Some hotkeys in the GNU/Linux console CLI

ALT + b (move cursor to the previous word)

ALT + BACKSPACE = remove one word
ALT + f (move cursor to the next word)
ALT-b ALT-f (move between words)
ALT-y (after C-y, roll the the previous cutted things)
CTRL + ALT + Del : reboot the system
CTRL + a (go to the start of line)
CTRL + C = abort
CTRL + d = exit shell
CTRL + e (go end of the line)
CTRL + K = delete right side line (cut from cursor to the end)
CTRL + L (clear the screen)
CTRL + p (search in fish shell history)
CTRL + PgUp & PgDn = switch the terminal tab
CTRL + r (recall bash history)
CTRL + shift + C = copy text
CTRL + shift + V = paste text
CTRL + U = delete left side line
CTRL + u (cut the line)
CTRL + w (cut last word)
CTRL + Y = Undo
CTRL + y (paste)
<CTRL-ALT-E> which expands to the previous argument on this line.
CTRL+BACKSPACE = Reinicia entorno gráfico (no lo soportan todas las distros pero se puede rehabilitar).
CTRL+s in addition to CTRL-r (it browses the historic forward)
CTRL-u or CTRL-k (cut the line starting from the beginning/the point)
CTRL-y (past the last thing that was cutted)
<Esc> . aka Meta-. aka ALT-. to get the last argument from the previous line,
Fn + left,right arrow keys = jump on first and last line

Enjoy your internal speaker with beep again in Ubuntu or Debian

Latest GNU/Linux distros do not load by default the module to sound the internal beeper of the computer.

If you want to listen to it again you have to type the following commands:

sudo modprobe pcspkr
sudo apt-get install beep

Now you can listen to it until you reboot your computer beep.

If you want to make the change permanent you must edit the file /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf and comment out the line that disables the internal speaker:

blacklist pcspkr

Now you get:

# blacklist pcspkr

Now you can enjoy the shrill and charming sound of the internal speaker again ;-)

 

How to install Celestia in Ubuntu 18.04 or Debian 9

Latest Debian based distros don't include Celestia in their repositories and you need to compile the software to enjoy it.

Just need to type the following commands in your console (Ubuntu and derivates distros):

sudo apt-get install libglew-dev libjpeg-dev libpng-dev libtheora-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libeigen3-dev libfmt-dev qtbase5-dev qtbase5-dev-tools and libqt5opengl5-dev freeglut3-dev libgtkglext1-dev liblua5.2-dev git
git clone https://github.com/CelestiaProject/Celestia
cd Celestia/
mkdir build
cd build/
cmake .. -DENABLE_QT=ON
make
sudo make install

If you use Debian type first su - and then type the same commands as Ubuntu case but don't type sudo

Load an run any Amstrad CPC game or other software

I start a load games manual series with my favourite 8 bit computer: my Amstrad CPC.

Disc

Type
Run"disc"
or
 |CPM

(if the floppy disk has another command do this command).

Tape

1. I your CPC has any floppy disk unit type:
   |TAPE
2. Press CTRL & INTRO (small) or type:
   RUN"
3. Press INTRO, play in the cassette and then any key.

Cartridge

1. Switch the computer off.
2. Change the cartridge.
3. Switch the computer on.

Never change the cartridge with the computer switched on.

Interest links or if you want to know more

• A guide to running software on a real Amstrad CPC/CPC Plus computer.

PCem, old PCs emulator for GNU/Linux

PCem, is an old PCs emulator than simulate certain old machines like los Amstrad PC for example, this is not emulate only DOS system like DosBOX do so good.

Let's go to install and configure it.

Download and instalation

1. Install all the necessary libraries:
   sudo apt-get install libsdl2-dev libopenal-dev libwxbase3.0-dev libwxgtk3.0-dev automake
2. Download  latest available version of code from bitbucket.
3. Create a folder and uncompress in it:
   mkdir pcem
   cd pcem
   tar -zxvf ../PCemV14Linux.tar.gz
4. Compile and install:
   sudo chmod +x ./configure
   ./configure --enable-release
   make
   sudo make install

Configuration

Run emulator a first time:

pcem

You get an error because you haven't any BIOS but .pcem folder will be created in your $HOME with all the folder structure to add all the files you need:

Folder	Contents
configs	Each system configuration file.
logs	emulator logs (errors and warnings).
nvr	nvr
roms	ESSENTIAL: the roms you need for each system. This folder contains a folder for each PC type to emulate.
screenshots	Screenshots.
Other folders	You can create HD and DSK folders to add HD or floppy images for example.

If we have a configuración of a Windows pcemu for example, we need to copy configuration in .pcem folder.

We can change some things in emulation while machine is running clicking with right button into the emulation window.

Or we can use dialog boxes we can see when pcem start with any roms files included. This allow us add more configuration profiles or change the ones we have.

Important: check that all configuration files have the right path.

How to make a CP/M plus boot disk that start some commands at beginning (i.e.: Mallard Basic)

Vamos a preparar una cara de un disco de 3'' en un Amstrad CPC6128 para que al teclear |CPM arranque el sistema operativo y el comando que deseemos.

Lets make a CP/M plus boot disk in a side of a an Amstrad CPC6128 3'' disk, the goal is type |CPM an starts the operating system and the commands that we want.

Format as SYSTEM

IMPORTANT: You must use numerical keyboard in DISCKIT3 assistant, other numeric keys won't work.

1. Insert CP/M plus disk #1 (better a copy) and type:
   |CPM
2. Run the software:
   DISCKIT3
3. Select these options:
   Format > System Format
4. Keep system disk in A: drive until system tracks are copied, then press a key.
5. Select unit drive where is the disk to format (if we have more than one).
6. Confirm than this is the right drive and desired format, then press a key.
7. DISCKIT ask us if we want to format another disk, in this case we say NO.
8. Eject all the floppies and exit from DISCKIT3.
9. Return to CP/M prompt

Copy system to our new floppy disk

1. Insert again the new floppy but now in A: drive.
2. Insert system disk in B: drive or switch when system ask you if you have only one.
3. Copy these files to the new floppy:
   PIP B:=A:C10CPM3.EMS
   PIP B:=A:KEYS.*
   PIP B:=A:SUBMIT.COM
   PIP B:=A:SETKEYS.*
   PIP B:=A:SET24X80.COM
   PIP B:=A:AMSDOS.COM
   PIP B:=A:PIP.COM
   
4. Eject both floppies, restart CPC and we insert only the new one in A drive. Check if all runs ok with the command:
   |CPM

Copy Mallard Basic and some example BAS files

In my case I got the executable file of Mallard Basic del PCW with some BAS files, so I need to copy them (now I insert old floppy in B:)

PIP B:=A:BASIC.COM
PIP B:=A:*.BAS 

 Hacer que arranque Basic Mallard al iniciar CP/M 

1. Exit from CP/M typing AMSDOS
2. Type this lines from Locomotive Basic IN AMSDOS:
   10 OPENOUT "PROFILE.SUB"
   20 PRINT #9, "BASIC"
   30 CLOSEOUT
3. Save for future uses and changes:
   SAVE "GENPROF.BAS"
   (remember, this is a Locomotive Basic AMSDOS software, don't try to open with Mallard Basic in CP/M).
4. Type RUN.
5. Type |CPM again to check that new floppy works ok.

REMEMBER: Type SYSTEM to exit from Mallard Basic.

The big problem is you can't activate floppy write protection or autorun doesn't work. :(

Plug a stereo output to a mono input, the "mono emulator"

I want to plug my 8 bit computers tape port (input) to my new stereo cassette player another stereo set as my smartphone, a mp3 player, my raspberry pi in order to play games.

The idea is simple, plug all ground/mass conection together and stereo right and left signal to mono one.

To connect the stereo source to a computer with a homemade port, i.e. ZX Spectrum +2A or Commodore 64's tape unit, I make a cable with two male connectors, one stéreo and another mono, like this:

But If I want to make an adapter to an Amstrad CPC6128 or MSX tape cable the connections will be the same but mono connector will be female.

If I want to record in tape I need to this cable two times.

Also I can make a specific adapter for new smartphones (CTIA connection) or for my raspberry. At this cases we change the male stereo connector for an 4 contacts jack where most external connection will not be connecter (MIC or Video signal), ground will be the next connection.

If you use a very old mobile (OMTP connection), ground and MIC are swapped.

SuperTuxKart: unlock all tracks and karts

SuperTuxKart is a race karts game similar as Mario Kart and one of my favorite games because it's addictive and allow a lot of interesting things.

Now we see a tick to unlock all tracks and karts, we need edit a file with and editor than keep the original format of the file (I use jEdit).

This is the full path of the file:

$HOME/.config/supertuxkart/0.8.2/players.xml

we need change these strings:

true ► false

none ► hard

And that's it, you can already enjoy all the karts and tracks, including those that are blocked without needing to get the milestones.

Open alternatives to privative software (XII): GIMP, the graphics editor

You need GNU/Gimp if you need edit a photo or any image.

The GIMP is a very powerfull tool, at least as much as the most well known and you needn't pay a lot of money for a licence and you have the guarantee than it's open source.
Anyway, as any other software, you need a good manual or a course to learn of the possibility.

Some of its feautures:

• Multisystem: there are Windows, Mac (now full native), GNU/Linux y much more other unixes versions.
• Most GNU/Linux distros includes GIMP installed of included in their official repositories.
• Can import from or export to almost all graphics format.
• This is open source and also free software, you needn't pay expensive licences.
• You can do a lot of things with layers, make an animated GIF, images for different scenarios, etc...

Sice 2.8.x version was launched you can work in an unique window or not.
This version requires a pentium 4 processor at least and Windows version must be runned al least in Windows XP with service pack 3.

If our computer hasn't the minimal requirements (our PC must be older than 15 years old) we can use the older versions. They have most of the feautures with less requirements.

You can see professional possibilities and works in youtube, these videos will surprise you.

Original article

• Alternativas al software propietario (XII): GIMP, editor de imágenes.

Open alternatives to propietary software (XI): double panel explorers (NC clones)

Double panel explorer, similars to old Norton Commander in DOS, are very easy to use and useful to navigate in different devices and paths (HDD, DVD-ROM, etc...).

There is a lot of clones of NC and a lot of them are open source, these are my recomendations:

mc (midnight commander)

The ideal solution for browsing the GNU/Linux paths from the console, it is one of the first programs I install in any distro.

You can install it from your distro software center or from console with these commands as root:

apt-get install mc # Debian, ubuntu or similar

yum install mc # Red hat, Centos, Fedora or similar

gnome-commander

Very useful in gnome or any other graphic enviroment.

You can install it from your distro software center or from console with these commands as root:

apt-get install gnome-commander mild # Debian, ubuntu or similar

yum install gnome-commander # Red hat, Centos, Fedora or similar

All these software can do, at least, these operations with files and folders: copy, move, delete, edit, search content, change permissions and ownership and much more.

But there is a lot of open source clones I still don't prove it.

Original article

• Alternativas al software propietario (XI): los comandantes.

Open alternatives to propietary software (X): web browsers

Any open web browser is the best option to surf in the web with security, especially since the vulnerabilities are discovered very soon and corrected right away, using a private one is like playing Russian roulette.
These are some of most well-know:

• Mozilla Firefox, one of the more used web browsers in the World. It's a powerfull and secure web browser.
• Google Chrome another open source web browser, but made by google and apparently it monitors us while we use. There are a lot of people, including myseft,  that doesn't like this circustance.
  But again the advantages of free software are evident in this case, doesn't like how this web browser works? No problem, we made a fork: Chromium... but in this case Chrome is the fork than add spy code.
• Chromium this is handled the same as google chrome but without that disturbing monitoring and works with most chrome plugins, it is also very fast and secure.
• Other less known web browsers are Midori, SeaMonkey, etc

All of them are available for Windows, Mac and GNU/Linux, in the last case we do not even have to install Firefox because it usually comes standard on all distros, for something will be.

Multi-construction LDraw configuration kit: install tools to make your TENTE and LEGO models in your computer with Ubuntu

Multi-construction LDraw configuration kit installs and configured these applications to create and see 3D models of several construction systems:

• MLCad 3.40
• BMP2LDraw
• LDDesignPad
• LD4DStudio
• ldglite_1.3.1
• ldraw_2017.01
• ldview_4.3-ubuntu18.04
• leocad_17.07
• lpub_4.0
• povray 3.7
• Blender

Other resources:

• LDraw TENTE set (Jasolo)
• LDraw LEGO set (http://www.ldraw.org/)
• LDraw EXIN CASTILLOS set: COMMING SOON!
• My 3D models, customs and oficial ones.

Ubuntu Linux installation

1. Download this kit in any folder.
2. Open console and select this folder.
3. Type: sudo ./install.sh

Windows installation

For now you need to install this set manually in Windows:

1. Download LDView and install it.
2. Make the folder C:\LDRAW and uncompress this kit in this folder.
3. Uncompress these set of pieces in these folders:
   • C:\LDRAW\TENTE.
   • C:\LDRAW\EXINCASTILLOS (you need authenticate in this web).
   • C:\LDRAW\LEGO.
4. Uncompress these software in these folders:
   • MLCad 3.40 in C:\LDRAW\SOFTWARE\MLCAD_V3.40 (Optional).
   • BMP2LDRAW in C:\LDRAW\SOFTWARE\BMP2LDRAW
   • LDDesignPad in C:\LDRAW\SOFTWARE\LDDP
   • Etc...
5. Copy in Desktop the files of this folder C:\ldraw\software\accesos-directos-Windows.

Linapple y The Octalyzer: Apple II emulators for GNU/Linux

Linapple

Linapple is an emulator of the mythical Apple II quite simple and intuitive to use:

  

Instalation

Follow these steps to install it in GNU/Linux (Debian, Raspbian or Ubuntu):

• Download the source code from sourceforge.
• Uncompress it.
• Install all the necessary packages to compile it.
  sudo apt-get install zlib1g-dev libcurl3 libzip-dev libsdl1.2-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev
• Compile it:
  cd src
make
sudo make install

Use

To run the emulator just type 'linapple' in the linux console.
Press F1 and you get information about all the function keys:

The Octalyzer

Other amazing Apple ][ emulator is The Octalyzer:

• Multisystem: available for GNU/Linux (32 & 64 bits), Windows (32 & 64 bits) and OSX.
• It's a unique binary file, you only need copy it to /usr/local/lib and run octalizer to enjoy it.
• Drag and drop disk images to the windows, to open them.
• Can render the images to 3D

Enjoy both emulators :)

Open alternative to propietary software (IX): ClamWin/ClamAV the open source antiviral software

Windows users need an antiviral software to get a minimal security, although given how vulnerable this system none of them is completely effective.
Privative antivirus usually eat a lot of resources of your computer, run for a short time because the licence expires and requires more money to update it (an non-update antivirus is useless), dirts your system, complete uninstall is very difficult, etc...

Clamwin is a different antiviral software: it can run on a pentium II without hang it, you can update the database viruses everyday and free and you can uninstall when you like as any other Windows software and it's open source.

The fact that it is a free program is a guarantee against suspicions, more judicious than paranoid, about the true intentions of most antiviruses and to what extent they protect or are part of the problem: a free antivirus does not benefit as much from the proliferation of viruses as the private ones that make their business go very well.

There is also a GNU/Linux version called Clamav.
I personally do not see any sense to have an antivirus in a system in which viruses do not pass theoretical experiments without practical danger.

You can keep safe your GNU/Linux updating the system and a bit of common sense.

How to compile and install povray in Ubuntu, Debian and distro derivates

Povray is a ray tracer available for several systems, although on unix systems you need to compile it, but it's easy following these steps:

Compile and install

Install the libraries you need to compile:

sudo apt-get install zlib1g-dev libpng12-dev libjpeg-dev libtiff5-dev libopenexr-dev libsdl1.2-dev libboost-system1.55-dev libboost1.55-dev git

Download the latest source code:

git clone https://github.com/POV-Ray/povray.git povray

Compile and install:

cd povray/unix
./prebuild.sh
cd ..
./configure COMPILED_BY="your name" LIBS="-lboost_system -lboost_thread"
make
sudo make install

Now, povray is installed in your computer.

Note: You needn't LIBS="-lboost_system -lboost_thread" in Debian.

How to use

You can generate a Full HD image with this command:

povray -W1920 -H1024 file.pov

Pov file is a text file with all the instructions in povray language to render a image (may be a very big file).

You can get amazing images like this:

Open alternatives to propietary software (VIII): Transmission, the bittorrent client

Transmission is the bittorrent client included in a lot of GNU/Linux distros.

You only need open a .torrent file and the software add the petition to the queue.

You can run Transmission and work with your computer as usual because this software doesn't cannibalize your computer resources like other bittorrent clients.

 

Are still anybody than says that GNU/Linux is not easy?

How to install your favourite GNU/Linux distro on a USB stick as if were an internal hard disk

No, we are not going to make a live pendrive, but install a Linux distro on a pendrive as if installing it on the internal disk of the computer, this will give us mobility like a live usb and versatility like a complete installation.

Preliminaries

We can do this in many ways but to make it easy and safe even for the most newbies users we will use VirtualBox.

Virtual machine setup

1. Start assistant to create a new virtual machine (New button).
2. Type: Linux.
3. Version: Ubuntu 64 bits.
4. Memory size: enought but not to much (select intro the green stripe).
   An example: my computer has 8Gb RAM, then select 3Gb.
5. Hard drive: WE DO NOT ADD ANYONE (we see why later).
6. Clic on Create.

After the virtual machine is created we ajust some parameters. We clic with right button over virtual machine and select Configuration:

1. Storage: select CD and then CD with arrow icon to select the distro iso file like virtual CD.
2. System: select Start order and move optical device as first one.
3. USB: Enable USB controller (use 2.0).
   Add usb stick where we are goint to install the distro (it must be plug to the computer).
4. Accept changes and double click on virtual machine to start instalation.

Installing OS

• Follow the assistant instructions (very easy in any Ubuntu or derivatives).
• Select delete all the drive and use all of it. So it will create all the partitions in the right way for most types of computers.
• When installing ends it ask us to remove the CD and then play any key. We do it and switch the virtual machine off when we see BIOS screen.
  At this point following operations must make in a real computer due to VirtualBox can boot usb devices.
• Close virtualbox and switch our computer off.

Use

• First configure computer BIOS to boot from USB devices (In most computers you can access to the BIOS pressing ESC or F2).
• The computer will start like it was installed in internal disc, you can update the system, add software or files, configure whan you need... all will be there when you start this again in any computer.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• This is a normal instalation and you can do all you can if you install it in the internal disc.
• If you need a driver like wifi one, you can start from another computer, install it and then start in your computer and wifi works.
• Your computer in your pocket, you can use it if there is a computer than you can boot from USB.
• You can clone it to another USB or internal disc with dd or tools like etcher.

Disadvantages

• USB stick are usually smaller than internal disc, this limit you if you want to install a lot of software or add big files.
• Remember than USB stick is a solid state device. Don't complete fill to avoid writing in the same sectors all the time.
• USB ports are less faster than internal SATA ones, I recoment use USB 3.0 devices and ports.
• Don't remove the USB until the system finish to switch off. USB stick are more delicate than internal disc in this case.
• You can install the system in an internal disc with an easy assistant, you can use tools like systemback or clone it with clonezilla, for example.

Amstrad CPC Easi-amsword to HTML converter made with javascript, html and css

In 80's, early computers consumers use simple and primitive word proccesors like Easy-amsword, made in Basic, usually included as a gift when you buy an Amstrad CPC464.

Some users make several docs than only this software can read, so now you need an operative Amstrad CPC or an emulator to read them, there isn't a simple way to convert them to new formats... until now.
I make a simple software to convert these files to simple HTML, so you can edit with a new wordproccesor as LibreOffice.org writer or HTML editors like BlueGriffon.

How to install and run

1. Download from here.
2. Uncompress this ZIP file in a folder.
3. Open eamsword2html.en.html file in your favourite web browser.

How to use

To use this software follow these steps:

1. Select an easi-amsword file.
2. Click on Convert button.
3. Click on Save as HTML code, Convert to HTML or See as HTML code.

This software can use original easi-amsword files or the unofficial fork that manages several special characters or some format as bold, italics, overwrite, etc...

This software is under GNU/GPL 2 license so you can get here the source code, you can change to fix to your needs.

I hope it is useful for you to recover your documents of that time stored in tapes and you can preserve them for the future.

Notice: this software may be buggy, if you detect a bug comment in issues section.

If you can't extract your easi-amsword docs from your tapes, look at this.

Open alternatives to privative software (VII): Libreoffice.org, the office suite

There is a lot of user that needs a computer just for use a web browser and a simple office suite.

These use can work with GNU/Linux without a great effort, and they keep reading all the files the had in office formats using LibreOffice.

This office suite is included in most GNU/Linux distros and also can read visio and pdf files and much more formats.

Available for a lot of systems (i.e: Windows and OSX) and there isn't any real reasons that avoid change to LibreOffice.org

Clone a microsd in another slightly smaller one

I clone a microsd in another slightly smaller one using gparted following these steps:

1. After get the error in the destination microsd plugged in my Linux PC, start gparted as root.
2. Unmount all the microsd partitions. We see some warning, ignore them.
3. Reduce last partition and the extended where it is.
4. After the operation is ended, run sync twice and then extract the microsd. Might be stopped warning messages.

If you haven't GNU/Linux in your PC you can use gparted-live.

Tip: if your graphic image burner tool can burn images bigger than your microsd try dd in GNU/Linux.