Linux Internet Cafe Management Software -- Step by Step

This is a simple how-to guide to install internet cafe management software in Linux. We'll use Cafe Con Leche (predecessor of Mkahawa) in Lubuntu as an example. It may work in other Ubuntu-based Linux distributions or, with some tweaks, on any other Linux flavor.

Step Zero

Install Lubuntu. Make sure it is up to date.

apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade

Step One
Download Cafe-Management Software -  the server.
Download  library for the server.

Step Two
Install requirements (choose gdm display manager if prompted):

apt-get install libx11-dev libx11-xcb-dev libx11-6 x11-utils libfox-1.6-dev libfox-1.6-0 libfox-1.6-doc intltool libsqlite3-dev autoconf subversion libssl-dev libtool libglib2.0-dev libgtkgl2.0-dev libnotify-cil-dev libstartup-notification0-dev libxss-dev libnotify-dev gcc binutils libc6-dev linux-libc-dev gdm firefox libgtk2.0-dev sqlite3

 Step Three

 Extract the downloaded server library file. Go into terminal, and switch to the extracted folder.


./configure LIBS="-lX11 -lcrypto -ldl -lpthread -lpthread -lm"
make
sudo make install










Step Four:


 Extract the downloaded server file. Go into terminal, and switch to the extracted folder.


./configure LIBS="-lX11 -lcrypto -ldl -lpthread -lpthread -lm"
make
sudo make install


 You have now successfully installed cclfox server. You can run it in a terminal by cclfox -nossl

Troubleshooting Errors
1. po/Makefile.in.in was not created by intltoolize.
 autoreconf --install
intltoolize
autoreconf
./configure LIBS="-lX11 -lcrypto -ldl -lpthread -lpthread -lm"

autoreconf -ivf
./configure

Fixes
WARNING: `automake-1.11' is needed, and you do not seem to have it handy on your
         system.  You might have modified some files without having the
         proper tools for further handling them.  Check the `README' file,
         it often tells you about the needed prerequirements for installing
         this package.  You may also peek at any GNU archive site, in case
         some other package would contain this missing `automake-1.11' program.
Makefile:237: recipe for target 'Makefile.in' failed
make: *** [Makefile.in] Error 1


./configure LIBS=-lX11
Fixes
/usr/bin/ld: gui.o: undefined reference to symbol 'XGrabKey'
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/

libX11.so.6: error adding symbols: DSO missing from command line
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
Makefile:289: recipe for target 'mkahawa-printer' failed
make[1]: *** [mkahawa-printer] Error 1


./configure LIBS=-pthread
Fixes
  -lccls -lFOX-1.6
/usr/bin/ld: CCLWin.o: undefined reference to symbol 'pthread_create@@GLIBC_2.1'
/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0: error adding symbols: DSO missing from command line
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status

Upload files to Sourceforge with Filezilla SFTP Quickconnect

This is a quick recap on how to connect to Sourceforge using Filezilla FTP client. A typical Google search does not always make it clear for many people.

Let us assume some variables for clarity:

Your sourceforge user name: sfusername
Sourceforge project: sfproject
Folder you want to upload to to: sfFolder

How to connect:

Host: sftp://frs.sourceforge.net
User name: sfusername
Password: **************
Port:
(leave blank) Quickconnect.

You will get connected to your home directory.

Status:    Connected to frs.sourceforge.net
Status:    Retrieving directory listing...
Command:    pwd
Response:    Current directory is: "/home/users/s/sf/sfusername"

 Then change directory to your project's home folder:

cd /home/frs/project/sfproject/sfFolder/

Continue accordingly.

Install OpenBravo at Webfaction

This tutorial is about installing OpenBravo at webfaction, a fantastic internet host. By combining information from various internet resources it has been possible to install OpenBravo at webfaction.

Step 1: Install Java
Webfaction comes with its own Java environment. For smoother installation of OpenBravo, you may want to install your own instance.

SSH to your webfaction account.

mkdir ~/opt && cd ~/opt

 wget http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/funtoo/distfiles/oracle-java/jdk-7u55-linux-x64.tar.gz

tar zxf jdk-7u55-linux-x64.tar.gz

 ln -s jdk1.7.0_55/ java

 We assume your account is of 64-bit. Add the following line to ~/.bashrc. To make a long story short, use FileZilla or your other favorite FTP client to connect to your site, and edit the ~/.bashrc file. Do not close your SSH session.

export PATH=$HOME/opt/java/bin/:$PATH

 add the following line to ~/.bash_profile



 source $HOME/.bashrc



 At your SSH session, run 

source ~/.bashrc

You should have your Java environment ready.

To test it, run:



which java

should show ~/opt/java/bin/java

Running 



java -version


Brings:

java version "1.7.0_55"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_55-b13)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.55-b03, mixed mode)

Step 2 to follow.

How to Cleanly Upgrade Open Journal System OJS

Upgrading Open Journal System to the latest version, while keeping the existing settings require care. Make sure you have backed up everything you might need.

I find using command line is a good option to upgrade the server without much ado.

1. Simply, SSH to your server or otherwise use your favorite means to run commands to your server.
2. Run this command: php tools/upgrade.php patch
3. IF need be, also run:  php tools/upgrade.php upgrade
4. Your PHP installation must support command line actions. You may use package manager to search for php-cli or something similar and install it, if your server is incapable of running php commands.

The server will inform you how it goes.

Did it work for you?

Mlenge.

REFs:
http://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs/UPGRADE
http://www.php-cli.com/

Nous Marchons

Natembea Nuruni Mwake in many languages.

Swahili gospel songs by non-Swahili Singers

Tazama wewe ni Bwana... This song reminds me of 1990 - 92 time period ... They sing it nicely almost without foreign accent. In fact, the men sing with Kurya or Nyakyusa accent. Isn't it?

Tuonane Paradiso... Kind of sad song. But these singers sing it also almost without foreign accent. May be because they speak Spanish. Swahili pronunciations may not be far fetched from Spanish. The drum is magnificent too.

Tuonane Paradiso... In this version the Western Europe accent is hardly notable. Except, the singers did not pronounce "taji" as is pronounced in Swahili. So it sounds "Na tai tutavikwa...", which may be the case, who knows ;) But otherwise their version is also good. The drum and makofi sound authentic.

Tuonane Paradiso... These singers are with strong Western Europe accent of Swahili. Also, "mji" and "taji" are distorted by the accent. They nevertheless perform the song well, especially uimbaji wa kudakia.

Tuonane Paradiso... This is instrumental. They use marimba ya kupuliza, if there anything like that. Or is zeze that they are using? Fantastic performance.

Favourite songs

I like listening to songs. The songs I like include entire "Nimefanya nini" ('what have I done') album: "Nilikuita kwa Shangwe" ('I celebrated when I called you'), and the rest of the album. It is difficult to pick one favourite song in this album. Other songs I like to listen to are by Jennifer Mgendi. Her "Mchimba mashimo" ('he who digs holes') album is one of her best (e.g. Tulia moyo song: 'My heart, take it easy'). Jim Reeves gospel songs are another. But I would like to dedicate this post to Emanueli Choir of Moshi (Majengo Pentecostal Church / Old Moshi Pentecostal Church).
 
Some of best songs ever published in Tanzania are by Emanueli Kwaya of Moshi Tanzania. One day in 1989, I heard this song I never heard before played in a radio-cassette . I liked it instantly, and made me get the tape. The song was "Tunawahubiri" ('We are preaching to them'). As it turned out, it was the first song in the Side B of the album "Upendo kati ya watoto wa Mungu" ('Love between children of God'). I liked each and every song of the album. That was during my last year as O Level student in Dar es Salaam. The album was published in 1986.

As it turned out, I was selected for High School (A Level) studies in Moshi. I suffered homesickness. It was the first time I leave home for a long period of time away. I wished to transfer to schools near home in Dar es Salaam. But that would mean I would not see Emanueli Choir perform live every week. I stayed on at Moshi and finished my studies successfully. I was able to listen to their unpublished songs. Few times they sung the ones they published. I liked their unpublished songs too. They have treasure trove of inspired and touching Christian songs. The author of the songs is Pastor Charles R. Moshi of Old Moshi Pentecostal Church. He told me they are planning to publish some of their songs. If anyone deserve moral, spiritual and material support to record their songs, it is Pastor Moshi and the choir he teaches.

Most of the time when I am under pressure, I listen to their songs. Listening enables me to handle the high-pressure tasks at hand with high spirits. This post is a token of appreciation for their nice songs. Unfortunately, the songs are out of print. But I have kept my copies that I listen to every time I wish to feel lifted up.

A snapshot sample selection of their songs from "Upendo kati ya watoto wa Mungu" album:

Track 7: Haya njoni tusemezane ('Hark, come and let us discuss')

Track 9: Tunawahubiri ('We are preaching to them')

Track 10: Hilo tulilokwishaliona ('That which we have already seen')

The songs are copyright to their respective owners. Their samples are posted here under "fair use" basis.