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Simple Utilities for GNU/Linux

There are basically two kinds of programs to be found here: (1) console/text-mode programs written using the ncurses library, and (2) GUI programs written using the GNOME/GTK+ libraries.

The c* programs require the ncurses development library (included with most, but not all, GNU/Linux distros). For more details, see the compatibility list. The c* tarballs include an Anjuta 1.x project file, but not much else (besides the program's source code). If you're curious about my reason for using ncurses in this day and age, see Some Background. Note: If you plan to run any of the c* programs in a GUI environment (using an X terminal), you should probably also download the KeyTest utility and verify compatibility first.

The g* programs require the GTK+ 1.2 or GTK+ 2.4 development library (included with some GNU/Linux distributions that also include the Gimp). Additionally, older g* programs dated before 2003.10.10 also require the GNOME1 development library (included with some older RedHat-based distros that also include the GNOME1 desktop environment). For more details, see the compatibility list. The g* tarballs include a Glade project file, and either a KDevelop 1.x project file (programs dated before 2003.05.03) or Anjuta 1.x project file (programs dated after 2003.05.03).

For general info on how to compile and install these programs, see Source Packages on the Notes page.


Currently Available Software:

    xDelDupsSimple utility to find and delete duplicate files
    xDirCmpSimple directory compare and file copy utility
    xFnRenameSimple file renaming utility
    xHTTrackFrontend for Xavier Roche's HTTrack Website Copier
    xKeyTestSimple utility to test keys in X terminals
    xMeasuresSimple utility to convert weights and measures
    xTallySimple scorekeeper for racing games
    xTextCvtSimple text file converter


xDelDups
This is a simple utility to find and delete duplicate files. It uses the md5sum and sort utilities to write two temporary files, the second of which is used to find duplicates that are then shown in a list. The user then has the option of selecting which files to delete.

Known Quirks:
  • The main window does not get updated while checking files. If you're checking large and/or lots of files and the program appears to have crashed, please be patient.
See Also: Downloads:

Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib
gdeldups-0.1.1.tar.gz35K2010.07.12GTK+ 1.2
gdeldups-0.2.1.tar.gz51K2010.07.12GTK+ 2.4


xDirCmp
This is a simple utility that compares two directories, displays the differences, and allows you to select items to copy. This is mainly for the purpose of keeping backup directories up-to-date.

Warning:
Under certain conditions, this program may fail to report some files which are different but are skipped for some unknown reason. For important data, I'd recommend using grsync (or something similar) instead.

Features:
  • Easy to use (can check subdirectories).
  • File attributes can (optionally) be preserved.
Known Quirks:
  • The main window does not get updated while comparing or copying, causing the program to appear to be crashed.
See Also: Downloads:

Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib
cdircmp-0.3.tar.gz17K2003.10.20ncurses
gdircmp-0.7.tar.gz36K2003.10.20GTK+ 1.2
gdircmp-0.8.tar.gz64K2007.02.10GTK+ 2.4


xFnRename
This is a simple utility that allows you to easily rename multiple files. There are options to add prefixes and/or postfixes, add or change extensions, delete or replace characters, and convert to lowercase or uppercase.

See Also: Downloads:

Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib(s)
cfnrename-0.2.tar.gz16K2003.06.30ncurses
gfnrename-0.1.tar.gz96K2002.03.19GNOME1 and GTK+ 1.2
gfnrename-0.1.3.tar.gz59K2010.08.14GTK+ 1.2
gfnrename-0.6.tar.gz75K2010.08.14GTK+ 2.4


xHTTrack
This is a GNU/Linux frontend for Xavier Roche's HTTrack Website Copier for reading Web pages offline and/or for mirroring Web sites. The RPMs and their associated spec files were generously contributed by Alexandre Aractingi. The Ubuntu 7.10 deb of ghttrack-0.5.2 was packaged and generously made available by Christian Knauber.

Requirements:
  • To make full use of this program, you'll need to have the HTTrack backend (main engine) installed on your system.
Features:
  • Easy to use (no need to remember httrack command-line switches).
  • Easy access to httrack's log file (no need to manually open hts-log.txt).
  • Saves the settings of up to 10 often-used projects.
Known Quirks:
  • For ghttrack-0.3 and older versions, the main window does not get updated while mirroring is in progress, causing the program to appear to be crashed.
See Also: Downloads:

Note1: The precompiled binaries were compiled on a Mandrake 9.1 system, but may also be compatible with other RedHat-based distros released around the same time as Mandrake 9.1 (circa March 2003).
Note2: The number in parentheses is the version of the backend (HTTrack) that the frontend (cHTTrack/gHTTrack) was written for. Note, however, that the frontend should also work with any backend newer than the version listed. You can download the latest version of the backend from the HTTrack website.

Precompiled BinarySizeReleaseRequired DevLib
ghttrack-0.2-1mdk.i586.rpm , spec (3.15)47K2003.05.15none
ghttrack-0.3-1mdk.i586.rpm , spec (3.23)78K2003.06.29none
Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib(s)
chttrack-0.1.tar.gz (3.23)34K2003.07.31ncurses
ghttrack-0.2.tar.gz (3.15)133K2002.05.24GNOME1 and GTK+ 1.2
ghttrack-0.3.tar.gz (3.23)284K2003.06.03GNOME1 and GTK+ 1.2
ghttrack-0.4.1.tar.gz (3.40)92K2006.12.08GTK+ 1.2
ghttrack-0.5.2.tar.gz (3.40)106K2007.01.13GTK+ 2.4

Ubuntu 7.10 Packages
Thanks to Christian Knauber, there is also a deb package of ghttrack-0.5.2 for Ubuntu 7.10 systems and systems based on Ubuntu (Edubuntu, Kubuntu, UbuntuStudio, Xubuntu, and others). To use the repository where the deb is located, you'll need to add the following to your apt sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kornad/ubuntu gutsy main universe
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/kornad/ubuntu gutsy main universe



KeyTest
This is a simple utility to test whether or not certain keys will be recognized by the c* programs when they're running in a GUI environment (using an X terminal). Note: You don't need this if you only plan to run the c* programs in a pure text-mode environment.

Download:

Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib
keytest-0.2.tar.gz15K2003.10.16ncurses


xMeasures
This is a simple utility to convert weights and measures. It can also convert Celsius / Fahrenheit temperatures.

Features:
  • Configurable (you can add your own weights and measures to the 101 already built in).
Known Quirks:
  • Limited accuracy (decimal fractions exceeding 5 digits may or may not be accurate).
  • For v0.6 and older: There is no built-in way to delete weights and measures. If you want to delete a conversion, you'll need to edit the .gmeasures.cfg (or .gnome/gMeasures) file in your home directory.
See Also: Downloads:

Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib(s)
cmeasures-0.2.tar.gz16K2003.07.15ncurses
gmeasures-0.5.tar.gz95K2002.03.26GNOME1 and GTK+ 1.2
gmeasures-0.6.tar.gz44K2007.01.18GTK+ 1.2
gmeasures-0.7.tar.gz59K2007.02.10GTK+ 2.4


xTally
This is a simple scorekeeper for racing games. It can be used to keep track of almost any type of championship where the highest points are awarded to the fastest drivers.

Features:
  • Up to 42 drivers and 20 race events per championship.
  • User-definable point system with up to 20 drivers receiving points.
  • Statistics are stored in a history file to keep track of past championships.
See Also: Downloads:

Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib
ctally-0.1.tar.gz31K2003.10.24ncurses
gtally-0.2.1.tar.gz94K2007.05.29GTK+ 1.2
gtally-0.3.1.tar.gz97K2007.05.29GTK+ 2.4


gTextCvt
This is a simple utility to convert text files to other formats. One of the main goals was to make it easier to create Web pages from the plain-text ebooks found at Project Gutenberg. Another goal was to make it easier to create dictionaries that can be used by a dictd server.

Requirements:
  • If you want to be able to create dictionaries, you'll need to have dictzip installed on your system. The dictzip utility is usually included in the dictd package.
Features:
  • DOS Text <--> UNIX Text
  • Text <--> HTML
  • PG EBook --> HTML
  • Text --> Dict Source Data
  • Dict Source Data --> Dict Dz
  • Tab-Delimited Text --> HTML Table
Known Quirks:
  • The creation of a dictionary index file depends on the sort utility. On Mandrake systems (and possibly others), "sort -df" doesn't always sort correctly. See the Notes page for more info.
See Also: Downloads:

Source TarballSizeReleaseRequired DevLib
gtextcvt-0.2.tar.gz76K2005.07.16GTK+ 1.2
gtextcvt-0.3.1.tar.gz93K2007.01.15GTK+ 2.4


For questions, comments, bug reports, etc... see the README file.

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This page was last updated on: Saturday, August 14, 2010