Systemd vs init noscripts, an essay



Reading the other post about Systemd made me want to write this.

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Two things to understand about the below, 1) I am OLD for a Linux admin, almost 60 years old, I have been doing this for a long time, almost 30 years. I learned SunOS at an ATT training center that supported CompuServe, that kind of old. 2) Boring old man ramble: I remember arguing with people that hated anti-lock brakes back before some of you were born. I remember guys telling me, straight faced, that "No machine can brake as well as I can", "I can stop the car better than the software". They were wrong, but having a skill you value obsoleted by a chunk of code is a bitter pill to swallow.

All that being said and understood. Systemd frustrates me because I want it off my damn lawn. I see the benefits, but the having to google how to use it is frustrating for a senior admin (in both senses of the word) to have to do. We are being forced by regulators to update to RHEL 7 and that is forcing me to interact with systemd. I am learning, but lord it reminds me of every overly convoluted noscript a junior coder has ever written, and that’s the rub. It LOOKS like it over complicates what, at its core, is a simple idea. I just want to start f\*\*king NFS, damnit. I am beginning to understand and appreciate the benefits, but God I wish it was simpler.

Init noscripts time is over. They need to go for a lot of reasons, but forgive me for being glad that I will retire before they are completely rolled out.

https://redd.it/bsunzw
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Ubuntu 19.10 Puts Nvidia's Proprietary GPU Driver Right On The ISO
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2019/05/24/ubuntu-19-10-nvidia-proprietary-gpu-driver-iso-linux/

https://redd.it/bswbv7
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Is linux about choice?
http://www.islinuxaboutchoice.com

https://redd.it/bsvxuk
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Firefox brings you smooth video playback with the world’s fastest AV1 decoder – Mozilla Hacks
https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/bs7vx3/firefox_brings_you_smooth_video_playback_with_the/

https://redd.it/bsdrrg
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Linux resource for noobs (Linux Journey)

While attempting to help someone who was helpless in the end and didn't want to learn anything, I came across this link:

https://linuxjourney.com/

After running through a few parts of this simple website, I thought it would be useful for people who want to go beyond the gui and learn some command-line basics and how to manage simple services such as logging, ssh, file-sharing, and web.

Who ever created this site, nice job.

https://redd.it/bsy6g6
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Pango needs your love: future directions
https://blogs.gnome.org/mclasen/2019/05/25/pango-future-directions/

https://redd.it/bsyjhq
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Linux desktop system wide scroll speed setting still missing

I've been a casual Linux desktop user for the last 5 or so years, most of my time is spent on server environments and cli.

Just installed Linux on a laptop and tried two different desktop environments. Both were still lacking system wide mouse scroll speed settings. This was the case also years ago when I first dabbled with Linux desktop.

Why hasn't this (pretty basic) functionality been implemented more commonly yet? Are there functional packages to remediate the problem? Is there something preventing this implementation?

https://redd.it/bsznat
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Any Samba users here? I want to set up private folders for individual users?

I am creating an Ubuntu server for my house that will be used to store Windows File History backups from a number of Windows PCs. I have set up Samba before, and it worked well.... but the Samba shares were public for all PCs in my household.

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Is it possible to create a server folder that is private for each Windows user? For example, I want User1 to have their own server folder, and I don't want User2 or User3 to be able to access that folder. Same goes with all users. I can then point Windows File History to do automatic backups to these private folders per machine.

​

Can someone point me to a good website or tutorial that I can study up on?

​

Thanks!

https://redd.it/bt1jpu
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New Background panel, Calendar search engine, GTK4 shortcut engine (Sprint 1)
https://feaneron.com/2019/05/24/new-background-panel-calendar-search-engine-gtk4-shortcut-engine-sprint-1/

https://redd.it/bt277c
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Partitioning Tip for Dual-Boot Systems

Over the years, I added various drives (HDDs and SSDs) to my system. It became an absolute mess. Recently, I settled on what I think is best. I use linux as my main operating system.

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1st drive - SSD (preferably 240GB min)

Windows. Save \~20-40 GB at the end of the disk for Linux's / partition. My Kubuntu install is about 13GB with software installed. The more you can allocate the better as /tmp is going to be located in this space.

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2nd drive - Larger HDD

/home partition. Most browser cache files are going to be written here. I don't notice any slowdown from having the .config files on the hdd.

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My desktop has been using this setup for a while. One major convenience is not having to shuffle files around if formatting the linux OS (especially as it's the one more likely to break due to my tinkering).

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I just bought a hdd caddy to replace the DVD drive to set my laptop up in a similar way. From what I've researched, SSHDs have high failure rates (was tempted by a 2TB sshd).

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If I had only windows on the machine, I'd probably do similar. OS + Programs on SSD, moving libraries to a different HDD. (Instructions below)

[https://www.pcworld.com/article/2079571/move-your-libraries-to-a-second-drive-or-partition.html](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2079571/move-your-libraries-to-a-second-drive-or-partition.html)

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If you have any suggestions, thoughts or experience, I'd love to see how others configure their systems.

https://redd.it/bt2o22
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Looking for the holy grail of distros.

I have been an on and off Linux user for about 6 years and a Windows user for almost 30.

My career has kept me anchored to Windows, but it is finally possible to jump ship completely. I just can't find the right ship, is there a distro that feels responsive, that has an interface from the 21st century and that won't walk out to buy cigarettes (looking at you Antergos)?

I think I am leaning in the Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu direction but regular 18.04 Ubuntu just feels sluggish. Manjaro threw a couple of tantrums making some stuff work that happened out of the box with Ubuntu. Spent 2 years on Mint but its been a while.

Any incites anecdotal or otherwise are appreciated.

https://redd.it/bt39u8
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Moving on from Windows

Long story short, I want to switch from Windows 10, but my parents want me to stay, possibly because I am their go to for technical support. The issue I find with this is that the computer I want to use for Linux is mine.

How can I convince them to let me make the switch without going against their wishes? Thanks in advance!

https://redd.it/bt3qgn
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New system calls for memory management [LWN.net]
https://www.reddit.com/r/kernel/comments/bt4irf/new_system_calls_for_memory_management_lwnnet/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

https://redd.it/bt4iyj
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KDE Usability & Productivity: Week 72
https://pointieststick.com/2019/05/26/kde-usability-productivity-week-72/

https://redd.it/bt4txa
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Potential data loss 5.1.2 + Samsung SSD + dmcrypt
https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/1066931-linux-51-kernel-hit-by-ssd-trim-bug-which-causes-massive-data-loss/

https://redd.it/bt5819
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Compare current buffer to current file in Vim

Hi,

I use Vim as a editor when editing config files and writing code. Sometimes I find a old buffer ( from yesterday maybe ) and wonder what the differences between it and the current file. I would like open a separate window with the current file on disk to the right of my current window and highlight the differences in red.

I tried to do this with the following line in .vimrc:

nnoremap <expr> <F3> indiff ? ':q<cr><C-w>j:diffoff<cr>:let indiff=0<cr>' : ':vs %<cr>:diffthis<cr><C-w>l :diffthis<cr>:let indiff=1<cr>'

&#x200B;

It does open the file in diff mode but it is not the file on disk. Instead it is exactly the same as my current buffer. What would be the best way to do this?

&#x200B;

Thanks

https://redd.it/bt6bv3
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What is the current state of X vs Wayland?

I just did a quick search today but the last real comparison was almost 2 years ago. There surely has been a ton of development since, so right now how do they compare exactly?

https://redd.it/bt6ppz
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Outlook & OneNote Replacements

Hi folks I'm trying to keep up on options in Windows replacements for when they REALLY screw the pooch which seems to be coming and whilst I like CentOS for servers mint seems to be really nice as a desktop alternative.


Anyway I've got an old toughbook to run Win7 for the things we have which require windoze (like 2way radio programming) and only have the afor mentioned programs to find an alternative to, both of which are very heavily used.

&#x200B;

Now much of OneNote could go back to simple files and folders but a lot of it came from notes in outlook which I don't think any linux alternatives support.


Ximian and Evolution seem decent Outlook replacements (not sure if there is better now with more options and support?) but I just can't find anything to really replace OneNote that's not a dear as poison subnoscription based model.


Thanks for any suggestions.

https://redd.it/bt6wdd
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Have you found any Linux-friendly touchpads (for a desktop)?

I suffer from hand pain. I have switched to a desktop and bought a negatively-tilted keyboard and a trackball. They are good, but I feel a touchpad is better than a thumb trackball for my hand issue.

I tried Apple Magic Trackpad, which is getting some kernel support, but found many issues. Logitech discontinued theirs. Any other options? The trackpad market is shockingly small, and even smaller if you factor in Linux support, sadly.

https://redd.it/bt7t6c
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Canon Lide 400 Scanner still useless with Linux?

My Brother printer work but scanning is just painfull. So, I look for a scanner and I find the LiDE400. I read on Amazon and in some boards just bad things :( but this posts are few months old.

Any scanner which work under Linux (Kernel 5) out of box? I dont care about price, just full Linux support.

Thx

https://redd.it/bt6fhi
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openSUSE, Xfce 4.14, Antergos Ends, Firefox 67, Kali Linux, BlackArch, Tails | This Week in Linux 68
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsC4GXT6_88&feature=share

https://redd.it/bt9186
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