginald Gibbons

1. Has your son asked you to change ISPs?
Gibbons: "If your child is becoming a hacker, one of his first steps will be to request a change to a more hacker friendly provider."

Me: This is tottal BS...changing to a different ISP is not a sign of becoming a hacker...especialy if you are switching from slow AOL...

2. Are you finding programs on your computer that you don't remember installing?
Gibbons: "Your son will probably try to install some hacker software." ... "Popular hacker software includes 'Comet Cursor', 'Bonzi Buddy' and 'Flash'."

Me: . It is by no means a hacker program AT ALL. You would have to be a complete idiot to think so!! ...this is just a little app that is packed with spyware/malware/adware that helps you browse the internet...hackers have apsolutly no uses for this program...what are they going to do with it? ask the monkey what to do next? At the end of Gibbons list is 'Flash'...when i say this is was just shocked that somebody could be soo ignorant...Flash has no uses for hackers at all!! All it does is enhance the experiance of internet users.

3. Has your child asked for new hardware?
Gibbons: "Computer hackers are often limited by conventional computer hardware. They may request 'faster' video cards, and larger hard drives, or even more memory. " ... "If your son has requested a new 'processor' from a company called 'AMD', this is genuine cause for alarm. AMD is a third-world based company who make inferior, "knock-off" copies of American processor chips. They use child labor extensively in their third world sweatshops, and they deliberately disable the security features that American processor makers, such as Intel, use to prevent hacking. AMD chips are never sold in stores, and you will most likely be told that you have to order them from internet sites. Do not buy this chip! This is one request that you must refuse your son, if you are to have any hope of raising him well."

Me: First off as a geek i love getting new hardware...not because i am a hacker and am "limited by conventional harware" but because i enjoy getting the best performance from my machine. Gibbons mentions that hackers may request hardware like a faster videocard, a larger harddrive or more memory...A hacker would not prosper by having a faster videocard..it would not effect him at all...most hacking is done through a console unlike most hacker movie show (eg. Swordfish and the hacking GUI). Then he comes to saying that "AMD is a third-world based company who make inferior, "knock-off" copies of American processor chips." This is the one of the stupidest thing i think i have ever heard... and just because they leave thier processors more open so they can be overclocked esiar does not mean they are more hacker friendly.

4. Does your child read hacking manuals?
Gibbons: "There are, unfortunately, many hacking manuals available in bookshops today. A few titles to be on the lookout for are: 'Snow Crash' and 'Cryptonomicon' by Neal Stephenson; 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson; 'Programming with Perl' by Timothy O'Reilly; 'Geeks' by Jon Katz; 'The Hacker Crackdown' by Bruce Sterling; 'Microserfs' by Douglas Coupland; 'Hackers' by Steven Levy; and 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar' by Eric S. Raymond." ... "If you find any of these hacking manuals in your child's possession, confiscate them immediately."

Me: Sure there are many hacker books on the market...it is an interesting topic.

5. How much time does your child spend using the computer each day?
Gibbons: "If your son spends more than thirty minutes each day on the computer, he may be using it to DOS other peoples sites." ... "This can take up to eight hours."

Me: Most teens don't spend thier time on the computer using Dos to gain control of other peoples computer...they spend their time playing games and don't harm anything. By the way Dos'ing is more commonly known as 'flooding'.

6. Does your son use Quake?
Gibbons: "Quake is an online virtual reality used by hackers. t is a popular meeting place and training ground, where they discuss hacking and train in the use of various firearms. Many hackers develop anti-social tendencies due to the use of this virtual world, and it may cause erratic behaviour at home and at school."

Me: Quake is a GAME not a virtual reality used by hackers to train. Train in the use of variouse firearms? It is just a game...a first person shooter...the guns are not real!!

7. Is your son becoming argumentative and surly in his social behaviour?
Gibbons: "As a child enters the electronic world of hacking, he may become disaffected with the real world. He may lose the ability to control his actions, or judge the rightness or wrongness of a course of behaviour. This will manifest itself soonest in the way he treats others. Those whom he disagrees with will be met with scorn, bitterness, and even foul language. He may utter threats of violence of a real or electronic nature."

Me: Just because a child is interested in computers doesn't mean he will become disconnected with the "real world". Hackers are people too, and they function like all other people...just becuase they are hackers doesn't mean they fit the hacker stereo type... Also note that adolence could be effecting thier behavior.

8. Is your son obsessed with "Lunix"?
Gibbons: "BSD, Lunix, Debian and Mandrake are all versions of an illegal hacker operation system, invented by a Soviet computer hacker named Linyos Torovoltos, before the Russians lost the Cold War. It is based on a program called 'xenix', which was written by Microsoft for the US government. These programs are used by hackers to break into other people's computer systems to steal credit card numbers. They may also be used to break into people's stereos to steal their music, using the "mp3" program. Torovoltos is a notorious hacker, responsible for writing many hacker programs, such as "telnet", which is used by hackers to connect to machines on the internet without using a telephone.

Your son may try to install 'lunix' on your hard drive. If he is careful, you may not notice its presence, however, lunix is a capricious beast, and if handled incorrectly, your son may damage your computer, and even break it completely by deleting Windows, at which point you will have to have your computer repaired by a professional."

Me: When i read this section i was enraged...Lunix is a usinx based operating system for the commador 64...if your kid is still using one of those you should consider upgrading. First off linux is not an illegal operating system!! Lunix is different from every other example Gibbons gave... the rest use the linux kernel where Lunix has it's own. The linux kernel developed by Linyos Torovoltos is not based on xenix but is inspired by Minix. I have no clue where Gibbons comes up with his facts but i have yet to find one that is true. I have no clue what gibbons was doing when he wrote this article but this section is TOTTAL BS and makes no sence what so ever.

9. Has your son radically changed his appearance?
Gibbons: "If your son has undergone a sudden change in his style of dress, you may have a hacker on your hands. Hackers tend to dress in bright, day-glo colors. They may wear baggy pants, bright colored shirts and spiky hair dyed in bright colors to match their clothes. They may take to carrying "glow-sticks" and some wear pacifiers around their necks. (I have no idea why they do this) There are many such hackers in schools today, and your son may have started to associate with them. If you notice that your son's group of friends includes people dressed like this, it is time to think about a severe curfew, to protect him from dangerous influences."

Me: In the section above Gibbons mentions that the creator of the linux kernel, Linyos Torovoltos is a computer hacker...to the left is a picture of him. Does he meet the description of a hacker acording to Gibbons? No because hes is NOT a hacker.

10. Is your son struggling academically?
Gibbons: "

If your son is failing courses in school, or performing poorly on sports teams, he may be involved in a hacking group, such as the infamous "Otaku" hacker association. Excessive time spent on the computer, communicating with his fellow hackers may cause temporary damage to the eyes and brain, from the electromagnetic radiation. This will cause his marks to slip dramatically, particularly in difficult subjects such as Math, and Chemistry. In extreme cases, over-exposure to computer radiation can cause schizophrenia, meningitis and other psychological diseases. Also, the reduction in exercise may cause him to lose muscle mass, and even to start gaining weight. For the sake of your child's mental and physical health, you must put a stop to his hacking, and limit his computer time drastically.
I encourage all parents to read through this guide carefully. Your child's future may depend upon it. Hacking is an illegal and dangerous activity, that may land your child in prison, and tear your family apart. It cannot be taken too seriously."

Me: Computers help childern learn...i am done commenting on Gibbons total disregard to the truth and the facts. [[Well since you bought a new computer, emissions standards have virtually eliminated all radiation by computers, disproving your brain and eye damage theory. Most hackers are very intelligent, and excel in such subjects as math and foreign languages. And for everyone's knowledge, meningitis is NOT A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISEASE!!! IT'S BACTERIAL!!!]]

Note: text enclosed by [[]] is quoted from here

Conclusion:
Answering Gibbons questions:

1. Yes...i have changed my ISP a couple times [i wanted a faster conection].
2. I have flash on my linux laptop (the other programs do not work on linux i believe)
3. Yes i have asked for new hardware for variose computers in my house.
4. Yes i read hacking manuals because they are interesting (The unofficial guide to ethical hacking)
5. I spend many many hours a day on my computer. A lot more than 30 minuites a day...if i had the restriction i would die.
6. I have never played Quake but i have played quake 4 and 3...
7. No...just because i am a geek doesn't mean i do not have a life
8. Yes i love linux :)
9. Sometimes for fun :)
10. I only struggle accademicly when i don't work

So...acording to Gibbons i am a hacker. (Note that Gibbons is using the term 'Hacker' in a foul way. As in breaking the law.) I am not denying that i am a hacker...i will leave it up to you to decide (see this [note the bottom text])
Note: the term hacker takes on many meanings. Some of which are:
1. One who is proficient at using or programming a computer; a computer buff.
2. One who uses programming skills to gain illegal access to a computer network or file
ldern learn...i am done commenting on Gibbons total disregard to the truth and the facts.

Note: text enclosed by [[]] is quoted from here

Conclusion:
Answering Gibbons questions:

1. Yes...i have changed my ISP a couple times [i wanted a faster conection].
2. I have flash on my linux laptop (the other programs do not work on linux i believe)
3. Yes i have asked for new hardware for variose computers in my house.
4. Yes i read hacking manuals because they are interesting (The unofficial guide to ethical hacking)
5. I spend many many hours a day on my computer. A lot more than 30 minuites a day...if i had the restriction i would die.
6. I have never played Quake but i have played quake 4 and 3...
7. No...just because i am a geek doesn't mean i do not have a life
8. Yes i love linux :)
9. Sometimes for fun :)
10. I only struggle accademicly when i don't work

So...acording to Gibbons i am a hacker. (Note that Gibbons is using the term 'Hacker' in a foul way. As in breaking the law.) I am not denying that i am a hacker...i will leave it up to you to decide (see this [note the bottom text])
Note: the term hacker takes on many meanings. Some of which are:
1. One who is proficient at using or programming a computer; a computer buff.
2. One who uses programming skills to gain illegal access to a computer network or file

Vacation / update

As you have probably noticed i have not blogged for over a week now...that is because i am on vaction at a lake in the north of Ontario, Canada. I can't not do much becuase of my broken leg so i brought a couple of books (C++ Primer, Linux Application Development and Beginning Linux Development) so i have been doign quite a bit of reading. When i get home i get my server because i had to fix some computers before i could recieve it...My house is now all running linux (except one computer which is running windows XP because my mom won't let me switch it). Anyway...i am hoping to start that podcast soon and am looking for somebody to do it with so if you are interested then give me a shout at my email . Anyway enjoy your summer (my vaction ends next weekend).

Netbeans 5.5 beta 2

I just downloaded Netbeans 5.5 beta 2 (althought it was released a while ago i have been out with my broken leg). I am excited to check the NetBeans Enterprise pack and the C/C++ pack (although the beta 2 has not been released for either). I will install it tomorrow and tell what i think (from what i have read it looks apsoluly phenomenal :) ). Cheers

The spirit of open source and community

Humanity to others. I am what i am because of what we are. These two statements are on the ubuntu homepage and they really got me thinking. Community is one of the best things about opensource...sure the source is available (which is handy), the product is free (which is nice), there are quick updates and bug fixes, and the consumer recieves a very inovative product but whould all these things happen without a community? The source will always be available (or ir wouldn't be opensource) but without a community to download and test/look over what would be the point? Having the source open to the community speeds up the production time of the product and makes the product more invative because users can find errors in the product and notify the developers. One of the best things about community is that there are very helpful mailing lists and forums. For example the ubuntu forums and the netbeans mailing lists. You can get endless information from these sources; not to mention when a new thread is posted it is usually resonded to in minuites :)
REMEBER: community drives much of opensource and enhances products...so get involved!!

My Misfourtune

Sorry i have not posted in a while....on Thursday July 13 at aproximately 10:25AM i was playing soccer with some friends in a courtyard surrounded by a foot and a half concrete wall that enclosed a garden. A wooden bench was attached to the wall all the way around. The soccer ball got kicked up onto the garden and i went up to retrive it...i got the ball off the flower bed and kicked the ball off the bench which was wet because it rained the day before...I slipped and because i was moving fast went quite a distance and hit the ground at aproximately a 30 degree angle and twisted my right leg. Thirty minutes later the ambulance arived and and put me on a streacher and brought me to the hostpital where i was told i have a broken leg. That night i went into surgery. I am now back at home although i am in quite a bit of pain [not to mention i can't work anymore so i can't make any money :'( ] Anyway...i will be able to post a lot more because i am home for the rest of the summer.

Edgy Eft, hope and linux...and of couse NetBeans

At the moment i am very, very excited for the release of ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft), Java 6 (Mustang), NetBeans 5.5 and NetBeans 6.0. Ubuntu 6.10 is going to be awesome because it will probably have xgl and compiz working out of the box (hopefully) and now that 8.26.18 ati propriatary fglrx beta driver is out and supports my card (the Radeon 200M) i will have 3D support :). Hopefully the new ati driver will be done for the new release of ubuntu. One thing ATI needs to do is to either open source their propriatary driver (which i know they will not do because it will give away too much about their cards) or put a distributor licence on it so it can be distributed freely by open source vendors like ubuntu and other linux distros. I am excited for java 6 (Mustang) because it is much faster and looks better on linux. I am also very excited for NetBeans 5.5 and am very much antisipating NetBeans 6.0. Before i start school again in the fall i am going to make a clean install of Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) with NetBeans 5.5 (Enterprise pack, C/C++ pack, Mobility pack and profiler) running on Java 6 Mustang. It will be awesome..anyway..i have to read up on driving in Canada (I have to write my drivers test).

To all i wish the best...thanks for reading.

Winning the Windows Vs. Linux Battle

Microsoft has been promising a lot of nice new features in Vista. You can check them out here. I am going to make a little comparison of the features and we'll see who you think will come out on top...

Look and Feel ["eye candy"]
Windows: Direct X 10 looks intersting...I like the thumbnail view when you go ever an item in the startbar...but really there LAF is not that great...it is just glass XP...not to mention it is very, very bulky, heavy wieght and slow.

Linux: First off XGL is open source, looks great and doesn't take a super-human machine to run...it is not to hard to install and is supose to be installed right off the bat in futute releases of ubuntu, SuSE and other distros. The only hinderance i have experianced is my fglrx drivers just won't work therefore i can not install XGL.

Sidebar
Windows: Looks pretty but i would not want it because it would just make windows even slower than it alread is...could be usefull though...lots of funtionality (see this for more info)

Linux: This can be done with gdesklets which are pretty nice...i noticed no preformace drops when using them and they are open source!! There could be more funtionality but it is basicly there (+ there is probably a plugin somewhere)

Performance
Windows: The slowest windows ever! Although it does have some cool features like sleep.

Linux: Has always been very, very fast but i wish there was a sleep option and a hibernate option that is not as flaky.

Backup
Windows: This is the only place i can see windows beating linux (and only by a little)...i really like the idea of "Volume Shadow Copy" and "System Restore".

Linux: You can do something like "system resote" with a opensource tool called "sbackup", but i wish it were more intigrated with the system. As i said above i really like the idea of "Volume Shadow Copy" and as i am aware there is no tool to do this in linux...an nice intigration into OpenOffice and the rest of the systemw would be great.

Networking
Windows: From what i have seen of Vista microsoft has spent a lot of time with the interface and it is pretty and has basicly said "screw performance". The network manager looks very nice and user friendly...

Linux: networking in linux is very nice if your hardware is supported...and now adays everything is...(wireless is soon going to be shiped by default) and iff not you can use ndiswrapper (that is what i use)...gnome network manager is very nice and simple to use...and the networking tools in linux are phenomenal.

Other:
I really like windows media center...on linux there is myth tv which is good as well...Gaming and family safe programs are also neat...linux needs to get these because as far as i know it doesn't. I think the "Windows slideshow" feature is interesting but basicly useless...once laptops with this new built in technology linux will adapt. Speech recognition in windows vista also looks very interesting...linux needs something like it...something integrated into the sysem.

What i am doing this Summer

This summer is going to be a very busy summer for me...I am working full time (10 hour days) at Elite Machine and Gear Inc. (EMG) and part time at Egar tool and Die. I wish i could be working coding but that is just not going to happen because it is basicly impossable to get imployed at my age for Computer Science. If anyone want to employ me give me a shout at my email address ;) Anyway...from July 4 to 14 i am going to summer school to prepare for Grade 11 University Math. Then during the last week of July i am taking holidays and going up north to Nipissing (a decent size lake). Then i am back to work until i start school.

Now on the technical side of my summer i would like to learn more about C/C++, C#, coding in linux, the linux kernel, gtk and netbeans platform and API's. I was thinking about writing some stuff on top of banshee (front end to encode video to ipods) and i would really like to write a program like Alcohol 120%. If anyone would like to join me or has any suggestions, feel free to comment. Thanks.

New Module Development Tutorials available

Some new Module Development tutorials are availble at netbeans.org regarding Nodes API. They are very usefull (i have already finished one and am on my way to reading the other). You can check them out here or can read more info about them here.

Anyone up for developing some linux Apps?

Lately i have been searching around for some good linux media players and have only found one that i really like but it was not tottaly up to my exspectations. I could not get the plugins working and i need the podcasting features. Plus it does not support syncing video onto ipods. I then proceeded to notice that there needs to be alot more apps for linux and more easier installs for new users. Due to the minimal software support in some areas (and software that is not up to standards) i have been wanted to make a development team that makes apps that make it easier to use linux and add functionality. I would perticularily like to see a music player that is extensible, easy to use, pretty, functional, full ipod support, video support, ect... It could be done by using the GStreamer API and the alike. I also noticed it is a pain to mount iso images (you have to do it from console [i could not find an app like alcohol 120%]). I did find an app called Bonfire that is very nice. You can check it out here. Anyways if anyone is interested in forming a development team to start making some nice apps that make life easier feel free to comment.

Vista Beta 2 released to the public

As you have probably noticed i am not a bug fan of Windows. Windows has recently released Vista Beta 2 for the publc to try and i have heard good and bad about it. It is suposably much faster but is made for the computer iliterate (it is a pain having a menu oriented system). It does look very pretty tho... I will maybe give it a a try but will definitly not abondon my ubuntu :) If anyone has tried Vista Beta 2 tell me what you think.

TTR-Linux

As some of you might know i have started a new blog with a friend of mine deticated to linux topics. You can check it out here. Anyway we haven't been getting many views so i decided to let some people know about it. I also found an interesting screen name on the ubuntu forums so i decided i would close with it:

"Microsoft gives you Windows, but Linux gives you the whole house!"

My new toy

Today i went to Future shop and found a hard drive enclosure for $44 CAD. Although i thaught it had a 80gb harddrive i was not very disapointed when i saw that it didn't. I then went to Sams club (similar to Cosco) and found 200gb 7200rpm Maxtor hard drives for $115 CAD. So i bought it ad put the two together and bang!! i now have a 200gb external hard drive that works great in linux. And to boot i got it for like $150 CAD!!

Bye Bye Windows :)

I have not posted for while a while beacuase i have been crazy busy getting rady for exams and finishing summatives (exam week/s starts next Thursday). Anyway yesterday i was resizing my ntfs partition because i wanted to make a clean install of ubuntu 6.06 dapper LTS (32 bit). I was using GParted on the ubuntu live install CD and it failed and screwed up my ntfs partion. I had all my school work, music and apps on it!! So i got myself a Windows XP cd and booted to the recovery console. Then i repared my mbs using the command 'fixboot' an then re-wrote the mbr by using the command 'fixboot'. Then i proceeded to reboot. Windows gave me a blue screen so i rebooted again and poped in the ubuntu live install CD. Once the live installer CD booted i edited /etc/fstab so i could mount my ntfs partition. (Note: before i 'fixboot' and 'fixmbr' nothing could read the filesystem of my damaged ntfs partion). Then I got my dad's portable harddrive and copyed my data from that. Resault: I have saved all my data and live without windows :) I still have not yet got my ATI propriatary drivers working (there is some issues with the driver for the Radeon 200M)...if anyone knows how to get them working it would be really nice if they could show me how because i am becoming very frustrated with it. Or if someone knows of any third party driver (that supports 3d acceleration) give me a shoot. Anyway...i have to get back to homework.

ATI and BCM3418 drivers are not working :(

Lately i have been working extremely hard doing school work and getting ready for exams. On my spare time i have been trying Ubuntu 6.06 (I have been using linux for over half a year). I apsolutely love it but have been having a hang of a time getting it to work. The ATI drivers are being very anoying (they don't install correctly no matter what tutorial i use...i have a Radeon 200M and have to use the older driver because ATI broke the new driver for my card). On the weekend i got wireless working (i have a Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02) wireless card) but it only worked for one connetion and i have not been able to get it running since (Note: i used this guide: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=185174). If anybody knows how to get ubuntu 6.06 dapper on the compaq R4000 with the ATI Radeon 200M and Broadcom BCM4318 wireless card feel free to link me to a tutorial or tell. Currently it is a pain in the but to get the wireless and ATI driver working so if i can find a way that works then i will make a shell script so it is easier for others to get it working. BTW, a friend and I have started a new blog about linux that will have many resources like i just specified...we also are working on how-to manuals. You can check it out at ttr-linux.blogspot.com.

Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper LTS released

Today Ubuntu 6.06 dapper LTS was released. I was running SuSE 10.1 with Gnome 2.14 because i was trying to get XGL and my ATI propriatary drivers working. I highly recomend Ubuntu 6.06 (i have been using the development releases since Flight 6). I am definitly going to be downloading and installing it tonight. You can go check out Ubuntu 6.06 dapper LTS here.