"Learning about linux by dissecting packages" written by Tinypliny on estrip.org

Category: linux

08/07/11 10:19 - ID#54892

Learning about linux by dissecting packages

What makes a flawless efficient productive system? What goes into all those small things that make sticking to one OS easier than the other? What is behind those simple little tricks that you get used to in one OS that helps you work so much more faster than in another new system?

I want a system that will just stay out of my way and not make me think about it. But to not force people to think about anything requires careful thought into what works in the background silently and smoothly. There is of course the universal kernel and the efficiency of code of all bits and pieces of software. But an easier and more non-technical "everyone" way to dissect why one distro offers better productivity than the other is to look at the packages.

I am going to take a look at Crunchbang's packages and list them so that I can understand why that distro comes close to being one of the most perfect distros I have worked on. As usual, the easiest way is to just dissect the hard work already done by the experts. Omns (or Grant Galbraith) in his omns project blog puts together Debian systems all the time and writes post-install scripts for them. I am just going to extract commands from these scripts and put them down here. The difference will be I want to write my own descriptions for each package, why they are essential to the system and what they bring to the table in terms of making that distro a bit more "intuitive", all based on my limited understanding of linux systems.

I guess the goal is to learn not by building linux from scratch but by pulling apart a system that works well. And since I am working backwards, I am hoping to go from the superficial layers to the deep, first looking at the packages that form and work with the graphical interface and immediate enduser functions going down to what comprises the system itself. I probably won't be done in one day or even one year, but hopefully, this will be a useful exercise in understanding a bit more about linux systems that are better than others.

From part II: XFCE 4.8 on Debian Squeeze

Set Repositories

wget
mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.bak
cp sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list

I usually do:
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

So what is his sources list...

(% means commented out since the # means something else on (e:strip))
-- DEBIAN SQUEEZE
deb

squeeze main contrib non-free
% deb-src

squeeze main contrib non-free

-- DEBIAN SQUEEZE UPDATES
deb

squeeze-updates main contrib non-free
% deb-src

squeeze-updates main contrib non-free

-- DEBIAN TESTING
deb

testing main contrib non-free
% deb-src

testing main contrib non-free

-- DEBIAN UNSTABLE
deb

unstable main contrib non-free
% deb-src

unstable main contrib non-free

-- DEBIAN EXPERIMENTAL
% deb

experimental main contrib non-free
% deb-src

experimental main contrib non-free

-- MOZILLA
% deb

squeeze-backports iceweasel-4.0

-- DEBIAN SECURITY
deb

squeeze/updates main non-free
% deb-src

squeeze/updates main non-free

-- DEBIAN MULTIMEDIA
deb

stable main non-free

-- DEBIAN BACKPORTS
deb

squeeze-backports main contrib non-free

So I don't like firefox. Never have. I have always been an Opera or currently a Chrome fan. The Mozilla-ice-weasel needs to go in my set up.

Setting up preferences

wget
mv /etc/apt/preferences /etc/apt/preferences.bak
cp preferences /etc/apt/preferences

This is something I don't know about. Something called apt-pinning. Omns has done a post about it that I need to read about. For now these are the preferences in the file we just copied:

Package: *
Pin: release n=squeeze-backports
Pin-Priority: 1001

Package: *
Pin: release n=squeeze-updates
Pin-Priority: 950

Package: *
Pin: release n=squeeze
Pin-Priority: 900

Package: *
Pin: release n=stable
Pin-Priority: 800

Package: *
Pin: release a=testing
Pin-Priority: 700

Package: *
Pin: release a=unstable
Pin-Priority: 600

Package: *
Pin: release a=experimental
Pin-Priority: 200

Add Keyrings

This is to prevent the system from whining about "uncertified" and "untrustworthy" sources.

wget
dpkg -i debian-multimedia-keyring_2010.12.26_all.deb

Update Repositories and Upgrade packages

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

I have noticed that an upgrade always breaks stuff in Crunchbang Statler. Probably an indication that that exact package collection only works with some older Debian components and not with the newer updates. I still haven't learnt how to pinpoint the source of the break.

Base packages and applications.

sudo apt-get install
xorg --> the graphical interface.
gksu --> launches programs in graphical interface
gdebi --> enables double-click *.deb and install ability
file-roller --> an unzip/unrar/untar utility (does not play well with evince)
% why do I need all the compression programs under the sun?
lha --> lzh archiver
lzop --> fast compression program
rzip --> compression program for large files
unalz --> De-archiver for .alz files
zoo --> zoo archive extractor
xz-utils --> XZ-format compression utilities
p7zip-full --> extract 7zip archives
alsa-base --> sound server. Maybe replace with pulseaudio
vlc --> video lan player
audacity --> audio player. vlc is fine really.
libdvdcss2 --> ?
lame --> mp3 codec
gimp --> high end graphics program similar to Photoshop
ttf-freefont --> better fonts rendering. Absolutely essential!
ttf-mscorefonts-installer --> M$shit fonts that are not so shit.
gcolor2 --> ?
agave --> ?
gedit --> The "linux notepad" I like so much!
fortunes --> ?
fortune-mod --> ? (I have read this is important as a notification machine but I am not really sure.)
gedit-plugins --> ? Not sure which plugins these are, the ons that bring along different code highlighting and syntax highlighting maybe. I just need some eye-popping bright ones that may not necessarily belong to R but make error-spotting easier.
evince --> pdf reader. ver 3.0 has annotation support but still ages behind wine + pdf xchange viewer.
gcalctool --> ? calculator?
iceweasel --> weasel I hate (firefox).
gftp -->?
xchat --> irc client. useful for naggy questions in realtime.
transmission-gtk --> torrent client.
wicd --> I think network manager is better in terms of offering a bigger variety of connections. 3G, VPN etc
cups --> something to do with the printer?
cups-pdf --> pdf printing?
system-config-printer --> ?
hpijs --> ?
hplip --> ?
dmz-cursor-theme --> ?
gtk2-engines-murrine -- ?
tango-icon-theme -- ? do I need this eye candy?
gnome-colors --> ?
bash-completion -- ?
screen -- ?
cowsay -- ?
figlet -- ?
scrot -- ?
whois -- ?
rpl -- ?
conky-all --> system monitor. DonÂ´t need this as I only use the clock, that xfce can provide.
zenity -- ?
gparted --> partition disks. Do I really need this?
xfsprogs --> ?
reiserfsprogs --> ?
reiser4progs --> ?
jfsutils --> ?
synaptic --> package installer. Useful sometimes when you don't want to mess around with command line.
ttf-bitstream-vera --> font
ttf-dejavu --> font
ntfs-3g --> ?
pcmciautils --> ?
parcellite --> clipboard manager. I this messes up gnumeric.
fontconfig-config --> ?
libcairo2 --> ?
firmware-linux --> drivers but not sure which ones
firmware-iwlwifi --> I need to compile and install my dear realtek here, this won't help. Atleast not in the current kernel where my wireless has not been integrated.
libreoffice --> current openoffice avatar. I don't need all of it. Maybe only writer, impress and math
libreoffice-gtk --> ?libreoffice related

Clean up downloaded packages

sudo apt-get clean

Install Xfce 4.8

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get -t testing install
xfce4
xfdesktop4
xfce4-power-manager
xfce4-screenshooter
xfce4-notifyd
thunar
thunar-archive-plugin
thunar-media-tags-plugin
thunar-thumbnailers
gvfs-backends
gvfs-bin
gvfs-fuse
xfce4-mixer
xfburn
terminator

Clean up downloaded packages

sudo apt-get clean
reboot

Hmm.. quite a few question marks I need to fill out there.

Permalink: Learning_about_linux_by_dissecting_packages.html
Words: 1359
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/08/11 11:08

Category: eating in

08/07/11 09:44 - ID#54891

Learn the method. The method.

His closing words are perhaps the best words of advice in any scenario. Once you have the method down, endless variations and innovations are possible.

Permalink: Learn_the_method_The_method_.html
Words: 27
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/07/11 09:44

Category: i-tech

08/06/11 09:09 - ID#54887

Pringles Cantenna

What I really want to do is to be able to work from my building's rooftop. Unfortunately, my router's wireless signal is weak and pathetic. I am thinking...

Pringles Cantenna!

Now, I only have to pick the flavour of choice and mooch some copper wire from (e:paul).

Permalink: Pringles_Cantenna.html
Words: 70
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/06/11 09:11

Category: eating in

08/06/11 08:46 - ID#54886

Secondary Fuel

I am trying to learn how to cook with just 3 - 4 ingredients as opposed to throwing the whole fridge in.

It's a tough ordeal for me because I am constantly tempted to throw in everything I spot. In the end, everything I make starts to resemble everything else. It's not good for the cooking soul.

Permalink: Secondary_Fuel.html
Words: 57
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/06/11 08:51

Category: eating out

08/06/11 05:29 - ID#54884

Primary Fuel

Considering I just wiped off the entire shelf of the Lindt 85% at the store, I probably have the biggest stash in a mile radius now.

Wonder how many hours these will now drive me.

Permalink: Primary_Fuel.html
Words: 36
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/06/11 08:48

Category: i-tech

08/06/11 10:24 - ID#54877

Keyboards

I am always looking for quieter keyboards that don't sound like the train is rattling through my flat as I type. I type a lot and keyboard rackets really bother me. So I recently bought this unbranded chiclet-keys-type keyboard:

I reviewed it on Amazon. In short, I like how the keyboard feels and sounds (not quiet but tolerable). But I mistype on this keyboard often because the spacing is somewhat non-standard.

I tried out this Azio keyboard

and hated it.

The noise factor was okay but the keyboard was too hard to type on and fatiguing. Plus it was glossy and retained fingerprints.

Then I got this logitech K120 yesterday.

It is just a classic keyboard with well spaced out keys so that mistakes are minimum and you get everthing right at the very first type. But it is not quiet as they say. Its not quiet at all. All the clackety clatter is very much there. I think it has got noisier from yesterday. That is exactly what happened to my earlier M$shit keyboard.

The racket steadily increased over the years till I had to drown the sound out with heavy metal or full orchestras. Chopin was completely out of the question. I am afraid this keyboard might be headed the same way.

I am pretty torn. Do I care more about precision or do I care more about the sound. Or should I just hold on to the noisier but more precise keyboard and just suffer through the noise?
Both keyboards are a pleasure to type on though. They hardly require any effort. Both are not entirely quiet but I prefer the sound of the chiclet keyboard rather than the clackety noise of the logitech k120 (I wonder what the people who think this is quiet were smoking!).

For now, I have two of the unbranded silky chiclet keyboards and the classic logitech k120. I returned the Azio. I think I am holding on to the chiclet keyboard but I am not sure what to do with the logitech keyboard yet. I am typing on it now, hardly making any mistakes but I am not liking the noise at all.

tinypliny writes at 03:46:35 08/06/11 - Comment #64161: That small paragraph took me 3 minutes to type correctly on this keyboard with 3-4 tea sips in between. That's not very productive.

tinypliny writes at 03:45:21 08/06/11 - Comment #64160: I have now switched from logitech to the chiclet and my typing has slowed down A LOT. I am making a ton of mistakes. I keep going back to correct words. But there is no irritating racket. It sounds like I am typing on a laptop. If only they had spaced out this chiclet keyboard a little more... it could have been the most perfect keyboard. I don't know why they had to jam all the keys together in non-standard formats.

tinypliny writes at 03:42:38 08/06/11 - Comment #64159: Hmm... I don't know if I can deal with those silicone membrane keyboards because there is no tactile feedback when you type. In a regular keyboard, you can be confident that you have hit a key even when you are not looking at the keyboard or the screen but on a membrane-like keyboard, it could be tough to be certain of whether you have typed correctly or not without looking.

I really don't know. I like the chunky feedback of a keyboard like logitech but I hate the noise.

metalpeter writes at 01:21:19 08/06/11 - Comment #64157: Silly Question? Back in the days of some recent time ago you had two kinds of keyboards the standard kind that click like a type writer a bit where each letter is a key stroke then you had (picture the ateri video game quickly with keyboard) where you don't have keys that go up and down you hold down and get the letter.... Now granted those it was very easy to hold downnnnnnnnnn and it used to be with these other type of key boards if you wanted double letter or numbers you had to type again but now if you hold it down you get multiples.... the question I have is can you get the kind that makes no sound because there is no button that goes up and down you just press it and depress it? I thought I saw and add someplace for a key board like that and it unrolls... Just an idea not sure if they still make that kind..........

Permalink: Keyboards.html
Words: 419
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/06/11 10:39

Category: the odes

08/05/11 09:45 - ID#54873

Mayor abducted by aliens...

Multiple eyewitness accounts confirm that the beam-me-up-scotty-mobile was spotted hovering menacingly over his office just after nightfall.

The hostile mothership was last seen speeding over the Erie lake towards the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.

Permalink: Mayor_abducted_by_aliens_.html
Words: 37
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/05/11 09:58

Category: the odes

08/05/11 09:12 - ID#54872

Cue "The X-Files" tune!

I am having way too much fun with this blimp.

The truth is OUT THERE!

It's some vodka called Hangar One

and it's on a multi-city tour. Today was its Buffalo day. Seems like you will get a chance to see it eerily floating over Erie tomorrow as well as Sunday.