Adobe’s Invasive Software

I just removed the following LaunchAgents & Daemons from my Snow Leopard:

  • /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
  • /Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist
  • /Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist

Best to move to some other directory, just in case you need them later for some reason. Photoshop works fine.

So the point is, why can’t Adobe just ask on install:

  • Do you want automatic updates enabled?
  • Do you want an application to bridge Adobe AIR and CS products running all the time?

No, I don’t. When I want to update, I press a button. Every service running on the machine is added security risk and it consumes resources.

Some useful command line tools

It’s about time I got myself familiar with some of the core UNIX command line tools. No matter how good the GUI applications look like and work, when using command line alternatives the stuff gets done faster and it’s less prone to error.

I am talking here especially about FTPing stuff around. I’ve using Cyberduck so far but there were some bugs in the recent release and I’ve also read about the comparison of speed vs command line tools. It’s slower.

So I’ve learned to use rsync and lftp. It’s pure awesomeness. I can’t imagine going back to dragging files around in the GUI.

Also I’ve learned some basic Vim usage. It’s the fastest way to do quick .htaccess edits, or turning on/off CakePHP debug mode on the server and similar stuff. I realize some programmers use it full time for their work, but to go there Textmate shouldn’t have to exist.

Setting up Access Point for my Wi-fi network

Today I’ve finally learned how to “bridge” two routers. One connecting to the internet trough ADSL and the second one providing Wi-fi on the other end of house, connected to the first one trough LAN. It’s pretty simple actually, yet without a guide I wouldn’t have done it – meaning either I am extremely stupid with computers!? – or the networking technology is not made for reasonably intelligent human beings.

So here’s a cool guide for setting up an AP (Access Point) using a router.

Website updated

Finally I’ve cleaned up and updated this very website. It was in quite a poor condition – for a web developer’s website – content wise and software wise too.

I am rolling on the latest WordPress for extra smooth blogging and cleaned up the About and Portfolio sections and added new content.

Recent projects

A few days ago I’ve launched a new website for the Equal Money System project. The project is about a complete social and economic change, worldwide.

I really enjoyed doing the graphic design and I am satisfied with how it turned out. The feedback of the community is also very positive. Programming wise it was nothing advanced – it’s backed by the excellent WordPress, which I am again “falling in love” with.

Equal Money For All

More productivity on a notebook?

I am realizing an interesting thing. When I work solely on my Macbook just with a mouse I get done much – and I mean it – much more work as opposed to when I work behind my desktop with a big 24″ screen.

It’s like with the big screen I focus too much on details – especially when designing and doing front end/GUI stuff. On the 15″ Macbook screen everything is more compact. Less information to process, more focus possible.

Interesting.