Forgetful Bash
Interesting forum topic about saving the bash history. I guess there is currently a “bug” where if you close the terminal window, rather than exit the shell, bash doesn’t save the history file, like it normally does.
A workaround is to add the ‘history -a’ command to your prompt command. The -a option tells bash to append any new history lines to the history file, thus you append to it every command. This has the side effect of having every opened terminal inherit the current history of all your bash shells, as well as save the commands from all of them into a central place. I like this idea, as I have always been bothered by the fact that the history is only from the last closed bash shell, losing any interesting commands I had previously.
Another option discussed is the -n option, which tells bash to read any new commands added to the history. This essentially means that all opened terminal windows share a history. So here’s the line to add to your .bashrc:
export PROMPT_COMMAND="history -a; history -n; $PROMPT_COMMAND"
I’ll have to try both.
Last Week in Arch Linux – March 7-14, 2011
While this article awaits publication in Rolling Release, here it is now:
Latest News
syslinux now includes a default configuration file
Hot Forum Topics
Linux Survey – fill out a survey, get some data
In search of a truly innovative Desktop – interesting discussion on what makes a good desktop
flash isn’t working anymore – long discussion about broken Flash. Stupid Flash.
[Solved] Gnome 2.32 “About me” problems – problem with gnome-about-me solved
Sound not working for USB Headset – the always interesting “solving an audio problem” topic
Interesting Packages
oilrush – a real-time strategy game based on group control
python2-wikipedia-rewrite-svn – A rewrite of the Python Wikipedia Robot Framework
theide-svn – Modern IDE designed for developing large U++/C++ applications
apvlv – A PDF Viewer which behaves like Vim
blobwars – Platform action game featuring a variety of different weaponry and multiple objectives
cherrytree – A hierarchical note taking application featuring rich text and syntax highlighting
fatrat – QT4 based download manager with support for HTTP, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent, rapidshare and more
Wiki Changes
Bash – PROMPT instructions, esp. vis-a-vis color
Lotus Notes in 32bit Chroot – installing Lotus Notes(!)
Pacman GUI Frontends – Wakka added
Help:Editing (Italiano) – ArchWiki tutorial page for Italian added
Getting Involved (Italiano) – getting involved in Arch, Italian-style, added
Last Week in Arch Linux – March 1-8, 2011
While I await publication on Rolling Release, I’ll throw this out here on my blog:
Latest News
ArchServer RC3 – Release announcement for ArchServer redgum RC3
New Arch Schwag – New Arch Linux laptop bags, plus reduced price on older models and a sale on Arch Linux pens
Hot Forum Topics
Linux Survey – fill out a survey, get e data
In search of a truly innovative Desktop – interesting discussion on what makes a good desktop
flash isn’t working anymore – long discussion about broken Flash. Stupid Flash.
[Solved] Gnome 2.32 “About me” problems – problem with gnome-about-me solved
Sound not working for USB Headset – the always interesting “solving an audio problem” topic
Interesting Packages
oilrush – a real-time strategy game based on group control
python2-wikipedia-rewrite-svn – A rewrite of the Python Wikipedia Robot Framework
theide-svn – Modern IDE designed for developing large U++/C++ applications
apvlv – A PDF Viewer which behaves like Vim
blobwars – Platform action game featuring a variety of different weaponry and multiple objectives
cherrytree – A hierarchical note taking application featuring rich text and syntax highlighting
fatrat – QT4 based download manager with support for HTTP, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent, rapidshare and more
Wiki Changes
Bash – PROMPT instructions, esp. vis-a-vis color
Lotus Notes in 32bit Chroot – installing Lotus Notes(!)
Pacman GUI Frontends – Wakka added
Help:Editing (Italiano) – ArchWiki tutorial page for Italian added
Getting Involved (Italiano) – getting involved in Arch, Italian-style, added
Arch Schwag
You want to financially support Arch Linux but noticed that the Donate page no longer has a way to accept donations? Well, have you bought any Arch Scwhag lately? That is probably the best way to throw money at the Arch project, while getting some cool stuff and advertising your Arch love, all at the same time.
I bought a very nice t-shirt and coffee mug a few months ago, and am ordering some pens today. The t-shirt looks real nice and is big enough for my daughter to wear as a nightgown!
YouTube – Deskmodding Linux
Very cool video of Arch Forum user DaemonSpain doing some seriously cool desktop modding. You can see his post here, where he lists is source material. Not a big GNOME fan, but this is a lovely video. Heck, I’d like to know how he made the video!
AUR – bootchart
Now this looks like a pretty cool package. Set bootchart up in your boot process and it tracks everything that happens. After you’ve logged in, you can run a utility that will generate a nice little chart, showing what and when for your boot up. There’s a very nice ArchWiki page for it (natch).
One caveat is that the project itself (bootchart.org) hasn’t been updated in like 5 years. But I guess if it works, it works. I’ll give it a try and post my picture here. Maybe I can then figure out why some daemons fail at startup…
logger
nice hint from the Season 3, episode 1 Tuxradar podcast – logger. You can add notes to the system log, even as a user. So:
$ logger added a new kernel $ sudo tail /var/log/messages.log Feb 24 21:45:41 localhost kernel: usb 3-2.1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 46 Feb 24 21:45:41 localhost kernel: hub 3-2.1:1.0: USB hub found Feb 24 21:45:41 localhost kernel: hub 3-2.1:1.0: 4 ports detected Feb 24 21:45:42 localhost kernel: usb 3-2.1.1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 47 Feb 24 21:55:20 localhost -- MARK -- Feb 24 22:06:12 localhost jdarnold: added a new kernel
That’s pretty cool. As I showed, I just added a note that I have a new kernel now, so if there’s any question about compatibility, I’ll know!
ArchMap
If you’re an Arch user, be sure to add yourself to the Google Earth ArchMap list! 2 easy steps:
- Find your address in Google Maps and right click on it. Select the “What’s Here” option and, in the address bar for Google Maps, you’ll see your decimal coordinates. Copy these.
- Edit the ArchMap/List wiki page and add those coordinates at the bottom. That’s it!
