QuickSilver-esque shortcuts application on Ubuntu Debian GNU/Linux

Some of my colleagues have Apple Macs and use an application called ‘Quick Silver’ for managing frequently use application/scripts/text files/notes/ims/etc.

I was impressed with what one could do with it and began looking for something similar on Ubuntu.

There is a clone for Gnome called Gnome-Do [ http://www.gnomedo.com ] that lives up to the task pretty well from what I can gather so-far. There are some good updates in the ‘Intrepid Ibex’ release (8.10) that are not in the ‘Hardy Heron’ release (8.04), such as a more complete and useful preferences menu, more plugins and managing them individually through the applications preferences.

Try it out, after installing gnome-do, you need to set it up to launch at gnome login (easily done via the preferences in the intrepid version). Then you can invoke it with the SUPER+SPACEBAR short-cut.

Using MySql with Jahia on Debian GNU/Linux

After installing Jahia today, I wanted to use the MySql database instead of the default HyperSonic. I am currently using MySql for other purposes and want to have a look at accessing the Jahia database to re-use content.

Initially when I created the ‘jahia’ database in mysql and granted permissions to the Jahia user, Jahia reported:

"This database doesn't seem to support extended charsets."

Dropping the database and recreating it with a unicode dataset sorts this little niggle out.

mysql> create database jahia character set = utf8;

Synching you Palm Tungsten|T to J-Pilot over USB on Ubuntu Debian GNU/Linux

Ok, simple enough.

Install J-Pilot (I used apt, apt-get install jpilot !)

• Navigate the menu to File -> Preferences
• Select the “Settings’ tab”
• Enter usb: in the “Serial Port” field.
• Select “OK”
• Press the HotSync button on the cradle.
• Click the HotSync button on the left of the J-Pilot window.

Next for some plugins, watch this space!

Palm Pilot: Backing stuff up over USB on Ubuntu Debian GNU/Linux

Quite easy really. Once you have the usb connection validated (see earlier post), backing up is simply a matter of :

pilot-xfer -p usb: -b ~/my-new-palm-backup-dir

You can also do a local update (-u palm-backup-dir) or a sync (-s palm-backup-dir).

Further options are available with pilot-xfer --help

Now to have a look at J-Pilot, a GUI. (no, it’s not written in Java)