Well, I decided to take the plunge and migrate from Windows XP to Ubuntu. Now, technically, I have been wanting to do this for a while, but I was dependant on my windows to dial up to my internet (some problem with my ISP here). I tried to do it in Ubuntu a few months ago, but it was too complicated for me. However, it left me with a yearning to try again.
So, I waited for the new Ubuntu to come out and in parallel fixed my router.

Why?
The reason I thought it was a good idea to move to linux was mainly for self-improvement.

I recently read some blogs (couldn't find them now) that mentioned that with all the new web apps, there will be less and less emphasis on the OS. In 2011 (gartner says), this will hit a crucial point.
I was thinking, maybe more people will adopt free linux when everything important will be in "the cloud" and all you really need is a browser anyway. So I know how to use linux, I …

Apache has a neat module called mod_dbd that allows your Apache modules to connect to a database. mod_dbd interfaces with apr_dbd, an Apache Portable Runtime (APR) abstraction layer around database specific drivers.

Back when Ubuntu 7.04 (fiesty) was released, a MySQL driver was not bundled with Apache for licensing concerns. So, in order to use mod_dbd to connect to a MySQL database, you need to get the MySQL driver source code from WebThing (apr_dbd_mysql.c) and manually re-compile apr-utils.

You also need the source code for Apache 2.2.3 (which includes apr-utils 1.2.7) from the Ubuntu 7.04 repositories, then copy the apr_dbd_mysql.c file into the Apache source …

Apache has a neat module called mod_dbd that allows your Apache modules to connect to a database. mod_dbd interfaces with apr_dbd, an Apache Portable Runtime (APR) abstraction layer around database specific drivers.

Back when Ubuntu 7.04 (fiesty) was released, a MySQL driver was not bundled with Apache for licensing concerns. So, in order to use mod_dbd to connect to a MySQL database, you need to get the MySQL driver source code from WebThing (apr_dbd_mysql.c) and manually re-compile apr-utils.

You also need the source code for Apache 2.2.3 (which includes apr-utils 1.2.7) from the Ubuntu 7.04 repositories, then copy the apr_dbd_mysql.c file into the Apache source …

I was able to catch up with Mr. Bono Jacon Jono Bacon, Ubuntu community manager, not long after he and his miscreant buddies that call themselves "LugRadio" had hosted their very first "Rock Conference" in the U.S aka LugRadio Live USA 2008 

My interview with Jono (12:53)  Listen (Mp3)   Listen (ogg)
(a bit of background noise from tech-hooligans for the first couple minutes but then it goes away)

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Note: Installing Oracle 11gR1 on Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex is now published.

After many requests from readers, I’ve put together new, revised version of the Oracle 11g on Ubuntu recipe. This new version is a little different than the first one published: it’s based on a bare-bones install of Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) server version instead of the desktop version. As an improvement, I’ve tried to pare down dependencies to a minimal set.

Your feedback is more than welcome — it’s the main reason why I wrote a new version of this HOWTO. I’ve also tested and repeated this procedure twice. Even so, it might still have problems, so please let me know so we can improve it …

Last week I wrote about my efforts to measure MySQL's replication speed precisely. The most important ingredient in that recipe was the user-defined function to get the system time with microsecond precision. This post is about that function, which turned out to be surprisingly easy to write.

Some say Sun is as cool as OSCon (if not cooler) because, among most companies that support OSCon, only Sun can produce truly underground notes on OSCon.

David Van Couvering reviews Mike Olson's comments about his keynote at OSCon and pontificates about whether the value of Open Source could be limited to the collaboration it fosters. David aptly notes that

Open source and an open community gives you the assurance that the technology you are depending on is not going to be discontinued or put into "maintenance mode," it won't be acquired by someone who you would rather not do business with, and it won't be used as leverage against you to extract money or modify your behavior.

By way of further review, David contrasts MySQL as an Open Source project to …

Note: Installing Oracle 11gR1 on Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex is now published.

Note: I have now published “Installing Oracle 11g on Ubuntu Linux 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)”

Note: This page focuses on Ubuntu installs. Oracle has published a web page for successfully installing Linux on unsupported platforms that you may find helpful.

I come from a MySQL background, and I have been given the challenge of learning Oracle. I can’t just play around with our customers’ databases, but I remembered that Paul Vallée said that there is …

It will be Sunday, September 23rd at Taste from 1PM to 10PM. I’ll be there, along with the Ubuntu Florida team. Hopefully develpers from MySQL and Pentaho will go also! Possible topics I am considering speaking on include Bazaar, Launchpad, Ubuntu, MySQL, hiring and managing an international development team, how to evolve your database schema without going insane, and using bluetooth PAN networking with laptops. If you are going, what would be most interesting to you?

We’ll be doing a linux install-fest, so bring along your laptops and ubuntu CDs. I’ll also be able to answer questions on how to use Bazaar with a variety of different development workflows. We also need sponsors, so check out the website to learn more.

Tell me what’s wrong with the picture:

Anyways, Ubuntu Live looks like a great conference. The session line-up looks more like a conference than the one-day FUDCon’s, and with the tracks (there are 4 concurrent tracks), I am truly impressed. A big part of me wishes I was there… Some interesting tech bloggers like Stephen O’Grady of Redmonk fame, and Matt Asay are keynoting.

Of course, MySQL’s very own CEO, Mårten Mickos is also giving a keynote on Monday July 23, at 9:20-9.40am.

One caveat with Ubuntu Live: its cost. FUDCon is free, and true to its nature, really does spread community love (with about two tracks). Its USD$895 to attend Ubuntu Live - very troublesome to the pocketbook.

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