PyRoom

A while back I was discussing FOSS alternatives for cutting out distractions, and one of the pieces of software that I couldn’t find a decent alternative for was Writeroom which is commercial software for the Mac.

Now Bruno Bord (who’s basically French) has come to the rescue with the PyRoom project. I may have to get involved.

Cast Your Vote

The Official Ubuntu Book has been nominated in the favourite Linux book category for the Linux Journal 2008 Readers’ Choice Survey.

All Linux fans should take part anyway, but while you’re there cast a vote for the best book about the best distro <wink />.

Cutting out distractions

On his new blog Write To Done, Leo Babauta talks about how to write without distractions. I wanted to look at a couple of his points from the FOSS/Linux/Ubuntu perspective.

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Bestseller?

Just did a quick check on how my book – Managing Software Development with Trac and Subversion – was doing on Amazon UK. They had stock earlier in the week, but it’s all gone now – that can only be a good thing!

I was also really pleased to see that I had made into the top 100,000 bestsellers – number 94,492 to be precise. Considering I’ve seen books ranked over the million mark, I’m very happy with my current position.

Managing Software Development available on Amazon

I looked my book – Managing Software Development with Trac and Subversion – on Amazon when it was published, but I could not find it. Earlier tonight my wife went surfing earlier today and had more luck:

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Hard Copy

Got back from swimming this morning to find a package left in the garage by the postman. I knew it was too soon to be my N800 (but that didn’t stop me hoping!), so I had no idea what it was. It turned out to be some complimentary copies of my book Managing Software Development with Trac and Subversion.

Although I knew the book was out, it’s not quite real until you’re actually holding a dead tree copy in your hands. Although I still haven’t decided whether I want to write another or not, seeing a real copy is swaying me toward doing it again.

Official Ubuntu Book 2nd Edition

News is starting to filter through¹ that the second edition of the Official Ubuntu Book has now been released².

Although my work has been published before, this is the first time I’ve been credited as an author. It is a pretty exciting experience! Writing the book was fun and I learned a lot, both about writing and Ubuntu, whilst doing it. I do have some other projects still in the pipeline, but I hoping there will be a third edition…

Update

I’ve now received my complimentary copies.

¹ I know I’m playing catchup, but I was busy at the weekend!

² There seems to be some disparity in the publication dates given by Prentice Hall, Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, but some of the other authors have got their copies so if it’s not out yet it certainly will be soon.

Keeping Quiet Reason #1

In the past I’ve hinted at reasons why I’ve been so quiet on here (and why most of my recent content has been non-technical).

Well, the cat’s out of the bag on one the reasons now:

Thanks to Jono I am co-authoring the 2nd edition of The Official Ubuntu Book due out around the release of Feisty.

I’m even on Amazon!

From tiny acorns…

I’ve been quiet. Too quiet. Even allowing for the holidays I’ve been too quiet. However, in my defense, there are reasons for this.

Firstly, following on from my previous articles there will be more, in a Python vein.

Secondly, a couple of projects – which at the moment I won’t discuss, not because I can’t, just because I like being mysterious – will be coming to fruition this year. Think articles, but BIGGER.

We shall have to wait and see if they turn into Oaks!

RADical Python

I have another article in the latest issue of Linux User & Developer entitled RADical Python.

It is an introduction to Rapid Application Development with PyGTK, and I’m very pleased with the result. Of course real feedback (instead of my own ego massaging) is always welcome.

I am intending to follow this article up with a series on Python development (with a twist) – further bulletins as events warrant.

In the mean time go and pick up a copy!