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Re: Web/Sql development environments
by Christopher Dawkins 31 Dec '06

31 Dec '06

>> Are there any mature and easy to use software development environments >> for Web/Database programming? I reckon PHP/MySQL but that may be only because that's as far as I have gone. > If you've not touched rails, and you want something nice, I suggest > django, uses a postgres backend by default, though supports multiple > others IMHO the problem with any of these is "lock in", and when they change their system you have to change with it. All us PHP developers got a nasty shock a few years ago when the "register globals" policy was changed, and we (basically) had to declare our variables in order to keep our code running. Long-term code needs to be able to run on any server under any configuration, and while this is impossible it's a lot more likely if it uses common and basic resources. I looked into Django and Dojo, and they're just - well - "big" (and Dojo seems to need Flash on the client to preserve state, and Flash has now been de-licensed for all BSD platforms except the Mac). Most effects can be created using basic HTML/CSS/Javascript - look, for example, at AHAH instead of Ajax. Of course, for progress we need bleeding-edge programmers to try out all these new things. -- Christopher Dawkins Garnetts Corner, Braintree Road, Felsted, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3DS cchd(a)pjcd.org 07816 821659 01371 821076

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Defective By Design - Petitioning Number 10 on DRM.
by Ten 31 Dec '06

31 Dec '06

Hi all. Please consider the petition for the beloved persons in government to look at banning DRM. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bandrm/ I won't go on at great length about the evils of hardware, software and commercial media being "defective by design", of paying consumers being penalised (and presupposed to be dishonest) while the "pirate" suffers no ill effects, or of the threats to innovation and Free software that this technology carries along with it. This sort of nonsense is on the cusp of being an inescapable problem without much fuss, so those who have any issues with it might consider it important to make a noise at the earliest opportunity. I will leave this in the hands of the reader, although if you were apathetic or inclined to living happily with defective systems, you probably wouldn't be reading this here. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone here's already signed it that wants to. Apologies for the sort of spam, but hey, it's important. Cheers. -- There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary, and those who don't.

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None
by None 30 Dec '06

30 Dec '06

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Web/Sql development environments
by cl＠isbd.net 30 Dec '06

30 Dec '06

Are there any mature and easy to use software development environments for Web/Database programming? I don't really mind what language mySql/PHP seems the obvious pair but it doesn't necessarily have to be those two. I'm after writing a Web enabled database application and would like to choose a good way to do it. -- Chris Green (chris(a)halon.org.uk)

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Removing Ubuntu
by Simon Royal 29 Dec '06

29 Dec '06

Hi I have a PowerBook G3 that dual boots between Mac OSX Tiger and Ubuntu 6. I want to remove the Ubuntu and have a single installation of Mac OSX. Well actually I don't but I cannot work out how to set Mac as the default os. I know it is to do with Yaboot but I cannot fathom it. So if anyone can help me switch Mac OSX as the default OS then it would be appreciated, otherwise any help on removing Ubuntu would also be much appreciated. Regards Simon --- www.simonroyal.co.uk - The box said requires Windows 2000 or better, so I bought an Apple Mac. There are only 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't

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Book
by David Reynolds 29 Dec '06

29 Dec '06

Hi, We're having a bit of a post Christmas clear out and have a bunch of books to get rid of... (I know this isn't strictly on topic, but there is a linux book hiding in there!) Haynes Vauxhall Cavalier F - N * Hacking Linux Exposed - Brian Hatch, et al Five minutes in heaven - Lisa Alther Summer Sisters - Judy Blume * Love is a four letter word - Claire Calman Babyville - Jane Green * Sahara - Michael Palin The worlds greatest UFO mysteries - Roger Bore and Nigel Blundell Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Dave Morris Batman - Craig Shaw Gardner Long Division - Sarah Harvey American Pyscho - Brett Easton Ellis Cat - Freya North The Ivy Chronicles - Karen Quinn Wanderlust - Daniel Still Chloe - Freya North Rounders - Kevin Canty Come again - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees Princess Daisy - Judith Krantz * We are family - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees Lisa and Co - Jilly Cooper Ladies Man - John Ramster Serve Cool - Lauren McCrossen Pip - Freya North Azure like it - Wendy Holden Misbehaving - Sarah Harvey Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody - Michael Gerber Snap Happy - Fiona Walker Diary of a Manhattan Call girl - Tracey Quan Fame Fatale - Wendy Holden My Legendary Girlfriend / Mr Commitment - Mike Gayle Deep Heat / Flatmates - Chris Manby Sex and the City - Candis Bushnell Fen - Freya North Virtual Love - Susan Oudot Lady Chatterley's Lover - DH Lawrence The Nanny - Melissa Nathan The Waitress - Melissa Nathan Insiders / Badboy - Elizabeth Goldsmith Seven Sunny days - Chris Manby Adrian Mole the cappuccino - Sue Townsend The Beach - Alex Garland The Ex Files - Jane Moore 4 Blones - Candis Bushnell The Trials of Tiffany Trott - Isabel Wolff Revenge of the middleages woman - Elizabeth Buchan His and Hers - Mike Gayle The boy next door - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees * = hardback book Let me know if anyone wants any. Thanks, Dave -- David Reynolds david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk

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Re: main Digest, Vol 18, Issue 18
by Peter Alcibiades 24 Dec '06

24 Dec '06

> So what should I do? Slackware isn't exactly you "new to Linux" > distribution (though it's what I use). What else can I try that will > be reasonably easy for a new user? Get PCLinux. All the Mandriva gui admin tools, and synaptic for software installations, and helpful forums. Can't go wrong. Peter

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Re: [ALUG] Installation conundrum
by John Seago 24 Dec '06

24 Dec '06

On Sunday 24 December 2006 12:00, Chris Green,cl(a)isbd.net wrote: > So what should I do? Slackware isn't exactly you "new to Linux" > distribution (though it's what I use). What else can I try that will > be reasonably easy for a new user? Try replacing the ribbon cables, use new ones, that was the answer when I tried installing Mandrake years ago, either that or undo the screws to the access panel of the case. Perhaps a hardware expert can tell you why these solutions worked, but they worked for me, ( I undid the screws and found that I didn't have the right cables, that worked, I then replaced the cables and tried again , that worked too.) Or you could just stick with Slackware, IIRC that was what I did, all the others being rejected within a couple of hours of initial use, its fearsome reputation is undeserved. -- John Seago GNU/Linux Registered User No. #219566 http://counter.li.org/ () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments

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Installation conundrum
by cl＠isbd.net 24 Dec '06

24 Dec '06

I'm having trouble installing *any* Linux on a system here. Well, not quite any Linux but I want something that's "easy to use" for a non-techie user. I have lots of distributions on CD and have tried several. All the various Ubuntu 6.06 distributions simply hang during the package install part. Mandriva 2006 panics while copying packages from CD to disk. Strangely enough Mandrake 8.0 installs OK and so does Slackware 11. So what should I do? Slackware isn't exactly you "new to Linux" distribution (though it's what I use). What else can I try that will be reasonably easy for a new user? -- Chris Green (chris(a)halon.org.uk)

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Re: [ALUG] Yaboot Ubuntu
by MJ Ray 23 Dec '06

23 Dec '06

Mark Ridley <mark(a)webb-heath.com> wrote: > Alternatively you can just sudo su - or sudo bash, to get a root > shell to work with. Or on many systems: sudo -s Hope that helps, -- MJ Ray - see/vidu http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html Somerset, England. Work/Laborejo: http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ IRC/Jabber/SIP: on request/peteble.

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Yaboot Ubuntu
by Simon Royal 23 Dec '06

23 Dec '06

Hi I have a Mac which dual boots between Mac OSX and Ubuntu 6, and Ubuntu boots by default. I know I need to switch something in Yaboot but I can't seem to work it out. Also Ubuntu doesn't have root user and I can't work that out either. Sorry, I'm a bit of a Linux newbie --- www.simonroyal.co.uk - The box said requires Windows 2000 or better, so I bought an Apple Mac. There are only 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't

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RE: [ALUG] Yaboot Ubuntu
by Mark Ridley 23 Dec '06

23 Dec '06

Alternatively you can just sudo su - or sudo bash, to get a root shell to work with. -Mark -----Original Message----- From: "Wayne Stallwood" <ALUGlist(a)digimatic.co.uk> To: "ALUG" <main(a)lists.alug.org.uk> Sent: 23/12/06 16:33 Subject: Re: [ALUG] Yaboot Ubuntu On Sat, 2006-12-23 at 15:15 +0000, Simon Royal wrote: > Hi > > I have a Mac which dual boots between Mac OSX and Ubuntu 6, and Ubuntu > boots by default. I know I need to switch something in Yaboot but I can't > seem to work it out. Sorry never used Yaboot so not really the best person to advise on this (and guesswork on bootloaders is usually a bad thing) Ubuntu Forums will probably be a good start for some advice. > > Also Ubuntu doesn't have root user and I can't work that out either. This is an intentional thing for Ubuntu, it's to discourage using the system of Root logins. What you have instead is users (like the one you generated as you installed the system) who are listed in the /etc/sudoers. These users can execute a command as root by placing sudo in front of it and then typing their password when prompted. This is considered more secure than using the root login. sudo is quite powerful as you can restrict certain users to only being able to sudo certain commands, control whether they are prompted for their password or not, log all sudo commands etc etc. However if this is not for you then login as your regular user, and do a sudo passwd root, type your current password when prompted and then enter and confirm the root password. _______________________________________________ main(a)lists.alug.org.uk http://www.alug.org.uk/ http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main Unsubscribe? See message headers or the web site above!

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DAT tapes going free - any use to anyone?
by cl＠isbd.net 23 Dec '06

23 Dec '06

I have twenty or more DAT tapes (proper DDS computer data ones) which I no longer have a use for, they're nearly all 90 metre ones as far as I can see. Are they of an use to anyone here? -- Chris Green (chris(a)halon.org.uk)

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Really odd bash error - probably configuration
by cl＠isbd.net 22 Dec '06

22 Dec '06

I have a really odd bash error which I can't diagnose at all at the moment. It refuses to run any script in the current directory when running as bash. If I run sh instead it works. E.g. I have a script called 'build' in /home/chris/ikiwiki Whether or not it has #!/bin/bash at the top of it then when I enter 'build' I get the error:- bash: ./build: No such file or directory However if I put #!/bin/sh at the top of the script (or if I run sh) then it runs without problems. Ah, I have a clue, it seems as if bash doesn't want to run scripts which are in the current directory even though . is on my path. Is there some sort of clever security flag in bash that prevents this? If a script is in (for example) /home/chris/bin (which is on my path) it runs OK with a #!/bin/bash at the top, however if the script is in the current directory I get the error even though . is on my path. Wierd! Does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong? I'm sure it didn't used to be like this. -- Chris Green (chris(a)halon.org.uk)

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MP3s to AudioCD tracks?
by Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk 21 Dec '06

21 Dec '06

Hi Folks, I have a bunch of MP3s, and would like to convert them to AudioCD files so that I can burn them as succesive tracks on an Audio CD (i.e. in particular, you can pick a track on a CD player, or play the lot through in one go). Any suggestions? And, in case I {don't reply before Christmas | forget}, Happy Christmas and New Year to All! Cheers, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 20-Dec-06 Time: 19:59:21 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Newbie needs advice on wireless networking
by Chris & Barry Chater 20 Dec '06

20 Dec '06

Hi I have just installed ubuntu 6.10 on a 5 year old Packard Bell Laptop and would like to connect to my Netgear router via wireless or RJ45/Usb connector. Not being to technical minded i don't want to get into source codes etc at the moment.So i would like a wireless pci card that works out of the box, or a usb wireless adapter that does the same. Failing this i could plug a usb/Rj45 connector and use a long lan cable. Have trawled through through various Linux sites, only to find that the equipment that works only seems to be sold in the USA or is discontinued. I would really like some guidance of which way to go on this as i I would really like to get on the internet with Linux. Can not really see the point of praising Linux on a Windoze Machine. This is my second installation of Linux, have tried Core 6 but found Ubuntu easier for me to use, love the games. I do hope someone will help a nearly silver surfer get surfing with Linux ( hope the waves are not too high)! Thanks Barry C

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Re: [ALUG] Post-Christmas meal
by David Reynolds 20 Dec '06

20 Dec '06

On 15 Dec 2006, at 1:02 pm, sfr wrote: > Votes for 11 January or 8 February? +1 for 8 February Cheers, Dave -- David Reynolds david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk

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How to find what terminal fonts are available?
by cl＠isbd.net 20 Dec '06

20 Dec '06

How does one find out what terminal fonts/typefaces are available on a system? I thought that either xfontsel or xlsfonts would tell me but I can't seem to see any correlation between what they tell me and what is allowed in the "-fn <fontname>" parameter for rxvt or xterm. -- Chris Green (chris(a)halon.org.uk)

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Subject: [ALUG] Newbie needs advice on wireless
by Chris & Barry Chater 19 Dec '06

19 Dec '06

> > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Newbie needs advice on wireless networking (Chris & Barry Chater) > 4. Re: Newbie needs advice on wireless networking (Wayne Stallwood) > 7. Re: Post-Christmas meal (Jonathan McDowell) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 12:47:09 +0000 > From: Chris & Barry Chater <ourpost(a)tiscali.co.uk> > Subject: [ALUG] Newbie needs advice on wireless networking > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Message-ID: <45853C4D.8010504(a)tiscali.co.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Hi > I have just installed ubuntu 6.10 on a 5 year old Packard Bell Laptop > and would like to connect to my Netgear router via wireless or RJ45/Usb > connector. Not being to technical minded i don't want to get into source > codes etc at the moment.So i would like a wireless pci card that works > out of the box, or a usb wireless adapter that does the same. Failing > this i could plug a usb/Rj45 connector and use a long lan cable.------------------------------ > Hi again Thanks for all the replies, loads of good advice. I now think i need to clear up some of the finer points. The slot on the computer is slightly over 2" wide and when a card is pushed in, two black buttons pop out.so i would suppose this is called a PCMCIA card slot.I don't Know if the laptop supports cardbus but it was purchased in 2001 and the old OP system was Windoze millennium.Looked at the link for solwise cards, thanks for that.What i would really like to do is use an Ethernet cable, the problem is no Ethernet socket on laptop, so can anyone recommend a site for PCMCIA Ethernet cards and do they work out of the box with Ubuntu? Also has anyone used a Ethernet usb adapter as i am thinking of one of those but don't know if they work with Ubuntu and don't want to waste money on something that does not work. Also do not think laptop is wireless aware as no antenna,or switch, the processor is a pentium 3. Thanks again Barry Chater > > > > > >

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RE: Subject: [ALUG] Newbie needs advice on wireless
by Mark Ridley 18 Dec '06

18 Dec '06

Excuse the reply style, I'm mobile. I have one of these lying around at home somewhere, you're welcome to it if you want it. I think it's 56k isdn ethernet. Just drop me your address and I'll post it on. Cheers. -Mark -----Original Message----- From: "Wayne Stallwood" <ALUGlist(a)digimatic.co.uk> To: "ALUG" <main(a)lists.alug.org.uk> Sent: 18/12/06 19:47 Subject: Re: Subject: [ALUG] Newbie needs advice on wireless Xircom/intel Realports are no longer available new but work really well on Linux and have the advantage over others that there is no dongle thing hanging out the side the ethernet cable plugs straight in. They can usually be found for next to no money on ebay. However you need 2 PCMCIA sockets to accommodate the height, if you have two release buttons (one above the other) then you have a dual socket and therefore can accommodate one of these. I have had success with little or no effort with various USB ethernet thingies, but sadly cannot tell you which ones as they were unbranded el-cheapo purchased in an emergency from a local computer shop. _______________________________________________ main(a)lists.alug.org.uk http://www.alug.org.uk/ http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main Unsubscribe? See message headers or the web site above!

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Post-Christmas meal
by sfr 17 Dec '06

17 Dec '06

At the pubmeet last night (photos at http://sfrsaluganddebianphotos.ukgeeks.co.uk/c1161003.html) it was mooted that we could have the much-delayed ALUG post-Christmas meal in the Reindeer's new restaurant, on a second Thursday. The advantage would be that the Second Thursdays get a good turn-out and all we'd have to do is to eat as well as drink and talk. Votes for 11 January or 8 February? -- Elisabeth/elspeth/sfr

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Kmail Problem-cannot view messages
by Nick Daniels 17 Dec '06

17 Dec '06

Hi My Kmail has just started failing to dislay messages All I see is a "greyed out area". I can only read message by View source, or Forward Inline. I have not changed any settings since installation. System - Kubuntu Edgy Kind Regards - Nick Daniels

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Recommendations for mobile internet access
by Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. 16 Dec '06

16 Dec '06

Hi all, I'm looking for advice regarding truely mobile internet access. I'm going to be doing a lot of travelling around the UK early next year and want to get onto the internet as and when I want. I can sort out a wireless card for my laptop, so if there is an access port (at the hotel, or via BT) all is OK. My question is about access outside of this. I've had a brief look at services from Vodafone (my current mobile provider) who offer a 3G USB dongle which offers 'broadband' type speed. Not sure if this will work with Linux, but I would use Windows if needed. However, 3G coverage is still limited, and it's unclear what happens if you move out-of-range, e.g. does the dongle just stop working, or does it continue with a slower protocol? The slowest option I expect would be GSM from my phone (bluetooth between Mac and phone), but I expect this would be charged per minute and outside of my inclusive minutes if to a 0845 internet access point. Please can those who currently do this share your experiences, recommendations and strategies for doing this effectively. -- Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. http://www.ashleyhowes.com/ "I remember the very things I do not wish to; I cannot forget the things I wish to forget." - Cicero

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Kubuntu, Keyboard does not function.
by Nick Daniels 13 Dec '06

13 Dec '06

Hi I had problems installing Kubuntu Edgy with the desktop CD as the PS2 keyboard did not function i.e. no keys worked. I tried the alternate install and was this installed until rebooting, still no keyboard. I have found that if I unplug all usb devices and then reboot, keyboard functions. I also had this problem with earlier versions of Etch. Does anybody know how to cure this, can find nothing on Ubuntu Forums, all other Linux Distros I have tried function O.K. on same system. Kind Regards-Nick Daniels

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Anyone use kbiff with maildir
by Barry Samuels 12 Dec '06

12 Dec '06

All of my mail boxes have been in mbox format but I thought I'd try maildir as it's safer in the event of one email being corrupted. So I set up a mailder box using Balsa and moved the contents of the mbox to it. Fine - I now had 437 emails in the new maildir mail box. I also use kbiff to alert me to new mails and it told me that I had 437 emails in total with 190 being unread which was nonsense 'cause they'd all been read. I tried marking them all unread and then all read - nope it still insisted that 190 hadn't been read. From what I understand of the maildir format the individual files were all marked read. I even, sneakily, altered the value of the unread mails in the kbiffrc file to zero but, no, it still insisted that 190 of them had not been read. In the end I changed back to mbox format and kbiff is now happy and so am I. Anyone come across anything like this before? -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

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