Guest host popey from Linux Matters joins the podcast to talk about simulating logic circuits, cheap router hardware, Snap and Flatpak download metrics, frying hard drives with too many volts, gathering and mapping button presses from random USB devices, protecting your system from rogue USB devices, and making chiptune music with emulated versions of classic gaming hardware.
Booler is a digital logic simulator that allows users to create real-time circuit simulations using logic components.
Beelink devices, manufactured by the Chinese company Hunson, offer affordable and reliable networking solutions, making them a popular choice for running open-source router software like OpenSense.
EV Test and EV Test-QT are command-line and graphical interface tools that can be used to control and gather metrics from input devices, providing users with the ability to map button presses and monitor snap downloads and usage statistics.
USB Guard is a tool that helps protect against malicious USB devices and unauthorized access to computers through USB interfaces, offering an allow/deny system for users to control USB device interactions and prevent potential threats.
Deep dives
Booler: A Digital Logic Simulator for Learning and Building Circuits
Booler is a digital logic simulator that allows users to create real-time circuit simulations using logic components. It provides drag-and-drop elements to build circuits, including input and output components. Users can create meta-components and even build complex computers using simple logic components. Booler is a great educational tool for learning about digital logic and is still running well despite being developed by three Dutch high school students in 2017.
Finding Affordable and Reliable Networking Solutions with Beelink Devices
Beelink devices, manufactured by the Chinese company Hunson, offer affordable and reliable networking solutions. These devices come with multiple ports and are a popular choice for running open-source router software like OpenSense. Beelink devices provide an option with double NICs, allowing for efficient networking configurations. The U59 model, for example, comes with eight cores and 16GB of RAM, making it a suitable choice for a router at an affordable price.
Using EV Test and EV Test-QT to Control Input Devices and Gather Metrics
EV Test and EV Test-QT are command-line and graphical interface tools, respectively, that can be used to control and gather metrics from input devices. EV Test allows users to view the key codes generated by buttons and input devices, such as joysticks and foot pedals, and can be useful for mapping these inputs to desired functions. EV Test-QT is a graphical tool that provides a user-friendly interface for visualizing and manipulating input device metrics. These tools can be utilized for a variety of purposes, from controlling audio in meetings to monitoring snap downloads and usage statistics.
Enhancing Security and Protecting Against Malicious USB Devices with USB Guard
USB Guard is a tool used to protect against malicious USB devices and unauthorized access to computers through USB interfaces. It works by implementing an allow/deny system, allowing users to control which USB devices are allowed to interact with their computer. USB Guard prevents potential threats like bad USB attacks by restricting the execution of unauthorized code from USB devices. While USB Guard adds an extra layer of security, users should be cautious about potential challenges, such as accidental blocking of legitimate USB devices.
Creating Retro-style Music with Bintracker using MAME Emulation
Bintracker is a sound tracker clone that allows users to create retro-style music using MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) emulation. By leveraging MAME's accurate audio hardware emulations, Bintracker enables programming music on various vintage devices, including Commodore 64's SID chip and Spectrum audio. With its tracker interface, Bintracker offers a unique way to compose music with authentic emulations of classic gaming sounds. The project utilizes MAME's extensive collection of accurate audio hardware emulations, making it a valuable resource for both retro enthusiasts and musicians.
Using EV Test and EV Test-QT to Control Input Devices and Gather Metrics
EV Test and EV Test-QT are command-line and graphical interface tools, respectively, that can be used to control and gather metrics from input devices. EV Test allows users to view the key codes generated by buttons and input devices, such as joysticks and foot pedals, and can be useful for mapping these inputs to desired functions. EV Test-QT is a graphical tool that provides a user-friendly interface for visualizing and manipulating input device metrics. These tools can be utilized for a variety of purposes, from controlling audio in meetings to monitoring snap downloads and usage statistics.
Enhancing Security and Protecting Against Malicious USB Devices with USB Guard
USB Guard is a tool used to protect against malicious USB devices and unauthorized access to computers through USB interfaces. It works by implementing an allow/deny system, allowing users to control which USB devices are allowed to interact with their computer. USB Guard prevents potential threats like bad USB attacks by restricting the execution of unauthorized code from USB devices. While USB Guard adds an extra layer of security, users should be cautious about potential challenges, such as accidental blocking of legitimate USB devices.
Creating Retro-style Music with Bintracker using MAME Emulation
Bintracker is a sound tracker clone that allows users to create retro-style music using MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) emulation. By leveraging MAME's accurate audio hardware emulations, Bintracker enables programming music on various vintage devices, including Commodore 64's SID chip and Spectrum audio. With its tracker interface, Bintracker offers a unique way to compose music with authentic emulations of classic gaming sounds. The project utilizes MAME's extensive collection of accurate audio hardware emulations, making it a valuable resource for both retro enthusiasts and musicians.
Simulating logic circuits, cheap router hardware, Snap and Flatpak download metrics, frying hard drives with too many volts, gathering and mapping button presses from random USB devices, protecting your system from rogue USB devices, and making chiptune music with emulated versions of classic gaming hardware.
