I remember reading about showing the file progress in icons some time ago and thought “that would be neat, but will probably take some time until it’s done.” Guess if I was surprised when I saw this today. I usually set the icon zoom level to 32×32 pixels, so maybe that’s why I didn’t notice until now. KDE rocks!

After a little search I found that this was done by Shaun Reich as part of a SoK (Season of KDE) project. There is also a Brainstorm idea about it. (Next question is, how did I miss that it was marked as Done?)

Now it would be nice if it was clearer for small icons, and if possible, showing the file progress would be incredibly neat.

Update October 4, 2010: More information can be found here:

• SoK Project – Showing Job Progress In Icons
• Progress In Icons — Status Update

How can I see this?

Open Dolphin or Konqueror. If you have small icons, zoom in (Ctrl++ by default). Next, copy a large file/folder into a folder and watch the icon of that folder.  (If you copy it to /home/foo/bar, you need to be in /home/foo to see it.) The easiest way is to drag and drop a file over the folder and choose “Copy Here”.

Probably requires KDE Software Compilation >= 4.5, but I’m not sure since today is the first time I’ve seen it.

http://hanschen.org

So now is the time to update your bookmarks and feeds! (Actually you don’t have to – the old URLs should still work. But if you need a little distraction…).

In the beginning I had a hard time grasping the concept of Git and version control systems in general. Two online resources helped me a lot in understanding Git, which I also want to share with you:

• The Git Parable
  After reading it, you’ll still have no clue how to use Git. But you will know for what purposes Git was designed, and what Git is. From here it’ll be much easier to learn the commands to use Git.
• Pro Git
  Online version of the Pro Git book; well written text and many pretty pictures make it easy to understand what happens “behind the scenes”. Goes through most stuff you’ll need to get started with Git.

Thanks go to Luca (einar77) and Ingo (neverendingo) for the tip about Pro Git.

My own learning experience

Prior to Git, I had no experience with version control systems at all (checking out KDE trunk doesn’t count). Sometimes I copied directories manually as a “version control”, but it would always end up in a mess.

First I tried to go for the “learn by doing” way. This wasn’t very successful – when working on something I would rather focus on finishing it than messing around with Git, in particular if deadlines were involved. In the end I didn’t get to use Git that often.

One day I stumbled upon The Git Parable which I linked to above. After reading it, I felt motivated to learn Git again – especially after hearing that KDE eventually is going to be moved to Git. I got the link to the Pro Git site on IRC and read through the first chapters. Git finally started to make sense.

I hope you’ll find these two links as useful as I did. Happy gitting!

I admit this isn’t the best strip, but it shows what I love about xkcd: that’s me! I usually try to avoid just answering “I’m fine thanks”, because that’s just plain boring. And most of the times isn’t really a honest answer at all.

Other than that, there are so many comics there which I can identify myself with. Almost all of them. (OK, maybe not all; can’t recall being strapped like that).

Guess I’m a geek after all.

On a side note, I’ve started to use LaTeX. Ooh, it’s so nice in so many ways. Instant love. Sorry OO.o and other WYSIWYG word processors, I think you’ve annoyed me for the last time (certainly not as there still are people who insist on using .doc).

Since I’ve unconsciously avoided emacs and prefer KDE applications, it felt natural to begin with Kile. A few years ago I would be surprised that such a great application is completely free, and still not understand that it means more than ‘gratis’.

Plasma has also gotten pretty hot lately with WoC and everything, but it still has too many rough edges to enter my love list. The little beauty below, however, has been among the top since I saw it for the first time.

On a side note, I’m quite comfortable on my new keyboard now. Typing about 30 wpm, ~57 % of my original qwerty speed. After a month. Not too bad. And my hands feel good doing it, no more awkward twists.

I said I was going to remap some keys, here’s the result; I’m pleased to introduce chvorak 0.9:

Click to enlarge

Note that I’ve omitted the backspace, enter and space key in the middle. You can’t see the function keys either (for example the numpad).

I’m really happy with the layout so far. The only thing I don’t really like is the placement of the apostrophe. It’s quite dangerous being between Esc and Tab, but in my opinion much better than the Svorak placement.

Like most blogs out there, this one was doomed to die before it was even born. It’s suffering from “penuria of vicis”, or rather, I am.

Not much has happened since last time. The first version of KDE4 and KDE 4.0.1 as well have been released. I like the slogan “be free”. Speaking of freedom, I’ve listened to a lecture by Richard Stallman when he was in Stockholm. Awesomeness. He’s weird.

The first patch I’ve written made its way to SVN. Isn’t it nice?

And finally, I’ve decided – no Lobster for me this summer. Unfortunately. But that’s how things turned out. At least I think my wallet and legs are grateful. And probably the rest of my body. Oh well.

http://oink.cd/
http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/20071023.html
http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2315584520071023
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22637786-23109,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tees/7057812.stm
[more...]

I already miss you.

It’s not very large, but the package didn’t fit in the postbox

Wrapped pretty tightly in plastic

*drumwhirl*

“You should’ve invested in a better camera” you may think, but don’t you agree that low-quality photos taken with the mobile phone are pretty charming? No? Me neither.

Anyway, what exactly is it? Well, if you can’t tell by looking at the pictures, I see little point in teilling you. *Hint* Maybe they’ll appear on this blog again, in another context.

By the way, let me notice you that K/Ubuntu 7.10, know as Gutsy Gibbon, is going to be released tomorrow. Hooray!