Learn to Solder via NASA!!

Soldering is central to the hardware hack/electronics experience... here are a couple resources to get you started.

NASA Learn To Solder Really nice high quality video... your American dollars at work!!
Make Magazine Video Tutorial. Also Downloadable

Adding Skype to the Alt-Tab Switcher in Xubuntu 12.04

Wanted to be able to keyboard my way to Skype quickly.... here is an easy way to add it to the alt-tab menu. Go to a command prompt or a run dialog and paste this in....


echo cycle_minimum=false >> ~/.config/xfce4/xfwm4/xfwm4rc

Logout and back in... try it out.

Logitech ClickSmart 310 and Ubuntu 12.04

Someone gave me an OLD Logitech ClickSmart 310 camera... No drivers for much of anything in the windows world. Quality is a little low by today's standards, but works just fine in 12.04 with the following line... Going to use it to watch the bird feeder outside since I'm not worried too much about it getting damaged.

 modprobe -r gspca_spca500 ; sleep 60s ; sudo modprobe gspca_spca500

Deepin Software Center in Ubuntu/Xubuntu/Lubuntu 12.04

DeepIn Software normally comes with the Chinese DeepIn distro but it has alot to offer us *buntu users.. Like paralell downloads... no more entering passwords every download, and speed.... It might just be me or the caffiene talking, but it seems quick as all can be. Try it out, it's not like it gets rid of your current software center or anything. You'll thank me.

Get The .deb

Setup Xubuntu 12.04 with updated XFCE and all the Fix'ins using APT-FAST

I Really like Ubuntu. The community support and package selection are really very nice, but I don't like unity. I like things my way so I wrote this script to use after a basic server install, it installs the latest XFCE,Skype,Dropbox,Libreoffice and a whole lot more using apt-fast, which it also installs. To use it, just download the script to a new server install using wget, use nano to comment out the stuff you don't want, and run it as described in the script itself.

You can run it as soon as you install... apt-fast will be copied over and even your post installiaion apt upgrade will be faster!

So.. during the install... don't download updates and don't sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade, run the script and everything will be done using apt-fast.

From now on use apt-fast install instead and feel the speed!

Using apt-fast will REALLY speed up an install!!

Let me Know what you think... (Plus stuff to add!!)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5757023/setup-software.sh

Here is a copy of the script in case the above link dosen't work...

#! /bin/sh

#Scott Goodgame 2012 scottgoodgame@gmail.com --- Do whatever you want with this script.
#Check for updates at GeeksWastingTime.wordpress.com
#Thanks to Matt Parnell http://www.mattparnell.com for apt-fast!!!
#Just a little script to get an ubuntu 12.04 system up quickly. 
#Adds ppa's for software I use to stay current.
#installs games and utilities that are fun/come in handy,adds winbind and
#sets it up to browse windows networks.
#comment out/remove the stuff you don't want.
# Bitcasa is 64 bit only,you need to uncomment it if you want it.
#HuluDesktop has 64 and 32 bit versions, 32 bit is enabled by default by the script.


#yes, I know i update alot, but I did it this way to make it easier to comment out sections
# to use: put the script in your home directory. 
# go to a shell type
# cd /home/ 
# chmod +x setup-software.sh
# sudo /home//setup-software.sh
# walk away for awhile.... you are getting a bunch of stuff to give you a nice,
# rounded system with the latest versions of popular software

#The install will only need input a few times..

# wicd wants to add your user to netdev group ( 1aef )
# jack will install as part of the music stuff ( 2eef )
# Wine wants you to agree and install fonts ( 1ff4 )

[ "`whoami`" = root ] || exit

#get the system updated
apt-get update
apt-get -y install python-software-properties #fix add-apt-repository

#I love apt-fast, but there is no ppa for 12.04 yet, so I just set it up for you. DO NOT edit the end of the file, that is apt-fast. I install it from there.
#set up apt-fast
apt-get -y install axel 
tail -55 "$0" |cut -b 1 --complement > /usr/bin/apt-fast
chmod 755 /usr/bin/apt-fast

apt-fast -y upgrade
#enable partner repository
add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ $(lsb_release -sc) partner"

###
###
###Below here, comment out the lines of stuff you don't want. Note that each ppa you add will increase the size of your updates, but you will have the latest version.
###
###


#add Xfce 4.10 - stolen directly from webupd8.org
add-apt-repository -y ppa:xubuntu-dev/xfce-4.10
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y dist-upgrade

#vlc daily stable ppa
add-apt-repository -y ppa:videolan/stable-daily
apt-fast update && apt-fast -y install  vlc

#add gimp ppa  
add-apt-repository -y ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
apt-fast update && apt-fast -y install  gimp

#gimp plugin registry
add-apt-repository -y ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install gimp-plugin-registry

#Inkscape ppa
add-apt-repository -y ppa:cafuego/inkscape
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install inkscape

#blender ppa
sh -c 'echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/irie/blender/ubuntu precise main" >>/etc/apt/sources.list'
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install blender
  
#add openshot video editor ppa and install 
add-apt-repository -y ppa:jonoomph/openshot-edge
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install  openshot openshot-doc

#cinelerra ppa
add-apt-repository -y ppa:cinelerra-ppa/ppa
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install  cinelerra
 
#handbrake
sh -c 'echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu oneiric main" >>/etc/apt/sources.list'
sh -c 'echo "deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu oneiric main" >>/ect/apt/sources.list'
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y --force-yes install handbrake-gtk

#add playdeb.net -really cool game/app repo. go and check it out..
wget -P /tmp http://archive.getdeb.net/install_deb/playdeb_0.3-1~getdeb1_all.deb
dpkg -i playdeb_0.3-1~getdeb1_all.deb
apt-fast install -f -y
rm /tmp/playdeb_0.3-1~getdeb1_all.deb

#medibuntu for livdvdcss2 -- use this to play DVD's
wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list &&  apt-fast --quiet update &&  apt-fast --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring &&  apt-fast --quiet update
apt-fast -y install  app-install-data-medibuntu apport-hooks-medibuntu libdvdcss2

#Sound/Music creation related stuff   
apt-fast -y install muse audacity lame

#Mostly programming stuff - If you don't program, then you don't need and just comment it out. (although squeak is a nice gentle intro) 
apt-fast -y install scilab eclipse geany arduino emacs bless squeak-vm robocode eric idle

#ppa for the go language.. check it out on google tech talks
add-apt-repository -y ppa:gophers/go
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install golang-stable 

#utilities
apt-fast -y install software-center p7zip-full p7zip-rar rar unrar zip unzip leafpad terminator conky lm-sensors hddtemp
apt-fast -y install ubuntu-restricted-extras evince mountmanager bleachbit  preload unetbootin pulseaudio pavucontrol gparted skype

#misc. stuff I like to have
apt-fast -y install aweather scribus sunflow qrq qrencode dia gns3

# sound player -just like it best. (at least for now)
apt-fast -y install exaile

#youtube related stuff
apt-fast -y install youtube-dl minitube

#image related stuff
apt-fast -y install f-spot photoprint pinta fotowall shotwell hugin ristretto

#iso manipulation/mount and cd/dvd burning
apt-fast -y install xfburn acetoneiso furiusisomount

#useful network stuff
apt-fast -y install wireless-tools iftop iperf wireshark nmap screen ssh sshfs xchat links remmina traceroute curl

#Pulse Audio 
apt-fast -y install pulseaudio pavucontrol

#command line stuff-useful if X dies on you
apt-fast -y install links mc aptitude 

#Hulu Desktop 64 bit
wget http://download.hulu.com/huludesktop_amd64.deb
dpkg -i huludesktop_amd64.deb 

#Hulu Desktop 32 bit
#wget http://download.hulu.com/huludesktop_i386.deb
#dpkg -i http://download.hulu.com/huludesktop_i386.deb

#firefox ppa
add-apt-repository -y ppa:mozillateam/firefox-next
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install firefox

#Anti-Virus  I know Linux is not often the target, but better safe than sorry
wget -P /tmp http://files.avast.com/files/linux/avast4workstation_1.3.0-2_i386.deb
dpkg -i avast4workstation_1.3.0-2_i386.deb 
rm /tmp/avast4workstation_1.3.0-2_i386.deb

#Oracle-java7
add-apt-repository -y ppa:webupd8team/java 
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install oracle-java7-installer

#libreoffice ppa
add-apt-repository -y ppa:libreoffice/ppa
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install  libreoffice

#Wine         ( 1ff4 Wine wants you to agree and install fonts)
add-apt-repository -y  ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install wine1.5 winetricks playonlinux

#install ubuntu builder.. a cool easy way to create a custom cd/dvd
wget -P /tmp http://ubuntu-builder.googlecode.com/files/ubuntu-builder_2.0.2-1_all.deb
dpkg -i ubuntu-builder_2.0.2-1_all.deb
apt-fast install -f -y
rm /tmp/ubuntu-builder_2.0.2-1_all.deb

#ZRAM ram based swap- very fast I like it, but your results may vary.
add-apt-repository -y ppa:shnatsel/zram
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install zramswap-enabler

#Boot Repair.. fixes GRUB problems
add-apt-repository -y ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair 
apt-fast update 
apt-fast -y install boot-repair 

#VirtualBox 4.1.16 & guest add-ons
wget -q http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian/oracle_vbox.asc -O- |  apt-key add -
sh -c 'echo "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian precise contrib" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'
apt-fast update
apt-fast -y install virtualbox-4.1
wget http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.1.16/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.1.16-78094.vbox-extpack /tmp/
VBoxManage extpack install ~/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.1.16--78094.vbox-extpack
rm /tmp/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.1.16-78094.vbox-extpack

#Ubuntu Tweak - lets you tweak settings in one place. I rarely use it, but many people love it.
add-apt-repository -y ppa:tualatrix/next 
apt-fast update 
apt-fast -y install ubuntu-tweak

#Dropbox
apt-key adv --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 5044912E
sh -c 'echo "deb http://linux.dropbox.com/ubuntu/ precise main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dropbox.list' 
apt-fast update 
apt-fast install -y python-gpgme nautilus-dropbox 

#Bitcasa -- 64 bit only :(
wget -O- http://dist.bitcasa.com/release/ubuntu/add-repo.sh | sudo sh
apt-fast update 
apt-fast -y install bitcasa
perl -e '$h="5261776264206775722076617376617667722065726663626166766879642"; 
$h=~y/48/cf/;$_=pack("H*","${h}e0a");@a=split//,"/-35753=?=357"x2; 
s.([a-zA-Z]).ord$1<97 ---="---" --force-yes="--force-yes" --print-uris="--print-uris" -="-" -d="-d" -e="-e" -exec="-exec" -i="-i" -iname="-iname" -o="-o" -p="-p" -q="-q" -x="-x" -y="-y" .="." 0ad="0ad" 1="1" a="a" abhishek="abhishek" add-apt-repository="add-apt-repository" add="add" admin="admin" alien-arena="alien-arena" allan="allan" also="also" ame="ame" an="an" and="and" anything="anything" apt-add-repository="apt-add-repository" apt-fast="apt-fast" apt-get="apt-get" apt="apt" archives="archives" are="are" arguments="arguments" aria2c="aria2c" assaultcube="assaultcube" at="at" atomix="atomix" atris="atris" att="att" autocompletion="autocompletion" autoremove="autoremove" autorun="autorun" axel.="axel." axel="axel" bash_completion="bash_completion" battle="battle" below="below" berusky="berusky" big="big" bin="bin" boswars="boswars" browse="browse" by="by" cache="cache" can="can" case="case" cd="cd" center..="center.." check="check" checking="checking" chipset="chipset" clean="clean" commands="commands" comment="comment" complex="complex" contact="contact" contain="contain" cool="cool" cp="cp" data="data" detection="detection" directory="directory" dist-upgrade="dist-upgrade" distros="distros" dns="dns" do="do" don="don" dosbox="dosbox" download="download" downloaded="downloaded" downloading.="downloading." dreamchess="dreamchess" drivers="drivers" echo="echo" edit="edit" egrep="egrep" einstein="einstein" else="else" elsewhere="elsewhere" enigma="enigma" entered="entered" esac="esac" etc="etc" exec="exec" exit="exit" f="f" faster="faster" fceu="fceu" fi="fi" files="files" find="find" for="for" found="found" freeciv-client-gtk="freeciv-client-gtk" freecol="freecol" from="from" fully="fully" g="g" game="game" gamegraveyard.net="gamegraveyard.net" games="games" gbrainy="gbrainy" ge="ge" get="get" gets="gets" ghextris="ghextris" gmult="gmult" gnome-video-arcade="gnome-video-arcade" gnotravex="gnotravex" go="go" graphics="graphics" grep="grep" gtans="gtans" have="have" here="here" hoffmeister="hoffmeister" host="host" how="how" ht="ht" http:="http:" i="i" id1="id1" if="if" in="in" including="including" information="information" init.d="init.d" install="install" installed="installed" installs="installs" into="into" is="is" it="it" jockey-gtk="jockey-gtk" just="just" klien="klien" know="know" kramer="kramer" latest="latest" lc="lc" let="let" lightsoff="lightsoff" lightyears="lightyears" like="like" lincity-ng="lincity-ng" machine="machine" madbomber="madbomber" made="made" mahjongg="mahjongg" make="make" mame="mame" manually="manually" mattparnell.com="mattparnell.com" may="may" me="me" megaglest="megaglest" mkdir="mkdir" mv="mv" n="n" nabling="nabling" need...thanks="need...thanks" need.="need." networking="networking" networks="networks" neverball="neverball" neverputt="neverputt" normally="normally" not="not" now...="now..." nsswitch.conf.old="nsswitch.conf.old" nsswitch.conf="nsswitch.conf" nstall="nstall" nvidia-current="nvidia-current" nvidia-settings="nvidia-settings" nvidia="nvidia" often.="often." often="often" on="on" open-source="open-source" ops="ops" or="or" ord="ord" orking...="orking..." other="other" out="out" package="package" packages="packages" pak0.pak="pak0.pak" pak1.pak="pak1.pak" parnell="parnell" patrick="patrick" penguin-command="penguin-command" perform="perform" pgrade="pgrade" pingus="pingus" pioneers="pioneers" play="play" possible="possible" ppa:ubuntu-x-swat="ppa:ubuntu-x-swat" ppa:vincent-c="ppa:vincent-c" ppa="ppa" print="print" priveliges="priveliges" proper="proper" proxy="proxy" publish="publish" puts="puts" quake.zip="quake.zip" quake="quake" read="read" reboot="reboot" redeclipse="redeclipse" regex="regex" restart="restart" richard="richard" rm="rm" rmdir="rmdir" root="root" ruiz="ruiz" s="s" samba="samba" scummvm="scummvm" sed="sed" see="see" sergio="sergio" setup="setup" sh="sh" share="share" sharma="sharma" showing="showing" silva="silva" size="size" smbfs="smbfs" so="so" software="software" special="special" speediness="speediness" starvoyager="starvoyager" stella="stella" strip="strip" suggestions.txt="suggestions.txt" suggestions="suggestions" supertuxkart="supertuxkart" support="support" sure="sure" system-config-samba="system-config-samba" t="t" test="test" thanks="thanks" the="the" then="then" thing="thing" this="this" time="time" tmp="tmp" to="to" torcs="torcs" tp:="tp:" travis="travis" travisn000="travisn000" ubuntu="ubuntu" uc="uc" un="un" unable="unable" uncomment="uncomment" untested="untested" unzip="unzip" update="update" updates="updates" upgrade="upgrade" uri="uri" usage="usage" use="use" user="user" using="using" usr="usr" v0.03="v0.03" var="var" want="want" warzone2100="warzone2100" wesnoth-1.10="wesnoth-1.10" wesnoth="wesnoth" wget="wget" whoami="whoami" whoever="whoever" will="will" winbind="winbind" windows="windows" wins="wins" with="with" wrote="wrote" www.mattparnell.com="www.mattparnell.com" x-updates="x-updates" xshogi="xshogi" y="y" you="you" zaz="zaz"> apt-get.list && cat apt-get.list | xargs -l1 axel -a
#
#  # Perform the user's requested action via apt-get
#  apt-get $@;
#
#  echo -e "\nDone! Verify that all packages were installed successfully. If errors are found, run apt-get clean as root and try again using apt-get directly.\n";
#
#else
#   apt-get $@;
#fi

Merging .AVI filed from Bash command line

Install mencoder if you don't have it  sudo apt-get install mencoder

mencoder -ovc copy -oac copy 1.avi 2.avi -o MergedVideo.avi

-ovc copy - keep original video type, don't encode
-oac copy - keep original audio type, don't encode

Update: the above works sometimes, but just apt-get transcode-utils and run the avimerge utility.

MIDI on the Cheap Ubuntu 12.04

A friend just gave me his old midi keyboard to play around with so I ordered a USB Midi device from www.shophde.com for something like $5-6 shipped, here is how far I have gotten with it so far.

aplaymidi -l returns a line including 20:0 USB Midi USB Midi MIDI 1

aplaymidi -p 20:0 /path to a .mid file plays it. 

The only thing that got me for a minute is that when I plugged in the cable into the synth, I had to switch around in and out (in goes to out and out goes to in)

Now I just have to figure out rosegarden and develop some sort of musical ability.

Anyone with a good handle on midi software for ubuntu, drop me a line and make some recommendations!!!

AirCrack & Reaver in *buntu 12.04 the Easy Way

I've seen many directions for installing aircrack-ng on Ubuntu 12.04, and for the mose part they are all just cut-n-paste of each other involving editing text and such.. A bit of searching and I found a PPA run by a user named PHI-RHO making it muck easier.

https://launchpad.net/~pi-rho/+archive/security?field.series_filter=precise

If you are using Ubuntu 12.04 just copy the following two lines and add them to /etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/pi-rho/security/ubuntu precise main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/pi-rho/security/ubuntu precise main

Drop to a terminal:

In Unity

In Gnome Classic

In Kubuntu

In Xubuntu

In Lubuntu

Thanks to http://www.psychocats.net for the above images... BTW: Check them out for lots of cool info!

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

hit PGDN until you are at the end of the file
Hit CTL-W to save the file
hit CTL-X to exit

Now copy the following line and paste it into the terminal you opened or just open another

sudo apt-get update ; sudo apt-get install aircrack-ng

With any luck that should be it, you can test to make sure it is installed by typing airmon-ng at the terminal prompt. It won't run because we didn't tell it what to do, but if you see a help screen, your install worked.

Now for installing Reaver. Go back to a terminal and cut and paste hit enter and let it go.

sudo apt-get -y install libpcap-dev sqlite3 libsqlite3-dev libpcap0.8-dev ; cd ~;  wget http://reaver-wps.googlecode.com/files/reaver-1.4.tar.gz ; tar -xzvf ~/reaver-1.4.tar.gz; cd ~/reaver-1.4/src ; ./configure; make; sudo make install; cd ~ &&  rm -rf ~/reaver-1.4 ; rm reaver-1.4.tar.gz

Now test to make sure it installed by typing reaver at the the command line and hit enter, it should give you a help screen since you didn't tell it to do anything.

Now to test reaver on your AP (or one you have permission to test on)

If you know the name of your wireless interface just skip this part

type ifconfig at the command line and look wor something like wlan0 wlan1 ath0.. anything that starts with eth is a wired connection

Put the interface into monitor mode. This will give you another interface usually mon0, but your case might be different.

sudo airmon-ng start wlan0  #or whatever your interface name is

Find the mac address of your target AP

sudo airodump-ng mon0

wait until you see your AP name show up, hit CRL-C to exit airodump-ng

Now run reaver and susbstitute the mac address of your AP for  xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx

sudo reaver -a -i mon0 -b xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx -vv

Now just go about your work and check in about 10 hours.

Hopefully everything works well for you!

Ubuntu 12.04 Blue Tint Flash Fix

Recently after an update on my Ubuntu 12.04 box, The sound in Google Chrome flash player started acting really 'flakey' sll sorts of static whenever another sound played on the system... here is what I did to fix it.

Go to   chrome://plugins/

Under flash, make sure the one that says /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so is the only one enabled.

Worked like a charm for me!

Conky startup problems in *buntu 12.04

I've noticed alot of people have been having problems running conky at startup in *buntu 12.04. I installed a newer version than is in the repos and everything just works now. (at least for me!)

Download the following two .debs and run sudo dpkg -i on them, and you should be good to go.

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/conky/1.9.0-2/ will give you the binaries you need.

I use Google Chrome most of the time at home and on other computers, so it is nice to be able to log into chrome and see all your bookmarks, and have the ability to start up a session just like you left at home.

Let me know if I missed anything cool/fun/useful.

Extensions :
FlashBlock - Stops flash stuff from running until you click on it, helps speed things up

 MuteTab - Allows you to mute any tab you want.

SMEStorage Cloud Dashboard - One place for Dropbox, Box.net, Skydrive, etc....

TabCloud - Allows you to save all your tabs.. Useful if you change computers, or have different "profiles/common tab sets" for specific tasks, It can really cut down on distraction when working or whatnot.

Google Voice - Call, SMS

Add-Ons:

Weather Channel & Full Screen Weather 

Subsonic  - Since I have a subsonic server, it is nice to have.

JoilCloud - Fun to play with

Bloxorz - Really fun puzzle game

IsoBalls 3 - Like the old school marble madness of my c=64 daze...

Skydrive in Ubuntu 12.04

I now am happy with my 12.04 mostly xubuntu system, I just wanted a way to mount Skydrive.. Turns out it is easy with the SME packeage. Very easy to install, let you link to 3 storage providers (including Skydrive!!) plus they give you 5gigs from their own service... not too bad.. 

Just go to smestorage.com and get the package for you.. If you have problems installing sudo apt-get -f install should fix you right up.

Went to wordpress for awhile.... I like blogspot better, so I am going to transfer by posts from there over here.