GNU/Linux bash: execute a command every X seconds indefinitely (without cron)

Submitted by fabio on Sat, 2010-01-16 11:38.

If you use the GNU/Linux operating system intensely as development environment or as a server you'll probably find yourself in need of running a determinate command or script every X seconds forever.

This could be useful for example to check that a service you run on your server is working correctly (e.g. your Apache httpd server), to clear some cache your system is using or to periodically check for software updates. Personally I needed this to periodically update the DNS entry of my home server with its current IP (my ISP gives dynamic IP, not static ones).

Cleaning the CPU Processor fan and dissipater of the Acer Aspire 5680 series (5685WLMi)

Submitted by fabio on Sun, 2010-01-03 15:07.

A simple step by step visual guide in disassembling an Acer Aspire 5680 (5685WLMi) in order to clean a dusted fan and dissipater. This will fix overheating and consequential shut downs.

"Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x" version 0.9.7 out

Last updated on Tue, 2009-12-22 15:41. Originally submitted by fabio on 2009-12-19 11:36.

After some work and with the upcoming release of Firefox 3.6, it's time for a new version of the Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x.

New version 0.9.7 adds the following features:

  • Adds icon on mouseover to item of forward-back overlay menu. Thanks user 0 for reporting this issue
  • CSS rules and 2 icons for Clear Recent History (Tools). Thanks user 0 for reporting this issue
  • Compatibility with upcoming Firefox 3.6
  • Enlarged the size of the Bookmark Overlay Interface
  • Added styles to default ogg video player bundled into firefox
  • Merging styling site identity button patch by George Pop

Hope you guys will like this!

"Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x" version 0.9.6 beta 1 out

Last updated on Fri, 2009-09-18 17:48. Originally submitted by fabio on 2009-09-16 00:56.

I'm happy to announce the availability of version 0.9.6 beta 1 of my Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x.

This is a beta version aimed to receive feedback from users. You are very welcome in testing the theme and report any issue, question or advice. You can post here as comment your opinions.

Version 0.9.6 beta 1 contains the following improvements:

"Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x" version 0.9.5 out

Submitted by fabio on Wed, 2009-08-12 16:24.

I just pushed to addons.mozilla.org version 0.9.5 of the Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x.

You can find the new version attached here or at addons.mozilla.org.

As always, please send me any bugs or improvements you might find commenting below. Thanks.

Problems with Samsung u700? Let's fix its flex flat cable!

Submitted by fabio on Sat, 2009-08-08 12:12.

Samsung U700Samsung U700

The Samsung U700 is a great phone with great calls quality and great features.

Unfortunately it's internal design produce with long term usage a malfunction which makes the phone unusable and broken.

In this article I analyze the problem and outline a procedure to replace a broken part and fix the problem.

"Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x" version 0.9.4 out

Submitted by fabio on Tue, 2009-07-14 18:27.

After some days of tests by me and some friend who helped out I just submitted version 0.9.4 of the Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3.x.

The version is waiting review by the editors at addons.mozilla.org so it's still not public. It should became available in some days. Once it became public it will be pushed to current users through firefox Addons automatic update.

Updated "Firefox 2 theme for Firefox 3" to Firefox 3.5 - version 0.9.4 beta out

Submitted by fabio on Sun, 2009-07-12 15:04.

The default Firefox 3/3.5 theme for Linux is, in my modest opinion, really ugly.

As soon as they rolled it out for Firefox 3 I reverted to the old Firefox 2 theme using an add on theme called Firefox 2 theme for Firefox. I used it for some months and I was really satisfied with it.

Unfortunately the theme seems abandoned, given the message displayed on its project page.

Displaying last updated or changed date on a Drupal node

Submitted by fabio on Mon, 2009-07-06 16:41.

Drupal 5.x and 6.x default behavior concerning the visualization of post dates it's pretty simple.

It just display the date when the post has been created. Something like:
Submitted by fabio on Mon, 2009-07-06 17:05.

Well, that's nothing wrong with this if you are used to post and then forget about what you posted. But if you usually keep your posts updated (eg when you created a guide for a software which has been upgraded) then the created date it's pretty useless as no information is displayed on the last update (changes) date.

With the recent Drupal 6 upgrade I completed on this website, I did some little theme tweaks to improve posts date visualization.

Using the following code you will be able to obtain something like:
Last updated on Thu, 2009-03-05 02:15. Originally submitted by fabio on 2007-02-19 17:32.

Running Drupal 6

Submitted by fabio on Mon, 2009-07-06 16:05.

I just completed upgrading this website to Drupal 6.

The procedure went fine, even if I had to install some "still in development" modules. Notably the image module still doesn't have a stable 6.x version.

As the theme I'm using is a custom one created by myself, I also needed to convert it from 5.x to 6.x. The conversion has been pretty simple, just some minor changes as my theme is pretty simple.

With the theme upgrade I also did some minor tweaks to the theme. I revised the header making it a little bit more usable: I'm interested in hearing what you think about it.

So.. it seems that everything went fine. Anyway, if you find any problem with this site, please let me know. Thanks!