Computer Section:
Freeware, Source Code and Hacks

All software and source code presented here © 1979-2018 Guillaume Dargaud.
Free use and distribution.
Last updated on 2017/11/29

"A computer is like an Old Testament god, with a lot of rules and no mercy."    — Joseph Campbell

If you came here looking for cracks, you're in the wrong place, all I have is some freeware, some source code and computer tips.

Operating Systems
Mac
Besides using PCs, I also had to install OS-X on some Macs. Not as easy a task as most Mac users would admit, so I compiled some notes and put them online.
IRIX
My first contact with Unix at the University was pretty traumatic, but now I'm a relatively clueless sysadmin on SGI machines using IRIX. Here are a few notes about the OS.
Linux
First some notes about Windows' best freeware progs and also how to use Linux variants at the same time than you use Windows: Linux is the best freeware you can put on Windows !!! And if you think your machine is not fast enough, here are some notes on how to build a 24-processors OpenMosix Linux Cluster. Also for minimal footprint, I've worked on getting Linux on embedded devices. And to get advanced mouse configuration on Linux. Also a short review of the HP Spectre XT with Linux on it.
Gadgets Reviews and some scripts for the HTC Hero phone, the Samsung Galaxy S2, the LG G3, the NewArchos 50d Oxygen and the Sony PRS-600 eBook reader.
Web Nowadays our mailboxes are filled up with Spam messages. Fortunately some people are trying to do things about it, this is my modest contribution. Also some notes on how to fight adds on web pages as well as popup/popunder pages.

If you are a webmaster, here's a page on analyzing search engine queries that led to your site with a simple shell script (both Unix and Windows).

Not necessarily related to computers, I've just added a page of Book reviews and a hardhack to convert a Renault Kangoo or a Peugeot Partner into a comfortable camping car.

Graphics Several of the tools and scripts below deal with processing of image files. In addition to this there's my review of RAW file processors, a script for scanning Kodak discs and a page about how to use a Spyder3 to calibrate your monitor on Linux.
Freeware My main job is to write programs, which is usually safer than going climbing but much more boring. Although debugging assembler code standing outside in Antarctica certainly qualifies as extreme programming... A couple of those programs are useful and reliable enough to have made it as freeware, and I've put stars (0..***) to indicate how good I think they are and how often I use them:
BinToAsciiGeneric binary to ascii file converter for sequential files.32%***2011/12/208Mb
OD2Generic command line binary to ascii file converter for sequential files.32%**2011/12/208Mb
PanoWarpFor warping pictures prior to merging them into a panorama.17%*2011/12/086Mb
FishEyeWarpSimilar to Panowarp but applies to fisheye images.17%***2011/12/086Mb
BirdsEyeWarpConverts a full 360x180° panorama into a total 360° bird's eye image.17%*2011/12/086Mb
ThumbnailerTake all your images and generate a webpage with thumbnail images on them.5%*2011/12/081Mb
XSynchDirectory comparision/copy tool, tolerates time errors, finds moved or renamed files, can selectively copy or exclude files. Also includes some note about remote access through VPN tunelling.4%*2011/12/081Mb
PngSnapShotSaves a screen shot periodically to a PNG file.1%*2011/12/081Mb
GenPaletteColor palette generator. There are also some examples or color scaling using linear RGB and linear HSL scaling.6%*2011/12/085Mb
ColorInterimIntermediate Color Picker, using linear RGB and linear HSL scaling.6%**2011/12/085Mb
LargeImageAllows you to view large binary files (raw images) quickly.4%**2011/12/085Mb
RotAndStackRotates, stacks and enhances dark images (mainly for astronomy purpose).5%**2011/12/308Mb
FileNbExtCommand line utility to extend filenames like LI12.DAT to LI000012.DAT.4% 02011/12/081Mb
RollLogCommand line utility to copy/move files with a timestamp4%**2011/12/081Mb
ImDimCommand line utility that returns image characteristics4%*2011/12/081Mb
PanelToFormVery specialized tool for converting a LabWindows/CVI user interface to a HTML form and its corresponding C source code so you can convert your application to a cgi-script.1%*2011/12/080Mb
CuisineHelp
.chm		10000 recettes de cuisine réunies par Alexandre Pukall que j'ai compilé en un gros fichier d'aide Windows (c'est tout en français)3%***2011/12/086Mb
VueScan.chmThis is just the VueScan 7.5.56 help which I've compiled in a chm file (for Windows only). With Ed's permission.2%*2011/12/080Mb
Html.chmThis is the HTML 4.0 specifications which I've compiled in a chm file.2%***2011/12/080Mb
Css.chmThis is the CSS 2.0 specifications which I've compiled in a chm file.4%***2011/12/080Mb
DeadPixelA quick way to test for dead pixels on an LCD screen.Lots***2017/11/290Mb
ConventionRestaurantsConvention collective hotels-restaurants 3003.New***2012/11/270Mb

[ColdComputer.jpg] Computing with gloves at Dome C, -35°C
Source code I also compiled a list of tips, ticks and source files for my main programming tool: LabWindows/CVI and I've put the standard ANSI C source code on a specific page. Here's what's available and my appreciation on how useful it is:
Intro to LabWindows/CVI samplesANSI C***2011/12/082Kb
Getting the disk sizeCVI*2011/12/083Kb
HtmlHelp .chm filesCVI**2011/12/082Kb
PNG files (fp)CVI***2011/12/08126Kb
JPEG files (fp)CVI***2011/12/0898Kb
Custom PopupsCVI**2011/12/084Kb
Precision popupCVI**2013/02/2612Kb
Slide ramp popupCVI**2018/03/1622Kb
Edit Axis Settings PopupCVI**2012/03/0512Kb
Intro to ANSI C samplesANSI C***2011/12/082Kb
On the fly statistics (fp)ANSI C*2011/12/084Kb
Scaling colors (fp)ANSI C***2011/12/0814Kb
Extended time formatting (fp)ANSI C***2011/12/0832Kb
Time strip labelsCVI***2018/03/1615Kb
Generic Strip ChartCVI***2018/03/1629Kb
Generic XY plotsCVI***2018/03/1629Kb
Parameter parsingANSI C**2011/12/083Kb
Endian swappingANSI C**2011/12/081Kb
Panel managementCVI**2018/03/1628Kb
Graphic matrix filterANSI C**2011/12/0818Kb
Binary to Ascii conversionANSI C**2011/12/087Kb
Python based web page counterPython**2011/12/082Kb
Referrer log analysis shell scriptShell**2011/12/084Kb
Digital imaging workflowsShell**2017/11/2935Kb
Video file renamingShell***2015/07/203Kb
Image extraction for Kodak disc scansNewShell***2017/11/2914Kb
Fuji camera downloadNewShell*****2017/11/2990Kb
Ricoh camera downloadNewShell*****2017/11/2964Kb
Paint Shop Pro scriptsPython**2011/12/0813Kb
Computer Folklore A long time ago, I used to program the Oric 1, a great precursor. That was after the TI-57, but before the time of the PC.

With the raw CPU power available today in handheld devices, few people still use small calculators, but they are often more convenient. Here's a list of programs for the first graphic calculator, the FX-7000G, or its successor the Casio FX-8000G.
Geek Humor

Over the years, I've also collected a bunch of humorous quotes about computers, software or hardware and programming. I also reproduce here some of the funniest things I've seen on Usenet over the years: a key to scientific research literature, some proofs that all odd numbers are prime, pathetic engineering humor, some things about the C programming language, a bug report form and the the Internet superhighway. Enjoy...