tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61070012024-02-20T15:32:00.228+00:00alsuren, and his plethoral obsessionsA replacement for alsuren.livejournal.com, because livejournal has finally pissed me off *that* much. My LJ will continue to exist, but mainly as an archive of my past life.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-26838493176400922112007-11-14T17:12:00.000+00:002007-11-14T17:08:44.721+00:00Moving blogs againIt seems that my email-posting looks shit in everything that's not an RSS <br>reader, so I'm looking for a new solution. If you would all be kind enough to <br>add my wordpress account (<a href="http://alsuren.wordpress.com">http://alsuren.wordpress.com</a>) to your feeds, that <br>would be ever so good.<p>I will decide which blog to stick with when I've tried out both for a while, <br>and had some feedback from people saying which is better for <br>reading/commenting on.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-83141610766160415512007-11-03T13:02:00.000+00:002007-11-03T12:59:33.517+00:00[Proposal] Debian/Ubuntu "web of trust" packages.[background] on Linux, sensible people *never* install programs that haven't <br>been digitally signed. This is how linux users avoid most malware bollocks: <br>Each time you sign a package, you give your word (generally trackable back to <br>the name on your passport) that it isn't malicious. Signing a malware <br>package, as a trusted developer, would get your name pasted all over <br>slashdot, and you would be flamed about it for years. (and possibly even sent <br>to prison, like a virus writer would) [/background]<p>Most of us on debian have (at some point) tried to install something, and it's <br>not been signed with a trusted key (one used by a trusted person). We then <br>have to go and get the key from a keyserver, in order to avoid error messages <br>each time we install a package signed by this person. This is ugly for a few <br>reasons:<p>a) How do you know that the key is trusted. You just got it off an arbitrary <br>webserver. None of your friends told you that it could be trusted.<p>b) Can anyone *ever* remember the command for importing keys, and telling apt <br>that they're trusted?<p>This is also a problem that alexreg and I identified as a requirement for our <br>windows apt-msi project, if it ever got off the ground. I think I have a <br>potentially elegant solution to this problem. Read on.<p>1) Create a package called trust-<name>-<fingerprint>-1.0.deb, which <br>automatically imports your key.<p>2) Make all of your packages depend on >=trust-<name>-<fingerprint>-1.0<p>That way, anyone who installs your package will only get warned once (if they <br>get warned a second time, then they can start to worry, in the same way that <br>ssh server keys work). This scheme *should* work without any special support <br>from apt.<p>Also, if you know a trusted developer, and they have you on their web of <br>trust, you can ask them to sign trust-<name>-<fingerprint>, and put it in <br>their repository. This way, users (or smart package managers) can install the <br>trust- package first, and proceed without having *any* "unsigned package" <br>warnings.<p>One thing that could be a little tricky is trust revocation. It might be <br>possible to create a package called trust-<name>-2.0 which revokes trust in <br>the key, but an attacker could create a package called trust-<name>-3.0 that <br>foils this scheme. On the other hand, getting onto someone's web of trust <br>generally means that they have seen your passport, so creating a situation <br>that required a key to be revoked would necessarily involve identity theft.<p>What do you all think? Could it work?alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-51494675620689422832007-11-02T23:45:00.000+00:002007-11-02T23:42:50.973+00:00w00t*while playing anaconda*<p>"It would be quite interesting to play this on an infinite plane."alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-18468564831217409482007-10-31T19:02:00.000+00:002007-10-31T19:00:06.529+00:00Of love, life, and linux.So I hear w00t about Gill [1] and not being ambiguous and not running away. <p>It seems that I have been struck by the "more girlfriend implies less <br>blogging" syndrome. I was thinking I could avoid it, but evidently not. There <br>has even been loads of stuff that I have thought "I should write about that". <br>I would also like to spew my feelings on here, but I suspect that some people <br>might have objections to that.<p>I really need an economist/machine learning specialist to help me build a <br>model of love based on utility/expected reward. So far, I have<br>Utility(him) = Utility_0(him) + love(her) * Utility(her)<br>Utility(her) = Utility_0(her) + love(him) * Utility(him)<p>So if love(him) = love(her) = love (a constant) then how large does it need to <br>be for Utility(him) to double? Also, should there also be a "time spent <br>together" factor in there, and what form should it take?<p><br>I've been stupidly busy recently. Probably my own fault for being so <br>lazy/distracted on the weekend/before. I'm gonna get screwed tomorrow for not <br>handing in work, and the next day (though I was able to do surprisingly much <br>of the risk paper in the half hour I thought I had)<p><br>In Linux news, we now have a JCR computer, for use with hermes. If you want an <br>account for more than that, please put something tasty in my (or Rob's) <br>pigeonhole. Also, if you know a good method for providing authorization <br>from /etc/shadow to kerberos or radius, please let us know. It would be good <br>to let all srcf users have un-restricted access onto the system. We'll see <br>what happens.<p><br>For Kopete users: a nice little hack: in the alias plugin, assign<br>"idle" to "exec dcop kopete KopeteIface setAutoAway"<br>Now you can type /idle to immediately go "away" until you next move the mouse. <br>Useful for adding finality to conversations without fucking up your status <br>for when you actually return.<p>[1] wget<p><a href="http://alsuren.blogspot.com/2007/05/dancingthe-fateful-post.html">http://alsuren.blogspot.com/2007/05/dancingthe-fateful-post.html</a><p>-o - | <br>sed -e s/Jill/Gill/alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-85247020158375275962007-10-26T14:16:00.000+01:002007-10-26T14:13:58.370+01:00OrganizationIt seems I win at failing at organization. <p>*may have frantically started doing supervision work 10110* minutes before my <br>risk supervsion.*<p>*and no, that's not binary.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-65914321020011893622007-10-23T00:57:00.000+01:002007-10-23T00:55:34.454+01:00In other news:Squee: I have my bike back! Fankoo mummum and daddums!<p>The Cambridge Lindy Exchange was really good, and I am thoroughly shattered. <br>Also, Cycling back from the speakeasy with just a sweaty t-shirt on is <br>probably not wise. I will go to the shops at some point and get lots of fruit <br>to ward off the customary "I've just been dancing with half of about 80 <br>people from around the world" pestilence. <p>Sucks to be Stu, who managed to get diseased before they even *arrived*.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-53409223323891430302007-10-23T00:42:00.000+01:002007-10-23T00:41:05.487+01:00Reliable contact methods.It would appear that email is the best way to contact me. My phone was having <br>a strop from about sunday morning until now, so attempts to organise meetings <br>etc. may have failed. *blush*<p>To contrast, I have checked my email about 10 times in that period, and my <br>computer has checked many more times, just to make sure that nothing was <br>missed, and so that it could quickly give me an error message if the system <br>failed for any reason.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-91285662782499721772007-10-11T00:13:00.001+01:002007-10-11T00:13:06.594+01:00Performance DancingWhen I was in London, Sally asked me whether I would join a performance <br>troupe, so when I came back to cambs, I told the guys about it, and asked <br>them (very vaguely) whether it was a good idea. They said yeah...<p>Then on [last] wed, I went to the intermediates, and was completely dead. I <br>wasn't leading properly, and I was thinking way too much. Katherine also <br>reminded me that I was still yanking rather than body leading swing-outs. <br>Also, I should probably make the effort to get the breaks/half-breaks in the <br>shimsham. All in all, I really don't feel ready for performance dancing.<p>On the other hand, There are so many things that I keep getting told that I'm <br>doing badly, and I see really obviously when I see pictures of myself <br>dancing. Maybe joining a dance troupe would would provide the explicit <br>invitation for people to try to help me sort out those things. I think I <br>would also benefit from seeing a video of myself, and correcting my own <br>mistakes. <p>I think I will try to get at least one private lesson before the end of term. <br>I should ask Matt and Lotte about what's possible though.<p>I will tag the relevant people in the facebook copy of this when the lindy <br>exchange is over, and they're a little less busy. I would like to see <br>people's comments on this. What should I do?alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-74646130832067152522007-10-10T12:27:00.000+01:002007-10-10T12:26:59.467+01:00To all you yucky competition dancers.I say that "Jack and Jill"s are the only competitions that have the right to <br>call themselves partner dance competitions. All others should be called <br>paired solo/performance dance competitions.<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_and_Jill_(dance">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_and_Jill_(dance</a>)<p>Example:<br><a href="http://www.lindylibrary.com/main/ultimate-lindy-hop-showdown-2006/ulhs2006-jack-jill-finals-competitio.html">http://www.lindylibrary.com/main/ultimate-lindy-hop-showdown-2006/ulhs2006-jack-jill-finals-competitio.html</a>alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-82562449567610054672007-10-03T09:35:00.001+01:002007-10-03T09:35:23.053+01:00SynchronisationI have spent *hours* messing about with my phone, trying to make it import my <br>calendar. It seems that the solution is actually really simple. The reason it <br>took so long to find is that it doesn't involve using any of the linux <br>calendar synchronization utilities. <p>1) Create an account on <a href="http://www.scheduleworld.com/">http://www.scheduleworld.com/</a><br>2) install the funambol client for windows mobile on your device<br>3) sync mobile device<br>4) export an ical from linux<br>5) import ical into scheduleworld<br>6) sync mobile device<p>The *really stupid* thing is that all of the above is done using open source <br>software, and yet there is no solution on linux which will let me sync with <br>scheduleworld. Let's hope this improves for KDE4.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-57585891224340070862007-09-19T18:39:00.000+01:002007-09-19T18:41:44.229+01:00Impromptu Holiday.Seems I'm in Norfolk with Dad.<br /><br />Anyone want me to visit them on my way back to London?alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-69647101899312514942007-09-15T02:29:00.001+01:002007-09-15T10:24:09.688+01:00[status update] Menu System= The Good =<br>+ entries are sorted by title (A=black, Z=white, and layed out in a <br>predictable position.)<br>+ It works as an application launcher, or as a web-based links page<br>+ You can try it yourself:<br>Web: <a href="http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/links.py?username=YOUR_NAME">http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/links.py?username=YOUR_NAME</a><br>Desktop: <br>$ sudo aptitude install git-core pyqt4-dev-tools libqt4-dev qt4-designer python-xdg xdg-utils python-sqlite kdebase-bin<br>$ git clone <a href="http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/">http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/.git/</a><br>$ python qsmenu.py<p>= The Bad =<br>- Currently, it just picks the first menu entry it finds for each program, and <br>doesn't prefer working/svg icons over broken/pixelated ones<br>- It needs a name! Post ideas here:<p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6107001&postID=663834070309131498">https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6107001&postID=663834070309131498</a><p>= The Future =<br>+ I reckon my menu system could be adapted to work with file menus as well <br>(create a DataEngine that understands KDE's XMLGUI crap). That would be <br>hardcore (and *better* than MS Office's ribbon, with less manual work).<br>+ Add an info panel at the bottom, for more verbose info on entries.<br>+ Make a data engine with a[n incremental] search function that modifies the <br>scores.<br>+ Add sub-folders to the menu, which cause the entries within to stand out.<br>+ Experiment with regions that contain other regions<br>+ Experiment with highlighting to show newly available/last used entries.<br>+ Make the data engine thread-safe, and event-driven.<br>+ Port to Plasma for KDE4<p>= The Inner workings =<br>There are 3 components:<br>* Data Engine<br>* Layout Engine<br>* Rendering Engine<p>The Data Engine is responsible for collecting and ordering data, and assigning <br>scores. It is also responsible for compiling the data into a 1-D list of <br>entries.<br>The Layout Engine takes the 1-D list of entries, and maps each entry into a <br>region (of one or more squares on a 2-D space). It passes this data to the <br>rendering engine by calling draw_square() repeatedly. It also calculates the <br>center of the region, using a bit of GCSE maths.<br>The Rendering Engine deals with the user interface crap. It draws the squares, <br>and deals with clicks by sending them to the data engine.<p>The layout algorithm is a case of "cut parent square into 4 children, and <br>repeat until there is only 1 entry in each child square, then paint."<br>The sub-dividing and checking for entries is done in 1-D rather than 2-D, so <br>it's pretty fast.<br>The slow bit is the rendering, which is done using C libraries anyway :D.<p>= "But how do you make it look so pretty?" =<br>I fudge it. I leave a gap with no information in it. That way, "there is only <br>1 entry in the child square" happens after only a few sub-divisions. This is <br>something that I stumbled upon by accident, when I fed it some bad input <br>data.<p><br>To give you an idea of how nasty it *could* look, this is a picture drawn with <br>the gaps as normal: <br>< <a href="http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/map_DTsoSj.png">http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/map_DTsoSj.png</a> ><br>and this is the picture with <br>< <a href="http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/map_EJjvka.png">http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/map_EJjvka.png</a> ><br>brown=fudge (I decided on fudge_factor rather than blur, as that's what it is)<br>lines are drawn in the brown by sub-dividing, to create the simplest possible <br>regions (ie ones with the largest/fewest squares).alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-6638340703091314982007-09-15T00:58:00.000+01:002007-09-15T00:57:42.167+01:00[HELP!] Menu System (Name ideas?)I'm sure you've all seen my posts about the menu/links system I'm developing.<br>< <a href="http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/links.py?username=YOUR_NAME">http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/links.py?username=YOUR_NAME</a> > <br>It's all going well (update post to come shortly) but I *NEED A NAME*. <p>Whoever comes up with the best name will win brownie[ point]s, and a mention <br>in the docs.<p>Click "Add a Comment" now for your chance to win!alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-69906383109486670222007-09-09T23:46:00.001+01:002007-09-09T23:46:52.864+01:00Back to lifeTurns out it was just the power supply, and I *think* it's just the input <br>module. I have bought a new one from PC world, but it's shit (doesn't live up <br>to the claims made in the manual), so I'm going to try fixing my Asus one <br>when I get back to cambridge. *cradles his dead asus power supply tenderly*<p>I told some girl I would add her on facebook on Thursday night. I should <br>probably do that, shouldn't I?alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-9525329911240272792007-09-07T18:19:00.000+01:002007-09-07T18:25:37.037+01:00More ProblemsI *may* have exploded my computer.<br /><br />It went bang.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-47310068786468864372007-09-06T15:51:00.000+01:002007-09-06T15:55:46.780+01:00Fan ProblemsIt's been pissing me off for way too long, so I'm getting a new fan for my graphics card (and maybe my CPU) before I next turn on my computer. Dunno how long that will take.<br /><br />As a happy coincidence, I may also be able to get my daily routine sorted out, and stop coding at 2 in the morning.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-70941695925437986332007-09-05T02:04:00.001+01:002007-09-05T02:04:01.014+01:00Cool Interactiveness (OMGZ)I have created a menu system, inspired by:<br>- xkcd's hilbert curve<br>-- <a href="http://xkcd.com/195/">http://xkcd.com/195/</a><br>- Dasher<br>--<a href="http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/">http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/</a><p>--<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasher">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasher</a><br>- KDE's QuickLaunch toolbar ("Most Popular Application" mode)<br>-- help:/kicker/launcher-applet.html (not documented)<p><p>It can be found at:<br><a href="http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/links.py?username=YOUR_NAME">http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~dl325/python/links/links.py?username=YOUR_NAME</a><p>Each time you click on a link, it will become bigger, but everything will stay <br>in *roughly* the same place. Check it out for yourself. You can add and <br>remove links using the link in the top right corner (though the interface <br>need a bit of polishing). Please do, because I would love to see what it <br>looks like once a few people have been using it for a while.<p>Replace YOUR_NAME with something memorable, and you will automatically get a <br>new account, with all of the links imported from everyone else. <p>I will post more updates as I develop more. If someone wants to turn it into a <br>plasma applet, or a start menu, get in touch. Also, if someone knows how to <br>use CGI or SQL properly, *HELP ME!*, because my code is a complete mess.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-84219383366392784492007-08-29T02:14:00.001+01:002007-08-29T02:14:28.754+01:00late nightsOh god: It would appear that I have stayed up until 2:00 reading<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C++0x">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C++0x</a><br>as far as<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C++0x#C.2B.2B_standard_library_extension">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C++0x#C.2B.2B_standard_library_extension</a><br>(std::tr1, which I already know about)<p>While I know this is quite tragic, a few things have come from it:<p>function add = <>(x,y) -> int {x+y}<p>It seems that C++09 is getting pretty much *all* of the cool/useful features <br>of python (with the possible exceptions of list comprehensions and nested <br>scopes, which might be possible to implement with some hackery). It remains <br>statically typed, but you no longer have to be explicit, and you can do duck <br>typing using 'concept's.<p>Maybe I will take the time to write a few things using tr1, to get back in <br>practice. *slightly tempted to try writing a boo/python/rpython compiler that <br>will output to C++09*alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-24174580567487531832007-08-24T00:09:00.001+01:002007-08-24T00:09:50.773+01:00CupsAndString released. Now what to do?Okay, so I have released the first version of cupsandstring <br><<a href="https://launchpad.net/cupsandstring/">https://launchpad.net/cupsandstring/</a>>. I have a few things I could do now:<p>a) Create a Skype connection manager<br>b) Clean up the telepathy-python bindings<br>c) Try porting to windows<br>d) Start work on that package manager idea of alexreg's (a set of MSI packages <br>with deb-like dependencies, but which can install themselves on windows, <br>where there isn't necessarily a package manager already installed.)<p>The idea that excites me most is the skype one. I would love to see what kinds <br>of hacks people come out with if I manage to get voice and video working on <br>that. Doesn't seem too hard either: <a href="http://skype4py.sourceforge.net/">http://skype4py.sourceforge.net/</a>alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-25146669977341058822007-08-17T12:27:00.001+01:002007-08-17T12:27:06.980+01:00Virtual DesktopsFor those of you on Windows: [context] Linux and Mac OSX give you "virtual <br>desktops", which are like multiple virtual screens that you can switch <br>between. Each one has its own task bar, so it gives you more flexibility to <br>manage your windows.[/context]<p>I have found that having 4 virtual desktops isn't enough for me. I now have 5. <br>I still have about 3 things in each task bar<p>I think it's kind-of since I started using Boa-Constructor. Boa takes a whole <br>desktop of its own, because it needs a debugger window, editor, and shell <br>window, and some toolbar window at the top that I've never used, but which <br>can't be closed without closing the whole thing.<p>I have also started doing a lot of development using a different user for <br>developing each project, and another for testing, and I find that it helps to <br>keep each account on its own desktop.[context]Linux (and Mac, I think) allow <br>multiple users *using* the same machine *at the same time*. This is illegal <br>on Windows.[/context]<p>This trend towards increasing numbers of virtual desktops is interesting, <br>because when I started using linux (SuSE) it only had 2 by default, (this was <br>enough because I only had 128MB of RAM, so having too many programs open <br>slowed down my computer). I wonder when I will get to 6, or even 12. When I <br>start using Virtual Machines, and want a new VD for each VM?alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-24376250987967480362007-08-10T11:19:00.001+01:002007-08-10T11:19:06.323+01:00New keyboardI went out yesterday and got a microsoft ergonomic keyboard. It's interesting <br>having a split down the middle of the keyboard, because I often use b with my <br>right hand, and y with my left. I'm not such a fan of the ridiculously long <br>enter key, because it takes a bit of effort to press until you get used to <br>it.<p>There are a few keys that don't generate events ("zoom", which is a rocker <br>button along the center of the keyboard, the "customizable" buttons 1-5 <br>and "My Favorites" along the top, and the "spell" button that shares the f10 <br>button (which I plan never to use, as it requires the function keys to be <br>disabled))<p>I am really quite fond of how they've put '=', '(', and ')' in the space just <br>above the numpad. Shame I hardly ever use the numpad... and shame the bracket <br>symbols don't produce X events :P<p>I've also noticed something quite good about the linux/kde way of doing <br>things: you can use ctrl to modify the actions of even non-standard keyboard <br>keys, so in amarok: next track=ctrl+volumeup, previous=ctrl+volumedown.<p>One thing I'm not too fond of is how you can only have two shortcuts assigned <br>to each action, and there are programs *coughAmarokcough* that have actions <br>that can be mapped to global shortcuts, but not normal shortcuts.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-9147664850345055602007-08-07T21:46:00.001+01:002007-08-07T21:46:21.365+01:00Progress Report (summary of the things that interest me)This <p>Please comment if there's something in here that looks interesting, or you <br>want more info on. This is a list of the projects that I am <br>currently/previously working on, organized by progress. Entries take the <br>form:<p>Project name(description):<br> tasks completed<br> tasks still to do<p>cupsandstring.pymsn(text-based msn in <128 lines of python):<br> works (can send/receive chats, and view a list of online users)<br> shorten to <128 lines, convert to GNU readline to allow tab completion<p>cupsandstring.telepathy(text-based multi-protocol in 256 lines):<br> can list contacts sometimes. <br> remove references to pymsn. Add incoming/outgoing chats<p>telepathy-butterfly (connection manager to support cupsandstring):<br> written a few patches<br> still keeps doing odd stuff to me, making cupsandstring hard<p>Windows Vista under QEMU(for development of kde/telepathy under windows):<br> see previous post (STOP:)<br> wait for new version of QEMU to officially support it<p>Windows XP under Qemu:<br> works, but is unreadable<br> get a *legal* version which isn't in spanish or portugese<p>telepathy-tick(DBus: com.Skype.API based telepathy connectionmanager):<br> not started. the com.Skype.API protocol is well documented though.<br> start with text chat and presence, then look at concurrent accounts<p>Left and Right handed mice (so that each hand is using the mouse naturally):<br> own two appropriate mice<br> work out how to identify mice *reliably* using evdev in xorg.conf<p>TheBus(a simplified dbus interface):<br> discontinued (after I realised how much of a nasty hack it was)<br> try adding features to existing dbus bindings. see about a pure python lib<p>Multi-PointerX (multiple people on the same computer at the same time :D ):<br> got it working a while ago. A lot has happened upstream since then<br> not tried recently. Doesn't work with nvidia driver. git is a bitch.<p>KDE4 (once again, just trying it out for now):<br> works quite well. Even kopete has started compiling and looks swish :D<br> check up on it periodically. Eventually start hacking telepathy into apps.<p>Windows package manager (like apt for .msi files rather than .debs)<br> Not started: Relies on me getting windows working in a vm.<p>Feedback/questions welcome. We love questions.alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-75916760119162469612007-08-03T19:01:00.001+01:002007-08-03T19:01:25.635+01:00Craftsmanship in ConsumerismI have just finished reading The Culture of the New Capitalism (Richard <br>Sennett) and there is a section dealing with craftsmanship, and pride in <br>quality. There is also a chapter on consumers, and the way we are taught to <br>crave new things, and then not value them anymore once we have them. When <br>evaluating what to buy, we need to make decisions even though we often have <br>very limited knowledge of the production of the item. So what rules should we <br>use when deciding which items to buy?<p>One way to approach the problem is "How would I design this item?". My friends <br>will be able to pre-empt my answer: "unix", but when is this valid? <p>"Simplicity of implementation is more desirable than simplicity of interface."<br>This goes directly against the modern consumer's way of thinking: "If I can <br>buy something that is easier to use, why should I reject it because it is <br>more complicated to make? Let me give a few examples:<br>"Serrated knives vs straight bladed knives"<br>Serrated knives are often slightly more effective at cutting when they are <br>first bought, but have you ever tried sharpening one? I would go for a <br>straight knife, and buy a knife sharpener. It is possible to get a <br>microscopically serrated knife with just a single stroke of a knife <br>sharpener.<br>"Manual doors vs Automatic doors"<br>When I was in america, they had some busses with pneumatic doors, and some <br>that the driver had to operate by hand using a simple lever. The busses all <br>looked about the same age, and the doors on many of them were failing. The <br>difference was that the failing pneumatic doors were deathly slow, because <br>the driver pushed a button and waited. The manual doors were often just as <br>slow to close, in the wrong hands, because they often closed with the wrong <br>door on the outside, but the more experienced drivers could get them to open <br>and close in maybe a tenth the time of the pneumatic ones.<p>So when is it beneficial to pick the unix design in these cases?<br>"When people will be working with it for a long time". The reason being that a <br>complicated interface can be learnt over time, while a complicated <br>implementation will often get warn out, and be very difficult to fix. <br>Annoyingly, a commercially successful product must aim for the opposite <br>ideal.<p>In the case of products like the bus door, the products last longer because <br>the operator has more subtle control over them, and can optimise them to make <br>them work better for longer. I could sharpen a knife so that it could saw <br>through meat, or I could sharpen it to give me a nice fine shave. I enjoy <br>that kind of thing. I think that learning subtle control of simple tools like <br>that could be automatically done by machines in the near future. Obviously, <br>it will be the electronic tools that get tuned first, and I can't wait for <br>zigbee devices to come out and for standards to emerge to enable remote <br>controlled machine learning systems.<p><br>Footnote: <br>Those who know me will know that I have a long history of being dreadful at <br>buying clothing: it takes me ages, and I often buy items that I quickly tire <br>of. This is mainly because I don't have much practice: I buy new clothes very <br>rarely.<p>I'm sure I could have phrased this better...alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-84990258215334414652007-08-03T14:14:00.001+01:002007-08-03T14:14:55.680+01:00A very pointed commentI was reading some crap on the net about python3000, and I got a link to:<p><a href="http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000069.html">http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000069.html</a><p>It reminded me very strongly of Alex and his obsession with re-inventing the <br>wheel. He seems to be the founder of way too many projects that re-implement <br>things. He would do well to read the above page very carefully.<p>Note: another post is coming shortly, but I thought I would put this as a post <br>on its own, as the two audiences differ greatlyalsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6107001.post-12873788770528256812007-08-02T20:44:00.000+01:002007-08-02T20:43:53.239+01:00Amarok MoodbarIs it fitting that the moodbar for <br>file:///share/music/not/Mariah%20Carey/Butterfly.mp3 is mostly pink?<p>*skips*alsurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10975145212742466082noreply@blogger.com4