Games, Programming, Web
Archive for May, 2010
Edit files directly over SFTP in Eclipse (Remote System Explorer)
May 19th
I typically edit PHP and Python using VI over SSH in multiple Putty windows. Arranging the windows is a pain, you lose all of your open shells if your connection hiccups, none of the machines I connect to provide color terminals, and I’m often fight VI’s indenting (and am too lazy to fix it on every machine).
I’ve now switched over to editing files on the server using Eclipse and the Repose System Explorer add-on. It solves all of the problems mentioned above.
- From Eclipse: Help -> Install New Software. “Work with: -All available sites-”. In the search box type “remote system”. Check “Remote System Explorer End-User Runtime”, click Next to proceed with the install.
- After the wizard completed, click Window -> Open Perspective -> Remote System Explorer. Right-click in Remote Systems, choose New Connection, type in your details. After you connect, expand “Sftp Files” and you’ll be able to open remote files in the editor.
Thanks Ikool’s Blogbed.
Cross-posting between WordPress, Facebook fan pages, and Twitter
May 18th
I tried several different desktop clients, Facebook apps, WordPress plug-ins, and status relay services. This is system I ended up using:
- Sign up for a Ping.fm account. Add your Facebook account, fan pages, and Twitter account.
- From WordPress: Download, install, and activate the Shorten2ping plug-in. In Shorten2ping’s settings page, set “Send Notification to Ping.fm”.
- Go to the Ping.fm Dashboard, click “Application Keys”, copy your API key, go to and paste it into Shorten2ping’s settings page and paste it into “Ping.fm API Key”.
WordPress now cross-posts to Facebook and Twitter, but you’re also free to do smaller status updates that bypass WordPress by initiating it on the Ping.fm site or directly on a particular service.
Automatic installations from WordPress hosted on Pair Networks
May 17th
If you run WordPress on Pair Networks, automatic installations probably prompt you for FTP connection info. The problem is that WP wants to modify files as the owner of the WP directory. Follow Pair’s instructions to set up php-cgiwrap, and WordPress automatic installations will work.
cp /usr/www/cgi-bin/php5.cgi ~/public_html/cgi-bin/
chmod 755 ~/public_html/cgi-bin/php5.cgi
Edit .htaccess in your WordPress directory:
Action application/x-pair-sphp5 /cgi-sys/php-cgiwrap/USERNAME/php5.cgi
AddType application/x-pair-sphp5 .php
Dell Studio XPS 16 mini-review
May 13th
+ Speakers are good compared to the horrendous Dell Studio 15 speakers.
+ Solid feel compared to the creaky Studio 15.
- Significantly wider than the Studio 15 (speakers are on the sides of the keyboard).
- The painted faux-metal on the edges is already chipping. Looks cheap.
- The Studio 15′s rubberized top and matte hand rests are better than everything glossy on the XPS 16.
= The capacitive touch buttons are lit even when keyboard backlighting is off. This compares to the Studio 15′s equally stupid “capacitive buttons are always unlit even if the keyboard backlight is on”.
