VIE Full Circle RE W THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY

ISSUE #170 - June 2021

L U 4 B .0 UNTU 21 ) m o c . r VIE k E W c R i l F ( k e t i c w r

: X o t U 4 o h B .0 P UNTU 21

TTAAMMEE YYOOUURR GGRRUUBB MMEENNUU GIVE YOUR BOOT MENU A MAKE OVER

full circle magazine #170 contents ^ Full Circle Magazine is neither affiliated with,1 nor endorsed by, Canonical Ltd. HowTo Full Circle THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY Python p.15 Linux News p.04

Latex p.18 Command & Conquer p.13 ... p.XX Everyday Ubuntu p.31

Tame Your GRUB Menu p.20 Ubuntu Devices p.XX The Daily Waddle p.43 Micro This Micro That p.33

p.XX My Opinion p.40 Letters p.XX Review p.45

Inkscape p.26 Q&A p.52 Review p.48 Ubuntu Games p.55 Graphics

The articles contained in this magazine are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. This means you can adapt, copy, distribute and transmit the articles but only under the following conditions: you must attribute the work to the original author in some way (at least a name, email or URL) and to this magazine by name ('Full Circle Magazine') and the URL www.fullcirclemagazine.org (but not attribute the article(s) in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you must distribute the resulting work under the same, similar or a compatible license. Full Circle magazine is entirely independent of Canonical, the sponsor of the Ubuntu projects, and the views and opinions in the magazine should in no way be assumed to have Canonical endorsement. full circle magazine #170 2 contents ^ EEDDIITTOORRIIAALL

This magazine was created using :

WELCOME TO THE LATEST ISSUE OF FULL CIRCLE

or this issue, we have the usual suspects; Python, Latex, Inkscape, LMMS, MTMT (Micro This F Micro That), and an interesting piece on getting to grips with that pesky GRUB menu. You know, that boring black screen with the white box that lets you pick which OS to boot from. Well, you can make it look all fancy. True story. Even if you only see it for about ten seconds every six months.

We continue the reviews of 21.04 this month with Lubuntu and Xubuntu. We have an opinion piece about booting Ubuntu. As in, can the vanilla user understand what's happening when Ubuntu is starting up? I certainly don't!

In the real world: I hope you're all keeping safe and well. I hope we're getting to the end of this Find Full Circle on: pandemic nonsense. One expert says we're in a third wave (here in the UK) while another says we're facebook.com/ past the worst of it. By the time you've read this I'll have had both my jags (as we call them here in fullcirclemagazine Scotland) and feel safer. I'm not as young as I used to be! Which is probably a good thing... twitter.com/#!/fullcirclemag Don't forget: if you're looking for some help, advice, or just a chit chat: remember, we have a http://issuu.com/ Telegram group. I mention this as I've been giving out the wrong link in a couple of emails. The link fullcirclemagazine is: https://t.me/joinchat/PujkVH1HopRKvfd3. I hope to see you there. Come and say hello. https://mastodon.social/ @fullcirclemagazine Anyway, stay safe, and all the best for 2021! Ronnie [email protected] Weekly News: http://fullcirclemagazine.org/ feed/podcast http://www.stitcher.com/s? fid=85347&refid=stpr http://tunein.com/radio/Full- FCM PATREON : https://www.patreon.com/fullcirclemagazine Circle-Weekly-News-p855064/

full circle magazine #170 3 contents ^ NNEEWWSS Submitted by ErikTheUnready

APACHE NETBEANS 12.4 Node.js 14.16 platform, and the V8 https://mailman.nginx.org/ https://gitlab.com/ 9.1 JavaScript engine . pipermail/unit/2021-May/ CalcProgrammer1/OpenRGB/-/ ELEASED R : 000265.html releases/release_0.6 05/30/2021 https://www.electronjs.org/blog/ electron-13-0 pache Software Foundation OPENRGB 0.6, RGB PEERTUBE 3.2 RELEASED: A Organization introduced an DEVICE CONTROL TOOLKIT: 06/01/2021 integrated development NGINX UNIT 1.24.0 06/01/2021 environment for Apache NetBeans RELEASED: he decentralized platform for 12.4, which provides support for 05/31/2021 new release of OpenRGB 0.6, a T organizing video hosting and the Java SE programming A free toolkit for controlling RGB video broadcasting PeerTube 3.2 languages, Java EE, PHP, C / C++, GINX Unit 1.24 application lighting devices, is out. The package was announced. PeerTube offers a JavaScript and Groovy. This is the N server was released. A solution supports ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock vendor-independent alternative to seventh release made by the is being developed to ensure the and MSI motherboards with RGB YouTube, Dailymotion and Vimeo, Apache Foundation since Oracle launch of web applications in lighting subsystem, backlit memory using a content distribution donated the NetBeans code. various programming languages modules from ASUS, Patriot, Corsair network based on P2P (Python, PHP, Perl, Ruby, Go, and HyperX, ASUS Aura / ROG, MSI communications and linking https://blogs.apache.org/netbeans/ JavaScript / Node.js and Java). GeForce, Sapphire Nitro and visitors' browsers. The project is entry/announce-apache-netbeans- Several applications in different Gigabyte Aorus graphics cards, distributed under the AGPLv3 12-4 programming languages can run various controllers LED strips license. simultaneously under the control of (ThermalTake, Corsair, NZXT Hue +), https://joinpeertube.org/ LECTRON NGINX Unit, the launch parameters glowing coolers, mice, keyboards, E 13.0.0: news#release-3.2 05/31/2021 can be changed dynamically Razer backlit headphones and without the need to edit accessories. Information about the lectron 13.0.0, which provides a configuration files and restart. The protocol of interaction with devices JINGOS 0.9 AVAILABLE: E self-contained framework for code is written in C and is is mainly obtained through reverse 06/01/2021 developing multi-platform user distributed under the Apache 2.0 engineering of proprietary drivers applications, using the Chromium, license. You can get acquainted and applications. The code is ingOS 0.9 distribution is out, V8 and Node.js components. The with the features of NGINX Unit in written in C / C++ and is distributed J providing an environment major change to the version the announcement of the first under the GPLv2 license. specifically optimized for number is due to the upgrade to release. installation on touchscreen tablets the Chromium 91 codebase, the and laptops. The project is being

full circle magazine #170 4 contents ^ NEWS developed by the Chinese company example, the package contains numbering stable versions (4.6, 4.8, https://obsproject.com/blog/obs- Jingling Tech, which has a utilities mount / umount, fdisk, 5.0, etc.). The new Cinnamon studio-27-released representative office in California. hwclock, cal, blkid, fsck / cfdisk / release will be offered with Linux The development team includes sfdisk, blockdev, chrt, mkfs, ionice, Mint 20.2, which is slated for a mid- OPENSUSE LEAP 15.3 employees previously employed by more, renice, su, kill, setsid, login, June release. Lenovo, Alibaba, Samsung, shutdown, dmesg, lscpu, logger, RELEASED: Canonical / Ubuntu, and Trolltech. losetup, setterm, mkswap, swapon, https://github.com/linuxmint/ 06/02/2021 The installation image size is 3 GB taskset, etc. Cinnamon/releases/tag/5.0.0 (x86_64). The project is distributed fter almost a year of development, openSUSE Leap under the GPLv3 license. https://www.spinics.net/lists/util- OBS STUDIO 27.0 A linux-ng/msg16733.html 15.3 has been released. The release For JingOS tests, developers use RELEASED: builds on the core set of packages Surface pro6 and Huawei Matebook 06/02/2021 from the SUSE Linux Enterprise CINNAMON 5.0 RELEASED: distribution with some custom 14 tablets, but in theory, the distro 06/02/2021 can run on any tablets supported in BS Studio 27.0 for streaming, applications from the openSUSE Ubuntu 20.04. OTA updates are O compositing and video Tumbleweed repository. A 4.4 GB fter six months of recording is out. The code is written universal DVD build is available for supported to keep the software up development, the Cinnamon to date. To install programs, in A in C / C++ and is distributed under download (x86_64, aarch64, 5.0 user environment is released. the GPLv2 license. It provides ppc64les, 390x), a stripped-down addition to the regular Ubuntu The Linux Mint community is repositories and the Snap catalog, a support for compositing with scene image for network installation (146 developing a fork of the GNOME building based on arbitrary video MB) and Live builds with KDE, separate application store is Shell, the Nautilus file manager and offered. streams, data from web cameras, GNOME and Xfce. A key feature of the Mutter window manager, aimed video capture cards, images, text, openSUSE Leap 15.3 is the use of at providing a classic GNOME 2- https://forum.jingos.com/t/jingos- content of application windows, or the same set of binary packages style environment with support for the entire screen. During with SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP 3, v0-9-release-and-super-early-birds- GNOME Shell interactions. program/1572 broadcasting, it allows you to instead of the rebuilding of SUSE Cinnamon is based on GNOME switch between several predefined Linux Enterprise src packages that components, but those scene options (for example, to was the norm in previous releases. UTIL-LINUX 2.37 RELEASED: components are shipped as a switch views with an emphasis on It is assumed that using the same 06/02/2021 periodically synced fork with no the screen content and the image binary packages in SUSE and external dependencies on GNOME. from a web camera). The program openSUSE will simplify migration new version of the Util-linux The change of the version number also provides tools for sound from one distribution to another, A 2.37 system utilities package is to 5.0 is not associated with any mixing, filtering with VST plugins, save resources on building out. It includes both utilities closely particularly important changes, but volume leveling and noise packages, distributing updates and related to the Linux kernel and only continues the tradition of suppression. testing, unify differences in spec general-purpose utilities. For using even decimal digits for files and allow you to move away full circle magazine #170 5 contents ^ NEWS from diagnosing different package TOR BROWSER 10.0.17 AND CLONEZILLA LIVE 2.7.2: assemblies when parsing messages TAILS 4.19 DISTRIBUTION: 06/03/2021 https://sourceforge.net/p/ about errors. clonezilla/news/2021/06/-stable- 06/02/2021 lonezilla Live 2.7.2 is available. clonezilla-live-272-38-released-/ https://www.opensuse.org/ ails 4.19 (The Amnesic Incognito C It is designed for fast disk T Live System), based on Debian cloning (only used blocks are KALI LINUX 2021.2 NIXOS 21.05 USING NIX and designed to provide copied). The tasks performed by the distribution are similar to those RELEASED: PACKAGE MANAGER anonymous access to the internet, : of the proprietary Norton Ghost 06/03/2021 06/02/2021 is out. All connections, except for traffic through the Tor network, are product. The size of the iso-image is 308 MB (i686, amd64). ali Linux 2021.2, designed to ixOS 21.05, based on the Nix blocked by the packet filter by K test systems for vulnerabilities, package manager and default. Encryption is used to store N The distribution is based on conduct audits, analyze residual providing a number of proprietary user data in the save user data Debian GNU / Linux and uses the information and identify the developments that simplify system mode between runs. A 1 GB iso code of projects such as DRBL, consequences of attacks by configuration and maintenance. For image has been prepared for Partition Image, ntfsclone, cybercriminals was announced. All example, NixOS uses a single downloading, capable of working in partclone, udpcast. It is bootable code created by the distribution is system configuration file Live mode. from CD / DVD, USB Flash and distributed under the GPL license (configuration.nix), provides the network (PXE). It supports LVM2 and is available through their public ability to quickly rollback updates, At the same time, a new version and FS ext2, ext3, ext4, reiserfs, Git repository. There are several supports switching between of the Tor Browser 10.0.17 was reiser4, xfs, jfs, btrfs, f2fs, nilfs2, options for iso-images for different system states, supports released, focused on ensuring FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, HFS+, download. It is available for x86, the installation of individual anonymity, security and privacy. UFS, minix, VMFS3 and VMFS5 x86_64, ARM architectures (armhf packages by individual users (the The release is synchronized with (VMWare ESX). There is a mode for and armel, Raspberry Pi, Banana Pi, package is placed in the home the Firefox 78.11.0 ESR codebase, mass cloning over the network, ARM Chromebook, Odroid). The directory), it is possible to which has fixed 6 vulnerabilities. including the transmission of traffic Xfce desktop is offered by default, simultaneously install several Updated versions of NoScript in multicast mode, which makes it but KDE, GNOME, MATE, LXDE and versions of the same program , 11.2.8, HTTPS Everywhere possible to simultaneously clone Enlightenment e17 are optionally reproducible builds are provided. 2021.4.15 and Tor 0.4.5.8. The the source disk to a large number supported. The full installation image with KDE release of Tor Browser for Android of client machines. Cloning from is 1.4 GB, GNOME is 1.8 GB, and the is delayed until next week. one disk to another is possible, as https://www.kali.org/blog/kali- shorthand console image is 660 MB. linux-2021-2-release/ https://tails.boum.org/news/ well as creating backups by saving a disk image to a file. Disk-level https://discourse.nixos.org/t/21-05- version_4.19/ cloning or individual partition has-been-released/13407 cloning is possible.

full circle magazine #170 6 contents ^ NEWS CENTOS LINUX 8.4 (2105) FREE HEROES OF MIGHT AND project and is distributed under the continues the development of the GPLv3 license. Binaries are "Redo Backup & Rescue" project, AGIC RELEASED RELEASED: M II - 0.9.4 : prepared for GNU / Linux (Debian, which was discontinued in 2012. 06/04/2021 06/04/2021 Ubuntu, Fedora, SUSE, RHEL, etc.), Rescuezilla supports backup and Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and recovery of accidentally deleted release of project "fheroes2 entOS 2105, incorporating Android TV. files on Linux, macOS and Windows 0.9.4" is available. It is trying to C changes from Red Hat A partitions. It automatically searches recreate the Heroes of Might and Enterprise Linux 8.4 is out. The Unlike traditional for and connects to network Magic II game. The project code is distribution is fully binary communication clients, Jami is able partitions that can be used to host written in C++ and is distributed compatible with RHEL 8.4. CentOS to transfer messages without backups. The graphical interface is under the GPLv2 license. To start 2105 builds prepared (8 GB DVD contacting external servers through based on the LXDE shell. The the game, you need files with game and 605 MB netboot) for x86_64, establishing a direct connection backup format is fully compatible resources, which can be obtained, Aarch64 (ARM64) and ppc64le between users using end-to-end with Clonezilla. Recovery supports for example, from the demo architectures. The SRPMS packages encryption (keys are present only Clonezilla, Redo Rescue, Foxclone version of Heroes of Might and that the binaries are based on and on the client side) and and FSArchiver images. Magic II. debuginfo are available through authentication based on X.509 vault.centos.org. In the rolling certificates. In addition to secure https://github.com/rescuezilla/ https://github.com/ihhub/fheroes2/ release edition of CentOS Stream, messaging, the program allows you rescuezilla/releases/tag/2.2 releases/tag/0.9.4 which will replace the classic to make voice and video calls, CentOS 8 at the end of the year, create teleconferences, exchange LAKKA 3.1, A DISTRIBUTION there is the ability to rollback to JAMI "MALOYA" IS files, organize sharing of files and previous versions of a package screen content. FOR CREATING GAME using the "dnf downgrade" AVAILABLE: CONSOLES: command - if there are several 06/04/2021 https://jami.net/maloya-a-new- 06/05/2021 versions of the same application in version-of-jami/ the repository. new release of the Jami A decentralized communications fter more than a year of development, Lakka 3.1 is out. https://www.mail-archive.com/ platform is available, codenamed RESCUEZILLA 2.2 BACKUP A "Maloya". The project is aimed at It allows you to turn computers, set- [email protected]/ DISTRIBUTION RELEASED: creating a communication system top boxes or single-board msg11936.html 06/05/2021 that works in P2P mode and allows computers into a full-fledged game both communication between large consoles for running retro games. escuezilla 2.2 is available, groups and making individual calls The project is a modification of designed for backup, system with a high level of confidentiality R LibreELEC, which was originally crash recovery and diagnostics of and security. Jami, formerly known designed for creating home various hardware problems. The as Ring and SFLphone, is a GNU theaters. Lakka builds are distribution is built on Ubuntu and generated for i386, x86_64 full circle magazine #170 7 contents ^ NEWS platforms (Intel, NVIDIA or AMD BLENDER 2.93 LTS rendering. A number of interface GPUs), Raspberry Pi 1-4, Orange Pi, improvements have also been made RELEASED: The project is positioned as a Cubieboard, Cubieboard2, to improve the usability. In modern desktop environment, 06/05/2021 Cubietruck, Banana Pi, particular, a special tabular editor developed for faster execution of Hummingboard, Cubox-i, Odroid has been implemented, which typical actions by optimizing lender 2.93 LTS 3D modeling C1 / C1 + / XU3 / XU4 and etc. To allows you to conveniently control workflows and eliminating package has been released, install, just write the distribution to B the parameters assigned to objects. unnecessary clutter. The goal is to which will be the last release in the an SD card or USB drive, connect a provide a functional yet 2.9x branch. The release received gamepad and boot the system. https://www.blender.org/news/ minimalistic interface that can be Extended Lifetime Support (LTS) blender-2-93-release/ customized and expanded based on release status and will be Lakka's emulation is based on user preferences. supported for two more years in the RetroArch game console parallel with the next seven REGOLITH DESKTOP 1.6 emulator, which provides emulation https://github.com/regolith-linux/ releases. The next release, of a wide range of devices and RELEASED: regolith-desktop/releases/tag/R1.6 according to the development plan, supports advanced features such as 06/07/2021 will be 3.0, on which work has multiplayer games, save state, already begun. PHP 8.1 ALPHA TESTING enhancing the image of old games egolith 1.6 desktop is available, with shaders, rewinding games, hot R developed by the developers of HAS BEGUN: Blender 2.93 continues with the plugging gamepads and video the Linux distribution of the same 06/13/2021 node-based geometric object streaming. name . Regolith is based on GNOME management system, first session management technologies he first alpha release of a new proposed in the previous version. http://www.lakka.tv/articles/ and the i3 window manager. The T branch of the PHP 8.1 Major improvements have been 2021/06/05/lakka-3.1/ project code is distributed under programming language was made to tools for static and the GPLv3 license. Download the announced. The release is animated 2D graphics, 3D line art PPA-repositories for Ubuntu 18.04, scheduled for November 25th. The (Grease Pencil), sculpting, 20.04 and 21.04. main innovations already available for testing or planned for implementation in PHP 8.1. The next release will be Alpha 2, planned for 24 Jun 2021.

https://www.php.net/ index.php#id2021-06-10-1

full circle magazine #170 8 contents ^ NEWS RQLITE 6.0, A DISTRIBUTED NEW STABLE TOR 0.4.6 developers find it easier to use than DEBIAN'S CINNAMON vim. FAULT-TOLERANT SQLITE- BRANCH: MAINTAINER SWITCHES TO 06/15/2021 BASED DATABASE https://nano-editor.org/ KDE: 06/16/2021 MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: or 0.4.6.5 is considered the first 06/14/2021 stable release of the 0.4.6 SME SERVER 10.0 LINUX T orbert Preining announced the branch, which has evolved over the SERVER: withdrawal of its authority to qlite 6.0 DBMS is out. It uses past five months. Branch 0.4.6 will N 06/15/2021 create packages with new versions r SQLite as a storage engine and be maintained as part of a regular allows organizing a cluster of of Cinnamon Desktop for Debian maintenance cycle - the release of ME Server 10.0, built on the storages synchronized with each due to the fact that he stopped updates will be discontinued 9 CentOS package base and other. Features include, the ease of S using Cinnamon on his system and months or 3 months after the intended for use in the server installation, deployment and switched to KDE. Since Norbert no release of branch 0.4.7.x. Long infrastructure of small and medium- maintenance of distributed fault- longer uses Cinnamon all the time, Support Cycle (LTS) is provided for sized businesses, is out. A feature tolerant storage, something similar he cannot provide quality testing of branch 0.3.5, updates for which will of the distribution, is the presence to etcd and Consul, but using a packages under real-world be released until February 1, 2022. in the composition of pre- relational data model instead of a conditions. At the same time, Tor releases configured standard components, key / value format. The project 0.3.5.15, 0.4.4.9 and 0.4.5.9 were completely ready for use and At one time, Norbert switched code is written in the Go language announced, which fixed DoS configurable via its web interface. from GNOME3 to Cinnamon due to and is distributed under the MIT vulnerabilities that could cause These components include a spam- usability issues for advanced users license. denial of service to clients of onion filtered mail server, web server, in GNOME3. For a while, Norbert services and relays. print server, file archive, directory The Raft consensus algorithm is was happy with the combination of service, firewall, and so on. The size used to keep all nodes in sync. the conservative Cinnamon https://blog.torproject.org/node/ of the iso images are 1.5 GB and Rqlite uses the original SQLite interface with modern GNOME 2041 635 MB. The new release is notable library and go-sqlite3 driver, on top technologies, but experiments with for the upgrade to the CentOS 7 of which runs a layer that processes KDE showed that this environment package base (the previous SME client requests, replicates to other GNU NANO TEXT EDITOR better suited his needs. KDE Plasma Server 9.x branch was based on nodes, and monitors the consensus is characterized by Norbert as a 5.8: CentOS 6). reached on the choice of the lead 06/15/2021 lighter, faster, more responsive and node. customizable environment. He has https://lists.contribs.org/pipermail/ he GNU nano 5.8 console text already started building fresh KDE updatesannounce/2021-June/ https://www.philipotoole.com/ editor has been released, it is builds for Debian, prepared in the T 000477.html rqlite-6-0-0-building-for-the-future/ offered as the default editor in OBS service, and intends to soon many custom distributions whose upload packages from KDE Plasma 5.22 to the Debian Unstable branch. full circle magazine #170 9 contents ^ NEWS own apk package manager is used code to the Open Source NETWORKMANAGER 1.32.0 for package management. Alpine is Foundation. By analogy with the Norbert has expressed his RELEASED: willingness to continue maintaining used to build official Docker changes in the GCC project, Glibc 06/17/2021 existing Cinnamon 4.x packages for container images. Bootable iso proposes to make the signing of Debian 11 "Bullseye" on a leftover images (x86_64, x86, armhf, the CLA agreement with the Free stable release of the interface basis, but does not intend to aarch64, armv7, ppc64le, s390x, Software Foundation optional and is available to simplify the package Cinnamon 5 or do any mips64) are prepared in five provide developers with the A configuration of network major Cinnamon related work. To versions: standard (143 MB), with a opportunity to confirm the right to parameters - NetworkManager continue the development of kernel without patches (155 MB), transfer the code to the project 1.32.0 . Plugins to support VPN, Cinnamon packages for Debian, extended (615 MB) and for virtual using the Developer Certificate of OpenConnect, PPTP, OpenVPN and new maintainers have already been machines (45 MB). Origin (DCO) mechanism. OpenSWAN are evolving via their found - Joshua Peisach, the author own development cycles. of the Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix and The new release contains According to the DCO, author Fabio Fantoni, who is involved in the updated package versions, tracking is done by attaching a https://mail.gnome.org/archives/ development of Cinnamon, who, including HAProxy 2.4.0, KDE Apps "Signed-off-by: developer's name networkmanager-list/2021-June/ together will provide quality 21.04.2, nginx 1.20.0, njs 0.5.3 and email" line to each change. By msg00044.html support for Cinnamon packages for Node.js 14.17.0, KDE Plasma 5.22.0, attaching this signature to the Debian. PostgreSQL 13.3, Python 3.9 .5, R patch, the developer confirms his 4.1.0, QEMU 6.0.0, Zabbix 5.4.1 and authorship over the transferred CLOUDFLARE PUBLISHES https://www.preining.info/blog/ Lua 5.4.3. code and agrees to its distribution WARP FOR LINUX: 2021/06/future-of-cinnamon-in- as part of the project or as part of 06/17/2021 debian/ https://alpinelinux.org/posts/ the code under a free license. Alpine-3.14.0-released.html Unlike the actions of the GCC loudflare today announced a project, the decision was not ALPINE LINUX 3.14 C Linux variant of its WARP GLIBC DEVELOPERS released by the governing council application that combines a DNS RELEASED : from above, but was first put up for resolver using DNS 1.1.1.1, a VPN, 06/16/2021 CONSIDER STOPPING CODE discussion with all representatives and a proxy in a single application TRANSFER TO FREE of the community. to redirect traffic through the lpine Linux 3.14, a minimalistic SOFTWARE FOUNDATION: Cloudflare content delivery distribution, built on the Musl https://sourceware.org/pipermail/ A 16.06.2021 network infrastructure. To encrypt system library and BusyBox set of libc-alpha/2021-June/127581.html traffic in VPN, the WireGuard utilities was announced. The ey developers of the GNU C protocol is used in the BoringTun distribution has increased security Library (glibc) system have put implementation , written in the requirements and is built with SSP K up a proposal to end the mandatory Rust language and working entirely (Stack Smashing Protection). transfer of property rights of the in user space. OpenRC is used as init system, its full circle magazine #170 10 contents ^ NEWS Linux WARP packages are ust 1.53, founded by the The Cargo package manager is A distinctive feature of WARP is prepared for Ubuntu (16.04, 20.04), R Mozilla project, but now being being developed to distribute its tight integration with the Debian (9, 10, 11), Red Hat developed under the auspices of libraries, provide builds, and content delivery network. Enterprise Linux (7, 8) and CentOS. the independent non-profit manage project dependencies . The Cloudflare provides a content In the future, they promise to organization Rust Foundation, is crates.io repository is supported for delivery network for 25 million expand the number of supported out. The language focuses on safe hosting the libraries. Internet resources and serves distributions. The program is memory management, provides traffic for 17% of the 1000 largest designed as a console utility warp- automatic memory management, https://blog.rust-lang.org/ sites. If a resource is served on cli. To use the VPN using the and provides the means to achieve 2021/06/17/Rust-1.53.0.html Cloudflare, accessing it through Cloudflare network, in the simplest high parallelism of job execution, WARP will result in faster content case, it is enough to authenticate in while dispensing with the use of a transfer than accessing it through the network with the "warp-cli garbage collector and runtime the provider's network. register" command and the "warp- (runtime is reduced to basic cli connect" command to create a initialization and maintenance of In addition to VPN, there are tunnel for transmitting traffic from the standard library). several operating modes that allow your system. one to encrypt only DNS requests Automatic memory (enable DNS-over-HTTPS) or run https://blog.cloudflare.com/ management in Rust relieves the WARP in proxy mode, which can be announcing-warp-for-linux-and- developer from mistakes when accessed via HTTPS or SOCKS5, for proxy-mode/ manipulating pointers and protects example. You can also optionally against problems arising from low- activate filters to block access to RUST 1.53 RELEASED: level memory handling, such as resources that have detected 06/18/2021 accessing a memory area after it is malicious activity or adult content. freed, dereferencing null pointers, overrunning buffer boundaries, etc.

full circle magazine #170 11 contents ^ The VirtualBox Networking Primer Connecting and Configuring Virtual Machines

The VirtualBox Networking Primer is a no-nonsense guide for the VirtualBox user taking their next steps into virtual networks.

While Oracle VM VirtualBox is a great free tool, the real power of virtualisation comes when you start connecting virtual machines to each other and to the wider world. Software development, sales, education and training are just some of the areas in which network access to virtual machines offers endless opportunities. But the world of computer networks is filled with complex technical jargon.

Complete with principles, practice, examples and glossary, The VirtualBox Networking Primer takes the frustration and confusion out of connecting real-world projects.

Author: Robin Catling Publisher: Proactivity Press ISBN13 : 9781916119482

Amazon US link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1916119484? ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Amazon UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/VirtualBox-Networking-Primer- Connecting-Configuring/dp/1916119484/ref=sr_1_1? dchild=1&keywords=virtualbox+networking+primer&qid=16002536 99&s=books&sr=1-1

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-virtualbox-networking- primer full circle magazine #170 12 contents ^ CCOOMMMMAANNDD && CCOONNQQUUEERR LMMS Pt.6 Written by Erik LMMS Pt.6

e have taken a quick start export commands below the usual ZynAddSubFX. Just to avoid ANY W approach to using LMMS, now suspects. Importing will allow you confusion right from the start, I let’s look a little deeper. to import midi projects and would like to point out that I am hydrogen sequences. You can cheat talking about the plug-in inside Target audience is still n00bs. a bit and go to ultimate guitar tabs your instrument plug-ins, and not and see if you can get the midi file the one in the software centre. Open LMMS and you should see for the song you want to remix. So these buttons (lots of images to far, we have used all the other If you see the image shown follow). menu items in this series. If you below? You are in the wrong one. missed any of the previous entries in this series, feel free to grab a When you add ZynAddSubFX to back issue and be in the know. your song editor and you click it, you should see a familiar small So now that we have covered all window open. of these, what else is there? Well, These buttons will open and there is one very important plug-in close your working windows. It is a we have not touched. That is This issue is a “Show and Tell” good idea to visualize them as F5- article, rather than a full blown F11. F10 is the project notes, a sort tutorial, as I need you to recognize of minimal notepad, that will ship the windows – in the next issue, I with your tune. It is also the only am going to refer to them only as it one I never use. would be too many images. I will just be opening the sequence we will be using, though there are more and you should have a click around, so to speak. You can always close LMMS without saving anything – in case you get lost or you could not undo some change.

Now, if you click on “File”, you “Show GUI” is a grey button in will notice a few extra import and the middle of the ZynAddSubFX full circle magazine #170 13 contents ^ COMMAND & CONQUER window. I realize this does not look window. like a button, but push it anyway. Then please click “Edit” under Okay, this is the last image, You should get a dialogue that asks “Adsynth”. This will open yet promise. If you get stuck or have any if you are a beginner or advanced. another window. Don’t worry, it questions, please direct them to: This just affects what you see. Since may look like inception with all the The part that sets ZynAddSubFX [email protected] we are beginners, press beginner, windows open, but there is only apart from the triple oscillator is and have a look at the layout. You one more I want to show you in this here we can add up to eight voices! (Remember, your feedback is are welcome to press the advanced lesson. Think of these “voices” as the three important, if a series goes forward button, as this is where we will be parts inside the triple oscillator. or not.) working. You can swap at any time, This is basically for when you need by pressing the “misc” button at just that something ‘extra’ that the the end of the menu. If you are an triple oscillator cannot give you. We advanced user, what are you doing will do a deeper dive into how this here, go make some tunes!! So, works in the next issue, so stay please use the “misc” menu item to tuned! swap to advanced if you clicked the beginner button. The difference When editing sounds in here is “advanced” allows you to ZynAddSubFX, remember that they add up to 16 instruments per are quieter than the triple ocillator, instance of ZynAddSubFX! for some reason, so feel free to (powerful stuff indeed.) Click show voice parameters, to crank the volume. get to the final window I want you Shall we make an instrument? to go to. (Though they all look the So, let us go back a window or Good! In the advanced view, click on same, try to remember who’s who two to where you clicked “Show “Edit Instrument”. in the zoo.) voice parameters”. The window layout is a bit clunky, but each cyan block does exactly what it says. Please hover over everything and read the tool tips. Familiarize yourself with what is in front of you. Actually please feel free to Erik has been in IT for 30+ years. He click around and twist knobs, etc. has seen technology come and go. You can’t break anything. Now that From repairing washing machine sized hard drives with multimeters and you know the basic layout, please oscilloscopes, laying cable, to scaling refer to this issue if, in the next, you 3G towers, he's done it. don’t know how I got to a specific full circle magazine #170 14 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Greg Walters PPyytthhoonn IInn TThhee RREEAALL WWoorrlldd PPtt..111188

s many of you know, I work to get up to speed quickly. messed up. A fairly closely with Don Now this is where I started to Rozenberg who is the author of Now the reason I am mentioning One of the reasons that I was so kind of “choke up”. I couldn’t for PAGE. For over 10 years, he and I this is because, on today’s update excited about PtPython is that it the life of me, come up with have communicated strictly via session, he asked if I had ever used allows you to use history to dump anything to try. So, I did a simple email. Until the last 30 days or so. PtPython. I honestly said no, and an entire loop or function back into test purposefully making a Now we are enjoying Discord video he proceeded to demo it for me active code and make a quick edit mistake… chat (voice only (my choice)) and and I was immediately impressed. due to a typo. screen sharing. It makes our (Note that I’m fairly easy to >>> a = 3 >>> b = 2 communications and collaboration impress, so that’s not a big thing.) Let’s take a look at using >>> for cntr in range(a): tremendously productive. The While he was showing me what it PtPython. First, we need to install ... for cntr2 in range(b): immediate back-and-forth is can do, I grabbed my smartphone it. You can use pip to do this… ... print(f'{a} - {b}') 3 - 2 awesome, and we get a tonne of and looked it up. I decided right 3 - 2 things done, talked through, and then and there to use it as my pip install ptpython 3 - 2 most importantly, because it’s live, article for this month. 3 - 2 However, when I did this, I 3 - 2 understanding is immediate. I can’t 3 - 2 tell you how many email threads You can find the home page for received a number of dependency >>> that we’ve gone through where PtPython at https://github.com/ errors. So, I uninstalled it, one or the other of us doesn’t quite prompt-toolkit/ptpython. downloaded the repository as a zip Instead of printing the values of understand an issue without 5 or file, unpacked it and then did an cntr and cntr2, I told it to print a more emails back-and-forth. Given I have to admit that I REALLY “old-fashioned” python install from and b. To fix the error, I simply the time-zone issue, there are many hate the “normal” Python the repository folder… pressed the up arrow key. It then times that it takes 3 or 4 days to Interactive Shell or REPL. While it’s put in my entire loop. python setup.py install hash out a problem or thought. very useful many times to test code Now he can see what I’m doing and before I try to make it work in my Then I installed it again via pip I can see what he is doing. If you IDE, I find it very clumsy especially and everything seemed to work. haven’t tried Discord and the when I’m trying to prototype a screen share/voice session before, function or complex loop. More The first thing you might notice you owe it to yourself to find times than not, I’ll just work it up in is that, unlike the “normal” Python someone to try it with. It’s not the VS Code and if it doesn’t work, I’ll REPL, it doesn’t start with the most intuitive thing in the world, set a breakpoint and step through version number. That, you can find but with a bit of patience, it’s easy my code until I find where I have in the bottom right of the window. full circle magazine #170 15 contents ^ HOWTO - PYTHON I then used the left arrow and Now that I’d gotten all that differently, but I like to be >>> put_table([ ... ['Product', 'Price'], replaced the “a” with “cntr” and the done, I started thinking to myself, different. ... ['Apple', '$5.5'], “b” with “cntr2”. “Self, what else can I do to show the ... ['Banner', '$7'], goodies that ptpython has to So, to install it, simply use pip… ... ]); >>> I then pressed {enter} twice and offer?” And I answered myself, the output is as I wanted it. “Well, Self, how about showing off pip3 install pywebio And your browser window will the PyWebIO library at the same update to show… time you show off the ptpython?”. And you are ready to go. Who am I to argue with myself, right? So, here we go. Now in ptpython, do an import of the package…

PYWEBIO >>> from pywebio.output import * According to their website https://github.com/wang0618/ Now, I’m going to try to recreate PyWebIO, the terminal animation that they Those are some expensive have on their website. apples, but it gets the point across. Much better. AND MUCH easier “PyWebIO provides a series of Tables are REALLY easy. Notice than dealing with the standard >>> put_text("Hello World!"); imperative functions to obtain user that it automatically made the REPL. input and output on the browser, headers bold. When you do this, your default turning the browser into a "rich text As I got ready to do the next web browser should pop open and terminal", and can be used to build We can even, easily, put a logo section below, I remembered that show you… simple web applications or browser- onto the web page… there is autocomplete already built based GUI applications without the into ptpython. For example… need to have knowledge of HTML >>> put_image(open('FullCircleLog and JS.” o.jpg','rb').read());

I stumbled across this library while trying to keep up with the news about Python while trying to Easy enough, right? Now, let’s deal with other things. I wasn’t do something a bit fancier… really sure when I was going to be able to show it to you, but as they Just one more checkmark for used to say, “There’s no present like ptpython! the time”. Well, THEY say it

full circle magazine #170 16 contents ^ HOWTO - PYTHON You can even put interactive buttons on your web page… Until next time, as always; stay safe, healthy, positive and creative! >>> def on_click(btn): ... put_markdown("You clicked '%s' button" % btn) >>> >>> put_buttons(['A', 'B','C'], onclick=on_click); >>>

Which shows three buttons, just like we asked. When you click each, this is what it will look like…

There is so much more that can be done with these two packages, that really, your imagination is your only limitation.

This month’s article will really stress Ronnie getting everything to line up, so I think it might be a good idea that I end up. (I'd rather line up images than try and line up all those Greg Walters is a retired usual code snippets! - Ronnie) programmer living in Central Texas, USA. He has been a programmer since 1972 and in his spare time, he is an author, amateur photographer, luthier, fair musician and a pretty darn good cook. He still is the owner of RainyDaySolutions a consulting company and he spends most of his time writing articles for FCM and tutorials. His website is www.thedesignatedgeek.xyz .

full circle magazine #170 17 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Erik LLaatteexx -- PPtt..44

n our last issue, we looked at also need to remember that it is a \begin{figure} I adding some basic images to a nested command. This means that \begin{subfigure} document. Just like in sections and the new image / subfigure is \includegraphics{Figures/you} subsections, we can have sub encapsulated by a figure. What \caption{It's a U!} \label{fig:you}... images, (or tables or diagrams), does this look like? My file is named \end{subfigure} such as figure 1 followed by figure “you.png” in my “Figures” folder \end{figure} 1.1, and be able to reference that. (code shown top right). These also require the graphicx Hey! Look at you, already going ipsum dummy text. It just saves me pre-processor as well as a new one, Now build and view. What went at it like a pro! (F5) from typing it all out to subcaption. wrong? In our last bout, we added demonstrate something that is square brackets after \begin{figure} Again, you have to remember related to text. Nothing funny. See: Let us start by adding that to [p], to specify placement, but, in that if you have no text, using https://blog.chapagain.com.np/ our file from last time. Just below: subfigures, we use curly braces to textwidth or textheight will net you latex-generate-dummy-text-lorem- \usepackage{graphicx} add another specify the size. a big fat zero on a contract and your ipsum-in-your-document/ line: \usepackage{subcaption} image will not scale. Let’s see how Change that first line to: that works? As this is becoming a lot of code, Since we have told the computer clear it all up to the pre-processor which package we wish to use, we \begin{subfigure} OK, before we do that, I want to part (this is for simplicity’s sake, {0.25\textwidth} can now go ahead and use it. The introduce you to a package called nothing else). catch with this subcaption is that lipsum. All it does is create lorem Build and view. you need to specify the space you \documentclass[a4paper, twocolumn]{article} want to take up, beforehand. You \usepackage{graphicx} \usepackage{subcaption} \graphicspath{dir-list} \usepackage{lipsum} \begin{document} \section{Forword} \lipsum[1-4]

\section{Afterword} \lipsum[1-4]

\end{document}

full circle magazine #170 18 contents ^ HOWTO - LATEX So our code will look like that those “keyvals” key values. Clear it Sometimes, you don’t need all that, this: shown on the previous page, out and type a “w” and width will or your space may be limited. You bottom right. be one of the options, choose that. can specify the width and height as \begin{figure*} To make your image nestle in per issue 3 of our tutorial, last \includegraphics[width=\linew You will notice I added the perfectly, set your width to your month. Try it now. This whole series idth]{Figures/you} lipsum package and added my line width. (It should pop up in the is a hands-on affair. If you don’t do \end{figure*} dummy text. Press F5 and your IDE) it, you will not remember it by the output should look like this: time the next issue hits your inbox. Baby steps, this is not the Now compile it and look at your easiest thing to learn, but now you output. Here is mine: No seriously, I want you to try, know a little more and every bit as there is nothing as good as counts! Did you notice that I slipped understanding, because then you something else into this tutorial, don’t have to learn anything. Do without explaining it (it is self- something fun. Stretch the image explanatory). See if you can find it. vertically and have a laugh at how terrible it looks. If your image is a So now you know something rectangle, change it to a square and more about graphics and their Now we can demonstrate vice-versa. Ever wonder how those placement. Next issue we will touch figures that relate to the size of the angled warning signs are put down on other types of graphics before text. in some technical books? Wonder moving on. no more! You can specify the angle Now for your challenge: add a at which your image is presented Did I make a mistake? Do you figure after the last /lipsum. on the paper. With the keyword, have any questions? E-mail us at: Does your line match “angle”. Try angle=25 or angle=-75 [email protected] Did you manage? Great! If you mine? and see what you have created. didn’t, go back to the previous issue Again, the little modifier after and redo the lesson, practise makes \includegraphics[width=\linew \begin{figure} is valid. Do you idth]{Figures/you} perfect! remember what it was? No, read part three again. I kept the parts Well Done! At any time, hover Now, let’s wrangle our image short for just this reference your mouse over different words in down to size. How do we do that? purpose. Remember, you can add that line, if you use TeXstudio, you Erik has been in IT for 30+ years. He The dropdown in TeXstudio gives labels and captions in this layout as should see a tooltip. In the case of has seen technology come and go. you this: \includegraphics[keyvals] well. So what happens if we need From repairing washing machine sized the image file, you should see the {imagefile} our figure to span both columns? hard drives with multimeters and image. As you can see, my image oscilloscopes, laying cable, to scaling Simply add a ‘*’ after the word aligns perfectly with my column. 3G towers, he's done it. Your attention should be on figure. Then it will look like full circle magazine #170 19 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Eric Wood TTaammee YYoouurr GGRRUUBB MMeennuu

ne of the many great features background images, I got mine from feature, just run your file manager graphics mode of your screen; it O of Ubuntu is its ability to be https://newevolutiondesigns.com/ with sudo which will give you the must be one of the modes that it installed alongside other operating 75-free-hd-abstract-backgrounds. access you need. will support, otherwise it will be systems like Windows, or different You also need to make sure it is the ignored. (If you are unsure about versions of Linux. The GRUB boot correct size for your screen, I used 2. Edit (as Administrator) the file / your monitor, boot the system to menu that is displayed allows you 1366 x 768 as this is the preferred etc/default/grub, and add the the GRUB menu and then press the to pick the OS to boot from, and, resolution of my laptop. If you want following lines at the end of the "c" key quickly to get a grub > although it is certainly functional, it to use an image of your own that is file: prompt. Typing videoinfo will list all is not very aesthetically appealing. not the correct size, it can easily be the available video modes. Then GRUB_BACKGROUND="Back.png" (Note: It is not possible to capture resized with GIMP. Call this image press the ESC key to return to the the boot screen since no OS is Back.png (or some other suitable GRUB_GFXMODE="1366x768x32" boot menu and proceed). running, so I have created these name), and put it in the /boot/grub screens to look like the real thing; folder. You will need administrator If there is another 3. Open a terminal and type: however, there may be small privileges to do this, so right-click GRUB_GFXMODE command already differences). and select Open as Administrator in the file, just add a # at the sudo update-grub before you try to Paste. If your beginning of that line to comment I decided to spruce up the boot Ubuntu version does not have this it out. This last command sets the to create a new GRUB configuration screen by adding a background file that reflects this change. You image. This article describes my should see that the update finds experiences while doing so and the background image and ends chronicles the various problems I without error. Reboot! encountered and solutions that I found along the way. Well, the background certainly shows up (next page, top), but the The GRUB manual gives details font is rather small; and, on a 1920 about this procedure but there are x 1080 screen, this effect is even fundamentally 3 steps: more pronounced. The reason is simple enough: GRUB uses a 1. Get an image to use – it must be default resolution of 640 x 480 256 color non-indexed RGB, and (text mode), and employs a bitmap preferably in PNG format. There font that is appropriate for that are lots of places to download free resolution. When you change the

full circle magazine #170 20 contents ^ HOWTO - TAME YOUR GRUB MENU resolution to 1366 x 768, the pixels are smaller and so the displayed sudo update-grub font is also reduced in size. GRUB provides only one font for its use and reboot to see the effect that (you will see it as unifont.pf2 in the this has on the GRUB boot menu grub folder), so if you want (shown bottom left). something larger it is necessary to use a different font entirely that The font is Ubuntu Mono and it can be scaled appropriately. is a good size; but, the box is not drawn correctly. Fortunately GRUB provides a handy utility for just this purpose, Let’s try a different font to so we can use any monospaced font establish if the problem is the and convert it to the .pf2 format steps. Now open a Terminal and command provides a bitmap file for particular Ubuntu font that we that GRUB requires. There are lots type: GRUB to use that is bigger, and so used, or the method itself. This of fonts on your system already, so should display better. Copy the file time copy the font let’s use one. Copy the font file: grub-mkfont -s 24 -o UbuntuMono.pf2 from your UbuntuMono.pf2 UbuntuMono- /usr/share/fonts/truetype/ R.ttf Desktop into the /boot/grub/fonts dejavu/DejaVuSansMono.ttf /usr/share/fonts/truetype/ folder. Finally, edit (as Ubuntu/UbuntuMono-R.ttf The -s 24 option sets the size Administrator) the file /etc/default/ to the Desktop, and repeat the to your Desktop, so that the font is and the -o option is followed by the grub again and add the following sequence of steps above, changing conveniently located for the next name of the output file. This line at the end: file names as appropriate. Reboot and check the display (shown GRUB_FONT="/boot/grub/fonts/ UbuntuMono.pf2" below). This result is close to what we want, but the box has gaps in it Save the file, open a Terminal so there is still something that is and type: not quite right.

full circle magazine #170 21 contents ^ HOWTO - TAME YOUR GRUB MENU to the Desktop, this is the 24- utility grub-mkfont takes Truetype substitutes the question mark Let's try one last font to see point bold version of the font. The fonts (which are defined by character for the missing glyphs. what happens. This time I am going reason why I have chosen this font outlines), resizes them and converts to use a font called Terminus, will be clear in a moment; for the the original Truetype font to the On the one hand, this could be available for download from http:// time being, follow the sequence of pf2 bitmap format. Imagine that the end of the story as we have a terminus-font.sourceforge.net/. steps above, changing file names as you have a 12 x 24 grid and you nice GRUB screen which was, after Click on All files toward the bottom appropriate, to get GRUB to use draw a letter outline on the grid. all, the point of the exercise; and, of the page and download: this font and reboot to see the final Some of the pixels on the border because Terminus is available in a terminus-font-4.49.1.tar.gz product (bottom left). will be partially inside the letter variety of sizes, it is possible to pick and partly outside so the computer a size that suits your personal Extract the resulting archive Exactly what we wanted! A clear, has to decide to include or exclude tastes. And, because they are all into your Download folder and easy to read font with a properly those pixels. It does a pretty good designed from scratch rather than open the folder terminus-font-4.49 drawn box and an attractive job; but, the process does introduce being resized, they all look terrific. to see the font files contained background. This progression of some inaccuracies so you might end However, if you really would prefer inside. You will note that the folder steps and the problems that arose up with extra pixels where you another font style, there is a rather contains a number of different font are helpful in understanding what don't want them or missing pixels straightforward answer to the sizes in regular and bold weights, is going on here and making sense where you do want them. problem of fonts being distorted by which makes it a very flexible of what we have done. Firstly, grub-mkfont. The solution is to use bitmap font to use. Copy the file GRUB only understands pf2 font This is exactly the reason the a program called gbdfed to do the ter-u24b.bdf files, a special bitmap format DejaVu font displayed the box with conversion from a Truetype font to created specifically for GRUB. The gaps: the vertical box drawing an editable BDF font file. After character has missing pixels after the conversion to bitmap format. The Terminus font, designed by Dimitar Zhekov, is a bitmap font to start with (BDF format) and the one we used was already 24 pixels in size so grub-mkfont does not need to resize it or convert it to bitmap format. Consequently, it passed through the conversion process without any distortions and the final result is perfect. The Ubuntu font is a different story. The font as installed does not have characters for drawing a thick box so it full circle magazine #170 22 contents ^ HOWTO - TAME YOUR GRUB MENU fixing any problems introduced by need to be removed. You might menu had gaps in it. All that is the conversion to bitmap format, As you see, the program does a also choose to remove 2 pixels on required is to fill in the missing grub-mkfont can be used on this pretty good job, but I like to the base line so it is balanced. pixels so that the characters reach tweaked BDF font to produce a pf2 double-click on the zero character When the letter is to your liking, all the way to the edge(s) of the font that works as it should. You and just page through each select File Update so that your bounding box. The red squares can install gbdfed with Synaptic, character, upper and lower case, changes will be written to the font show where pixels need to be through the Software Center or using the arrows at the top right of file. When you are satisfied, select added. Similarly, the corners need using apt-get, whichever you the window to see if anything File Save As, and save the file on to be adjusted so that they reach prefer. You can create a launcher on untoward appears to your eye. You your Desktop with a BDF extension. both horizontal and vertical the Desktop or press Alt-F2 to run it will likely find the odd extra pixel or Personal taste is the final judge; if boundaries.Repeat the process for if it does not appear in your menu unbalanced character that can be you like it, it’s correct. the other 3 characters. Once all 6 or dash. fixed by adding a pixel or two. For characters have been adjusted, save example, a number of the capital the file again and you now have a If you select File > Import > letters appear to have one side of "repaired" bitmap font that can be OpenType Font and then navigate the letter thicker than the other (E, converted with grub-mkfont for use to /usr/share/fonts/truetype/ H, P, and U) , and the lowercase "i" with GRUB. dejavu/DejaVuSansMono.ttf, and seems thicker than the other select this file, the font will be characters. Double clicking on it will converted into bitmap format as it open an editing window where you is imported. Choose 24 as the point can left-click to add pixels and right- size and 72 as the horizontal and click to remove them. In this case vertical resolution. the red area shows the pixels that

Now it's time to fix the box- drawing characters. Type 74 in the Page box or 2500 in the Code box and press enter. You will see that, The problem with the Ubuntu as well as the four corners, are Font was that the characters for designated 2501, 2503, 250F, 2513, the bounding box were missing 2517 and 251B. entirely so if you wanted to use this font you would need to draw your Each of these characters has own characters in the appropriate missing pixels which is why the box character boxes. Not difficult, just that was drawn on the GRUB boot make sure that everything lines up full circle magazine #170 23 contents ^ HOWTO - TAME YOUR GRUB MENU with the corners and the horizontal image visible behind it; and, black resolution screens. They contain and vertical bars. In addition, the Since we have come this far, it is text with a light gray background only the Latin alphabet and other characters for up (2191) and down worth looking at how to modify the for the highlighted entry. You can characters as noted above, which is (2193) arrows are often missing so colors of the text. There are many see that the colors are given as all that GRUB requires, so the files these might need to be added also. ways of doing this, but, in my view, foreground (text)/background, but, are extremely small. If you are the easiest is to create a small text if black is used as a background interested, drop me an email and I file in the /boot/grub folder from color, it actually means a will send you the set of 4 fonts, in which GRUB can read your color transparent background so you can pf2 format, so no conversion is choices. Type the following lines still see your image. Finally, there is required to use them in GRUB. into this file: no need to update grub after creating or modifying this file as it As is often the case in set color_normal="yellow/ will get picked up automatically on computing, trying to do one simple black" boot. thing often leads you to learn set menu_color_normal="white/ about other things that you had no black" For those of you who prefer a idea about. This is a case in point, set “works right out of the box but a successful outcome is always menu_color_highlight="black/ experience”, I have prepared a its own reward. light-gray" package of fonts of different sizes (GrubFont24.pf2 and and save it as custom.cfg. The GrubFont28.pf2), and enhanced available colors are: line-spacing (GrubFont24s.pf2 and green cyan GrubFont28s.pf2). Although they red are optimal for 1366x768 (24 px magenta size) and 1920×1080 (28 px size) brown light-gray screen resolutions, they will work dark-gray well with resolutions on either side light-blue light-green of these benchmarks. They were light-cyan created by modifying freely light-red distributable fonts from GNU light-magenta yellow Intlfonts, with the addition of the white box drawing characters, up and down arrows, and correct single This scheme will produce yellow quotation marks. The 28 px font text outside of the menu box with was resized from a smaller 7×14 your image visible behind it; white font, and then hand smoothed to text inside the menu box with the produce a very crisp display on high full circle magazine #170 24 contents ^ full circle magazine #170 25 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Mark Crutch IInnkkssccaappee -- PPaarrtt 111100

’m starting to think that the This dialog has seen some Each mode then offers different had to say about this dialog in part I Inkscape developers have substantial changes in the layout of approaches to tracing, as a set of 19: “This is one dialog in Inkscape deliberately synchronised their its options, partly to avoid some radio buttons that actually that could really do with a little UI calendar with the Full Circle confusion that could easily happen encompasses both parts of the love. It's cramped, unintuitive, Magazine article deadlines to with the previous UI, and partly to dialog. The result is that only a contains typos, and the spinboxes ensure that they announce new integrate some tracing modes, one single tracing method can be don't have the nice context pop-ups releases just a few days after I’ve of which I’ll describe later in this selected at a time, even if the of most similar controls in submitted this column, leaving the article, with the others being held design of the dialog makes it Inkscape.” Although the spinboxes News pages to break the story. As over until next month. Let’s deal initially appear as though each still don’t have any context- you may have noticed in last with the placement of the long- mode can have a different method sensitive pop-ups, I’m pleased to month’s issue, Inkscape 1.1 has standing features first of all, by selected. say that all my other concerns have been released, and is now available taking a look at how the dialog finally been addressed, with this for download from the Inkscape appeared when I first introduced Within each mode area there much cleaner dialog in 1.0. website. For Linux users there are this feature, back in part 19 of this are also various other parameters versions in AppImage and snap series: that affect the tracing algorithm. format, as well as an official PPA The layout makes it somewhat repository, which may be unclear whether these parameters preferable to Ubuntu users in all apply to every tracing method, particular. or whether some are tied to particular algorithms (answer: it’s The 1.1 release does bring a few the latter). Finally there are options welcome additions; however, I’m that affect all methods and modes, still working my way through the in the “Options” tab, plus a lone changes introduced with 1.0.x in “SIOX foreground selection” option this column, so the very latest that I described in part 20 of this changes will have to wait. This Here we can see the mis-titled series, but which I summarised with month will be all about the “Move” tab (later versions “you would be better off I will start with a small improved UI in the Trace Bitmap corrected this to “Mode”), showing separating out the foreground complaint. It’s a general Inkscape dialog. the two main operating modes, using The GIMP (which has its own, issue, but is particularly obvious in “Single scan” and “Multiple more interactive, implementation this dialog. As I prefer floating TRACE BITMAP DIALOG scana” (which was probably of the SIOX algorithm) and then dialogs in windows over docked intended to be “Multiple scans”). tracing the result.”, here’s what I dialogs at the side of the canvas, I

full circle magazine #170 26 contents ^ HOWTO - INKSCAPE often have several windows, each pop-up, avoiding any confusion blurry appearance, as intermediate of which contains only a single about which fields apply to which colors are used for the new pixels dialog inside it – as in this image. In methods. that need to be created, losing any that situation, I think it would be crisp transitions that are an nicer for Inkscape to collapse the Finally, the global parameters essential part of the design. The tab bar down to a smaller “grab that formerly lived in the “Options” Pixel Art tracer attempts to handle” that could be used to re- tab have been moved to a common produce vector elements that will dock the dialog, rather than section at the bottom of this dialog, reproduce the original image, but showing a lone tab in a bar that making them far more obvious. This which can be scaled without stretches across the whole dialog, move also makes it clear that these introducing a blurred or softened wasting quite a bit of space. The options apply to the “Trace bitmap” result. How effective it is at this will window title already tells me this is modes, but not to the “Pixel art” depend largely on the source the Trace Bitmap dialog; I don’t mode, which has its own tab In 1.0, the UI is essentially image, and the result you’re looking think I need that information on a entirely. unchanged, save for an additional for. tab as well. And with this particular checkbox labelled “Optimise”. But dialog, the first tab within the Aside from the UI changes, the it’s now accessed via the “Pixel art” As an example, I decided to dialog also bears the same name, operation of this part of the dialog tab of the Trace Bitmap dialog, trace the 16px × 16px image used making the dialog tab seem doubly remains unchanged from previous rather than being a wholly separate as a “favicon” on the Full Circle redundant, and potentially versions – apart from the addition dialog of its own. This means it also Magazine website. It’s a tiny confusing. of some new tracing modes that I shares the image preview pane of representation of the orange circle will look at next month. For details the Trace Bitmap dialog, although with white swirls that forms the Moving on to the real content of on how to use the older modes, it’s largely useless here, showing logo of this magazine. Let’s see the dialog, you can see that the therefore, parts 19 and 20 of this only a black-and-white picture what the preview pane in the dialog tabs along the top have been series still apply. which bears little resemblance to makes of it. completely replaced. The old the traced image you’ll probably “Mode” tab is now “Trace bitmap”, TRACE PIXEL ART end up with. and within that section are two large buttons for switching The “Pixel art” mode isn’t As the name suggests, this between the Single scan and actually a new thing – it first mode is intended for tracing pixel- Multiple scans modes. Gone are the appeared in version 0.91 – but I based graphics, such as icons, radio buttons for selecting the haven’t covered it in this series emojis, or other small bitmap tracing method, replaced instead before. Back in the 0.9x days, it had images. When scaling up a small with a single pop-up which greatly its own dialog, opened via an entry image, you will often find that the reduces the visual clutter. The in the Path menu. interpolation algorithms that are parameters below change commonly used can result in a according to the selection in this full circle magazine #170 27 contents ^ HOWTO - INKSCAPE (Voronoi), or which may include square favicon is at the top-left. To The lower part of the image The various spinboxes in the curves (B-splines). When tracing the right of it you can see how it shows the result of the tracing Heuristics section are a mystery to very small images, this is a matter looks when scaled directly in algorithm, with the B-spline me. They each have tooltips… of personal taste. With larger Inkscape – first using the “optimize versions on the left, and the which do nothing to clarify their images – even those of only a few for quality” mode, and secondly Voronoi versions on the right. In purpose. They refer to parameters hundred pixels – the Voronoi with the “optimize for speed” mode each case, there’s a column in the tracing algorithm, but the output can take a lot longer, and (remember, the selected mode can showing the results when the original research paper that is may not produce the result you be changed in the Object parameters are left at their linked from the Inkscape 0.91 expect. Properties dialog). In both cases, defaults, and one showing the release notes is no longer available, however, the end result is still a results when all the parameters are nor have I been able to find it Let’s look at the result of playing bitmap image, so its individual parts set to their maximum values. The elsewhere. When faced with this with some of these options. In this can’t be manipulated as vectors. bottom row shows the result of situation, I resort to a tried-and- screenshot, the original 16px enabling the Optimize checkbox. In trusted technique to try to work most cases I suspect that creating out what effect they have: I first an un-optimized B-spline using the traced images using the defaults, default values will be good enough. then I cranked the values up to their maximum levels (10, 20, 8 and The close similarity between all 10), and traced the same images. the results may simply be because The results, in every case that I my choice of test images doesn’t tried, were so close as to be really do justice to the algorithm, irrelevant. but it was actually rather difficult to find genuinely small pixel images. The “optimize” checkbox at least Many examples of “pixel art” that has an understandable tooltip. It you might find online have the claims that enabling it will try to appearance of being pixellated, optimize paths by joining adjacent while actually being made up of a Bézier curve segments. With my much larger collection of pixels. For test images, however, it served to example, here’s one I tried from only cut off the corners of some Wikimedia Commons: paths, resulting in holes within the design.

In the Output section, you can decide between producing shapes that have entirely straight edges full circle magazine #170 28 contents ^ HOWTO - INKSCAPE source material is more than about A count of the obvious “pixels” The top-left shows shapes from 48px in either dimension, you in the computer image on the left the B-spline tracing. The black probably need to consider scaling it suggests that part is only 31px pixels that form a diagonal edge in down in a bitmap editor before wide. Except that it’s actually 248 the original image have been throwing it at this algorithm. pixels, with each apparent pixel in turned into a single path, with far the image actually consisting of an more nodes than necessary, as a As great as it is to have 8×8 square of pixels. Nevertheless, result of the 8×8 pixel blocks. The advanced algorithms in Inkscape, we should be able to trace that resultant trace consists of a group what I would really like to see in with Inkscape, right? Here’s the of 69 individual objects, each of terms of tracing pixel art is a mode original image on the left, followed them an overly defined path. that simply takes each individual by B-spline and Voronoi versions pixel and converts it to an Inkscape after tracing. The Voronoi mode fares even square, with an option to merge worse. Here the individual pixels of adjacent squares of the same color the 8×8 blocks have been converted into a path. You can kind-of achieve into separate paths, resulting in a this with the Tiled Clones dialog, if group of 63,000 objects! That’s you know what you’re doing, but quite a result from what was clearly adding that as an option to the designed as a 32px × 32px icon Trace Bitmap dialog would likely (1,024 pixels in total). It also cover most people’s pixel tracing explains why it looks faint: the large requirements, without the need for In both cases, the tracing took a number of closely spaced objects opaque parameters and complex lot longer than with the favicon, plays havoc with Inkscape’s anti- results. with the Voronoi version taking the aliasing algorithm, as it tries to longest by a clear margin. And why resolve the individual edges of the does it look so faint? A close-up shapes. view of the result, with some paths selected, shows us a bit more of Trying to convert something as what’s happening. small as an icon into a vector graphic will always be a trade-off that will work better for some Mark uses Inkscape to create three images than others. The lesson webcomics, 'The Greys', 'Monsters, from this is that the pixel art mode Inked' and 'Elvie', which can all be is not really designed for “pixel- found at http://www.peppertop.com/ style art”, but specifically for very low resolution pixel images. If your full circle magazine #170 29 contents ^ full circle magazine #170 30 contents ^ EEVVEERRYYDDAAYY UUBBUUNNTTUU Written by Richard Adams BBiibblleeTTiimmee:: PPtt33

or the last two months, we FUNCTIONALITY next to French. Double-click the Bible translation we set earlier in F installed BibleTime, book icon that says FrePilgrim, and Configuration (see Everyday downloaded a set of books to use One of the valuable functions the book will open in the right-hand Ubuntu in Full Circle Magazine issue in it, and configured the we have for Bible study in reading pane (bottom left) #169, page 50). Even though we application’s preferences. We also BibleTime is the ability to do cross- pulled up the book in French, the began looking at the basic referencing by use of hyperlinks. Now, let’s click the hyperlink in application does as should be functionality. This month, we’ll Just for fun, let’s open the book blue for Luc 14:33 (bottom right). expected and pulls up the link in wrap up by looking at more of the Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, our preferred translation, which in basic functionality. but in French (Hi, Elizabeth!), by As you can see, in the lower left this case is in English (New English clicking the arrow next to Books in pane, called the Mag Viewer, the Translation, to be specific). BIBLETIME AND HYPERLINK the left-hand pane, then the arrow passage will come up in the default

full circle magazine #170 31 contents ^ EVERYDAY UBUNTU OTHER BOOK TYPES: MAPS So, as you see, we get a daily devotionals, and many other beautiful color map of the Egyptian works available to aid you in your AND TLASES A Empire as of 1450 BC. Bible studies. You can build quite an impressive library of books that are Now, back to the BibleTime free to download. Just double-click main interface screen. OTHER BOOK TYPES: MORE them and read away! TO SEE Let’s click the arrow next to Maps and Images, then English in In the left-hand selection pane, the left-hand navigation pane. Now, you will also see lists of many other Richard 'Flash' Adams spent about double-click on Smith’s Bible Atlas types of books and material 20 years in corporate IT. He lives in (bottom left). according to what you have rural northwest Georgia, USA, with installed. There are Bibles, lexicons, his adopted 'son', a cockatiel named Now, let’s scroll down to Baby who now has a little brother, a dictionaries, glossaries, theological dusky-headed conure named Skittles. Egyptian Empire, 1450 BC, and click books, Christian fiction like the Feedback welcome at: (bottom right). aforementioned Pilgrim’s Progress, [email protected]

full circle magazine #170 32 contents ^ MMIICCRROO TTHHIISS MMIICCRROO TTHHAATT Written by Greg W. Walters PPtt..44

want to apologize if this month’s for pre-order at this point. It’s still of the board is a bit steep, about For the Generic board, you can I article seems a bit dis-jointed. I’ve unclear when the board will start $21 USD. If the cost is too high for get the pinout at https:// been having multiple medical issues shipping. your budget, you can find a similar circuits4you.com/2018/12/31/ the last few weeks, and I REALLY generic board with the Wroom WiFi esp32-devkit-esp32-wroom-gpio- wanted to get this article out to Finally, there is really big news chip on the web. I found an Aokin pinout/, as well as other places. For you. from Adafruit. I’ll quote the ESP32 Development board from the Sparkfun Thing Plus, see the headline from Tom’s Hardware Amazon in a three-pack for just link at the top of this article. Last month, I told you that we site…”CircuitPython Libraries under $17 USD. The pinout and will be looking at the SparkFun Slither Into MicroPython on the form factor between the two are Both boards support 2.4 Ghz Thing Plus ESP-32 WROOM (https:// Raspberry Pi Pico”. That’s right. This different, but the same WiFi and Bluetooth as well as www.sparkfun.com/products/ is a big thing for the RPi Pico, since MicroPython firmware works on capacitive touch sensors, Hall 15663) and we will. However, I do eventually the entire CircuitPython both. Just be sure to find a pinout sensor (magnetic sensor) and other want to bring some news of the library should be available to for whichever board you choose. In things. RP2040 world and the Raspberry Pi MicroPython users. Currently, there addition, the generic ESP32 Pico first. are many drivers that don’t work, Development board might not fit Below is the pinout for the but it’s early days yet. properly on your breadboard. Sparkfun Thing Plus 32 WROOM… Arduino has finally released Congratulations to Adafruit for their Nano RP2040 Connect which making this move! You can find costs about $26 USD. It supports more about it at https:// Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython- Low-Energy (v4.2), a built-in libraries-on-micropython-using-the- microphone for sound or voice raspberry-pi-pico . activation, an RGB LED, and a six- axis motion sensor. SPARKFUN THING PLUS 32 Seeed Studio has released the WROOM Wio RP2040 mini development board which includes 2.4 GHz On to the real subject of my 802.11b/g/n WiFi 4 supporting AP & article for this month. The SparkFun station modes, but no Bluetooth Thing Plus 32 Wroom is an support. The estimated price will be awesome little microcontroller and about $13 USD and is available only easily runs MicroPython. The price full circle magazine #170 33 contents ^ MICRO THIS MICRO THAT

lowvalue = 1000 while True: touchvalue = touch7.read() # print(touchvalue) if touchvalue < lowvalue: lowvalue=touchvalue print('LowValue = {0}'.format(lowvalue)) utime.sleep_ms(100)

the touch pad actually floats between 700 and 600. Then we LowValue = 677 LowValue = 671 start a “forever loop”. We’ll read LowValue = 667 the value of the touch pin and LowValue = 658 LowValue = 616 compare that with the last LowValue = 456 recorded lowvalue figure. If the LowValue = 390 current touchvalue is lower than LowValue = 347 LowValue = 227 the last lowvalue, we set lowvalue LowValue = 128 Above is the ESP32 Generic Dev pinout diagram for your board. to the touchvalue. We also print the LowValue = 107 lowvalue at this point. Finally we LowValue = 100 board… When you specify the pin number, LowValue = 94 be sure to use the GPIO pin number, sleep for 100 milliseconds and loop LowValue = 92 again. We can use the {Stop} button LowValue = 88 Now, let’s get into our projects not the touch number or the LowValue = 87 for this month... physical pin. In this case, we will in Thonny to quit the program. simply use a male-to-male jumper Now (below), we can modify the connected to GPIO pin #27 as our Here is what the printout looks PROJECT PROGRAM #1 - like. It takes about 1 ½ to 2 seconds program a little bit to allow the input “pad” denoted as Touch7. The program to self terminate… TOUCHPAD import and setup will be as to get to the lowest value. follows... Both the SparkFun Thing Plus import machine and the generic ESP32 import machine import utime development board come with touch7 = machine.TouchPad(machine.Pin(27)) import utime lowvalue = 1000 multiple touchpad sensor inputs. loopit = True For the Thing Plus, there are 8 that touch7 = while loopit: are broken out to the external pins. machine.TouchPad(machine.Pin( touchvalue = touch7.read() 27)) if touchvalue < lowvalue: For the Generic that I am using, lowvalue=touchvalue there are 9 broken out and one that print('LowValue = {0}'.format(lowvalue)) Now (top right), we’ll create a is set to GPIO 0. Just which pins are if lowvalue < 90: variable called lowvalue and loopit = False which input, will be shown on the initialize it to 1000. When running, utime.sleep_ms(100) full circle magazine #170 34 contents ^ MICRO THIS MICRO THAT Notice that we haven’t changed it that much. We just added an passwd = def do_connect(): 'YourNetworkPassword' wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF) assignment to a variable called wlan.active(True) loopit, changed the while if not wlan.isconnected(): Now (top right) we’ll create the statement to “while loopit:” instead print('connecting to network...') function to do the actual wlan.connect(essid, password) of “while True:”, and then check to communications with the router while not wlan.isconnected(): see if the lowvalue is less than 90 as pass (essid). We set the network object a “trigger”. If it is, then we set the print('network config:', wlan.ifconfig()) (wlan) to station mode, which is like do_connect() loopit value to False to make the a “normal” computer on the loop fail. network. You could also set it up as touchpad and button display an access point. Next, we set the program. Below is what it looks like This project uses the PicoWeb I have to hold and gently network object to active and then when it’s running… library which can be found at squeeze the male jumper to get the try to connect. Once we have https://github.com/pfalcon/ value to go low enough to trigger connected, we print out the The entire project is described in picoweb. the exit. network information (ip address, detail at: https://itywik.org/ etc). The final line calls the 2018/10/30/eight-micropython- Of course you need to add PROJECT PROGRAM #2 - connection function. python-experiments-for-the- Picoweb and the dependencies. You can try to follow the instructions in NETWORK PROGRAMMING esp32/. As I said, this is a very simple This is a simple example of how example that really does nothing to connect to your local router. All other than connect to the local it really does is to connect to the router and return an IP address. router with your password, obtain Using sockets will be covered in a an IP address, and print it. We’ll future article. cover a more complete example in a future article. PROJECT PROGRAM #3 - WEB SERVER AND DHT- First, we need to import the network library and set up the essid 11/22 and password. Be sure to change these to your real values. Our final project for this month involves using the ESP32/Sparkfun import network 32 Thing Plus as a web server as well as DHT-11/22 Temperature/ essid = 'YourNetworkRouter' Humidity sensor reader, and a

full circle magazine #170 35 contents ^ MICRO THIS MICRO THAT the link for the project itself, or you I saved the main code to a file if t7 < 200: color: #999; can use upip within the Thonny named ESP32-DHT-Touch- } REPL. You will need to install Picoweb.py Line 70 was changed to: micropython-pkg_resources, If t8 < 200: Which worked much better, at ulogging, uasyncio and picoweb. Lines 18, 19 and 20 define the least for me. You can make this And line 78 was changed to: change if you wish. You will need to do an import upip pins for the LEDs. I decided to use If t9 < 200: at the REPL command line to be only the onboard LED on the ESP32 able to use it. Dev board which is on pin 2. I My code can be found on my Lines 87, 89 and 90 (my code) github repository at https:// changed line 18 to: reference the DHT11 sensor. Since import upip r_led = machine.Pin(2, github.com/gregwa1953/ machine.Pin.OUT) I’m using a DHT22, I had to change FCM170_MicroThisAndThat The upip.install('micropython- the three instances from DHT11 to pkg_resources') webserver project code on the And I left lines 19 and 20 the DHT22. repository has my changes in it. upip.install('micropython- same. ulogging') d = dht.DHT22(machine.Pin(23)) Next time, we’ll take a look at upip.install('micropython- Line 33 (in my code) needs to be NeoPixel devices and how to uasyncio') modified to support your network. dht22_timer = program them using the ESP-32 and sta_if.connect('YourNetworkES machine.Timer(0) upip.install('picoweb') SID', 'YourPasswordHere') the RPI Pico. dht22_timer.init(period=1000, mode=machine.Timer.PERIODIC, You can find out more about Line 58 defines the callback for callback=timerIntHandler_temp Until then, as always; stay safe, upip at: https:// the touchpad timer interrupt erature) healthy, positive and creative! docs.micropython.org/en/latest/ handler. I modified lines 62, 70 and reference/packages.html 78. They each are an if statement Also, in the index.html file I testing the touchpad.read() value made a change to make the There is the code, diagrams and to be less than 100. Since I’m just temperature and humidity display step-by-step projects leading up to using just wires, not true copper text smaller. Around line 45, you Greg Walters is a retired the full webserver project. The pads, the earlier tests showed that I will find the code: programmer living in Central Texas, code for the webserver project is can achieve a value of under 100, USA. He has been a programmer .table-value { since 1972 and in his spare time, he is pretty long and includes both the but it takes a number of seconds for font-size: 160px; an author, amateur photographer, python file and the index.html file it to get that low. So, I changed the color: #999; luthier, fair musician and a pretty that displays the web information. I test value to less than 200 for all } darn good cook. He still is the owner won’t duplicate it here, but I will three values. It still takes around 2 of RainyDaySolutions a consulting I found that the font size was company and he spends most of his point out a few changes that I had ½ seconds to 3 seconds and a fairly time writing articles for FCM and way too big for me. I changed it to: to make to get the project to work tight squeeze to get it to trigger, tutorials. His website is the way that I wanted it to. but it does. So line 62 was changed www.thedesignatedgeek.xyz . .table-value { to: font-size: 60px; full circle magazine #170 36 contents ^ full circle magazine #170 37 contents ^ UUBBPPOORRTTSS DDEEVVIICCEESS Written by UBports Team

full circle magazine #170 38 contents ^ full circle magazine #170 39 contents ^ MMYY OOPPIINNIIOONN Written by Wil Lake BBoooottiinngg UUbbuunnttuu

Can a desktop user follow the Q Ubuntu 20.04 boot process While writing these notes, I through to Log In? wanted to check the above ‘Hosted by ….’ timing when the WiFi was he reason I posed the above working correctly but, T question was due to a speed unfortunately, ‘speedtest-cli’ which problem with both WiFi & is written in Python, is now not Bluetooth. The problem showed up working and gives runtime errors. when opening a web page, but would then time out, whereas the Also from the web, use ‘lspci -v’ transfer of a file using Bluetooth to find the WiFi / Bluetooth device would state that a small file would and driver being used, i.e. take over ten minutes or more to Qualcomm QCA9377 Adapter and driver?? [email protected] with load. ath10k_pci driver (bottom right). any comments, corrections, or So can we use the boot process observations; your help is After looking on the web, I But, looking under ‘Settings / to find where the driver for the appreciated, as I am unable to find found that I could use ‘speedtest- About / Software Updates / Network Adapter gets loaded? a definitive explanation. cli’ to check the network speed. It Additional Drivers’ (see top right), can be seen that the download the QCA9377 Adapter we are told is BOOTING UBUNTU I wanted to try and understand speed is non-existent (below). using the ‘Disable WiFi ASPM L0s’ the boot process, and find any files The following is my that link through from power up, to understanding of what happens a prompt for me to log in. There when a computer starts Ubuntu. have been many hours reading Please email books, and looking on many, many

full circle magazine #170 40 contents ^ MY OPINION web pages to get the information self-test of direct memory access GRUB2, and ‘GRUB Legacy’ for the We need an understanding of listed below. and other hardware, initializing it to original GRUB. The main difference where Linux (as we call it) comes a known operational, working state, is that GRUB Legacy was used with from, so that we can understand There are a number of distinct i.e. the power supply, memory, cpu, BIOS, whereas GRUB (GRUB2) is why Ubuntu uses the above steps in steps before an operating system etc. designed to work with EFI. the way it does. asks you to log in to a username. The main steps for computers The order that the computer Linux Kernel is at the heart of It was both Richard M Stallman before 2011 are: looks for a boot loader can be every Linux system, and is made up & Linus Torvalds who originally • Power On Self Test (POST) adjusted using the BIOS, e.g. CD- of kernel drivers, many of which started GNU/Linux. All systems that • Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) ROM, USB, Hard Disk, etc. The main come in the form of Kernel Modules we call Linux today are, in fact, built • Master Boot Record (MBR) use of the original BIOS was to read which handle the hardware in Linux. on the work of this collaboration. • GRand Unified Bootloader the MBR (Master Boot Record) Linux is a Unix-like operating (GRUB{this has three sub-stages}, which pointed to the one and only Initial (or the initialization system that conforms closely to GRUB2) operating system stored in the boot process) starts all the programs conventions & standards associated • Linux Kernel sector. based on the desired features that with Unix, but does not contain any • Initial (init) the user wants to run in the Linux of the original Unix code. • Runlevel Programs... Computer manufacturers’ EFI system. For example, on a laptop (firmware interface) varies greatly computer, the Linux system does Unix and GNU/Linux use In 2011 the combined BIOS + but is more complex than the older not need to start a web server runlevels, which are numbered MBR was updated, and now uses BIOS. Instead of relying on code in service, and a Linux server used by a from zero to 6, and S is sometimes EFI or Unified EFI, so the main steps the boot sector on the hard disk, company does not need to start a used as a synonym for one of the are: EFI relies on boot loaders stored as graphical desktop environment. levels. Folder ‘etc/’ (in Ubuntu • Power On Self Test (POST) files in a disk partition known as the 20.04) has sub-folders of rc0.d to • Extensible Firmware Interface EFI System Partition (ESP). Thus EFI Runlevel Programs. The rc6.d, as well as rcS.d – which look (EFI) or Unified EFI (UEFI) manages the storage of separate initialization process determines like runlevels. • GRand Unified Bootloader boot loaders for each OS that you what services to start based on the (GRUB{this has three sub-stages}, install on the computer, e.g. runlevel of the system. There are Ubuntu is what is called a GRUB2) Ubuntu, Mint, Windows, etc. seven levels numbered 0 to 6, and distribution of GNU/Linux – a distro • Linux Kernel each one is assigned a set of for short. There are many Linux • Initial (systemd).. GRUB is the program which services that should be active for distros, Mint, SUSE, Fedora Red Hat, makes the computer smart enough that runlevel. etc, including Ubuntu, that all use The first steps are the same for to find the operating system kernel the Linux Kernel but then build any computer and are hardware and start loading it into memory. BACKGROUND OF GNU/ their own user interface and other specific. The original GRUB has been software on top. superseded by GRUB2, but most LINUX POST, as the name implies, is a systems use the name of ‘GRUB’ for full circle magazine #170 41 contents ^ MY OPINION UBUNTU 20.04 As mentioned above, the Linux Kernel is at the heart of all the The computer used to view the distros. boot process was a Dell Inspiron 3000 model 3581, with a disk The part of the grub.cfg file partitioned into three - i.e. dev/ shown top right can be seen to set could find there was the ‘initrd’ ram sda1, dev/sda2 and dev/sda3. root to ‘hd0,gpt3’ which points to partition dev/sba3. The grub.cfg file This is where I get confused, as file and the ‘insmod’ tool. So I do the earlier Ubuntu distros have not know how ‘systemd’ gets The grand unified boot loader also uses ‘initrd’ which is an initial used ‘init’, ‘SystemV’ and ‘run levels’ started. It may be that the last that Ubuntu 20.04 uses is GRUB RAM disk bound to the kernel and to load other files, drivers, etc, to thing that the kernel does is to (GRUB2, not GRUB Legacy). Linux loaded as part of the kernel boot get to a usable operating system. start ‘systemd’, but I can not find uses GRUB to enable the user to procedure. The ‘initrd’ contains a As mentioned earlier, Ubuntu 20.04 anywhere to confirm this. boot different operating systems minimum set of directories & exe’s has sub-folders that look just like on the one computer system, albeit to get to the real root file system the ‘run levels’. ‘systemd’ uses ‘target’ files at different times. including the ‘insmod’ tool which installs kernel modules into the which are the Linux current or We are told that Ubuntu 20.04 desired run state, and they define The GRUB file that the computer kernel. uses ‘systemd’. ‘systemd’ looks in the services that must be present, runs is named grub.cfg, and is in the the etc/systemd/system folder for running and active for the system directory folder /boot/grub/ There is also ‘vmlinuz-5...’ which the default.target file. When you to run in that desired state. A grub.cfg. The contents of the is the statically linked executable find this file, it’s only a link to the desired state could be the grub.cfg file are automatically file that contains the Linux kernel, file lib/systemd/system/ ‘rescue.target’, just a basic system, generated by ‘grub-mkconfig’ using and gets loaded from the GRUB file. graphical.target. or the ‘graphical.target’ which has templates from /etc/grub.d and This can be checked by opening a all services running with a graphical settings from /etc/default/grub. terminal window and running ‘uname -srm’ and ‘hostnamectl I was hoping to see ‘systemd’ user interface. status’ (shown bottom right). being called from GRUB, but all I

full circle magazine #170 42 contents ^ MY OPINION The diagram bottom left is a Ubuntu 20.04 boot process through Ubuntu test procedure web pages copy from the boot man page, and to Log In?” were used to record test results in shows the general sequence of preparation of another discussion events during the systemd startup. For this user the answer would with Dell. No files were changed, be a resounding “NO”. but for no reason I can find, the (near the heading Network File system just started working at full System in the list) and find a The amount of files that are capacity again. reference to either of the WiFi loaded, points towards backwards network drivers that we have found compatibility to earlier GNU/Linux earlier? (see bottom right). boot-up procedures. Wil Lake is a retired time served mechanical engineer who retrained as an IT engineer when Opening the files only shows As the laptop was still in Microprocessors entered the that the contents of these files warranty, Dell was approached a mainstream. He has worked in the IT point to more general target files. number of times for technical industry for over 30 years and lives in advice as to why the WiFI was the Cotswolds, England, UK and has spent years renovating a cowshed. running slow, but I was told that as SUMMING UP the operating system was Ubuntu they could not help. The question we posed was “Can a desktop user follow the During investigations of why the WiFi & Bluetooth was so slow, Dell’s

full circle magazine #170 43 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker WWrriittee FFoorr FFuullll CCiirrccllee MMaaggaazziinnee

GUIDELINES • Images should be JPG, no wider REVIEWS than 800 pixels, and use low he single rule for an article is compression. T that it must somehow be GAMES/APPLICATIONS linked to Ubuntu or one of the • Do not use tables or any type of When reviewing games/applications please state clearly: many derivatives of Ubuntu bold or italic formatting. (Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, etc). • title of the game • who makes the game If you are writing a review, • is it free, or a paid download? ULES R please follow these guidelines : • where to get it from (give download/homepage URL) • is it Linux native, or did you use Wine? • There is no word limit for articles, • your marks out of five but be advised that long articles When you are ready to submit • a summary with positive and negative points may be split across several issues. your article please email it to: [email protected] • For advice, please refer to the HARDWARE Official Full Circle Style Guide: When reviewing hardware please state clearly: http://bit.ly/fcmwriting TRANSLATIONS • make and model of the hardware • Write your article in whichever If you would like to translate Full • what category would you put this hardware into? software you choose, I would Circle into your native language • any glitches that you may have had while using the hardware? recommend LibreOffice, but most please send an email to • easy to get the hardware working in Linux? importantly - PLEASE SPELL AND [email protected] and • did you have to use Windows drivers? GRAMMAR CHECK IT! we will either put you in touch with • marks out of five an existing team, or give you access • a summary with positive and negative points • In your article, please indicate to the raw text to translate from. where you would like a particular With a completed PDF, you will be image to be placed by indicating able to upload your file to the main You don't need to be an expert to write an the image name in a new paragraph Full Circle site. or by embedding the image in the article - write about the games, applications ODT (Open Office) document. and hardware that you use every day.

full circle magazine #170 44 contents ^ RREEVVIIEEWW Written by Adam Hunt LLuubbuunnttuu 2211..0044

ubuntu 21.04 arrived on NEW Gnome File Roller. L schedule, along with the other After downloading the ISO file Ubuntu flavors, on 22 April, 2021. via bittorrent, I did an SHA256 sum Lubuntu 21.04 introduces only a The Lubuntu Update Notifier This is the middle release of three check on it to make sure the few small, incremental changes. It has been updated again to provide “standard” releases that will result download was good and then used uses LXQt 0.16.0 which is based a better tree view and thus more in the next long term support UNetbootin to write it to a USB upon the Qt 5.15.2 toolkit. This information on updates. version, Lubuntu 22.04, which is stick for testing. does result in some minor changes due out in April, 2022. to the “look and feel” of Lubuntu The MPV video player has been Booting up Lubuntu 21.04 from themes. removed. It was always a This is Lubuntu’s 23rd release the stick is now a lot faster than supplement to the default VLC and the sixth with the LXQt past versions, as it seems that the Also new is the LXQt Archiver media player and was probably desktop, so it has reached a fair file checker program that checks application which replaces Ark, the never really needed or employed by degree of stability and maturity. for a good USB stick write now default archive manager since LXQt most users anyway. If you need it, it works invisibly in the background. I arrived in Lubuntu. LXQt Archiver is can still be installed from the As this is a standard release, it am presuming it will inform you if it actually not all-new, though, as it is repositories, though. has only nine months of support, finds any errors. based upon the MATE desktop’s until January, 2022. Engrampa, which is based on the The default wallpaper is also new. It was the winner of a SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS wallpaper competition held specifically for Lubuntu 21.04. The Lubuntu no longer lists any past 23 wallpapers have been system requirements since the generally elegant and minimal, introduction of LXQt in Lubuntu whereas I found this one an assault 18.10, but I can report that in on the eyes. Fortunately there are testing, Lubuntu 21.04 ran quite ten alternative wallpapers provided well on my 2011 vintage System76 or you can use your own wallpaper Pangolin Performance laptop with a instead. 2.3 GHz quad-core processor and 4 GiB of RAM. SETTINGS

BOOTING IT UP Nothing has changed in settings

full circle magazine #170 45 contents ^ REVIEW for Lubuntu 21.04. Settings still there are lighter choices available. • Firefox 87.0 web browser • Noblenote 1.2.0 note taker* work well and the desktop is • K3b 20.12.3 CD/DVD burner • PCManFM-Qt 0.16.0 file relatively easy to customize with a APPLICATIONS • Kcalc 20.12.3 calculator manager* choice of 19 window themes and 13 • KDE partition manager 20.12.3 • Qlipper 5.1.2 clipboard manager* icon sets. Unlike Ubuntu, in Lubuntu Some of the applications partition manager • qPDFview 0.4.18 PDF viewer* the setting menus are spread out a included with Lubuntu 21.04 are: • LibreOffice 7.1.2 office suite, Qt • PulseAudio 14.2 audio controller bit. They can all be found in the • 2048-qt 0.1.6 simple lightweight interface version • Qtransmission 3.00 bittorrent main menu, though, within game* • Lubuntu Update Notifier 0.4 client, Qt interface version* Preferences-LXQt Settings. • Bluedevil 5.21.4 bluetooth software update notifier • Quassel 0.13.1 IRC client* connector • LXimage-Qt 0.16.0 image viewer* • ScreenGrab 2.1.0 screenshot tool The default window and bottom • Discover Software Center 5.21.4 • LXQt Archiver 0.3.0 archive • Skanlite 2.2.0 scanning utility* panel theme remains the rather package management system manager • Startup Disk Creator 0.3.9 (usb- dark Lubuntu Arc theme, although • FeatherPad 0.17.1 text editor • Muon 5.8.0 package manager* creator-kde) USB boot disk maker • Trojitá 0.7 email client* • VLC 3.0.12 media player • Wget 1.21 command line webpage downloader • XScreenSaver 5.42 screensaver and screen locker*

* Indicates the same version as used in Lubuntu 20.10 LTS

As can be seen, Lubuntu 21.04 comes with a decent assortment of productivity applications including Firefox, LibreOffice, and, my favorite, the FeatherPad text editor. FeatherPad even got an update to 0.17.1 which includes choices of syntax highlighting colors. Version 0.17.1 was not the most recent version at release, that was 0.18.0, but at least it was only two versions out of date.

full circle magazine #170 46 contents ^ REVIEW As in the previous LXQt cautious changes. This is really how before the next LTS release the releases, no default image editor, operating system development following spring. If the pattern set video editor or webcam application should be approached, particularly by Lubuntu 20.10 and 21.04 are provided, although an when you have a loyal user base continues, we can expect only a few assortment of these can easily be who are happy with how everything further small tweaks in Lubuntu added from the repositories if works and are generally not 21.10. needed. demanding big changes.

CONCLUSIONS It will be interesting to see what turns up in the next release, This second standard release in Lubuntu 21.10, due out on 14 the development cycle leading to October, 2021, as that is the last the next LTS includes just small, chance to introduce anything new

Adam Hunt started using Ubuntu in 2007 and has used Lubuntu since 2010. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in a house with no Windows.

full circle magazine #170 47 contents ^ RREEVVIIEEWW Written by Adam Hunt XXuubbuunnttuu 2211..0044

have been anticipating the REQUIREMENTS notification to the contrary! I release of Xubuntu 21.04, ever After downloading the ISO file since 20.10 came out. The developers have increased via bittorrent, I did an SHA256 sum NEW the recommended system check to make sure the download Readers of my review of that requirements from the last release. was done without errors and then Xubuntu 21.04 introduces a new release in Full Circle 163 will recall These are now: used UNetbootin to write it to a version of the Xfce desktop, 4.16, that it was put out with no changes. 1.5 GHz Dual-Core processor USB stick. which replaces 4.14. This version At the time, the Xubuntu 2 GiB RAM exclusively uses the GTK3 toolkit, developers explained this as being 20 GB of hard-drive space When booting up Xubuntu bringing it up to the most current due to migrating the Xubuntu 21.04, it no longer runs an overt file GTK standard. Xfce 4.16 brings codebase from Launchpad to These specs are probably more system checker, unlike previous some small changes to the menus, GitHub. I was quite interested to realistic than the last ones and versions. Rik Mills, a Kubuntu and the desktop, and the Thunar file see if they would make any changes represent a computer about ten Ubuntu developer, says that "it now manager as well. in the 21.04 release or just maintain years old. runs silently in the background so it the status quo throughout the does not delay the boot." I have to The Linux kernel 5.11 is also entire development cycle through BOOTING IT UP assume that the files were all good, new, along with the raft of new to Xubuntu 22.04 LTS, due out in because I did not see any hardware that it supports. April 2022. With Xubuntu 21.04 released on 22 April, 2021, now we If you are going to install know; changes have been Xubuntu 21.04, you now have a incorporated! choice of a full or a minimal installation. Xubuntu 21.04 is the 31st Xubuntu release. This really is a Some of the default applications very mature project, so large have been changed as well. This changes would be unexpected. release adds the Synaptic package manager, a fairly technical As a standard release, Xubuntu application. The existing Gnome 21.04 has only nine months of Software “software store” is support, until January, 2022. retained, although, for some reason, it does not show up on any SYSTEM full circle magazine #170 48 contents ^ REVIEW individual entry on the Whisker There are probably better choices APPLICATIONS (re-badged by Gnome as menu – just under “all applications”. these days available anyway. I use "Document Scanner") I suspect this was just an oversight. UNetbootin, but there are other Some of the applications • Software Updater 21.04.8 good ones, too. included with Xubuntu 21.04 are: (update-manager) software update The Hexcat IRC client is also • Atril 1.24.1 PDF viewer manager new, and is in addition to the IRC This release has new default • CUPS 2.3.3 printing system* • Synaptic 0.90.2 package client included for many years, wallpaper, a rather simple, • Catfish 4.16.0 desktop search management system Pidgin. The developer release notes modernist design, that harkens • Firefox 87.0 web browser • Thunar 4.16.6 file manager indicate that they recommend back to similar wallpapers in • GIMP 2.10.22 graphics editor • Thunderbird 78.8.1 email client Hexchat as highly configurable and, Xubuntu’s past, like from 19.10. If it • Gnome Software 3.38.1 package • Transmission 3.00 bittorrent by default, it is “preconfigured to is not to your taste, there are 19 management system client* connect to the #xubuntu channel others provided, or you can use • Gparted 1.1.0 partition editor* • Wget 1.21 command line on Freenode”. I imagine Pidgin will your own. • Hexchat 2.14.3 IRC client webpage downloader be deleted from the ISO file by the • LibreOffice 7.1.2 office suite • Xfburn 0.6.2 CD/DVD burner* time the LTS release occurs. Overall, it looks like the • Mousepad 0.5.3 text editor • Xfce4 Panel 4.16.2 desktop panel developers are making up for the • Parole 4.16.0 media player • Xfce4 Power Manager 4.16.0 Not mentioned in the release time lost in the previous release, by • Pidgin 2.14.1 IRC client system power manager notes, but gone anyway, is the introducing a host of small changes • PulseAudio 14.2 audio controller Startup Disk Creator; the small now. • Ristretto 0.10.0 image viewer* * indicates the same application program that allows writing ISO • Simple Scan 3.38.1 scanning utility version as used in Xubuntu 20.10 files to a USB stick for booting. LTS.

full circle magazine #170 49 contents ^ REVIEW several in the repositories that can easy differentiation of active versus After making no changes in The LibreOffice 7.1.2 office be installed. inactive windows. This makes it too Xubuntu 20.10, it seems that the suite included is complete, except easy to close the wrong window, Xubuntu developers are not going for the database application, SETTINGS especially when using keyboard to sit out this entire development LibreOffice Base. These days, very shortcuts. cycle. Starting with 21.04, they have few users work on databases and it Like recent releases, Xubuntu introduced some minor can always be installed from the 21.04 still has Greybird as its Otherwise, the settings for user refinements. When you have a loyal repositories if needed. default window theme. There are customization of the desktop are user following, you need to five alternate schemes included, nicely arranged on one sub-menu proceed cautiously. Most Xubuntu As with recent Xubuntu one of which is the dark theme and are easy to find and use. users I know love the OS and don’t releases, there is no default Greybird-dark. Numix is probably want to see big changes. The result webcam or video editing the best one installed, but I still find CONCLUSIONS here, in Xubuntu 21.04, is a good application although there are that none of these themes allow for solid release that will keep users happy on the road to the next LTS version.

Adam Hunt started using Ubuntu in 2007 and has used Lubuntu since 2010. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in a house with no Windows.

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full circle magazine #170 51 contents ^ If you have a Linux question, email it to: [email protected], QQ&&AA and Erik will answer them in a future issue. Please include as much Compiled by EriktheUnready information as you can about your query.

elcome back to another premium. If your computer was learn a thing from it. A few years battery may be faulty. W edition of Questions and underpowered in CPU cycles, later, she asked me to tell her 18 Answers! In this section, we will memory or drive read/write speed, year old son to stop fooling with I just went back to Windows 8.1 endeavour to answer your Ubuntu your MP3 files sounded terrible. Ubuntu 6.06 he got via shipit, as he as Windows 10 will start doing questions. Be sure to add details of Couple that with crappy sound needed the “real thing” or weird things that look like it is the version of your operating cards, and bad encoders, and low something like that. If I prefer to fill running out of memory, but I have system and your hardware. I will try default bit rates, and one can my car with Shell and you have only 4GB. to remove any personally understand why a lot of people ever filled your car with anything identifiable strings from questions, thought it was crappy. One very but BP, and on top of that BP has but it is best not to include things tech-savvy lady I knew, had got a ceased your car’s engine, tell me to : I have a Dell Latitude E6420 like serial numbers, UUIDs or IP machine with premium parts and stay away from Shell and use BP as Q that is rather slow. Which addresses. If your question does Windows 2000 (I think), brand new. it is the only real petrol? - The version of Ubuntu do you not appear immediately, it is just By this time I was familiar with kicker... That son specialized in recommend that I install on it? It because there is such a lot, and I do Microsoft policy of doing sneaky Linux security and got a job abroad, has 4GB DDR3 and 320GB hard them, first-come-first-served. stuff to force you to use their stuff, owns his own house and boat (as in drive. so when she told me that the music paid off), while his peers still have she had been converting just 20 years to pay off their houses. : Those are only slow because NOTE: Guys, with the latest Google sounds so much better than her old A the drive is lame in that model. hack, my Gmail accounts are all in MP3s. I tried to warn her, but she Replace it with an SSD and it should limbo, if you sent me any messages knew better, so it went until she fly. I would suggest Ubuntu 20.04, there, I will get to those only when had a huge collection of her own : Hi, I installed Ubuntu 18.04 that way all your software will be it unfreezes again. and her friends’ stuff. Her original Q and Windows 10 side-by-side on current and you will get long term music was given to goodwill – she my old Lenovo laptop. It seems that support. was now digital and had a backup. I the battery charges only when the oday we accept media formats did not want to interfere as she was computer is off or very, VERY, VERY T the way they are, but it was cocky, and, sure she and M$ had a slowly when it is on. How can I fix : I have an Acer machine with an never really that way. Computers one-up on the world. Until the this? Q Atom processor. I know it is were just not as fast, and ripping motherboard died and needed crap, but lately my Ubuntu is taking your music to Fraunhoffer’s MP3 replacing. Nothing wanted to play : I would start with checking a lot longer to boot than usual, I am format was great on space as it was all encrypted to a UUID A your charger’s output as I talking like 10 minutes here. The (compared to wav-files). That was from her old board and installation suspect it may be a bad charger. issue is analyze-blame tells me the other thing; space was at a of XP? She lost everything. Did not Otherwise the circuitry within the nothing, just that everything is

full circle magazine #170 52 contents ^ Q&A slow. What can I do or check? : Gawd, if I see -- ‘getting download manager. What is the transfer rate than the other one. I Q windows ready, don’t turn off Ubuntu equivalent? suggest just removing the broken : There are numerous articles your computer’ once more, I will one and be done with it. A on how to speed up Ubuntu, I commit hara-kiri. I have switched to : You can try uget. See: https:// won't repeat that here. I can tell Ubuntu, but how do I get my Adobe A itsfoss.com/install-latest-uget- you to fsck your drive and maybe to work? Also I need outlook. ubuntu-linux-mint/ : Ever since I installed Ubuntu check the smart status to see if you Q 14.04 with WUBI in Windows do not have any bad blocks. Slow : If you mean Adobe reader, you 10, it seems that everything is just response at boot is mostly a drive A can install that quite easily, but : I have Xubuntu installed on my janky in Windows. I have tried bottleneck, even if your CPU is if you mean Adobe photoshop, I Q dual-core PC. I am fed up with uninstalling it, but it is still weird, underpowered. have bad news for you. You can try Parole; every time I skip forward or giving me blue screens when I try to crossover or wine, but people have backwards more than once, it print. had limited success. If you meant crashes. I don’t really like VLC; is : I have installed Kubuntu on my Photoshop, why not give some there another option other than : That is definitely a Windows Q black box special PC, but when I open source software a try? https:// mplayer/smplayer? I'm tired of the A update bug. KB5000808. I think try to install it on my Dell Optiplex, opensource.com/life/12/6/design- same old, same old. there was another, KB5000802. I just get a black screen. It is the without-debt-five-tools-for- Ubuntu just had bad timing. same USB drive, so I tried with a designers : Not sure what you want here, Correlation does not equal new Lexar USB drive and the same A but it seems like you want causality. is happening. Where am I going As for outlook, you can use the something “new”. Here is one I have wrong? web interface, log on to not heard of before: https:// portal.office.com or maybe try an github.com/g-fb/haruna. Let us : Explain to me what is the : If there is no splash, it open source alternative? know how it went. Q difference between & and && A probably means that either it is when running commands? not booting from the USB, or that you have the BIOS in the wrong : Can I use Cisco webex in : I have two Wifi cards in my : When you append the mode, EFI or legacy. Dell Q Ubuntu 18? I have not tried, but Q Ubuntu Budgie PC. I broke the A ampersand to the end of a sometimes hides settings in other I have a webex next week and antenna off the internal one, so I command, you send it to the places, check under “security”, wanted to be prepared. am using a USB one. Ubuntu seems background and when you use two, “secure boot”, “advanced boot to switch to the one without the you are chaining commands – the options”. Grab an EFI and a legacy : Webex is browser based, so antenna quite often, resulting in a second command will run only if the (sometimes called bios too) ISO and A the OS should not matter. bad quality connection. Why would first exits with a return code of 0. try both, if you are unsure of how it switch to a worse one? to set the BIOS. : The only thing I miss from my : I am not sure; it could be that : I’m currently watching bash Q days on Windows is the free A the broken one has a higher Q scripting videos on youtube. I full circle magazine #170 53 contents ^ Q&A do not have a server to ssh to. My instead of typing it all out again. I : Updating from such a your standard Ubuntu repository, machine is Ubuntu 18.04. Memory have no preference for the A repository can't be done then maybe get that, if it does not, is only 2 GB. How can I simulate encryption, Zulucrypt, LUKS or securely, and is therefore disabled use pip. Maybe one of our readers working on a server without the whatever. by default. can give more insight here. desktop distracting? [email protected] : Meh, the simple answer is : You can try to create a A don’t. Instead of FDE (Full disk : I am on Vanilla Ubuntu with a A minimal VM with a virtual box, encryption), encrypt only the part Q generic kernel, I have Opera : I'm connected through SSH but if distractions are your biggest where the data is stored, that way, 76.0. When I highlight inside Opera, Q with Putty to a machine running worry, simply press CTRL+ALT+f6 the computer can start, and you can I get a copy option on the webpage. Ubuntu, as a normal user. I would and feel like you are on a server. put the password in remotely. Your I mostly work in Web v 3.22.7. I like to somehow restart the data is safe if the physical unit gets want to copy it like that, without machine there, because I'm having feet. having to press keyboard shortcuts, trouble with that machine, : Here is my current papercut. I so I can paste to mousepad. Lots of hopefully that is all it needs. Is it Q have my terminal open. When I my work is in the browser and I possible? launch a program via the terminal : What does it mean “UNMET need to get comfortable with this like visual studio code, it always Q DEPENDENCIES” Linux thing. How can I tweak the : You need elevated privileges pops over the terminal. I still need Web to work faster like opera? A to reboot a machine. No sudo, to do things in the terminal. : A simple example: Imagine no restart. Launching a GUI program with & at A you need node 14 to run an : A quick tip, if you highlight the end does not work. All of the application, but you have only node A text anywhere and press the advice I have gotten so far doesn’t 9, you would need to upgrade to middle mouse button, or mouse : Is there some ncurses based seem to work. node 14; but, let's say your version wheel, it will copy and when you Q desktop I can use remotely? of Ubuntu is too old to run Node 14, press it on an open space like inside : Open the menu of your that would be an unmet your text editor it will paste. No : Not that I know of, but just A terminal, by clicking on its icon dependency. A program DEPENDS tweaking or keyboard required. A use the shell with lots of in the bar, and choose: “Always on on another that is not available. Ubuntu has you covered. ncurses based applications. top”. Now go ahead and launch your program. Q: How come when I Q: My Ubuntu is 18.04. I get Q: Help, I am so confused as to run software errors: E: The repository 'https:// when I should use pip to install u Erik has bpeedna itne IrT &fo dr 3o0 a+ yceoamrsp. Hleet e : My issue is this: https:// download.docker.com/linux/debian modules and when I need to use uphdaast see,e tnh teench onpoleongy s coofmtwe anred gcoe.n tre Q unix.stackexchange.com/ focal Release' does not have a apt to install modules for Python. anFdr otmhe rreep aairien gt hwraesehi nmgo mraec?h?i nBeT sWize Id questions/642880/is-disk- Release file. stihlla urds ed r1iv8e.s0 w4i.th multimeters and oscilloscopes, laying cable, to scaling encryption-without-requiring-a- : I am not sure either, I would 3G towers, he's done it. password-at-boot-possible but A say, if the package exists in full circle magazine #170 54 contents ^ UUBBUUNNTTUU GGAAMMEESS Written by Erik DDeeffoolldd

Defold game engine website: moment, the steam version is one impressive examples in their “From Tutorial” and back, you can https://defold.com/ version behind though.) If you don’t showcase section, so be sure to go and make a cuppa in between. If like Steam, you don’t have to use it; have a look. you are or were in the armed Price: Free! simply grab the package from the forces, you may be familiar with downloads page. Defold is a game FIRST IMPRESSIONS: “Hurry up and wait”. You may even Blurb: “Defold is a completely free- engine that used to belong to KING, have been in and out of the DMV to-use game engine for development a mobile games developer and It is slow. The application seems queues by the time the “Platformer of console, desktop, mobile and web publisher, until they gave the to be Java. If, like me, you have a game” template loads. games. There are no up-front costs, engine to the Defold Foundation, potato laptop, I don’t recommend no licensing fees, and no royalties. to make it open-source and free-of- it. A frustrating experience waiting The IDE layout is a lot like that The source code is made available on charge. We have reviewed a game for things to respond, leaves a of Godot. I do not want to compare GitHub with a developer-friendly made in Defold, Fates of Ort, in bitter taste in one’s mouth. When these two game engines, but it may license. The Defold editor runs on issue 161. There are some switching from “From Template” to be helpful to point out similarities. Windows, Linux and macOS, and You have basically three vertical includes a code editor, debugger, panes, with the main one in the profiler, and advanced scene and UI middle. Each one of these is divided editors. Game logic is written in Lua, in two, horizontally. with the option to use native code to extend the engine with additional LAYOUT: functionality. Defold is used by a growing number of developers to The first pane on your top-left, create commercial hits, as well as is your file-system hierarchy. Below games for game jams, and in schools that is the changed files pane. Top- to teach game development. Defold centre, where you can see the is known for its ease-of-use and it is readme.md file displayed, is your praised for its technical editor. Below that (bottom-centre) documentation and friendly is a control pane with different community of developers.“ tabs, like your console output. Top- right is marked outline, which is am using the Steam version. This basically your inspector. The last I way, I don’t have to worry about pane, bottom-right is just updating the package. (At the properties, as marked. full circle magazine #170 55 contents ^ UBUNTU GAMES as say Unity or Godot or Game have a beefy machine, this can Maker Studio, but it is getting there probably be a no-brainer when it Defold is based on the Lua RUNNING YOUR PROJECT: language for programming your (maybe on par with Gdevelop?). In comes to picking an engine for your my opinion, the only thing holding it next game. game. Lua is an easy-to-learn As slow as the Engine is, your back is the lack of variety of language with a simple syntax. If game projects run fast and super tutorials. The website does cover Did I make a mistake? Was I you have been following along with smooth. This may be because it was some aspects and a few Youtube unfair? Let us know: the Python tutorial in the originally intended to be for low- tutorials are available. If you are a [email protected] magazine, you will find that you powered android platforms, like game maker, why not post some pick up Lua very easily. The tablets. Yes, this is where the video tutorials? You could be in on templates can actually run, and if engine shines, where it counts the the ground floor, so-to-speak. you “compile” a game it compiles most. The second place I’d like to and runs. Try this on one of the draw your attention to is how quick Let's quickly talk about Lua templates provided, like the it is to get off the ground. If you tutorials to get you going. “platformer” template. paint tiles on screen, immediately LinuxLinks has some: https:// the collision shapes and physics are Erik has been in IT for 30+ years. He www.linuxlinks.com/excellent-free- If you have done that, click on taken care of for you. This kind of has seen technology come and go. tutorials-learn-lua/. Then there’s: From repairing washing machine sized one of the scripts, a file ending in bonus means you can whip up a https://www.youtube.com/watch? hard drives with multimeters and ‘.script’ and you should see the prototype of your game in a few v=4NKMtazVNe8 and references: oscilloscopes, laying cable, to scaling source code for the game template. hours, instead of a few days. This 3G towers, he's done it. https://www.tutorialspoint.com/lua/ balances out any slowness you may index.htm The engine is not as well known experience getting started. If you

full circle magazine #170 56 contents ^ PPAATTRROONNSS

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full circle magazine #170 58 contents ^