Linux

Functions In PHP Functions are considered to be a complicated topic in programming and many newbies think it will cost them a hand and a leg to master them. But mark my words and mark them well - functions are your friends and they are one of the easiest and most effective things in programming to learn.

Not so long ago I read Dmitrijs' blog post on how to configure apt-cacher-ng to advertise it's service using avahi. As I normally use my laptop in my home and at work, and both networks have apt-cacher-ng running, I decided to give it a try.I have been administering apt-cacher-ng for three networks so far, and I really find it a useful tool. Then, thanks to the aforementioned blog post, I discovered squid-deb-proxy. I don't use squid, so it's not for my normal use case, but some people will surely find it interesting.But I found it's client package to be really interesting. It will discover any service providing _apt_proxy._tcp through avahi and let apt use it. But then the package wasn't available in Debian. So, I contacted Michael Vogt to see if he was interested in putting at least the client in Debian's archive. He took the opportunity to upload the full squid-deb-proxy, so thanks a lot Michael :-)I then filled a wishlist bug against apt-cacher-ng to provide the avahi configuration for publishing the service, which Eduard included in the last version of it. So thanks a lot Eduard too!tl;drYou know only need apt-cacher-ng >= 0.7.13-1 and avahi-daemon installed on your server and your mobile users just need squid-deb-proxy-client. Then the proxy autoconfiguration for apt will just work.One again, thanks a lot to the respective maintainers for allowing this into Jessie :-)GotchasYes, there are still some rough edges. On one of the networks I'm behind a proxy. While configuring my machine to use apt-cacher-ng's service as a proxy trough apt.conf, apt-listbugs would just work. But now, using the service as discovered by squid-deb-proxy-client, apt-listbugs just times out. Maybe I need to fill some other bug yet...

Just tagged a 1.0.0 release for libmbim, a library which helps you talk to MBIM-capable modems. You can read more about the MBIM protocol in the libmbim introduction blogpost I wrote some months ago. The 1.0.0 tarball is ready for download from freedesktop.org:   http://www.freedesktop.org/software/libmbim/libmbim-1.0.0.tar.xz If you want to easily talk to a MBIM device from a GLib-based application, you may want to check the libmbim API documentation. libmbim is currently used by ModemManager (git master), but you can also now use it in standalone mode with either mbimcli (the command line utility) or mbim-network (a helper script to launch a connection): # echo "APN=Internet" > /etc/mbim-network.conf   # mbim-network /dev/cdc-wdm0 start Loading profile...     APN: Internet Starting network with 'mbimcli -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --connect=Internet --no-close'... Network started successfully   # mbim-network /dev/cdc-wdm0 status Loading profile...     APN: Internet Getting status with 'mbimcli -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --query-connection-state --no-close'... Status: activated   # mbim-network /dev/cdc-wdm0 stop Loading profile...     APN: Internet Stopping network with 'mbimcli -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --disconnect'... Network stopped successfully As with libqmi’s qmi-network script, you’ll still need to run a DHCP client on the wwan interface after getting connected through MBIM. Note that your modem may not support DHCP… if that’s your case then patches are welcome to update the script to dump the IP configuration Or just use ModemManager, which works nicely with the static IP setup. Enjoy! Filed under: Development, FreeDesktop Planet, GNOME Planet, Lanedo Planet, Planets Tagged: libmbim, MBIM, ModemManager

cowbuilder can call lintian via hook script, but piuparts needs to be run under privilege, then failed. umm...

jrepin writes "The GNU Hurd is the GNU project's replacement for the Unix kernel. It is a collection of servers that run on the Mach microkernel to implement file systems, network protocols, file access control, and other features that are implemented by the Unix kernel or similar kernels (such as Linux). The Debian GNU/Hurd team announces the release of Debian GNU/Hurd 2013. This is a snapshot of Debian 'sid' at the time of the Debian 'wheezy' release (May 2013), so it is mostly based on the same sources. Debian GNU/Hurd is currently available for the i386 architecture with more than 10,000 software packages available (more than 75% of the Debian archive)." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

It looks like LG's latest range of smartphones is going to become a trio as details leak on the LG Optimus F3.The Optimus F7 and Optimus F5 handsets were launched at MWC back in February, offering 4G capabilities to the mid-range mobile market, and coming in at a higher level than the firm's rebooted L-series trio.A photo of the Optimus F3 handset appeared alongside a smattering of specs on the @evleaks Twitter account - a source which is often on the money when it comes to these sort of things.According to the report the LG Optimus F3 will sport a 4.0-inch WVGA display, dual-core processor, Android Jelly Bean and a sizable 2,460mAh battery.You little ripper!There's nothing particularly ground breaking there apart from that battery, but the real selling point is the fact the F3 comes LTE enabled, allowing users to access super fast date speeds on what is being billed as "aggressively priced" contracts.If the Optimus F3 has begun to whet your appetite then hold on a minute, put down that fork, as it looks like LG is lining it up for the Australian market in the next few weeks, with no word on global availability.We've contacted LG regarding the Optimus F3 and we'll update this article if we hear anything.

Reports have surfaced that Flickr and Vimeo will be deeply integrated into iOS 7, after deals were struck between the respective companies and Apple.9to5Mac claims that an unnamed source has confirmed deep integration of Flickr and Vimeo into iOS 7, allowing users to stay signed in using the dedicated Settings app in the same way current iOS users can with Facebook and Twitter. With Flickr and Vimeo integration users will be able to upload their videos and pictures directly to the social networking sites without having to fire up official apps.The report also suggests that Yahoo bosses were in talks with Apple recently as it looked to expose its services to new users – especially since Twitter received a 25% boost in signups after its iOS 5 integration. Security, escort this app out pleaseThe integration of Vimeo, and Apple's attempt at its own mapping service, suggests a clear shift towards services that aren't powered by Google for iOS 7. It's a mutually beneficial tactic as Vimeo and the Yahoo-owned Flickr can challenge other, more established, services by getting direct access to Apple's huge worldwide user base, but will it be enough?

We've known for some time that Google has been looking to bring some of its Chrome OS features to other operating systems, and now new information all-but-confirms that a Mac version of the Chrome OS app launcher is on its way.The leak came from Chrome engineer François Beaufort, who also provided a picture and a link to a beta version that's ready to trial. You will, however, need to download at least one app from the Chrome web store to get it running.Google wants to emulate the experience of Chromebooks on other machines using the launcher, which lists all of your web apps in one convenient place.Hush hushThe Chrome OS platform runs web apps instead of traditional programs, which makes the app launcher an integral part of the Chrome experience. Instead of having to enter Chrome to execute app functions, the launcher opens the apps into a separate window. Currently there's no word on a launch date and Beaufort didn't offer up any other teasers.It is likely, however, that Google will release the app launcher with Chrome 28 and Chrome 29, both of which are heading our way soon.

More and more manufacturers are going down the oversized smartphone route and if the latest rumblings are to be believed Nokia isn't far behind.Those notions, however, are coming from the incredibly hit and miss Taiwanese site Digitimes which claims its industry sources have revealed Nokia will release its first phablet in 2014.The supersized phone market is growing with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Huawei Ascend Mate, LG Optimus G Pro and ZTE Grand Memo all sporting screens around the 6-inch mark.For Nokia it would be an important space to break into as the Finnish firm seemingly has no interest in offering a full blown tablet device, so a 6-inch smartphone could be its key to continued growth and success.Is bigger better?No further details were provided on Nokia's supposed larger-than-life device, but the sources did mention that Chinese manufacturer Huawei is already planning another.Apparently a 6.5-inch smartphone is under development in China, and if so it would dwarf Huawei's current big screen offering with the Ascend Mate packing an already huge 6.1-inch display.There's no word on a release date for this handset, and pricing for both still remains a mystery - as does the legitimacy of these rumours - so we'll keep an eye out for more information over the coming months.

Finally arrived at LinuxTag after an extended flight delay. Turns out that speakers get 5 free tickets and I have no idea what to do with them. If you want to visit my talk or just need a free ticket, please poke me on IRC or by email. First come, first served.