TechOpinionation - Miscellaneous

Generating PDF thumbnails

nospam@example.com (Joshua Kugler) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Had the need recently to generate a bunch of thumbnails for some PDFs we had. ImageMagick to the rescue.

for P in `ls *.pdf`
do echo $P
outfile="thumbs/`echo $P|cut -d . -f 1`.jpg"
convert -quality 50 -geometry 64x82 $P[0] $outfile
done

The [0] tells it to only do the first page, and the quality setting of 50 created thumbnails that were only 2-4K, but still quite functional for the purpose.

If not already pulled in as a dependency, Ghostscript (/usr/bin/gs) will need to be installed too.

Chaining SSH Connections

nospam@example.com (Joshua Kugler) — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:58:22 +0000

Today I was trying to figure out how to ssh into one system, and then automatically ssh into another system. The logical way:

ssh user@outside_host "user@inside_host"

wasn't working. The logs on both inside and outside hosts would show a connection, but I would get no prompt. I tried typing a command, hit enter, and saw the output of the command! OK, that's odd.

So, I hit #openssh and posted my problem. User dmlloyd and I started dialoging and figured out that a TTY wasn't being allocated. OK, why not. AH! openssh's -t parameter to the rescue. So this does work:

ssh -t user@outside_host "ssh user@inside_host"

NOTE: Yes, I know I could just set up port forwarding or DNAT firewall rules, but the inside hosts don't need any access from the outside at all, so the chained SSH method was much better.

Looking for work again

nospam@example.com (Joshua Kugler) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:41:37 +0000

So, WordStream decided my skillset didn't fit what they wanted, and I am once again in the ranks of the unemployed. If you know of any programming or system administration positions you could point me to, that would be greatly appreciated!

My resume is linked over on the right side of this page. Feel free to pass it around.

Starting up at a Startup

nospam@example.com (Joshua Kugler) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:21:56 +0000

After being out of full-time work for 17 business days, I'm starting up a full time job! I'm going to be doing, as I have been for the past 2.5 years, programming and system administration. My title is still in flux, but my duties will be a combination of two jobs I applied for with this company, which were "Linux Web Application Server Architect" and "Python/Adobe Flex Programmer." For the first couple months (or less) I'm basically on as a contractor. Then, if we like each other, we'll negotiate for a full-time hire.

The company in question is called WordStream, "a venture-backed startup engaged in providing search engine marketing software solutions for PPC/SEM [pay-per-click/search engine marketing] and SEO [search engine optimization]," among other things. Basically, they help advertisers get the best deal and exposure for their dollar.

They do have a product they've released, but they're still very much in startup mode, so I'm sure it will be fast and furious. Not quite the low-key environment I was used to with S&K Aerospace. Financially, they're quite sound, having recently landed USD4 million in Series A funding from Sigma Partners, a very strong and stable venture capitalist group which currently has over USD2 billion under management.

So, off we go. Sounds like it's going to be lots of fun!

Oh, yes, I'll still be working from home. No relocation required.

Job Hunting

nospam@example.com (Joshua Kugler) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:41:36 +0000

So, due to lack of projects at my current employer, I might be getting laid off come Wednesday. Not the news one wants to hear.

If anyone has any leads for telecommuting tech jobs, please let me know. There is a link to my resume at the right of this page.

Thanks!

Don't use Brightline Compliance

nospam@example.com (Joshua Kugler) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:34:24 +0000

As part of yearly compliance, I have to go through some sort of training on sexual harassment. (Yes, even though I work at home and can't really harass anyone.) I don't particularly mind, it's not that onerous. What I do mind, however, is having to redo sections of the training that I've already done.

The Brightline courses use a flash application that walks you through the various modules. You listen to dialog, training, and such, and answer questions. It keeps track of which modules you've completed...kind of. That problem arises when the application can't connect to its server. Instead of retrying, it pops up a message saying "You seem to have lost connectivity. Instead of using the wireless connection, connect to the LAN using a wired connection before restarting the course." It then simply closes out the flash application. Which wouldn't be so bad, I suppose, but it doesn't always save your progress, so I am now in the process of redoing a 20 minute module that I've already done.

I'm not having any other bandwidth or connectivity issues today, so it would seem to be their servers, not my connection.

So, two suggestions for those doing online courses:

Save state often! Every page of a module, or more

When connectivity to the server seems to be lost, try again, several times, instead of just dumping the student out of the application, and forcing them to login again. At least consider the possibility that the problem may be on your end, and not the student's.

Edit: Then, after completing the entire course, and exiting as instructed, it logged me out. Upon logging back in, it told my I had not completed the last three modules. Sigh.