Peter Vandenabeele

Installing git on Ubuntu Jaunty

This went really smooth. For the record:

$ sudo apt-get build-dep git-core git-doc
$ wget http://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/git-1.6.3.2.tar.bz2
$ tar -xvjf git-1.6.3.2.tar.bz2
$ cd git-1.6.3.2/
$ make prefix=/usr/local all doc
$ sudo make prefix=/usr/local install install-doc
$ which git
/usr/local/bin/git
$ git --version
git version 1.6.3.2

Check list voor zeilen

Dit is de Nederlandstalige versie van mijn check list voor het zeilen. Onderaan staat ook nog een lijstje met zaken die ik toelicht aan nieuwe mensen aan boord.

Er is ook een Engelstalige versie: check list for sailing.

1. Veiligheid/algemeen
2. Controle binnen in de kajuit
3. Voorbereiden zeilen
4. Voorbereiden van het uitvaren op motor
5. Toelichting voor nieuwe personen aan boord

Check list for sailing

This is my check list before sailing out.
Underneath is also my check list of items to explain to new people on board.

A dutch version is available: Check list voor zeilen

1. Security/general
2. Check inside
3. Prepare sailing on sails
4. Prepare sailing on engine
5. Explanation for new persons on board:

Installing Ruby on Rails with Postgresql on Ubuntu Jaunty

The goal is to start from an entirely new/fresh Ubuntu Jaunty
system and capture every package (and not much more) that is
required to run a minimal Ruby on Rails demo/development set-up
with postgres on an Ubuntu system. This set-up is certainly not
intended for production deployment. For serious production
deployment, talk to a dedicated Ruby on Rails hosting company.

0. Update/upgrade system
1. Install vim and vim-ruby
2. Install ruby, irb and rdoc (all version 1.8)
3. Install required Ubuntu packages
4. Install rubygems
5. Install Rails (with gem)
6. Install postgresql
7. Install the gem for connecting from ruby to postgres
8. Instantiate a first Rails application
9. Run the Rails application in development mode

Program of the Ruby on Rails devroom at fosdem 2009

The program is ready for the Ruby and Rails devroom at fosdem 2009 (on Sunday 8 Feb 2009 09:00 - 17:00). It has come packed with 10 presentations (we had to reject a few abstracts to fit it all in 1 day). Last year we had 4 presentations, so interest is clearly going up. The program is available as flat text, odt and pdf.

http://vandenabeele.com/files/Ruby-Rails-fosdem-2009.txt

http://vandenabeele.com/files/Ruby-Rails-fosdem-2009.odt

http://vandenabeele.com/files/Ruby-Rails-fosdem-2009.pdf

Installing Ubuntu 8.04 on a Sony VAIO CR41Z/R next to Vista/Longhorn

Bought a Sony VAIO CR41Z/R yesterday in Fnac Leuven Belgium (999 EURO incl. VAT).
Nice machine :-)

Spent a few hours to get the _pre-installed_ Windows Vista (SP1) updated and less than 1 hour to get the Ubuntu 8.04 installed next to it.

Follow commercial ship routes (and ferries) with AIS

As I am preparing for the ROC VHF/SRC exam, I got more interested in marine electronics and safety systems. One aspect is that all new SOLAS ships over 300 gross tons since July 1, 2002 (and some other conditions as commercial passenger transport) must carry an AIS system (Automatic Identification System). This system will transmit (in channels 88A and 88B in the VHF range in GMSK, that is around 162 MHz) a signal that carries the position, course and speed of the vessel.

An open bank ?

I believe a significant cause of distrust in the current banking system is the lack of openness about the exact financial positions, withdrawals, cash reserves, other reserves etc. that banks actually have. Now that we are in the current situation, it may be best not to be too open about it to avoid panic at those banks that have severe liquidity problems, but in a more structural fashion, we might benefit seriously from a more open methodology in banking.

VASCO Data Security

Recent weeks, I was a little silent online. I recently started a new project for VASCO Data Security (actually the "aXs GUARD" division in Mechelen), where we are using Ruby on Rails to improve certain internal business process tools (a little more info on http://linkedin.com/in/petervandenabeele). Those tools are quite required if you see at which rate Vasco Data Security has been growing over the recent years (more than 50% per year growth for a few years in a row). Very pleasant experience, fully open source minded company (and open minded management).