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A simple, lightweight linux distribution.
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Issue #1 - August 2009
EDITORS DESK ................................ 3
DEVLAND & SCHWAG REPORT .... 4
FEATURED INTERVIEW .................. 5
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS ............ 6
REVISION CONTROL SYSTEM ....... 7
TIPS & TRICKS ............................... 9
THE FUN SECTION ......................... 10
SOFTWARE REVIEW ..................... 11
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NEW TO ARCH?
Arch Linux is a lightweight, flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.
Our strong community is diverse and helpful, and we pride ourselves on the range of
skillsets and uses for Arch that stem from it. Please check out our forums and mailing lists
to get your feet wet. Also glance through our wiki if you want to learn more about Arch.
EDITORS DESK
Welcome to the new Arch Linux Magazine! ARCH USER STAFF
T
This month, a new era begins for Arch Linux users. Daniel Griffiths
(Ghost1227) and I have been discussing ways to further benefit our loyal Eduardo Romero (Kensai) .. Editor in Chief
readers for several weeks. We came to the conclusion that if we joined our Daniel Griffiths (Ghost1227) ........... Editor
efforts, we could create the ultimate publication, something that Arch Linux users David Crouse (Crouse) .......... Contributor
would enjoy the most and remember for a long time. This new publication would
serve the same purpose as the newsletter, keeping the users informed about the Denis Martinez (Denis) .......... Contributor
current events in the community and the development of Arch Linux, as well as Ivy Foster (joyfulgirl) ................ Contributor
ways to enjoy it even more. Kevin Eldridge (LeoSolaris) ..... Contributor
Loui Chang (louipc) ................. Contributor
Unfortunately, I couldn't do much for the magazine this month, or at least not as
much as I want, as I have been very busy in real life. Thankfully, Daniel has taken Sam Harada (Peasantoid) ...... Contributor
over the responsibility of filling the gap left by me not being available this month.
And from what I have read, he did a great job at successfully compiling the best
digital magazine for a Linux operating system there is. Thanks Daniel.
For the die hard fans of digital magazines there is a PDF version, and for those of
you that like to keep it simple there is the traditional HTML version, so both crowds
are being provided with the same quality publication.
And now, on behalf of the Arch Linux Magazine team, I present to you the first Arch
Linux Magazine. Enjoy!
Eduardo Romero (Kensai)
Editor in Chief, Arch Linux Magazine
eduardo@archlinux.org
3
DEVLAND & SCHWAG REPORT
Change to /dev/tty* 2009.08 RC is available! Arch Linux Schwag Report
Those of you who haven't updated your The snapshot RC for the upcoming Unfortunately, we were not able to get an
system recently might want to take note. 2009.08 installation media was recently updated schwag report for the month due
We recently implemented a change that released for public testing. This latest to time constraints. However, this does not
switched us from the old /dev/vc* to revision includes more extensive use of the mean that you should stop supporting us!
/dev/tty*. This change involved altering the AIF installer, a better disk editor, support Visit our schwag merchants and show how
filesystem, syslog-ng, udev and initscripts for automated installations, replacement of much you love Arch!
packages. If you are one of the few who unionfs with aufs, and much more!
hasn't caught this update yet, be ready. Schwag @ Zazzle:
This update will point out who doesn't pay Read more: http://www.zazzle.com/archlinux
attention to pacman's warnings! http://www.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev-
public/2009-August/012713.html Dusty's Schwag Shop:
Read more: http://schwag.archlinux.ca
http://www.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev- KDE 4.3 packaged and split
public/2009-July/012401.html
The recently released KDE update features
dbscripts update: arch=any many upstream enhancements, as well as
a new set of packages that allow you to
Thanks to Aaron, the most recent dbscripts only install those packages you like. The
update has potential support for the much most notable of these changes are split
anticipated features arch=('any') and split packages and meta packages to ensure a
packages. While this does not affect AUR smooth update.
packagers yet, once it is implemented
system-wide, packagers will finally be able Read more:
to list their packages as arch=('any') http://www.archlinux.org/news/455/
instead of arch=('i686' 'x86_64').
Read more:
http://www.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev-
public/2009-July/012419.html
4
FEATURED INTERVIEW - LOUI CHANG
ALM: Hello Loui. First off, we would like to cool stuff has been done by others. The Official Arch Linux Sites
thank you for taking time out of your busy Json interface and the initial site re-styling
schedule to talk to us. Can you tell us a was implemented by Eli Janssen, for
Homepage http://www.archlinux.org
little bit about yourself and how you example. I guess I've just been here to
became a Trusted User? help push things along and guide Forums http://bbs.archlinux.org
development. I think most of my work lies Wiki http://wiki.archlinux.org
Loui: Hmm that's a very open question. in the back-end, and refactoring code. As Bugs http://bugs.archlinux.org
When it comes to Linux or computers I'm for the future, I'd like to attempt a complete
really just a hobbyist. I actually work as a reimplementation with a more 'robust' AUR http://aur.archlinux.org
machinist. I've used several different Linux client/server model. I'd like to make it a real
distros, but when I finally came to Arch I application from the ground up rather than Arch Around the World
was pleasantly surprised at how easy it a web app with add-ons. I don't want to get
seemed to be able to contribute something anyone's hopes up though. It has been
via the AUR. Even though I didn't use it attempted at least twice already. Brasil http://www.archlinux-br.org
that much, there were some nagging bugs Chile http://www.archlinux.cl
so I decided to grab the source code and ALM: Alright. Generally speaking, is there Czech Republic http://www.archlinux.cz
start patching. I became a Trusted User any new technology that you are looking
Denmark http://www.archlinux.dk
because I wanted to have a look into the forward to?
way they were doing things so that maybe I France http://archlinux.fr
could help improve those systems if they Loui: I'm looking forward to trying out btrfs, Germany http://www.archlinux.de
were lacking. I'm not a big package getting a phone with Android, USB 3.0, and Hungary http://archlinux.fsf.hu
maintainer though. autonomous killer robots.
Italy http://www.archlinux.it
ALM: You have made a bit of a name for ALM: Nice... Loui, thank you for your time, Poland http://www.arch-linux.pl
yourself with your work on the AUR. Can as well as your continued work with Arch. Romania http://archlinux.ro
you tell us what some of the notable Do you have anything else you'd like to say
Russia http://archlinux.org.ru
enhancements you've made are and what to our loyal readers?
big changes are still in the works? Spain http://archlinux-es.org
Loui: Be prepared... Oh, and get hacking! Sweden http://archlinux.se
Loui: Haha. Well, it's all been a very Turkey http://www.archlinux.org.tr
incremental process. I think most of the
5
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
[community] Switched to SVN Introducing OBFileBrowser Stapler: PDFs in Python
The community repository has finally been Once again, Arch user Xyne has outdone For those of you who have worked with
moved to SVN! After a hectic day of himself. OBFileBrowser is a perfect PDFs from the command line, PDFtk was
rebuilds, we completed the boost and example of what happens when a good probably an important part of your toolkit.
libjpeg rebuilds and froze community long programmer gets bored, but it's still cool! Unfortunately, PDFtk has gone the way of
enough to transition to the new server and Any OpenBox users looking for a pipe- the dodo. However! Archer Heller_Barde
convert everything to subversion. Although menu file browser should definitely check has stepped up to the plate and written
this involves a bit of a learning curve for this one out! Stapler, a python utility for manipulating
some, it should be beneficial in the long PDF documents based on pyPDF.
run. Read more:
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=77 Read more:
Read more: 197 http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=77
http://www.archlinux.org/pipermail/aur- 388
general/2009-July/005844.html Arch-Home Redux
Desktop Workshop
CAW Taskbar For those of you who missed it the first
time around, Pyther has given his Arch- Any OpenBox users in the house? What
Arch user dcurtis has begun work on a Home script an overhaul and found it a started as an off-hand remark by MrGreen
new, updated panel written in Python. But home. Arch-Home is a simple webpy script has turned into a full-fledged obsession for
why another panel? dcurtis found the that generates an ideal startpage for Arch Archer Ghost1227. After rising to the
existing options to be generally outdated Linux users. If you use Arch (and a graphic unintentional challenge, Ghost1227 took
and uncustomizable, so he took ideas from browser), you need to check this out! over the thread and started a companion
various sources (including the Awesome website for custom OpenBox desktops. If
taskbar, dzen, and PyPanel) and began Read more: you don't think OpenBox can look good,
work on his own! http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=76 think again!
721
Read more: Read more:
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=76 http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=74
889 915
6
REVISION CONTROL SYSTEM BY DAVID CROUSE
RCS, or the GNU Revision Control enough to pique the interest of even the every directory you want to work in,
System, is a system used to keep track of most reluctant of users. I know it's not and RCS will automatically store files
files that can be edited by many people or always fun, but the old adage "Backup, there, and keep your work area
that may need to be reverted to an earlier backup, backup" has been ringing in my clean.
state at some point in time. For the ears and RCS proves to be just the tool for
purposes of this article, I will concentrate many of those simple backup jobs that You could get creative and create symlinks
on the latter simply because I think it will might otherwise not get done. to a single master directory, but that is
actually pertain to the larger majority of our beyond the scope of this article. Besides,
readers. Using a revision control system does not having a RCS subdirectory in your working
have to be hard. It should be easy enough directory lets you know quickly that you
If you have multiple people working on a to become second nature and allow you to should use RCS to edit those particular
coding project, you probably already know fluidly incorporate it into your day to day files. See? It's not so hard. Moving on...
what a revision control system is. However, work. So, let's get started, shall we?
for those of you who don't already know, There are two commands that users will
read on! It's much easier than it sounds. I First and formost, install RCS. find themselves using regularly. These two
really love using Arch Linux as a server commands are 'ci' and 'co' (check in and
distro. While many think that it is not up to $ pacman -S rcs check out, respectively). Pretty darn
the task, I think they are sadly mistaken. I complicated so far isn't it? Ok, let's see
believe it is a great server distro that is To ensure correct usage, we should verify how we start using RCS with a new file.
extremely flexible and easy to maintain. two things.
1. We have a log of all changes we Let's say that we have a file called
But I digress, that is not what I intended to have made to the file. "myshellscript.sh" that we want revision
talk to you about today. My point was that if 2. We can revert back to previous control on. The very first thing we need to
you run a server, you make changes to versions of the file with ease. do is check the file in to RCS. This is done
configuration files quite often and having a through the following command:
revision control system can come in quite There are two primary ways to use RCS.
handy. However, regardless of your reason 1. Use "co" and "ci" on files in any $ ci -u myshellscript.sh
for using a revision control system, RCS directory. This will cause files to be
should prove to be worth the time it will created that match <file> but have a This will initialize the RCS version of the
take you to do a bit of research. Its short ",v" at the end. file. It will also ask you for a DESCRIPTION
learning curve and usefulness should be 2. Create a subdirectory called RCS in of the file. This is not a change log entry, it
7
REVISION CONTROL SYSTEM BY DAVID CROUSE
is for entering a description of the file, and RCSedit. It's very basic, but it does the job
can be multiline. Woot! You have now very nicely. It will use whatever editor you ci -u <filename> - Initialize a file
checked in your first file to RCS! Ok... so tell it to, and it checks out the file using co -l <filename> - Check out & lock a file
how do I check it back out and make some your editor, then initiates the check in ci -u <filename> - Check the file back in
changes? It's just as easy! To check out procedure when you have completed rlog <filename> - Shows the long log of
myshellscript.sh, just issue the following editing. Nice, huh? changes made to a file
command: rcdiff <filename> - Compare revisions
#!/bin/sh rcs -u <filename> - Override locked file.
$ co -l myshellscript.sh if [ ! "${EDITOR}" ]; then
EDITOR=vi So now we can do all sorts of stuff with
So, we now have myshellscript.sh checked fi RCS, but wait! How do you revert a file to a
out. We can open it with our favorite editor /usr/bin/co -l $1 previous version? It's quite simple as well.
and make any changes we want. Then we ${EDITOR} $1 We don't even need a new command. Let's
save the file. Now this is the tricky part. /usr/bin/ci -u $1 say we have made several revisions to our
The part after you have saved the file, myshellscript.sh script, but we decided the
when you must check the file back into So now we can initialize RCS by creating last changes just sucked. We now need to
RCS. This is where people drop the ball an RCS directory, we can initialize the file go back one revision to our previous
and forget to recheck in the file. But it's so by running the check in command, we can working copy. Not a problem! First, you
simple! We've already used the command checkout the file and edit it, and finally would use the rlog command to list all of
once! Once again, just issue the following check it back in. I sort of feel like hitting my the revisions and revision numbers. Let's
command: red Staples button that says "That was say the last revision was 1.2 and you want
easy". So, what else do we need to do? to revert to 1.1. Issue the following
$ ci -u myshellscript.sh Well, the following is a rundown of commands:
commands that you might find useful. I
This immediately prompts you for a change highly suggest reading the man pages for $ rcs -u myshellscript.sh
log entry. Again, this can span multiple them and becoming familiar with all the $ co -l -r1.1 myshellscript.sh
lines if you need it to, just end the log entry options they provide. This is a very basic $ ci -u myshellscript.sh
with a period on a single line. For those of set of commands that will probably help
you that are like me and will most likely you accomplish 99% of what you might It's that simple! It may take some getting
forget to check things back in, I wrote a want to do with RCS. used to, but when you get the hang of it
quick script, amazingly enough called you'll wonder why you didn't start sooner!
8
TIPS AND TRICKS BY IVY FOSTER & LOUI CHANG
Piping Without the Plumbing application will source it, but mailreaders Fast Line Editing
and web browsers will often take a peek
Have you ever wished you could easily and see what's there. The file itself is plain Do you know about readline? Readline is
feed a shell command another command's text. Comments begin with a #, and each an incredibly handy library that enables
output without dealing with plumbing? Well uncommented line is an instruction for how you to manipulate your command line in
wish no more! It is possible, simple even, to open a specific type of file such as useful ways. And these commands work in
with a little bash. Anyone with a little bash "text/plain" or "application/pdf". By using many programs other than the shell! You
experience will recognize that running this, you don't have to set your preferred can cut, paste, and move through text on
`$(someprogram)` will return the output of applications in every application you use. the command line just as if you were using
the program of your choice. For example, Type them in once and let the computer do a powerful text editor.
here's a oneliner that will get rid of some the rest of the work! The following is an
pesky file suffix: example mailcap file. Try opening a shell and type a few words in
without hitting [enter]. Now hit Ctrl-u. The
$ for i in *.o; do mv $i $(basename $i .o); # Sample mailcap file text is gone! That's called killing text. Hit
done # Launch images with display Ctrl-y. It's back! That's yanking text.
# Launch videos with vlc
Of course, you can still do some plumbing # etc There are many more ways to manipulate
if you want. Say you wanted to show off image/gif; display %s text on the command line. The following list
one of your cool screenshots, but couldn't image/jpeg; display %s is just a sample of what is available. See
decide which. Let fate (or at least a image/tiff; display %s `man readline` for even more info!
pseudorandom sorting algorithm) decide. image/x-portable-bitmap; display %s
image/x-xpixmap; display %s Alt-b Beginning of current word
$ mutt -s "Screenshot" -a "$(ls sshot/* | audio/*; sfplay %s Alt-f End of current word
sort -R | head -1)" -- pimpmyarch video/mpeg; vlc %s Ctrl-a Beginning of line
@archuser.com video/*; vlc %s Ctrl-e End of line
application/postscript; ghostview %s Ctrl-w Delete to beginning of word
application/x-dvi; xdvi %s Alt-d Delete to end of word
On Mailcap application/pdf; xpdf %s Ctrl-u Delete to beginning of line
application/acrobat; xpdf %s Ctrl-k Delete to end of line
Although a bit obscure, $HOME/.mailcap
can save you a bit of hastle. Not every
9
THE FUN SECTION
What's your Favorite Taco?
<Animeking> can'tfigureouthowto trywebcamwih kopete
In true Arch form, Acecero has asked for <Ghost1227> Animeking: apparantlycan't figureouthow tousethe spacebareitherhuh?
everyone's favorite taco. If you haven't told
us your favorite, do it now!
<rson> bruenig: i've decided to stick with your colors
Read more: <rson> i think my eyes will get used to it
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=76 <rson> i need a better vim scheme though
753 <bruenig> my free colors that I have given to you out of good will
<Ghost1227> lies!
Remember the 60s? <Ghost1227> nothing in life is free!
<Ghost1227> except linux
For our younger users who don't remember <rson> bruenig: i'm liscensing them under a nonfree liscense and selling them to anyone who
the 60s, watch it and learn! For everyone wants them. i am also suing you for using them without my permission.
else, watch it and mourn your age! <Ghost1227> yay!
<Ghost1227> capitalism win
Read more: <rson> i told you i'd be at the top one day
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=75 <rson> it starts now
998 * Ghost1227 prepares to file an antitrust lawsuit against rson(TM)
<rson> :)
Kiloseconds? <bruenig> nah
<Ghost1227> rson: do we have to pay you everytime we invoke your name?
Have you ever wondered what time it was <Ghost1227> s/rson/rson(TM)
in kiloseconds? Well wonder no more! <rson> yes. even when it's embedded in other common words that are unrelated
Archer haxit has started the Kilosecond <rson> like person
Project (KSP) to answer just that question.
See what the fuss is all about!
<improvement> michael jackson died. hes dead
Read more: <jelly12gen> !next
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=74 <phrik> Another satisfied customer! NEXT!
226 <jelly12gen> *ouch*.
10
SOFTWARE REVIEW: VIDEO EDITORS
AVIDEMUX
http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux
Avidemux is an open-source, cross-platform multipurpose video editing and processing
program. Designed for simple cutting, filtering and encoding tasks, it supports many file
types, including AVI, DVD compatible MPEG, MP4 and ASF, using a variety of codecs.
Featuring task automation and powerful scripting capabilities, avidemux is one of the most
popular video editors available for Linux, and with both Qt and GTK interfaces, it's easy to
see why!
To install avidemux, use the `avidemux` package in [extra].
CINELERRA-CV
http://cinelerra.org
Billed as the most advanced non-linear video editor and compositor for Linux, Cinelerra-
CV (or Cinelerra Community Version) is a community project to extend on the work of
Heroine Virtual Ltd.'s original Cinelerra. With support for OpenGL shaders, most common
codecs, realtime effects, and floating point compositing, among other things, it's easy to
see why Cinelerra has become known for it's power and capabilities.
To install Cinelerra-CV, use the `cinelerra-cv` package in [community].
11
SOFTWARE REVIEW: VIDEO EDITORS
KINO
http://www.kinodv.org
With excellent integration with IEEE-1394 for capturing videos, VTR control and recording back
to the camera, multiple video clip support, and an extensive array of supported formats including
DV AVI, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG, and RAW DV, Kino is another excellent option for Linux video
editing. Built for the GTK+ toolkit, Kino also features an extensible project metadata system and
multilingual support. If you're looking for a lightweight, but still full-featured video editor, this
might be a good place to start!
To install Kino, use the `kino` package in [extra].
LIVES
http://lives.sourceforge.net
LiVES (or LiVES is a Video Editing System) is an easy to use, but incredibly powerful, video
editor that mixes realtime video performance and non-linear editing into one quality
application. Capable of editing almost any video format, stream input and output, perform
realtime blending of clips, and utilize dozens of effects, LiVES is good enough for a
professional VJ, while still being simple enough for a beginner.
To install LiVES, use the `lives` package in the Arch User Repository.
12