O | S | D | N NEWSLETTER September 02, 2002 DEVELOPER SERIES
The 'Developer Series' Newsletter is developed to bring Open Source related content to a user with a focus for development with Open Source If you'd like to receive more content relating to Open Source subscribe at http://www.osdn.com/newsletters/ ============================================================== Sponsored by Thinkgeek http://www.ThinkGeek.com/ ============================================================== Thinkgeek Cube Fodder: Tangle Desktop Toy http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/5a38.shtml Gadgets: Sharp Zaurus Linux PDA http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/gadgets/5a3c.shtml Gadgets: Key Katcher http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/gadgets/5a05.shtml Tshirts: Kids: newbie http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/apparel/59cc.shtml Caffeine: Energy Gum http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/caffeine/5a35.shtml Gadgets: Super Bright GREEN Laser Pointer! http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/gadgets/5a1d.shtml Gadgets: SoundBug - Turns Glossy Surfaces Into Speakers! http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/computing/5a15.shtml Tshirts: It Must Be User Error http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/apparel/59fe.shtml Gadgets: Key Katcher Privacy Device http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/gadgets/5a05.shtml Gadgets: Mini Wireless Color Video Cam (for RC rovers) http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/59eb.shtml Cube Goodies: Levitron Desktop Levitation Toy http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/59a9.shtml Tshirts: Bug Off, I'm On My Break http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/apparel/5a00.shtml Watches: onHand PC Watch http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/gadgets/5a1a.shtml Caffeine: Hyperglow Caffeinated Beer http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/looflirpa/beer.shtml Gadgets: Desktop Zero Point Infinite Power Generator http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/looflirpa/zero.shtml Cube Fodder: New Desktop Mini Fridge/Warmer http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/5991.shtml Mods: New Lian-LIi Cases http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/computing/cases-mods.shtml Cube Fodder: LED Binary Clock http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/59e0.shtml Cube Fodder: Rogers Connection Magnetic Set http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/59b4.shtml Caffeine: Warp Mints In Cinnamon Flavor http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/caffeine/59de.shtml Sourceforge Automated Security Tools http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=51027 Release Candidate 1 phpLotto http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=53340 phpLotto 1st Release Legend of the Wonderer TCG http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=44698 battle system in the project Docs Advanced Simlulation Toolkit http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=48818 Recruiting PHPortal http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=28568 PHPortal version 0.1.9 released! PCGen -- A d20 Character Generator http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=25576 PCGen 2.6.3 is available MySQL Objective C API for Cocoa http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=42424 SMySQL version 0.7.0 i810 Framebuffer Device Driver http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=39579 Video Overlay Support for the Intel 810 and 815 Framebuffer 'Just For Fun' Network Management System http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=46041 JFF Network Management System 0.6.4 VietPad http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=46758 VietPad 1.0.2 Release Slashdot Java Media Framework Drops MP3 http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/2340211 realinvalidname writes "Sun had stopped downloads of its Java Media Framework about a week ago due to an undisclosed 'licensing issue.' Now we know what it is, as they've removed MP3 encoding and decoding from the [0]JMF that's downloadable now. Of course, this isn't surprising given recent news about [1]new MP3 licensing terms." Links 0. http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/jmf/index.html 1. http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/08/27/1626241&tid=155 Water + Salt + Energy = Clean! http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/2338228 codesmith.ca writes "[0]CTV News is [1]reporting about a device built at the Russian Institute for Medical Engineering that can convert standard water and salt into an antimicrobial solution. Apparently it's works on almost anything (virii, bacteria, cysts...) and it's safe for human consumption to boot. I can't find a site for the institute, but there are articles around. [2]This one is fairly detailed, but hard to reach. [3]Here's the Google cache. Here's one about a [4]paper shows it's not exactly super-new technology." Any chemist care to comment on what sounds to be too good to be true? Links 0. http://www.ctv.ca/ 1. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20020831/water_purification_020830/Specials/story/ 2. http://www.kaptan.net/kaptan/suaritma/welcome_to_eca.htm 3. http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:40T84SLls1AC:www.kaptan.net/kaptan/suaritma/welcome_to_eca.htm+russian+%22institute+for+medical+engineering%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 4. http://www.oxytherapy.com/oxyfiles/oxy00354.html A Borg-like Artificial Intelligence For Lionhead's New Game http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/225256 [0]cybaea writes: "The creator of Black & White is experimenting with new work on group minds - but unlike the Borg, the characters in the new game are already descending into bar brawls, [1] reports ZDNet UK, quoting Richard Evans (famous for the AI engine in Black & White). My favourite quote: '[AI] Characters [in the game] even have the ability to dynamically create their own language, constructing simple sentences on a word by word basis.'" Links 0. http://cybaea.com/ 1. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2121579,00.html E-terrorism, Bark or Bite? http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/214256 [0]packeteer writes: "Huge [1]multi-part article on CNET news about electronic terrorism. The article has some interesting scenarios about posible types of attacks. It also has some good info about whats being done to prevent attacks as well as some info about media-hype that's put on 'hackers'. Good read." Links 0. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 1. http://news.com.com/2009-1001-954728.html?tag=fd_lede An R2 Of Your Own http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/194214 [0]skywalker404 writes: "Hasbro is releasing a [1]15" tall, functioning R2 unit. 'We built in all the feistiness of R2D2,' said Jeff Popper, director of marketing for Hasbro. 'He has the same charisma and charm that we have come to know in R2D2.' And apparently 'Hasbro also has programmed secret commands into R2D2 - putting an emphasis on the upper end of the "8-and-over" target market.' Rocky Mountain News has [2]this article on it. You can also go to the (very meager) [3]website that Hasbro has made just for it." Links 0. http://gregschwartz.net 1. http://starwars.hasbro.com/bountyhunter/repnews_content.cfm?id=74 2. http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/technology/article/0,1299,DRMN_49_1347972,00.html 3. http://www.r2droidfactory.com/ Solar Car To Retrace Cross-Australian Route http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/1643232 [0]Dave Snowdon writes "Its been 20 years since Quiet Achiever, the first solar car, crossed Australia from West to East (~4000km). [1]Sunswift 2, the [2]UNSW solar car is set to retrace the original route, in order to set a new [3]transcontinental record. The original car took 21 days, Sunswift is expected to complete in less than 7." Links 0. http://www.sunswift.com 1. http://www.sunswift.com/ 2. http://www.unsw.edu.au/ 3. http://www.sunrace.com.au/TSC2002/transcon2002.htm Today's Solar Flare http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/1426228 An anonymous reader writes "X1-class solar flare [0]today (13:30 Universal Time). Still the SOHO spacecraft offers some of the all-time [1]greatest snapshots anywhere on the web. The flare's residual activity would be shown white and at around 9 o'clock position [2]here. There are 3 major categories, each 10 times stronger than the next: X-class flares are big; they are major events that can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. M-class flares are medium-sized; they generally cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth. If it were headed towards Earth, arrival is usually 48-72 hrs later (this is not coming this way). Future Mars astronauts should take a lead umbrella because one [3]radiation day on Mars is like living at 70,000 feet on Earth." Nature is pretty. Links 0. http://www.spaceweather.com/ 1. http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eit/images/Sun_and_earth.jpg 2. http://solar.spacew.com/sunnow/ 3. http://www.astrobio.net/news/article144.html Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Trailer http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/1421223 [0]tetsuo13 writes "Bandai Entertainment Inc. in conjunction with Production I.G. has acquisition of the home video and broadcast rights in North America for the highly anticipated anime television series - [1]Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Created by Production I.G., original story by Masamune Shirow, directed by Kenji Kamiya, and music by Yoko Kanno Stand Alone Complex is the television series sequel to the animated film that redefined Japanese animation, Ghost in the Shell. A trailer was released a few short days ago for those that just can't wait!! [2]Get it here (45 MB download)." Links 0. http://www.anime.fm 1. http://www.production-ig.com/Ghost_TV.html 2. http://hk.dmz-plus.com/movie/koukaku.mpg Welcome to the Fiberhood http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/1417224 [0]cpfeifer writes "According to [1]this article in the Washington Post, high-end subdivisions are running fiber-optic cable to each house and rolling the cost of broadband, digital cable and local phone service into the home owners association cost. Apparantly home pre-wired for broadband have a better resale value and higher demand in the market." Links 0. http://www.cpfeifer.org 1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16815-2002Aug30.html Faith Returns to Buffy http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/01/1323244 duffbeer writes "According to an [0] article at Yahoo!, Eliza Dushku will be in the upcoming Buffy season 7! Five episodes are scheduled, along with three over on Angel. Now starting the oft-mentioned space-cowboy-thriller [1]Firefly on Fox, I wonder if [2]Joss have enough juice left over to invent plots for Faith as entertaining as those in the past?" Since the Slayer line has to continue through Faith, and since Gellar wants to leave the show after season 7, there is much interesting plot potential with Faith's return. Links 0. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/bpihw/20020829/en_bpihw/dushku_staked_out_for__buffy_ 1. http://www.fireflyfans.net/feature.asp?f=14 2. http://whedonesque.com/ Freshmeat bayespam 0.9.2 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95741/ Bayespam is a spam filter for Qmail, although it should work with minor modification on many email servers. It uses Bayesian classification to "learn" what spam and not-spam email looks like, and filters based on that learning. Catalogo 1.28 (Stable) http://freshmeat.net/releases/95714/ Catalogo helps you manage your CD collection in a catalog in which you can record the title, contents, type of CD, and other information. It also has a concept of users and allows them to request CDs from other users and to say that they also own that CD. Chinchorin 1.0 (Stable) http://freshmeat.net/releases/95390/ Chinchorin is a dice game based on one seen in a role playing game. Cluster Infrastructure for Linux 0.7.1 (Cluster Tools) http://freshmeat.net/releases/95723/ The Cluster Infrastructure (CI) for Linux extends the Cluster Membership and Internode Communication Subsystems from HP's NonStop Clusters for Unixware code base. It also provides the basis for the SSI Clusters for Linux project. DC-GUI 0.1beta10 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95743/ DC-GUI is a QT GUI Direct Connect filesharing client. fmio 2.0.2 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95745/ fmio is a small program to set and change FM radio card volume and frequency, and to check signal status on a working frequency. gpsdrive 1.26 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95681/ Gpsdrive is a map-based navigation system. It displays your position on a zoomable map provided from a NMEA-capable GPS receiver. The maps are autoselected for the best resolution, depending of your position, and the displayed image can be zoomed. Maps can be downloaded from the Internet with one mouse click. The program provides information about speed, direction, bearing, arrival time, actual position, and target position. Speech output is also available. Gtk-Agenda 0.8.2 (Development) http://freshmeat.net/releases/95744/ Gtk-Agenda is a small program to save your phone and email listings, share them with your friends, and send email messages. It stores your contacts in a PostgreSQL or MySQL database. IsForth 1.09b http://freshmeat.net/releases/95710/ IsForth is a direct threaded Linux-only x86 Forth implementation coded in pure assembly using NASM macros to create forth high-level definitions. All I/O is done with syscalls. It is almost a complete replacement for both libc and libncurses. JamochaMUD beta9-02-08-31 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95738/ JamochaMUD offers Unicode, plug-in, and multi-language support (8 different languages) to allow a more enjoyable MUCKing/MUDding experience. It features command history, synchronized window controls, experimental SOCKS 5 support, and greatly improved ANSI colour support. It plays nice on Unix systems, supports a wide range of MU*s, and also includes emulation of some TinyFugue editor controls. It uses Java 1.1, and includes classes to be easily reused in other Java applications. Java iCal Group Scheduler 1.0 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95734/ Java iCal Group Scheduler enables several users to get together for a meeting, by using JICAL to translate their iCalendar files into their available free/busy time and post it automatically to your Web server. This project enables Ximian Evolution desktop users to book meetings with each other (and Outlook users) via a Web server storing their 'Free/Busy' information as specified in RFC2445. JDebugTool 1.6.2 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95736/ JDebugTool is a standalone Java debugger built on top of the standard JPDA (Java Platform Debugger Architecture). It features a graphical and intuitive Java Swing GUI, and integrated Java Help. Logitech Quickcam express driver 0.40c (Development) http://freshmeat.net/releases/95686/ This project is to produce drivers for the logitech quickam express that will run popular linux software, such as video for linux. nefu 0.8.1 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95737/ nefu (network fidelity utility) is a Unix daemon that monitors services over the network. It uses a "no false alarms" fault verification algorithm, and understands network dependancies. Natively-monitored protocols include ICMP echo (ping), DNS, HTTP, POP, NTP, IMAP, SMTP, and LDAP, as well as having facilities to execute external programs. Status pages are available via finger or the Web. netrik 0.19 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95735/ Netrik is a full-featured, text mode WWW browser. It offers all the features other text mode browsers offer, plus a couple of extras. Features include multi-windowing, JavaScript, a nice user interface, and an option of evolving to a "full-blown" graphical browser. Powermanga 0.74 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95718/ Powermanga is an arcade 2D shoot-em-up game with 41 levels and more than 200 sprites. It runs in 320x200 or 640x400 pixels, with Window mode or direct to screen (DGA) and support for 8, 15, 16, 24, and 32 bpp. RoadMap 0.1 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95746/ RoadMap is a program for Linux that displays street maps. The maps are provided by the US Census Bureau, and thus only cover the US. Specific areas are displayed by selecting a street address (street number, street name, city, and state). RoadMap has been designed to be usable on both a desktop or laptop computer, or on a PDA. Tonto 1.35 (Main) http://freshmeat.net/releases/95740/ Tonto is a developer-oriented companion to the popular Pronto line of programmable remotes made by Philips. Tonto provides both an IDE GUI and a Java API for editing CCF files. WebClipboard 1.0 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95675/ WebClipboard aims to extend a clipboard Internet-wide. It uses an FTP server to store the clips, and clips must be manually cut and paste to it. The aim is to have it run over HTTP and have native daemons interact with the OS specific clipboard so that no manual handgrips will be necessary. So far only text is supported. Working Overloaded Linux Kernel 3.6rc1 (Development) http://freshmeat.net/releases/95747/ The Working Overloaded Linux Kernel (WOLK) project provides development kernels for testing purposes only. These kernels provide a service for developers and end users who can't be up-to-date with the latest kernels/patches but want to test new kernel features. Patches may be added upon request. ZenWeb 2.13.0 http://freshmeat.net/releases/95709/ ZenWeb is a system for building entire Web sites, not just pages. It allows you to focus on the content and the structure of the website, while leaving page construction, markup, layout, and navigation as secondary concerns. It provides tools for complete Web site design and creation, simple paragraph to HTML generation with embellishments, and a rich set of tools for page and Web site creation, modification, and customization. Slashcode WildFaith.org http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/30/1926246 We've helped setup yass for an initiative that flows into the UN's International day of Peace, Ceasefire, and Non-Violence, which occurs on Sept 21st. Wild Faith is building a network of distributed actions to celebrate this day, and get more people involved. Slash has provided the platform for rapid publishing of new info as the day draws near, as well as the ability to allow others to comment and participate. Slash DB Question: Part II http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/29/1551232 Following my previous post asking where user settings are saved (Thanks to thelink (http://thelink.concordia.ca) for his speedy response), I have an additional, almost identical question for the Slashcoders out there. On the Comment options page (users.pl?op=editcomm), does anyone know where the follwing settings are saved? "Email Display" "Signature Dash" "Reason Modifier" "People Modifier" "Anonymous Modifier" "NewUser Modifier" (Both the percentage field and the bonus) "Display Link Domains" Sorry to be such a pest. I've pretty much figured out all the other settings on this page. Playball4free.com http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/29/1528200 A new slash site (our first) talking about MLB and the coming strike. Please check it out... --wrttnwrd Submiting Long Story question http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/28/0442225 How do you only post part of the story and then when you click read more it shows a larger story. I know /. uses it and I was wondering how. Bruce Gillham Disappearing/Reappearing Topics and Sections http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/27/0542208 I've recently installed Slash 2.2.6 and for the most part, it's running beautifully. The only thing that's succeeding in driving me nuts is that my defined topics and sections appear in the dropdown menu inconsistenly when posting a new article or when searching. So one minute all topics/sections will appear, and for the next new article, one or two may appear, and the next, all but one appears, but it happens with no rhyme or reason. All topics and sections are correctly listed in their respective backslash sections and in the database table. I've restarted slash (apache and the server), but it didn't help. Is it one of those things that are handled by some hidden scheduled process, like the authors table? Any suggestions anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Jasmine Colors not saving http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/26/0728247 I just installed slash, and whenever I try to customize the colors on my site, I pick them out, enter them into the boxen, then click either "preview" or "save" and am summarily presented with the story list (not to mention an unchanged site). Is there something I'm missing here? Amateur Astronomy Site: m57.org http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/25/1643254 Just setup a new slash site for amateur astronomers: The Ring: m57.org. Please visit! Thanks to Micah Yoder Internet Development for capable hosting. uCdot http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/23/058243 A new slash site http://www.ucdot.org/ for uClinux and Embedded linux developers and users. Only new headlines http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/22/0558213 I have two suggestions that I think would be really cool. I've listed them after a short story of what prompted the ideas. I keep a mozilla window with slashdot in it on one of my virtual desktops all the time. I open interesting stories in their own tab leaving the first tab solely for slashdot. Whenever I refersh the page I have to scroll down to find the last headline that I read and start reading up from there. Sound familiar? Sometimes it gets complicated when I don't find the last headline I read and have to go back and look at the older stuff for what I might have missed. My quick fix suggestion first then, my really cool suggestion. 1) Previous 10 headlines button. 2) A Last_Headline_Read field stored in my cookie. If the site remembers that I'm logged in it should be able to remember the last headline that I read. It would be cool if, when I refreshed the page, slashdot only displayed the new headlines! Just a thought... Thanks for the awesome work you guys do. --Tres Saving user settings in the Slash DB: WHERE? http://slashcode.com/article.pl?sid=02/08/22/0555242 On the "Customize Homepage" page (users.pl?op=edithome) does anyone know where it saves the exclusion filters (exclude by topic, section, or author) in the database? I've figured out all the other settings except these. 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