Rapple

Rapple is Lightweight XML based transformation tool written in C that builds upon expat, tidylib and XSLT to tranform authored web content (incl. Word processor generated HTML) into styled web content suitable for publication.

Its a nice feeling when becoming member of a sourceforge project.
Thanks a lot Alan, for including me in the development list.Try the Rapple Demo now!!

Is ``int* p;'' right or is ``int *p;'' right?

Both are "right" in the sense that both are valid C and C++ and both have exactly the same meaning. As far as the language definitions and the compilers are concerned we could just as well say ``int*p;'' or ``int * p;''

The choice between ``int* p;'' and ``int *p;'' is not about right and wrong, but about style and emphasis. C emphasized expressions; declarations were often considered little more than a necessary evil. C++, on the other hand, has a heavy emphasis on types.

A ``typical C programmer'' writes ``int *p;'' and explains it ``*p is what is the int'' emphasizing syntax, and may point to the C (and C++) declaration grammar to argue for the correctness of the style. Indeed, the * binds to the name p in the grammar.

A ``typical C++ programmer'' writes ``int* p;'' and explains it ``p is a pointer to an int'' emphasizing type. Indeed the type of p is int*. I clearly prefer that emphasis and see it as important for using the more advanced parts of C++ well.

The critical confusion comes (only) when people try to declare several pointers with a single declaration:

 int* p, p1; // probable error: p1 is not an int*

Placing the * closer to the name does not make this kind of error significantly less likely.

 int *p, p1; // probable error?

Declaring one name per declaration minimizes the problem - in particular when we initialize the variables. People are far less likely to write:

 int* p = &i;
 int p1 = p; // error: int initialized by int*

And if they do, the compiler will complain. Whenever something can be done in two ways, someone will be confused. Whenever something is a matter of taste, discussions can drag on forever. Stick to one pointer per declaration and always initialize variables and the source of confusion disappears.

Bjarne Stroustrup

Network Install of Fedora Core

Tried with a Network Install of Fedora Core 4 Test 2. Not from the Fedora Download Server, but from the internal server where Linux isos are kept.

Network Install is easy as breeze.
There was directory called os where all the rpms,srpms where located.

1) Download and Write boot.iso. This was present inside: /os/images/
2) Boot using boot cd and select Network Install option ( I selected http)
3) Determines the DHCP, prompts for the Server name or IP and then Folder in which the Fedora Packages for the architecture are located.
4) Rest of Install is same as you with the cd.

Difference between network install and cd based install is, you dont have to download and write CDs and the network install is slower than install using cds. ( you can start the install at night,go to sleep and get the Fedora System up in the morning).

Internet through Tata Indicom

Using LG LSP -345
To Connect to Internet, got the help from avinashbrathod's page.

On Fedora Core 3:
Step 1: Setup wvdial.conf
#cat /etc/wvdial.conf
[Modem0]
Modem=/dev/ttyS0
Baud=115200
SetVolume=0
Dial Command = ATDT
init1=ATZ
init2=AT+CRM=1
FlowControl=Hardware(CRTSCTS)
[Dialer Indicom]
Username=internet
Password=internet
Phone=#777
Stupid Mode=1
Inherits = Modem0

Step 2:
#wvdial Indicom

[root@localhost Modem]# wvdial indicom
--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
--> Sending: ATQ0
ATQ0
OK
--> Re-Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
--> Sending: ATQ0
ATQ0
OK
--> Re-Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Sending: AT+CRM=1
AT+CRM=1
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT#777
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT#777
CONNECT
--> Carrier detected. Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Tue Apr 12 10:43:17 2005
--> pid of pppd: 3613
--> Using interface ppp0

Ip addresses will be displayed.
This will have Primary DNS and Secondary DNS Addresses as well

Step 3: Copy the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS address to /etc/resolv.conf

nameserver [primary DNS]
nameserver [primary DNS]

Step 4: Shoot your FireFox and Go.

Captured Unix time 1111111111

Well its like being there during 22/2/2222! Just for a rough comparision to Gagan whom I found very difficult to persuade as to whats so special in this.

Unix time 2222222222 will be on Sat, 02 Jun 2040 03:57:02 GMT

1111111111

#!/bin/bash

while [ $(date +%s) != 1111111111 ]

do
echo "Not Yet!"
done

echo "Unix Time"

date +%s

echo "on `date`"
echo "so we captured the history!"

exit 0

How to print * continuously in vim

/***********************************************/

   These kind of lines might be required while commenting

/***********************************************/

 

The Command to use is simple appending the text.

[count]append[char]

 

- Press Esc to make sure you are in command mode.

- Press count. For eg: 10

- Press a. Mode changes to insert.

- Press the character to repeat. here it is *. one * will be inserted

- Press Esc. You will see the command take effect.

 

      **********

 

 

Mozilla FireFox Extension - Linky

In one the the previous posts, I had mentioned about a need to select a portion of the page, right click and open the hyperlinks in tabs.
Found something called Linky.

Sun Solaris 10

Tried Solaris today as Solaris 10 is now available for download and is applicable for x86 architecture.Dont really plan to move it, but wanted to check how it really looks.
Got a feel fo Java Desktop System ( thats Gnome!) and other things.

I will be getting more fam with Freak though.

Freak

Why would I want an LFS system?

There are a lot of reasons why somebody would want to install an LFS system. The question most people raise is 'why go through all the hassle of manually installing a Linux system from scratch when you can just download an existing distribution?'. That is a valid question which I hope to answer for you.

The most important reason for LFS's existence is teaching people how a Linux system works internally. Building an LFS system teaches you about all that makes Linux tick, how things work together, and depend on each other. And most importantly, how to customize it to your own taste and needs.

One of the key benefits of LFS is that you are in control over your system without having to rely on somebody else's Linux implementation. You are in the driver's seat now and are able to dictate every single thing such as the directory layout and boot script setup. You will also know exactly where, why and how programs are installed.

Another benefit of LFS is that you can create a very compact Linux system. When you install a regular distribution, you end up installing a lot of programs you probably would never use. They're just sitting there taking up (precious) disk space. It's not hard to get an LFS system installed under 100 MB. Does that still sound like a lot? A few of us have been working on creating a very small embedded LFS system. We installed a system that was just enough to run the Apache web server; total disk space usage was aproximately 8 MB. With further stripping, that can be brought down to 5 MB or less. Try that with a regular distribution.

If we were to compare a Linux distribution with a hamburger you buy at a supermarket or fast-food restaurant, you would end up eating it without knowing precisely what it is you are eating, whereas LFS gives you the ingredients to make a hamburger. This allows you to carefully inspect it, remove unwanted ingredients, and at the same time allow you to add ingredients to enhance the flavour of your hamburger. When you are satisfied with the ingredients, you go on to the next part of putting it together. You now have the chance to make it just the way you like it: broil it, bake it, deep-fry it, barbeque it, or eat it raw.

Another analogy that we can use is that of comparing LFS with a finished house. LFS will give you the skeleton of a house, but it's up to you to install plumbing, electrical outlets, kitchen, bathtub, wallpaper, etc.

Another advantage of a custom built Linux system is added security. You will compile the entire system from source, thus allowing you to audit everything, if you wish to do so, and apply all the security patches you want or need to apply. You don't have to wait for somebody else to provide a new binary package that fixes a security hole. Besides, you have no guarantee that the new package actually fixes the problem (adequately). You never truly know whether a security hole is fixed or not unless you do it yourself."

---

I had my Freak ready on Feb 22, 2005. Excited!

LFS User ID:14897