Geekish Stuff

Git plus Perl 5.10 with MacPorts on Mac OS X Leopard

So today I’ve been struggling with MacPorts in order install Git with Perl 5.10 and not perl 5.8 (since I have already installed Perl 5.10 and I don’t want two different version of Perl in my system). After reading something about it I came up with a simple solution by overriding the Portfile from the Macports installation. Its easy as:

1. Edit your /opt/local/etc/macports/sources.conf and place the following line on top of the file:

file:///Users/< your username here >/.ports/ [nosync]

this will make “.ports” directory the local repository for the MacPorts.

2. Create directory structure for “git-core” package:

$ mkdir -r /Users/< your username here >/.ports/devel/git-core

3. Download the Portfile for git-core into the created dir:

$ cd /Users/< your username here >/.ports/devel/git-core
$ wget http://trac.macports.org/projects/macports/browser/trunk/dports/devel/git-core/Portfile

4. Change the runtime dependency from perl5.8 to perl5.10 by editing the file Portfile and changing the depends-run directive. It should look like:

depends_run port:openssh port:rsync port:perl5.10 port:p5-error

Also remove the patchfiles directive because the patch does not exists anymore:

patchfiles patch-Makefile.diff patch-http.h.diff

5. Run the portindex command in “.ports” dir. You will be presented with an output like:

Creating software index in /Users/Braceta/.ports
 
Adding port devel/git-core
Total number of ports parsed:    1
Ports successfully parsed:       1
Ports failed:                    0

6. Now install the “git-core” normally as you usually do, but now the dependency is fixed:

$ sudo port install git-core

Done!
If you look at the steps here you can also learn more from the MacPorts packaging system and override other package definitions it you want to! Hope it helps :).

Add comment March 31st, 2008

Aperture 2 Powerbook G4 12″

What’s cool about my previous post is that it still works for Aperture 2 :).

Add comment February 26th, 2008

Aperture 1.5.6 PowerBook G4 12″ installation hack

I bought myself during this Christmas a Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS compact cam (a personal review will come in further posts).

This my new hobby made me realize I need some photo management software. I own iLife 08 from Apple, which includes iPhoto 08 (simple for basic tasks) but I’m really considering use another app more powerful. I came across to the, yet sometimes flame war, discussion between LightRoom and Aperture.

While trying to install Aperture 1.5.6 (trial version, btw) I received the following message:

“Your video card does not meet the minimum requirements to run this software”.

Howcome is this possible, if the Aperture Compatiblity Checker app certifies successfully my laptop?

Looking into Aperture hardware minimum requirements I have ensured in Apple site that it should work on my laptop, which is a:

• Powerbook G4 1.5 ghz
• 1.25 Gb RAM
• 80 Gb Disk
• 12″ LCD display
• Nvidia GeForceGo 5200 64Mb DDR

After tinkering around with the Aperture installer I have found a way to overcome the installation checks in order to install it on every Mac you own (I won’t guarantee your hardware can run Aperture, but at least you can now install it. ):

• Copy the ApertureTrial.mpkg inside the .dmg image into your hard disk somewhere
• Ctrl+Click in the ApertureTrial.mpkg in your hard disk and choose “Show Package Contents”
• Go inside “Contents” folder and edit ApertureTrial.dist file with your favorite text editor
• Delete the line containing: <installation-check script=’installationCheck()’/> and save it
• Now run the ApertureTrial.mpkg again.

Cool! You will be able to install Aperture without verifying hardware requirements first.

Poking into the installationCheck() script, the GeForceGo 5200 seams to be blacklisted by Apple (still don’t know the reason). Even thouhg it does not perform extremely fast, it works fine to me. No problems found yet.

Hope it helps :).

6 comments December 30th, 2007

Another Review: How to Design a Good API and Why it Matters

How many of you tried to write a complete good API? Well, perhaps not so many. An API is only good if is intended to be used by others. But if you are a software engineer you must ensure if it will be used, you will invest your time doing it right from the start.

Joshua Bloch gave a very interesting talk at Google focusing this subject. Some key points where highlighted to have in mind when designing a good API.

It was a nice talk, mainly because Joshua is a good orator therefore captures your attention trough the whole session. Nevertheless he haven’t got time to finish the talk skipping the two last chapters. Don’t ask me why but google seems strict when concerning to time session (maybe there’s no more tape to record? ).

Some key points to save from talk:

• When doubt let it out: you can add it later;
• Keep your API Specification short and simple;
• Method and Class names are Important;
• Fail fast: return errors as soon as possible

I rate 4 stars of 5 for the importance of the subject. I only give 4 because the talk is not complete. Even tough you can infer the rest from the slides.

Add comment December 9th, 2007

Google Tech Talk: Deconstructing The Xbox Security System

Another Google Tech Talk personal review, this time:Deconstructing The Xbox Security System: In late 2001, Microsoft released the Xbox, their first gaming console, to compete against Sony and Nintendo in the living room. As the real money is made with the games and not the consoles, Microsoft had to make sure (as much as they could) that nobody could play pirated games or use the machine for anything other than games. Although the original security design idea was a good one and has been copied a lot since then, Microsoft’s inexperienced team made a variety of design, implementation, and policy mistakes. This talk first (re)constructs the design of the Xbox security system from Microsoft’s point of view, and then deconstructs it from the hacker’s point of view. As a bonus, the talk will feature some insights in the security system of the Xbox successor, the Xbox 360.Michael Steil is the founder and maintainer of the Xbox-Linux Project. He oversaw most of the Xbox hacks and also contributed to hacking, reverse engineering and porting Linux on the Xbox.

Personal small review: Very appealing talk! Hilarious geeky and technical talk. The youth and joy of Michael Steil about hacking Xbox takes this seminar to a must have place for all who are interested about how a computer works and how hacking can reach into a so deep hardware complexity. This seminar makes cracking seem almost easy.. (5 stars, for the enthusiasm, remarks about security issues and learning value).

Add comment December 25th, 2006

Google Tech Talk: Scrum et Al

Journal of my Google Tech Talk video views, todays talk:

Scrum et Al: Talk about implementing Scrum on companies. Ken Schwaber co-developed the Agile process, Scrum. He is a founder of the Agile Alliance and Scrum Alliance, and signatory to the Agile Manifesto. Ken has been a software developer for over thirty years. He is an active advocate and evangelist for Agile processes.

This seminar presents the basic framework of Scrum and some of the implementation issues associated with it.

Personal small review: Great talk! Insightful points regarding the most value of scrum for a deliverable project. Scrum is not all perfect, and some discipline from the groups implementing it is required - all these topics are touch in a particularly appealing way. (5 start review. For its content, value and presentation).

Add comment December 25th, 2006

Google Spreadsheets Quickie

I had to make a quick spreadsheet to project my current preferences on which job I would prefer to go, balancing preferences and salary pay on each plate. Instead of opening Excel or even OpenOffice/NeoOffice on my Mac, I have decided to give a shot on Google Spreadsheets.First impression, I was amazingly surprised with a slick and simple interface. Actually the simplicity does not come across on the interactivity which is present all over with Ajax interface and quiet intuitive.Enough praising, lets take a look on some minor bottlenecks I have found:

• I could not copy a formula on a cell for other cells with a drag and drop style.
• Editing a field on Mac OS Firefox, the cursor disappears and I have to find where it is by clicking where I want it. That’s annoying but probably a Firefox issue.

Final thought this time: Google Spreadsheets has robust and solid implementation, with a closer look and feel to people who are used to Excel. It served me well for a simple job, but it can do even more powerful stuff on complex data-sheets.

Add comment September 14th, 2006

PowerBookG4 12” 1.5Ghz, powered by Kubuntu

Add comment November 18th, 2005

Oracle 10g, finally!

Add comment November 13th, 2005

My first post..

This is how everything starts…

Add comment November 12th, 2005