Journals on Trude's Website

Linux Starting Guide

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 11:08:24 +0100

What is Linux?

You can think of Linux as an alternative to Windows and macOS; An operating system for your computer.

An OS is responsible for managing the computer’s physical components (hardware) and programs (software). It acts as a ‘bridge’ between the two, allowing them to work together. Most computers come with Windows pre-installed, and Apple Macs come with macOS, so why should one consider switching to Linux instead?

Linux is open-source, meaning that anyone can read, distribute and contribute to the project however they see fit. Linux is also free of charge, and you don’t need a license to use it.

Run Any Extension on Safari

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 17:13:36 +0100

Have you ever considered trying out Safari, but soon discovered that it lacks your preferred Chrome or Firefox extensions? I had this same issue.

Apple has introduced a user-friendly tool called Safari Web Extension Converter. This tool simplifies the process of converting Chrome or Firefox extensions to Safari.

Let’s explore how we can convert a Chrome or Firefox extension to work with Safari!

Downloading the Source Code of the Extension

The first step to convert your extension is to download its source code first.
Paste the link of your extension in this website and Download the source code of the extension.

Nix Starter Guide

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 16:10:10 +0100

What is Nix and NixOS?

You may have heard of Nix before. The name can be a bit confusing at first, as Nix is:

A programming language
A package manager
A Linux distribution (Known as NixOS)

This guide will focus on Nix as the package manager, and how it can make your life easier.

The Problem

On macOS, the intended way to download new programs is to open the developer’s website and execute an installer (or disk image) that installs the program. This approach can be time-consuming, as well as generate confusion when a program has to be updated. For this reason, many people use Homebrew as a package manager for macOS.

A Guide to the Personal Web

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 20:52:02 +0100

Google is progressively getting worse, YouTube has more and more ADs, and most websites are very hard to use, as the screen is constantly filled with “cookie” pop-ups, ADs, videos and large paragraphs of keywords that contain nothing of real value.

I’ve been bothered by the “modern” web quite a lot, as I used to get my news from YouTube, but seeing the internet get progressively worse made me wonder if there is a better way…

Smartphone Security and Privacy Guide

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 12:44:18 +0100

The Current State of Smartphones

Most people own a smartphone. They are extremely useful tools, but they are also a nightmare for security and privacy. This guide will attempt to help you improve your security and privacy while using a smartphone, without losing useful functionality.

There are, mainly, three types of smartphone:

Android Devices
iOS Devices (the iPhone)
Dumb phones / brick phones / feature phones (KaiOS or custom)

Android

Android by default is the most customizable of the bunch. Different brands usually have their own software, and also ship Google apps. The most important one being Google Play Services. This application connects to Google to allow the Play Store to function, logging in with Google, and power most Google Apps. It also shares a lot of user data with Google.

Linux vs FreeBSD vs OpenBSD

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:05:20 +0100

Why Am I Doing This (again)?

I’ve been using Linux for many years, and recently tried FreeBSD on a spare laptop. I didn’t see many differences initially, but it got me wondering: What really are the differences between Linux and *BSDs? Which OS should I use?

Of course, the short answer is always the same: It depends. So, I had to decide what is most important to me. Before continuing, I recommend that you do the same.

Wayland vs Xorg

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 10:27:24 +0100

A Bit of Context

What is a Display Server?

If you use Linux or any BSD variant, you have likely heard of, and used, a display server.

A display server is the component required to load any graphics or graphical user interfaces (GUIs - most browsers, games, …) and display any video content.

The display server also handles input, manages the physical display, listens for requests to draw graphics, and supports hardware acceleration.

Exploring FreeBSD

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 17:55:19 +0100

TL;DR Although I’ve heard of BSD before and have experience with Linux, I have never attempted to run a “true” BSD system (excluding macOS) as a daily driver. I likely made mistakes along the way, and not everything went as planned. If you are an experienced FreeBSD user, feel free to correct me or send some tips my way. I’ll read any emails I receive. I will definitely revisit FreeBSD in the future. This is a blog post, not a guide.

Local LLMs (ChatGPT-like AI)

Thu, 30 May 2024 18:44:10 +0100

Why Run AI Locally?

AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini can be very useful, however, they have a few issues:

Price (Some tiers can be expensive and require a monthly subscription)
Freedom (You may be limited by the moral beliefs of the company behind it)
Internet Access
Privacy (All your requests are sent to the company’s servers and can be seen and used by them for any purpose.)
Ease of access (Sometimes you may encounter shortages or be unable to use AI efficiently with the tools you already have)

Local AI solves most of these issues: Your requests never leave your computer, and so they are private and can be done offline.

Dotfiles: Configuration Files

Thu, 30 May 2024 17:35:03 +0100

What Are Dotfiles and why Should I Care?

After using your system for a while, you will likely change settings everywhere: On your desktop environment, different programs, and even create scripts to automate your work. Most of these configurations are saved in your $HOME directory, in the form of .app_name. These files begin with a dot (making them ‘hidden’), hence the name dotfiles.

Some apps (like most browsers) are able to sync settings between different devices, but most programs can’t. Eventually, you may have to replace your device, switch to another system temporarily, or face any other situation where you either lose your files or need your configurations somewhere else.