Saturday, October 25, 2008

Custom Search Tool in Firefox

There are search engines which you visit/use frequently and are not listed in Firefox plugin page, so what you will do? Create your own simple :

I will making a Google Linux search tool :
  • Open any text editor and paste this code :
    <search 
    name="Google Linux"
    method="GET"
    action="http://www.google.co.in/linux"
    queryCharset="utf-8"
    >
    <input name="q" user>
    </search>

  • You can add more parameters other than query like "Search within a domain".
    Add
    <input name="sitesearch" value="gnu.org">
    below
    <input name="q" user>
    Just carefully observe the URL after you hit a search for the parameter name/value and keep adding for a filtered search.

  • Save the file as filename.src (I am using glinux.src) to ~/.mozilla/firefox/<profile>/searchplugins/

    TIP : To display icon next to your search engine create a 16X16 PNG or GIF image and save it in the same folder as glinux.src and name it glinux.png or glinux.gif as per your file format

  • Restart Firefox, your source will be compiled and converted into a .XML file automatically and what next! use your engine

Also check : Mycroft Project

Attached few of my favorites : search.tar.gz

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

IP address from NetBIOS name

I will use ping command for knowing the IP address, but for a default *nix system we cannot ping a node using its NetBIOS name. So with a minor edit we can do it all. Here's the process :

  • Edit /etc/nsswitch.conf :
    $ vim /etc/nsswitch.conf
    Or use any other editor of your choice

  • Search for something similar to this :
    hosts:          files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns mdns4
    and add wins at the end of the line
    hosts:          files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns mdns4 wins
    Save the file and exit

  • Now use ping command :
    $ ping xyz
    You will get a output something like this :
    PING xyz (192.168.2.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
    Here 192.168.2.1 is the required IP

There may be different ways but I find this one quite simple.

Source(s) : Samba HOWTO

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Maah! Desktop

With GNU/Linux systems you can have a highly customizable desktop with no bounds to possibilities. I have discussed few techniques for a nerdy looking environment in my Feeling Geeky... post earlier. Well this one is just a snapshot preview kinda thing... concentrating mainly on the eye candy stuffs..


Distro : Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04
Desktop Environment : GNOME
Window Manager : Metacity/Compiz-Fusion/Fluxbox


Neat
Dirty
I have used Mac4Lin Themes/Skins by Anirudh


Compiz Fusion :



Cube Effect
Window Decoration
Shift Switcher


Random Shots:
Emulators
Gimp

Python Programming
Fluxbox


Build your own desktop, use this links :

http://www.gnome-look.org/
http://www.kde-look.org/
http://www.xfce-look.org/
http://compiz-themes.org/
http://www.fluxbox.org/