Linux Desktop Hacks
Linux Desktop Hacks Tips & Tools for Customizing and Optimizing your OS By Nicholas Petreley, Jono Bacon
March 2005
Pages: 342

| Table of Contents | Index | Sample Hacks | Colophon

Table of Contents

  1. Chapter 1 Booting Linux

    1. Hacks 1-9

    2. Give Your Computer the Boot

    3. Kill and Resurrect the Master Boot Record

    4. Bypass the Boot Manager

    5. Set a Bitmap Boot Screen for LILO

    6. Create Your Own LILO Boot Splash

    7. Display a GRUB Boot Splash Background

    8. Create a GRUB Boot Splash Background

    9. Jazz Up Your Debian System Boot

    10. Graphics on the Console

  2. Chapter 2 Console

    1. Hacks 10-15

    2. Redefine Keyboard Actions

    3. Energize Your Console with Macro Music Magic

    4. Take a Screenshot from the Command Line

    5. Put Your Command Prompt on a Diet

    6. Simplify Changing Directories

    7. Colorize Files in Your Pager

  3. Chapter 3 Login Managers

    1. Hacks 16-21

    2. Switch Users Fast

    3. Double Your KDM (KDE) Login Screens

    4. Double Your GDM (GNOME) Login Screens

    5. Get Multiple Desktops the Macho Way

    6. Scrap X11 for Fancy Login Consoles

    7. Personalize Your Qingy Theme

  4. Chapter 4 Related to X

    1. Hacks 22-34

    2. Take Your Screens Black

    3. Spice Up Your Desktop with Creative Mouse Cursors

    4. Convert CursorXP Themes for Use with Linux

    5. Use Windows and Mac Fonts

    6. Never Miss Another Reminder

    7. Make Applications Trigger On-Screen Alerts

    8. Heat Up Your Keyboard with Hotkeys

    9. Get Hotter Hotkeys with LinEAK

    10. Access Windows and Mac OS X from Linux

    11. Run Your Desktop over the Internet

    12. Access Your Programs Remotely

    13. Add Depth to Your Desktop

    14. Give Your Desktop X-Ray Vision

  5. Chapter 5 KDE Desktop

    1. Hacks 35-44

    2. Make Konqueror a Window into Remote Spaces

    3. Konquer Remote Systems Without Passwords

    4. Ai Karamba! Flashy KDE Gadgets!

    5. Start Applications in Weird and Wonderful Ways

    6. Script Hacks with DCOP

    7. Create Your Own KDE Right-Click Menu Actions

    8. Make KDE Even Easier to Use

    9. Give Depth to Your KDE Windows

    10. Lock Down KDE with Kiosk Mode

    11. Run KDE on the Bleeding Edge

  6. Chapter 6 GNOME Desktop Hacks

    1. Hacks 45-48

    2. Randomize Your GNOME Wallpaper

    3. Grow Your GNOME with gDesklets Steroids

    4. Create Your Own GNOME Right-Click Actions

    5. Compile a Bleeding-Edge GNOME Desktop

  7. Chapter 7 Terminal Empowerment

    1. Hacks 49-54

    2. Share Applications and Monitors with screen

    3. Stop Using Terminal Command-Line Switches

    4. Ultimate Terminal Transparency

    5. View Microsoft Word Documents in a Terminal

    6. Display PDF Documents in a Terminal

    7. View Word and PDF Files from Within Mutt

  8. Chapter 8 Desktop Programs

    1. Hacks 55-69

    2. Reduce OpenOffice.org Startup Time

    3. Read Yahoo! Mail from Any Email Client

    4. Encrypt Your Email

    5. Reclaim Your Email with procmail

    6. Convert Your Mailbox

    7. Configure Firefox Under the Covers

    8. Eliminate Annoying Browser Stalls

    9. Get Browser Plug-ins Working

    10. Create an Internet Phone

    11. Motion Capture and Video Conferencing Fun

    12. Put Screenshots Automatically on the Web

    13. Scan for Wireless Networks

    14. Map Your Meatspace

    15. Connect to a Microsoft PPTP VPN

    16. Play Restricted Media Formats

  9. Chapter 9 Administration and Automation

    1. Hacks 70-87

    2. Automate Your Life with cron

    3. Update Your Clock via the Internet

    4. Start Desktop Applications Automatically

    5. Don't Let Elvis Leave the Building

    6. Clone Your Linux Install

    7. Forward Ports over SSH

    8. Take Control of New User Setups

    9. Send Email Alerts for System Events

    10. Create a Passwordless Login

    11. Magically Empower Your Network Cable

    12. Protect Yourself from Windows Applications

    13. Build a Custom Firewall Computer

    14. Link Monitoring in Linux with Wavemon

    15. Make Network Backups

    16. Recover from Debian Disaster

    17. Prelink for Performance

    18. Grab the Latest Source Code

    19. Speed Up Compiles

  10. Chapter 10 Kernel

    1. Hacks 88-91

    2. Compile a Kernel

    3. Upgrade Your Kernel to 2.6

    4. Use CKO to Make Your Desktop Go to 11

    5. Tweak Your Kernel Without Recompiling

  11. Chapter 11 Hardware

    1. Hacks 92-100

    2. Make an Internet Connection Using Bluetooth and a Mobile Phone

    3. Perfect USB Devices with Project Utopia

    4. Optimize Your Refresh Rates

    5. Print to Unsupported Printers

    6. Control Your Power with ACPI

    7. Use an iPod with Linux

    8. Sync Your iRiver with Linux

    9. Boost Hard-Drive Performance

    10. Accelerate Your Gaming

  1. Colophon

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