Nostr notes by popey

The #Ubuntu Studio team has been working flat out this cycle — ...

2026-04-23T10:10:58Z

The #Ubuntu Studio team has been working flat out this cycle — new hosting, rewritten apps, squashed bugs. 💪
If you use it (or just love what they do), a donation goes a long way: https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-studio-needs-donations/80295?u=popey
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-studio-needs-donations/80295?u=popey

Any London-based Tailscale fans, there's a community meetup ...

2026-04-22T13:18:50Z

Any London-based Tailscale fans, there's a community meetup on 11th May.
Maybe see you there.
https://luma.com/90lr0yc7?tk=nFhpW5

Doing some clearing out and found my old #ubuntu phone. Not ...

2026-03-14T13:28:10Z

Doing some clearing out and found my old #ubuntu phone. Not updated since 2017! Add that to the todo list :)

Ok, put together a pair of #Meshtastic nodes. Now what. :) ...

2026-02-22T00:39:38Z

Ok, put together a pair of #Meshtastic nodes. Now what. :)

Let’s give this #meshtastic thing a go. Some assembly required. ...

2026-02-21T20:05:27Z

Let’s give this #meshtastic thing a go.
Some assembly required.
Batteries included.

Nostr event nevent1qqswsk6msl6m8rk536zpagpyh693vyc7nysuu3r7e6zcw6tc5y89ktczyp7cm6mtymxq8x06u8aqdal6gxm794l7ctlx55a00sttwcx9gv02zhjnu5y

2026-01-21T17:37:51Z

IYHO: What is the best #Matrix client, and why?

I would be happy to help. All my contact details are at popey.me ...

2026-01-17T23:50:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…j3fj
_________________________

I would be happy to help. All my contact details are at popey.me - pick any way you want, and I'll be glad to support your journey.

There are ways to reign it in, so it doesn't break existing ...

2026-01-17T22:49:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…4wtc
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There are ways to reign it in, so it doesn't break existing code (too often). For example, entering plan mode, forcing it to write tests, and making sure it commits all atomic changes to git, with good commit messages, so you can revert when it goes astray.

Also, I strongly recommend having it write out a "status" or "handover" markdown file periodically. That way, you can exit, start again, and have a clean context to start from. Massively reduces hallucinations. HTH HAND :D

No problem. The first thing I'd suggest is writing a ...

2026-01-17T22:31:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…ygvk
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No problem. The first thing I'd suggest is writing a specification, detailed, and with all your thoughts captured, rather than having a lengthy conversation.

e.g. check out the repo for my "mojinav" and "snapscope" projects. Both were 100% claude built, and don't 100% look like they were. Worth spending some time thinking and witing natural language, then throw it at the AI :D.

https://github.com/popey/vibelympics/blob/main/round_1/PROMPT.md

https://github.com/popey/vibelympics/blob/main/round_2/PROMPT.md

hope that helps 🙏

I'm not judging, I use Claude too, a lot. Just wanted you to ...

2026-01-17T22:26:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…f7ew
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I'm not judging, I use Claude too, a lot. Just wanted you to know, in case you were not already aware.

Claude has a very strong preference for purple. If you don't explicitly specify, it will create new projects using that colour.

I tend to tell it to use monochrome with accent colours. It follows the instructions fairly clearly, if given.

imgur blocked themselves from the UK ...

2026-01-17T22:10:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…a6ku
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imgur blocked themselves from the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gzxv5gy3qo

1) don't use imgur for image hosting. 2) If you want to make ...

2026-01-17T22:01:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…zkaa
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1) don't use imgur for image hosting. 2) If you want to make something that doesn't look like it was made with claude, explicitly tell it to use a specific colour scheme.

Heya! Thanks for taking a look. Actually, yes. I'm trying to ...

2026-01-03T22:09:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…zke8
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Heya! Thanks for taking a look.

Actually, yes. I'm trying to figure out how that becomes part of the (for want of a better word) "algorithm," which suggests one issue, repo (or indeed org) over another. It already has a few knobs to twiddle, but I'd love to add more.

One I'm already planning to add is whether there is a code of conduct, another about license choice, and further whether they have a CLA or not. Weighting all of this is hard and will take time. Input welcome!

Hah! I cloned the Fedilab App repo earlier, grepped for xcancel, ...

2026-01-02T11:56:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…r0ys
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Hah! I cloned the Fedilab App repo earlier, grepped for xcancel, found mention of it in that MathJaxAndroid and thought "That can't be right!?" and promptly jumped out of the rabbit hole. Well done for digging deeper :D

Looks like the fediverse instance you're using is putting ...

2026-01-02T09:18:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…k7lk
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Looks like the fediverse instance you're using is putting something in the way of clickable links in your feed. That's rough.

No, no I don't. ...

2026-01-02T09:16:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…32cf
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No, no I don't.

eh?

2026-01-02T06:41:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…rd56
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eh?

I made a (sort of) "Tinder for Git" site to help ...

2026-01-01T22:39:03Z

I made a (sort of) "Tinder for Git" site to help developers find 'good first issues' in open-source projects. It's early days, but it could be helpful.

https://gitafix.com/

Back in the UK and greeted with the “Activate Windows” ...

2025-11-21T09:36:25Z

Back in the UK and greeted with the “Activate Windows” watermark in Baggage Reclaim. Wonderful stuff.

The #Ubuntu Unity project is calling for developer support. A ...

2025-10-26T22:27:07Z

The #Ubuntu Unity project is calling for developer support. A lack of available maintainers has led to critical bugs and no 25.10 release. They need help to fix the desktop and maintain the flavor for the 26.04 LTS.
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/regarding-ubuntu-unity-and-a-call-for-help/71095?u=popey

"Ubuntu’s Stability Meets Nixpkgs’ Freshness" - ...

2025-10-23T07:16:27Z

"Ubuntu’s Stability Meets Nixpkgs’ Freshness" - introducing Nøughty Linux - the #Ubuntu / #Nix Hybrid created by Martin Wimpress. Find out more in his presentation, linked below.
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/noughty-linux-ubuntus-stability-meets-nixpkgs-freshness/69962?u=popey

My friend @npub1f0c…6mxf wrote the book on #Ubuntu 24.04, out ...

2025-07-30T14:30:31Z

My friend Ken VanDine (npub1f0c…6mxf) wrote the book on #Ubuntu 24.04, out this week! We chatted about its new features, the future of the #Linux desktop, and his long career in open source.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_v6Gc0-riU

Do I know any Python uv users who are also Go developers? 🤔 We ...

2025-03-11T15:49:48Z

Do I know any Python uv users who are also Go developers? 🤔
We want to expand Syft's catalogers to understand uv lock files.
Looking for brave new contributors!
https://github.com/anchore/syft/issues/3268
#python #go #opensource #sbom
https://github.com/anchore/syft/issues/3268

The #Ubuntu #Flutter community of developers is planning a ...

2025-02-11T14:19:52Z

The #Ubuntu #Flutter community of developers is planning a desktop jam!
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-flutter-community-desktop-jam-idea/54971?u=popey
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-flutter-community-desktop-jam-idea/54971?u=popey

I made a Python script that tries to automate removing your ...

2025-01-22T15:14:14Z

I made a Python script that tries to automate removing your Twitter followers.
https://github.com/popey/twitter-defollower

@npub1f30…d2kp @npub1z98…le0l hello, and I hope you are ...

2024-12-25T23:22:05Z

Accidental Tech Podcast (npub1f30…d2kp) John Siracusa (npub1z98…le0l) hello, and I hope you are having / have had a happy holiday. On your sole recommendation I got an Aura photo frame. Total win. Entire family loved it and sent hundreds of pictures to it. We were basically transfixed all day. Easy to set up and use. Great present. Thanks 🙏

One thing the LLMs are really good at, is inventive ways to annoy ...

2024-12-25T09:49:54Z

One thing the LLMs are really good at, is inventive ways to annoy my kids.
A successful example in four pictures...

Question is vague. Paid to work on - as in - work on the Linux ...

2024-12-24T12:58:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…srss
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Question is vague. Paid to work on - as in - work on the Linux distro itself? Or work on - as in work on software that ran on the distro?

First Unix/Linux I worked on (used) was probably SCO.

First Unix/Linux I was paid to work on itself, was Ubuntu in 2012-2021.

Yeah, maybe. I need examples / samples to try stuff out though.

2024-12-13T22:12:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…68gm
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Yeah, maybe. I need examples / samples to try stuff out though.

A new release of Linux Matters is out. In my bit, I talked about ...

2024-12-10T22:51:06Z

A new release of Linux Matters is out. In my bit, I talked about Grummage, a Python program I recently wrote to visualise Grype JSON files. I also did a new ad read with a tiny easter egg for people in the know.

https://linuxmatters.sh/44/

Broken signs everywhere. Is this bus stop using windows xp!? ...

2024-12-08T14:42:01Z

Broken signs everywhere. Is this bus stop using windows xp!?

In the 1990s at Deloitte Consulting, I ran OS/2 Warp on a beige ...

2024-11-29T09:22:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…l6w5
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In the 1990s at Deloitte Consulting, I ran OS/2 Warp on a beige Compaq "server" (desktop) as a remote dial-in box for Lotus cc:Mail. It had a "Digi" branded 8-way serial card attached to 8 US Robotics modems.

The phone lines were in a hunt group to round-robin the calls.
The clients were Dell Latitude XP & XPi, 486 & Pentium 100/133 machines running Windows 3.11.

Some clients dialed in every minute to get their mail, which was insane. I dread to think what their phone bills were!

I made a thing. https://github.com/popey/slomore ...

2024-11-15T13:49:57Z

I made a thing. https://github.com/popey/slomore

One criteria: ✔ That it's #ubuntu I started using it in ...

2024-11-13T12:23:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…5qes
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One criteria:

✔ That it's #ubuntu

I started using it in late 2004, and have been using it ever since. I see no reason to switch.

this many ...

2024-11-10T22:44:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…zqq6
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this many

Reminding me once again of a blog post - perhaps by ...

2024-11-08T07:58:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…tqag
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Reminding me once again of a blog post - perhaps by Andy S-C (npub1s7q…l55j) - I can never remember - that suggests after a certain period, it's cheaper to replace your fridge than keep it. The theory being it gets more expensive to run the longer you keep it, due to losing pressure, and slack door magnets leaking heat in (or cold out :) ) thus turning the compressor on more often, costing more. I think the general idea was replace every 10 years *hand-wave*. Can't remember.

Watching the election coverage on the BBBBBC ...

2024-11-05T23:02:26Z

Watching the election coverage on the BBBBBC

Just testing a 7-second long 2560x1920 MP4. (mastodon won't ...

2024-11-05T17:59:38Z

Just testing a 7-second long 2560x1920 MP4.
(mastodon won't let me upload the same resolution GIF)

I mostly use btop, but I also like bottom. I have 36GB RAM, so ...

2024-10-23T15:14:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…5c4v
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I mostly use btop, but I also like bottom. I have 36GB RAM, so don't care how much RAM the tool uses.

https://github.com/ClementTsang/bottom

I should probably do something with my Mark 1 other than ask it ...

2024-10-18T21:16:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…zep8
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I should probably do something with my Mark 1 other than ask it what are beans.

Nostr event nevent1qqspxz07w4va2htx7yvs5n4836yh7e9cxc0ztk2n67s092w0ts448yszyp7cm6mtymxq8x06u8aqdal6gxm794l7ctlx55a00sttwcx9gv02zxg32cg

2024-10-17T22:14:50Z

Attending #oggcamp last weekend left me wanting more, so I picked ...

2024-10-15T13:58:24Z

Attending #oggcamp last weekend left me wanting more, so I picked up a ticket for BarCamp London (npub12jy…30e9) in November. 🥳

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/barcamp-london-95884988213

Last week's newsletter was posted (late) from a bar in ...

2024-09-30T20:46:15Z

Last week's newsletter was posted (late) from a bar in Boston's Logan Airport. Cheers!

https://newsletter.popey.com/archive/2024-09-27

What's the keyboard shortcut?

2024-09-27T16:10:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…l4sd
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What's the keyboard shortcut?

I'm after something that I can use as an alternative to ...

2024-09-25T09:19:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…hv27
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I'm after something that I can use as an alternative to co-schedule & buffer. I want to write a bunch of posts in a markdown/toml/whatever file, and have a python script in a cron job which posts as and when I define, to the multiple accounts I want. Ideally masto/threads/bsky as a start.

@npub1mp9…vcju Yo, stumbled on this old post - did you ever try ...

2024-09-25T08:04:28Z

Ben Tasker (npub1mp9…vcju) Yo, stumbled on this old post - did you ever try again, using actual APIs? https://www.bentasker.co.uk/posts/blog/software-development/automatically-posting-into-bsky-threads-and-nostr-from-python.html

Hah! I was gonna tag @npub16vh…rs38 but he's already ...

2024-09-25T07:33:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…anw7
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Hah! I was gonna tag Alistair Buxton (npub16vh…rs38) but he's already mentioned in the article :D

Nostr event nevent1qqsv58da7wv5g3j4n88msjn35c2xv72q442lfujx2fc8xg2k9f99rwqzyp7cm6mtymxq8x06u8aqdal6gxm794l7ctlx55a00sttwcx9gv02z5juuc6

2024-09-22T17:57:32Z

😭

New release of ClassiCube - 1.3.7 - the custom Minecraft Classic ...

2024-09-21T14:18:31Z

New release of ClassiCube - 1.3.7 - the custom Minecraft Classic compatible client.

https://snapcraft.io/classicube

Them: What are you up to at the weekend? Me: Recovery Them: Oh, ...

2024-09-20T15:29:37Z

Them: What are you up to at the weekend?
Me: Recovery
Them: Oh, alcohol?
Me: No, disks.

😭

When I want to download a "Linux ISO", I usually ssh to a ...

2024-09-19T09:11:10Z

When I want to download a "Linux ISO", I usually ssh to a server somewhere and run "rtorrent" and leave it running. In 2024, is there a "better" way to do this on a remote machine (i.e. not a desktop app on my laptop) 🤔

#linux #torrent

Sorry everyone, according to Threads, I am now a "Linux ...

2024-09-17T20:42:33Z

Sorry everyone, according to Threads, I am now a "Linux Bro".

Huh, thanks. Was sure I'd been there too. I guess not. Have a ...

2024-09-17T10:55:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…wwar
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Huh, thanks. Was sure I'd been there too. I guess not. Have a nice day! :D

Y'know it surprises me every time, that every time you post ...

2024-09-17T10:51:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…05px
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Y'know it surprises me every time, that every time you post an article, they never, ever, have a "What is XeroLinux?" section :)

I think you might benefit from adding that, for people visiting the site for the first time. 🙏

Audible sigh. Re-connecting a laptop I own to #Signal is a ...

2024-09-09T18:28:51Z

Audible sigh.

Re-connecting a laptop I own to #Signal is a massive pain in the hole.

Group histories are empty.

I've put a note in my diary to have a look at this on the ...

2024-09-04T12:00:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…7czx
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I've put a note in my diary to have a look at this on the weekend...

"KDE will once per year have a popup asking for donations. ...

2024-08-31T13:28:35Z

"KDE will once per year have a popup asking for donations. There is the ability to disable it for those interested.

I'd make it monthly.

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Plasma-6.2-Bug-Fixes-Start

much bette, thanks so much. 🙏

2024-08-22T09:09:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…sges
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much bette, thanks so much. 🙏

It's possible to run a snap of Chrome on 18.04 because it ...

2024-08-22T01:10:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…kvja
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It's possible to run a snap of Chrome on 18.04 because it would be in a newer environment (core20, 22, 24, based on Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, 24.04) which is silo'ed off from the host libraries. It's that benefit that everyone dismisses about the new package managers. Exactly this type of thing is mitigated. As Google have yet to take on a snap (I know there was one), perhaps the unofficial Flatpak (npub1y9m…0f0s) is a solution, as that also has its own runtime.

@npub1x59…gect Hello. This black on brown colour scheme for ...

2024-08-22T00:40:54Z

Terence Eden (npub1x59…gect) Hello. This black on brown colour scheme for code is incredibly hard to read.

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2022/11/getting-started-with-mastodons-conversations-api/

Oops! Thanks.

2024-08-20T15:04:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…603w
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Oops! Thanks.

I looked through and couldn't see: * A thread of one post and ...

2024-08-20T15:02:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…ylkz
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I looked through and couldn't see:

* A thread of one post and one (and/or) more replies (from same account)
* Same with diff accounts
* Post with a reply from an account I have muted or blocked (hard)
* Post with a supported audio file
* Post containing a gif
* Very large image (to the max the server allows)
* Post with glitch text
* Post with replies, where first post is deleted
* Post which links to itself
* Post with fixed-width font expectations
* Image with no ALT text

I have certainly had my browser revert the theme when the PC ...

2024-08-20T08:52:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…lwly
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I have certainly had my browser revert the theme when the PC crashed or the browser got killed for some reason. I had this happen with Chrome and Edge.

Can't remember the last time I said the world ...

2024-08-20T08:37:51Z

Can't remember the last time I said the world "scrobbling" out loud.

I use Ubuntu Asahi (using GNOME) on my M1 MacBook Air. But ...

2024-08-19T19:00:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…txq9
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I use Ubuntu Asahi (using GNOME) on my M1 MacBook Air. But I'm not blind, so I am not a good judge, sorry.

However, if we poke the team, they may be able to tell us what feedback they have had. Or share your question, for wider reach?

Ubuntu Asahi (npub1udk…rrk5)

, I think I hadn't used either of them before that episode. ...

2024-08-14T05:45:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…cy9h
_________________________

, I think I hadn't used either of them before that episode. Then, over coffee recently, Wimpy (npub19c6…ttya) explained some of the features it has that ZeroTier doesn't, so I switched. It has nothing to do with being a sponsor of the show (note I haven't posted the sponsor link) :D.

Good morning. I just switched all my machines from ZeroTier to ...

2024-08-13T08:14:37Z

Good morning. I just switched all my machines from ZeroTier to Tailscale. It was super easy, and everything went smoothly.

[X] - Printed on a T-shirt

2024-08-12T20:25:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…0q2k
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[X] - Printed on a T-shirt

There you go.

2024-08-05T21:34:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…ymvy
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There you go.

You're wanting to add up this stuff? ...

2024-08-05T21:05:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…zxas
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You're wanting to add up this stuff?

So what you're saying is, it's possible with the ...

2024-08-02T22:24:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…4szn
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So what you're saying is, it's possible with the assistance of your European friends. I like these odds! :D

How are people feeling over there? Is there a genuine optimism? ...

2024-08-02T21:38:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…tc8w
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How are people feeling over there? Is there a genuine optimism? Do regular voters think they may get out of the weird funk the USA has been i for 6+years? Or is it just a pipedream? What do you think?

I have shared a hotel room with @npub19c6…ttya - there's no ...

2024-08-01T17:05:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…ly25
_________________________

I have shared a hotel room with Wimpy (npub19c6…ttya) - there's no way of knowing if he'd slipped a croc on an outstretched foot while I sleep!

I have never knowingly owned or worn crocs. Is now a good time to ...

2024-08-01T15:31:48Z

I have never knowingly owned or worn crocs.

Is now a good time to start?

I immediately regret this decision. ...

2024-07-31T18:34:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…n6fj
_________________________

I immediately regret this decision.

I miss Lotus Organiser. Might start using it again... ...

2024-07-31T18:15:36Z

I miss Lotus Organiser.

Might start using it again...

Been chatting to @npub19c6…ttya about screens. I am on an M3 ...

2024-07-31T11:27:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…vgga
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Been chatting to Wimpy (npub19c6…ttya) about screens. I am on an M3 MBP at work, with two poverty 1080p Dell monitors. I like having separation so I can share (stream, zoom etc) *exactly* one screen, and not accidentally show wrong things.

Tempted to get 2x27" or similar, and just bump a but to 1440p. I can't justify an enormous one, and can't trust myself not to share the wrong section of screen, either :D

Two things. 1) That monitor and general desk setup is lovely. 2) ...

2024-07-31T11:21:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…ls9c
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Two things.

1) That monitor and general desk setup is lovely.

2) "At the time of writing".

Uh-huh.

I use whatever is shipped.

2024-07-31T08:26:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…5she
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I use whatever is shipped.

Sometimes, I wonder how many shell scripts use 'p' as the ...

2024-06-20T09:57:17Z

Sometimes, I wonder how many shell scripts use 'p' as the variable in a while loop.

Related, how many erroneously contain references to 'peptides.txt' as a result of copying and pasting from StackOverflow?

#peptides

2004 KDE users represent! ...

2024-04-03T22:47:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…m3ee
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2004 KDE users represent!