Category: Tools
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Optimize Your MySQL Server With the MySQL Tuner Script
MySQL is powerful, open-source database software. When joined with PHP or another programming language, the uses of MySQL are almost endless. The ability to use MySQL in an unlimited number of ways is both a blessing and a curse. While MySQL can be used for just about anything, there is no single proper way to…
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How to Learn the Linux Command Line with CLI Companion
Contrary to an enduring myth, you don’t need to constantly jump to the command line in order to effectively use Linux. There are people who spend all their time ensconced in their favorite window manager who’ve never, and never will, type a string of esoteric commands. Having said that, there are times when knowledge of…
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An Introduction to Ubuntu’s Personal Package Archives
Do you use Ubuntu? Then you probably know that there really only are a few ways in which you can install software on your computer. Most people use either the Ubuntu Software Center or Synaptic Package Manager. Of course, you can compile the software’s source code or install it with a .deb package, but both…
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Tectonicus: A High Detail Map Renderer for Minecraft
If you haven’t heard (or you are a gamer that has been living under a rock), Minecraft is an extremely popular sandbox indie video game being developed by the Swedish company Mojang. Currently available in both a free Classic version and a paid Beta version, Minecraft has exploded in popularity with over 10 million registered…
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Back Up Your Google Docs, Reader, Calendar and Contacts with CloudPull for Mac
CloudPull is an app that will back up the contents of your Google Docs, Reader, Calendar, and Contacts, but is available exclusively to Apple users using Mac OS 10.6 or 10.7. Sorry, PCs. It’s available for a 30 day free trial, but costs $24.95 if you’d like to use it permanently. Once I logged in,…
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Collaborate on Documents Online with ScribTex
Let’s talk about LaTeX. No, LaTeX (the document markup language and preparation system). For a majority of computer users, LaTeX is so far off their radars that it doesn’t exist. But for others — students, writers, scientists, academics — LaTeX is the way to write and typeset beautiful documents. The problem with LaTeX, at least…
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How to Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Do you ever wonder if you are getting the upload and download speeds promised by your provider? DSL users especially may find themselves scratching their heads wondering why their Internet connection is so slow. Many providers have their own testing tools. But again what if their testing tools are lying to us? Here’s an easy way…
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Subsonic: Now Able to Stream Movies and Videos
I previously wrote an article introducing you to Subsonic, the open-source, cross-platform software that can be used to stream your personal music library anywhere across the internet. In the time since that article, few changes have occurred to Subsonic. But recently, a feature was added that really puts Subsonic at the top of my list…
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Write Blog Posts From Inside Your Browser with ScribeFire
That seems kind of obvious, doesn’t it? Blogging from insider your browser, I mean. That’s how most people do it — go to whatever blogging site they use, log in, and start typing. But that’s not necessarily the best way. And it’s not the most convenient, either, especially if you have more than one blog.…
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Google’s Swiffy Converts SWF Files to HTML5
Amidst of all the recent announcements from Google comes a lesser-known feature that’s available now in Google Labs. It’s a small service called Swiffy, and it will convert SWF (the file format for Flash) files into HTML5 versions for use in most modern browsers like Chrome and Safari. Google says the process works by first…