The Unix philosophy - simple and beautiful (so it "just works")

“The Unix Philosophy in One Lesson”

“All the philosophy really boils down to one iron law, the hallowed ‘KISS principle’ of master engineers everywhere:”

https://homepage.cs.uri.edu/~thenry/resources/unix_art/ch01s07.html

src: https://homepage.cs.uri.edu/~thenry/resources/unix_art/ch01s07.html

“Keep It Simple, Stupid” or “Keep It Super Simple” (less offensive)

The Unix philosophy emphasizes building simple, short, clear, modular, and extensible code that can be easily maintained and repurposed by developers other than its creators.

This is what allows a system to “boom” “it just work” as Mr Jobs puts it.

The Unix philosophy favors composability as opposed to monolithic design.

Later summarized by Peter H. Salus in A Quarter-Century of Unix (1994):[1] This is the Unix philosophy:

• Write programs that do one thing and do it well.
• Write programs to work together.
• Write programs to handle text streams, because that is a universal interface.
• there is more to learn from the “Elders of UNIX”:
  • https://homepage.cs.uri.edu/~thenry/resources/unix_art/ch01s06.html
  • https://homepage.cs.uri.edu/~thenry/resources/unix_art/ch01s08.html

would add:

• Keep it as simple as possible and as complex as ABSOLUTELY necessary (more moving parts = more problems)
• simplify & agree on common standards & automate:
  • design standards together “open standards”, so they can take care of (almost) all required use cases
• software minimalism
  • only run as little software on a system (even if it has plenty of resources) as absolutely necessary
    • in GNU Linux Debian that would be:
      • 1) “start from scratch” with the net install minimal iso (working LAN internet connection required) - if the user knows there are “Open Source” drivers for (networking, wifi) hardware: go with “Free” version https://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/ - otherwise go with the “Cloused Source” blobs of evil “Non-Free” version: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/current/amd64/iso-cd/
      • 2) then from there only install what the system absolutely needs
  • for example: don’t run full blown desktop guis on servers that do not need them
    • a lot of admins rely on the “html gui” webmin, and virtualmin
      • if that helps to keep a system in well working secure shape, that’s fine but… it is not optimal for two reasons: - less software = always better - at least enhance security with a ssh-tunnel, meaning the port to access web-console (80 or 443) should only be accessible by localhost via ssh-tunnel (if there are zero-day exploits against latest OpenSSH (aka OpenSSH hacked) it’s “all internet offline doomsday” anyway… so this very very critical piece of software needs relentless testing and fast updates/patching) - gui-admins using this software, know “the gui buttons” but not the bash commands - thus: the gui-admins do not really know, what the software is actually doing in the background when they click a button, thus they might be unable to debug the problem, if things fail (that is where this “monitor all logs” bash script comes in handy)

• genius: “the genius is in control of chaos” (maybe true for a while, but long term it’s deadly wrong)

  • A true genius keeps everything simple, so that there is no chaos (“mess”) in the first place and almost everyone immediately can understand the program and fix a bug or develop it further (while always keeping the k.i.s.s principles in mind 🙂

• standards:

  • to standardize is a good thing, imagine a world, where every electronic device would have it’s own power plug… nobody could plugin anywhere without adapters… adding adapters increases complexity (fire hazard?) and decreasing simplicity
  • https://dwaves.de/2019/02/26/usb-cable-salad-of-madness-usb-3-0-and-wifi-interference-micro-usb-usb-c-mess-has-finally-arrived/
  • what existing standards are there?
  • can they be adapted? (try to identify & contact the creators)
    • instead of everyone making a new standard -> mess-of-standards (maximum incompatibility to each other)
  • is it really necessary to create a new standard? (e.g. one fine day, someone might decide to use /config for config files and not /etc, because what does etc stand for? (it stands for “all other files that do not fall in the /bin /dev /lib /usr /sbin… category” it stands for “et cetera” (lat. “the rest”))
    • it evolved into “the directory where config files are stored” and everyone knows that, so it has “grown” into a standard
    • it is agreed, that things should be called what they are and the naming of this directory is just bad (not self speaking)
    • but changing that standard would mess up this “grown-into-standard” and get a lot of users and programs confused… worth it?
    • imho THE worst idea is to add another directory and place another network config file, so that there are 2, 3, 4, 5 different places to configure network = complete mess

Malcolm Douglas McIlroy: “Everything was small… and my heart sinks for Linux when I see the size of it. […]

The manual page, which really used to be a manual page, is now a small volume, with a thousand options…

We used to sit around in the Unix Room saying, ‘What can we throw out? Why is there this option?’

It’s often because there is some deficiency in the basic design — you didn’t really hit the right design point.

Instead of adding an option, think about what was forcing you to add that option.” (src: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Doug_McIlroy)

https://archive.org/details/DougMcIlroy_AncestryOfLinux_DLSLUG

Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie, key proponents of the Unix philosophy.

“we are trying to make computing as simple as possible – in the late 1960s Dennis Richie and I realized that the then current Operating System where much way too complex – we attempted to reverse this trend by building a small simple operating system on a minicomputer” (Ken Thompson)

“What we wanted to preserve was not just a good programming environment in which to do programming – but a system around which a community could form – fellowship – we knew from experience that the essence of communal computing – as supplied by remote access time sharing systems – is not just to type programs into a terminal instead of a key-punch – but to encourage close communication” (Dennis M. Ritchie)

https://homepage.cs.uri.edu/~thenry/resources/unix_art/ch01s06.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy

“As a programmer, it is your job to put yourself out of business. What you do today can be automated tomorrow.”

— Doug McIlroy

Damn this guy is a philosopher.

Working in IT seems to be just like capitalism itself: working to make one’s job obsolete. “great” outlook.

There need to be alternative lifestyles that make sense and are sustainable.

https://ytpak.net/watch?v=JoVQTPbD6UY

[video width=”586″ height=”436″ mp4=”https://dwaves.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Ken-Thompson-and-Dennis-Ritchie-Explain-UNIX-Bell-Labs.mp4″\]\[/video\]

what happens if companies can not agree on standards:

• probably the best example:

  • Apple and the “one button vs two button mouse”

  • “Steven P. Jobs, once said that one was the obvious answer because that made it impossible to push the wrong button” (src)

    • turns out: two button mouses are “easy enough” for users that used them for more than 3 days straight
    • by now, approx 99% of Apple’s one-button mouses are in the (recycling?)trash and got replaced by at least two-button mouses (what a waste of resources, right?)
    • GNU Linux users would want a 3 button mouse (the middle button is for pasting stuff)

    • Why Apple hates USB?

      • probably: so Apple can sell more power adapters
      • turns out: shipping iphones without adapters while charging the same price makes even more money

      • finally in 2020 (after aprox. 10 years?) they came along and adopted USB-C Macbook ARM M1 CPU

        - they are still refusing to make the iPhone charge via USB-C
        - [![https://dissectiontable.com/best-chargers-iphone-12-pro-mini-max/](https://dissectiontable.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Best-chargers-for-iPhone-12-iphone-12-Pro-12-Mini-iphone-12-pro-max.jpg)](https://dissectiontable.com/best-chargers-iphone-12-pro-mini-max/)
        
                  > <https://dissectiontable.com/best-chargers-iphone-12-pro-mini-max/>
        - so the user STILL in 2022 needs a special Apple cable to plug into “everyone’s else’s” chargers 
                  - it is… 
                              - 1) truly ridiculous
                              - 2) wasting resources (in 2022 the electronic trash recycling quotas are still pretty bad, only [13% to 35%](https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=how+much+of+electronic+waste+get%27s+recycled) of disposed electronics becomes new electronics)
                              - 3) #wtf Apple seriously?
        

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #unix #philosophy #m #mcilroy #philosophie #torvalds #itsec #cybersecurity #security #kernel #thompson #ritchie #apple #jobs #standards #standard #gnu-linux #simplify #open #source #openstandards

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2017/05/02/the-unix-philosophy-simple-and-beautiful-so-it-just-works/

Éditorial de juin 2022

#art #art_libre #artiste #artlibre #cc-by-sa #chanson #copyleft #creative-commons #creative_commons #creativecommons #culture #culture-libre #culture_libre #culturelibre #francophone #français #gnu #gnu-linux #gnulinux #gpl #informatique-musicale #informatique_musicale #informatiquemusicale #libre #libre-art #linux #linux-mao #linux_mao #linuxaudio #linuxmao #logiciel-libre #logiciel_libre #logiciellibre #mao #mao-linux #mao_linux #maolinux #musicien #musiciens #musique #musique-libre #musique_libre #numerique #productionmusicale

Avec le retour des beaux jours, rien de tel qu’une petite sieste pour meubler paisiblement un début d’après-midi. C’est du moins ce que je pensais…

Mes yeux se ferment sur une page de lecture et me voici propulsé 3500 années en arrière.

A cette époque, le monde connu se représente sous l’aspect d’une galette ronde, percée en son centre d’un vertigineux cratère. Nous le nommons San-Treur et de vieilles peurs nous en tiennent éloignés.

Le peuple parmi lequel j’évolue, ce sont les Hif-Reqs, et nous nommons ceux des antipodes les Lof-Reqs.

Les deux peuples s’ignorent et seules deux tribus nomades, ici les Yiwis et, là-bas, leurs contraires les Yowos, maintiennent quelques échanges car, toutes deux intrépides, elles savent communiquer d’une face à l’autre de notre monde, via le San-Treur.

Nous sommes à l’aube d’une ère où, de croisements en métissages, de part et d’autre du monde connu, s’intègre une tribu peuplée par les Midf-Reqs, dont la population tend maintenant à l’égalité numérique.

Trois peuples, donc et quelques nomades, tous vivant en paix et en harmonie, selon les principes de leur antique philosophie : le Mhû-Ziq, dont les chants sont d’ailleurs parvenus jusqu’à nous.

Seule dissonance, un drôle de son. Mais … c’est quoi, ce bruit ? On dirait un…

Le téléphone !

Fin de la sieste.

Bonnes rêveries et bon mix !

GNU Linux bash - setup and modify basics script

it is part of a scripts package straight after (Debian based) GNU Linux OS setup, usually doing those modifications: vim /scripts/install_basics.sh #!/bin/bash echo "=== install the basic tools needed to work with a system ===" echo "== disable cdrom apt repo =="[...]

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #bash #gnu-linux #setup

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/03/03/gnu-linux-bash-setup-and-modify-basics-script/

GNU Linux - how to migrate vm from virtualbox to kvm qemu - convert virtualbox vdi disk image to kvm qcow2 format

# if the user wants to be converted from VirtualBox to kvm # 1. first clone the VirtualBox vm into a new vm (to consolidate all snapshots into one vdi # 2. convert file format qemu-img convert -f vdi -O qcow2 virtualbox.vm.vdi[...]

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #kvm #virtualization #qemu #gnu-linux

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/03/02/gnu-linux-how-to-migrate-vm-from-virtualbox-to-kvm-qemu-convert-virtualbox-vdi-disk-image-to-kvm-qcow2-format/

GNU Linux - debugging problems ssh - Connection closed by authenticating user

if the user get's this error message: (recommended to run this one-liner on server AND client while debugging ssh connection problems) lsb_release -d; # tested on (server and client) Description: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye) less /var/log/auth.log May 23 14:37:03 SshServer sshd[2233]: Connection[...]

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #gnu-linux #ssh #sshd

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/01/12/gnu-linux-debugging-problems-ssh-connection-closed-by-authenticating-user/

Retour sur la projection de « LoL, une affaire sérieuse », suivie d'une discussion

#communs #durabilite #economie-de-la-surveillance #gnu-linux #logiciels-libres #numerique-ethique #sobriete-numerique

Originally posted at: https://www.itopie.ch/retour-sur-la-projection-discssion-lol-une-affaire-serieuse/

GNU Linux (Debian) - how to shrink-resize lvm2 luks encrypted root partition - how to enlarge SWAP space

“to swap, or not to swap, that is the question”: definately swap Shakespeare

“to encrypt, or not to encrypt” (if it contains valuable data, encrypt)

“to lvm, or not to lvm” (well….)

because: one fine day, the user decides to open 1000x programs + serveral vms at the same time, why not right?

the system runs out of RAM AND SWAP space (it almost freezes, to death).

but behold!

instead of simply pulling the plug.

the admin decides to wait and work on device B, while device A is struggling to keep alive.

after aprox 15min… the kvm vm crashes (probably because it used the most RAM) while the other programs survive.

For some reason, the otherwise excellent Debian installer, per default decides to reserve only 1GByte of SWAP on an 1000GB SSD.

In past times, the rule of thumb was “at least half of RAM size”, would even go as far and say: make swap = RAM size, why not? SSD space and NVMe space are getting cheaper and faster, nothing worse then running out of RAM & SWAP space (system enters undefined behavior, not only GNU Linux, OSX too)

let’s change that to something like 30GB of swap.

per default the user (probably) has chosen to use lvm2 (logical volume management) + luks2 encryption.

gparted is a pretty nice gui based program, that can do resize of ext4 partitions nicely, but it can’t help with logical volume management.

<span style="color: #ff0000;"># HAVE A FULL BACKUP OF THE HARDDISK IN QUESTION!</span>

# <a href="https://dwaves.de/2021/04/11/ideallinux2021-updated-optimized-bootale-gnu-debian-10-9-64bit-non-free-based-usb-stick-the-live-system-that-keeps-changes-stored/">boot dwaves' live usb stick, or another live system</a>
# (it is Debian 10 based)

# IdealLinux stick, already has those requirements installed
<span style="color: #00ffff;">su - root
apt update
apt install lvm2 cryptsetup</span>

# first thing: find the partition in question

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lsblk -fs</span>

# might help too
<span style="color: #00ffff;">alias harddisks='lsblk -o '\''NAME,MAJ:MIN,RM,SIZE,RO,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINT,UUID'\'''</span>

# run the alias
<span style="color: #00ffff;">harddisks</span>

# look at the disk sizes...
# which one is (probably) the partition in question?

# found it? good, let's continue...

# decrypt the partition
<span style="color: #00ffff;">cryptsetup open /dev/sda5 encrypted</span>

*** enter decryption password ***

# make all volume groups active
<span style="color: #00ffff;">vgchange -ay</span>
  2 logical volume(s) in volume group "IdealLinux2021-vg" now active
  2 logical volume(s) in volume group "toplap-vg" now active <- that's the one

<span style="color: #00ffff;">vgdisplay</span>; # list all volume groups
  --- Volume group ---
  VG Name               toplap-vg <-
  System ID             
  Format                lvm2
  Metadata Areas        1
  Metadata Sequence No  3
  VG Access             read/write
  VG Status             resizable
  MAX LV                0
  Cur LV                2
  Open LV               0
  Max PV                0
  Cur PV                1
  Act PV                1
  VG Size               <931.02 GiB
  PE Size               4.00 MiB
  Total PE              238340
  Alloc PE / Size       238340 / <931.02 GiB
  Free  PE / Size       0 / 0   

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lvdisplay</span>; # list all logical volumes
  --- Logical volume ---
  LV Path                /dev/toplap-vg/root <- the one to shrink down to 900GB
  LV Name                root
  VG Name                toplap-vg
  LV Write Access        read/write
  LV Creation host, time toplap, 2022-05-17 03:48:56 -0400
  LV Status              available
  # open                 0
  LV Size                930.06 GiB
  Current LE             238096
  Segments               1
  Allocation             inherit
  Read ahead sectors     auto
  - currently set to     256
  Block device           254:3

  --- Logical volume ---
  LV Path                /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1 <- the swap that is too small, will increase to 30GB
  LV Name                swap_1
  VG Name                toplap-vg
  LV Write Access        read/write
  LV Creation host, time toplap, 2022-05-17 03:48:56 -0400
  LV Status              available
  # open                 0
  LV Size                976.00 MiB
  Current LE             244
  Segments               1
  Allocation             inherit
  Read ahead sectors     auto
  - currently set to     256
  Block device           254:4

# run a pre-resize filesystem check
<span style="color: #00ffff;">fsck -y -v -f /dev/toplap-vg/root</span>

# resize the root filesystem from 930GB to 900GB
<span style="color: #00ffff;">resize2fs /dev/toplap-vg/root 900G</span>

resize2fs 1.44.5 (15-Dec-2018)
Resizing the filesystem on /dev/toplap-vg/root to 235929600 (4k) blocks.
The filesystem on /dev/toplap-vg/root is now 235929600 (4k) blocks long.

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lvreduce -L 900G /dev/toplap-vg/root</span> 

  WARNING: Reducing active logical volume to 900.00 GiB.
  THIS MAY DESTROY YOUR DATA (filesystem etc.)
Do you really want to reduce toplap-vg/root? [y/n]: <span style="color: #00ffff;">y</span>
  Size of logical volume toplap-vg/root changed from 930.06 GiB (238096 extents) to 900.00 GiB (230400 extents).
  Logical volume toplap-vg/root successfully resized.

# post-resize filesystem check
<span style="color: #00ffff;">fsck -y -v -f /dev/toplap-vg/root</span>
<span style="color: #00ffff;">
lvextend -l +100%FREE /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1</span>
  Size of logical volume toplap-vg/swap_1 changed from 976.00 MiB (244 extents) to <31.02 GiB (7940 extents).
  Logical volume toplap-vg/swap_1 successfully resized.

<span style="color: #00ffff;">mkswap /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1</span>
mkswap: /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1: warning: wiping old swap signature.
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 31 GiB (33302769664 bytes)

<span style="color: #00ffff;">sync; sync; sync;</span>

# reboot system

<span style="color: #00ffff;">shutdown -r now</span>;

it worked?

possibly related Links:

also checkout:

https://dwaves.de/2017/05/29/lnux-lvm-lvm2-logical-volumen-management-concept-man-pages-dynamic-resizing-partitions-snapshots-how-to-upgrade-lvm2-encrypted-to-larger-harddisk/

cudos:

https://www.casesup.com/category/knowledgebase/howtos/how-to-shrink-an-lvm-volume-safely-on-linux

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #gnu-linux #debian #storage #ram #swap

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/19/gnu-linux-debian-how-to-shrink-resize-lvm2-luks-encrypted-root-partition-how-to-enlarge-swap-space/

GNU Linux (Debian) - how to resize lvm2 luks encrypted root partition - how to enlarge SWAP space

“to swap, or not to swap, that is the question”: definately swap Shakespeare

“to encrypt, or not to encrypt” (if it contains valuable data, encrypt)

“to lvm, or not to lvm” (well….)

because: one fine day, the user decides to open 1000x programs + serveral vms at the same time, why not right?

the system runs out of RAM AND SWAP space (it almost freezes, to death).

but behold!

instead of simply pulling the plug.

the admin decides to wait and work on device B, while device A is struggling to keep alive.

after aprox 15min… the kvm vm crashes (probably because it used the most RAM) while the other programs survive.

For some reason, the otherwise excellent Debian installer, per default decides to reserve only 1GByte of SWAP on an 1000GB SSD.

In past times, the rule of thumb was “at least half of RAM size”, would even go as far and say: make swap = RAM size, why not? SSD space and NVMe space are getting cheaper and faster, nothing worse then running out of RAM & SWAP space (system enters undefined behavior, not only GNU Linux, OSX too)

let’s change that to something like 30GB of swap.

per default the user (probably) has chosen to use lvm2 (logical volume management) + luks2 encryption.

gparted is a pretty nice gui based program, that can do resize of ext4 partitions nicely, but it can’t help with logical volume management.

<span style="color: #ff0000;"># HAVE A FULL BACKUP OF THE HARDDISK IN QUESTION!</span>

# <a href="https://dwaves.de/2021/04/11/ideallinux2021-updated-optimized-bootale-gnu-debian-10-9-64bit-non-free-based-usb-stick-the-live-system-that-keeps-changes-stored/">boot dwaves' live usb stick, or another live system</a>
# (it is Debian 10 based)

# IdealLinux stick, already has those requirements installed
<span style="color: #00ffff;">su - root
apt update
apt install lvm2 cryptsetup</span>

# first thing: find the partition in question

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lsblk -fs</span>

# might help too
<span style="color: #00ffff;">alias harddisks='lsblk -o '\''NAME,MAJ:MIN,RM,SIZE,RO,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINT,UUID'\'''</span>

# run the alias
<span style="color: #00ffff;">harddisks</span>

# look at the disk sizes...
# which one is (probably) the partition in question?

# found it? good, let's continue...

# decrypt the partition
<span style="color: #00ffff;">cryptsetup open /dev/sda5 encrypted</span>

*** enter decryption password ***

# make all volume groups active
<span style="color: #00ffff;">vgchange -ay</span>
  2 logical volume(s) in volume group "IdealLinux2021-vg" now active
  2 logical volume(s) in volume group "toplap-vg" now active <- that's the one

<span style="color: #00ffff;">vgdisplay</span>; # list all volume groups
  --- Volume group ---
  VG Name               toplap-vg <-
  System ID             
  Format                lvm2
  Metadata Areas        1
  Metadata Sequence No  3
  VG Access             read/write
  VG Status             resizable
  MAX LV                0
  Cur LV                2
  Open LV               0
  Max PV                0
  Cur PV                1
  Act PV                1
  VG Size               <931.02 GiB
  PE Size               4.00 MiB
  Total PE              238340
  Alloc PE / Size       238340 / <931.02 GiB
  Free  PE / Size       0 / 0   

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lvdisplay</span>; # list all logical volumes
  --- Logical volume ---
  LV Path                /dev/toplap-vg/root <- the one to shrink down to 900GB
  LV Name                root
  VG Name                toplap-vg
  LV Write Access        read/write
  LV Creation host, time toplap, 2022-05-17 03:48:56 -0400
  LV Status              available
  # open                 0
  LV Size                930.06 GiB
  Current LE             238096
  Segments               1
  Allocation             inherit
  Read ahead sectors     auto
  - currently set to     256
  Block device           254:3

  --- Logical volume ---
  LV Path                /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1 <- the swap that is too small, will increase to 30GB
  LV Name                swap_1
  VG Name                toplap-vg
  LV Write Access        read/write
  LV Creation host, time toplap, 2022-05-17 03:48:56 -0400
  LV Status              available
  # open                 0
  LV Size                976.00 MiB
  Current LE             244
  Segments               1
  Allocation             inherit
  Read ahead sectors     auto
  - currently set to     256
  Block device           254:4

# run a pre-resize filesystem check
<span style="color: #00ffff;">fsck -y -v -f /dev/toplap-vg/root</span>

# resize the root filesystem from 930GB to 900GB
<span style="color: #00ffff;">resize2fs /dev/toplap-vg/root 900G</span>

resize2fs 1.44.5 (15-Dec-2018)
Resizing the filesystem on /dev/toplap-vg/root to 235929600 (4k) blocks.
The filesystem on /dev/toplap-vg/root is now 235929600 (4k) blocks long.

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lvreduce -L 900G /dev/toplap-vg/root</span> 

  WARNING: Reducing active logical volume to 900.00 GiB.
  THIS MAY DESTROY YOUR DATA (filesystem etc.)
Do you really want to reduce toplap-vg/root? [y/n]: <span style="color: #00ffff;">y</span>
  Size of logical volume toplap-vg/root changed from 930.06 GiB (238096 extents) to 900.00 GiB (230400 extents).
  Logical volume toplap-vg/root successfully resized.

# post-resize filesystem check
<span style="color: #00ffff;">fsck -y -v -f /dev/toplap-vg/root</span>
<span style="color: #00ffff;">
lvextend -l +100%FREE /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1</span>
  Size of logical volume toplap-vg/swap_1 changed from 976.00 MiB (244 extents) to <31.02 GiB (7940 extents).
  Logical volume toplap-vg/swap_1 successfully resized.

<span style="color: #00ffff;">mkswap /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1</span>
mkswap: /dev/toplap-vg/swap_1: warning: wiping old swap signature.
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 31 GiB (33302769664 bytes)

<span style="color: #00ffff;">sync; sync; sync;</span>

# reboot system

<span style="color: #00ffff;">shutdown -r now</span>;

it worked?

possibly related Links:

also checkout:

https://dwaves.de/2017/05/29/lnux-lvm-lvm2-logical-volumen-management-concept-man-pages-dynamic-resizing-partitions-snapshots-how-to-upgrade-lvm2-encrypted-to-larger-harddisk/

cudos:

https://www.casesup.com/category/knowledgebase/howtos/how-to-shrink-an-lvm-volume-safely-on-linux

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #gnu-linux #debian #storage #ram #swap

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/19/gnu-linux-debian-how-to-resize-lvm2-luks-encrypted-root-partition-how-to-enlarge-swap-space/

GNU Linux (Debian 11) - Brother HL-5450DN reliable Black and White Laser printer - that works out of the box with cups - filter those laser printers

Brother HL-5450DN

• got a network port and usb

• driver install script here: https://support.brother.com/g/b/downloadtop.aspx?c=eu_ot&lang=en&prod=hl5450dn_all

  • but not even required (cups auto detects this LAN connected printer (assign it a fixed ip)
  • 

  http://localhost:631/

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lsb_release -d</span>; # tested on
Description:    Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)

# with mate desktop
<span style="color: #00ffff;">su - root</span>
<span style="color: #00ffff;">apt update; apt install mate-desktop-environment;</span>
ii  mate-desktop-environment              1.24.0+4                         all          MATE Desktop Environment (metapackage)

good job all involved 🙂

the MFC 9465 and 9460 and 9332 also should work “smooth” (the install script (which will download & install additional drivers) might be needed for scan functionality)

https://dwaves.de/2016/03/24/how-to-reset-toner-of-corruption-brother-mfc-9332cdw-what-to-do-about-laser-printer-air-pollution-and-healthcare-concerns/

https://dwaves.de/2015/06/16/gnu-linux-one-script-to-setup-them-all-setup-brother-mfc-9465-9460-9332-cdn-and-others-to-print-and-scan-in-color/

laser printers & health

• it might be wise, to give the laser printers it’s own room (get a room)
  • living room
  • sliping room
  • dining room
• plus a filter on the output fan vents (it’s the large one on the right-top side)
  • 
    • tested and yes, a lot of black sooth will accumulate here

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #print #printer #gnu-linux #cups #brother #works

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/19/gnu-linux-debian-11-brother-hl-5450dn-reliable-black-and-white-laser-printer-that-works-out-of-the-box-with-cups-filter-those-laser-printers/

GNU Linux (distro independent) - how to set fixed ip - temporarily

this is a quick bash hack, to set an additional fixed ip to the user's interface, this will (brute force) OVERWRITE all mess done by network managers of various origins: (there should be only one config file to config network settings and[...]

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #gnu-linux #networking #lan #connect #ip

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/19/gnu-linux-distro-independent-how-to-set-fixed-ip-temporarily/

GNU Linux Debian - how to view chm (windows help) files

chm files are basically html files packed into an archive.

unpacking them should be possible, but

archmage file.chm output

“Segmentation” faulted.

<span style="color: #00ffff;">lsb_release -a</span>; # tested on
No LSB modules are available.
Description:    Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)


<span style="color: #00ffff;">su - root
apt update
apt install xchm
</span>

then in caja (or other file explorer) r-click-the-file-> open with xchm

even comes with cross os support! (lin, win, osx)

the GPL licenced src is here: https://github.com/rzvncj/xCHM

the author does not have any access anymore to: https://sourceforge.net/projects/xchm/ (someone else restored the page, might be scam!)

manpage:

xchm.man.txt

specs:

http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/chmspec

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #chm #gnu-linux #debian

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/08/gnu-linux-debian-how-to-view-chm-windows-help-files/

Sortie de LibraZiK-4

#art #art_libre #artiste #artlibre #cc-by-sa #chanson #copyleft #creative-commons #creative_commons #creativecommons #culture #culture-libre #culture_libre #culturelibre #debian #francophone #français #french #gnu #gnu-linux #gnulinux #gpl #informatique-musicale #informatique_musicale #informatiquemusicale #librazik #libre #libre-art #linux #linux-mao #linux_mao #linuxaudio #linuxmao #logiciel-libre #logiciel_libre #logiciellibre #mao #mao-linux #mao_linux #maolinux #musicien #musiciens #musique #musique-libre #musique_libre #numerique #productionmusicale

Très chères et chers LibraZiK-os,

Avec la venue du printemps, je suis très heureux de vous annoncer la venue de la nouvelle LibraZiK-4 !

LibraZiK-4 est donc disponible pour tous les utilisateurs francophones ou non, pour amd64 (architecture PC 64 bits) et i386 (architecture PC 32 bits).

Peu de blabla dans cette entête, passons tout de suite au gros de la nouvelle ci dessous...

Tout d'abord, merci aux personnes ayant participé à fabriquer ou ayant testé LibraZiK-4 depuis plusieurs mois. Grâce à elles, LibraZiK-4 est assez stable pour être publiée maintenant. Il s'agit de : Nicolas "sub26nico", Jean-Pierre "jpcima", Erwan "r1", et Mathieu "houston4444". C'est un plaisir d'avoir des personnes capables de réagir et tester... Lire Sortie de LibraZiK-4

GNU Linux (Debian) on very very old hardware (~20 Years) old hp compaq NX 7010 notebook laptop

• this notebook was premium when released aprox. 2003
• it still looks with those LEDs and mic and speaker mini-jacks at the front (it even has a wifi hardware switch on the front (blue LED)
• the screen and speakers are excellent
• the CPU und 512MB of RAM and a IDE harddisk (that can not be easily upgraded to SATA) are of course… very very sloooooooooooooooow, but as can be seen: thanks to 32Bit i386 Debian the LATEST firefox is running on this 20 year old device
• this is the time, when modularity would have been nice, swap out the mainboard for a newer one, off you go another 20 years

how to setup GNU Linux on this old hardware?

two options: (as booting from USB does not really work with computers that old)

• hook up to internet via LAN
• burn a 32Bit i386 Debian to CD-R or
• try to setup like this

or:

• take out harddisk (it need’s to be tilted quiet a lot to get out)

• get USB-SATA-IDE adapter from ebay

  • 

  https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=USB-SATA-IDE+adapter&_sacat=0

• setup 32Bit i386 Debian inside virtualbox vm with 65GB of virtual harddisk size (make sure that it is smaller in size than the laptop’s harddisk)

• boot GNU Linux Debian live cd inside virtualbox vm

• USB-attach the harddisk to virtualbox host and pass through the adapter to the live-cd-vm

• 1:1 copy sda (of virtualbox) to the external usb attached real harddisk of laptop like this:

• <span style="color: #00ffff;">dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb bs=1M; sync;
  </span>
  

  • insert harddisk back into very-old-laptop
  • chances are IT JUST WORKS! 🙂 (THANKS ALL INVOLVED! 🙂
  • [video width=”560″ height=”300″ mp4=”https://dwaves.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Apple-Steve-Jobs-it-just-works-seamlessly-integration.mp4″\]\[/video\]
  • in the case of the hp compaq nx 7010 non-free drivers (intel wifi and radeon) have to be added

https://dwaves.de/2021/12/10/gnu-linux-debian-11-bullseye-example-for-https-enabled-etc-apt-sources-list-including-contrib-and-non-free/

• what is REMARKABLE, that the https://xfce.org/ Desktop ONLY takes about 250MBytes of RAM! NICE WORK! 🙂
• instead of running the latest firefox (which is really not recommended with this kind of old calculators) use terminal based text based lynx browser instead 🙂
  • while not being able to display pictures (?) it lynx browser does it’s job nicely to retreave text based answers on text based search engine queries
  • again: great job 🙂

PS: background story: the demise of compaq

(it does not do much, but it still exists… as a name)

“Compaq Computer Corporation (sometimes abbreviated to CQ prior to a 2007 rebranding) was an American information technology company founded in 1982 that developed, sold, and supported computers and related products and services. Compaq produced some of the first IBM PC compatible computers, being the second company after Columbia Data Products[1] to legally reverse engineer the IBM Personal Computer.[2][3] It rose to become the largest supplier of PC systems during the 1990s before being overtaken by HP in 2001.[4] Struggling to keep up in the price wars against Dell, as well as with a risky acquisition of DEC,[5] Compaq was acquired for US$25 billion by HP in 2002.[6][7] The Compaq brand remained in use by HP for lower-end systems until 2013 when it was discontinued.[8] The brand is licensed to third parties for use on electronics in Brazil and India. ” (Wiki)

(Elon) “He moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford University but decided instead to pursue a business career, co-founding the web software company Zip2 with his brother Kimbal. The startup was acquired by Compaq for $307 million in 1999.” (no wonder they went BROKE X-D)

“The same year, Musk co-founded online bank X.com, which merged with Confinity in 2000 to form PayPal. The company was bought by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion.” (Wiki)

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #gnu-linux #debian #hp #compaq

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/06/gnu-linux-debian-on-very-very-old-hardware-20-years-old-hp-compaq-nx-7010-notebook-laptop/

GNU Linux (Debian) on very very old hardware (~20 Years) old hp compaq NX 7010 notebook laptop

• this notebook was premium when released
• it still looks with those LEDs and mic and speaker mini-jacks at the front (it even has a wifi hardware switch on the front (blue LED)
• the screen and speakers are excellent
• the CPU und 512MB of RAM and a IDE harddisk (that can not be easily upgraded to SATA) are of course… very very sloooooooooooooooow, but as can be seen: thanks to 32Bit i386 Debian the LATEST firefox is running on this 20 year old device
• this is the time, when modularity would have been nice, swap out the mainboard for a newer one, off you go another 20 years

how to setup GNU Linux on this old hardware?

two options: (as booting from USB does not really work with computers that old)

• hook up to internet via LAN
• burn a 32Bit i386 Debian to CD-R or
• try to setup like this

or:

• take out harddisk (it need’s to be tilted quiet a lot to get out)

• get USB-SATA-IDE adapter from ebay

  • 

  https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=USB-SATA-IDE+adapter&_sacat=0

• setup 32Bit i386 Debian inside virtualbox vm with 65GB of virtual harddisk size (make sure that it is smaller in size than the laptop’s harddisk)

• boot GNU Linux Debian live cd inside virtualbox vm

• USB-attach the harddisk to virtualbox host and pass through the adapter to the live-cd-vm

• 1:1 copy sda (of virtualbox) to the external usb attached real harddisk of laptop like this:

• <span style="color: #00ffff;">dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb bs=1M; sync;
  </span>
  

  • insert harddisk back into very-old-laptop
  • chances are IT JUST WORKS! 🙂 (THANKS ALL INVOLVED! 🙂
  • [video width=”560″ height=”300″ mp4=”https://dwaves.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Apple-Steve-Jobs-it-just-works-seamlessly-integration.mp4″\]\[/video\]
  • in the case of the hp compaq nx 7010 non-free drivers (intel wifi and radeon) have to be added

https://dwaves.de/2021/12/10/gnu-linux-debian-11-bullseye-example-for-https-enabled-etc-apt-sources-list-including-contrib-and-non-free/

PS: background story: the demise of compaq

(it does not do much, but it still exists… as a name)

“Compaq Computer Corporation (sometimes abbreviated to CQ prior to a 2007 rebranding) was an American information technology company founded in 1982 that developed, sold, and supported computers and related products and services. Compaq produced some of the first IBM PC compatible computers, being the second company after Columbia Data Products[1] to legally reverse engineer the IBM Personal Computer.[2][3] It rose to become the largest supplier of PC systems during the 1990s before being overtaken by HP in 2001.[4] Struggling to keep up in the price wars against Dell, as well as with a risky acquisition of DEC,[5] Compaq was acquired for US$25 billion by HP in 2002.[6][7] The Compaq brand remained in use by HP for lower-end systems until 2013 when it was discontinued.[8] The brand is licensed to third parties for use on electronics in Brazil and India. ” (Wiki)

(Elon) “He moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford University but decided instead to pursue a business career, co-founding the web software company Zip2 with his brother Kimbal. The startup was acquired by Compaq for $307 million in 1999.” (no wonder they went BROKE X-D)

“The same year, Musk co-founded online bank X.com, which merged with Confinity in 2000 to form PayPal. The company was bought by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion.” (Wiki)

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #gnu-linux #debian #hp #compaq

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/06/gnu-linux-debian-on-very-very-old-hardware-20-years-old-hp-compaq-nx-7010-notebook-laptop/

Éditorial de mai 2022

#art #art_libre #artiste #artlibre #cc-by-sa #chanson #copyleft #creative-commons #creative_commons #creativecommons #culture #culture-libre #culture_libre #culturelibre #francophone #français #gnu #gnu-linux #gnulinux #gpl #informatique-musicale #informatique_musicale #informatiquemusicale #libre #libre-art #linux #linux-mao #linux_mao #linuxaudio #linuxmao #logiciel-libre #logiciel_libre #logiciellibre #mao #mao-linux #mao_linux #maolinux #musicien #musiciens #musique #musique-libre #musique_libre #numerique #productionmusicale

Autrefois, les aspirateurs étaient construits de telle façon que vous obteniez soit de l’aspiration soit du souffle, selon l’extrémité à laquelle vous branchiez le tuyau.

Les normes en matière de décibels domestiques, la technologie des années 50-60, en faisaient des machines terriblement bruyantes. Impossible de tenir une conversation dans une pièce où s’exprimait l’engin. Celui-ci était, bien évidemment, dépourvu de réglage de puissance et c’est au maximum de celle-ci, en permanence, que la bête venait à bout des nerfs les plus endurcis en quelques minutes.

C’est là, amis musiciens, qu’intervient le Mélodica.

Il s’agissait d’un instrument à vent pourvu, sur un octave ou deux, de touches "piano". Un embout amovible en matière plastique tenait lieu d’embouchure. Le corps de cet instrument d’une trentaine de centimètres de long se pinçait d’une main tandis que la main opposée courait sur le clavier. Cela produisait un son de texture et de volume similaires à ceux d’un harmonica chromatique, un peu plus nasillard, un peu moins puissant.

L’instrument était vendu avec un tuyau qui pouvait se substituer à l’embouchure, permettant ainsi de le connecter à la sortie soufflerie d’un aspirateur. Sur le papier : génial, un orgue !

Mais, inutile de préciser que dans cette configuration, l’instrument était totalement inaudible et c’est avec les 2 tympans broyés que la confrontation entre musicien et aspirateur prenait (vite) fin.

Je me suis toujours demandé pourquoi, malgré tous mes efforts, je n’avais jamais réussi à progresser à la clarinette ni au sax. Idem pour les claviers. Le Mélodica, bien sûr !

Au terme de cette petite introspection, je pense avoir enfin mis le doigt sur le traumatisme fondateur…

Et je me dis :

• allez, ne te cherche pas d’excuses fallacieuses pour ne pas bosser ta musique, au taf !

heightened cyber alarm levels - timeline of a successful attack on the most basic tools like: exiftool - possible mitigations

cyber is on heightened alarm levels

… ya’ll know why.

timeline of a successful attack on the most basic tools like: exiftool

• cve-2021-22204 (failed to properly validate parsed input)
• This was reported by a security researcher on April 7, 2021, initially confidentially via the bug bounty platform HackerOne at the affected GitLab.
  • They reacted quickly, passed this on to the exiftool maintainers, who already provided a patched version 12.24 on April 13 and on April 14, the researcher received a $19,000 reward.
  • But the story wasn’t over.
  • On April 30 – more than two weeks later – CySrc filed a report with Google’s Vulnerability Reward Program.
  • They had found that DjVu images uploaded to Virustotal gave them access to scan servers.
  • Had the operators of these servers overslept the patches?

translated from: https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Der-Patch-Alptraum-Wenn-schnell-nicht-schnell-genug-ist-7069924.html

• Probably not. I rather think that they simply relied on the security updates of their Linux distribution.
• And with Debian, for example, that didn’t happen until May 2nd; at Fedora even on May 4th.
• So, after the release of the patch that exposed the problem, there was a window of over 2 weeks in which Linux systems with exiftool were vulnerable to a known, easy-to-exploit vulnerability.
• CySrc used this window of opportunity to score points on Google’s Vulnerability Reward Program (although it’s not clear if they got a reward).
• But just as well, state APT or cybercrime hackers could have exploited this gateway for their own purposes and caused real harm.

possibly mitigation: Debian need to push updates more frequently

maybe even like a “hotline” to put together, updates/patches that are URGENT on track to be published IMMEDIATELY.

kernel-live patching?

ubuntu does it already.

https://ubuntu.com/blog/an-overview-of-live-kernel-patching

possibly mitigation:

/usr/bin/unshare

“For exiftool it would therefore have been the right approach not to start it with root rights (!), but rather to run it with unshare (/usr/bin/unshare) in an extremely downtripped context. Linux comes with a lot of security features that you just have to use.”

(src)

possibly mitigation:

• only run programs with the privileges they absolutely need
  • that is sometimes a bit cumbersome, like users having to be in the right group, then completely log out to make changes effective (example: virtualbox’s user vboxuser (the setup ideally should ask the user “what users should be allowed to run virtual machines on this host?” (list of user appears -> checkbox those that are allowed))
• monitor the network for illicit connections to strange places and strange hosts
  • a starter is: iftop.man.txt
  • firewall every network
    • AppArmor is said to be able to block connections per-application

another: possibly mitigation:

Yes C++ is “ugly”.

So is RUST.

But RUST comes with “build-in” safety (hardware control might be lacking somewhat).

So yes it is an hard-to-understand-and-what-is-actually-going-on-syntax-language… but unless there comes the “C with safety build in” RUST is the best option for Open Source to be secure, reliable and fast in the future.

Linus & probably also Mr Stallman will always stick to C, because yes it is a great language (still) and it is part of their DNA.

Links:

https://dwaves.de/2019/08/17/rust-most-loved-programming-language-ever-c-with-safety-new-programming-language-from-mozilla-for-mozilla-and-safety-now-also-with-step-debugging/

https://dwaves.de/2019/09/27/compile-rust-hello-world-for-arm7/

https://dwaves.de/2021/12/27/rust-dev-lang-how-to-view-onboard-html-based-documentation-man-page-the-rust-standard-library/

https://dwaves.de/2021/07/24/how-to-step-debug-debugging-rust-in-vim-8-1/

java had it’s oopsi time

https://dwaves.de/2021/12/13/cyberinsecurity-ah-oh-its-java-time-log4j-called-log4shell-dynamically-remote-loading-code-or-any-other-resources-is-always-a-bad-cybersec-idea/

#linux #gnu #gnulinux #opensource #administration #sysops #itsec #cyber #debian #gnu-linux #ubuntu

Originally posted at: https://dwaves.de/2022/05/03/heightened-cyber-alarm-levels-timeline-of-a-successful-attack-on-the-most-basic-tools-like-exiftool-possible-mitigations/

Éditorial d'avril 2022

#art #art_libre #artiste #artlibre #cc-by-sa #chanson #copyleft #creative-commons #creative_commons #creativecommons #culture #culture-libre #culture_libre #culturelibre #francophone #français #gnu #gnu-linux #gnulinux #gpl #informatique-musicale #informatique_musicale #informatiquemusicale #libre #libre-art #linux #linux-mao #linux_mao #linuxaudio #linuxmao #logiciel-libre #logiciel_libre #logiciellibre #mao #mao-linux #mao_linux #maolinux #musicien #musiciens #musique #musique-libre #musique_libre #numerique #productionmusicale

Je discutais, dimanche, avec mon ami Dom, bassiste occasionnel et dilettante affirmé, qui me demandait si je pourrais remettre en service une vieille guitare acoustique de jazz qui dort actuellement dans son grenier.

Comme je n’ai jamais vu Dom empoigner une guitare, je lui demandai quelle utilisation il comptait faire de l’instrument, une fois celui-ci ré-encordé, ré-accordé et re-réglé aussi confortablement que possible.

Après les réserves d’usage et quelques éclaircissements sur mes talents limités en matière de lutherie, nous scellâmes le marché et il m’exposa son projet.

Son objectif est donc d’apprendre accompagnement et chant, juste pour lui tout seul (public exclusif mais tolérant, a-t-il bien précisé en bon chanteur de salle de bains) de quelques morceaux choisis de l’œuvre de Georges Brassens.

Bon, Dom, c’est un excellent choix, il y en a de pires, je trouve, lui ai-je dit, en préambule.

Puis il me questionna sur les difficultés que présentait un tel apprentissage puisque je grattouille un peu, hein…

Je lui montrai quelques grilles d’accords ainsi que le type d’arpèges avec lesquels il pourrait, en limitant au maximum les difficultés, se dépatouiller pour obtenir quelque chose d’approchant voire de plaisant pour son (mono) public.

Nous nous sommes dit : bien sûr, nous pourrons apprendre quelques mélodies et, avec un peu de boulot, restituer un résultat satisfaisant mais ça n’aura jamais la consistance de l’original.

Tant pis, on s’en fiche, c’est pas le but !

Apprenons tant que nous le pouvons, il en restera toujours quelque chose. Et, qui sait ?

Il arrive parfois, que l’élève dépasse le maître...

Bossez bien !

Éditorial de mars 2022

#art #art_libre #artiste #artlibre #cc-by-sa #chanson #copyleft #creative-commons #creative_commons #creativecommons #culture #culture-libre #culture_libre #culturelibre #francophone #français #gnu #gnu-linux #gnulinux #gpl #informatique-musicale #informatique_musicale #informatiquemusicale #libre #libre-art #linux #linux-mao #linux_mao #linuxaudio #linuxmao #logiciel-libre #logiciel_libre #logiciellibre #mao #mao-linux #mao_linux #maolinux #musicien #musiciens #musique #musique-libre #musique_libre #numerique #productionmusicale

La petite icône des mises à jour disponibles restait désespérément vide, depuis maintenant quelques mois. Sur mon poste de travail, la distribution installée datait de plusieurs années et, après vérifications, elle n’était plus supportée.

Qu’à cela ne tienne, essayons la mise à niveau, sans rien désinstaller, par dist-upgrade.

Ouuuh-là, la cata ! Plus de souris, un affichage aléatoire et d’autres soucis aptes à vieillir encore davantage votre serviteur et sa machine qui n’ont pas tout leur temps, leur énergie à consacrer au dragage de forums et autres FAQ.

Une machine vieillissante, une mise à niveau en échec, tentons une réinstallation globale. Clef USB, séquence de démarrage modifiée, partitionnement du disque, quelques heures de copies de fichiers, de téléchargements et me voici avec un système tout neuf où il ne reste qu’à graver mon dossier personnel (/home, vous savez...), dûment sauvegardé sur disque externe.

Tout content de vous retrouver, firefox m’amène jusqu’à la page d’accueil de linuxmao et là, je m’aperçois que le navigateur n’a transféré ni mes marque-pages (pas grave) ni mes identifiants et mots de passe (plus ennuyeux lorsque la mémoire, parfois, défaille).

Après de nombreuses recherches, le derrière tanné par les ressorts de mon mauvais fauteuil, il se trouve que depuis certaines versions du navigateur, les structures des fichiers de profils ont été modifiées. Seule une version intermédiaire prenait en charge anciens et nouveaux mécanismes de ces profils. Une version antérieure à la mienne qui, elle, n’assure plus du tout (vérifié après bien des tests et réinstallations) la compatibilité avec l’ancienne structure de fichiers.

Me voilà largué, puni pour avoir sauté une version de navigateur !

La conclusion de cette aventure insignifiante, c’est qu’il devient bien difficile d’être soi-même à jour, compte tenu de l’accélération des techniques. Notre temps, lui, demeurant désespérément incompressible.

Alors je crois que nous allons bien profiter du printemps qui s’annonce en nous disant que le rythme des saisons, lui, ne s’emballera pas. Et je suis certain que ce printemps, dans sa nouvelle release, sera radieux pour vous toutes et tous.

Éditorial de février 2022

#art #art_libre #artiste #artlibre #cc-by-sa #chanson #copyleft #creative-commons #creative_commons #creativecommons #culture #culture-libre #culture_libre #culturelibre #francophone #français #gnu #gnu-linux #gnulinux #gpl #informatique-musicale #informatique_musicale #informatiquemusicale #libre #libre-art #linux #linux-mao #linux_mao #linuxaudio #linuxmao #logiciel-libre #logiciel_libre #logiciellibre #mao #mao-linux #mao_linux #maolinux #musicien #musiciens #musique #musique-libre #musique_libre #numerique #productionmusicale

Ces mois d’hiver se prêtent admirablement à la bricole.

C’est bien au chaud que j’ai entrepris, pour ma guitare, l’assemblage d’un nouveau système d’amplification. Un vieux flight-case, un vieil ampli de sono et deux bons haut-parleurs bien rodés, manque un préamplificateur.

Raquettes aux pieds, skis sur l’épaule (souris à la main, en réalité...), me voilà sur la piste du précieux objet. Quête non dépourvue de difficultés lorsque l’on a, pour tout référentiel, que de vagues souvenirs du matos des années 90.

Je découvre alors que ce type de périphérique se décline désormais, principalement, au format pédale d’effet. Pas idiot. Mes sons en nomade, avec la connectique permettant de se brancher sur une table, un ampli ou une carte-son.

Ce premier critère assimilé, je passe quelques semaines de ce rude hiver à naviguer de sites d’occases en sites d’occases.

Et là, je découvre un univers que je ne soupçonnais pas : le club un peu dingo de la pédale d’effet pour guitaristes et bassistes.

La diversité des formes, les différences de modes de production, de la très grande série à l’objet unique et signé, la variété des couleurs, la puissance d’évocation de certaines appellations, la fantaisie des graphismes, leur architecture parfois, la variété des références stylistiques, allant du moyen-age à la science-fiction la plus débridée, tout est prétexte à attirer l’œil et, parfois, à sourire.

J’ai trouvé une machine d’occasion, du format adéquat, un peu noire, un peu austère, très éloignée du petit bain baroque et joyeux dans lequel j’avais pataugé durant quelques jours.

Mais je suis rassuré : le plaisir, le geste élégant, l’humour font toujours partie intégrante de la panoplie du musicien.

Un plaisir...

Éditorial de janvier 2022

#art #art_libre #artiste #artlibre #cc-by-sa #chanson #copyleft #creative-commons #creative_commons #creativecommons #culture #culture-libre #culture_libre #culturelibre #francophone #français #gnu #gnu-linux #gnulinux #gpl #informatique-musicale #informatique_musicale #informatiquemusicale #libre #libre-art #linux #linux-mao #linux_mao #linuxaudio #linuxmao #logiciel-libre #logiciel_libre #logiciellibre #mao #mao-linux #mao_linux #maolinux #musicien #musiciens #musique #musique-libre #musique_libre #numerique #productionmusicale

Que peut-on souhaiter à des musiciens, linuxiens de surcroît, pour une nouvelle année ?

Un peintre, figé devant sa dernière toile, découvre une forme, une couleur, une texture inattendue dont il n’a pas souvenir de l’avoir voulue.

Un sculpteur s’étonne de trouver, sous la caresse de ses doigts, des rythmes particuliers dans les coups du burin qu’il a pourtant manié sans y songer.

Un écrivain cherche le mot juste depuis des jours. Les ratures obscurcissent la page et c’est au hasard d’une promenade que le mot manquant s’impose à son esprit. Tout est parfait, sens, charge émotionnelle, sonorité, un miracle !

Le musicien, lui, dispose d’une infinité de paramètres, entre rythmes et mélodies, sur lesquels sa nature, son tempérament, sa culture peuvent influer. Le choix des paramètres modifiables est déjà infini. Chacun joue de ces variables selon sa propre méthode, plus ou moins consciente, avec les possibilités, toujours plus nombreuses, que lui offrent instruments, logiciels et machines.

Je crois que c’est ce que l’on nomme "style", cette arithmétique un peu magique et souvent incontrôlable où le créateur joue de combinaisons de valeurs infinitésimales, gravant ainsi dans son œuvre l’empreinte exclusive de l’unicité de son être.

Alors voilà !

2022, une année stylée et ...libre !