compiling boost with -fPIC

sudo ./b2 -a variant=release cxxflags='-fPIC' --prefix=/usr/local

EPS in latex

In linux add this to preamble

\usepackage{epstopdf}

Then
\begin{document}
\includegraphics{figure.eps}
\end{document}

and run

$pdflatex -shell-escape yourfile.tex

This will convert the eps file to a pdf that latex can digest!

Enjoy

Ubuntu 10.04 and the new button layout

I do not understand the reasons behind ubuntu people changing the location of the menu buttons from left to right.

I have been using ubuntu since the old days of Breezy and always have the minimize/maximize/close buttons on the right. Is there any reason to suddenly change such default?

In any case, you can change them back see here http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/13535/move-window-buttons-back-to-the-right-in-ubuntu-10.04/

ALSA not working!!

Getting error like this all the time are so annoying

ALSA lib pcm.c:2211:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM dmix:NVidia

if you have compiled alsa from source and can see the volume control, etc, but still speaker-test is showing all of the weird errors about device not found, or unkown PCM then it is probably the ~/.asoundrc file

The file will have a line that points by default to ~/asoundrc.asoundconf comment this line, and you should have your speakers back to life :)

No sound from speakers, but headphone ok

I just upgraded ubuntu from 9.04 to 9.10. I hate upgrading, I like a clean install. In any case, the speakers sound stopped working, while headphones work!

After some investigation, left over pulse audio config files where causing problems, a fix is to remove them

cd
rm -rf .pulse*

tada! done works nicely

Good tutorial on how to add disks to linux

http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Adding_a_New_Disk_Drive_to_an_Ubuntu_Linux_System

Gnome Keyring! Why? and how to change it!

In a world of having at least 10 different passwords to remember, you gmail password, your hotmail password, you school/work password, your yahoo password, your random passwords, your friends passwords, etc. Suddenly, Gnome Keyring decides to have an uneasily changeable password.

Why do we need a gnome keyring password? I do not get it. Gnome is based on simplicity, ease of use, clarity and all of those very nice high values. Suddenly, Gnome Keyring pops up with "Please enter keyring password"

What if I no longer remember that old password. What if I decided to give my laptop to a friend and changed my password to some easy one they can remember. Well, guess what, they can't access the Internet, because the keyring password is a different story.


Here is how to change your password on ubuntu 9.04

rm ~/.gnome2/keyrings/login.keyring

On earlier versions of ubuntu, follow this http://mexpolk.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/ubuntu-change-default-keyring-password/

ahhhh gnome keyring!!