An in-depth exploration of the art of shell scripting. A “must-have” guide for sys-admins, web-developers and programmers working on Unix-like systems. This tutorial assumes no previous knowledge of scripting or programming, but progresses rapidly toward an intermediate/advanced level of instruction . . . all the while sneaking in little snippets of UNIX® wisdom and lore. It serves as a textbook, a manual for self-study, and a reference and source of knowledge on shell scripting techniques. The exercises and heavily-commented examples invite active reader participation, under the premise that the only way to really learn scripting is to write scripts. Read more »
Author Archives: DarkBlue
GeoURL
Following a rather long hiatus, the GeoURL ICBM Address service is up and running again. Now proclaiming itself as version “2.0 – beta”. GeoURL is a location-to-URL reverse directory. This will allow you to find URLs by their proximity to a given location. Find your neighbor’s blog, perhaps, or the web page of the restaurants near you. It’s great to have the service back online. Read more »
Laserpod
It’s about time we had a sexy, geek gadget back on the front page of Forever Geek and I’ve found a stunner: The Laserpod. Advertised as the “21st Century Version of the Lava Lamp”, the Laserpod is a desktop lamp that splits three laser and three high-intensity blue and ultraviolet LED light sources before projecting them through a hand-cut faceted crystal to create some of the most unique and beautiful ambient lighting you’ve ever seen. By default the Laserpod will cast it’s mesmerizing and organic lighting display up to your ceiling and around your room. The changing patterns, colors and textures that are projected are simultaneously alien and soothing. Not Read more »
Very Dynamic Web Interfaces
The functionality, speed and usability of XMLHttpRequest is demonstrated extremely well by the likes of Gmail and Google’s stunning new Maps service (hey Google, when are you going to map out Great Britain?). But what if you want to build the next-generation web UI? Fear not, Drew McLellan of All in the <Head> fame has come to the rescure of budding web-interface designers with his excellent introduction to XMLHttpRequest published over at xml.com. McLellen’s “Very Dynamic Web Interfaces” is an easy-to-follow introduction into the fascinating world of XMLHttpRequest and should be recommended reading for all web-designers/developers. Read more »
Apache Rules!
Netcraft notes that the open source Apache software is now serving more then 40,000,000 websites! This month’s survey marks a significant milestone for Apache, which now serves more than 40 million sites. The open source Apache server reached 10 million sites in June 2000, 20 million in November 2001 and 30 million in November 2003. Apache was detected on 658 domains in the initial Netcraft survey in August 1995, when its 3.5 percent market share was dwarfed by software from NCSA (57 percent) and CERN (19.7). Apache seems to have regained momentum in its ongoing battle for market share with Microsoft. After nearly no change in server market share in Read more »
Commodore and Yet Another Owner
Legendary computer hardware/software manufacturer Commodore (of C64 and Amiga fame) has been sold to yet another company, eleven years after the original company filed for bankruptcy. The new owner – American online music distributor, Yeahronimo Media Ventures – has paid a whopping 24 million Euros for the beleaguered Commodore brand. In related news: the venerable Amiga could enjoy a new lease of life with the Micro-AmigaOne and Amiga OS4 Developer Prerelease. All we need now is for Sir Clive Sinclair to announce the relaunch of the ZX Spectrum and the circle will be complete! Read more »
Retro RAM
When I was a kid, a favourite uncle of mine (favoured because he was rich and always brought gifts when he visited) showed me something incredible – a digital wristwatch with an LED display (yes, I’m that old)! The watch face was totally black. But, when my uncle pressed a little button, red LEDs lit up and displayed the time. It was the most awesome thing I’d ever seen and I lusted after that watch for a long, long time. Imagine my delight when I learned that LED character displays are becoming fashionable once more – on, of all things, RAM modules… Corsair, famous manufacturers of highly-overclockable RAM, have introduced Read more »
PowerBook G5 for Q2?
engadget is suggesting that Apple might be ramping up for production of a PowerBook G5. We knew that Apple was having a heck of a time getting the PowerBook G5 out the door (the G5 processor presents some mighty heat and power consumption issues to overcome), but we’ve got some good news to report. For whatever reason they sort of bury it in a chart that accompanies the story, but Digitimes says that Quanta Computer, the Taiwanese contract manufacturer that builds the PowerBook for Apple, has received a massive order for the PowerBook G5. Delivery date: Q2. Can anyone lend me a ski-mask and a sawn-off shotgun? Read more »
Gates' PC Crashes During Keynote Speech
This is so funny, I just had to share it: In his seventh annual keynote speech at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft’s chairman explained that the proliferation of high-speed Internet access and the falling price of data storage are compelling people to put music, photos, movies and other aspects of their life into a digital format. “We predicted at the beginning of this decade that this would be a decade where the digital approach would be taken for granted,” Gates told hundreds of technology enthusiasts, who gathered for his kickoff to the world’s largest electronics show. “It’s going even faster than we expected.” But while promoting what he calls Read more »
Googling for Video Servers
Axis Communications (amongst others) manufacturer security cameras with integral web-servers to provide browser-based monitoring. Unsurprisingly, many of these video servers are completely unsecured – broadcasting their security footage across the entire Internet. Stuttgart Airport University of Helsinki [1], University of Helsinki [2], University of Helsinki [3], University of Helsinki [4] Anchorage International Airport Washington Street A laundrette – in Japan It makes for fascinating viewing. Check them out while they remain unsecured. It’s amazing what you can find with Google! Credit: “Jerk Dentures” Read more »
