Tag: Linux

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Fastfetch: High-Performance Alternative to Neofetch for System Information Display

Yesterday I wrote about Neofetch which is a tool that I have used in the past on Linux systems I owned. It was an easy way to provide a good snapshot of the distribution I was running and some other pertinent information about my computing environment. One of my readers replied to let me know that the project was no longer being maintained. It was last updated in August 2020. The commenter suggested that I check out Fastfetch. I thanked the reader and followed the link he provided to the Github repository for Fastfetch.

The project maintains that it is, “An actively maintained, feature-rich and performance oriented, neofetch like system information tool.” It is easy to install and provides much of the same information that was provided by Neofetch. However, it does supply your IP address but the project maintains that presents no privacy risk. The installation for Fedora and RPM based distributions is familiar by entering the following command. 

$ sudo dnf install fastfetch

If you are a Ubuntu based distribution like my Linux Mint daily driver then the installation requires the download of the appropriate .deb file. Once the package was installed on my system I decided to try it.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.00

Fastfetch can be easily installed on a MacOS with Homebrew. I decided to try it on my MacBook.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0
% brew install fastfetch

Fastfetch is written in C with 132 contributors. It is open source with an MIT license. In addition to Linux and MacOS systems you can install Fastfetch on Windows with Chocolatey. The project states that Fastfetch is faster than Neofetch and it is actively maintained. Fastfetch has a greater number of features than it’s predecessor and if you want to see them all enter the following command. For more information and examples be sure to visit the project wiki

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Neofetch: The Universal System Info Display Tool

Neofetch, hosted on the reputable and active project homepage at the Github repository, is designed to create system configuration screenshots on various platforms. The primary difference between Neofetch and ScreenFetch lies in its broader support; it extends beyond Fedora, RHEL, or CentOS and provides compatibility with almost 150 different operating systems, including lesser-known ones like Minix and AIX!

The Neofetch installation procedure is equally straightforward:

Debian and Ubuntu users use the following command:

$ sudo apt install neofetch

For Fedora and other RPM-based distributions use the following command:

$ sudo dnf install neofetch
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

You can also install neofetch on other operating systems including MacOS. 

$ brew install neofetch
Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Once installed, Neofetch provides a standard system info display that can be further modified for your specific preference: image files, ASCII art, or even wallpaper, to name a few; all these customizations are stored in the .config/neofetch/ directory of the user’s home folder.

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In search of the right GPU

I rely on my powerful Intel NUC with an i7 processor and 64 GB of RAM for my daily computing needs. However, it lacks a GPU, which makes it unsuitable for the experimentation I’ve been conducting with locally hosted large language models. To address this, I use an M2 MacBook Air, which has the necessary power for some of these tasks.

I had helped some local folks purchase a refurbished Dell computer from a refurbisher. They began to experience difficulty with it in a couple of months and when they did it was beyond the ninety day warranty. Rather than see them lose their money I wrote them a check for the original purchase price.

I believe that when you do good things that you will be rewarded in some fashion. I helped these folks purchase a new Dell Inspiron desktop which has a full factory warranty and when I was about to leave their home they asked me if I wanted to take the defective computer. I thought I might be able to fix it or use it for parts. I removed the cover and discovered that this Optiplex 5060 with an i5 CPU didn’t have a traditional hard drive like I had thought but instead was equipped with a Western Digital SN 270 NVME drive. I also discovered that the only thing wrong with the unit was a bad external power switch. Once I removed the front bezel I was easily able to power the device on.

Karma was working once again in my favor as I have found it does when you do for others as youu would have them do for you. I erased the Windows 11 install and installed Linux Mint 22 in it’s place. This unit also had two open low profile expansion slots and I wondered if I could find a graphics card with a GPU that would allow me to experiment with Ollama and other LLMs. I did some research and decided to purchase a XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400 Gaming Graphics Card with 4GB from Amazon. The card came a couple days later and I installed it in one of the expansion slots.

After installing the card I placed the cover back on the machine, connected a spare Sceptre 27 inch display and an ethernet cable to it and downloaded Ollama and the Phi3 model. I downloaded and installed the ROCm modules which are helped Ollama to recognize the GPU. Ollama states that it recognizes the GPU when it finished installing the software. I think Ollama and the Phi3 module run faster with this unit. But maybe that’s wishful thinking. I also wanted to try Stable Diffusion on this computer and used Easy Diffusion which I have installed on the NUC before. I was frustrated to discover that my RX6400 card and GPU don’t work with EasyDiffusion. Am I missing something? Is there a fix?

I hope that if you’re reading this and you know of a fix for this issue that you would share it. I’d love to find and answer. Nonetheless, doing good for others always results in good coming back to you.

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How to Switch from RAID to AHCI in BIOS for Better SSD Performance

I’m always shopping for laptops to outfit with Linux and one of my favorite stops is DellRefurbished.com. On the weekend while surfing that site I came upon a good deal on a Dell Latitude 5410 laptop. The (new to me machine) came with an i7 processor. Using the ‘inxi’ command it easy to see that this laptop was a good bargain at forty-five percent off a list price of $399.

The battery is in great shape for a three-year-old laptop that weighs a little bit over three pounds. I’ve been using Dell Computers with Linux loaded on them for over twenty years. However, lately, these Latitude 5410s have come with Intel Rapid Storage Technology for use with the Windows 10 Professional operating system that came pre-installed on the laptop. Linux Mint would not install when starting from a live USB drive.

The solution that I quickly found when upgrading one of these laptops a couple of weeks ago is as follows:

When starting up the Latitude press the F2 function key to enter the BIOS and look for the SATA controls and change from RST to AHCI. Save the settings in your BIOS restart the computer and complete the installation of Linux Mint.

For more information on this particular issue, you should consult the excellent documentation from Ubuntu. https://help.ubuntu.com/rst/

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Sharing Tech for Good: How I Gifted My Neighbor a Refurbished Linux Mint Laptop

I volunteer with Meals on Wheels once a week, and one of the clients on my route is a man my age. We frequently spend time visiting when I bring his meal to him. Last week, when I stopped, he asked me if I could help him put his laptop computer back in working order. I told him I’d do him one better—installing Linux Mint on his ailing computer and extending its life.

After checking with him about the model of his laptop, I discovered that it was a lightly powered notebook with minimal disk storage. I had a five-year-old System76 Darter Pro just sitting around gathering dust. I decided to install Linux Mint Cinnamon 22, which is my daily driver. Though the Darter Pro is five and a half years old, it’s still got lots of life in it. It has an Intel i7 CPU with 16 gigabytes of RAM and a 250 gigabyte NVME drive, which would be a fantastic host for my client.

When I shared my decision with him, he was delighted, and though he trusted my judgment, he knew nothing about Linux Mint and wondered if he could master the learning curve. I told him that Mint Cinnamon has many similarities with the Windows 10 desktop he used to. I searched YouTube and other sites for an excellent introduction to Linux Mint and could not find the kind of documentation I wanted to give to my friend. I decided to write my documentation, complete with screenshots of the critical first steps to get started with a Linux Mint laptop.

This is the first screen you see after you start up the laptop. His name is Tom, and I shared his password in the documentation. I knelt next to him as I helped him through these first steps.

Linux Mint Login screen

The next thing he sees is the Welcome to Linux Mint splash screen. I provide a brief explanation and then encourage him to return here later to refer to the documentation and help information.

I direct his attention to the screen’s lower right-hand corner and guide him through the connection to his wireless access point and network connection.

I explained to him that the fourth item from the left is the ‘network connection’ icon, and he needs to click on it to display the wireless networks that are available to connect with. We quickly found his local connection.

He was unsure of his wireless password, but after some reflection and connecting with others who connect to his internet service provider, I remembered that they use the client’s mobile phone number for a password. That worked well, and we were connected. I walked him through installing the necessary updates on his new Linux laptop. I quickly demonstrated the security of Linux systems as each update required his password. Linux Mint comes with Firefox by default but I also showed him how to add the Google Chrome browser and some other applications using the software manager.

Eventually, I showed him how to use most of the essential tools of this new Linux Mint computer, including ‘Nemo’, the Linux Mint file manager.

After almost forty-five minutes of initial setup and instruction, he was ready to dive in and experience Linux Mint firsthand. This morning, I received an email from Tom, and it warmed my heart. He said, “I was on my new computer till 11:00 last night. I’m like a kid with a new toy. I want to thank you for the info you sent on linux.I perused the emails and quickly learned I would never be a Linux expert…Again, a thousand thanks for the laptop. I was in a bind, and you really got my feet from the fire. Sincerely, tom.”

His email made my day, so I love to share the Linux and open-source journey with others. We can extend the hardware’s life and demonstrate the effectiveness of the open-source approach.

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Five things you can do with the nano editor

In the early stages of my experience with Linux servers, I had to learn how to edit text files using the command line. While there are other powerful text editors in Linux, such as vi and vim, I found Nano to be particularly useful. Nano is a simple yet powerful text editor that comes pre-installed on many Linux distributions. You can easily install it from the command line if it’s not pre-installed on your system.

Debian-based systems:

$ sudo apt install nano

RPM based systems:

$ sudo dnf install nano

Basic Text Editing

Nano is a user-friendly text editor designed for simple and efficient text editing. To open a file, type “nano” followed by the file name in the terminal. Once inside, you can begin typing or editing text immediately. Navigation is easy, using the arrow keys to move around. To save your changes, press Ctrl + O; to exit, press Ctrl + X.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Search and Replace

Nano has a valuable search and replace feature. To search for a specific term, press Ctrl + W, type your search term, and press Enter. To replace text, press Ctrl + \, enter the text you want to replace, followed by the new text. This feature is handy for quickly updating configuration files or scripts.

Undo and Redo

Mistakes happen, but Nano makes it easy to correct them with its undo and redo functionality. Press Alt + U to undo the last action and Alt + E to redo it. This feature ensures that you can quickly revert changes without losing your progress

Syntax Highlighting

Nano offers syntax highlighting for those working with code, making reading and editing code easier. Syntax highlighting is available for various programming languages and can be enabled by adding the appropriate syntax files to your Nano configuration.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Custom Key Bindings

Nano enables you to customize key bindings to match your workflow. You can edit the /etc/nanorc file to modify default key bindings or add new ones. This flexibility allows you to personalize the editor based on your specific requirements, enhancing your editing experience and making it more efficient.

Nano’s simplicity and powerful features make it a great choice for text editing in Linux. Whether editing configuration files, writing scripts, or taking notes, Nano has the tools to do the job efficiently.

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System76’s Cosmic Desktop: A New Era in Linux UX

Last week, System76 unveiled COSMIC, a groundbreaking desktop for Linux computers. This isn’t an iteration of Gnome, Cinnamon, XFCE, or KDE. It’s a paradigm shift for the Linux desktop, crafted in Rust.

According to the System76 website:

“We aim to liberate the computer with a new desktop environment powerful enough to build custom OS experiences — for users, developers, and makers of any device with a screen.”

COSMIC stands for ‘Computer operating system main interface.’ I was eager to try this new desktop and downloaded the Alpha release ISO for my five-year-old Darter Pro laptop, which I purchased from System76 in early 2019. I created a bootable USB drive and was ready to install the new desktop. I began the installation process and answered a few questions similar to those in earlier releases of Pop!_OS, which I am familiar with. After I completed the installation, I was quick to ‘kick the tires.’

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

I looked at the top of the display for the ‘Accessibility’ icon, which is on other Linux distributions, but it was missing. I later learned from reading that this feature of COSMIC has not been released. I briefly installed Gnome-Tweaks, which is how I usually tweak Linux computers so that a person with aging eyes can manage them. After installing that software, I discovered that the COSMIC desktop has a unique settings menu that is easily accessed by clicking the third icon from the left at the bottom of the screen.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Clicking on COSMIC settings provides a very granular approach to most of the settings I needed to make the computer interface more accessible. Here, I found that by adjusting the ‘Panel,’ I could change the size of the icons at the top of my display to make them larger and more accessible. The first choice is ‘Wallpaper’, which is self-explanatory. The second is ‘Appearance’, which I can choose from based on a light and dark theme. I can also adjust the accent colors for the application windows. The third selection is ‘Panel,’, where I could change the size of the icons and where they were displayed, whether left, right, or center.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Besides adjusting how the desktop appeared, I could also change the display resolution and the scale, which I set to 125%. The COSMIC settings app is compelling. Once I became more aware of all the options, I became quite happy with the experience.

Applications launch quickly. As a writer, I frequently illustrate my articles with pictures like the ones above. Taking screen pictures in COSMIC is accessible by pressing the Print-Screen key on the keyboard. There are several options for screen pictures. One is a self-selected window; the others are the entire screen or the present window.

The COSMIC App Store is great, too. There are dozens of applications to choose from, including my favorite applications, such as VS Codium, Chromium web browser, VLC, and many more. Flatpak is preferred, but distribution-packaged apps are also shown.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

The text in the terminal is okay, but I’d like to increase the size to 12 points, making it more accessible. I look forward to more changes as COSMIC continues its development cycle.

You can easily download COSMIC and try it out for yourself, or you can add the COSMIC desktop to many of your favorite Linux distributions by following the directions for your distribution listed next. . Try Cosmic on Fedora, Arch, NixOS, and others. Cosmic is based on Pop!_OS 24.04. See the code.

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Contributing to open source

I started using Linux and open-source software in the late 1990s, and the more familiar I became with it, the more uses I saw for it, whether on the server side of our school system data infrastructure or software applications for students and teachers.

My contributions to our school system were significant. I developed a content filter using Suse Linux, Squid, and Squidguard and later enhanced it with Dansguardian. We lacked the funds for expensive servers, so I introduced Linux servers and Samba to create user home directories for our teachers. This provided a backup system for our teachers and saved the school system money.

Recognizing the disparity in software accessibility, I sought alternatives. Instead of relying on the special deals school systems get from proprietary software vendors, I introduced Open Office and later LibreOffice. We provided these software on CD-ROMs and later USB drives, empowering students and parents to install them on their home computers.

As we continued to benefit from this free software, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were taking more than we were giving. Our appreciation, though genuine, was not flowing upstream to the programmers who shared their work with us. This led me to ponder: how could we, as a school system, repay these open-source communities for the fruits of their labor?  

Within a year of my retirement in 2013, I received an invitation to attend All Things Open in Raleigh, NC. There, I was invited to join the team at Opensource.com as a ‘community moderator,’ a person who wrote articles about open-source software and open-source communities. At last, I was contributing to the communities and folks whose work I had been benefitting from for the previous fifteen years.

Coding is not my long suit, but writing is something that comes more naturally, and in the next eight years, I wrote almost three hundred articles about the various aspects of open-source software and open-source communities. I became part of a growing community of writers from all over the world. It became one of the most fulfilling avocations of my life. Opensource.com was shuttered in May of 2023, but the writers’ community lives on both.org and TechnicallyWeWrite.com. You can quickly become part of these vibrant writing communities.

In addition, there are other ways to contribute to the open source community. You can contribute to open source projects and communities using Patreon, PayPal, and other forms of payment for communities such as Fedora, Linux Mint, Ubuntu, GnuCash, and LibreOffice.

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Mastering the ‘rm’ command

The “rm” command in Linux is a powerful tool for deleting files and directories. While it may seem simple, mastering this command requires understanding its various options and potential pitfalls. Early on in my Linux journey, I managed an Apache web server and needed to remove files occasionally. That is when I became familiar with the ‘rm’ command. It’s very effective, but its misuse can be devastating without understanding the basics and having proper respect for the command.

Understanding the Basics

The rm command stands for “remove.” Its primary function is to delete files and directories from the filesystem. The basic syntax is:

rm [options] file...

For example, to remove a file named example.txt, you would use:

rm example.txt

Removing Multiple Files

You can remove multiple files at once by listing them separated by spaces:

rm file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

Using Wildcards

Wildcards allow you to remove multiple files that match a specific pattern. For instance, to remove all .txt files in a directory, you can use:

rm *.txt

 Removing Directories

It would help if you used the -r (recursive) option to remove directories. This tells rm to remove the directory and its contents:

rm -r directory_name

Be cautious with this option, as it will delete everything within the specified directory.

Force Deletion

The -f (force) option allows you to remove files without prompting for confirmation. This is useful for scripts or when you want to bypass confirmation prompts:

rm -f file_name

Combining Options

You can combine options to perform more complex deletions. For example, to forcefully remove a directory and its contents without confirmation, use:

rm -rf directory_name

Safety Tips

Practical Examples

Removing Log Files: 

$ rm -rf /var/log/*.log

Removing Temporary Files:

rm -rf ~/tmp/*

Deleting Old Backups:

rm -rf /backups/backup-*.tar.gz

 I had serious file system trouble using ‘rm—rf’ inside my root partition. There is no undoing such a move, and you can quickly render your operating system and its files useless or worse. Always double-check your commands, use interactive mode when needed, and create backups of important data. With these tips, you’ll be well on mastering the rm command. Check the man pages on your Linux system for more information.

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The Freedom of Linux: A World Beyond Hardware Restrictions

In the ever-evolving world of technology, software updates often bring excitement and anticipation as they promise new features and improvements. However, with operating system updates for proprietary operating systems, the excitement can be tempered by stringent hardware requirements that leave many users facing the inevitable need for a new computer. Fortunately, an alternative,  the Linux kernel which powers the many Linux distributions and open source, allows users to embrace the latest software without hardware limitations.

A Diverse Landscape of Compatibility

Unlike proprietary operating systems with strict hardware prerequisites, Linux distributions offer fresh air. Whether you choose Pop!_OS, Fedora, or Linux Mint, Linux’s open nature ensures compatibility with a wide range of hardware, even aging systems. This remarkable flexibility is a testament to the power of open-source software.

Take, for instance, the case of the Darter Pro laptop from System76, acquired in early 2019 with Pop!_OS 18.10 pre-installed. Despite the years that have passed, this hardware continues to support the latest versions of not just Pop!_OS but also Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch without breaking a sweat. Such an upgrade would be an unattainable dream if one attempted to install Windows 11 on the same machine. Likewise, the closed ecosystem of MacOS locks users into a world where they can only experience the latest software if they invest in Apple’s proprietary hardware.

The Hidden Treasure of Open Source

Regrettably, many people remain oblivious to the hidden treasure trove that is open-source software. Beyond the Linux kernel that forms the foundation of countless distributions, a vast ecosystem of applications thrives, often outperforming their proprietary counterparts. This abundance of high-quality, open-source software is built on principles prioritizing user freedom and choice.

For instance, consider the MarkText application, a tool I use to craft this article. It’s an exemplary testament to the capabilities of open-source software. With abundant features, a user-friendly interface, and an active community of developers and users, MarkText competes toe-to-toe with proprietary alternatives without any vendor lock-in or hardware mandates that plague proprietary systems. This is the essence of open source—a realm in which the user controls.

Breaking the Chains of Vendor Lock-In

Vendor lock-in is a pervasive challenge in the technology world. Proprietary software and hardware vendors often design their products to ensure consumers remain captive to their offerings. This strategy serves the interests of these companies. Still, it can be detrimental to the user, who may be in a never-ending cycle of purchasing new hardware to stay current.

In contrast, Linux and open-source software operate under a different ethos. They empower users to take control of their technology. With the freedom to choose software and customize their experience, users are no longer chained to a specific vendor’s roadmap. This approach breaks the cycle of forced obsolescence and keeps hardware relevant for years, ultimately saving users money and reducing electronic waste.

A Sustainable Approach

In an era of increasing environmental consciousness, the longevity of hardware takes on added importance. The “throwaway culture” of rapid hardware turnover is financially wasteful and environmentally unsustainable. By embracing Linux and open-source software, users can extend the lifespan of their hardware, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Additionally, the open-source community fosters collaboration and innovation without the limitations of proprietary systems. Developers worldwide work together to create secure, stable, and feature-rich software, often outpacing the development cycles of their proprietary counterparts. This collaborative spirit ensures that Linux users can access cutting-edge technology without the need for frequent hardware upgrades.

Conclusion

In the world of technology, where operating system updates often come with stringent hardware requirements, Linux stands as a beacon of freedom and sustainability. Its compatibility with a wide range of hardware, commitment to open-source principles, and freedom from vendor lock-in make it a compelling choice for those who wish to break free from the shackles of constantly upgrading their hardware.

As we navigate an ever-changing technological landscape, let us remember that there is a world beyond hardware restrictions, a world where Linux and open-source software offer an oasis of choice and longevity. In this realm, the user is king, and technology serves their needs, not vice versa. So, next time you hear the siren call of a new operating system update, consider the boundless possibilities of Linux and liberate yourself from the cycle of forced obsolescence.