Many users think that gedit – the default text editor for the GNOME desktop environment – is a simple editor that can only do some basic editing. In reality, there is more to gedit than meets the eye. It has many features that makes it a good choice for programmers: syntax highlighting, auto indentation, bracket matching, etc. But perhaps the most important feature of gedit is its powerful plugin system. There are many useful plugins out there for regular users and programmers alike, but in this post I’ll concentrate on 5 gedit plugins that are essential for programmers. I consider them essential because they can greatly increase your programming productivity and make your life easier (well, your programming life at least!).
Gedit comes with several plugins enabled by default (the list of enabled plugins varies from one Linux distribution to another). Additional plugins are available in the gedit-plugins package. In Ubuntu, this package can be easily installed by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install gedit-plugins
To access the list of plugins, select Edit -> Preferences, and then select the Plugins tab. Here, you can enable, disable, configure, and get more info about the available plugins.
1. Snippets
Reduce the amount of typing you have to do by using Snippets, the auto-text insertion tool for gedit. It enables you to store “snippets” (frequently-used pieces of text), and insert them quickly into your file. Insertions can be done using a keyboard shortcut or a “tab trigger“. A tab trigger enables you to type a few characters and then hit the Tab key to insert the entire snippet (e.g. a switch statement or a for loop). The plugin comes with a number of built-in snippets for many programming languages. You can edit them and add your own by selecting Tools -> Manage Snippets.
2. External Tools
Regarded by many as the most useful one, External Tools enables you to run any external command or shell script, specifying the keyboard shortcut, the input (if any), and where to display the output. It comes with a couple of useful programs pre-installed: Build, Open terminal here, Remove trailing spaces, and Run command. You can add your own by selecting Tools -> External Tools. For example, I’ve added a tool that invokes the Ruby interpreter on the current file and displays the output in the bottom pane.
3. Embedded Terminal
If you are not comfortable with the command line, then you are NOT a real programmer! This plugin adds a full instance of the Bash terminal in the bottom pane of gedit, complete with your modifications.
4. Session Saver
A very useful plugin, especially if you are working on a project requiring multiple files to be open at once. Sessions can be saved and loaded from File -> Saved sessions.
5. Code Comment
Can you remember the last time you edited a source file without commenting at least one line of code? Code Comment enables you to comment/uncomment blocks of code quickly: Ctrl+M to comment and Ctrl+Shift+M to uncomment.
Remember that there are many more gedit plugins, some of which are targeted to a specific language (like Python Console, which adds an interactive Python console to the bottom pane). Feel free to try different plugins and transform gedit into an even more powerful IDE that suites your needs.
What are your favorite gedit plugins that you can’t live without?
If you like this post and want to get more useful content, then please subscribe to my full text RSS feed.
Whether you are trying Ubuntu for the first time or you are a long-time Ubuntu power user, you will find below a list of the best Ubuntu resources on the Web. You name it: websites, forums, wikis, blogs and podcasts. There are many Linux resources out there, but in this post, I tried to only include links to resources that are mainly focused on Ubuntu. I’ll update it whenever I discover a new resource, so keep your eye on it! (Image Credit: Fishbowl Collective)
Official
If it has “ubuntu.com” in its URL, it is official!
- Ubuntu Home Page – the official website of Ubuntu, where you can get the latest official news and download various Ubuntu releases.
- Ubuntu Documentation – the official documentation developed and maintained by the Ubuntu Documentation Project.
- Ubuntu Community Docs – the community documentation for Ubuntu, created by Ubuntu users themselves.
- Ubuntu Forums – a great place to get help on even the most difficult issues. (forums.ubuntu.com redirects to ubuntuforums.org. So, it is official after all!)
- Ubuntu Mailing Lists – news, announcements, development and community support.
- Ubuntu IRC – this page contains information about the Ubuntu IRC channels, where you can ask for (and offer) help.
- Ubuntu Screencasts – the official video screencast website for Ubuntu.
- Ubuntu Brainstorm – a website where users can add their ideas and vote for their favorites.
- Ubuntu Team Wiki – a place for the Ubuntu community to discuss ideas and store team-related information.
- Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter – “Reporting all of this week’s Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu and Xubuntu action.“
- Planet Ubuntu – “a window into the world, work and lives of Ubuntu developers and contributors.“
Unofficial
It certainly doesn’t have to be official to be helpful!
- Questions for Ubuntu – Launchpad’s Answer Tracker provides a way to build a knowledge-base through community participation.
- Ubuntu | HowtoForge – one of the best resources for Ubuntu how-to’s and tutorials.
- Ubuntu Knowledge – this sites aims to be a unified Ubuntu documentation site.
- Funnestra Ubuntu How-To – a great collection of how-to’s, from initial setup to restoring GRUB.
- Psychocats Ubuntu Linux Resources – a collection of essential tutorials, how-to’s and links for users starting with Ubuntu.
- How to install ANYTHING in Ubuntu! – an excellent graphical guide for installing applications in Ubuntu.
- Ubuntu Guide – a wiki that contains guides on how to do many basic things in Ubuntu (and some other Linux distributions).
- Full Circle Magazine – the free independent magazine for the Ubuntu Linux community.
- Getdeb – provides updates and software that are not yet available on the official Ubuntu repositories.
- Linux App Finder – a great resource for finding and installing Linux applications. If you like, you can use the filter to only show applications from the Ubuntu repositories.
- Ubuntu-News.net – a good place for getting daily news about Ubuntu.
- Ubuntu Story – a promotional website where you can share your story and tell the world why you use Ubuntu.
- Buntfu – a community based computer vendor with a focus on Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Resources – a nice collection of easy-to-follow, up-to-date articles and guides. It was created by Michael Godawski, a member of the Beginners Team in the Ubuntu Forums.
Blogs
These excellent blogs offer great Ubuntu tips and how-to’s. Remember to subscribe to their RSS feeds (don’t know what is RSS? Check my previous post to learn how it can save your life!).
- Tombuntu – “News, Tips, and How-Tos for Ubuntu Linux” (my favorite!).
- Ubuntu Unleashed – “Unleashing Ubuntu knowledge for the open source community“.
- Ubuntu Tutorials – “How to do almost anything on your Ubuntu desktop, laptop or server. Regular tips on installing, configuring and making your Ubuntu system as effective as you need it to be.“
- Ubuntu Geek – “Ubuntu Linux Tips, Howtos & Tutorials“.
- Ubuntu OS – “A blog and podcast with everything you want from Ubuntu“.
- Ubuntu Blog – “Not quite everything about Ubuntu, but close.“
- Ubuntu Switch – “A blog about the experiences of a non-techie, linux noob switching to Ubuntu. Anyone can register and post an experience, tip or other Ubuntu-esq piece with the thought of keeping things as non-technical as possible.“
- UbuntuHQ – “Our goal is to collect all Ubuntu related articles in one place. Here you can find recent news issues, application reviews, howto’s and other stories.“
- Works With U – “We’re a media company that will track Ubuntu’s strengths, weaknesses and ultimate evolution. And we’re here to connect Ubuntu experts with novices who are ready to give Ubuntu a try.“
- Ubuntu Linux Help – “Resources, help, how to’s and tutorials for Ubuntu Linux users!“
- The Daily Ubuntu – “The blog for a featured daily Ubuntu application every day.” (though it wasn’t updated since February 23, 2008)
- Ubuntu OS – “another blog about Ubuntu Linux. Parts 1-8 are for new users, the rest is just a mix of How to’s, Guides and general info.“
- Linux and Microcontroller Tips: ubuntu – “tutorials and useful tips for ubuntu.“
- Ubuntu Extreme – “the quintessential guide to ubuntu hacks.“
It is worth mentioning that Ubuntu Blog created a long list of blogs with Ubuntu-related content (and not only English ones). Free Geekery also created an interesting list of the top 25 Ubuntu blogs (by the numbers).
Podcasts
If you only want to listen to podcats about Ubuntu, check out the following great ones:
- Ubuntu OS – “the home of the first, and longest running, Ubuntu Podcast!“
- Fresh Ubuntu – “a somewhat weekly account about anything that has to do with Ubuntu.“
- Ubuntu UK – “from the newest user to the oldest coder, from the command line to the latest gui.“
- Ubuntu Podcast – “Podcasts and Videocasts brought to you by Georgia and Florida US LoCos.“
Do you have other Ubuntu resources? What are you favorite ones?
If you like this post and want to get more useful content, then please subscribe to my full text RSS feed.
[Update: Added 2 more resources]
Whether you are an RSS beginner, user, addict, or developer, you will find below a list of the best RSS tools and resources available on the Web for you. I’ll update it whenever I discover a new resource, so keep your eye on it! This post is part of my participation in the RSS Awareness Day – an initiative by Daily Blog Tips to raise awareness about RSS. (Yes, I was supposed to publish this yesterday, but it wasn’t ready yet. My bad)
For Beginners
Don’t know what RSS is? Really Simple Syndication is a way to publish and subscribe to frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, and podcasts. If you follow a lot of frequently updated sites and you are not using RSS, then you are probably wasting a lot of time.
The following excellent video – from the CommonCraft Show – explains what RSS is, why it is important, and how to start using it:
- RSS – news you choose: CNET Reviews explains why RSS is important and how to read it.
- RSS – Wikipedia: if you want to know even more about RSS.
- What Is RSS? RSS Explained: provides a “one page quick introduction to RSS“.
- Why aren’t you using RSS?: a nice introduction to RSS. This post was featured in Lifehacker and Blogcritics.
Web-Based vs. Desktop-Based
Can’t decide whether to go for a Web-based or desktop-based RSS reader? The following blog posts might be helpful:
- The Web-Based vs. Desktop-Based Newsreader Showdown: Lifehacker compares Google Reader (arguably the most popular web-based newsreader) with the freeware, desktop-based readers from Newsgator.
- Why FeedDemon is Better Than Google Reader and Bloglines: Digital Inspiration discusses 10 features in FeedDemon (my favorite RSS reader) that makes it better than online news readers.
- Why Use a Desktop RSS Reader?: Nick Bradbury (the creator of FeedDemon) makes the case for desktop-based readers.
For People with RSS Addiction/Overload
Can’t stop subscribing to those feeds? Too much of anything can be bad, and this include RSS! If you are an RSS addict (like me), you are probably trying to accomplish an impossible mission. I tried that too, but I finally decided to hit the “Mark all as read” button. The following resources might help us in our struggle:
- AideRSS: an RSS-feed filtering service that uses a proprietary system called PostRank to determine the best posts on each blog.
- Feed Rinse: an advanced web-based tool that lets you filter out syndicated content that you aren’t interested in.
- How to Reduce RSS Stress In Your Online Life: Digital Inspiration offers some tips to beat the RSS stress and manage your RSS subscriptions more effectively.
- Seven Tips for Making the Most of Your RSS Reader: ReadWriteWeb offers seven methods for making the most of RSS.
For Sites with no RSS Feeds
Arrived at a website that has no feeds? There are several ways to deal with this situation:
- Dapper: a free web application that helps users in creating a feed for websites that lack one. Dapper is quite advanced and offers many customization options.
- Feed43: a free online service to convert any webpage to an RSS feed on the fly.
- Feedity: an RSS generator for web pages without syndication.
- FeedYes: a service to create an RSS feed from webpage even if they don’t offer them.
- How to Monitor Websites that don’t have RSS Feeds: Make Use Of mentions some ways to get notified about site updates when the site doesn’t offer RSS feeds.
- Page2RSS: a service that helps you monitor web sites that do not publish feeds.
For Developers
Want to develop an RSS-related application? Check the list below for some useful resources:
- Ajax RSS Reader: IBM’s developerWorks shows you how to build an Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) RSS reader.
- Build a customizable RSS feed aggregator in PHP: another article from developerWorks that shows how to use PHP-based server-side functions to develop a customizable RSS feed aggregator.
- RSS DevCenter: O’Reilly Network’s source for RSS developer news and information.
- SimplePie: an RSS parser written in PHP.
- Web Developer Resource Index – RSS: a very comprehensive list of RSS development resources.
Miscellaneous tools
Want to use RSS in a new way? There are many innovative tools and services out there:
- FeedBlitz: a popular RSS to e-mail converters that enables publishers to offer RSS by email to their subscribers.
- Feed Informer: a professional service that blends and converts RSS feeds to other formats for publishing.
- FeedJournal: a Web application to generate personalized newspaper-formatted PDFs from RSS feeds.
- FreeMyFeed: a service that allows you to bypass password-protected feeds.
- ReadBurner: a website that aggregates popular Google Reader Shared Items.
- RSS 2 PDF: An online utility that can convert RSS feeds into PDF files.
- RSS2Image: a service that takes an RSS feed and converts it to an image that can be displayed anywhere on the Web.
- RSSFWD: a service to deliver updates from RSS feeds straight to your email.
- RSS Mix: a web service that mixes multiple RSS feeds together into one new feed.
- SendMeRSS: a free service that lets you read your RSS feeds in your inbox. [Update: NBC has shut down SendMeRSS]
All-Star
Can’t write a list about RSS resources without mentioning these:
- 14 “OTHER” Ways to Use RSS Feeds: Make Use Of discusses several other ways you can make use of RSS feeds.
- 30 RSS Resources For the Feed-Addicted Blogger: Webmaster-Source lists links for bloggers who are addicted to RSS and want their readers to be as well.
- The Ultimate RSS Toolbox – 120+ RSS Resources: Mashable made a comprehensive list of all the RSS readers, tools, browser plugins, tips, hacks and directories available on the web.
If you got any other useful RSS tools and resources, please mention them in the comments.
If you like this post and want to get more useful content, then please subscribe to my full text RSS feed.
[Update: I have added two more ways to make your Web browsing useful to others: Tweet and Email]
You usually browse the Web to find something useful to you, but have you ever thought about making it useful to others? The following methods might be obvious to many “power users“, but there is definitely someone out there who doesn’t know them.
1. Hit the “Share” Button in Your RSS Reader
(Yes, I consider reading RSS feeds as Web browsing!)
In many RSS readers, there is a way to share items that you see “share-worthy“. In Google Reader, you can hit the “Share” button (or Shift+S on your keyboard) to share the current item.
In FeedDemon, you can create a new clippings folder and enable sharing it as an RSS feed. To share an item, just add it to this folder.
All what you have to do now is to give the link to that feed to others (by publishing it on your blog for example). Here is my shared items feed.
Remember: don’t overdo it! Most probably, your subscribers got their hands full with too many feeds, and you don’t want to make it worse for them. Of course, you are free to share whatever you like, but as a general rule, the number of shared items should be less than the number of starred items (your private, favorite items). I usually ask myself before I hit the “Share” button: “Will I write about the topic(s) of this post in my own blog?“. If the answer is yes, this will encourage me to share it (but it doesn’t mean that I’ll definitely do it!).
2. Use Social Bookmarking
Not only can del.icio.us be used to save bookmarks on the Web, it can be used to share links and create networks between users, and that is why it is called “social” in the first place. When you come across a special, important, useful, or even interesting website, and you think that someone else might be interested in it too, bookmark it. If you find a user that has similar interests to yours, add him/her to your network, then follow your entire network via its RSS feed.
Remember to share your del.icio.us page with others. Here is my page.
Of course, del.icio.us is not the only web site that offers social bookmarking services. Look for similar services and choose the one(s) that suits your needs.
3. Blog
This might be helpful when you don’t have the time to write a long post. Instead of leaving your blog without updates for the week, why don’t you write a short post containing links to some useful websites, blogs, or articles you recently came across? (I know I should do this more often!)
4. Tweet
Are you on Twitter? If yes, make your tweets more useful and interesting by posting links to useful websites from time to time.
Because of the 140-character limit, you might want to use one of the URL shortening services. I personally prefer Tweetburner because it can be used to track what happens with the links you share on Twitter.
(On a side note, TinyURL is blocked in Saudi Arabia! I was missing a lot of good stuff because of that, but I recently discovered Embiggen TinyURL bookmarklet for expanding those TinyURLs, and it works fine with me!)
5. Email
If you come across an interesting article on some blog and you realize that one of your friends will find it really useful, look around for an envelope icon, an “Email this” link, or a “Send to friend” link and click it to send the link to your friend. Of course, you can send the link from your own email account if you prefer to do so.
Do you have any other tips to make our web browsing useful to others?
a.k.a hit the “Mark all as read” button.
Yes, you will feel bad about it. Yes, you will miss things that are great, helpful, amazing, interesting, and cool. Still, you will survive (at least I did).
Why should you do it? Think about it: How can you find peace of mind when you are being constantly reminded that you have 1000+ items to read? Maybe you are an information junkie, but information overload can have drastic effects. For many of us, life’s just too short.
I used to keep good, long articles that needed concentration unmarked to read them on a later time, but the number of unread items kept increasing. Google Reader automatically marks an item as read after 30 days. So eventually, those articles were marked as read and I never got the chance to read them.
Engadget is a great blog, but I only manged to keep their RSS feed in my subscription list for less than a week. It was just overwhelming to receive around 40 posts/day from a single site. Armed with that little button, I will subscribe to it again.
What if you are not comfortable at all with hitting the “Mark all as read” button? You can subscribe to category feed(s) instead of the main one. This will reduce the number of posts you have to read and will help you avoid the ones that you are not interest in.
If you have 300+ subscriptions and you are able to manage them with ease, or if you don’t mind having 1000+ unread items all the time, then you don’t have to do it. But remember: When things get overwhelming, the “Mark all as read” button will always be there for you (hopefully!).
digg
reddit
stumbleupon
del.icio.us
twitter
plurk
facebook
youtube
friendfeed