Paul Sutton

FreeBSD 4

Carrying on from my previous post. I am now turning my attention to configuring the twm desktop [1]

twm is set as the default window manager in:-

/usr/local/etc/X11/xinit/ file : xinitrc

After finding some information on how to configure the twm desktop [2]. This document seems to be from around 1989.

I tried to find the configuration files in my local home directory structure on bsd but was unable to. However there is one

/usr/local/share/X11/twm/system.twmrc

Which, I think is more of a global configuration. Given the only two users are myself and root is fine.

I used this to add a second icon manager to the desktop.

I have also found some other documentation [3] which explains how add items to the menu.

So to add menu entry to menu for vulture-nethack

edit /usr/local/share/X11/twm/system.twmrc

“Nethack” f.exec “exec vulture-nethack &”

the & is important

If you need more help you may want to ask on IRC: * #freebsd which is hosted freenode. [4] I am on IRC as zleap but also frequent a few other channels.

References

1. twm Desktop
2. An Overview of twm (Tom’s Window Manager)
3. Customizing twm
4. Freenode IRC

#bsd, #config, #desktop, #settings, #configuration, #tool, #freebsd, #twm, #window, #icoms.

You can find me on Friendica at [email protected]

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Rocks and Diamonds – Level Creation 3

Placing the same element, multiple times, in the playing area, in random positions.

As mentioned my previous post I am going to briefly discuss random placement of elements on the playing area.

It is important this point to stress that the game editor will randomly place the selected element multiple times, and NOT just place random elements on the playing area.

On the game editor find the following block.

Within this there is a random placement button, depicted by a dice. Select this:

If you now click on one of the game elements for example a green emerald, and press the dice the editor will place several on the playing area.

You don't need to keep everything where the editor puts it, feel free to delete and add others manually elsewhere, but where you need lots of one thing it may help.

This is one of the features you end up wishing you had known about, especially when you have spent weeks, creating levels by manually placing the items multiple times.

Don't for get to add your exit block manually.

Placing lines of blocks.

The third button in, is a line drawing tool. As this sort of relates to the above, I will cover this too. Pressing the line button and then selecting, for example a wall element, you can draw straight lines. This makes it quicker and easier to draw longer walls or even mazes for example.

Links

• Personal Level Set
• Rocksndiamonds

#games, #levels, #rocksndiamonds, #level,#creation,#codeclub, #random

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Lego WeDO Session Write up

Today I was involved in a Lego WeDo [2] session at Paignton Library,

I wrote a session plan [1] a while back and submitted this to the library.

The session went quite well, despite a few teething problems with wifi and sotware. We started off using the models I had previously built to experiment with the WeDo kit.

However the kit did seem to prove popular, we had one person drop in and have ago who was already at Lego Club. So the idea that this being within the Lego club area, was good as it attracted further interest.

What we need is a set of our own tablets + software installed and working so that we can just get on and build projects at future sessions.

1. Session Plan – pdf
2. Session Plan – LaTeX Source
3. Lego WeDO
4. Lego Software

#Library, #stem, #Lego, #WeDo, #session, #Plan

You can find me on Friendica at [email protected]

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Rocks and Diamonds – Level Creation 2

Further to previous post you can see that creating levels for Rocksndiamonds is fairly simple.

I would like to share the following tips for any budding level designers:

• Start simple
  • Experiment with different game elements
  • Add new elements as you create new levels
  • Don't overwhelm users or players
• Testing levels
  • Self test levels
  • Get others to test
  • Get feedback
  • Consider any feedback
  • Act on feedback
• Set the time so that there is :
  • Enough time to complete the level
  • Have a few seconds left over
  • Set time once level is completed
• Mix it up
  • Start simple and work up to more complex levels
  • As you create more complex levels throw in a simple level

• Make use of the game editor features to save time such as:

  • Random element placement (discussed in next post)
  • You can draw lines
  • Shapes
  • Fill feature, don't add 25+ blocks manually

• Have fun

• Take regular break

• Stop and comeback later, this gives a fresh view

• Submit and share levels with the game developers, they can be part of the game level archive

  • If doing this, remember to follow online safety rules
    • Ask permission from an adult
    • Make sure you have not included your name or contact info in any levels
    • Follow any guidelines for submitting levels
      
      

Links

• Personal Level Set
• Rocksndiamonds

#games, #levels, #rocksndiamonds, #level,#creation,#codeclub

You can find me on Friendica at [email protected]

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Raspberry Pi update

Raspberry Pi 4 2gb model price drop

Lego WeDO Session Planning and Preparation

As I am running a Lego WeDo session on 29th. I spent some time (about an hour) preparing for the session at Paignton Library.

Firstly I built a basic windmill model and attached the Lego Hub and motor to this, I have also attached the distance / IR sensor.

I also built a very basic car to which a motor and hub can be attached later.

The plan tomorrow, will be to demonstrate the model, introduce the WeDo software and hardware, including sensors. The attendees, can then build their own, models and experiment with these.

We have several Lego kits, so we can probably in small groups.

The idea is to investigate what we can do, and maybe come up with ideas on how the library can make use of these resources.

• Lego Wedo

#lego, #wedo, #stem, #session, #prep

You can find me on Friendica at [email protected]

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Rowcroft Hospice Male Trail

This years male trail in aid of Rowcroft Hospice.

Date : Saturday 7th March Time : 11am

#walking, #fundraising, #torbay, #devon, #rowcroft, #hospice, #2020

Rocks and Diamonds – Level Creation 1

We have Rocksndiamonds installed at the library for Code Club.

I am going to write a series of tutorials on level creation. Firstly a very basic how to create a simple level.

When you load the game you are presented with the main menu.

The two items we are concerned about here are :

LevelSet and the screen at the bottom. This screenshot shows level 12 with a preview at the bottom of the menu. This is part of my own level set.

If you click on LevelSet you get the following

Select custom and make sure this is set to 1, which it will be by default. Now LevelSet will read 001

CREATING A LEVEL

If you now click on Level Creator You get a similar screen to that below: ( this is one of my own levels you will get a blank playing area with just the brown sand)

I have already created a very basic level here. We can explore how this is done.

Firstly the default level created is huge usually 128x128, this is too big for what we need. On the right hand side there are lots of options. Clicking on CONF:

Brings up the level properties.

For this level we are going to set

• Size to 8 x 8
• Gems to collect to 4

Press Escape to return to the editor area.

For a level to work we need at least 2 items.

Exit door

Emeralds to collect

If you click on the item to select, then click on the level to place it on the playing area.

Press Enter to test.

Press Escape to go back to the editor, you now need to save your new level. Click SAVE, this can be found in the same panel area as conf

Answer yes. Your level is now saved.

Pressing esc from the editor takes you back to the main menu. The new level will be shown at the bottom.

So adding a new level is pretty easy.

You may want to create your own level set as the above adds to an existing level set.

Links

• Personal Level Set
• Rocksndiamonds

Location of level files in different Operating systems.

• Linux – ~/.rocksndiamonds/levels
• Windows –
• Mac

Note : The file levelinfo.conf is important without this the levels won't show up when you copy them to a new location.

#games, #levels, #rocksndiamonds, #level,#creation,#codeclub

You can find me on Friendica at [email protected]

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Bristol Climate Strike

Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate with Greta Thunberg

Sharing this to support the movement. Wake up people this will carry on until we start to see real change.

Location : Bristol Date 28th Feb 2020

• http://www.rallylist.com/bristol-youth-strike-4-climate-with-greta-thunberg/

#climate,#greta-thumberg,#peaceful,#protest,#strike

You can find me on Friendica at [email protected]

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

FreeBSD 3

Following on from my previous post which discussed changing the X11 keyboard layout. I had to also change the console layout.

This can be undertaken through editing the appropriate configuration files or with a tool called bsdconfig which needs to be run as root.

The online man page can be found here

This is a menu driven / text based interface. I can't, as yet provide a screen shot, but the man page is comprehensive enough so a screenshot isn't really needed.

To change the keyboard map you will need to find the appropriate section and make the changes.

#bsd, #config, #menu, #settings, #configuration, #tool, #freebsd, #keyboard, #layout, #gb.

You can find me on Friendica at [email protected]

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Licenced under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)