Category Archives: Linux

Linux

Grants.gov

Grants.gov has moved to requiring Windows-only PureEdge software in order to apply for a grant. Worse, their response to the scientific community’s outcry on this platform-dependence is to use VirtualPC with a copy of Windows. They reason that this is acceptable because Microsoft distributes VirtualPC with Office now. And we all know, EVERYBODY has Office. We pick it from the Office Tree of Giving.

This is the age of the Web 2.0™ The government, the self-same government that took Microsoft to task over lock-in, is moving from a well-liked, web-based platform (FastTrack) to some obscure piece of Windows-and-IE-only software?

What the hell is going on?

ADDENDUM 2005-11-02 @ 16:12:

Here is what I wrote to them:

Hello,
I am writing to inquire as to why the web-based FastTrack software has been abandoned for the Windows-only PureEdge software. PureEdge’s assertion that VirtualPC running Windows is an adequate solution for mac users is somewhat questionable. Furthermore, users of the various BSDs, Linux distributions, OS/2, plan9, Inferno, etc are left without any access. Is there pressure on PureEdge by Grants.gov to include support for other platforms? Perhaps a plugin for the open-source Firefox browser instead of IE?

If there is in fact no current plan or desire for a more open grant application system, would you please direct me as to who might have some influence in changing this?

Thanks,
[signature]

and here is their prompt response:

Dear Brock,

Thanks you for your recent inquiry to Grants.gov concerning the Pure Edge viewer.

Grants.gov has been working with Pure Edge to offer a viewer that is compatible with as many operating systems as possible. We feel that we are not too far from achieving that goal, and when we do, we will be sure that information will be posted on our website. In the meantime, we apologize if the viewer options we offer for your operating system are not acceptable. Our goal is to ensure the widest possible acceptance of Grants.gov and certainly not to exclude anyone from the electronic grants submission process. To that end, as a first step, we ensured that the Pure Edge viewer will work with a Windows emulator program, as described on our website.

Grants.gov employs the PureEdge Viewer 6.0 for viewing and completing application forms. The PureEdge viewer’s 508 compliance is described at http://www.pureedge.com/products/products/PureEdgeAccessibilityGuide.pdf. Grants.gov sponsored testing of the PureEdge viewer demonstrating the viewer’s compatibility with the widely used Jaws screen reader. An enhanced version of the PureEdge Viewer that will include compatibility with a broader range of screen reader products through support for industry standard interfaces for accessibility is in the process of being tested and upon successful completion of testing will be posted to the site.

Feel free to contact us should you have further inquiries.

Thank you,

Ryan
Grants.gov, Customer Support
www.grants.gov

Encoding Movies for the iPod Video using Linux

If you want to encode video that you have on DVD for your iPod Video, a nice utility called HandBrake will do it for you. It works pretty well on Mac OS X, but my laptop’s a little slow in the I/O department, and I prefer to use my Linux desktop for encoding.

Caveat: it’s illegal to rip commercial, encrypted DVDs to your computer. Non-encrypted DVDs for which you have copyright permission, for example your home videos, are legal to rip. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s a little script I wrote to rip DVDs using HandBrake for linux:


#!/bin/bash
# Filename is dvd2ipod
# $1 - output filename
# $2 - title number
handbrake -f mp4 -i /dev/dvdrw \
-o $1 -t $2 -e ffmpeg -E faac -w 320

It assumes that you’ve installed HandBrake, and renamed HBTest to ‘handbrake’ and put it somewhere in your path. It also assumes that your DVD drive is /dev/dvdrw. This outputs video in a format that iTunes will let you import, and subsequently play on your iPod Video. I didn’t set anything for audio tracks, subtitles, etc. It uses the defaults. You can easily modify this script for that. The important things are the dimensions ( -w 320 ) and the codecs ( -e ffmpeg, -f mp4, -E faac ). The first argument is the output filename you want, and the second is the title number that you want from the DVD. Say you have a DVD from your wedding with two titles — the wedding, and the reception. If the wedding is title 1, and the reception is title 2, to rip the reception, you’d do this:


dvd2ipod OurWeddingReception.mp4 2

Wait a bit, ignore the error messages as long as it keeps encoding, and enjoy showing your friends/family/coworkers your reception (or whatever)!

ADDENDUM 2007-02-07: You can now use larger movie sizes, up to 640×480, so you may want to change that if you plan on playing to an external display device. Otherwise, stick with what’s written above, as the 5G video ipod only has a QVGA screen.

Ready to Crunch

I found (in my backups — I’m so thankful that I ran nightly backups to a removable drive) a statically-linked binary of the latest version of our simulation software.

I’m now setting up a universal operating environment, containing binaries, libraries, and scripts, that I can synchronize onto the various clusters that the lab has been given access to. I think I’ll have simulations running by tomorrow around lunch time.

I’ve also started logging the time I spend on lab-type work on a daily basis. I hope this will give me more insight into how I am spending my time, so as to encourage me to make the best use of work-time that I can.

Yesterday, I did nearly seven hours of work, while today I’m probably closer to three or four. I had to run errands, including returning the multifunction printer/scanner/etc device I bought last week. The scanner doesn’t work under OS X version 10.4, contrary to HP’s claims. It was therefore taking up space and a place in my budget and it had to go. I had my eye on a replacement device, but unfortunately Best Buy did not have it in stock — only available on their website. The joys of not having a permanent mailing address.

I should be returning to Mandeville soon, and will acquire the supplies I need at that time.

In Bayfield

For the first time in a week, we know that tomorrow, we won’t have to pack up and drive across the country. And the day after, we won’t have to pack up and drive some more. We have probably a week or so before we have to think about driving anywhere else. In the mean time, we’re trying to get some work done on my uncles’ boat, Fandango.

Boat Sweet Home

I need a Linux machine along with OS X, so I’m installing Ubuntu PPC on my 15″ powerbook (foreground). I’d use Gentoo, but with a 500 MHz G4 it would take too long. I know Ubuntu will work, because I tried a LiveCD first.

We went to Target yesterday, where I bought some cool-weather clothing and office-type supplies, and we’re finally getting settled in this morning.

My IP phone should be on more or less the entire week at (586)-486-3220, and you can also get ahold of me by email.

How’re you (fellow evacuees) doing?

Backups are good

Several months ago, I started making distributed (i.e. on more than one machine), automated, daily backups of my home directries, project and reference directories, and assorted important files.

I have at least one copy of all of these with me on a 500 GB external hard drive. They’re updated until Saturday, when I unhooked my desktop and hauled it up to Mandeville. I left my desktop in my parents’ house in Mandeville, and just brought the 15″ and 17″ PowerBooks. Even if the desktop in Mandeville sustains damage, I have everything I need to keep writing my paper while New Orleans is salvaged.

Make regular, automated backups, people. It just paid off for me.