February 2016 - main

Mint blues!
by Michael Goddard 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

Using Mint 17.3; it has suddenly started supplying a folder and a separate file when d/l an article when I just want the file. Something this newbie has got wrong or not perhaps? Any guidance much appreciated. Michael Goddard <emmjee(a)mypostoffice.co.uk>

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Does anyone here use wxGlade, or even any other Python GUI generator?
by Chris Green 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

I've recently been banging away at my 'grid view of a database' requirement. I've actually got a Python program that does basically what I want (modified some code I found on the Web) and I could develop from there. However it would be much easier if I could use something to do the spade work of designing the layout etc. so to that end I've been trying wxGlade. I'm beginning to understand how it's supposed to work but seem to keep hitting bugs and 'infelicities' that stop it working. For example I now have a saved wxGlade app that is totally unresponsive when reloaded into wxGlade. Is this normal, i.e. is wxGlade this bad? I tried the Windows version (in a VirtualBox guest) and that actually seems somewhat better in that I don't keep hitting a situation where wxGlade doesn't respond. Should I persevere with wxGlade or are there better GUI designers out there? .... or should I just go back to writing native Python with wxPython? -- Chris Green

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Certificates from LetsEncrypt - looks good to me!
by Chris Green 10 Feb '16

10 Feb '16

I just decided I ought to use https for accessing my Owncloud calendar and contacts so needed to configure a certificate for my isbd.uk host (it's a Gandi virtual server). My Google search for Ubuntu https showed LetsEncrypt as the second hit so I took a look, seemed sensible so I followed the instructions at:- https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-secure-apache-with-… Absolutely brilliant, not only did it generate a certificate for me, it did all the Apache configuration too so https://isbd.uk worked after I'd run the commands given on the above web page. -- Chris Green

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[ALUG Announce] ALUG Norwich Pub Meet Thursday 11th February
by Viperfang 08 Feb '16

08 Feb '16

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Hello Norwich Aluggers, Our monthly ALUG Norwich social meeting will be held this Thursday, 11th February at The Coach and Horses (82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA). The meeting officially starts at 8pm, although some people may arrive earlier. More information on those people can be found on the list and the IRC channel. If you are unsure if you will recognise us then make yourself and your intent to attend known by either posting on list or visiting us on IRC so we can look out for you rather than hiding in the corner. Optionally you could ask at the bar if they know where the geeky computer weirdos are and they'll point you in the right direction (seriously!). Another possibility is look for heaps of electronics on a table that may possibly look like movie props that would used for detonating explosives. Feel free to bring electronics/laptops/gadgets to the meet, you will by no means be alone. Ben Bewick aka Viperfang NB: This mail is automated, please refer to the usual sources for more information. ALUG Contact Details: Website : http://www.alug.org.uk/ IRC : #alug on irc.alug.org.uk List : http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo Twitter : http://twitter.com/anglianlug Identica: TBA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2381613902 ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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How to find logging apps that aren't to do with computer logging?
by Chris Green 06 Feb '16

06 Feb '16

I'm looking for programs that might help with maintaining a log, as in a ship's log or a log of maintenance activity on a vehicle. It's well nigh impossible to use the word log in the search because one is immediately swamped by hits relating to computer logging, e.g. things which write to syslog. The word journal isn't much better because it too has computer related meanings which swamp any useful output and, anyway, journal isn't quite the right word for what I'm looking for. So does anyone have any bright ideas either for what to search for or programs that I might find useful. -- Chris Green

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DAAPD (music streaming) alternatives
by steve-ALUG＠hst.me.uk 03 Feb '16

03 Feb '16

Hi Y'all! I have a server which used to run Firefly (mp-daapd), which is/was a clone(ish) of Apple Airplay. After updating the server, Firefly started misbehaving, so I uninstalled it, and was going to re-install it, but found no installation packages. Being flaky, and as I knew it was an unmaintained project, I decided to install forked-daap instead. Eventually, after a few glitches were fixed, I managed to get this running OK. One thing I don't like about it is it relies on AVAHI, which basically sits there advertising what services are available on my server. I don't particularly like this, and I'm quite capable of typing the IP address and port number into any DAAP clients I use. Anyway, this got me thinking: are there any other better, possibly more open source and/or more modern equivalents or replacements for daap? I think I looked once at DNLA or something like that but got hopelessly confused. Any advice or comments? The use-case I have in mind is for the server to be able to stream songs on demand primarily to android phones, but possibly to a couple of raspberry pis. The Pis are currently set up with MPD (Music Player Daemon) which is working quite well. As an aside, I once found a webpage that explained how to set up some machines with (I think) MPD so that playing between them was synched, as it is on a Sonos device, so you could have all the machines playing the same tune at the same time, in different rooms. Anyone got any idea how to do this? My google fu has deserted me and I can't find it again. I once tried enabling http streaming from my server and getting the pis to play that but it flooded my network and brought it to it's knees, so that's not really a way to go! TIA Steve

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2600 meeting at 18:00 on Friday the 5th February.
by Viperfang 02 Feb '16

02 Feb '16

Quick heads up about this months Norwich 2600 meeting, more info at http://www.norwich2600.co.uk

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FTP servers with remote admin tools
by Mark Rogers 01 Feb '16

01 Feb '16

I need to set up an FTP server on a virtual server keeping overheads to a minimum. What I'd like is some kind of GUI to administer it (add new users etc) which runs on my desktop and does the admin remotely, so that when not in use it has zero overhead (compared with having to install a web server and database to manage it, for example). Not fussed as to which FTP server at this point. (It strikes me that a tool that was able to manage text based config files over SSH for FTP servers but also other services would be quite useful, does such a thing exist?) -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450 Registered in England (0456 0902) 21 Drakes Mews, Milton Keynes, MK8 0ER

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