idupree, a feminist linux rat

(The canonical location of this blog post is now Why unauthenticated software download is dangerous and unethical on my web site.)

Have you ever done svn checkout http://include-what-you-use.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/ include-what-you-use?

How about download; ./configure; make; make install when the connection is HTTP and you haven't checked your download against a cryptographic hash (e.g. SHA256) or public key (e.g. PGP) provided via an authenticated channel (e.g. HTTPS)? [1]

Have you ever done these while using coffee shop or train or cellular Internet without a VPN? Or even on home WiFi in a crowded area? [2]

It's not just you whose security is at risk by these deeds.
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I'm still trying to treat my old laptop as a secondary display, for more screen real-estate.

Main laptop: Linux
Old laptop: OS X, currently

Miscellaneous discoveries:

• There are a few proxy X server implementations that allow switching a X client program between actual X servers! (Albeit by command line not click-and-drag.) Xmove is still being shipped in distros, though the code is old enough that it allegedly doesn't support 24-bit color.
  
  Xpra seems to be a modern variant with efficient network protocols and binaries for all major platforms. Unfortunately, (A) xpra has to run on both sides of a remote xpra connection; (B) my secondary display is running OS X; and (C) the Xpra OS X binary only supports[1] client mode in xpra–xpra connections (we need server mode there). Almost useful!



• There is at least one program that can deal with multiple X displays: Emacs. I think it might be helpful to put my org-mode notes on my secondary screen, so that's cool.

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(The canonical location of this blog post is now Data-sharing Wisdom on my web site.)

I love Hubway and data, but was it really a good idea to release everyone's trip data? This is past, somewhat-anonymized data, for a contest to visualize how people are using the bike-sharing system. I can history-stalk everyone in Southborough who has a Hubway membership now :-(
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