Tiler, the (window) creator

Yes, I can spell, the title’s a pun… an awful, awful pun. But you’ll get it shortly.

Anyway! Following on from my previous post, this entry will be primarily focused on the reason/use of tiling window managers.

So, first, let’s talk about what a window manager is.

A window manager is a piece of software that… well, manages your windows! No I’m not talking about the operating system by Microsoft, I’m talking about the ‘containers’ that hold the applications on your screen, otherwise referred to as ‘clients’. If you’re reading this, you’re using a window manager, it’s the thing ‘holding’ the web browser (unless you’re using something like lynx from a UNIX tty or something, in which case; what the hell are you doing using it to read my blog?) I think I’m getting a bit off topic here…

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A control freak’s MacBook Air

Introduction

So, I know in a previous post I portrayed the idea that I was quite comfortable using Apple’s OS X, but the truth is, it was fun for all of about a day - and that’s simply because that was the day I spent getting it to do things it wasn’t ‘built for’.

I think the only thing I sincerely liked about using OS X was the fancy gesture based system navigation via the touchpad, well, that and the really simple implementation of DNScypt (if you haven’t already, and you’re into your security, go check it out!)

Enough about that, this post is a write up of my recent endeavours with installing Arch Linux on my MacBook Air (mid 2011, 4,1)

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Cooking in the kitchen

I’ve been hacking about with my MacBook Air quite a bit the last week and I’ve finally found what I think is my perfect setup.

Stay tuned for a post on Arch Linux EFI booting and tiling window managers (coupled with multihead config just to make it extra tasty!)

Disqus support

I just added the ability for anyone to comment on my posts through Disqus!

Riding a lion back home

One of the things we geeks do best is simplify things, although to others the process we take and the things we do to get there seems the exact opposite. 

I own a Synology DS211j, it’s a lovely little 2 bay NAS with some beautifully simple software on it that makes most things as easy as a couple of clicks. It’s main use right now is just serving up media, but I also use it to back up a few things I’d deem important.

It’s got an interesting UI accessed over HTTP, it’s actually a little desktop environment with a window manager and everything, written in Java I think, for managing the system, pretty damn cool (take it for a test drive if ya like!)

Although the tools for system management and access Synology supply are great, I just couldn’t find a convenient means of accessing my data the way I wanted - so I set about to see if it was possible to get SSHFS working with this thing!

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Hello world

Greetings esteemed members of the interwebs!

Welcome to my humble little blog comprised of all things… well, me!

I’ll be posting about my endeavours within the computing world mainly, from all things hacking/programming to making everything look a bit snazzier.

I may post things non-computer related here and there, after all; as much time as I spend geeking out, my life doesn’t revolve around it!

So, I’ll take a moment to talk about myself; I’m 21, from the UK and my name is Calum. I’m your pretty average person, I have a job, a girlfriend, a busy social life however have a few particular passions that I felt justified a blog.

I hope you enjoy what I have to share :)