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DevelopmentFish - The friendly interactive shellA User-Friendly Shell
IntroductionA great deal of effort has been spent in the last decade trying to make computers more user friendly. While much progress has been made on making graphical user interfaces more user friendly, much less has happened with non-graphical programs such as shells. This is unfortunate, since there are still many things that are inherently easier to do using a shell. The concept of commands, pipelines and environment variables are somewhat complex, but I believe modern shells are harder to use than they have to be, both for the beginner and for the seasoned shell hacker. I have written a new shell called fish, or the friendly interactive shell, that tries to solve several issues that I have found with other shells.fish features syntax highlighting, advanced tab completion features, discoverable help, a revised shell syntax and many other features. In this article, I will describe some of the features found in fish, and explain why I think they are useful. (Click here for the full article.)
System Applications Database Software db.* 2.0 AnnouncedVersion 2.0 of db.*, a small-footprint database for mobile and embedded systems, is available. "Probably the biggest change (from a Linux-users perspective) was ur switch to a standard GNU build system, putting us on the same page s almost every other open-source project."
Mail Software Bogofilter 0.94.12 (stable) ReleasedStable version 0.94.12 of Bogofilter, a Bayesian spam filter, is out. "The biggest change in bogofilter (since the last stable release in October 2004) is support for Berkeley DB's transaction capability and the SQLite3 database. Lesser changes include a change in classification defaults (from bi-state to tri-state classification), documentation updates (esp man page and FAQ), internal code cleanups (including how long options are processed)."
Networking Tools FreeNX 0.4.0 releasedVersion 0.4.0 of FreeNX is out. "FreeNX is a free server implementation of NoMachine.com OSS NX components. NX allows usage of X-connections over real slow links like a Modem or ISDN." The Samba news states: "this version utilizes for the first time Samba to support file sharing between NX client and FreeNX server."
Security Metasploit Framework v2.4 releasedVersion 2.4 of the Metasploit Framework, an open-source exploit development platform, is out for your exploit testing pleasure. "The 2.4 release includes three user interfaces, 72 exploits and 75 payloads."
VPN Software SSL-Explorer v0.1.10 released (SourceForge)Version 0.1.10 of SSL-Explorer, a SSL VPN solution, has been announced. "This release of SSL-Explorer is a consolidation effort that includes many bugfixes, functional and GUI enhancements. Amongst other things, warnings have now been implemented to provide more feedback to the VPN administrator when performing maintenance tasks. The behaviour of global and personal user profiles has been changed in this release to prevent users from editing profiles."
Miscellaneous Crash Recovery Kit for Linux 2.6.11.10 (i586) releasedRobert M. Stockmann has announced a new crash recovery kit. "I want to announce here the availability of the Crash Recovery Kit for Linux 2.6.11.10 (i586) with S.M.A.R.T. monitoring support using smartmontools 5.33 which also can monitor SATA drives using kernel 2.6.11.10."
Desktop Applications CAD BRL-CAD 7.2.4 Released (SourceForge)Version 7.4.2 of BRL-CAD, a constructive solid geometry solid modeling system, has been announced. "This release of BRL-CAD also includes many build and bug fixes for several platforms including those listed below as well as a few feature enhancements requested by users for the vrml exporter and the numerical root solver."
Sailcut CAD 1.1 (SourceForge)Version 1.1 of Sailcut CAD has been announced. "The Sailcut CAD project is pleased to announce release 1.1 of its sail plotting package. This release features several new languages including Russian (thanks to all helpers of the sailing community) and a Wing option for designing kites. The limits checker has been modified to take into account feedback from users, allowing a wider range of sail shapes to be designed. The sail mould screen has been re-designed to provide additional facility like controlling the foot shape which is the central seam of a kite wing, and allowing the use of negative camber in the leech area mostly for fully battened sails or kite wing."
Data Visualization PLplot Development Release 5.5.3Development Release 5.5.3 of PLplot, a library of functions for making scientific plots, has been announced. "This is a routine development release of PLplot, and represents the ongoing efforts of the community to improve the PLplot plotting package. Development releases represent a "work in progress", and we expect to provide installments in the 5.5.x series every few weeks."
Desktop Environments GNOME Software AnnouncementsThe following new GNOME software has been announced this week:
KDE Software AnnouncementsThe following new KDE software has been announced this week:
KDE Commit DigestThe May 13, 2005 edition of the KDE Commit Digest is available, here's the content summary: "DigiKam adds an image refocus plugin. DjVu support added to KViewShell. Konqueror file manager can view Subversion repositories. Konqueror supports AdBlock. Zeroconf support for shoutcast, and initial work on multi-engine service discovery. K-menu now has a search field."
Dutch KDE Team Co-Releases Localized KDE-Live CD (KDE.News)KDE.News covers a Dutch localized live-CD that was put together by the Dutch KDE team. "The live-CD allows you to try out KDE without installing anything and loads in Dutch by default, making it useful to demo to all those parents and business people. The CD comes shipped with a full KDE 3.3.2 release plus it includes extra applications like KMplayer. Where the CD really shines is that it includes the full set of HOWTOs and tips from the KDE Dutch documentation website."
Xfce 4.2.2 releasedVersion 4.2.2 of the Xfce lightweight desktop environment has been released, it features bug fixes, translation work, and more. See the change log for details.
Financial Applications Eclipse Trader 0.14 Released (SourceForge)Version 0.14 of Eclipse Trader has been released. "Eclipse Trader is a set of plugins for the Eclipse RCP (Rich Client Platform) dedicated to the building of an online stock trading system, featuring shares pricing watch, intraday and history charts with technical analysis indicators, level II/market depth view, news watching, and integrated trading. This release was focused on enhancements to the charts section."
Games Allegro 4.2.0 beta 3 releasedVersion 4.2.0 beta 3 of Allegro, a cross-platform game programming library for C/C++, is out. "This release is a Work-In-Progress that adds features and corrects problems with regard to the 4.0 codebase. It is API (source) compatible with 4.0.0 on every platform, except for a few minor changes".
Cyphesis 0.3.10 ReleasedCyphesis 0.3.10 has been announced. "Cyphesis is a small to medium scale server for WorldForge games, with builtin AI. This version includes the demo game Mason which is currently in development. This release is intended for server administrators wishing to run a Mason server or anyone wishing to work on serverside game development."
StepMania 3.9 rc3 Released (SourceForge)Version 3.9 rc3 of StepMania has been announced. "StepMania is a music/rhythm game. The player presses different buttons in time to the music and to note patterns that scroll across the screen. Features 3D graphics, visualizations, support for gamepads/dance pads, a step recording mode, and more! This release was done under totally different management and with different Windows and Linux builders, so let us know how it went."
Graphics GIMP 2.3.0 Development Release (GnomeDesktop)GnomeDesktop.org has the GIMP 2.3.0 announcement. 2.3.0 is the beginning of a new development series; this is an unstable release. See the NEWS file for a list of new features.
Music Applications libgig 2.0.0 announcedVersion 2.0.0 of libgig, a C++ cross-platform file loader library for Gigasampler and DLS files, has been announced. "Beside a batch of fixes, major changes since the last release are experimental support for the new Gigasampler v3 format. Thanks again to Andreas Persson for his great work on this!"
mma - Musical MIDI Accompaniment Beta 0.14The beta 0.14 release of Musical MIDI Accompaniment (mma) is out. "MMA is a accompaniment generator -- it creates midi tracks for a soloist to perform with. User supplied files contain pattern selections, chords, and MMA directives."
Om 0.1.0 ReleasedVersion 0.1.0 of Om is out. "Om is a modular synthesizer that runs under Jack and uses LADSPA and/or DSSI plugins for processing. The engine is an independant process entirely controlled via OSC, is polyphonic, and supports subpatches."
Smack 0.1.0 ReleasedInitial version 0.1.0 of Smack, a sample-free drum synthesizer, is out. "In this release there are TR808 bass, snare, hihats, cowbell and clave, TR909 bass and snare, a frequency shifter based snare and some FM hihats. It's built with LADSPA plugins and the Om modular synth."
Office Applications Gnumeric 1.5.1 Released (GnomeDesktop)Version 1.5.1 of Gnumeric, a spread sheet application, has been announced. It features bug fixes.
Office Suites OpenOffice.org 2.0 and GCJ 4An effort is underway to build free OpenOffice 2.0 under GCJ. "The FSF is looking for volunteers to build, test and package fully free versions of OpenOffice 2.0 that use GCJ as a replacement for the non-free Java platform. OpenOffice and GCJ hackers have worked hard to make sure that all the new features of the next version of OpenOffice 2.0 written in the java programming language will build and run with GCJ, the GNU Compiler for java part of GCC 4.0."
Web Browsers Mozilla Links Special: Firefox 1.0.4 is outThe May 11, 2005 edition of Mozilla Links is online with an announcement for Firefox 1.0.4. "Mozilla Firefox 1.0.4 has just been released featuring fixes for a couple of critical security vulnerabilities announced on last Monday. You are strongly encouraged to upgrade as soon as possible."
Mozilla 1.7.8 Released (MozillaZine)Version 1.7.8 pf Mozilla has been released. "Mozilla 1.7.8 has been released to fix some known security vulnerabilities (MFSA 2005-42, MSFA 2005-43 and MSFA 2005-44). As we've stated before, although the Mozilla Foundation is not planning any further milestone releases of the Mozilla Application Suite, they are committed to supplying critical updates for the 1.7.x line as appropriate."
Mozilla Firefox Viral Marketing Videos (MozillaZine)MozillaZine mentions some amusing new Flash animations that were created for the promotion of Firefox. "Mozilla Europe has considered for some time the opportunity of spreading Firefox with innovative means, including viral marketing. While Flash animations were an obvious choice, we have met with a French advertising agency, which has made three short videos located on http://funnyfox.org/ while meeting our goals in terms of (very small) budget and ability to be understood by the vast majority of Europeans who have trouble understanding English (hence the lack of dialog in the three movies)."
Independent Status Reports (MozillaZine)The May 12, 2005 independent status reports for Mozilla have been announced. "The latest set of independent status reports includes updates from openwebfolder, Orkut Toolbar, signature, MenuX, Calendar Help, Russ Key, PasswordMaker, Deepest Sender, fireFTP, AIMfire, Googlebar and XulApp."
Miscellaneous Xastir 1.5.0 released (SourceForge)Stable version 1.5.0 of Xastir, a mapping and amateur radio APRS client, has been announced. "This version incorporates enhancements and bug-fixes which have accumulated in the 1.4.x development releases."
Languages and Tools Caml Caml Weekly NewsThe May 17, 2005 edition of the Caml Weekly News is online with the weekly collection of Caml language articles.
Haskell Haskell Communities and Activities ReportThe May, 2005 edition of the Haskell Communities and Activities Report is available with the latest Haskell language development news.
Java Project Harmony proposal adoptedIt's now official: the Apache Incubator has approved the Harmony Project proposal with no dissenting votes. This result may seem irrelevant to the workers already pushing forward with Harmony, but it is an important formality.Meanwhile, the Incubator is now considering a proposal for a new C++ standard library which would be run by Apache. This proposal is being pushed by Rogue Wave, which has offered to contribute its commercial C++ library.
Lisp CL-PPCRE 1.2.7 releasedVersion 1.2.7 of CL-PPCRE has been released. "This version adds LispWorks defsystem support and fixes a bug. CL-PPCRE is a Perl-compatible, fast, portable regular expression library written in Common Lisp. The library also supports a sexp-based syntax for specifying regular expressions."
Pascal Free Pascal version 2.0.0 releasedVersion 2.0.0 of Free Pascal has been announced. "This is the new stable version of the compiler and is the first stable release of the development branch of the compiler started back in 2000."
Python Dr. Dobb's Python-URL!The May 16, 2005 edition of Dr. Dobb's Python-URL! is online with a new set of Python language articles.
Ruby Ruby Weekly NewsThe May 15th, 2005 edition of the Ruby Weekly News has been posted. It is a summary of the ruby-talk mailing list.
Tcl/Tk Dr. Dobb's Tcl-URL!The May 18, 2005 edition of Dr. Dobb's Tcl-URL! is online with the latest Tcl/Tk news and resources.
Cross Compilers SDCC 2.5.0 releasedVersion 2.5.0 of SDCC is out with bug fixes and other improvements. "SDCC is a Freeware, retargettable, optimizing ANSI - C compiler that targets the Intel 8051, Maxim 80DS390 and the Zilog Z80 based MCUs. Work is in progress on supporting the Motorola 68HC08 as well as Microchip PIC16 and PIC18 series. The entire source code for the compiler is distributed under GPL."
IDEs Anjuta 2.0.0 (alpha) and 1.2.3 (stable) released (GnomeDesktop)Two new versions of Anjuta, a GNOME IDE for C and C++, have been announced. "After much waiting we are please to announce Anjuta 2.0.0 (alpha), the first release of Anjuta 2.x series and Anjuta 1.2.3 (stable). Anjuta 2.0.0 is an alpha & unstable release and may not be suitable for production use. However, we encourage to use it and help us with bug reports."
Page editor: Forrest Cook |
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