Software on Blogarious

PostgreSQL major upgrade with pgvector

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If we installed pgvector, upgrading PostgreSQL major version will not success with pg_upgrade. We need to manually dump and restore all databases.
In order to do that,

Start the existing version service, eg 16.
Run
pg_dumpall -U postgres -f /path/to/all_dumps.sql
Stop service.
Upgrade postgresql postgresql-libs postgresql-old-upgrade
Re-compile and re-install pgvector.
Initialize database, such as
initdb -D /var/lib/postgres/data --locale=C.UTF-8 --encoding=UTF8
Start the newer version service, eg 17.
Login as postgres (sudo -u postgres /bin/bash), and run
psql -f /path/to/all_dumps.sql postgres

MySQL and PostgreSQL GUI tools

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000

I am using Arch Linux, and recently there are some issues on MySQL Workbench and pgAdmin 4.

MySQL Workbench with the latest version 8.0.12 has issue to make connection through the SSH tunnelling. As a result, I have to downgrade to version 6.3.10. However, with the recent upgrade of icu package to 62.1, it breaks the MySQL Workbench 6.3.10. In order to solve this, I duplicate the following files,

[code lang=text] cp libicudata.so.62 libicudata.so.61 cp libicui18n.so.62 libicui18n.so.61 cp libicuuc.so.62 libicuuc.so.61 [/code]

Firefox Legacy version 56.0.2

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The latest Firefox version 57 and above, a.k.a Firefox Quantum, it is fast, but… that is not what I need.

As a developer, I favoured Chromium more than Firefox. And I use Firefox mainly for downloading. The addon DownThemAll is the must. The greatest feature I love is the ability to highlight and download the selected hyperlinks as batch. And I can name the downloaded files by original filename or based on the text in HTML.

Firefox or Chromium (software development)?

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

I was switching from Chromium to Firefox as my primary web browser recently. Then, I switched back to Chromium again.

Chrome was usually claimed that it consumes a lot of memory. And recent Firefox updates claim that it is faster and consumes less memory. That is why, I switched to Firefox. I agree that, it is much faster than before. However…

I faced a critical issue. One less important issue that I would like to mention is, Firefox does not support Google Hangout.

Prayer Clock GTK3

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

My first open source project, Prayer Clock, I moved from SourceForge to GitHub recently. Yeah! Everyone should git!!!

And today I just made some changes, and updated to GTK3.

[gallery ids=“1757,1758” type=“rectangular”]

With GTK 3, I removed the title bar. But not yet successfully moving the menu bar to the icon like Evince or Nautilus.

I plan to convert the right hand panel to WebKitGtk. But this will not be the priority yet.

Firefox or Chromium (Google Chrome)

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, again web browser. I am using Firefox. Only sometimes Chromium (Google Chrome). Mainly Firefox. If someone ask me, which one I choose, I definitely answer Firefox. But, if someone ask me, which one I prefer, then it will be difficult to answer.

Firstly, I would like to go through why I choose Firefox as my primary web browser.

Because of DownThemAll. There is no alternative extension in Google Chrome like DownThemAll. Why I like DownThemAll so much? I use DownThemAll with GreaseMonkey to download my favourite mangas (comics). This is something Google Chrome still cannot do it, based on my current knowledge. GreaseMonkey generates the links, right-click, then I DownThemAll.

Managing contacts and calendar

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I am always looking for a good solution (not a software, but a solution) to manage all my contacts and calendar. Actually I separate both of them, even they are under PIM (personal information management).

I was using an excel file to manage all my contacts. But we know, a file is different from an application, the interface is not usable, and I had the difficulty to find the contacts that I want.

Using Python as the most powerful calculator

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Once I was looking for “expression calculator”. The expression calculator is different from normal calculator like calc.exe, which cannot use variable freely as algebra. But the expression calculator, we can predefine a variable with a value, then evaluate the variables in algebraic expression. It is very useful. My favourite expression calculator is SpeedCrunch.

Then, recently, I want to test a math function in SpeedCrunch, but this is impossible, since expression calculator can only define the variable, but not define a function. I remembered the title of Python Tutorial, “Using Python as a Calculator”. Yes, expression calculator, with ability to define function, then Python will be the one.

Chromium is really good in netbook

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Compare to the Firefox, I prefer to run Chromium in my netbook. This is because the screen of the netbook is small, and the resolution is low. Using Firefox, the toolbars and file menu already occupies half of the screen. I think Firefox 4.0 will solve my problem.

Then, using Firefox on the netbook with Ubuntu, playing Castle Age will make Firefox slow down. May be the reason is the netbook memory is smaller than normal laptop.

GNOME Commander for Ubuntu

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

When I was using Windows to manage my files, I always open a lot of windows to move my files. Even the window is already open, I will open a new window. Because it is difficult for me to find the opened windows. And my taskbar will full of tasks.

So, I tried to find a Windows Explorer replacement. Tried all the best free file managers by Gizmo’s Freeware. Then, only FreeCommander fulfils my needs. There is no need to open a lot of windows.

My favourite Thunderbird add-ons

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Since I tried on Evolution of Ubuntu, an email client just like Microsoft Outlook, with PIM (Personal Information Manager) features, allows using IMAP, and allows synchronization. I really like it. So I tried to install Evolution for Windows. However, Evolution for Windows cannot work properly on Windows 7. Then, I need to switch back to Thunderbird. Since I like the feature of PIM and the synchronization with GMail and Google Calendar, I have installed following add-ons:

Reviews of SRWare Iron and ChromePlus

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I have tried both SRWare Iron and ChromePlus, though not using as primary web browser.

I compare the both software based on my personal preference:

ChromePlus	SRWare Iron
Chromium Beta (4.0)	Chromium 3.0
Bookmark syncing	No bookmark syncing
Install extension	Cannot install extension
Mouse gesture	No mouse gesture
Cannot play WMA	Can play WMA with Windows Media Player
Clear history and etc on exit	Cannot clear history on exit
But difficult to empty cache, needs to go to option	Easier to clear cache from the “Wrench” iron
AdBlock Plus	No AdBlock
Able to disable/enable Javascript and Java	Cannot disable Javascript and Java

Because of the WMA problem, I prefer SRWare Iron. But I think these features can all be integrated in future, because Chromium 4.0 is still in beta version.

Everything Internet - Cloud computing

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Now, technology aims to cloud computing because of the importance of social networks. Especially the services like Facebook and Twitter. Besides, Google produces Chrome OS so that everything can be done through Internet. No installation of office suite, one can create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.

Next, synchronization of the documents, bookmarks, personal profile or profile setting becomes important also. Google Chrome 4.0 provides built-in bookmark syncing.

Not only Google Chrome, but Opera 10.10 also provides similar feature: Opera Link and Opera Unite. Opera Unite allows file sharing; Opera Link allows syncing bookmark and other settings.

Google Chrome again

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Previously on Allen’s Blog (I like this phrase), I talked about Google Chrome alternative.

There are more, Portable Chrome from PortableApps and ChromePlus. Now I am trying on ChromePlus, it uses Chromium 4.0. That means it can install with the extensions like Firefox. Maybe the extension developers will port the Firefox extensions to Chrome, then Chrome can act like Firefox.

The growth of PortableApps.com

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

If you like portable applications, surely you know about PortableApps.com. I think the most prominent projects of the website are OppenOffice Portable, Firefox Portable, and GIMP Portable. But recently, since I subscribed the RSS, there are more and more new applications in PortableApps.com, such as the game like “Frets on Fire”, the online game “The Mana World”, etc.

This is very interesting. Portability is a very convenient feature because this allows us to bring our applications by using a USB pendrive. And sometimes, we need administrative privilege to install the applications. But portable applications just let us extract it, then we can run the applications anywhere.

COMODO Firewall uninstall problem

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A very bad experience for me to upgrade COMODO Firewall. The update was slow. So I decided to download the latest version installation file.

Then tried to install from the latest version. And the installation detected the existing of the older version. I was asked to uninstall the older version. Right, I uninstalled it. Then I was asked to restart the computer. But I didn’t restart. (I know, this was my fault). Then I continued installing the latest version. Finally, restarted the computer.

Google Chrome alternatives

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I have tried Google Chrome. Sure it is nice, because it is clean and simple. But, I still prefer Firefox as the default web browser. So, if you are interested in Google Chrome, and still using other default web browser, you can try the followings:

Portable Chrome (Chromium)
SRWare Iron

I am now using Iron portable version. Very nice.

Music related software

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

These days, I learnt to read the Gregorian chant music score. Then I tried to figure out how to play the music score through the PC (virtual piano). I used MidiPiano Suite before. It is quite nice. It can save and open the MIDI files.

Then, since open source cross-platform software development is very active currently, I tried to search some cross-platform music related software from the Internet. The followings are the software I found (including close source freeware), but I haven’t tried every software:

Reviews of some file synchronizers

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The followings are the reviews of several open source file synchronizers which I tried.

WebSynchronizer - Can work with network, FTP, etc. Delete the files to recycle bin, does not have backup. Use the synchronisation in order to delete the destionation file, but the source folder will download the newest file. Not very easy to use.

JFileSync - Interface is not good, cannot copy the hidden file as hidden file at the target, do not delete the file in recycle bin.

Comparison 3ds Max and Blender

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I prefer freeware rather than commercial software. However, since recently I needs to involve some 3D modelling, I am wondering which 3D modelling tools is better.

I have tried both Blender and Autodesk 3ds Max. There are other 3D modelling software. You can find the comparison of 3D modelling software from CG Society Wiki and TDT3D [from Wikipedia].

Blender can be said is the best of the other free 3D modelling software. However, the user interface for 3D modelling is quite different from other commercial software, such as 3ds Max, Maya, and MilkShape3D. For the usability perspective, Blender is difficult to use. If compare to the 3ds Max, 3ds Max is far more better than Blender. If Blender follows the interface as other software, I think it would be better during modelling.