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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[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.

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30: the number of days I set to accomplish the mission.

158: the number of subscriptions in my Google Reader account.

0: the number of unread items I was hoping to reach at the end of the 30-day period.

3780: the number of items I read.

126: average number of items read per day.

255: the number of unread items at the end of the 30-day period.

Conclusion: Keeping up with the Web is impossible!

At first, it was quite easy, but things got complicated as I entered my final exams period. The whole thing fall apart after I spent an entire day without an Internet connection. I tried to make up in the last day, but after reading 316 items, I raised the white flag!

Lifehacker was (and still) the most frequently updated among my subscriptions with an average of 16.5 items/day. It is repeated in the list because I subscribed to their full feed recently.

What should I do now? Maybe I should organize the subscriptions according to their priority.

How about you? How many items do you read per day?

Firefox is my default web browser and I use it a lot. One thing that I don’t like about it though is its memory usage. It is true that I’m using around 20 extensions (some of them can cause memory leaks and crashes), but consuming about 100 MB of memory while only 8 tabs are open is quite irritating.

By default, Firefox doesn’t reduce its memory usage when it is minimized (unlike Internet Explorer). Nevertheless, there is a trick to make it do so. Just do the following:

1. In the Firefox address bar, type “about:config” and then press Enter.
2. Right click anywhere in the page and select New -> Boolean.
3. Type “config.trim_on_minimize” in the box that pops up and then press Enter.
4. Select True and then press Enter.
5. Restart Firefox.

Now when you minimize Firefox, its memory usage should drop to about 10 MB.

Although the memory usage will gradually increase even when Firefox is kept minimized, this is a good way to “manually” free some memory out of Firefox’s grip. Hopefully, this issue will be resolved in Firefox 3.

(via FeelFirefox)

Note: For some reason, this didn’t work under Windows Vista! (Currently, I don’t have other operating systems installed to test this trick under them)