CML Framework prototype completed (v0.3.1)!

This project is running for some time now and is considered to be the core of our Collaboration Modeling Lab (CML).

It is a model generation framework prototype to be used to validate the IRIS departments main research line has been completed. This is the first release that takes the process from the logbook through to a generated ORM model via the distiller. For more details you can examine the code at the CML project site and for a quick vi
sual of the design I have included a generic class diagram below:

This framework is being developed in Java 1.5, with parser generation being handled by Antlr, Unit Testing with JUnit4, back-end database access via the java MySQL connector, and runs currently in the Eclipse framework (using 3.2.2).

DB2 Express - C, DB2 for the masses!

I stumbled across this today and could not resist bookmarking the info here, DB2 Express - C is a free version of the powerful IBM DB2 enterprise database and you can run it on Linux!

I started my IT career at IBM here in the Netherlands, doing DBA work for the Logistics Center (IMPL) which was a complete dive into the deep end of the DB2 pool for me. I never forgot how amazed I was at what all those experienced IBM DB2ers could do with a DB2 setup and have often missed that power when working on Free Software solutions for my current work.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love my MySQL and Postgresql databases as much as the next guy. Take a look a the Zen and the Art of Ruby Programming blog and specifically the posting Python, Django and DB2: we need your input!

To quote the article, ” DB2 Express – C is entirely free and the code base is no different from the commercial version. This is a rather different approach from other vendors, whose “express versions are often crippled by design. There is no database size limit, no limit on the number of instances or databases and no restrictions on the number of users or connections. DB2 Express – C license requires only that it is used on a Linux or Windows server, with a maximum of 4 cores (32 or 64 bit) and 4 GB of memory. That’s it. This is pretty much a generous license given that most developers, startups and even medium sized businesses won’t need anything more than 4 cores with 4 GB of RAM for their dataservers.” This is something special and the reason I have always been a supporter of the IBM mentality with regards to supporting Free Software / Open Source Software in the form that they do. Some of the people in IBM really do get it! ;-)

I look very much forward to trying out the DB2 Express - C soon on an upcoming research prototype at my current work. It should be fun to get back into the DB2 world again and here is some information to get started along with support forums.

Happy DB2ing to all! ;-)

Ride to Uden today

I took a ride over to Uden today, was really great with temperature at around 16 degrees in the sunny south of the Netherlands. I had also just picked up shoe booties to keep my toes warm in the sometimes brisk cool weather we have in the early spring.

It was a 35km ride and I was hauling butt, averaged almost 32km/hour up to Oss and ended in Uden at 29.6 km/hr with total ride time 1 hr and 11 minutes. Felt pretty fit!

Installing Beryl on Ubuntu is easy!

I thought it might be nicer to include the beryl installation instructions here as they are nested pretty deep in the article I posted, 30 Days with Linux, a complete story.

Here is a quick start of what I did to get beryl on my system:

# ADD TO SOURCES LIST:
#
$ sudo vim /etc/apt/sources.list</pre>

# Add lines:
#    deb http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/ edgy main
#    deb-src http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org edgy main

# For the GPG key (remove the spaces between 
# 'root @ lupine.me.uk.gpg', this is needed 
# to post to blog):
#
$ wget http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/root@lupine.me.uk.gpg -O - | sudo apt-key add -

# Update your sources listing.
#
$ sudo aptitude update

# Enable AIGLX:
#
$ sudo vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# Under Section "Module", make sure that the following lines
# are included:
#
Load "dri"
Load "dbe"
Load "glx"

# Under Section "Device"  add the following:
#
Option  "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"

# Add following to bottom of file if not present:
#
Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

# Restart the xserver by either logging out and into your desktop,
# or restarting the managing package, in this case it is kdm for my
# KDE desktop.
#
$ sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart

# Install Beryl and its themes
#
$ sudo aptitude install beryl emerald-themes

# Starting Beryl
#
$ beryl-manager

# Enjoy the show by opening a few windows, move them around
# and for some real fun try rotating your desktop cube as fast
# as you can hit:
#
CTRL+ALT+RIGHT-ARROW

I was just tickled pink and happier than a pig in shit with this stuff! ;-)

30 Days with Linux, a complete story

This is a very good article written by someone stepping off of windows completely for 30 days to give Ubuntu a try. He goes into great detail and provides both beginners information, but also a comprehensive guide to more experienced users to setup all kinds of software components on Linux (for example the more advanced beryl desktop setup).

Take a look, it is worth a browse at the [H] Consumer site.

The Feegle Free-Fall game online!

This was just too funny not to immortalize here with a posting and a link.

I was put in touch with the Terry Pratchett Books site and found this in there. It is a game based on my favorite characters out of the Dicsworld series, the Nac Mac Feegles a.k.a. The Wee Free Men! They are rough-neck boys that love to fight but prefer to attack with headbutts, also speaking a language that you have to place in the Scottish accents field to even read (try it in his books, you will see what I mean)!

The game is called Feegle Free-Fall, try it, lots of fun online! ;-)

AbTLinux progress, install a package is working!

I have made another push on the coding of abt, the AbTLinux package manager. We have now got a basic install for the standard software package build cycle of configure, make and make install. This includes configure, build and install logs.

There is still much to do, but the basic framework is starting to appear. As things are getting more stable in my world I am trying to commit at least a few hours in the evenings each week to coding. Watch the progress in the AbTLinux Trac.

Some general silliness in the Dilbert Blog!

This is just a general interest funny note posting.

I got a comment included on Scott Adams blog site. You can find it here in his funny ideas on “Speaking of Archeology”, just search the page for my name! ;-)