Stuart's Blog

I upgraded to Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy) this weekend. So far my first experience with Firefox 3 hasn't been great.

First the minor issue: When I launched FF3, my fonts were messed up. Some pages looked normal, others had ugly huge fonts. Maybe the big fonts are a problem with Ubuntu's Freetype config. Maybe it's a problem with the nVidia drivers. I don't know. Thankfully, I found a workaround. In Firefox about:config set layout.css.dpi to 96. (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=706788&page=2)

Now my bigger gripe: I don't like the new rich urlbar. Back in FF2, I could open most of my favorite sites in 4 keystrokes or less. By increasing the amount of data the new urlbar searches, the Firefox devs have decreased the unique identifiers for each link. So far, I haven't found a fix. It isn't just the slow loading or the giant waste of space, the most important detail is the sorting algorithm. I know abou the oldbar plugin, unfortunately it's only a cosmetic fix because it doesn't include the old FF2 sorting.

Hopefully I'll find reasons to like FF3, but for now it feels like Firefox has taken two steps back.

Posted by at 12:27 PM | Permalink

When Pat Eyler mentioned Glark without a link, I decided to find out what it was. Instead, I stumbled across a perfect example of context insensitive advertising. I can't help but think it should have been possible for the reporter to tag the article tragic_death and the ad server to evaluate rules like:

ad = ads.find_random_ad()
while article.tags.contains(ad.tags_to_avoid) do
   ad = ads.find_random_ad()
end

Posted by at 2:22 PM | Permalink

As a Linux trainer, I've seen a wide range of students. Some already have a lot of experience with Linux, some have no experience at all. That isn't the most important indicator that a student will be successful. Even in an advanced class, with a little hand holding a newbie can survive and learn new skills. In my experience, the most important factor is not how much experience a person has with Linux, it is how the student approaches learning.

Many guides to effective learning already exist. They're boring. Almost anyone could write one. Instead, I'd like to share with you the secrets of some really lousy students I've known.

Continue reading "How To Be a Lousy Learner" »

Posted by at 3:02 PM | Permalink

I would like to thank Aaron Topance for replacing his vague claim that "Gnome isn't integrated enough" with actual examples of areas he thinks need improvement. I'm going to deliberately avoid responding to all of his points because while some of them don't make me itch, others may agree that they are needed changes. There are, however, points I feel are inaccurate or in need of clarification.

Continue reading "Gnome Integration, A Response" »

Posted by at 4:00 PM | Permalink

At the risk of giving the impression that I've found a new nemesis, this is in response to Aaron Topance's recent post. (/me waves to Scott)

How do you know that HURD developers rely on proprietary software? If I can survive without using proprietary software, I really doubt they find it all that hard either. The problem with the GNU/HURD is not a lack of proprietary software, it is the lack of a stable kernel. Put simply, the HURD isn't finished. Remember, Linux is also released under the GPL. The HURD has failed to attract a large number of developers because of its design, not because of its license.

What gave you the impression that GPLv3 will deny users "the ability to run proprietary software on their machine"? It is only under very specific, limited, artificial conditions that such is even a possibility, let alone a likelihood. Or do you know something I don't? Until then, you comment is pure FUD, not a good thing for "an OSS purist" to be spreading.

I guess what I'm saying is, claiming the HURD isn't widely used because of a lack of proprietary software is like claiming Duke Nukem Forever isn't widely played because of a lack of bananas. As for GPLv3, your statements are too incorrect/incomplete to lead to a useful conversation.

Posted by at 12:26 PM | Permalink

This is in response to Aaron Toponce's post.

Is your concern just the version number? Is there something magical about the number 3.0 that makes you feel warm and fuzzy? Myself, I think the fact that Gnome should be proud to have made seven releases in a row, on time, without breaking compatibility.

With each release, Gnome continues to polish existing technologies and introduce new technologies. Although dbus didn't exist when Gnome 2.0 was released, it's becoming an integral part of the desktop. The long maligned file dialog has been radically improved since the release of Gnome 2.0, yet old applications continue to work just fine. When the kernel developers created inotify, Gnome quickly integrated it, resulting in significanly improved file monitoring post Gnome 2.0. That's three major post-2.0 improvements just off the top of my head, if one of us took the time to do actual research, I promise we'd would find many more.

I love the fact that Gnome doesn't feel a need to make major, intrusive changes just to create the impression of progress. *cough* Vista *cough* (But that's a topic for another post.) Last I heard, Gnome is reserving the number 3.0 for revolutionary changes. We're talking things like voice interface, pervasive computing, IP over telepathy, etc. My personal theory is that we'll see 3.0 when GLib/GTK+/Gnome get rewritten to take full advantage of multi-core, Cell like processors. Until then, I respect the fact that Gnome is maintaining compatiblity, making incremental improvements, and polishing Gnome into the most simple, most usable desktop around.

You claim you want something "something more streamlined and more integrated," but that's a pretty vague statement. Perhaps you'd like to elaborate by citing some actual examples. As long as you don't act like you're entitled to your every whim and desire, I'm sure the Gnome deveopers will welcome your input. If your ideas are good enough, they might even make someone itch enough to implement them.

Until then, Gnome is becoming increasingly integrated, but in a way I like. I like the fact that Gnome is loosely coupled. Which isn't to say it's disorganized, like you seem to be implying. Gnome has a strong community. It does have goals, but those goals reflect pragmatic recognition of what developers care about and are willing to work on. I like the fact that I can expect a new version of Gnome roughly every six months. That sort of consistency is only possible will good planning and coordination.

I guess what I'm saying is, what's the big deal? Version 3.0 is just a number. As for features, I like the state and direction of Gnome. Gnome has experienced significant improvement since 2.0, and it will continue to well into the future.

Posted by at 7:54 AM | Permalink

No, I don't mean that we should execute Hans and Doran for flooding the Utah Open Source Planet feed... Although the more I think about it, the better the idea sounds...

I'm talking about those ugly yellow smiley faces that are used for people who haven't submitted photos of themselves yet. Hand over your hackergotchis people! Don't make me make Gabe hunt you down. Not sure what pose to strike? Check out Planet Gnome for ideas.

Sadly, as I browse the Planet Gnome heads, I see that several people stole my idea. If I want a unique hackergotchi, I guess I'm just going to have to dye my beard green... Oh, wait...

Posted by at 9:36 AM | Permalink