Yaser Sulaiman’s Blog

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?

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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.
• (New!) 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.“
• (New!) Linux and Microcontroller Tips: ubuntu – “tutorials and useful tips for ubuntu.“
• (New!) 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.“
• (New!) 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?

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Bill Hilf, Microsoft General Manager of Platform Strategy, announced last week at O’Reilly Open Source Convention that Microsoft is submitting its shared source licenses to the OSI (Open Source Initiative) to be certified as open source licenses. He also announced that Microsoft has created a new web site that – according to Hilf’s post – “clearly outlines Microsoft’s position on OSS [open-source software] by providing specific information about Microsoft, the OSS community and the interaction between the two“.

Tim O’Reilly, the founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media, Inc., described this move by Microsoft as “a huge, long-awaited move” and that “it will be earthshaking for both Microsoft and for the open source community if the licenses are in fact certified as open source licenses“. Many angry readers responded to O’Reilly’s post. One reader described the move as “a well designed propaganda campaign to build the ’shared source’ brand and paint MS as an ‘open source’ company“. Another reader was concerned that this “approach could further divide an already-fragile and already-divided community“.

O’Reilly responded back by saying that “year by year, they [Microsoft] have come closer to recognizing that the old models are dead, and that new ones need to be explored” and that “they are using it [open source] strategically where it helps them, and fighting it where it hurts them. But so is every other proprietary software company“. He also said that “if you care about Microsoft becoming more free and open, support the people at Microsoft who are trying to bring them along“.

Joe Wilcox said that the new site “appears more about public relations and spreading FUD (fear uncertainty and doubt) than “clearly” outlining Microsoft’s open-source position“. He listed some ambiguities and inconsistencies that he found with the Web site and Microsoft executive statements.

So, what is really happening? Is Microsoft trying to pull off a dirty trick behind the scenes? Or do they really want to become good friends with the open source society?

“Lethal combination” has two meanings: If this move is part of an “evil” plan, this could be lethal to the OSS (although it won’t totally kill it). On the other hand, if Microsoft was really honest about it this time, the open source society can win a strong ally to its side.

Now I’m neither a Microsoft hater (I enjoy using Vista from time to time) nor a Microsoft lover (I hate it when my favorite anti-virus program is not compatible with Vista). Also, I’m neither an open source lover (I hate it when I can’t get my wireless USB adapter to work in Linux) nor an open source hater (I admire the open source culture and philosophy). I know that there is nothing perfect in this world. So, here what I have to say:

To the open source society: Why can’t you (or some of you) at least imagine that there are some good people deep inside Microsoft? Loosen up a little, will ya! Try to turn this “enemy” into an ally, but proceed with some caution. (Hell, this could be your chance to kill Microsoft!)

To Microsoft: Don’t expect people you have been hurting for so many years to listen to the man who said “The Free Software movement is dead. Linux doesn’t exist in 2007“. Come on! You can do better than that! If you really are honest this time, you better show it to those people.

To myself: Get ready for some angry comments! Also, try to avoid lengthy posts in the future!

Today, I came across linuxmpx blog. The only post there instantly caught my attention: War Between Linux MPX And Microsoft Surface. (linuxmpx blog “has been archived or suspended for a violation of our [WordPress] Terms of Service”)

It turned out that MPX (Multi-Pointer X Server) “is a modification of the X server to support multiple mice and keyboards in X“. Using MPX, you can plug more than one mouse/keyboard and use them simultaneously.

The following video is a demo of MPX in action:

Here is another video showing what can be done using MPX:

Finally, this video shows multi-touch support in MPX:

As soon as I install openSUSE (and get me an additional mouse ), I’ll try it. You may be wondering: Is it better than Microsoft Surface? Well, at least it is for free!