How Yum Works!  

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An rpm package consists of what is called a header along with the archive of the program itself. The header contains the list of files the make up the arhives, a description of the package with the libraries it provides and requires from other packages and if it has any known conflicts with other packages. The package manger requires this information so that when a package is installed or uninstalled, none of the existing packages are affected. This process is called “resolving package dependencies”. It is a challenging task for any package management tool. A situation may arise such that a packaged tool requires two or three libraries. These libraries in turn may require some other libraries. By the time the package is installed, there may be a lot more package, and none of them must be conflicting with the other.

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Editing The "yum.conf" File  

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You can use the vi editor to view the .conf files in Linux. When you open the yum.conf file, right in the beginning you will see options under[main]. For example you will see a setting called “cachedir=”. This is where you can change the cache directory (like a temporary directory to store files during download or install)

Lets take another example, there is a setting used to specify the number of retries after which yum gives up acquiring the package. It is defined in the setting “retries=”. You can specify the number of tries here. You can insert a “throttle=”setting and specify the maximum download speed for yum so that when you are downloading huge packages, your other downloads are not affected.

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Desktop Environments  

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A desktop environment is a collection of X clients, including the window managers. It includes various applications and a collection system tools for the user, the system tools are, more often than not, a GUI for existing commands. This makes learning system management easy for new users. In a may, the environment can be viewed as an extension of the window manger, just with applications bundled along. The two most commonly used environments are KDE and GNOME. You may come across Linux enthusiasts arguing about which is better, well, some people like hockey and some like football. Both KDE and GNOME come with a good set of applications such as office suites, files browsers, multi media players, etc.

If you speak to hardcore Linux fans about desktop environments, you will probably hear them bashing both KDE and GNOME! This is because, as they will tell you, desktop environments are huge memory hogs. Besides, everything can be done from the terminal itself, so why use a desktop environment? Well. It’s for the beginner-desktop environments let beginners get used to the feel of linux, while gradually letting them move on to controlling all tasks through the command prompt.

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HTC Mogul  

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Alas, A CDMA Windows Mobile 6 phone hits the street

All of us will be surprised to know that some companies continue to make handsets even after the Jobsian conception of the Jesus Phone, or, as it’s more usual to computer users, Apple’s iPhone. Rather than proving itself to be the phone of phones (see review above), it is clear that we remain in a polytelephonic universe in which a number of devices, including HTC’s Mogul, show themselves to be worthy mobile handset options. Using a 2.8-inch screen, speedy EVDO broadband compatibility and Windows Mobile 6, the Mogul is a solid choice for all those who need to get work done while away from the office but don’t necessarily always want to lug around a laptop. The Office Mobile applicable that is bundled with it is handy and integrated keyboard allow users to edit and create Word and Excel files and view PowerPoint docs, and to stay connected, even Exchange, POP3, and IMAP email accounts as well as send standard text messages (MMS, however, is not an option) can be accessed from anywhere.

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Apple Intruded !  

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Mac OS was considered o be a safe operating system till now. But not anymore! Two hackers from Matasano Security have succeeded in cracking a fully secured Mac OS. This was possible due to an unknown lacuna in Apple’s Quick Time player, which, paired with Java, became a gateway for the hackers. However, Windows users should not delude themselves with a false sense of security; even other operating systems with an in-built QuickTime can fall prey to this problem—and Windows XP and Vista are no exceptions.

As strange as it might sound, Microsoft’s approach towards security loopholes has been more open and professional than Apple’s. The techies from Redmond are a lot more confident--- they officially invite hackers to test products for possible security loopholes before they are launched. Even Mac hackers are of the same opinion. Dino Dai Zovi, the person who discovered the Apple hitch believes that Microsoft is ahead of Apple in security. It is only the widespread use of windows which makes it more susceptible to attacks.

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Program, Optimize thyself  

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AMD proposes psychic extensions for CPUs

AMD is fl oating a set of new instructions that could make it easier for programs to tune themselves. Called Lightweight Profi ling (LWP), the new instructions would become part of AMD’s AMD64 instruction set. LWP would add little overhead yet give applications direct feedback from the CPU on how a process for the application is running. If the process is generating excessive cache misses, branch mispredictions, or thread locks, the app—with real-time feedback from the CPU—would, in theory, correct the problem and run faster. LWP could help programmers in the daunting task of optimizing for the increasing number of execution cores in PCs. That number is predicted to reach from eight to 16 within a year or two. AMD hasn’t said when LWP will be integrated into its CPUs, but it will apparently not be available in upcoming quad-core Opteron and Phenom FX CPUs.

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Maruti Alto  

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India’s best seller is a fine car if you are on a budget.

The real modern budget car – cramped but solid with good street cred. Looks better with new larger grille. Like its cheaper sibling, there’s only the frugal 796cc three-pot. Performance is not bad, and refinement is ok. Needs more low-down torque – it wheezes up hills. Five-Seed gearbox is decent.

Driving it is nimble business. And it rides fairly well on our roads, for its size. The steering is very light too. Space, however, is awful, especially in the rear. Seats are comfy, but again, are good enough for four people only. Boot is cigarette-box sized. Build Quality feels miles ahead of the tangy 800. The thick C-pillar must help a fair bit. Not terribly rattle-prone, and the cabin feels solid enough if not high quality. So, safely is better than the 800.

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Maruti 800  

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It’s cheap. Doesn’t break down often and doesn’t drink much.

Ancient? Yes. Crude? Somewhat. But, amazingly cheap, performs quite well and has space for four. Refinement levels aren’t very high but the 796cc three-cylinder engine has proven to be efficient, reliable and reasonable in our stop-start city traffic, albeit with high dosage vibrations. Interestingly, it drives reasonably well, and it’s easy to punt through traffic, even without power steering. Brakes could be better. You’ll realize this once you grow out to something else.

Coming to space… actually, it’s quite ok, if you don’t get too ambitious. Two in front, two slim, bendy people in the back. What do you expect about build quality? It hangs well together, doesn’t break down. Rattles a fair bit over the kilometers, but it’s not too bad. Don’t sit on the bonnet.

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Heaven’s door  

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In sikkim, Buddhism seeps into everyday life, yet it intrudes into nothing. There are 194 monasteries here and padmasambhava or guru rimpoche is the patron saint of the state. For the spiritually inclined, this is hallowed ground, for the non-believer, it is still a journey of discovery. Roam the ancient rumtek monastery, with its intricately worked murals and traditional architecture. Explore pemayangtse, the premier monastery of sikkim, high on a hill, that houses a treasure trove of religious art, thangkas, and a gorgeous wooden sculpture. Birds swoop down on its crystal clear surface to remove even a fallen leaf. But perhaps most remarkable of all in sikkim is the discovery that faith has nothing to do with religion.

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April 2008 February 2008
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