I <3 Kate

I have recently started work at a company that codes primarily in Coldfusion for their sites. If you are astute enough to realize my predicament so far, I tip my hat to you. Thus, I would require an editor that would allow for quick editing of the coldfusion markup. To the best of my knowledge, the best editor that supports Coldfusion editing is Eclipse with the CFEclipse plugin. However, I have found that the Eclipse IDE is too heavy for my tastes. My needs for a Coldfusion editor would be:

1. Lightweight (first and foremost)
2. Support Coldfusion syntax highlighting
3. Support Code Folding (preferred, but not essential)

There are no editors that fulfill my top two requirements within the GNOME desktop environment. However, KDE has a handy editor named "Kate." Kate fulfills my top two requirements in that it is quick to open and edit files. (It even allows me to save sessions, so that I don't have to open the same set of files manually, thus saving time.) Kate has native Coldfusion syntax highlighting, and if I play around with it for a weekend, I'm sure I can get the code folding working properly with Coldfusion files. Needless to say, I might be on the track to converting to KDE.

If you have any suggestions for editors that may restore my faith in GNOME desktop editors, please comment or email me.

How to Install NVIDIA drivers in Ubuntu.

Since I have begun using Linux, it never fails for someone to ask me how to install NVIDIA drivers on their machine. When someone asks how to do it in an IRC chatroom, it never fails for someone to mention either Envy or using the drivers made available with Ubuntu. Supposedly, the reasoning is that it is easier. Bullocks, I say. So here is how you install your NVIDIA driver for Ubuntu.

This routine has been tested successfully on the following Ubuntu releases:

• Dapper Drake (6.06)
• Gutsy Gibbon (7.10)
• Hardy Heron (8.04.x)

Update: Intrepid Release Notes
The latest Ubuntu release (8.10 - Intrepid Ibex) does NOT support "legacy" graphics cards. If you have a TNT, TNT2, TNT Ultra, GeForce, GeForce2, GeForce3, or GeForce4 card, you will have to use the "nv" driver included with the distribution and will NOT have 3D Acceleration.

I have been researching this issue and have found rumors that the latest beta drivers should fix this problem. I will have more information as I receive it. I would highly suggest staying put with the latest Long-Term Support release (8.04 - Hardy Heron) for graphics support.

Preparation

This guide is for use with a 32-bit version of a Debian-based Linux distribution with the GNOME desktop. Ubuntu users, this includes you. Fair warning though, there will be commands issued via the command line. For those of you that don't feel comfortable without a GUI, I would suggest using Envy.

Step 1: Obtain the driver from NVIDIA.com

Head on over to NVIDIA.com and navigate to the "Download Drivers" section. Choose your proper graphics card family and your version of Linux (32-bit or 64-bit). Download the *.run file to your computer.

Step 2: Installing the required packages

In order for your driver to work correctly with your system, it has to be generated specifically for your system. To do this, the *.run file you downloaded above needs some packages to work correctly.
In a terminal, issue the following command.

sudo apt-get install libc6 libc6-dev xorg-dev linux-headers-`uname -r` make

This will install all of the needed packages.

Step 3: Shutting down X

I'm not going to lie to you. This part may seem a little intimidating, but bear with me.
For the driver to install correctly, your GUI (aka. the X server) needs to be shut off. You need to use a special command in order to do this. Since the server is going to shut down, you will need to log out and switch to a virtual terminal by pressing CTRL+ALT+F5. (You can use any of the function keys so long as the number is less than 7.)
With administrative privileges, (aka. sudo or root), issue the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

This will stop the program keeping the GUI turned on.
Now we can install the driver.

Step 4: Installing the Driver

Once you have logged into the virtual terminal and shut down the GUI, we need to navigate to the location where we downloaded the *.run file from NVIDIA.com. Use the command cd to navigate to the appropriate directory.
Once there, run the following command.

sudo sh ./NVIDIA-{TAB}.run

The {TAB} is where you press the Tab key on your keyboard. If you only have the one *.run file in your current directory, the terminal will auto-complete your command.

When you issue this command, the installer will begin. Confirm all prompts in the installer. The installer will generate the required driver for your system and configure your display settings automatically.

Step 5: Restart the GUI

Once complete, you can issue the following command to restart the GUI.

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

You will most likely see an NVIDIA splash screen before you reach the login window.

Step 6: Test the Driver

Once you have logged in, open the screensaver preferences and test the "Hufo's Tunnel" screensaver to see if it runs smoothly. If it does, you have just installed the NVIDA drivers.

A few notes

• There may be an issue with the driver you've downloaded. If so, follow the onscreen instructions to obtain the proper driver.
• This tutorial has NOT been tested with 64-bit systems.
• This tutorial has NOT been tested with KDE distributions.
• This will NOT work for Red Hat derivatives.
• This will NOT work WITHOUT apt-get
• You will need to reinstall the driver EVERY TIME you update kernel versions.

Conclusion

There you go. With a few installations under your belt, you'll feel more and more comfortable installing your driver. Unfortunate as it is, you will need to reinstall the driver when you update your kernel, so this is a fair warning.

Thanks for reading. Please leave any questions or comments. I'm always willing to improve my tutorials.

-CITguy

Timeline of a PCs Profitability

Lately I have been pondering on the topic of profitability in relation to the personal computer and operating systems. I have realized that the business and economics associated with the operating system and PC are fading quickly. If you look at the history of computing, you can see a pattern emerges from the advancement of technology.

Capability

First there was the adding machine. The expected end was the input and output of data by means of the hardware. The required need was the capability to produce consistent data (whatever that may be). The profitable component here is the hardware. Without the hardware, you wouldn't have usable data.

Interactivity

After that, there was the introduction of the personal computer (PC). The required need for the PC was a way of utilizing and organizing data so that a person could interact with the hardware. The profitable component here was the inception of the operating system. Without it, there would be no way of interacting with the PC. Over the span of computing, many operating systems were released, but several failed to gain widespread use.

Productivity

With every subsequent release of an operating system, the amount of interactivity increased to a point where developers began to ask the question, "What can I do with a PC?" The answer came in the form of software and software suites. Thus the target of profitability shifted from the operating system to the software that ran on it. Users no longer cared for what system they were running, but for what software they could run on it. Microsoft Office, for example, can be run on both Windows and Mac OS.

Connectivity

As software [suites] progress, users begin to ask "What am I supposed to do with what I've created?" The solution came in the form of community and the Internet. Sharing and selling information became the target of profit and praise. Many businesses are already reaping the benefits of the Internet through expanded markets as Open Source projects reap those of community involvement.

Possibility

With the advancement of community and connectivity come the applicable possibilities that stem into every day living. The idea of a PC is becoming less and less of a bulky system that sits on a desk and more of a device that can be used for entertainment, medical and security purposes (among countless other applications). The target of profitability becomes the answer to the question, "Where can I apply computing where it hasn't been applied before?"

From capability to interactivity to productivity to connectivity to possibility; what does the future hold for computing? One could only imagine.

Windows Without Walls...?

Microsoft has a new advertisement campaign with the slogan "Windows: Life Without Walls." There's an advertisement already public supposedly ripping on the "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" commercials. If you listen to what the people are really saying, you can see the humor in it too. Take these quotes for instance.

"I'm a PC and I challenge the law."

Translation:"I pirated all the software on my computer and don't get me started on my MP3 collection."

"I turn number 2 into energy."

Translation:"I work with a pile of $#!t every day."

"I'm connected to a billion others, worldwide."

Translation:"I have no personal information. My Social Security is nonexistant. Credit? Hello little worm, would you like to come into my PC out of the harsh Internet?"

"I'm a PC and a human being; not a human doing, not a human thinking, a human being."

Translation:"I bought my PC at Wal-Mart. I can surf the AOL. I have three internets on floppy disk at my home. Hey look! Solitaire!"

For anyone with a skeptical cell in their entire body, this advertisement is a rip on Microsoft and Windows more than it is on Mac. I think someone on the inside is trying to take Microsoft down. If not, Steve Ballmer sure does have a sense of humor.

Source (Engadget)

Does the OS Really Matter?

Based on the evidence read between the lines in the comments of a recent Lifehacker article, I don't think the OS matters at all for the average PC user. Having said that, I believe that the available software as well as the supporting community make a huge difference. The thing that really matters is what you plan on doing with your PC. The following are my suggestions for OS based on purpose.

Mac for Creativity

The software made available for the Mac OS has primarily been driven toward the development of creative media. For example, the Macromedia (now Adobe) Suite was originally designed for use on the Mac OS. Some others come to mind as well. iLife anyone? What about the Adobe Suite or Corel?

Linux for Servers and Programming

Linux is an OS made by geeks, for geeks. The available software has open source code and the developers encourage programmers to fiddle with the code. Pertaining to servers, there's no comparison to a Linux server. Try running a functional Windows server 24/7 for an entire year without updating.

Windows for Clerical and Entertainment

Let's face it, the primary use for Windows is either to play games or create documents in Microsoft Office. Another thing Windows has going for it in the entertainment genre is that Windows has the best Multimedia Codec support in the industry. If you don't know what I mean, try playing a DVD on Linux.

[Article via Lifehacker] "Does Your Computer's Operating System Still Matter?"