Meld file and folder difference app fixed

I received a message from Steve, that Meld, a file and folder difference GUI app, in the 'noarch' repository, installed via PKGget, does not work.

Yes, the PET has a path /usr/lib/python3.8, whereas Scarthgap has path /usr/lib/python3.11. However, Scarthgap has /usr/lib/python3 a symlink to python3.11, and PKGget will follow the symlink if the PET has files in /usr/lib/python3

Just checked Daedalus, it has /usr/lib/python3 which is a folder, not a symlink. Hmmm, presume the python will still find the Meld files.

I have fixed the PET, with /usr/lib/python3, so should be ok in both Scarthgap and Daedalus. Also bumped to the latest, version 3.22.2. Project homepage:

https://meldmerge.org/

The new PET has been uploaded, but you will have to update the database in PKGget. Or get it direct:

https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/noarch/packages/pet/pet_packages-noarch/

...all dependencies are builtin.     

Tags: easy

Remove Daedalus pkg db files from Scarthgap

Forum member tallboy reported this:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=138812#p138812

I remember, that was an experiment. Abandoned, but forgot to remove the /root/.packages/Packages-devuan-daedalus-* package database files. Fixed.    

Tags: easy

Set Color Temperature utility enhanced

I posted about the Dcontrol app now builtin to Easy:

• New Dcontrol PET — December 24, 2024

The problem, though, is it requires an enhanced 'sct' utility, whereas Easy has an older version of 'sct'. Roger (radky) sent me a message; reproducing part of it:

If I understand correctly you are using a modified version of a Dcontrol-EasyOS-2.1.pet provided by forum member Sofiya. Based on timestamps it seems the dcontrol files in this pet were extracted from the current JWMDesk-3.6. Apparently, the only modified file is the main dcontrol file and the only change is the increase in version from 1.4 to 2.1.

...

If I understand correctly, you will use the sct binary already included in EasyOS. I don't know the source of that binary but you might consider the following excerpt from the JWMdesk release notes:

Note-3: The original release of the sct utility by Ted Unangst has a singular function - to change the screen color temperature via the RandR X window system protocol. However, Display Control requires an updated version of sct (with code from the mgudemann, faf0 and mfachal forks). Specifically, this updated version of sct adds (1) screen brightness control and (2) multi-monitor support and (3) baseline adjustment of color temperatures in smooth 100K increments rather than the original coarse 500K increments.

Importantly, the enhanced sct binary of dcontrol supports a single command line for simultaneous software modulation of screen brightness and color temperature. This is independent of the hardware backlight option of dcontrol.

Roger also sent me a link that explains the concept of color temperature:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=89052#p89052

I have uploaded Roger's enhanced sct source here:

https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/source/alphabetical/s/

Also, compiled the new sct for both Scarthgap and Daedalus and created PETs. These will be in the next releases, and Dcontrol will then work properly.    

Tags: easy

Safety fixture for trike pedals

I have posted previously about the dreaded "leg suck", when a foot falls off a pedal onto the road surface while travelling. Knowing me, this is a potential issue, as when touring, hour after hour, I will tend to become dreamy, lose attention. Most recumbent trike riders don't bother with pedal safety fixtures, but I want them, and that has been a bit of a saga.

I posted about bicycle shoes with cleats, that clip onto the pedals. This also requires special pedals. That post was in May 2023

• How to be safe on a recumbent trike — May 18, 2023

So, I bought mountain bike pedals and special shoes with cleats.

I'm a beginner at all of this, and after further research, discovered that there is a fundamental difference how the feet should be placed on the pedals when riding a recumbent bike/trike compared to an upright bicycle. To look after the tendons in the feet, and for long distance comfort, on a recumbent trike the central shaft of the pedal should be in the arch of the foot. On bicycles, it is more toward the front of the foot, the ball.

There is lots of online advice about foot placement on the pedal, for example, here.

This means that the cleat on bicycle shoes is in the wrong place. This is important for long distance touring, so abandoned cleats and those shoes and pedals are now stored in a closet.

After further online research, I discovered what could be called the "Rolls Royce" of safety pedals for recumbent trikes. Which I purchased, see post July 2024:

• Foot and leg safety on a recumbent trike — July 10, 2024

...terrible price!

Unfortunately, these also ended up in the closet. They are very big, designed to take very large shoes, which is a serious problem on my trike. My customized trike has the wheels moved closer together, with total trike width now only 740mm. This imposes a restriction on the turning radius, and those safety pedals are just too wide. I have considered a future project to replace the front 20 inch wheels with 16 inch, but for now have to live with the current situation.

Yes, can turn with the pedals in a certain position to allow a sharper turn, and I could probably train myself to do that when cornering.

Another problem with those pedals is they are very heavy. They have weights underneath, so when your foot is not inserted, they stay upright. Each pedal weighs just under 1kg. I recently thought about selling them, but saw on a local trike Facebook group, someone else has them for sale, asking AU$50. Hey, I paid AU$245! For now, they are also residing in the closet.

I purchased some straps, that can be fitted to ordinary pedals. Actually, intended for a certain type of pedal. Actually bought a couple of different types:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002192895075.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005528714005.html

...still the fundamental problem that they are designed for a bicycle, with pedal shaft more forward under the foot. However, ended up using the leather straps of that last purchase.

Enough throwing money at trying to find a solution. Yesterday, looked at the original pedals that came with the trike, and figured out a simple foot restraint system. Today went to the men's shed and built it...

Very simple, a short length of 30x3 mm aluminium strap with some angle on the bottom end:

That is a snug fit into the bumps underneath the pedal:

And a bracket to stop it from falling off:

When touring, there is never a need to put the feet on the ground. Unlike a bicycle, where you can get into serious trouble with cleats if they don't unclip reliably. So, I can go one step further, and optionally restrain the feet with straps (the ones purchased earlier from Aliexpress):

...the strap is a quick-release type, and there are various places it can be fed through the pedal to secure the shoe.

Simple DIY solution.   

Tags: light

Fixed bug Daedalus container in Easy Daedalus

This bug should have been glaringly obvious, before Easy Daedalus 6.5 got released. But somehow missed it. This is partly due to Easy Daedalus being new, and my attention is divided between Scarthgap and Daedalus (and mostly I'm working on Scarthgap).

When the host system is Easy Daedalus, and you click on the "daedalus" desktop icon, Daedalus then starts up in a container. However, what I saw today, glaringly obvious but overlooked, was the container icons were still on the desktop. They should not be there, as cannot run a container within a container.

Inside the container, you will see /.control/easy.run-once-top and /.control/daedalus.run-once-top-flag -- the latter is a flag that the former has run. However, there is a logic problem, and the former has not actually run. The former cleans up Daedalus in the container, including remove the desktop container icons.

The fix is here:

https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commit/5dd28a8a9a85ff365e3921bf69686025d28692b6

I'm annoyed that I didn't spot that earlier. Oh well.

I had actually built Easy 6.5.2 and was about to upload it. Easy Scarthgap 6.5.2 has already been uploaded; which is ok, not affected by that bug. However, there is something else that affects Scarthgap, so I will probably build both of them as 6.5.2.1 and upload, probably tomorrow.

If you already have run the Daedalus container in Easy Daedalus host system, I recommend apply this fix:

Go to /mnt/wkg/containers/daedalus/.session/.control (without the container running) and delete file 'daedalus.run-once-top-flag'
Then after updating to 6.5.2.1, click on the "daedalus" desktop icon and this time 'easy.run-once-top' should execute.   

Tags: easy

New Dcontrol PET

I decided to include Roger's (radky in forum) Dcontrol screen tint and brightness control GUI app in Easy. See discussion thread here:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=13345

The Dcontrol PET was provided by Sofiya:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=106439

See also here, post by geo_c:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=8958

James (jamesbond) has also contributed part of it.

I modified the PET provided by Sofiya. Easy already has the 'sct' utility. A few other mods, including translations for 'dcontrol.desktop'. It will be an entry in the "Setup" menu category.  

Tags: easy

Daedalus many package version bumps

I posted a few days ago that Chromium 131.0.6778.85 has been compiled in OpenEmbedded -- that will be for Easy Scarthgap. For Daedalus, the Devuan repo has Chromium 131.0.6778.204, plus many more package version bumps, so they will be in the next release.

I have compiled the 6.6.67 kernel for both Scarthgap and Daedalus, as well as Broadcom PET and NVIDIA SFSs for both.  

Tags: easy

Daedalus mtPaint screen snapshot fix

Problem reported and solution here:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=13451

Fix will be in the next release of Easy Daedalus.   

Tags: easy