Raasukutty's

Category: Computers

  • Star Team : Missing Files from Source Control

    Here is a nice incident that happened today at office.

    We use Star Team for source code configuration tool. I wanted to move the location where I maintain the project files in my local system, from C:\ to D:\. So I logged into Star Team, and opened the project. Then I clicked on View -> Properties. This opened the Properties dialog. There I selected the “Alternate Path” option and specified the “D:\Directory”.

    Instead of showing all the files in the ‘Missing’ status, Star Team just didn’t display any folder excepting the Root folder. For any one who logged in after i made the change, Star Team just was reporting a ‘Not in View’ status, meaning, the file was not in the Star Team. Ah! It turned out that I had deleted all the files from “Source Control”… with a big stress on the word ‘Deleted’.

    Actually, we are living in a connected world. So it happened that, our Star Team administrator had removed the ‘Grant’ privilege on all of us as he was doing some testing and he didn’t want us to make change to the Star Team. What he failed to do was not intimating us of the grant change.

    So once, the grant was provided to all, we were all able to see all the files. That ended the case of the missing files!!!

    Here is the learning: To change Grant options: On the Folder Tree Menu, choose Advanced and then Select Child Folders. Then choose the users who need Access and Grant them the access to the folder. If nothing is specified, all are granted privilege to the folders.

  • Rake Migrate – Aborted!

    Trying out a sample application using rails, I faced a problem, getting the database tables created (migrated) using ‘rake’. Running the command

    rake migrate

    threw the following error

    (in /home/rajesh/Programming/rails/todolist)
rake aborted!
Don't know how to build task 'migrate'

(See full trace by running task with --trace)

    The search on internet forums only said that ‘rake migrate’ should do the job, but to no avail.

    The actual command to get the tables created is

    rake db:migrate

    Hope this helps!

  • Installing LAMP in Ubuntu

    Following are the steps to get Apache, MySQL and PHP installed on a Ubuntu system.

    Installing Apache:

    In the terminal window issue the following command

    sudo apt-get install apache2

    To test if Apache has installed successfully, open a browser and browse to http://localhost. A message “It works” will be displayed.

    Installing PHP

    In the terminal window issue the following command

    sudo apt-get install php5 libapache2-mod-php5

    Once the installation is complete, to get php working, restart apache server by issuing the following command

    sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

    To test that PHP has been successfully installed, quickly create a test PHP script

    sudo gedit /var/www/test.php

    In the gedit window, type a script and save the file

    Open up a browser window and open the test.php file created. The PHP application environment information will be displayed.

    Installing MySQL

    In the terminal, run the following command

    sudo apt-get install mysql-server

    That should get mysql installed. You will be prompted for a ‘root’ db user password. Enter it.
    To test mysql, in the terminal issue,

    mysql -u root -p

    Enter the root user password for mysql server. You will be launched into the mysql prompt.

    Installing phpMyAdmin

    To install phpMyAdmin, issue the following command at the terminal

    sudo apt-get install libapache2-mod-auth-mysql php5-mysql phpmyadmin

    To test phpmyadmin, open a browser and navigate to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
    Thats it!

  • Widescreen Monitor on ASUS A8V-VM running VIA/S3G Deltachrome display.

    I got a new SAMSUNG SyncMaster 2033sw, monitor, as my 10 yr old Philips has been running into issues for quite some time now. My PC in Neyveli (hometown) runs on AMD Athlon 64 on a ASUS A8V-VM series motherboard.
    The display adapter is an on board solution provided by VIA/S3G.

    When I connected the new monitor, the screen resolution was 1024 x 768 and the maximum supported by VIA/S3G Deltachrome IGP is 1280 x 768. This new one has a optimal resolution of 1440 x 900 (32 bpp). Searching on internet on various forums made me feel bad on choosing a wide screen monitor. Everyone said that a BIOS flash was required, which I least preferred.

    But a simple driver update left to Windows Hardware Update utility did the trick. All is needed is just a Update Driver using the Add/Remove Hardware Wizard.

    So Just update the driver if you are running into issues on the resolution. If that too doesn’t help, then resort to flashing the BIOS.

    Edit: Download driver for Windows XP.

  • My PC

    Here’s a list of what is there in my PC, after what Yuvi had posted on his.

    • WAMP (For Apache, MySQL and PHP).
    • WordPress Local Install where I play with PHP.
    • TextPad.
    • VS 2008 Express Edition.
    • Ruby (I rarely use it).
    • SQLYog as a front end MySQL client
    • FireFox & Chrome.
    • VLC  Media Player.
    • Lots of movies for my room-mates viewing pleasure.

    That’s it.

  • Dealing with Computer Overheating : Thermal Issues

    Here I am about to share, some gyaan I got from when my computer failed due to thermal issues.

    Computer Overheating symptoms are when your system shutdown abruptly, after running for quite some time. Modern BIOS are so designed to prompt the user with messages on the next boot, to indicate problems relating to over heating. In my case, BIOS POST message clearly as

    ‘Previously the system was shutdown due to a thermal breakdown. Please service your unit’

    The first step to fix this was to go for cleaning the dust that had accumulated over the heat sink and so the other parts of the computer too. Then, service the CPU by cleaning it and then before placing the heat sink  back, apply a litte thermal grease, so that the contact is made properly between the heat sink and the CPU.

    In chennai, we don’t get thermal paste in computer service shops. You need to look into petty shops in Ritchie Street, Mount Road. I bought one from New Version Computers, Meeran Sahib Street. You could get one for Rs. 5/- to Rs. 10/-

    Once done, its time to boot. Viola! the system is up and running and I am happily posting about taking care of the my PC.

  • A Software Engineer's feelings…..

    I am sharing the content of a email, I received today.  Author unknown. A story about a software engineer. Here it goes:

    It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds gathered in the sky and nature was in its ominous best. I took a break from my work and went to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. I had a sip and went near the window to see the rain pouring down heavily outside the glass structure. I was inside our huge office building, unruffled by even the fierceness of the nature.

    Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her. I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a software engineer.

    I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status, respect, you name it I have it. I always wanted to be software professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past, basked in the warmth of the sun shine.

    My childhood was so much of fun. I vividly remember those rainy days, when I hugged my mother tightly during sleeping listening to all the stories told by her. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I have a cell phone to talk to them everyday, but then I really miss those dinners which I had with my family everyday. I could easily afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food prepared by my mother.

    I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on my face. The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these days.

    The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Everyday I meet new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend.

    It’s true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The latest designer clothes, but a worn out body . Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest distance.

    Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a long time back.

    I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I ignored the mail and went to the rest room. After a couple of minutes, the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing,

    Hi XYZ,

    I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD.

    Thats it!

  • Domain registered!

    Hey!

    Happy to write my 50th post. That too on my own online identity. I have hosted the wordpress blog on DreamHost on Sudar‘s advice. So officially my site is www.raasukutty.com.

    To quote Frost:

    The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep.

  • My tryst with Digit!

    This post is dedicated to the magazine Digit, without which I would surely not developed interests in computers.

    Way back in the year 2000, when the magazine was called CHIP, I got to have a look at the magazine in my friend Naseen’s house. He wanted me to read the book. That is where it all started. Love at first sight!

    Chip_Magazine

    Then I didn’t understand ROM, RAM, sound card, PCI slots, ISA and all these technical jargons. It was CHIP that enlightened me on all these. It increased my interest in computers. It was due to this interests that I started to learn computer hardware and troubleshooting. The articles in the magazine was so nice and easy to understand by a newbie. Also they gave away 2 CD’s (remember then DVD media was not available for computer users and DVD-Writers were a royalty. Even CD Writers burnt at a mere 8x max. The CD’s were titled ‘Mindware’ and ‘Playware’. One dedicated to software and other to entertainment.

    I got a second hand P-II (266Mhz) Slot based processor system, running on 256 MB of SDRAM, 8 GB of HDD space, a creative sound blaster card (ISA) and no graphics card in 2001. Then I used to try out all softwares and games (that didn’t require a graphics card) provided in the CD’s in my machine. I was not a subscriber to then. I used to get the magazine out of newspaper stand and my mom used to provide the money. It was Rs.100/- for an issue and special isssues would be sold at Rs.125/-. Now the cost of an issue is Rs.125/-. But a hundred for a month in itself is huge money to spend for a 11th grade guy. My mom gave me the liberty to afford to CHIP and sometimes to DeveloperIQ, PCQuest.

    Digit First issue

    The best part of CHIP was that it was interesting to read. They had reviews on the latest product on market. In the reviews they also explained how things work. Say a review on Sound card will have a box saying how they worked. These things surely boosted my understanding of the various hardware devices. With internet and bandwidth a nightmare and an hour’s browsing at a net cafe costing Rs.50/-, it was easier to read about all these updates in CHIP. Marco D Souza, Karan etc. are some names I still remember from the CHIP Team.

    In June 2001, after their third anniversary, CHIP was renamed as Digit. The reason they provided was to break free out of the collaboration with Chip and to cater to a varied technology readers. From then on, the journey of Digit has been smooth. I still enjoy reading the magazine. I subscribed to Digit in 2007, when I joined Cognizant, since I didn’t want to miss out an issue amidst all the work I do.

    And the best of all digit i like

    The changes that I notice between CHIP and Digit are

    • The pages have reduced. From 200 to 150.
    • A lot of content on how things work have stopped

    They still have Agent 001, Diary, DroolMaal and stuff. The Fast Track series is excellent. A good book to start out your journey into the world of computers…. Digit! Atleast it was for me.