l2c.pl – Lines to Columns

Here is a little perl script I wrote some time back for converting a text file’s contents from lines to columns.

I’d like to present this script and then psuedo-challenge other visitors of this site to write a more efficient algorithm in the language of their choice. Unfortunately, any way (that I know of) for measuring the efficiency of two or more algorithms across different languages is going to be skewed due to differences in efficiency of compilers, interpreters and what not.

Read More

OpenGear CM4116 Review

I recently started paying more attention to the OpenGear CM4116 remote console server that was installed at my work before I arrived. Ever since I arrived, I thought of it as more of a pain than a useful tool. This was mostly because it was configured to provide only serial console access to servers and storage devices through an SSH tunnel.

Read More

Nanorcs: Ultrasimplistic Configuration File Revision Control

I present to you nanorcs, my ultrasimplistic configuration file revision control method. It’s nothing significant but at least it’s something to post about.

What is nanorcs? It’s a very simple bash script wrapper around the nano, the cute GNU version of pico and RCS, a basic but functional revision control software package. The script is used in place of a call to ‘nano’ when editing a file and it automates the tasks related to change management of configuration files including tasks such as check in/out, and prompting the user when a discrepancy between the current file version and the RCS version exist.

Read More