Fedora Core 4 up and running!

After many days of trying out what to install and how to configure the applications, I managed to settle for a simple desktop for home use. I am running Firefox 1.5 for internet surfing, SCIM for chinese and japanese input, and kopete for my various messenging services. Now I will be putting in lighttpd, MySql and Ruby on Rails in to try a bit of web development...

Update: I am running Fedora Core 5 now...

SCIM breaks Firefox???

Spent the whole Sunday refurbishing my computer: replaced the hard-disk, added more RAM, and installed Fedora Core 4. (I know I know, Fedora Core 5 is out but I have yet to download it.) However, a problem has caused me to use most of the evening to find the cause but yet to understand and resolve. Why is it that Firefox 1.5 fails to start when I enable SCIM for Chinese input?

Next day update: The problem is caused by the fact that the new Firefox and SCIM used are compiled with different branches of gcc. I managed to find a workaround on the web and it should be working. Still trying to see what are the limitations...

Two Special Linux Distributions

I will like to introduce two special linux distributions that I came across a couple of days ago. They are special because they are created to target small objectives. The first targets small computers while the second targets small people.

The first linux distribution is called Damn Small Linux, a.k.a DSL, and it must be one of the smallest linux distribution around, weighing in at 50MB only. It targets small computers and other computing devices. Given its small size, it can boot from a business card CD as a live linux distribution (LiveCD), a USB pen drive, and within Windows. So now you can carry around an operating system easily and not be afraid of using a non-personal computer away from home. Most importantly, you don't have to use Windows anymore if you dread to.

PS: This post is written using DSL.

The second linux distribution is called Edubuntu - Linux for Young Human Beings. It targets small people - kids between the age of 5 to 12 (adults are of course welcomed to use together). It basically is for school children to use in a classroom setting and at home. It is filled with applications which a school-going child can use to learn, do his/her homework, manage his/her time, and have fun. I certainly hope that such initiative for the benefit of children can continue and that more schools, teachers, and parents can help spread it around. I wish I can find people to help start a sort of community service to showcase edubuntu...

PS: A nice review of Edubuntu available here.

EarthLink IPv6 in the Home

The Linksys WRT54G router has a firmware built using Linux components (unannounced of course). Now the OS community has caused Linksys to open its firmware source code. A result of this is that a whole new list of firmware supporting various new functions and features has been written for the public. Now your WRT54G can be updated to have the functions and features comparable to a Cisco router. One such feature is the support for IPv6 and the reference link I provided below offers one such firmware for download.

http://www.research.earthlink.net/ipv6/