Archive 11. December 2003

A garbage collector for C and C++ - Garbage collection for C and C++

"AppleScript: The Definitive Guide" released

Mainly a note for Jutta that she wants to have the book

At The Macintosh News Network there is the original article.

Atom-powered spaceship to search for life

Let's hope it's not also the first crashed spacecraft and the first atomic catastrophe on a Jupiter moon - given NASA's recent track record of success, they should probably send less dangerous equipment on the journey...

At Spiegel Online: Wissenschaft you can find the original article.

FocusFixer by FixerLabs - Corrects blurry photos

GROKLAW on SCO's alleged victim role in a DDOS attack

SCO claims that its web server was once again crippled by a DDOS (distributed denial of service) attack. Two security experts express their opinion on Groklaw and provide brief analyses on why this claim from SCO should rather be viewed with skepticism.

Here's the original article.

JSch -- Java Secure Channel - Java implementation of SSH2 with X-forwarding

look, Ma: I didnt make it one more time

Read, throw 5 euros in the Chauvi box, have a laugh.

At passe.par.tout you'll find the original article.

LUFS-Python

The right thing for today's hacker: writing file systems for Linux directly in Python. I could think about whether I should rewrite my suckfs to LUFS-Python. The current implementation via dnotify in any case has some strange effects and race conditions that under certain circumstances cause the data inventories to no longer be in sync. However, a LUFS-Python implementation would unfortunately also be realized through Python on read, and that would most likely be too slow for the intended use of suckfs (replication of static data contents on a Zope cluster). Here's the original article.

INTERNET NEWSPAPER IRAQ: Photographer Nachtwey injured in attack in Iraq

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he's doing well. He is a fantastic photographer and his images impressively showcase the effects of war, chaos, and famine. Outstanding is the book Inferno with a selection of his images from various crisis zones - I have rarely seen such impressive photographs. He always manages to show the suffering and agony of people without depriving them of their dignity. No sensationalism, no hunger for sensation - but a clear statement against war and abuse. He is certainly one of the great photographers of today. Here you can find the original article.

New Feature: Blogmarks

I've extended the Python Desktop Server with another module: Blogmarks provides a blog with mini entries. The idea behind it is to simply post links. For this purpose, I use a bookmarklet (a bit of JavaScript that opens a window and calls up a URL), which passes the current link and the title of the current window to the Python Desktop Server and asks the user for categories and a short description (which is stored as a title tag on the link element and displayed on mouse-over). The whole thing is converted into compact HTML and is available as a blog with RSS feed and everything that goes with it. In the long run, I'll probably add further features like caching of the original page (in case it goes offline) and a category overview of all links, but for now I'm starting as it is. Let's see if this isn't a useful alternative to private bookmarks.

Here's the original article.

Perthon -- Python to Perl Language Translation

The most interesting thing about this project is the juxtaposition of the Python and Perl source code. I like both languages, but somehow in this comparison I find that I should actually be ashamed that I like Perl too.

Here you can find the original article.

ScummVM - Interpreter for LucasArts games, also available for the Zaurus

Smile by Satimage-software

That doesn't sound bad at all. An AppleScript editor with an interactive AppleScript shell, various extensions and above all an interface builder. And the whole thing available for free download. And the description sounds like it would be a decent alternative to the much heavier (but also much more powerful) AppleScript Studio for small hacks.

Here's the original article.

TrueBlur by FixerLabs - Simulates shallow depth of field through artificial blur

Tucholsky is still right after all

Nothing has changed, the same old arguments, the same false conclusions, the same false demands. It's quite alarming how Die Freie Wirtschaft still fits like a glove, even after so many decades. The original article can be found at gnurps here.