Desktop publishing on Linux: SCRIBUS and VIVADESIGNER
There is very few good software solutions for desktop publishing in Linux. I have been using Scribus for a few years and have learned the tricks of pre-press production on this software. It is excellent and reliable, although it does have some drawbacks.
Very recently I also discovered the German proprietary software called VivaDesigner, which has a Linux version. It is quite cheap, but almost completely unknown. I do not know why this company does not advertize its products more efficiently. Due to the lack of reviews on the internet about VivaDesigner I was reluctant to buy it but the free demo version convinced me. It is a well thought-out piece of software which is going to make my life as a book designer easier. Their support is responsive, personalized, quick and very helpful.
One of the best features of VivaDesigner is the possibility to import Indesign .indd and .idml files. VivaDesigner also exports the .idml file. Scribus also has the plugin to import the .idml, but not to export it.
With this post I wanted to give an indication to those Linux people who are looking for a programs to use in addition to Scribus. And also I wanted to spread the word about one of the few companies in this field who caters to Linux users.
https://redd.it/f23uy9
@r_linux
There is very few good software solutions for desktop publishing in Linux. I have been using Scribus for a few years and have learned the tricks of pre-press production on this software. It is excellent and reliable, although it does have some drawbacks.
Very recently I also discovered the German proprietary software called VivaDesigner, which has a Linux version. It is quite cheap, but almost completely unknown. I do not know why this company does not advertize its products more efficiently. Due to the lack of reviews on the internet about VivaDesigner I was reluctant to buy it but the free demo version convinced me. It is a well thought-out piece of software which is going to make my life as a book designer easier. Their support is responsive, personalized, quick and very helpful.
One of the best features of VivaDesigner is the possibility to import Indesign .indd and .idml files. VivaDesigner also exports the .idml file. Scribus also has the plugin to import the .idml, but not to export it.
With this post I wanted to give an indication to those Linux people who are looking for a programs to use in addition to Scribus. And also I wanted to spread the word about one of the few companies in this field who caters to Linux users.
https://redd.it/f23uy9
@r_linux
reddit
Desktop publishing on Linux: SCRIBUS and VIVADESIGNER
There is very few good software solutions for desktop publishing in Linux. I have been using Scribus for a few years and have learned the tricks...
Why is it so hard for a company to provide an open firmware?
In the last few years, we've seen a number of improvement in terms of hardware support on Linux. More and more hardware work "out of the box" (especially if you're using a distro such as Fedora or Ubuntu or their derivatives).
However, there is always a pain point for anything requiring a firmware. For instance, touchpads and touchscreens. Often do I see problems with touchpads, spend some time investigating, and after a while discover this has been magically fixed by an obscure firmware update\*. Sometimes the problem is indeed fixed, sometimes the situation has merely improved, but it's never possible to know what's been done in this firmware.
I was discussing with a colleague who told me that even if these firmwares were open source, they would be totally useless without public datasheet. And even if the datasheet were made publicly available, we would still require the whole proprietary toolchain used to produce the binary firmwares.
His conclusion is that it's impossible to get this, because of the way manufacturers and [ODM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ODM) work.
I'm still unsure what's the big deal here. For instance, touchpads have been around for at least 3 decades to the general user. Surely, there is no huge secret or intellectual property that a touchpad-making company would like to keep from its competitors... is there? Am I missing something?
(Of course, the same goes with computers BIOS.)
Thanks!
\* sometimes I also discover there are no firmware update and the issue cannot be fixed by software either, making the device hardly usable or unusable.
https://redd.it/f24ryp
@r_linux
In the last few years, we've seen a number of improvement in terms of hardware support on Linux. More and more hardware work "out of the box" (especially if you're using a distro such as Fedora or Ubuntu or their derivatives).
However, there is always a pain point for anything requiring a firmware. For instance, touchpads and touchscreens. Often do I see problems with touchpads, spend some time investigating, and after a while discover this has been magically fixed by an obscure firmware update\*. Sometimes the problem is indeed fixed, sometimes the situation has merely improved, but it's never possible to know what's been done in this firmware.
I was discussing with a colleague who told me that even if these firmwares were open source, they would be totally useless without public datasheet. And even if the datasheet were made publicly available, we would still require the whole proprietary toolchain used to produce the binary firmwares.
His conclusion is that it's impossible to get this, because of the way manufacturers and [ODM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ODM) work.
I'm still unsure what's the big deal here. For instance, touchpads have been around for at least 3 decades to the general user. Surely, there is no huge secret or intellectual property that a touchpad-making company would like to keep from its competitors... is there? Am I missing something?
(Of course, the same goes with computers BIOS.)
Thanks!
\* sometimes I also discover there are no firmware update and the issue cannot be fixed by software either, making the device hardly usable or unusable.
https://redd.it/f24ryp
@r_linux
Wikipedia
ODM
Wikimedia disambiguation page
Regular Releases Are Wrong - Why I No Longer Use openSUSE Leap
https://rootco.de/2020-02-10-regular-releases-are-wrong/
https://redd.it/f24dbl
@r_linux
https://rootco.de/2020-02-10-regular-releases-are-wrong/
https://redd.it/f24dbl
@r_linux
rootco.de
Regular Release Distributions Are Wrong
Why I No Longer Use openSUSE Leap
Easy backups with Borg: Encrypted, deduplicated, fast and Open-Source
https://gp2mv3.com/easy-backups-with-borg/
https://redd.it/f25x4e
@r_linux
https://gp2mv3.com/easy-backups-with-borg/
https://redd.it/f25x4e
@r_linux
Gp2Mv3
Easy backups with Borg: Encrypted, deduplicated and fast - Gp2mv3 - Personal website
This is my personal website. I blog about development, productivity, open source and entrepreneurship.
KDE's Plasma 5.18 is out: easier system settings, interactive notifications, emojis, wallpapers and much more
https://kde.org/announcements/plasma-5.18.0
https://redd.it/f27iit
@r_linux
https://kde.org/announcements/plasma-5.18.0
https://redd.it/f27iit
@r_linux
Is it possible to make money as a linux distro dev? Open discussion and sharing ideas how.
The noscript is too short to deliver my thought :)
Somebody in another place said something super interesting. Something that probably most devs tried to make money from working on a Linux distro but very few succeeded. Those few who did it are being envied and often bad mouthed by the rest.
How a distro dev can make a living from working on distro or open software?
My first thought is patreon and youtube channel.
P.s. I'm not a dev but it hurts me when I hear a story of a leading dev who goes through depression and financial troubles while burning out working on a distro.
https://redd.it/f27y31
@r_linux
The noscript is too short to deliver my thought :)
Somebody in another place said something super interesting. Something that probably most devs tried to make money from working on a Linux distro but very few succeeded. Those few who did it are being envied and often bad mouthed by the rest.
How a distro dev can make a living from working on distro or open software?
My first thought is patreon and youtube channel.
P.s. I'm not a dev but it hurts me when I hear a story of a leading dev who goes through depression and financial troubles while burning out working on a distro.
https://redd.it/f27y31
@r_linux
reddit
Is it possible to make money as a linux distro dev? Open...
The noscript is too short to deliver my thought :) Somebody in another place said something super interesting. Something that probably most devs...
Linus Torvalds and Others Tell the History of Git By Creating a new VCS for Linux
https://www.welcometothejungle.com/en/articles/btc-history-git
https://redd.it/f29j9w
@r_linux
https://www.welcometothejungle.com/en/articles/btc-history-git
https://redd.it/f29j9w
@r_linux
Welcometothejungle
The History of Git: The Road to Domination
Discover the history of Git, based on interviews with Linus Torvalds, Johannes Schindelin, Jeff King and Tom Preston-Werner.
PeerTube v2.1 released with: UI improvements, performance improvements, ability to disable WebTorrent (and only enable HLS), new internal video privacy mode, ability to transcode videos in an audio only video container, comments improvements, bug fixes & much more!
https://github.com/Chocobozzz/PeerTube/releases/tag/v2.1.0
https://redd.it/f2a0ez
@r_linux
https://github.com/Chocobozzz/PeerTube/releases/tag/v2.1.0
https://redd.it/f2a0ez
@r_linux
GitHub
Chocobozzz/PeerTube
ActivityPub-federated video streaming platform using P2P directly in your web browser - Chocobozzz/PeerTube
Cryptography Dispatches: The Linux CSPRNG Is Now Good!
https://buttondown.email/cryptography-dispatches/archive/cryptography-dispatches-the-linux-csprng-is-now/
https://redd.it/f2ae61
@r_linux
https://buttondown.email/cryptography-dispatches/archive/cryptography-dispatches-the-linux-csprng-is-now/
https://redd.it/f2ae61
@r_linux
buttondown.email
Cryptography Dispatches: The Linux CSPRNG Is Now Good!
Welcome back to Cryptography Dispatches, my lightly edited newsletter on cryptography engineering. This newsletter doesn't track you, so I'll only know...
Dell's Linux support is a major disappointment
I saw a lot of posts in this subreddit hailing Dell for putting Linux on their machines. After doing some research, I decided to dive in and bought a Dell Precision 7540 with Ubuntu 18.04 pre-installed.
The Precision was pricey but I loved it's upgrade-ability and I hoped that this would be a computer I could rely on for a long time. Additionally, I am a relative Linux newbie (Apple refugee) and I hoped that the system would be adequately supported by Dell if I ran into trouble.
Things went downhill quickly. The computer I received had several issues, including that it would frequently not wake up from a suspend state and if it did, it would often start a fresh session after logging in (e.g. no apps or documents open). Additionally, before the login screen would appear, I often could see my desktop for a few seconds as though I were already logged in – obviously a big security risk.
After a call to Dell Pro support, I realized that their approach to any issues on a Linux system is basically to reinstall the system. Their Pro technicians are not trained to support Linux...at all. Their internal support documentation is so poor that during one of my calls when I managed to fix the issue I had called in about, the technician asked me to provide a detailed denoscription of how I solved it so he could use that solution for future calls. I was happy to, but then I realized that he should have already had this kind of documentation on hand.
Eventually, Dell support decided to replace my unit, but when the replacement arrived it had Windows instead of Ubuntu Linux installed. I had to wait another 10 days to get a third replacement and guess what...it also had Windows installed.
This is my work machine and the process has cost me several hours. I am also a freelancer, so those lost hours equate to money lost. I requested a return and refund and I will never buy from Dell again let alone recommend their services.
If you bought a Dell XPS, did you have a better experience? Were my expectations unreasonable?
https://redd.it/f2ccl8
@r_linux
I saw a lot of posts in this subreddit hailing Dell for putting Linux on their machines. After doing some research, I decided to dive in and bought a Dell Precision 7540 with Ubuntu 18.04 pre-installed.
The Precision was pricey but I loved it's upgrade-ability and I hoped that this would be a computer I could rely on for a long time. Additionally, I am a relative Linux newbie (Apple refugee) and I hoped that the system would be adequately supported by Dell if I ran into trouble.
Things went downhill quickly. The computer I received had several issues, including that it would frequently not wake up from a suspend state and if it did, it would often start a fresh session after logging in (e.g. no apps or documents open). Additionally, before the login screen would appear, I often could see my desktop for a few seconds as though I were already logged in – obviously a big security risk.
After a call to Dell Pro support, I realized that their approach to any issues on a Linux system is basically to reinstall the system. Their Pro technicians are not trained to support Linux...at all. Their internal support documentation is so poor that during one of my calls when I managed to fix the issue I had called in about, the technician asked me to provide a detailed denoscription of how I solved it so he could use that solution for future calls. I was happy to, but then I realized that he should have already had this kind of documentation on hand.
Eventually, Dell support decided to replace my unit, but when the replacement arrived it had Windows instead of Ubuntu Linux installed. I had to wait another 10 days to get a third replacement and guess what...it also had Windows installed.
This is my work machine and the process has cost me several hours. I am also a freelancer, so those lost hours equate to money lost. I requested a return and refund and I will never buy from Dell again let alone recommend their services.
If you bought a Dell XPS, did you have a better experience? Were my expectations unreasonable?
https://redd.it/f2ccl8
@r_linux
reddit
Dell's Linux support is a major disappointment
I saw a lot of posts in this subreddit hailing Dell for putting Linux on their machines. After doing some research, I decided to dive in and...
Btrfs highlights in 5.5: 3-copy and 4-copy block groups
https://kdave.github.io/btrfs-hilights-5.5-raid1c34/
https://redd.it/f25rk5
@r_linux
https://kdave.github.io/btrfs-hilights-5.5-raid1c34/
https://redd.it/f25rk5
@r_linux
kdave.github.io
Btrfs hilights in 5.5: 3-copy and 4-copy block groups
aligned words
Restic sftp: "Permission denied" (SSH_FX_PERMISSION_DENIED)
I'm trying to use backup my data with restic over ssh from my main machine macos to the raspberry pi 3 with ssd drive. ssh works fine but when I'm trying to use sftp with restic I get this error:
Fatal: create repository at sftp:hostname@ipaddress:/mnt failed: sftp: "Permission denied" (SSH\_FX\_PERMISSION\_DENIED)
command I'm trying to exe: restic -r sftp:hostname@ipaddress:/mnt init
How to fix this?
https://redd.it/f2dww8
@r_linux
I'm trying to use backup my data with restic over ssh from my main machine macos to the raspberry pi 3 with ssd drive. ssh works fine but when I'm trying to use sftp with restic I get this error:
Fatal: create repository at sftp:hostname@ipaddress:/mnt failed: sftp: "Permission denied" (SSH\_FX\_PERMISSION\_DENIED)
command I'm trying to exe: restic -r sftp:hostname@ipaddress:/mnt init
How to fix this?
https://redd.it/f2dww8
@r_linux
reddit
Restic sftp: "Permission denied" (SSH_FX_PERMISSION_DENIED)
I'm trying to use backup my data with restic over ssh from my main machine macos to the raspberry pi 3 with ssd drive. ssh works fine but when I'm...
iptables not doing it's job?
Hi, so I'll try to be short.
​
I've been using google cloud for a while now. I have Ubuntu and I'm using VNC to access and host some online game rooms for my friends and I.
​
I often get locked out of VNC (can't connect due to too many failed authentications). Later I found out there have been brute force attacks every 2 or so hours mostly from Ukraine.
​
I had the iptables set so the port 5901 which I use will only let my IP connect, so how is it locking me out?
​
Later I tried setting the google cloud firewall for my account and that did work, but I just want to know if iptables are actually not preventing this issue.
​
Also, is there a way to reset failed authentications, so I don't have to close the instance and open it again to access it (I would have to rehost all the rooms again if I did that)?
​
Edit : this is what i've been using so far :
​
sudo iptables -S
sudo iptables -F INPUT
sudo iptables -I INPUT -p tcp -s myip --dport 5901 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -s myip --dport 5901 -j DROP
sudo iptables -S
https://redd.it/f2fqtb
@r_linux
Hi, so I'll try to be short.
​
I've been using google cloud for a while now. I have Ubuntu and I'm using VNC to access and host some online game rooms for my friends and I.
​
I often get locked out of VNC (can't connect due to too many failed authentications). Later I found out there have been brute force attacks every 2 or so hours mostly from Ukraine.
​
I had the iptables set so the port 5901 which I use will only let my IP connect, so how is it locking me out?
​
Later I tried setting the google cloud firewall for my account and that did work, but I just want to know if iptables are actually not preventing this issue.
​
Also, is there a way to reset failed authentications, so I don't have to close the instance and open it again to access it (I would have to rehost all the rooms again if I did that)?
​
Edit : this is what i've been using so far :
​
sudo iptables -S
sudo iptables -F INPUT
sudo iptables -I INPUT -p tcp -s myip --dport 5901 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -s myip --dport 5901 -j DROP
sudo iptables -S
https://redd.it/f2fqtb
@r_linux
reddit
iptables not doing it's job?
Hi, so I'll try to be short. I've been using google cloud for a while now. I have Ubuntu and I'm using VNC to access and host some...
Chob - a cli helper tool for searching applications across platforms (Flathub, Snapcraft and AppImage)
https://github.com/MuhammedKpln/chob
https://redd.it/f2fhpx
@r_linux
https://github.com/MuhammedKpln/chob
https://redd.it/f2fhpx
@r_linux
GitHub
GitHub - MuhammedKpln/chob: An universal app search tool for Linux
An universal app search tool for Linux. Contribute to MuhammedKpln/chob development by creating an account on GitHub.
PSA, Logitech has removed Hardware H.264 Encoder from some WebCams
Recently got a Logitech C920 at work for working remotely, with Linux. When attempting to set up a remote streaming solution, i shocked to find that the newer ones no longer have hardware H.264 encoder.
This is the official Logitech wbepage declaring the removal of this feature from C920, C922 and BRIO models: [SAY GOODBYE TO IN-CAMERA HARDWARE ENCODING](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/video-collaboration/resources/think-tank/articles/article-logitech-and-h264-encoding.html)
For comparison, below are the output from my "v4l2-ctl", which shows the camera having only 2 pixel formats: **RAW** (YCbCr 4:2:2) and **MJPEG**
$ v4l2-ctl --info --list-formats
Driver Info (not using libv4l2):
Driver name : uvcvideo
Card type : HD Pro Webcam C920
Bus info : usb-0000:00:14.0-11
Driver version: 5.0.21
Capabilities : 0x84A00001
Video Capture
Metadata Capture
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
Device Capabilities
Device Caps : 0x04200001
Video Capture
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT
Index : 0
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'YUYV'
Name : YUYV 4:2:2
Index : 1
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'MJPG' (compressed)
Name : Motion-JPEG
From [an old page](http://oz9aec.net/software/gstreamer/using-the-logitech-c920-webcam-with-gstreamer) ([archive.org link just in case](https://web.archive.org/web/20190219151509/http://oz9aec.net/software/gstreamer/using-the-logitech-c920-webcam-with-gstreamer)), this was someone else's output with the C920 WebCam. It showed 3 formats: **RAW** (YCbCr 4:2:2), **H.264** and **MJPEG**
# v4l2-ctl --list-formats
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT
Index : 0
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'YUYV'
Name : YUV 4:2:2 (YUYV)
Index : 1
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'H264' (compressed)
Name : H.264
Index : 2
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'MJPG' (compressed)
Name : MJPEG
With various pages, you see instructions about specifying the pixel format to be "h264" for taking advantage of its HW encoder for streaming. Those instructions would not work with the newer versions of this WebCam.
* [source 1](https://wiki.matthiasbock.net/index.php/Logitech_C920,_streaming_H.264)
* [source 2](https://medium.com/@petehouston/use-vlc-to-play-camera-with-different-formats-17cf839b72d0)
* [source 3](https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/63798/get-h264-from-webcam-logitech-c922)
* [source 4](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30765700/ffserver-streaming-h-264-from-logitech-c920-without-re-encoding)
​
**TL;DR**, if you're looking for a WebCam with HW video encoder, the once-popular-model Logitech C920 (and C922) would no longer be an option. (especially important for Raspberry Pis, routers, or whatever system with limited resources for libx264)
https://redd.it/f2icry
@r_linux
Recently got a Logitech C920 at work for working remotely, with Linux. When attempting to set up a remote streaming solution, i shocked to find that the newer ones no longer have hardware H.264 encoder.
This is the official Logitech wbepage declaring the removal of this feature from C920, C922 and BRIO models: [SAY GOODBYE TO IN-CAMERA HARDWARE ENCODING](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/video-collaboration/resources/think-tank/articles/article-logitech-and-h264-encoding.html)
For comparison, below are the output from my "v4l2-ctl", which shows the camera having only 2 pixel formats: **RAW** (YCbCr 4:2:2) and **MJPEG**
$ v4l2-ctl --info --list-formats
Driver Info (not using libv4l2):
Driver name : uvcvideo
Card type : HD Pro Webcam C920
Bus info : usb-0000:00:14.0-11
Driver version: 5.0.21
Capabilities : 0x84A00001
Video Capture
Metadata Capture
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
Device Capabilities
Device Caps : 0x04200001
Video Capture
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT
Index : 0
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'YUYV'
Name : YUYV 4:2:2
Index : 1
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'MJPG' (compressed)
Name : Motion-JPEG
From [an old page](http://oz9aec.net/software/gstreamer/using-the-logitech-c920-webcam-with-gstreamer) ([archive.org link just in case](https://web.archive.org/web/20190219151509/http://oz9aec.net/software/gstreamer/using-the-logitech-c920-webcam-with-gstreamer)), this was someone else's output with the C920 WebCam. It showed 3 formats: **RAW** (YCbCr 4:2:2), **H.264** and **MJPEG**
# v4l2-ctl --list-formats
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT
Index : 0
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'YUYV'
Name : YUV 4:2:2 (YUYV)
Index : 1
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'H264' (compressed)
Name : H.264
Index : 2
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'MJPG' (compressed)
Name : MJPEG
With various pages, you see instructions about specifying the pixel format to be "h264" for taking advantage of its HW encoder for streaming. Those instructions would not work with the newer versions of this WebCam.
* [source 1](https://wiki.matthiasbock.net/index.php/Logitech_C920,_streaming_H.264)
* [source 2](https://medium.com/@petehouston/use-vlc-to-play-camera-with-different-formats-17cf839b72d0)
* [source 3](https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/63798/get-h264-from-webcam-logitech-c922)
* [source 4](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30765700/ffserver-streaming-h-264-from-logitech-c920-without-re-encoding)
​
**TL;DR**, if you're looking for a WebCam with HW video encoder, the once-popular-model Logitech C920 (and C922) would no longer be an option. (especially important for Raspberry Pis, routers, or whatever system with limited resources for libx264)
https://redd.it/f2icry
@r_linux
Logitech
Logitech and H.264 Encoding
Discover the benefits of Logitech's collaboration with H.264 encoding.
Linux desktop case for two clipboards
https://invidio.us/watch?v=kmInqyFILHI
https://redd.it/f2jjj2
@r_linux
https://invidio.us/watch?v=kmInqyFILHI
https://redd.it/f2jjj2
@r_linux
Invidious
Linux desktop case for two clipboards
Ivan argues having the *default* [1] two clipboard / Primary buffers is fine! I'm incredulous, but I'm biased: https://st.suckless.org/patches/clipb... [1] https://specifications.freedesktop.or..
Do people use LFS as a daily driver, if so, why?????
I was trying out this site called distrochooser and one of my results was LFS and the top thing about it was that it "Can be used for daily use" what????
​
https://preview.redd.it/jp8z1hapidg41.png?width=770&format=png&auto=webp&s=a8912c8c74a9f80979e4ffdb0baf52b9d0432be8
https://redd.it/f2gn72
@r_linux
I was trying out this site called distrochooser and one of my results was LFS and the top thing about it was that it "Can be used for daily use" what????
​
https://preview.redd.it/jp8z1hapidg41.png?width=770&format=png&auto=webp&s=a8912c8c74a9f80979e4ffdb0baf52b9d0432be8
https://redd.it/f2gn72
@r_linux