showkey — Examine the codes sent by the keyboard Summary : showkey prints to standard output either the scan codes or the keycode or the `ascii’ code of each key pressed. It can be used to check the keyboard driver and key mappings. Example: $ showkey — Show the interpreted keycode. $ showkey -k — Same as above (Default Option). $ showkey -s — Show the raw scan-codes of the keys.
ODOC: arp
arp — Manipulate the Address Resolution Protocol cache Summary : It is used to view/add/del kernel’s ARP cache table entries. Example: $ arp — Show ARP Cache table. $ arp -v — For detailed output. $ arp -n — Show Address in numeric. Don’t try to resolve the names. $ arp wify — Show the ARP entry for wify host. $ arp -a wify — Same as above. $ arp -t ether — Only show ether HW class entries.
PyPy – Python Implementation in Python
PyPy is a Python implementation written in Python. Of late people have started to implement a language in itself to demonstrate the versatility of the language and to show its applicability for large projects. Writing operating systems and compiler/interpreters for languages are the most complex things in software development. Since PyPy is implemented in Python, it provides the high level of abstraction and compactness of the language. This makes the implementation easy to understand than in C.
ODOC: ifconfig
ifconfig – CONFIGure a `network’ InterFace Summary : ifconfig is used to display/configure the kernel-resident network interfaces. It is used at boot time to set up interfaces. Example: $ ifconfig — Show info abt the active network interfaces like IP Address, MAC address, Subnet mask, and status. $ ifconfig -a — Show the status of active and inactive interfaces. # ifconfig eth0 down — Deactivate/Shutdown the eth0 interface. # ifconfig eth0 up — Activate the eth0 interface.
ODOC: id
id – Print real & effective UIDs and GIDs Summary : It prints the user’s info like user id, group id, user name, etc., Example: $ id — Print UID, GID, Groups. $ id -r — Print only the real user ID. $ id -u — print only the effective user ID $ id -nu — Print only user name. $ id -g — print only the effective group ID.
ODOC: rdate
rdate — Get the time from Remote machine. Summary : It connects to an Remote Time Server over a TCP/IP network, printing the returned time and/or setting the system clock. The time in remote server is maintained properly. So that all machines can get the time from that server. Example: $ rdate -p 192.168.1.5 — Print the time returned by the remote machine. $ rdate -s remote.pc.com — Set the system time to the time returned by the remote machine (Need Root permission).
ODOC: uniq
uniq — Remove duplicate lines from a SORTED file. Summary : It prints the unique lines in a sorted file. If input is not sorted then, only adjacent duplicate lines are discarded. Example: $ uniq myfile — Print only unique lines. $ uniq -i myfile — Ignore case when comparing. $ uniq -u myfile — Print only lines, Which is not duplicated. $ uniq -c myfile — Print all unique lines with no .
ODOC: yes
yes — Print a string until interrupted Summary : It prints the command line arguments, separated by spaces & followed by a newline, forever until it is killed. ‘yes’ can be used to feeds a continuous string of the character to another process and create dummy process for learning the process control. Example: $ yes — Prints `y’ followed by a newline until killed. $ yes foobar — Prints foobar followed by a newline until killed.
ODOC: ps
ps – Report Process Status Summary : ps gives a snapshot of the current processes. Lot of info, like CPU and MEM Usage, PID, UID, Status,…, about the present status of the process will be available in the ps output. ps can also be used as a debugging tool. Example: $ ps — Show all running in the current terminal. $ ps -h — Same as above. But with-out header.
Try Ruby in your browser
Most of you might have heard about the new object oriented language that is creating waves. It is said that Ruby is relatively easy to learn and program. So, why don’t you try ruby first, without installing it. Try Ruby on your browser now. There is also a 15 minute short online tutorial to try out. ruby, object+oriented+language, ruby+on+rails
Common Lisp – Web application tutorial
Came across this nice tutorial on creating a web application using Common Lisp. Lisp is on my agenda of todo list and so is Ruby. But those are reserved for later. Currently I am trying my hand at web.py – a nice web framework for Python. lisp, common+lisp, ruby, ruby+on+rails, python, web.py
ODOC: kill
kill — Sends a signal to processes. Summary : The command kill sends the specified signal to the specified process or process group. If no signal is specified, the TERM signal is sent. Signals are used for Inter Process Communications(IPC). Examples : $ kill -l — Print a list of signal names with numbers. $ kill -l SIGIO — Print the number for SIGIO signal. $ kill -l 9 — Print the Name for the Signal number 9.
Switch to Linux
Here is a funny flash commercial that persuades or rather tries to switch to Linux. linux, gnu/linux
ODOC: top
top — Display TOP Intensive processes Summary : TOP provides an ongoing look at processor activity in real time. TOP list the process, which is sorted based on the CPU usage of the each task on the system. It can also sort the tasks by memory usage & run time. Examples : $ top — List the most CPU-Intensive processes. $ top -q — Runs with the highest possible priority.
ODOC: paste
paste – Merge lines of files. Summary : Paste writes the lines from files in parallel and sequential manner in the screen. By default, Lines will be separated by a TAB character. Examples : $ paste f1 f2 f3 — Contents of the f1,f2 & f3 will be pasted in parallel and lines are separated by TABs. $ paste -d’#’ f1 f2 f3 — Same as above. But # is the separator.
ODOC: fmt
fmt — Simple optimal text ForMatTer Summary : fmt reads from the specified file arguments or stdin, and writes to stdout. Examples : $ fmt myfile — Format myfile and max line length is 75. $ fmt f1 f2 — Format f1 f2 and max line length is 75. $ fmt -w 60 f1 f2 — Same as above but max line length is 60. $ fmt -s myfile — Don’t split the small line.
ODOC: fold
fold — Wrap each input line to fit in specified width. Summary : fold wrap input lines in each input file and writes the output to standard output. `fold’ counts screen columns by default. Examples : $ fold myfile — Fold each input line at column 80 and print in the screen/stdout. $ fold -w 40 myfile > myfile1 — Fold each input line at column 40 and the output is redirected to myfile1.
GNU GPLv3 first draft release
The first draft of the revised GNU General Public License (GPLv3) will be released during the “First International Conference on GPLv3”, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on January 16 and 17 2006. The conference is open to the public and free of charge, though advance registration is required. The FSF has also launched the The first draft of the revised GNU General Public License (GPLv3) will be released during the “First International Conference on GPLv3”, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on January 16 and 17 2006.
ODOC: seq
seq — Prints a sequence of Nos to Stdout. Summary : seq prints the numbers from Start to End in steps. By default, Start and Step are 1, and by default each number is separated by a new line. All numbers can be reals, not just integers. Examples : $ seq 6 — Print Nos from 1 to 6. $ seq 2 6 — Print Nos from 2 to 6.
Live CD list
I saw this huge list of Live CDs on Digg and found it to be interesting. I think it covers all the live CDs one can know. Slax tops the list on the most popular(votes) and my favourite – Knoppix is at place 4 and Ubuntu is at 8. live+cd,linux, gnu/linux,slax, knoppix, ubuntu