I’ve been using XAMPP for quite some time now since I’ve done a couple of web development projects already. If you don’t have some sort of web server on your computer, you won’t be able to test and run your web development projects offline if you are using MySQL or PHP for instance.

Installing XAMPP

Installing XAMPP is pretty straightforward. The website details you how to install XAMPP in a variety of ways for the different platforms. Then, once its installed, you simply place your web content in the \xampp\htdocs\ location on your computer and access it via a browser using http://localhost/

Hello World using XAMPP

For example, lets create “Hello World” using XAMPP and some PHP.

1. Once you installed and are running XAMPP, create a file called test.php and place it inside \xampp\htdocs.

2. Then, simply copy and paste the following php code.

1

<?php echo "Hello World"; ?>

. Do you notice the difference? Depending on the platform and browser, it might not behave correctly.

Overview of XAMPP

If you have wanted to get into web development, you should try XAMPP. It’s fairly easy to install and use. I’ve been using it for quite some time and haven’t found a better replacement.

Want more tutorials on using XAMPP? Let me know. I plan on demonstrating how to create and manage a MySQL database and even setting up a WordPress blog using XAMPP.

XAMPP

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So how does it work? Simply run the Wubi installer, enter a password for the account, choose some basic options, and click “Install”. Yes, it’s that simple. It’s not going to take any modifying of your partitions or boot loader. It just works like any other application. Yes, it’s that simple. If you don’t like it, simple uninstall it like any other application. Best of all, it’s free.

I’ve used it and to be honest, it’s great. Wubi is hassle free and extremely easy to use. Like mentioned, it’s extremely easy to uninstall and no need to worry about something going wrong.

What to know about Wubi

Below are somethings that you should know about Wubi before you try it out.

• Read the Wubi FAQ if you want to know how it works and answers to many of your questions
• To make it easier, pre-download the ISO and save it to the same directory where Wubi is extracted. That way, the installer doesn’t need to download it every time you run it.
• You can force Wubi to use a 32-bit verison of Ubuntu if you follow the previous step
• All you need is 256MB of RAM and an 1GHz or faster Intel/AMD processor is recommended for optimal performance. Installation requires 5GB. Bought your computer within the past 3 years? You should be fine.

Features of Dropbox

Below are some of the features I enjoy using it for. If you want to see the full list please visit Dropbox Features.

• 2GB of online storage, which can be increased through referrals
• Up to 100GB for paying customers
• Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers
• Allows you to share folders or files with people to start collaborating on projects
• A “Public” folder that lets you create direct links to your files to share with your friends
• Access your files online as well as upload, delete, rename, etc
• It’s secure
• And it’s also mobile too

Impressions of Dropbox

When I lost my USB Hard Drive, I hated the idea of having to go buy another one. Instead, I found Dropbox. Ever since then whenever I need to access something across multiple computers, I drop it in my Dropbox and better yet, I could access it online. Best of all it’s very easy to set up across multiple computers. With the added bonus of sharing folders and files, and even creating links for files for your friends to access, I couldn’t ask for anything better. Best of all it’s free so you have nothing to lose.

Updated: Added video on Dropbox

Dropbox

1. Installing through the terminal (easiest)
2. Installing through the Synaptic Package Manager

Installing Open in Terminal support to Nautilus in Ubuntu

The easiest method is to install it within the terminal window.

Method 1: Installing Open in Terminal Support through the Terminal

Simply enter this in your terminal.

sudo apt-get install nautilus-open-terminal

Enter your password if prompted, and then restart Nautlius. You can do so using the following through the terminal as well.

killall nautlius

Once this is done, you should see this option within Nautilus. See above? I simply opened the current directory within the terminal. Didn’t that save some time?

Method 2: Installing Open in Terminal Support through Synaptic Packet Manager

1. Open the Synaptic Packet Manager

System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager

2. You can do a quick search for nautilus-open-terminal and mark it for installation by right clicking on the entry.

3. Apply the changes, then close Synaptic Package Manager, log off and then back on.

After logging in, you should see the option available when you right click in Nautilus.

Add Open Command Prompt Here Functionality To Nautilus In Ubuntu via Watching The Net

How to install Ubuntu using VirtualBox

Today, we are going to teach you how to use VirtualBox to install Ubuntu using Windows. (This could easily be done on Linux, or a Mac too.) This is a great option for those of you who want to get a programming environment and those who want to avoid dual-booting your computer since it involves a great risk if done wrong. Virtualizing an OS is an easy task and it only takes a few steps. It should take a new user about five minutes to get going. So let’s get started.

What you need to virtualize Ubuntu on VirtualBox

Step 1: Create a new Virtual Machine

Step 2: Choose a name for your installation

Step 3: Allocate memory for your OS

Step 4: Create the virtual hard disk

Step 5: Selecting the Hard Disk Storage Type

Step 5: Virtual Disk Location and Size

Step 6: Welcome to the first run wizard!

Step 7: Select Installation Media

Step 8: Select the Ubuntu installation

Step 9: Congratulations, you did it.

Now get going and get some programming!

Useful resources

• How to write and Compile a C++ Program in Linux
• Hello World in C++
• Basic Linux Terminal Commands
• Start Programming in C++

This in turn increases productivity since Workspaces allows you to focus on things that you need to get done, instead of sifting through your applications on simply one screen.

Setting up Workspaces in Ubuntu

To set up a Workspace you can simply right click on a panel and choose Add to panel and select Workspace Switcher. This by default should add four Workspaces to wherever you clicked on your panel. To change this, simply right click your Workspace Switcher, and choose Preferences

So now that you have them you can switch to them by clicking on them, or preferably by pressing CTRL + ALT + RIGHT, or instead of RIGHT: LEFT, UP, or DOWN would be fine depending on how you set up your rows and columns and where you currently are.

Overall

Mac users should be very familiar with this and unfortunately, Windows users are missing out! This allows you to save time by having Workspaces that fulfill different functions such as coding, web browsing, instant messaging, the options are endless. If you use Linux, or Mac and haven’t tried this out. I recommend you to do so.

Workspaces

Create a virtual machine using VirtualBox

Virtual Box is a powerful open source x86 virtualization that runs on Windows, Linux, Mac and OpenSolaris. It supports a large number of guest operating systems such as Windows XP, Windows 7 RC, Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE, Fedora, and Red Hat. VirtualBox is free as well as many linux distributions. So if you haven’t tried any, I’d recommend you doing so.

In simpler terms, Virtual Box allows you to run another OS on top of your currently existing one. If you wanted to try installing an OS without the hassle of dual-booting, or even wanted to install another OS to do some programming since maybe Windows isn’t the best for you, then virtualiziation is one way to go. There is also no way you can harm your computer so its risk-free. If you corrupt a guest OS, simply delete it and try again.

VirtualBox Features

• Guest Additions for Windows, Linux, and Solaris – Allows you to install software inside the OS that improves performance. Just recently the guest additions allowed users running Ubuntu to run the Visual Effects, which is nice.
• Shared folders – Access folders from the host in the guest machines
Virtual USB Controllers – Connect a USB device and your virtual machine will recognize it, including USB Flash Drives.

For more features visit Virtual Box Features.

How to start

If you want to start, simply download Virtual Box and an OS. I’d recommend Ubuntu since thats probably the most user friendly (or so I think). If you want something else, hit up DistroWatch. Once you have that, setting up Virtual Box with the OS is pretty straightforward. I’ll add a tutorial later on for those who still need help.

My Usage of VirtualBox

I use Virtual Box to create my own programming environment. I personally use Ubuntu but I have also used other linux operating systems that can be found at DistroWatch. Since I run a dual monitor setup, I usually have Windows 7 running on my left monitor while Ubuntu runs on my right monitor in the case I need to program and attend to my other needs such as IM or music player which are still running on Windows.

When I run Ubuntu on my Macbook on the other hand, I simply run it full screen and within the virtualized machine I run my music player, IM client, and have my programming environment set up so I don’t have to be switching back and forth since running another OS requires quite a bit of resources.

Final Impressions of VirtualBox

For quite some time now, I’ve been using Virtual Box nearly every day and haven’t had a complaint. It’s stable, free, and relatively easy to use. If your interested in virtualizing, I’d recommend you in trying this out.

Virtual Box

Linux 101 Hacks

An excerpt from the book…

There are a total of 101 hacks in this book that will help you build a strong foundation in Linux. All the hacks in this book are explained with appropriate Linux commands examples that are easy to follow.

You can visit the author’s blog over at The Geek Stuff. Some of his hacks are on his blog as well. So happy hacking!

I’ll check it out so I’ll tell you guys later how it went! So don’t let this deal slip!

Remember to subscribe to my feed for daily updates!

Examples of functions in ML

Below are examples to get you familiar in ML. Syntax and how the language works will be explained in later tutorials.

(* Factorial Function *)
fun fact n = 
     if n = 0 then 
          1
     else
          n * fact(n-1);
 
(* Reverse function *)
fun reverse n = 
     if null n then
          n
     else
          reverse(tl n)@[(hd n)];

How to start Programming in ML

The Standard ML of New Jersey provides an interactive compiler for Windows, Linux, amongst others. SML/NJ distribution files are available freely to download.

Install SML/NJ in Windows

Simply download the appropriate windows installer at SML/NJ distribution files. After downloading, simply install the files with the installer, restart your computer, and the program is available to run from then on.

Install SML/NJ in Linux

To install SML/NJ in Linux simply complete the following steps.

1. Open your terminal
2. Type in sudo apt get-install smlnj
3. Complete installation
4. To run smlnj, type in smlnj in your compiler

openSuSe is another Linux distribution worth looking at. It’s listed as the second Major Distribution at Distro Watch so it must be raising more eyebrows than you think. With an easy to use installation that requires little to no previous experience and a better visually appealing boot loading screen by defaut, OpenSuSe is something you should try out. I currently use it on my laptop to do some OpenGL programming, and to be honest, it’s great.

openSuSe at a glance

openSuSe at a light glance seems more driven towards eye candy with the more visually appealing boot loader, login screen, start menu, and ease of adding visual effects. It also has excellent management tool that lets you install software from large repositories, in other words; no need to hunt software down. You can also use YaST Control Center which lets you control Hardware, Network Devices, Network Services, Security, User, and as well control more type of options.

My openSuSe experience

As for every linux distribution, getting your system’s hardware to work seamlessly with the distro can be a pain. Luckily, I have an ATI card on my Toshiba laptop, and openSuSe had an excellent ATI How To Documentation that got my video card drivers installed with a simple click.

I then got some visual effects and have windows exploding when I exit, have them wobble when I move them, be able to use a cube, and so much more. Hit F9, F10, and F11 and you’ll get that nice task switcher visualization that is notable on Mac these days.

So far I haven’t gotten my Atheros Wireless Chipset to work. Why? Simply lazy. I’ve gotten around by simply using an ethernet cable but I plan on fixing this in the future. I’ve tried it but it hasn’t worked as of yet.

Programming is simply great. With the ability to switch Desk Spaces with CTRL+ALT+LEFT or CTRL+ALT+RIGHT, working on large programming files is easy. I simply loved it.

This is so far my distribution as of yet. I haven’t found a need to get rid of it. So for awhile I’ll be sticking with openSuSe.

Your openSuSe experience

YouTube is a good resource for finding videos of a linux distribution and what can be done with it. Check the following one out and see for yourself. There are hundreds of different things you can do. Don’t ask me how its done. I don’t know. :)

So please, don’t tell me you’ve only tried Windows! If you don’t, then tell us what you’ve tried on our forums! If you have a video, why don’t you share it?