CDE

An useful application to easily pack and transfer code, data and environment to someone (using Linux and same architecture). Run any Linux program so that it can execute identically on another computer without any installation or configuration.

It’s not about package management or having a universal installer. It’s about being able to run your application in a different environment.

But why would you need this ?

• Bug reproduction submitting an executable proof;
• Develop on a certain machine and execute on other without bother;
• Transfer a complete environment to a friend to execute a program or play a game.

How to

Click here to watch a videocast made by the author.

References

[1] http://www.pgbovine.net/cde.html

Encryped Dropbox

Wikipedia about Dropbox:

Dropbox is a Web-based file hosting service operated by Dropbox, Inc. which uses cloud computing to enable users to store and share files and folders with others across the Internet using file synchronization.

Err, what’s the problem?

This is a cloud computing service. There’s no garantee that my data is secure from others. So, it’s necessary to find a way to secure this data, as we can’t take care of unpermitted access.

After many tries to find a solution to turn Dropbox storage more private and secure, I finally stumbled on encfs[1] and gnome-encfs[2].

“EncFS provides an encrypted filesystem in user-space. It runs without any special permissions and uses the FUSE library and Linux kernel module to provide the filesystem interface. You can find links to source and binary releases below. EncFS is open source software, licensed under the GPL.” (EncFS – About[1])

Gnome-EncFS integrates EncFS into GNOME keyring, can mount an EncFS directory at login and is a open source software, licensed under GPLv3.

Combining these two applications it’s possible to save secure data in Dropbox.

How to?

Install encfs package (probably your distro will have it on package list). To use it:

$ mkdir ~/Dropbox/Safe

$ mkdir ~/Safe

$ encfs ~/Dropbox/Safe ~/Safe

Now go on gnome-encfs website[2] and install it. Later, type:

$ gnome-encfs -a ~/Dropbox/Safe ~/Safe

Now enjoy it!

References

[1] –EncFS http://www.arg0.net/encfs

[2] – Gnome-EncFS http://bitbucket.org/obensonne/gnome-encfs