xvnz's recent activity
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Comment on Framework 16: Additional hardware questions in ~comp
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Comment on Framework 16: Additional hardware questions in ~comp
xvnz LinkBeen daily driving a Framework 16 since March. Like you, my plan is for this to be the last laptop I ever buy. Hardware-wise, I would say I'm 95% delighted: putting it together was a piece of cake...Been daily driving a Framework 16 since March. Like you, my plan is for this to be the last laptop I ever buy.
Hardware-wise, I would say I'm 95% delighted: putting it together was a piece of cake thanks to good labeling and the profusion of captive screws (and they even supplied a screwdriver; I have loads of tools, but it's nice that Framework bothered), I like being able to reconfigure the side expansion modules whenever I want, I have the skills to replace parts so it's great that I can actually order them, the screen is nice and bright (Caveats: I am neither a designer nor a high-end gamer, so my standards for a good screen may not be yours.), the theoretical possibility of dual SSDs is lovely, and I confess to giggling every time I trigger the LED matrix spacers or change the LED pattern on the RGB keyboard (and there are like, 50). The GPU is very easy to swap out; the fact that it's cold-swap rather than hot-swap isn't an issue for me because I discovered I barely use it (my gaming needs are, um, special). As for the 5% I'm not totally happy with: fit and finish isn't quite perfect (my touchpad module rests slightly higher on the right side than on the left, and I can feel the back right corner if I run my finger over it). Unlike for the 13", the expansion module bays are not 100% interchangeable, so for example you can't use either front slot to plug in the power supply (to be fair this is apparently an AMD-imposed limitation and not Framework's fault). The laptop seems to run a bit hot, although I haven't really explored whether this is truly a hardware problem or something related to my usage patterns.
Software-wise, I'm about 75% happy, but since I'm running Linux Mint 21.3, this effectively makes any problems I have not Framework's fault because it's not a supported distro. (The Insyde firmware is convinced I'm running Ubuntu, for what it's worth.) I settled on Mint after trying Fedora, MX Linux and ELive, but couldn't get the latter three to the magic combination of Steam + Compiz + not crashing regularly. (I'm at the point in my life where I no longer have the appetite to spend all weekend investigating the causes of a stability problem; I just want the system to work so I can play Borderlands.) As it is, Mint took a fair bit of tweaking before I was happy with it (e.g. skipping straight to the latest kernel right after install to get the GPU recognized and suspend to work at all), but I think I have it dialed it well enough now that the system is fine for daily use. My one attempt to dual-boot Mint and OpenBSD went poorly: bad things happened in UEFI-land and I ended up yanking the OpenBSD SSD and reinstalling the Mint one. (I keep backups and, as I said, my appetite for diving into OS problems is much weaker than it used to be.) I want to emphasize again that all of these issues are on me, not Framework, as they've been very clear on what distributions they support, and Mint isn't one of them, but you asked about the daily experience, so that's mine.
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Comment on I'm gonna be a dad! in ~life.men
xvnz LinkAs a parent, the only piece of advice I've been giving to parents-to-be is to document. Someone above mentioned photos and videos, but I've favored just a simple text log. While at the beginning...As a parent, the only piece of advice I've been giving to parents-to-be is to document. Someone above mentioned photos and videos, but I've favored just a simple text log. While at the beginning this will mostly be 'firsts', both positive and negative (e.g. first solid food or first medical emergency), later on it can become a log of the kid(s) efforts to interact with the world around them. Sometimes these are FUNNY as hell, as mine still crack up when I remind them of the completely illogical thing they insisted on back when they were five.
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Comment on For those who have tried YubiKey for personal use, is it worth it? in ~tech
xvnz Link ParentYes, yes, yes, and it depends on what your employer has set up for that. In more detail: with respect to the password safe, the recent ones have that....Yes, yes, yes, and it depends on what your employer has set up for that.
In more detail:
- with respect to the password safe, the recent ones have that. https://www.yubico.com/works-with-yubikey/catalog/password-safe/ The older ones may have it as well, but I personally don't use that feature.
- with respect to plugging it in, you stick it into a USB port. It draws power from there and (typically) registers as a keyboard.
- you get an OTP by tapping it in a particular spot, and the code is autofilled in whatever window/text field/input area you currently have selected*
- you use the same the same way on a work computer as on a personal one, but in the latter case you're likely authenticating against a single-sign-on installation rather than directly against, say, a website
*which sometimes leads to amusing results when you forget there's a chat window in the foreground.
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Comment on Have you ever compiled a custom Linux kernel? in ~comp
xvnz (edited )LinkFar too long ago, at the beginning of my time with Unix and Unix-like systems, I spent a fair amount of time recompiling the NetBSD kernel in the hopes of squeezing a little more performance out...Far too long ago, at the beginning of my time with Unix and Unix-like systems, I spent a fair amount of time recompiling the NetBSD kernel in the hopes of squeezing a little more performance out of a DEC Multia. (I'm aware OP asked specifically about the Linux kernel, but the question was about motivations, not OS choices.) While the idea sounded scary when suggested to me by more experienced geeks, the process turned out to be little more than editing a text file to comment out unused drivers, running a couple of prep commands, then firing off the compile. Oh yeah, and then waiting until the next morning, because if there was one thing you could say about Multias, it's that they were SLOOOOWWWWWW.
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Comment on Tell me about your experience with martial arts in ~hobbies
xvnz LinkI trained in savate (AKA boxe française) for several years, long enough to qualify for green glove. (Savate ranks you by glove color--you don't actually change the color of your gloves, it's an...I trained in savate (AKA boxe française) for several years, long enough to qualify for green glove. (Savate ranks you by glove color--you don't actually change the color of your gloves, it's an administrative distinction.) Then the salle I was at shut down, so I took a break. I signed up with another salle long enough to requalify, then had to give it up permanently for life reasons. I tried practicing solo, but it was boring, as a lot of the exercises really need an opponent.
In terms of benefits, it improved my balance, gave me a clearer sense of body dynamics, and was definitely good for my cardiovascular endurance. I would recommend it to beginners because there's a carefully-gradated hierarchy of skills you need to learn and test in at each level. That said, it's not really a popular art on the U.S. side of the Atlantic, so if you mention it in conversation you should expect anything from blank stares to jokes about baguette fencing.
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Comment on The four best Reddit alternatives: As Reddit melts down, users are fleeing to lemmy, kbin, tildes and more in ~tech
xvnz Link ParentWhat's a bit interesting is why the tilde glyph in particular is used to denote 'home' on Unix/Linux systems. If you believe Wikipedia, it's due to the commonality of the Lear Siegler's 1976...What's a bit interesting is why the tilde glyph in particular is used to denote 'home' on Unix/Linux systems. If you believe Wikipedia, it's due to the commonality of the Lear Siegler's 1976 ADM-3A mainframe terminal, whose keyboard layout placed the tilde on the Home key.
Extensive researchGoogle Images shows that ADM-3A keyboards do indeed have a ~/Home key, but whether this is indeed the source or just a coincidence isn't clear.(And as a side note to the side note, the way you do textual strikethroughs in CommonMark is with tildes. So there's another use for you.)
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tv
xvnz Link ParentWell, the ask was for series, so Flying Circus would probably be a better candidate for the discussion,.Well, the ask was for series, so Flying Circus would probably be a better candidate for the discussion,.
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Comment on Beer peeps, what have you been drinking? in ~food
xvnz Link ParentHaven't seen that one before. Thanks for the recommendation!Haven't seen that one before. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Comment on What operating system do you run your home servers on? in ~tech
xvnz LinkHardware-wise, a Protectli Vault, so similar to a NUC. It's compact, quiet and air-cooled, as compared to the 3U monster I was previously using. Software-wise, OpenBSD. It's stable and has...Hardware-wise, a Protectli Vault, so similar to a NUC. It's compact, quiet and air-cooled, as compared to the 3U monster I was previously using.
Software-wise, OpenBSD. It's stable and has world-class documentation. I'd suggest, as others here have, that for your first crack at home hosting you stick with what you know.
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Comment on Beer peeps, what have you been drinking? in ~food
xvnz Link ParentOrigin of Darkness, indeed. I've been working my way through all of them. My favorite collaborations of theirs so far: Bellwoods Brewery's Wheated Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Dulce de...Origin of Darkness, indeed. I've been working my way through all of them. My favorite collaborations of theirs so far:
- Bellwoods Brewery's Wheated Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Dulce de Leche
- Lervig's Milkshake Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter & Chocolate
- Vitamin Sea's Imperial Stout Aged in Rum Barrels with Coffee, Almonds, Lactose & Speculoos Cookies
Not so much of a fan of the ones aged in port or madeira barrels; something about the undertaste doesn't do it for me.
(Then again, looking at the flavor profiles of those stouts, maybe I've just burned out every single tastebud I have....)
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Comment on Linux mini computers in ~comp
xvnz LinkRaspberry Pi 1 Model B running Raspbian as a lightweight LAMP server (it's slow as a dog). A couple of Protectli Vaults running OPNSense and OpenBSD (much speedier).Raspberry Pi 1 Model B running Raspbian as a lightweight LAMP server (it's slow as a dog). A couple of Protectli Vaults running OPNSense and OpenBSD (much speedier).
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Comment on Beer peeps, what have you been drinking? in ~food
xvnz LinkImperial Stouts, preferably aged in bourbon barrels. Most recently: 3 Floyds Brewing Cocomungo Founders KBS Interboro Spirits & Ales anniversary stouts a variety a collaborations from Collective...Imperial Stouts, preferably aged in bourbon barrels. Most recently:
- 3 Floyds Brewing Cocomungo
- Founders KBS
- Interboro Spirits & Ales anniversary stouts
- a variety a collaborations from Collective Arts
Judging from the comments so far I'm an outlier.
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Comment on Ubuntu sends http requests to Google cloud, here’s a fix in ~tech
xvnz LinkPop! OS, System76's Ubuntu derivative, has its own version, network-manager-config-connectivity-pop. As far as I can tell it queries connectivity-check.pop-os.org, which in turn resolves to an AWS IP.Pop! OS, System76's Ubuntu derivative, has its own version, network-manager-config-connectivity-pop. As far as I can tell it queries connectivity-check.pop-os.org, which in turn resolves to an AWS IP.
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Comment on What is the difference between Linux distros? Why do you use the one you use? in ~comp
xvnz (edited )LinkYou could look at the choice of distributions as being similar to buying a car: they all have four wheels, they all travel at highway speeds, they all have a steering wheel. What does the brand or...What is the mechanical difference between using one distribution of Linux and another? Or are the differences usually not mechanical?
You could look at the choice of distributions as being similar to buying a car: they all have four wheels, they all travel at highway speeds, they all have a steering wheel. What does the brand or model matter? For some people, it doesn't. Others look at reliability and fuel consumption, or harder-to-define characteristics like driving experience or environmental impact. (I'm ignoring price as it isn't relevant to the analogy.) So it goes with distributions: a distribution is the Linux kernel and a toolkit combined for a given purpose. Sometimes the differences are mechanical, sometimes the differences are philosophical, and sometimes they're both.
A mechanical difference might be, as other commenters have pointed out, the choice of package management tools: some people like apt, others prefer rpm, and yet others recommend pacman. The functionality has a lot of overlap, but the commands are different. Ultimately, though, once you've learned the concepts you can switch between them relatively seamlessly.
A non-mechanical difference might be in purpose: a firewall distribution might ship locked down, with all security subsystems enabled by default, whereas a distribution targeted at beginners might include the same family of subsystems, but only enable a few of them to avoid confusing first-timers.
As for the 'both' category, consider distribution philosophy. For example, a distribution whose philosophy is that centralization is good will favor a tool like systemd, which unifies control of many subsystems. Another might subscribe to the philosophy of keeping tools separate and small, in which case it will avoid systemd entirely. This is also a mechanical difference, however, as the philosophy informs the toolkit: are you using systemd to start, stop, and configure every subsystem, or are you instead relying on the family of tools shipped with each one?
[W]hat's different between [Ubuntu and Debian], and between each and the other distros based on them? (and what's similar? I gather they all use the Linux kernel at least!)
You might choose Debian because you think it's stable and reliable. You might choose Ubuntu instead, because while you like Debian's stability, you also want the versions of included applications to be more up to date. You might choose neither and go with CentOS, which descends from Red Hat Linux, because you prefer rpm. Or you might decide that package management systems are anathema and that you want to install Gentoo Linux, where absolutely everything has to be compiled from source code. Either way you'll get the Linux kernel and the tools you want (or acceptable substitutes).
I wondered what reasons people had for their choice. What things are easier or harder for you in your distro of choice? Is it mainly day-to-day tasks that are important or more how the OS works underneath? How much difference does your preferred distro make?
I've run a number of different distributions, with the occasional side trip into BSD. Sometimes choices were esthetic, such Linux Mint, which was Ubuntu-based but I felt had a nicer GUI, or Fedora MATE Compiz which, well, came with Compiz out of the box. (I'm going to date myself outrageously and admit that I've always been fond of the Rotating Cube effect for switching workspaces.) Other choices were professional, such as choosing Fedora because my employer was a Red Hat shop. Still other choices were dictated by available hardware: the system I learned Linux on was Alpha-based, so it was Red Hat or nothing; my first laptop was a PowerPC system from Apple, which meant LinuxPPC or MkLinux, and I found a LinuxPPC disc before I found an MkLinux one; and I've run Xubuntu several times on older hardware as its use of the Xfce desktop environment makes it less taxing on older hardware.
I'm typing this on Pop! OS, an Ubuntu-based distribution, because it was offered as a choice when I purchased my current machine. I could also have chosen vanilla Ubuntu, but wanted to take Pop! for a test drive. (I also have the option of wiping the machine and installing something else entirely.) I like that Pop! ships with all the drivers for the hardware (SD card readers have been problematic for me in the past), and also that it offers a built-in toolkit for toggling between the dedicated Nvidia GPU and the integrated Intel one (a thorn in my side on my previous machine). I didn't like the default Gnome, so I installed MATE. I'm on the fence about installing applications using flatpak versus the distribution's package manager. As for the rest of it, my usual tools are available, so as long as the distribution doesn't get in my way I'm happy.
I would say that some of my issues (at least the stability ones) were absolutely Compiz issues, which has never been fully stable in the entire time I've been using it, but I'm a sucker for the rotating cube effect and it's a permanent part of my workflow. (Stop laughing.) Almost all the instability went away once I installed Mint, and the whole point of the exercise was to get to a stable desktop, so that's where I stayed.