Creating professional documentation with Linux tools
Documentation is a necessary evil of software development. While Linux lacks standard Windows tools such as FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and WebWorks Publisher, it’s still a viable environment for technical writers. Linux users can take advantage of a number of documentation tools, including both free or open source software (FOSS) and proprietary software. All of them give technical writers the ability to author and publish professional documentation.
Continue reading the rest of this great article over at NewsForge.com bly clicking on the Headline
10 common misunderstandings about the GPL
The GNU General Public License (GPL) is one of the most widely used software licenses — and, undoubtedly, the most misunderstood. Some of this misunderstanding comes from hostile propaganda, but some also comes from a lack of experience in licensing issues on the part of both lawyers and lay users, and the use of standard language in conventional end-user license agreements that are unthinkingly coupled with the GPL. In all cases, the confusion is frequently based on misreadings, rumors, secondhand accounts, and what is convenient to believe.
By: Bruce Byfield
How to recover lost files after you accidentally wipe your hard drive
Recently I wanted to make sure I had enough space to back up my home digital videos and pictures, so I purchased a new hard drive to add to my home Linux server. I moved all the files I wanted to save onto a single hard drive and repartitioned the old hard drive so I could upgrade to a newer version of Linux. After going through the process of reinstalling the operating system, I mounted the backup hard drive and discovered that it was empty. I had some how mixed up the hard drive I used to back up all the data with a hard drive that I wanted to wipe. Because I had done such a poor job of retaining backups on external media, I did not have any backups of my pictures and videos.
By: Shawn Hermans
Possible setups for recovery include:
- Recover the files to a separate hard drive.
- Recover the files to a networked storage drive.
- Recover the files to a separate partition on the same hard drive.
- Image the hard drive using a tool like ddrescue and recover files using only one partition.
The Light Bulb That Can Change the World
FastCompany is reporting on the latest and greatest version of the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). While CFLs of the past may have been efficient, they certainly were not effective. However, according to the article, CFLs have come as far as cell phones have since the mid 80s while still maintaining that high efficiency. From the article: “if every one of 110 million American households bought just one [CFL], took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people. One bulb swapped out, enough electricity saved to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island. In terms of oil not burned, or greenhouse gases not exhausted into the atmosphere, one bulb is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads.
I always love reading great news that can help change the world for the better.When I read this story on Slashdot I was so happy to hear that many of us will be breathing fresher air because of this bulb.
Laser Shortage to Stall High-Def Disc War?
DigiTimes reports that several major vendors, including Sony and Matsushita, have
suspended shipments of the blue laser diodes that drive both high-def disc formats. The rumored laser shortage could result in shipment delays for new models of Blu-ray and HD DVD players and drives past the upcoming holiday season, cooling the next-gen DVD format war until 2007.
Well what kind of person will you be a HD DVD person or a Blu-ray person when the formats hit shelves early next years? Or will you be one of teh lucky ones to have both. And ofcourse what are you watching it on Plasma or Projection?