dolphinling’s weblog

For the past few weeks I’ve had no sound coming from my computer. I switched over from having sound support built in to the kernel to loaded as modules, and everything worked fine. Then, just to be sure, I re-ran the configuration… and it broke. Every single step in the guide I was using worked fine, with no errors at all or anything, until the part where you were supposed to hear sound, which I didn’t.

Lack of an error message is a pain to work with, so I couldn’t find any way to fix it. I went through the guide several times, it didn’t get fixed. I upgraded kernels and alsa tools, nothing helped. I asked on forums, no one knew.

So today I tried everything again, and then went and searched the alsa-user mailing list archives. And there I found the solution to my problem: switch a rather buried, nowhere-mentioned pref to change the output from digital to analog, since it can only do one at a time.

So hopefully this post will come up on google for anyone having the same problem as me. If you have a Soundblaster 2 Audigy (ZS (Platinum (Pro))), which uses the emu10k1 driver, and you’re not getting any sound, but you have no error messages either, and you’re sure everything’s turned on and unmuted and turned to a good volume, then scroll way over in your alsamixer preferences, and find the thing labelled “Audigy Analog/Digital Output Jack”, and unmute it.

I’m sure I’m not the first to think about this, but with multi-core/cell processors, will graphics cards eventually become obsolete? After all, why not put one normal core and one graphics core in? And then, for the people who need specialist stuff, one raytracing core, one physics core, one whatever else.

And with people finding that some non-graphics things go faster on graphics cards, perhaps this will lead to things not being written for a specific CPU/GPU/whatever, but instead being told somewhere along the line to go wherever they’ll run fastest.

On the other hand, this would make it impossible for people to upgrade just their graphics card… bah, what do I know? I’m just a web geek.

Looks like Gentoo finally got Gnome 2.10 in the stable branch:

dolphinlingx root # emerge -Dtau world

These are the packages that I would merge, in reverse order:

Calculating world dependencies ...done!
[ebuild     U ] app-admin/sudo-1.6.7_p5-r4 [1.6.7_p5-r2]
[ebuild  N    ] sys-apps/busybox-1.00-r4
[nomerge      ] gnome-base/gnome-2.8.3-r1
[ebuild  N    ]  app-admin/gnome-system-tools-1.2.0-r1
[ebuild     U ]  x11-terms/gnome-terminal-2.10.0 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ]  www-client/epiphany-1.6.0-r3 [1.4.8]
[ebuild     U ]  net-analyzer/gnome-netstatus-2.10.0 [2.8.0]
[ebuild     U ]  app-text/gpdf-2.10.0 [2.8.3]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/gnome-utils-2.10.0 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/bug-buddy-2.10.0 [2.8.0]
[ebuild  N    ]   app-text/gnome-doc-utils-0.1.3
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/evolution-webcal-2.2.0 [2.0.1]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/gnome-games-2.10.0 [2.8.3]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/gcalctool-5.5.41 [4.4.22]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/gnome-media-2.10.0 [2.8.0]
[ebuild  N    ]   media-plugins/gst-plugins-cdparanoia-0.8.8
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-extra/nautilus-cd-burner-2.10.0 [2.8.7]
[ebuild     U ]  net-misc/vino-2.10.0 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ]  app-arch/file-roller-2.10.0-r1 [2.8.4]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/gconf-editor-2.10.0 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/zenity-2.10.0 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-extra/gnome-system-monitor-2.10.0 [2.8.3]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-base/gdm-2.6.0.9-r2 [2.6.0.7]
[ebuild     U ]  mail-client/evolution-2.2.1.1 [2.0.4]
[ebuild  NS   ]   gnome-extra/libgtkhtml-3.6.1
[ebuild  NS   ]   gnome-extra/gal-2.4.1
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-base/gnome-session-2.10.0 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-base/gnome-applets-2.10.0 [2.8.2]
[ebuild  N    ]   app-admin/system-tools-backends-1.2.0
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-base/libgtop-2.10.0 [2.8.3]
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-base/gnome-panel-2.10.0 [2.8.3]
[ebuild     U ]    gnome-extra/evolution-data-server-1.2.1 [1.0.4]
[ebuild     U ]   x11-libs/libwnck-2.10.0 [2.8.1-r1]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-base/control-center-2.10.0 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ]   x11-libs/libxklavier-2.0 [1.04-r1]
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-base/nautilus-2.10.0 [2.8.2-r1]
[ebuild     U ]    gnome-base/librsvg-2.9.5 [2.8.1-r1]
[ebuild     U ]   x11-wm/metacity-2.10.0 [2.8.13]
[nomerge      ] media-plugins/gst-plugins-alsa-0.8.8
[ebuild     U ]   media-libs/gst-plugins-0.8.8-r2 [0.8.8]
[ebuild     U ]  app-editors/gedit-2.10.0 [2.8.3]
[ebuild     U ]   x11-libs/gtksourceview-1.2.0 [1.1.1]
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-base/libgnomeprintui-2.10.0.1 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ]    gnome-base/libgnomeprint-2.10.0 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ]     net-print/libgnomecups-0.2.0 [0.1.14]
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-base/eel-2.10.0 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ]    gnome-base/gnome-desktop-2.10.0 [2.8.3]
[nomerge      ]     app-text/scrollkeeper-0.3.14
[ebuild     U ]      app-text/docbook-sgml-utils-0.6.14 [0.6.12]
[ebuild  N    ]    gnome-base/gnome-menus-2.10.0
[nomerge      ] media-sound/digitaldj-0.7.3-r1
[nomerge      ]  media-sound/grip-3.3.0
[ebuild     U ]   x11-libs/vte-0.11.12 [0.11.11-r2]
[ebuild  N    ] x11-themes/gnome-themes-2.10.0
[ebuild     U ]  x11-themes/gtk-engines-2.6.3 [2.2.0]
[ebuild     U ] x11-themes/gnome-icon-theme-2.10.0 [2.8.0]
[nomerge      ] x11-misc/xscreensaver-4.20
[nomerge      ]  gnome-extra/yelp-2.6.5
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-base/libgnomeui-2.10.0 [2.8.1-r1]
[ebuild     U ]    gnome-base/gnome-keyring-0.4.2 [0.4.1]
[nomerge      ]    gnome-base/libbonoboui-2.8.1
[ebuild     U ]     gnome-base/libgnomecanvas-2.10.0 [2.8.0]
[ebuild     U ]   gnome-base/libgnome-2.10.0 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ]    gnome-base/gnome-vfs-2.10.0-r2 [2.8.4-r1]
[ebuild     U ]     gnome-base/gconf-2.10.0 [2.8.1-r1]
[ebuild     U ]  gnome-base/libglade-2.5.0 [2.4.2]
[nomerge      ] x11-terms/xterm-200-r1
[nomerge      ]  sys-apps/utempter-0.5.5.5-r1
[nomerge      ]   x11-base/xorg-x11-6.8.2-r1
[nomerge      ]    sys-apps/util-linux-2.12i-r1
[nomerge      ]     sys-apps/pam-login-3.14
[nomerge      ]      sys-libs/glibc-2.3.4.20041102-r1
[nomerge      ]       sys-devel/gcc-3.3.5.20050130-r1
[ebuild     U ]        sys-devel/gcc-config-1.3.11 [1.3.10-r2]

Do you want me to merge these packages? [Yes/No] yes

(Note to self: started at 20:48, check to see how long it took.)

So one thing I’ve noticed with amaroK/Rhythmbox is that I often (more than I would expect myself to) want to play only one song, or one short group of songs. Queueing functionality should be great for this—I could queue the songs I want to play, and then end the queue with a “stop” command. In fact, normally one queues songs in amaroK (Rhythmbox doesn’t have queueing) by right clicking on them and selecting “queue” from the context menu, so simply adding the same menu item to the stop button would almost work really well: it would be simple, non-intrusive, intuitive… the only problem is that it really wouldn’t be discoverable at all. Can anyone think of a way to make it more discoverable (or something else that works better)? Or is that actually good enough for that kind of feature?

So I was just downstairs using the other computer and I looked over and saw the the old installation disks for KidPix (a drawing program aimed at young kids). And I thought to myself

Software came on floppies??!

dolphinlingx root # emerge --ask --deep --update world

These are the packages that I would merge, in order:

Calculating world dependencies ...done!
[ebuild     U ] sys-libs/ncurses-5.4-r6 [5.4-r5]
[ebuild     U ] sys-apps/grep-2.5.1-r7 [2.5.1-r6]
[ebuild     U ] sys-devel/libtool-1.5.16 [1.5.14]
[ebuild     U ] x11-terms/xterm-201 [200-r1]
[ebuild     U ] media-libs/libsdl-1.2.8-r1 [1.2.7-r3]
[ebuild     U ] dev-libs/atk-1.8.0-r1 [1.8.0]
[ebuild     U ] dev-libs/libxml2-2.6.17 [2.6.16]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/libglade-2.4.2 [2.4.0]
[ebuild     U ] dev-libs/libIDL-0.8.5 [0.8.4]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/orbit-2.12.1 [2.12.0]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/libbonobo-2.8.1 [2.8.0]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/libgnome-2.8.1 [2.8.0]
[ebuild     U ] media-libs/libart_lgpl-2.3.17 [2.3.16]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/libbonoboui-2.8.1 [2.8.0]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/gnome-keyring-0.4.1 [0.4.0]
[ebuild     U ] x11-themes/gnome-themes-2.8.2 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ] app-editors/gedit-2.8.3 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ] x11-libs/startup-notification-0.8 [0.7]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/gnome-desktop-2.8.3 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ] media-libs/gstreamer-0.8.9-r3 [0.8.8]
[ebuild     U ] media-libs/gst-plugins-0.8.8 [0.8.7]
[ebuild     U ] media-plugins/gst-plugins-vorbis-0.8.8 [0.8.7]
[ebuild     U ] media-plugins/gst-plugins-alsa-0.8.8 [0.8.7-r1]
[ebuild     U ] media-plugins/gst-plugins-esd-0.8.8 [0.8.7]
[ebuild     U ] media-plugins/gst-plugins-ogg-0.8.8 [0.8.7]
[ebuild     U ] media-plugins/gst-plugins-mad-0.8.8 [0.8.7]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/libgtop-2.8.3 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ] x11-libs/libwnck-2.8.1-r1 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/gnome-panel-2.8.3 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-extra/gcalctool-4.4.22 [4.4.20]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-extra/gal-2.2.5 [2.2.4]
[ebuild     U ] x11-wm/metacity-2.8.13 [2.8.8]
[ebuild     U ] net-libs/libsoup-2.2.2 [2.2.1]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-extra/evolution-data-server-1.0.4 [1.0.3]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/control-center-2.8.2 [2.8.1-r1]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-extra/gnome-system-monitor-2.8.3 [2.8.1-r1]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-extra/libgtkhtml-3.2.5 [3.2.4]
[ebuild     U ] mail-client/evolution-2.0.4 [2.0.3-r2]
[ebuild     U ] app-arch/file-roller-2.8.4 [2.8.3]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-base/gdm-2.6.0.7 [2.6.0.6]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-extra/nautilus-cd-burner-2.8.7 [2.8.6]
[ebuild     U ] app-text/gpdf-2.8.3 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ] app-text/ggv-2.8.3 [2.8.1]
[ebuild     U ] gnome-extra/gnome-games-2.8.3 [2.8.2]
[ebuild     U ] www-client/epiphany-1.4.8 [1.4.6]
[ebuild     U ] dev-perl/DBI-1.46 [1.38-r1]
[ebuild     U ] dev-perl/DBD-mysql-2.9003 [2.1027]
[ebuild     U ] games-strategy/wesnoth-0.9.1 [0.9.0]

Do you want me to merge these packages? [Yes/No]

Holy cow that’s a lot of updates. I swear I just synced yesterday morning, too.

For the past while I’ve been trying to get Rosegarden to work. For Christmas I got a really nice midi controller (ie, a keyboard, but it doesn’t actually make sounds itself, you hook it up to your computer and it tells the computer what sounds to make*), and I looked around for a sequencer to go with it and heard good things about Rosegarden.

Only problem was that I couldn’t actually build it on my computer. I’m not much of a fan of KDE, so I’d told Gentoo not to build KDE support into things, but Rosegarden uses KDE libraries. That wouldn’t have been a problem, as I could pick and choose the libraries I needed, except the ebuild file that controlls the compiling and installation was broken and it checked to see whether I actually had KDE, not just the libraries I needed. (I think. It might have been checking something else, though.)

A newer version, of both Rosegarden and the ebuild file, had come out, but it was still in the testing branch of Portage (Gentoo’s package manager), and so I couldn’t see it. From reading Gentoo Bugzilla I knew that it was out there somewhere, but I couldn’t find it, and from reading the Gentoo Forums I found some old advice on getting the old version working, which I tried, failed at, and thought that with my efforts I’d probably broken something.

Today I decided to have another go at it, and this time I found some information on getting programs from the testing branch. It worked like a charm, and Rosegarden is now compiling.

* You need a good sound card for this, which I also got for Christmas. Thanks Mom and Dad!

*just had a bad dream about getting duped by spyware on Linux*

*shudders* Thank goodness that’s over.

I really wish someone would get around to inventing a way to have the lyrics scroll by in XMMS or whatever media player they want. It shouldn’t be too hard, just define a (whatever the OGG equivelant of a PNG chunk is) and specify a way to stick a timestamp on each word. Then the application takes that and has the lyrics scroll by, hopefully smoothly rather than jumping word by word. It could be specified in a few minutes by someone who knew what they were doing (though obviously it should be left open for people to comment), and, though I admit my ignorance, I wouldn’t expect it to take long to implement.

So: people who know what they’re doing, get off your butts and do this.

Edit: Or perhaps… I know OGG can sync audio and video, so could it sync audio and plain text? Once again, I leave that to people who know what they’re doing.

I’m sure most of you have heard of the LAND attack by now, through slashdot or various other news places. If you haven’t, it’s basically just a DoS attack that Microsoft hasn’t fixed yet… after 8 years.

…Which is exactly why I use Linux.

I want to have my window manger customized in the following way:

• Moving the mouse does not shift focus
• Clicking in a window does shift focus (and passes the click through to the window—obvious but important), but does not bring the new window to the front
• Double-clicking in a window or clicking on its title brings a window to the front (and focuses it)

Less importantly,

• If I open a window, it should come in front of other windows unless I’ve done something in those other windows since then—i.e., if I open firefox and then start IMing someone before firefox shows, I don’t want my IM window to suddenly be covered.

Can anyone help me get those?

I’m currently running Gnome 2.8.1-r4, Metacity (that’s the default window manager that comes with gnome, right?), and X.org 6.8.0-r4, but (obviously) since it’s my own computer and I’m root, I can do pretty much anything I need.

I’m posting this from firefox, back on my own computer! Woohoo!

‘Twas a pain trying to get my settings back… I hadn’t realized that I needed a particular driver for the firewire hard drive (that I’d backed up to) to work, so even though hotplug, etc. were working fine, the drive didn’t show up. Rather confusing, and when I went to look at stuff in the kernel I didn’t think at the time I’d find the answer there. But I did, yay :-). Now I just have to find a way to get the scroll wheel on the mouse working, which if the current trend continues (had to recompile the kernel to get my screen resolution above 640×480, had to recompile the kernel to get the firewire drive working) will mean I need to recompile the kernel again ’cause I got my mouse driver wrong.