Termux: Lightweight Linux Environment for Android

Feb 24, 2016 GMT

While you can deploy a full-blown Linux distribution on your Android device, opting for a nimble solution like Termux makes more sense in most situations. Installed as a regular app, Termux gives you a terminal emulator and a lightweight Linux environment that offers all basic Linux tools, including the Bash shell and apt utilities. This means that you can use Termux to write Bash scripts and install additional packages right out of the box. Install, for example, the openssh package, and you can manage remote Linux hosts from your Android device as well as run an SSH server on it. Want to use Termux to write and run code? Install Python, Perl, ruby and Node.js from Termux' repositories....

Back up Storage Cards and Cameras with the Little Backup Box

Feb 16, 2016 GMT

Worry about keeping your photos safe when you are on the move? Enter Little Backup Box. This simple Bash shell script cobbled together by yours truly transforms a Raspberry Pi into a simple, reliable and fully-automatic photo backup device. The script detects and mounts a storage device like a USB stick or hard disk as soon as it's connected. It then does the same with a card reader (with a storage card in it) or a camera when one of these is connected. The script then transfers photos from either the card reader or the camera to the storage device. Once the backup operation is completed, the script shuts the Raspberry Pi down. Little Backup Box has been tested with Raspberry Pi 2...

Keep Documentation Handy with Zeal

Jan 29, 2016 GMT

Whether you write code for fun or for profit, having instant access to documentation that doesn't depend on a network connection is essential and even critical. That's why it's a good idea to have Zeal installed on your machine. This simple tool provides access to documentation (or docsets) for a wide variety of programming languages and applications: from PHP and Python to Markdown and MongoDB, and everything in between. To populate Zeal with docsets, choose File | Options, switch to the Docsets section, then pick and download the desired docsets. Zeal's interface is simplicity itself. The left sidebar presents all installed docsets as...

Manage Wireless Connections from the Command Line with wifi.sh

Jan 29, 2016 GMT

Configuring a wireless connection from the command line can be a daunting proposition, especially for Linux novices. Enter wifi.sh. This user-friendly wpa_supplicant wrapper reduces the complexity of connecting or setting up a wireless connection to a few simple steps. Written in Bash, the tool is light on resources, so it's suitable for machines like Raspberry Pi. To install wifi.sh, you need an Internet connection and Node.js and NPM software installed on your machine. Run the sudo npm install -g wifi.sh command, and you are good to go.wifi.sh features several commands that can help you to establish a wireless connection with a minimum of effort. The sudo wifi.sh scan command, for...

Use QuickMockup for Quick-and-Dirty Prototyping

Jan 27, 2016 GMT

Next time you need to sketch an app interface or a web page layout, you might want to give QuickMockup a try. It may look somewhat crude, but this simple tool lets you whip up quick mockups in no time from the convenience of your favorite browser. Written in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, QuickMockup requires no installation. Grab the latest version of the app from the project's GitHub repository, open the index.html file in a browser, and start building mockups. The app offers all basic interface elements such as buttons, drop-down lists, text fields, progress bars, sliders, and more. If you have a working knowledge of HTML and CSS, you can add custom elements too. ...

Markdowned: Markdown Editor in a Single HTML File

Jan 25, 2016 GMT

Markdowned editor indeed consists of a single editable HTML file, which is rather nifty if you think about it. There is no need to install anything, and you can use the editor on any device with a browser. Markdowned is decidedly bare-bones, so it's better suited as a no-frills distraction-free tool for jotting notes and drafting articles, rather than a replacement for a regular markdown editor.That said, Markdowned does have a couple of interesting features. Firstly, Markdown formatting is automatically applied when you print the text, so you get a properly-formatted file. More importantly, Markdowned supports versioning, and it keeps all versions in the same file. Here is how this...

WordPress Desktop App for Linux

Jan 21, 2016 GMT

Not so long ago, Automattic released the WordPress desktop app for all major platforms, including Linux. The idea of using a website via a dedicated desktop app instead of a browser may sound silly, but after having used the app for a while, I must admit that it makes a lot of sense. First of all, everything in the app is faster: navigating through pages and sections, loading articles, customizing -- there are almost no delays or waiting time. As a blogger, you'll appreciate the new streamlined and improved writing interface that is a nice departure from WordPRess' original cluttered editing screen. And as a reader, you'll find the...