<p>I have moved this blog from MovableType to Typo.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/">MovableType 2.66</a> is a dated blogging application. I didn't care for the pricing structure they introduced with MovableType 3, so never upgraded.</p>
<p><a href="http://typosphere.org/">Typo</a> is a blogging application running on Rails. Typo feels slicker and fresher. <a href="http://www.typogarden.com/">Themes</a> are easily installable. The theme I am running now is a modified <a href="http://www.thelucid.com/">Lucid</a>. Also, Typo has been released under the MIT License.</p>
<p>However, the overriding reason is probably because I get to hack in Ruby rather than Perl. </p>
I have moved this blog from MovableType to Typo.
[MovableType 2.66](http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/) is a dated blogging application. I didn't care for the pricing structure they introduced with MovableType 3, so never upgraded.
[Typo](http://typosphere.org/) is a blogging application running on Rails. Typo feels slicker and fresher. [Themes](http://www.typogarden.com/) are easily installable. The theme I am running now is a modified [Lucid](http://www.thelucid.com/). Also, Typo has been released under the MIT License.
However, the overriding reason is probably because I get to hack in Ruby rather than Perl.
2006-02-28T12:55:00-08:00
343
1
MovableType to Typo
2007-05-26T15:29:58-07:00
<p><a href="http://manuals.rubyonrails.com/read/book/17">SwitchTower</a> allows you to easily deploy your <a href="http://www.rubyonrails.com/">Rails</a> applications to your server farms.</p>
<p>I have only started playing with it recently, but found quite a nice use for it which is not Rails related: security patches.</p>
<p>Now, if you have just one system to update, it's not too much of a bother. As the number of systems you administer increases, so does the time it takes to apply security patches.</p>
<p>Using SwitchTower means that I don't have to write a separate script to update servers, which would probably involve expect. SwitchTower will only ask for your password once, then it applies that password throughout the task.</p>
<p>Here's how I did it.
I created a Rails application:</p>
<pre><code>$ rails linux_servers
</code></pre>
<p>Created the default switchtower files:</p>
<pre><code>$ switchtower -A ./linux_servers LinuxServers
</code></pre>
<p>Now I just edited deploy.rb to include:</p>
<p><typo:code lang="ruby">
role :dev, *%w(dev1 dev2 dev3)
role :test, *%w(test1 test2 test3)
role :live, *%w(live1 live2 live3)</p>
<p>desc "Update servers"
task :update_servers, :roles => [:dev, :test, :live] do
sudo "apt-get update"
sudo "apt-get -y upgrade"
end
</typo:code></p>
<p>To execute:</p>
<pre><code>$ rake remote_exec ACTION=update_servers
</code></pre>
<p>And that's just saved me minutes of tedium every time I have to patch servers. Yay!</p>
[SwitchTower](http://manuals.rubyonrails.com/read/book/17) allows you to easily deploy your [Rails](http://www.rubyonrails.com/) applications to your server farms.
I have only started playing with it recently, but found quite a nice use for it which is not Rails related: security patches.
Now, if you have just one system to update, it's not too much of a bother. As the number of systems you administer increases, so does the time it takes to apply security patches.
Using SwitchTower means that I don't have to write a separate script to update servers, which would probably involve expect. SwitchTower will only ask for your password once, then it applies that password throughout the task.
Here's how I did it.
I created a Rails application:
$ rails linux_servers
Created the default switchtower files:
$ switchtower -A ./linux_servers LinuxServers
Now I just edited deploy.rb to include:
<typo:code lang="ruby">
role :dev, *%w(dev1 dev2 dev3)
role :test, *%w(test1 test2 test3)
role :live, *%w(live1 live2 live3)
desc "Update servers"
task :update_servers, :roles => [:dev, :test, :live] do
sudo "apt-get update"
sudo "apt-get -y upgrade"
end
</typo:code>
To execute:
$ rake remote_exec ACTION=update_servers
And that's just saved me minutes of tedium every time I have to patch servers. Yay!
2006-02-24T14:35:00-08:00
341
1
SwitchTower: Other Uses
2007-05-26T15:29:58-07:00
<p>It's been over a year since I first talked about <a href="/archives/2005/01/18/podcasting/">podcasting</a>.
</p>
<p>Since then, podcasting has expanded significantly, due to two main factors:</p>
<ol>
<li>iTunes and iPods have integrated podcasts.</li>
<li>Video iPods.</li>
</ol>
<p>
The most impressive use of this new medium has to be by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) and Bryan Singer (Superman Returns).
They understand their target audience.
They understand that fans want detail: to see what you have been doing and thinking.
</p>
<p><p>Over the next year, I hope that more people will consider the possibilities that are opened up by short audio or video extras.</a></p>
<p><p>These are the podcasts I am currently listening to or watching:</p> <ul>
<li><a href="http://www.43folders.com/">43 Folders</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=83025342&s=143444">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/43Folders">rss</a>] - life tips and tricks</li>
<li><a href="http://askaninja.blogspot.com/">Ask a Ninja</a> (video) [<a href="https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/subscribePodcast?id=115933673">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/AskANinja">rss</a>] - amusing insights into the ninja psyche. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/">Battlestar Galactica</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329453">itunes|<a href="http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/podcast.xml">rss</a>] (<a href="http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/bts/videoblog/">additional video</a>)- commentary on Battlestar Galactica episodes.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.channelfrederator.com/">Channel Frederator</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=85117705">itunes</a>|<a href="http://www.channelfrederator.com/rss">rss</a>] - varied animation</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cyclinginsight.com/">Cycling Insight</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73330136">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/CyclingInsight">rss</a>] - antipodean cycling news featuring an old friend</li>
<li><a href="http://www.maccast.com/">eMacCast</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329813">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/maccast">rss</a>] - latest mac news</li>
<li><a href="http://flickrcast.blogspot.com/">flickrcast</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=84389633&s=143441">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/flickrcast">rss</a>] - photography and flickr news</li>
<li><a href="http://www.frenchmaidtv.com/">French Maid TV</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=108156891">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/FrenchMaidTV">rss</a>] - improve yourself by learning from the girls dressed as french maids</li>
<li><a href="http://mondo.happytreefriends.com/">Happy Tree Friends</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=92723614">itunes</a>] - how cartoons used to be</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lugradio.org/">LUGRadio</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=76187785">itunes|<a href="http://www.lugradio.org/episodes.rss">rss</a>] - very funny podcast, which has some news about Linux</li>
<li><a href="http://www.penn.freefm.com/">Penn Jillette</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=116037129">itunes</a>|<a href="feed://www.923freefm.com/pages/podcast/80.rss">rss</a>] - Penn being Penn, but no Teller</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rocketboom.com/">Rocketboom</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329586&s=143441">itunes</a>|<a href="http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/rss.html">rss</a>]- video log</li>
<li><a href="http://podcast.rubyonrails.org/">Ruby on Rails</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=74844961">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/rubyonrailspodcast">rss</a>] - interviews with the movers and shakers</li>
<li><a href="http://bryansjournals.com/">Superman Returns</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=105734711">itunes</a>] - behind the scenes of the new movie</li>
<li><a href="http://dawnanddrew.podshow.com/">The Dawn and Drew Show</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73331700">itunes</a>|<a href="http://dawnanddrew.podshow.com/wp-rss2.php">rss</a>] - now with 5 shows a week</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedigitalstory.com/blog/">The Digital Story</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=81837345&s=143441">itunes</a>|<a href="http://www.thedigitalstory.com/feed/index.xml">rss</a>]- photography chat</li>
<li><a href="http://www.tikibartv.com/">Tiki Bar TV</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73330667">itunes</a>] - learn how to make cocktails and other adventures</li>
<li><a href="http://www.vintagetooncast.com/">Vintage ToonCast</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=104812178">itunes</a>] - vintage cartoons, which are no longer copyrighted</li>
</ul></p>
<p><p>Are there any shows you would recommend?</a></p>
<p>It's been over a year since I first talked about <a href="/archives/2005/01/18/podcasting/">podcasting</a>.
</p>
<p>Since then, podcasting has expanded significantly, due to two main factors:</p>
<ol>
<li>iTunes and iPods have integrated podcasts.</li>
<li>Video iPods.</li>
</ol>
<p>
The most impressive use of this new medium has to be by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) and Bryan Singer (Superman Returns).
They understand their target audience.
They understand that fans want detail: to see what you have been doing and thinking.
</p>
<p>Over the next year, I hope that more people will consider the possibilities that are opened up by short audio or video extras.</a>
<p>These are the podcasts I am currently listening to or watching:</p> <ul>
<li><a href="http://www.43folders.com/">43 Folders</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=83025342&s=143444">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/43Folders">rss</a>] - life tips and tricks</li>
<li><a href="http://askaninja.blogspot.com/">Ask a Ninja</a> (video) [<a href="https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/subscribePodcast?id=115933673">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/AskANinja">rss</a>] - amusing insights into the ninja psyche. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/">Battlestar Galactica</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329453">itunes|<a href="http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/podcast.xml">rss</a>] (<a href="http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/bts/videoblog/">additional video</a>)- commentary on Battlestar Galactica episodes.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.channelfrederator.com/">Channel Frederator</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=85117705">itunes</a>|<a href="http://www.channelfrederator.com/rss">rss</a>] - varied animation</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cyclinginsight.com/">Cycling Insight</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73330136">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/CyclingInsight">rss</a>] - antipodean cycling news featuring an old friend</li>
<li><a href="http://www.maccast.com/">eMacCast</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329813">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/maccast">rss</a>] - latest mac news</li>
<li><a href="http://flickrcast.blogspot.com/">flickrcast</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=84389633&s=143441">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/flickrcast">rss</a>] - photography and flickr news</li>
<li><a href="http://www.frenchmaidtv.com/">French Maid TV</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=108156891">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/FrenchMaidTV">rss</a>] - improve yourself by learning from the girls dressed as french maids</li>
<li><a href="http://mondo.happytreefriends.com/">Happy Tree Friends</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=92723614">itunes</a>] - how cartoons used to be</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lugradio.org/">LUGRadio</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=76187785">itunes|<a href="http://www.lugradio.org/episodes.rss">rss</a>] - very funny podcast, which has some news about Linux</li>
<li><a href="http://www.penn.freefm.com/">Penn Jillette</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=116037129">itunes</a>|<a href="feed://www.923freefm.com/pages/podcast/80.rss">rss</a>] - Penn being Penn, but no Teller</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rocketboom.com/">Rocketboom</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329586&s=143441">itunes</a>|<a href="http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/rss.html">rss</a>]- video log</li>
<li><a href="http://podcast.rubyonrails.org/">Ruby on Rails</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=74844961">itunes</a>|<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/rubyonrailspodcast">rss</a>] - interviews with the movers and shakers</li>
<li><a href="http://bryansjournals.com/">Superman Returns</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=105734711">itunes</a>] - behind the scenes of the new movie</li>
<li><a href="http://dawnanddrew.podshow.com/">The Dawn and Drew Show</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73331700">itunes</a>|<a href="http://dawnanddrew.podshow.com/wp-rss2.php">rss</a>] - now with 5 shows a week</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedigitalstory.com/blog/">The Digital Story</a> [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=81837345&s=143441">itunes</a>|<a href="http://www.thedigitalstory.com/feed/index.xml">rss</a>]- photography chat</li>
<li><a href="http://www.tikibartv.com/">Tiki Bar TV</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73330667">itunes</a>] - learn how to make cocktails and other adventures</li>
<li><a href="http://www.vintagetooncast.com/">Vintage ToonCast</a> (video) [<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=104812178">itunes</a>] - vintage cartoons, which are no longer copyrighted</li>
</ul>
<p>Are there any shows you would recommend?</a>
2006-02-18T14:44:00-08:00
342
1
Podcasting 2005
2007-05-26T15:29:58-07:00