Category: Everything

tmuxinator: Manage complex tmux sessions easily

Once upon a time, I used GNU screen to provide terminal multiplexing – running multiple terminal sessions in the same terminal process. This allows a number of handy features, including being able to switch between different sessions, keep processes running in the background, and maintain a highly organized command-line environment. GNU screen was the utility to do this.

As with everything else in Linux, GNU screen was supplanted by tmux – usage statistics indicate that tmux is now the most used terminal multiplexer. tmux provides all of the features that screen provided and more. It’s also slightly easier to configure. tmux runs into some of the same problems screen had though, including trying to manage complex tmux sessions.

Enter tmuxinator to provide this functionality. tmuxinator allows a user to easily define session configuration – including setting up tabs, windows and screens – to easily launch and reuse configurations and to make switching between sessions simple. (Well, a little simpler. The readme.md for tmuxinator is needlessly complex and it takes time to learn how to configure settings and how the settings work in tmux.)

I use tmuxinator to launch three sessions on startup: Personal (applications like mutt for email and vimwiki for journaling), Work and writing. Each session is a window, and allows for creating multiple panes for each window, allowing multiple terminals to run at the same time. Once tmuxinator is configured, it will save a lot of time.

If only that readme.md were less complex.

Create and manage tmux sessions easily (github).

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Three very good todo.txt applications for Linux

Screenshot from the Linux todo task app Sleek

I have been using Gina Trepani’s Todo.txt as my task list system for quite a while now. I decided I wanted something that could present an easier-to-grok task list. Thanks to Trepani’s standard Todo.txt file conventions, it is easy to write applications that use the Todo.txt file as a data source, and display/manipulate tasks within it.

There are Todo.txt task managers available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, but since I’m a Linux geek, I am going to stick to talking about three todo.txt applications for Linux: Sleek, Pter, and Xpter.

Sleek is a simple and easy-to-use to-do list application. It is perfect for users who want a basic to-do list without any bells and whistles. Sleek has a clean and uncluttered interface, and it is very easy to add, edit, and delete tasks. Sleek also supports due dates and priorities, and it can be integrated with a variety of other applications, such as Google Calendar and Todoist.

Sleek Linux to-do list application

Pter (an acronym for Personal Task Entropy Reducer) is a more powerful to-do list application than Sleek. It has a wider range of features, including support for subtasks, recurring tasks, and attachments. Pter also has a more customizable interface than Sleek. However, Pter is also more complex to use than Sleek.

Pter Linux to-do list application

Qpter is a QT-based GUI companion to the terminal-based to-do list application Pter. It is perfect for users who want a lightweight and portable to-do list application. Qpter is very fast and efficient, and it supports a wide range of features, including support for due dates, priorities, and tags.

The best to-do list application for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for a simple and easy-to-use to-do list application, Sleek is a good choice. If you need a more powerful to-do list application with a wider range of features, Pter is a good option. If you want a lightweight and portable to-do list application, Xpter is a good choice.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which to-do list application is right for you is to try them all out and see which one you like best. Personally, I find Pter to be the most powerful so I use it whenever I need to add/edit tasks, but if I just want to view my to-do list, then Sleek does this elegantly.

ChunPo Rises

Rise, ChunPo!

ChunPo kneels on the ground in front of a cherry blossom tree, and listens to the sounds of battle, born to him on the winds. He understands that these sound are from wars in far away lands, lands he abandoned when he made his choice to stay here in Pandaria after helping free his beloved homelands from the evils of the Sha and the Orcs.

ChunPo makes a daily pilgrimage from his homestead in Halfhill to here, Emporer Chao’s grave and the memorial to those who sacrificed their lives in defense of Pandaria, both here and in Orgrimmar. These were the wars that ChunPo fought in, and these are the wars that left him with the physical scars that have faded and the emotional scars that never will. All ChunPo wants is to enjoy peace in this home he fought to the death for.

Yet the sounds of these new, far away wars grow louder and louder. The winds call to him, call him to leave his home, possibly never to return, because… Because…

“Azeroth is in danger…”

ChunPo tries to ignore this voice, but it grows louder and more urgent every day. He ignores it, but knows that he will give in. Azeroth needs him, had given him years of peace but now calls him to action…

ChunPo kneels and communes one last time with Emperor Chao’s spirit, and is not surprised as Lorewalker Cho and the Celestials join him in saying farewell. Their voice echoes in his mind, radiating warmth and love and courage, and they say as one:

“Rise, hero, your time of solace is over, it is time to stand once more. For Azeroth. For the Alliance.”

The Celestials, having delivered their message, vanish. ChunPo rises and looks into Lorewalker Cho’s eyes. They kneel to each other, then yell as with one voice:

“FOR PANDARIA!!!”

Christmas Playlist 2017

This is my Christmas/holiday playlist for 2017! I had to re-do it once, but this is the final version. All of these songs mean a lot to me, I hope you find some songs that you like. Just click “Play” below.

Happy holidays, everyone!