Posts

Posted on

How Linux Mint Made a Dell Latitude Shine Again

A few weeks ago, someone at the faith community I attend asked for my help logging into their computer. I suspected it might have been hacked, so I created a Windows 11 boot disk to rescue the computer. The device was a four-year-old Dell Latitude 5320, which was running Windows 11 but not very efficiently. It took over fifteen minutes to start, and once it was running, it was extremely sluggish. I asked the owner if she would mind me rebuilding her computer. It had originally been purchased as a Windows 10 machine with an i5 processor and 8 gigabytes of RAM. While Microsoft has a support page suggesting that such specifications are adequate for Windows 11, from my experience, I believe that 16 gigabytes of RAM are necessary for optimal performance. Additionally, my client used the computer for video conferencing, which is both processor- and RAM-intensive.

I took the unit home and discovered that, in addition to its other woes, the NVME drive was encrypted and needed to be wiped for a fresh install of Linux to occur. I used ‘lsblk‘, which lists block devices and solid state drives on a Linux system, and then using the ‘dd‘ command I booted the laptop with a Linux Mint Live USB drive, opened a terminal,l wiped the drive with the following command:

$ sudo dd if=/dev/uvrandom of=/dev/nvme0nX

It took a couple of hours for that process to complete, and then I completed a fresh install of Linux Mint Cinnamon 22.1. I have had success moving former Windows users to Linux Mint Cinnamon. In addition to the fresh install, I added the Chrome browser for her by downloading the .deb package. I also installed Zoom, her preferred videoconferencing platform, and set up a time to introduce her to her refurbished Linux Mint laptop. I configured LibreOffice so that she could easily exchange documents with other users in her work group without the concern of conflicting file formats.

I set up a time to meet my friend at a nearby university where she volunteers. I demonstrated how easy it is to start a computer equipped with an efficient operating system that runs on Linux. I explained how similar the Cinnamon desktop is to Microsoft Windows. I showed her how to connect to wireless networks and update her computer easily. I demonstrated how to use LibreOffice Writer, how it was similar to Microsoft Word, and how the skills she had acquired using the former would quickly transfer to this new experience.

I demonstrated how she could use the software store to add other free software programs to help her work. She wanted to know how to shut down the computer properly, so we completed several starts and shutdowns. I explained to her how the EXT4 filesystem was superior and more forgiving than her previous experiences with NTFS. She had backups of her documents from Windows and has had no problem transferring them to the refurbished Linux laptop. She was very grateful for my experience and hugged me when she left. I have seen her twice since that day, and she continues to enjoy this new Linux Mint experience.

Posted on

From Linux to macOS: Embracing Open Source Everywhere

Open-source software is not restricted to Linux. While I spend most of my time reading, writing, and developing on Linux, I can also use many tools I love on macOS and Windows platforms. Last fall, after returning from All Things Open, I purchased an M3 MacBook Air because I wanted to experiment with some of the artificial intelligence applications I had seen at the conference in Raleigh.

As most of you know, Mac computers have a great supply of Apple-developed software, which works well for many folks. However, being a person who is used to the freedom afforded by open source, it didn’t take long before I had installed HomeBrew and then began installing my favorite open source applications.

The first app I installed was Ollama, which I used almost daily to experiment with locally run large language models. Ollama is available under the MIT license. Additionally, I experimented with Hollama, a minimal web user interface for Ollama, which also carries an MIT license. Apple Silicon processors, including the M1, M2, M3, and M4, provide excellent platforms for running locally hosted large language models.

Output from these LLMs is in Markdown, and several open-source Markdown editors are available for MacOS. I prefer MarkText on Linux, but I had trouble installing it on MacOS, so I opted for MacDown, a fine open-source Markdown editor easily installed.

% brew install --cask macdown

Apple supplies its own word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software, but I chose LibreOffice, my favorite. It is also easily installed with HomeBrew. I also installed Joplin, my favorite cross-platform notetaking app. The world of open-source supplies all my needs.

I recently wrote about Krita and decided to install it on the M3 MacBook, too. It was easy to install with Homebrew. My experience with Krita led me to install Darktable, another open-source graphic program available on macOS. Both are easily installed with Homebrew. 

% brew install --cask darktable 
% brew install --cask krita

Gimp and Inkscape are my favorite open-source graphics programs. I regularly use both of them to modify images and create vector graphics. I use VSCodium when writing and learning more about Python code on the Mac.

I installed VideoLan (VLC) on the Mac. VLC is a free, open-source, cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files.

I also installed DiffusionBee, which has allowed me to explore AI image creation on my desktop.

Completing my list of favorite open-source applications that can be installed and run locally is Bitwarden, my top choice for a password manager. I have been using Bitwarden for nearly six years and highly recommend it.

All of these applications can be easily installed by downloading and installing the .dmg files or by using Homebrew from the command line. I prefer the latter as upgrading all the applications simultaneously is much easier. The number of open-source applications that run on macOS is quite lengthy. I have only shared the ones that I use, but there are many more. I discovered a comprehensive list of them on Github.

Posted on

Signal: The Privacy-First Messenger Changing the Game

Messaging apps have revolutionized communication, reshaping our daily lives and relationships. It’s hard to imagine a time without SMS paving the way for near-instant connectivity. Could we even fathom returning to a world where real-time communication wasn’t at our fingertips?

Today, we have a plethora of messaging options. Platforms like Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Facebook Messenger offer diverse features to suit our preferences. Many apps boast encryption, making users assume their conversations are private and secure.

But how safe are they? Cloud-hosted applications often collect metadata from our interactions. This data—information about who, when, where, and how we communicate—is a goldmine for advertising algorithms. It helps these companies refine their ad targeting, shaping the products and services in our feeds. While these apps may make life more convenient, it’s worth asking: Are they truly looking out for your privacy—or their profit margins?

Signal is advanced end-to-end encryption built on the open-source Signal Protocol. It ensures our conversations remain entirely secure. No one can access your messages or calls. Privacy isn’t an add-on feature—it’s the foundation of Signal’s operation.

I started using Signal a half-dozen years ago when a friend suggested it. I had been looking for a secure messaging system while working on a private estate matter. Signal worked well as I messaged my partner with confidential financial information. It allowed us to send and receive confidential data that was fully encrypted across international boundaries and worldwide.

Signal’s core features are encrypted messaging, voice/video calls, disappearing messages, and group chats. It distinguishes itself from other messaging apps with its commitment to user privacy. There are no ads, no trackers, and minimal data collection. In a world where digital privacy has become paramount for journalists, activists, and anyone who values confidentiality, Signal shines.

Signal’s encryption is powered by the Signal Protocol, a robust cryptographic framework designed to ensure end-to-end security for messages and calls. Signal mobile clients, desktop clients, and server software are free and distributed with an AGPL v. 3 license. Signal is available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux.

You can easily download and install Signal on your desktop or mobile client. Signal currently has approximately seventy million active users, and the app has been downloaded over two hundred twenty million times. Signal is owned and operated by the Signal Foundation, a non-profit organization co-founded in 2018 by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton.

Signal provides excellent documentation to help users get started using the application. The Signal Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. You can support Signal and the important work it does. Developers are welcome.

Posted on

Openverse: A Gateway to Openly Licensed Content

Openverse is a powerful search engine for Creative Commons-licensed content, allowing users to explore over 800 million images and audio files across various databases, including significant collections from the Smithsonian, NASA, and more. Initially developed as the CC Search tool by Creative Commons and later adopted by WordPress in 2019, Openverse has become an essential resource for finding reusable content with proper licensing. All Openverse code is open source and can be accessed from their Github repository.

The platform provides easy access to images and audio with simple attribution features, powered by machine learning tags to improve search results. Although currently limited to visual and audio content, there are plans to expand into other media types like 3D models and texts. Openverse’s goal is to make Creative Commons and public domain works—amounting to about 2.5 billion items—freely accessible.

Openverse’s open-source nature means you can host your version or contribute to its development. Verifying licensing and attribution information is essential to ensuring proper use of materials, and the platform provides various filters to narrow down search results by specific license types, including those allowing modifications or commercial use.

You can suggest new external sources by creating an issue in their Github repository or by emailing and sharing what new sources you’d like to add.

Openverse is more than just a search tool; it serves as a gateway to a world of shared creativity and collaboration. By connecting users to openly licensed content from trusted sources, it fosters an ecosystem where creators, educators, and learners can thrive. Whether you’re looking for the perfect image, an inspiring audio clip, or opportunities to contribute to the open-source community, Openverse is an invaluable resource that embodies the spirit of Creative Commons.

Posted on

Exploring Openclipart.org: A Treasure Trove of Free Vector Images

I am not a talented artist, but I enjoy using graphics for greeting cards, posters, and occasionally hoodies or t-shirts. When I need an image of a creature such as a cow, horse, or eagle, I turn to Openclipart.org. This unique platform is dedicated to providing a vast collection of free-to-use vector graphics. Launched in 2004, the site has grown into one of the largest repositories of clipart, featuring thousands of contributions from artists worldwide.

Why Choose Openclipart.org?

1. Completely Free and Open

One of the standout features of Openclipart.org is its commitment to open access. All images on the platform are released into the public domain, which means you can use them for any purpose—personal, educational, or commercial—without any concerns about copyright restrictions. This liberating approach empowers users to incorporate visual elements confidently into their projects.

2. Extensive and Diverse Collection

The diversity of clipart available on Openclipart.org is truly impressive. There’s something for everyone, from simple icons and logos to intricate illustrations and themed collections. Whether you’re designing a website, creating educational materials, or crafting a presentation, you’ll find an abundance of resources to enhance your work.

3. User-Friendly Interface

Navigating Openclipart.org is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The site offers robust search functionality, allowing you to quickly find the perfect image. Categories and tags further streamline the process, making it easy to explore and discover new artwork.

4. Community-Driven

Openclipart.org thrives on community contributions. Artists from all walks of life share their creations, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. This sense of community not only enriches the platform but also encourages creativity and learning among users.

5. Customization and Versatility

The vector format of the clipart ensures that the images are easily scalable and editable. Whether you need to tweak colors, resize elements, or combine multiple graphics, Openclipart.org’s resources provide the flexibility to tailor images to your specific needs.

Recently I have been looking for a way to give a special birthday present to a friend. My friend lives on a dairy farm. I wanted to incorporate a cow into my design that could be used on a hoodie. I could easily download a vector graphic image of a cow from Openclipart.org. I used Inkscape to add text around the picture, and I saved the complete design as a vector graphic. I love using vector graphics in my designs because they can be easily resized and incorporated into other without danger of pixelation or distortion.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Conclusion

Openclipart.org is more than just a repository of clipart; It’s a community of clipart and artists willing to share their work so that others may enjoy it too. Next time you’re in need of visual inspiration or an image for one of your own creations I suggest you head over to Openclipart.org to find the perfect image to elevate your project.

Posted on

Having fun with Inkscape

Inkscape is one of my favorite open-source graphic design tools. It has an intuitive interface that is relatively easy to master. As I learned to use Inkscape, I became familiar with vector graphics. I appreciated their usefulness in various projects, such as posters, t-shirts, hoodies, and any items that feature graphics. Vector graphics consist of paths defined by mathematical formulas, allowing them to be infinitely scalable without losing quality. It remains crisp and clear whether you shrink an image to fit a postage stamp or enlarge it to billboard size.

One way I like to use Inkscape is to put text on paths in my creations. This is not as intuitive, and I want to provide you with a short how-to to help you get started on your own Inkscape journey to creating creative graphics for your projects.

First you need to install Inkscape on your computer if it is not installed. On Linux, you can do that by entering the following command:

$ sudo dnf install inkscape (Fedora/OpenSuse)

or 

$ sudo apt install inkscape (on Ubuntu/Debian)

You can install Inkscape on macOS and Windows.

Open the application once it is installed, and you will be presented with a workspace that looks like a page.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

I will demonstrate a quick way to put text on a circular path. Once the workspace is open above, I will choose the ‘Ellipse’ tool, the fourth option from the top of the left-hand menu.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

You can see that I have created an ellipse. Now, I am going to use the text tool that is symbolized by the letter ‘A’ about halfway down the toolbar on the left to add some text.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Now I am going to highlight the text and use the ‘center’ tool at the top to center the text In the text box.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Now I am going to drag my mouse pointer while depressing the left mouse button to select the text and the ellipse. This selects all the objects. After the objects are selected I am going to go to the ‘Text’ menu on the menu bar and select ‘Put on Path’.

You can see in the picture below that my text has been added to the elliptical object.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

I want to move the text to the top of the ellipse and I do this by selecting ‘Object Rotate’ button at the top menu.

This moves the text to the top of the ellipse.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

If you want the text positioned at the bottom of the ellipse, select ‘Object flip vertical’ to achieve this.

Whether you leave the text at the top or the bottom, you can change the color of the ellipse to white to make it disappear by selecting only the ellipse and one of the light colors at the bottom of the program window.

Be sure to save your work by going to the ‘File’ menu and choosing ‘Save.’ This saves your graphic in the default ‘.svg’ vector graphic format.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

You can opt to ‘Export’ the graphic by choosing that option from the ‘File’ menu at the left and choosing one of the export options displayed at the far right of the graphic.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Inkscape is a powerful tool; for information and ideas, you can use the learning tools on the project website.

Posted on

There is always a tool

Recently, a friend gave me a recent model of a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion laptop. He said, “It turns on but goes off almost immediately. Maybe you could use it?” I gladly accepted the gift and took it home, and it performed as he described. I got CMOS battery errors from the BIOS and decided to take the computer apart. Inspection revealed no separate CMOS battery, and subsequent internet searches revealed that this unit didn’t have a separate CMOS battery but instead relied on the main battery. The battery would not hold a charge and I decided to purchase a new one from an online retailer.

It took a couple of days for the new battery to arrive, and when it did, I removed the cover again and removed the old battery, installed the new one, replaced the cover, and started the laptop with a USB drive with Fedora 41 KDE Plasma. Pressing the ‘escape’ key on the keyboard got me to the BIOS menu, and I chose F9 to boot from USB. The unit has a six core AMD Ryzen 5 with 8 GB RAM, AMD Radeon graphics, and a 497 GB NVME drive. I started the Fedora installation process but was halted with an error message that stated, “Error occurred while activating your storage configuration – device is active.” I restarted the machine and tried again. It’s the same error message.

Internet searches of Fedora forums made me realize that the NVME drive was encrypted with Bitlocker and would not allow me to continue the installation until I could ‘decrypt’ the drive. What was I going to do? I tried to remove the encryption with GParted, Parted, and lost the ability to rebuild the drive with the Windows 11 restore partition. I briefly considered purchasing a replacement NVME drive for the unit. Further internet searches led me to consider using ShredOS. After researching several options, I devised an approach that suggested using the ‘dd‘ command. I used ‘lsblk‘, which lists block devices and solid state drives on a Linux system.

I booted the laptop with a live USB drive, opened a terminal, and issued the following command:

$ sudo dd if=/dev/uvrandom of=/dev/nvme0nX

Be sure to replace ‘X’ with the appropriate drive designation on your system. The process took 7021 seconds to complete, which is approximately two hours. When it was done, the decrypted partition was gone. I used the Fedora41 KDE-Plasma live drive and installed it without difficulty. I learned much from this experience and am grateful for all the excellent resources and tools available for Linux distributions.

Screen Picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Posted on

Ten ways to use open source everyday

Many people don’t realize the abundance of free and open-source resources available online. Here are some of my favorite open-source tools across different categories, designed to enhance your daily life, work, and digital experience.

Browsers

Firefox stands out as a privacy-conscious and open-source browser. Chromium is another open-source browser that was developed at Google.

Web Privacy

To enhance your online privacy, consider using uBlock Origin, an open-source browser extension that effectively blocks advertisements and neutralizes privacy invasion. Privacy Badger, maintained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, is another excellent option that automatically learns to block invisible trackers.

Password Management

Secure passwords are crucial for online safety. Bitwarden helps you generate strong, unique passwords for each website and securely store them in the cloud, accessible across various devices via browser plugins, desktop applications, and mobile apps.

Messaging

Signal is a highly recommended platform for secure messaging on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. It utilizes your existing mobile number and offers robust encryption to protect your communications.

Office Tools

LibreOffice is a powerful and free open-source office suite that serves as an excellent alternative to commercial options. Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, it allows you to own your documents without needing expensive software.

Blog Builder

WordPress is a versatile and popular open-source blogging engine suitable for sharing opinions, creating low-cost writing platforms for students, or establishing a business web presence.

Media Repository

When creating content, OpenClipart provides a wealth of images in various formats that you can quickly and legally share. Additionally, Creative Commons Search Portal helps you search CC-licensed works across multiple platforms and offers licensing options that simplify sharing while ensuring proper attribution.

Video Conferencing

Jitsi and Big Blue Button have transformed online interaction and learning for virtual meetings and conferences.

Educational Resources

Open educational resources (OER) such as OER Commons and MIT OpenCourseWare provide openly licensed content for various educational levels. OpenStax offers peer-reviewed textbooks that are openly licensed and available for free.

Podcast Tools

If you’re interested in podcasting, Audacity is a user-friendly, multi-track audio editor and recorder available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and other operating systems. It is free and open-source software.. Open Broadcaster Software is another great tool for live streaming and video recording. OBS works on Windows, MacOS or Linux.

Conclusion

Incorporating open-source software into your daily routine can be both empowering and rewarding. These tools provide powerful features and customization options while fostering community and collaboration. By embracing open source, you gain control over your digital experience, support innovation, and contribute to a global movement committed to making software free and accessible for all.

Posted on

Unlocking the power of Linux

My initial reaction to Linux was that I did not fully understand its range of tools. At that time, I was the technology director for a small K-12 public school district with limited resources but a growing number of classrooms, learning labs, and administrative offices. I came from a social science background, and although I was willing to learn, I was acutely aware of how little I knew. It did not take too long to understand what powerful tools enabled me to discover our network and learn the intricacies of TCP/IP.

Here’s a list of ten tools that became a significant part of my repertoire. I used them to teach others about network computing and the power of Linux.

The ping command is one of the most frequently used by sysadmins. It utilizes ICMP packets to verify whether two machines are connected.

$ ping 192.168.86.1

I learned that I could also ping a domain. 

$ ping donwatkins.info

The traceroute command displays the route from your current machine to the remote server/system, showing each hop along the way.

$ traceroute donwatkins.info

Traceroute can identify the network path, detect latency, locate network issues, and visualize network topology. Here is the result of the traceroute command:

1   192.168.1.1  1.114ms  0.234ms  0.125ms 
2   67.252.48.1  21.260ms  12.357ms  20.123ms 
3   24.58.217.101  29.425ms  32.921ms  32.608ms 
4   24.58.38.176  10.866ms  11.450ms  10.017ms 
5   24.58.32.62  25.848ms  25.377ms  15.594ms 
6   66.109.6.2  24.275ms  *  30.399ms

The mtr command is a combination of ping and traceroute. It is used to track for packet loss. MTR is a versatile and dynamic tool that provides sysadmins with valuable insights into network performance and helps them identify and resolve issues efficiently. 

$ mtr donwatkins.info

You can use the ifconfig tool to find your IP address. It provides TCP/IP information for all your network addresses, including the loopback address. 

$ ifconfig

The netstat (network statistics) command-line tool provides detailed information about network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, masquerade connections, and multicast memberships on a system. If you want to see all the network activity on your system, consider using the following command. 

$ netstat -a

If you are looking for DNS information, dig is the tool you should use. It is a flexible tool for interrogating DNS name servers. It performs DNS lookups and displays the answers returned from the name server(s) that were queried.

$ dig donwatkins.info

One of my favorite tools for discovering what traffic is coming across my network is tcpdump. It is a powerful command-line packet analyzer used for network traffic monitoring and analysis. It captures and displays the packets being transmitted or received over your network. You need administrative privileges to run the command. 

$ sudo tcdump

The whois command queries databases that store registered domain names and related information. This command is useful if you need information about a specific domain, such as its registrar.

$ whois donwatkins.info

If you are looking for a powerful and versatile tool for network discovery and security auditing, then Nmap is for you. It can discover devices on a network, identify their IP addresses, and collect information about them, creating a detailed network inventory. Be sure to check the Nmap project website for excellent documentation on its use. I use nmap to scan my router to check for open ports. 

$ nmap 192.168.1.1

One of my favorite network monitoring tools is ntopng. It is a web-based application for monitoring network traffic released under the GPLv3 license. Ntopng is the modern version of the original tool, ntop, created by Luca Deri in 1998. It has been significantly improved in performance, usability, and features.

I am a graphical learner, and Etherape helped me visualize TCP/IP traffic across our network. Etherape is easy to install on either .deb or .rpm based systems. 

$ sudo apt install etherape
or 
$ sudo dnf install etherape

Only an administrator can run Etherape, so you must add sudo to your command when executing it. 

$ sudo etherape

Be sure to consult the documentation and Linux manual pages for all these commands to explore all the different options open to you as a Linux system administrator.

Posted on

An Introduction to Krita: A Powerful Tool for Digital Artists

Welcome to the exciting world of digital art! Whether you are an experienced artist or a curious beginner, Krita is a name you should know. Developed by the KDE community, Krita is free and open-source digital painting software that has gained immense popularity in art. It has powerful features and is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and extensive customization options.

What is Krita?

Krita is digital painting software designed for artists of all skill levels. Although I wouldn’t consider myself a well-known digital artist, Krita allows me to easily create high-quality graphics for my presentations. It is available for download and installation on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Key Features

Customizable brushes: One of Krita’s standout features is its extensive collection of brushes. With over 100 preloaded brushes and the ability to customize and create your own, you have endless possibilities.
Layers and masks: Krita features a powerful layer system that enables non-destructive editing, allowing artists to experiment and refine their artwork easily. Additionally, masks let you apply effects or adjustments to specific areas without changing the original layer. This level of flexibility is a significant advantage for artists who enjoy fine-tuning their work.
Intuitive Interface: Krita’s user interface is designed with artists in mind. It’s clean, intuitive, and highly customizable. You can arrange your workspace to suit your preferences, ensuring all your essential tools are within easy reach.
Advanced color management: Krita offers a variety of color spaces and profiles for artists who need precise color accuracy. Whether you’re working on a project for print or digital display, Krita’s advanced color management tools ensure your colors appear exactly as intended.
Animation capabilities: Krita provides animation features along with its powerful painting tools. Users can create traditional hand-drawn animations utilizing the timeline and onion-skinning tools.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Community and Resources

One of Krita’s best aspects is its vibrant and supportive community and excellent documentation. Numerous tutorials, forums, and resources are available to help you get started and enhance your skills. The Krita website is a valuable source of information, providing user guides, tutorials, and galleries that showcase stunning artwork created with Krita.