[11:06] schestowitz[11:06] schestowitzIf you're looking for a simple and quick way to encrypt a file in Linux, you can use the Vim editor. Vim has some built-in file-encryption features that let you secure sensitive information using different encryption methods. Only a person with the right key can then access the encrypted file.
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[11:12] schestowitz[11:12] schestowitzThe KDE Plasma desktop is great, but most Linux distros default to GNOME instead. Why don't more go all-in on KDE? Plasma is more than capable of serving as the foundation for a distro, so why aren't more KDE-based options available? Turns out, the reasons are mostly technical.
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[11:21] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes-blog.josefsson.org | Preseeding Trisquel Virtual Machines Using netinst Images Simon Josefsson's blog [11:21] schestowitz[11:21] schestowitzIm migrating some self-hosted virtual machines to Trisquel, and noticed that Trisquel does not offer cloud-images similar to the Debian Cloud and Ubuntu Cloud images. Thus my earlier approach based on virt-install --cloud-init and cloud-localds does not work with Trisquel. While I hope that Trisquel will eventually publish cloud-compatible images, I wanted to document an alternative approach for Trisquel [11:21] schestowitz based on preseeding. This is how I used to install Debian and Ubuntu in the old days, and the automated preseed method is best documented in the Debian installation manual. I was hoping to forget about the preseed format, but maybe it will become one of those legacy technologies that never really disappears? Like FAT16 and 8-bit microcontrollers.
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[11:23] schestowitz[11:23] schestowitzOnce a week, millions of people set out their trash cans next to the curb for collection the following day, which many consider to be extremely annoying or laborious. So rather than manually dragging out the garbage and recycling bins, the YouTuber known as Max Maker decided to build a system that could automate the task at the touch of a key fob button.
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[11:23] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes-blog.system76.com | 2022 at System76: A Year in Review - System76 Blog [11:23] schestowitz[11:24] schestowitzFollowing the release of the Launch Configurable Keyboard in 2021, 2022 saw the addition of two more open source keyboards: The Launch Lite and the Launch Heavy. The 65% Launch Lite and full-sized Launch Heavy rounded out our keyboard line with both a smaller, portable option and a 105-key keyboard with a NumPad.
[11:23] schestowitzNext up, were looking into adding ISO and other layouts to these three keyboards; more on that in 2023!
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[11:26] schestowitz[11:26] schestowitzBefore CNC (computer numerical control) came along, automated machines utilized mechanisms like cams and tapers to act as guides. Those are physical components with precise contours meant to guide the tool, like an artist tracing lines with a pantograph. Such mechanisms are uncommon today, as CNC is far more versatile and much easier to implement. But Mr Innovative turned to those traditional techniques to [11:26] schestowitz build this cam-following plotter that can draw many shapes.
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[11:49] schestowitz[11:49] schestowitzAfter I finished getting U-Boot working, I began work on the kernel. I based my work on the stable kernel version 5.15.33. I started by compiling a kernel using the bundled pxa168_defconfig file. I created a device tree file called pxa168-chumby8.dts based on pxa168-aspenite.dts. It needed a few tweaks. I specified the correct amount of RAM for the Chumby 8 (128 MB) and changed the model and compatible [11:49] schestowitz strings. I also disabled twsi1 which is an I2C host. I wasnt ready to deal with I2C yet. Heres a small snippet of the relevant changed parts of my new device tree file.
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[12:46] schestowitz[12:47] schestowitzOccasionally I browse the Newest 'jq' questions on Stack Overflow and try to gently expand my jq knowledge, or at least exercise my young jq muscles. This morning I came across this one: Jq extracting the name and the value of objects as an array. Sometimes the questions are hard, sometimes less so. This one didn't seem too difficult, so I thought I'd take a quick coffee break to see what I could come up [12:46] schestowitz with (the question had already been answered but I didn't look until later).
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[12:58] schestowitz[12:58] schestowitzIn a blog last week, Paulus announced a new open-source project that aims to offer a voice assistant without an active internet connection or any other big tech voice assistants.
[12:58] schestowitzSo, an open-source challenger to Google, Alexa, and Siri?
Let's see what this is all about, then.
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[12:58] schestowitz[12:58] schestowitzI hate to write a piece just saying Someone Is Wrong On The Internet. But Reid Blackmans The Signal App and the Danger of Privacy at All Costs (in the NYTimes, forsooth) is not just wrong but dangerously misleading. I havent seen a compact explainer on why, so here goes.
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[12:59] schestowitz[12:59] schestowitzLastPass has been breached, data has been stolen. I already pointed out that their official statement is misleading. I also explained that decrypting passwords in the stolen data is possible which doesnt mean however that everybody is at risk now. For assessing whether you are at risk, a fairly hidden setting turned out critical: password iterations.
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[13:00] schestowitz[13:00] schestowitzYet another smartphone side-channel attack: EarSpy: Spying Caller Speech and Identity through Tiny Vibrations of Smartphone Ear Speakers: [...]
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