GNU/Linux
This section of Astroblahhh.Com contains things related to GNU/Linux, also known as Linux.
There's not much here yet, but, in the future, most of the stuff here will probably have something to do with Puppy Linux, and especially Lucid Puppy 5.2.8 version 004, since that's what I usually use.
(I used to primarily use Lucid Puppy 5.2, but I finally upgraded in Feb. 2012.)
As of Feb. 26, 2016, I also use Lighthouse 64 Puppy Linux 6.02 Beta 2 on occasion.
Information
- Some Puppy Linux Basics
Even if you don't use Puppy Linux, the section titled What is free, libre, open source software? might be entertaining reading for anyone.
Perl Scripts for GNU/Linux
Perl is pre-installed in many Puppy Linuxes, and it really comes in handy.
- Apollia's Navigation Command Prompt for GNU/Linux
This script opens a terminal window with a prompt where you can type shortcut commands to quickly open any folder path using the file manager of your choice.
- Apollia's Drag and Drop Pondizer v1.1 (zip file, 10 KB) New - Apr. 29, 2014
Web-viewable versions: The version with a separate config file The separate config file
Old versions: Apollia's Drag and Drop Pondizer v1.0 (zip file, 19 KB)Web-viewable versions: The version with a separate config file The separate config file The version without a separate config file This script is related to the old zip backup scripts I made. It's basically a drag-and-drop zip archive-making script, with some other features.
Definitely works in Lucid Puppy Linux 5.2.8, and probably other Puppy Linuxes, but would probably have to be modified to work in other operating systems. I'm guessing it would be toughest to get it working in Windows, since it relies on Linux shell commands.
What does "pondize" mean? Well, on my computer, I like to give many of my folders picturesque, aesthetically pleasing names which aren't always obviously connected to those folders' actual purposes.
The "Pond" folder is where I like to keep many of my newly-minted backups. So, anything that goes in the Pond, I say it's been "pondized".
This script can either make zip files out of things that are dragged and dropped onto it, or put copies of those things into a dated/timed folder.And, similar to the original zip backup script, you can put a list in the source code of all the items you want zipped or copied to a dated/timed folder. That list is used when you run the script without dragging/dropping items onto it.
Version 1.1 can handle files/folders whose names contain double quotes ("), but version 1.0 can't. (But, in version 1.0, if you need to handle such items, you can put them in a folder without double quotes in the name, and then drag/drop that folder onto the script.)
- Apollia's Zip Backup Script for Linux v2.0
Old VersionThis script makes it easy to make zipped backups of whatever files and folders you want. After you get everything set up by following the instructions in the source code, you can run the script just by double-clicking it. It definitely works in Lucid Puppy 5.2, and might work (with slight modifications) in other forms of Linux which have the "zip" shell command.
- Customized Random Xlock Screensaver
Starts a random xlock screensaver, choosing from an assortment of your favorites, and using whatever additional custom command line options you like.
Simple Folder Opener (Extensive Comments) v1.1 Old Version Simple Folder Opener (Fewer Comments) v1.1 Old Version I needed a way to make Windows-like shortcuts to folders, since symlinks just weren't doing the job properly. Hence, this Perl script.
Once you get the script set up properly, all you have to do is double-click the script, and the folder you set it to open will be opened by the file manager of your choice (if it's compatible with this script).
You can even give the script a custom icon like this one from IconArchive.com to make it look like a folder shortcut rather than a Perl script.
The extensively-commented version of the script makes the script seem a lot longer and more complicated than it really is. The actual code part of the script is only 3 lines long (4 if you count the "shebang" line).
- Make Dated and Timed Folder New - Feb. 9, 2014
Another pretty simple script. When run, this makes a folder with a name like "2014_2_8 13,14,37 pm". Optionally, the script can add a prefix and/or suffix to the folder name. You can provide the prefix and/or suffix in the source code, or have the script ask you for them when it runs.
This script would probably work with other operating systems if you take out the stuff dealing with the RXVT console program and the Rox-Filer file manager.
- Make "Welcome to Disk!" Text File and Make Contents Note Text File New - Apr. 1, 2014
These two are almost exactly the same script. First, they ask you to type in some text, then they create a text file which contains (and whose file name contains) the text you typed.
I like to put the created files at the root level of my various disks and TrueCrypt* volumes, just to make it easier to tell at a glance where I am and what is in there.
The "Welcome" script creates a text file with a name like "Welcome to Fluffyland!" (or whatever other disk name you typed), and the "Contents" script creates a text file with a name like "~Contents - My entire MIDI collection up to 2014".
Windows-Related Perl Scripts
- KeyNote HTML to NoteCase NCD - a Perl script which converts KeyNote NF notes to NoteCase 1.9.8's .ncd format. See the source code comments for instructions and details on the imperfections of conversions done by this script. This script should work fine in Windows as well as Linux.
(KeyNote NF is free outliner software for Windows, and NoteCase 1.9.8 is free outliner software for GNU/Linux, Windows, MacOS, and maybe other things too).
- Replace Filename Characters Windows Can't Handle - a Perl script which goes through all the files in a directory you specify, and renames those files if their file names contain any characters that Windows XP (and probably other versions of Windows) can't handle in file names:
\ : * ? " < > |
The filtered characters are changed into dashes.
Before running the script, you'll have to edit two variables in the source code.
Also, the script just won't work in Windows XP (and probably other versions of Windows which I haven't tested this script in). Perl in Windows XP is as powerless as Windows XP itself to do anything with files with
\ / : * ? " < > |
in the file name. Windows XP can't open, move, rename, or copy such files.The script doesn't look for forward slashes - / - another character Windows XP can't handle in file names - because I didn't have any files whose names contained /.
Bash Scripts
Bash is commonly available in many GNU/Linuxes.
- Roku Remote Controller Script version 4, written in Bash, with companion scripts (zipped, 13 KB) New - March 13, 2014
Old Version 3 (zipped, 13 KB)
The Roku* remote controller script was modified by me (Apollia), but I didn't write it from scratch.It is a modified version of a script by "JM"/"Fubaya", posted July 7, 2011 to the A More Common Hades blog: Final Roku bash shell script
Thank you very much to "JM"/"Fubaya" for creating such useful scripts and such a useful blog!
My modified version of the script lets you control the Roku both with hotkeys that instantly make your Roku do something, and by typing commands (which only do something after you press Enter on your keyboard).See the source code for more instructions.
Web-viewable copies of version 4 scripts: roku-remote-v4.sh Launch Netflix Channel: Perl Version - Bash Version
Launch Roku Remote Control Script Live Mode in an RXVT Terminal Window - Perl Version - Bash Version
GNU/Linux-Related Stuff In Other Sections of This Website
- Use Page Title As File Name + Change Unusual Chars To Dashes - This is a modified version of File Title 1.4. The original File Title 1.4 is by Pavel Cvrček. Unlike the original, my modified version refuses to create file names with any very unusual characters, so it doesn't provoke GNU/Linux to give me "Invalid file name" errors.
- See the Software section.