Installing latest ATI display driver on Ubuntu...

Before start, please uninstall the previous version driver if there's any because the installer doesn't have the capability to auto uninstall. Otherwise proceed to installation step.

To uninstall, open terminal and run this command:

$ cd /usr/share/ati
    $ sudo sh ./fglrx-uninstall.sh

Then restart your machine.

To install, open terminal, go to the installer location and run this command:

$ sudo sh ./ati-driver-installer-.run

Follow the instruction. Once completed run this command:

$ sudo /usr/bin/aticonfig --initial

Restart your machine.

Note:
I did the installation process in "recovery mode". That's the only way the correct driver will get install. Otherwise it'll use the previous existing driver (sucks!!!).

Honestly, I hate ATI graphic card. The only reason I'm using it is because I urgently need a laptop and Dell doesn't have an option other than Mobility Radeon HD 4xxx series for it Studio XPS product line.

It's a shame that my ATI card with 1 GB memory can't even get the effects below to work but my NVidia 7600 GS with 256 MB memory perfectly can. ATI driver for Linux really sucks!!!!

1) Win 7 virtual machine on VMWare Player with Accelerate 3D graphics option on, is not working in fullscreen mode
2) Compiz Blur effect not working
3) Compiz Water effect not working
4) Compiz Fire effect not working

Update (28/03/2011)
I've been using CCC version 10.10 with driver packaging version 8.783 on Linux Mint 10 64-bit. So far it's the best driver. All the effect mentioned above working as expected (especially Gaussian blur). For VMWare machine with Aero effect to work on fullscreen, need to disable Compiz.

Update (11/10/2011)
For 64-bit installer to work, you must install the 32-bit library (ia32-libs).

Ubuntu 10.04 on HP Mini 110, no wireless and audio from speakers...

Note (21/10/2011):
Settings below are not required for Ubuntu 11.10. Everything work out of the box.

Solution:
for wireless:
Download package from https://launchpad.net/~markus-tisoft/+archive/rt3090/+files/rt3090-dkms_2.3.1.3-0ubuntu0~ppa1_all.deb install and reboot.

for audio:
Run the command below then reboot

    $ sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-alsa-lucid-generic

Update 14/11/2010:
Just found out that after updating the system, wireless is broken again. To fix this, reinstall rt3090-dkms package.

Installing Subversion server on Ubuntu...

I need a source control in my local network. No need for fancy http or https. Custom svn protocol should be sufficient.

1) Install Subversion

    $ sudo apt-get install subversion

2) Create directory for my repository

    $ mkdir /home/dirn/svn
    $ cd /home/dirn/svn
    $ mkdir my-repo

3) Create repository by using svnadmin command

    $ sudo svnadmin create /home/dirn/svn/my-repo

4) Create a new group called subversion

    $ sudo groupadd subversion

5) Add your username and www-data into the group

    $ sudo usermod -a -G subversion www-data
    $ sudo usermod -a -G subversion user_name

6) Set permission

    $ cd /home/dirn/svn
    $ sudo chown -R www-data:subversion my-repo
    $ sudo chmod -R g+rws my-repo

7) Edit svnserve.conf file

    $ nano /home/dirn/svn/my-repo/conf/svnserve.conf

8) Uncomment the following line and save the file

    # [general]
    # password-db = passwd

9) Edit passwd file

    $ nano /home/dirn/svn/my-repo/conf/passwd

10) Add your svn username and password and save the file

    username = password

11) Run svnserve service

    $ svnserve -d --foreground -r /home/dirn/svn

12) To access the project repository, run the following command

    $ svn co svn://hostname/my-repo my-repo --username user_name

Note:
Tested on Ubuntu 10.04 64-bit and Linux Mint 10 64-bit.

Subversion: the simplest way, cheapest and reliable source control solution on Windows platform...

It's challenging to work in an IT department for a non IT company when there's no proper software development process. "Best practices" would be listed as a low priority item in the list.

The first thing that I would look for before I start coding is a source control. Without it, we're in a risk of loosing the code or spending more time to undo changes that we did which had caused the application to broke.

Since it's a non IT company, requesting budget for software purchase might not take you to the smooth path journey. So, with only 3 options I have in hand and mind which is:

1) Visual SourceSafe 6.0d - unreliable and an obsolete product
2) Perforce - love it, unfortunately the license fee is damn expensive
3) Subversion - it's free but never use it, learning curve needed

Since Subversion is the only option left for me, did some googling and I was overwhelmed with the information. There are so many tools can be use to work with Subversion. To make my life easier, I've listed the best free 4 (at least for me) tools.

VisualSVN Server Standard Edition
Server side tool which is available freely for commercial use. Check out the difference between Standard and Enterprise editions here.

TortoiseSVN
A windows shell extension for Subversion. It is not integrated to any specific IDE and can be use with whatever development tools you like.

AnkhSVN
A Subversion Source Control Provider for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, 2008 and 2010.

SVNMonitor
A tool to monitor changes made to the repository.

Update (27/07/2010)
I've tried SVNMonitor and it's a great tool for monitoring changes made to the repository. Unfortunately all the svn action will be disable if you monitor the source via URL.

How to always use a text-based location bar in nautilus...

Open terminal and type the command below

    $ gconftool-2 --type=Boolean --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/always_use_location_entry true

To switch back

    $ gconftool-2 --type=Boolean --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/always_use_location_entry false

How to fix plymouth bootup resolution...

After installed proprietary driver for NVidia or ATI, plymouth bootup screen has turned large and ugly. Here's how to fix it

1) Install v86d and hwinfo package

    $ sudo apt-get install v86d hwinfo

2) Check maximum resolution supported when running Plymouth

    $ sudo hwinfo --framebuffer

3) Edit the resolutions in the GRUB2 files

    $ sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

Assuming your monitor can support 1280x1024, otherwise change it to whatever resolution supported by your monitor
4) Change the text below

    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

to

    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1280x1024-24,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap"

then look for the text below

    #GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

and change it to

    GRUB_GFXMODE=1280x1024

5) Edit another file

    $ sudo gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

6) Add the following line at the end of the file

    uvesafb mode_option=1280x1024-24 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap

7) Run

    $ echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash

8) Update Grub

    $ sudo update-grub2

9) Generate new splash screen

    $ sudo update-initramfs -u

No sound from headphone jack...

Model: Dell Studio XPS 16 - 1647 (reported on 1645)
OS:
Linux Mint 17 - Qiana (64-bit)
Linux Mint 13 - Maya (64-bit)
Linux Mint 10 - Julia
Ubuntu 10.04 - Lucid Lynx

Symptom: no sound when plug-in headphone

Solution:
1) open alsa-base.conf file

$ sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

2) add the text below to the file (last line)

options snd-hda-intel model=dell-m6

3) restart your machine

Note:
Tested on Ubuntu Lucid Lynx 64-bit.

Update (19/11/2010):
Tested on Linux Mint 10 64-bit.

Update (15/11/2014):
Tested on Linux Mint 17 64-bit.