Tech:Open Source/Basic Linux/Helpful Apps

From Cyclopath

Contents 1 Helpful Applications 1.1 Pidgin 1.2 Graphical Merge Tool 1.3 Adobe Reader 1.3.1 Adobe Reader Plugin 1.4 gVim Setup

[edit] Helpful Applications

Obviously, everyone's tastes are different, but we've found these applications to be pretty useful.

[edit] Pidgin

Pidgin is a chat client that supports multiple protocoles (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). GroupLens uses chat for short communications.

Pidgin usually comes with Gnome. If not, on Ubuntu, run

sudo apt-get install pidgin

On Fedora, try

sudo yum install pidgin

Make sure Pidgin starts when your machine starts, so that your co-workers know that you're online.

• Gnome Panel > System > Preferences > Startup Applications
  • Startup Programs [TAB]
    • Click Add
      • Name: Pidgin
      • Command: pidgin
      • Comnent: Pidgin Internet Messenger

Run Pidgin and silent it

• Pidgin > Tools > Mute Sounds

[edit] Graphical Merge Tool

If you're not used to diff and merge, try meld.

This usually comes with Gnome. Otherwise, try

sudo apt-get install meld

on Ubuntu, or, for Fedora,

sudo yum install meld

[edit] Adobe Reader

Download Adobe Reader

cd /export/scratch/checkout/
http://get.adobe.com/reader/thankyou/?installer=Reader_9.3_English_for_Linux_%28.bin%29
chmod 755 AdbeRdr9.3-1_i486linux_enu.bin 

If you can be root, it's simply

sudo ./AdbeRdr9.3-1_i486linux_enu.bin 

But you can also install with root privileges

./AdbeRdr9.3-1_i486linux_enu.bin 

At the prompt

Enter installation directory... [/opt]  

enter a local installation directory, i.e.,

/export/scratch/opt

And then cleanup. I don't like icons on my Desktop, so

mv ~/Desktop/AdobeReader.desktop /export/scratch/opt

[edit] Adobe Reader Plugin

I couldn't get the Reader plugin to work in Firefox.

I tried what Adobe advised, i.e.,

• Run Firefox
  • Edit [Menu] > Preferences
    • Security [Tab]
      • Warn me when sites try to install add-ons > Exceptions... [Button]
        • Address of web site: www.adobe.com
        • Click Allow

As a work-around, you can just tell Firefox to open Reader outside of the browser

• Run Firefox
  • Edit [Menu] > Preferences
    • Applications [Tab]
      • Portable Document Format: Select "Use acroread (default)"

[edit] gVim Setup

You can skip this step if you don't use Vim, but I love it! [^landonb]

I've collected a number of handy Vim scripts into one installation.

It's got syntax highlighters for Cyclopath-related languages, specifically Python, ActionScript, MXML, and WikiPedia markup.

It's also got a ton more customization. It doesn't override basic Vim commands, so if you know Vim, not to worry. It does try to emulate a lot of common Windows text editors with keyboard mappings. It also stays very true to how EditPlus behaves, but with a ton more features. (Tetris, anyone?)

If you're interested, grab it from github.

mkdir -p ~/checkout ; cd ~/checkout
git clone git://github.com/landonb/dubsacks.git
cd dubsacks/linux
./install.sh

The install script backs up your .vim files to a backup folder named with the current date, e.g., ~/.vim-backup-20100101, and then copies all its file over.

If you'd rather pick and choose files, don't both installing, just poke around in the .vim folder. The syntax highlighters can be copied from .vim/syntax.

Also install exuberant ctags (FIXME Verify this, and explain what-for)

sudo yum install ctags-etags