Sunday, December 25, 2011

Revisiting Windows 7 - Package management is possible

After a very long time I did not use Windows for my private needs, I have finally found the times to take a longer look on Windows 7. I have decided to install the operating system on a real machine to see it's real behaviour and interaction with plastic and iron.
Here are a few quick observations. The installer is WAY better than Windows XP. I have no clue how it was in Widows Vista. Unfortunately Windows still requires a lot of reboots until the process is done. It took about 1hour to complete the installation, and after that I feared I will have to click hundreds of next next next to finish the process of configuring the hardware and installing software to make the Laptop usable. Fortunately, I kept the disk of drivers which came with the laptop when I bought it. The auto installer just did the job with out to much pain. My next step was to google and find if there is already a DECENT Package manager for windows. Guess what ? there are a few of them. And after testing a little bit I settled on NPacked. It is not perfect, but it made the computer somewhat more reach with software with relatively little pain. My biggest criticism on it, is the sparse collection of software available, and the fact that it does not read local XML file, only those hosted on some webserver. I hope posting here will publish NPacked somewhat more and help it gain more software to the repo. Unfortunately, this project seems like a one man show, which does not really ensure the sustainability of this project.
There is not much more to say. I am not so eager to use that OS, but I have to make myself some what familiar with it.

Monday, December 12, 2011

The more I read on GNOME 3 I get more mad

The idea I need to learn X Programming Language (e.g. JavaScript) in order to customize my desktop is IMHO simply IDIOTIC! Although I love learning programming languages, and I am a programmer, I DON'T WANT to program my desktop. My desktop is not a problem I need to solve. It should just work.

Have you ever seen a customized Gnome Shell? You can do quite a lot, and practically anything if you know javascript.

The quote is from the Debian forums.

If I wanted to program my Desktop, I'd probably learn Lua and use something crazy like AWESOME WM (But in the mean while I'm fine with DWM and GNOME 2.30).

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Short news about the GNOME 2 fork

Well, I've been following the Development of Mate DE quite closely  via github and it seems like the project is gaining momentum. It gained the support of Linux Mint Dev's and now it has it's own website, so I'd like to give here the link to the GNOME 2 Desktop alternative, in hope more peope will contribute and join.le will contribute and join.
Since there is now a Debian repository for MATE DE, I intend to test it hands on, and not just observe from the side.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Wierdest Post Ever in ServerFault.

I don't know if this is a joke or not. But if it's not a joke, it must be cruel. Just take a look on that guy's question and look at the answers.
This is probably the worst system administration task.