Forem: Mushfiqur Rahman Abir

Taking Notes On Terminal Made Simple: Introducing AppNotEx for Linux

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:57:59 +0000

Introduction

In the world of Linux, quick note-taking is a must for many users. Whether you're jotting down ideas, keeping track of important information, or simply need a place to store your thoughts, having a reliable note-taking tool is essential. Meet AppNotEx, a Linux terminal-based note keeper that simplifies the process of taking and organizing your notes.

Installation

For Arch Linux users, installing AppNotEx is a breeze. You can use the AUR package manager to install it:

yay -S appnotex

For other distro users you can build the tool from source easily -

Clone the AppNotEx repository:

git clone https://github.com/Abir-Tx/AppNotEx.git && cd AppNotEx

Initialize and update submodules:

git submodule init && git submodule update

Build the AppNotEx binary:

make builddir && make

You'll find the compiled binary in the bin folder. Then just add the binary to your path using export command and that's it.

Usage

So you might be thinking what's the use of this tool for me? Well, sometimes you might be working on your terminal doing something & you remember some other works or do later thing suddenly and you wish to take a quick note there without the need to leave your terminal. In this case the AppNotEx comes in play, using this tool you can take quick notes on the terminal and then whenever needed you can even export those notes to any format using the --export parameter. Or you can view all the notes using --print command

appnotex --print

The above command will print all the saved notes in the terminal. Under the hood the tool uses SQLITE3 database to quickly perform the asked tasks and also work inside the terminal. So you can also easily migrate or modify the database if you know a bit of SQL.

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir
Computer Science Engineer

FFMPEG-Coder: Simplifying Video Conversion with FFMPEG

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:28:43 +0000

Introduction

Video conversion with FFMPEG can be a daunting task, especially for newcomers to the world of command-line tools. To address this challenge, I'm excited to introduce FFMPEG-Coder, a versatile and user-friendly CLI tool designed to simplify video conversion with FFMPEG. Whether you're a seasoned FFMPEG user looking for efficiency or new to the command line, FFMPEG-Coder aims to streamline your video conversion tasks.

Project Description

FFMPEG-Coder is a small, cross-platform command-line tool that bridges the gap between users and FFMPEG commands. Its primary mission is to make generating FFMPEG commands quick and effortless, eliminating the need to memorize or search for complex command-line options. This tool is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Who is this Tool For?

FFMPEG-Coder is tailored for two primary user groups:

Experienced FFMPEG Users: For those who frequently work with FFMPEG but seek a more convenient way to generate complex conversion commands.
Command Line Newcomers: Even if you're new to the command line, FFMPEG-Coder provides a user-friendly interface to create FFMPEG commands effortlessly. Say goodbye to endless Google searches for the right commands.

Features

Here's why you should consider using FFMPEG-Coder in your video conversion tasks:

Cross-Platform Support: Enjoy a consistent experience on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
No External Dependencies: FFMPEG-Coder is lightweight and doesn't rely on additional dependencies.
Speed and Efficiency: Quickly generate FFMPEG commands tailored to your needs.
Options for h264 and libx265: Customize your video conversion with ease.

Installation Guide

Windows

Download the Windows installer file from the latest release or here.
Extract the downloaded ffmpeg-coder_1.0_win.zip.
Navigate to the unzipped folder and double-click ffmpeg-coder_1.0_win.exe.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
After installation, search for FFMPEG-Coder in your start menu and open the tool.

Linux (Debian-based distros)

Automatic One-Click Process

Copy and paste the following script into your terminal:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abir-Tx/ffmpeg-coder/main/scripts/debian_install.sh && chmod +x debian_install.sh &&./debian_install.sh

Arch Based Distros

Arch Linux users can easily install FFMPEG-Coder from the AUR with:

yay -S ffmpeg-coder

Other Methods

You can also compile the tool from source or manually download it. Instructions on those methods are described on the main project readme here

Using FFMPEG-Coder

FFMPEG-Coder is designed to simplify the process of generating FFMPEG commands for video conversion. Let's walk through some examples of how to use this tool effectively.

Example 1: Basic Video Conversion

Suppose you have a video file named input.mp4 that you want to convert to the popular H.264 format with a different output filename output.mp4. Here's how you can do it using FFMPEG-Coder:

Launch FFMPEG-Coder after installation.
In the main menu, select "Make Codes."
You will be prompted to choose the encoding method, then CRF and many mores.
Next, specify the desired output file name as output notice that the name should be without extension.
FFMPEG-Coder will now generate the FFMPEG command for you. Simply copy and paste it into your terminal to start the conversion.
Insert -1 to exit the input loop

There is also a second option which is a preset named Quick Convert. I generally use it for quick works.

FFMPEG-Coder makes it effortless to perform this common video conversion task without needing to remember the intricate FFMPEG command syntax.

Contribute

We welcome contributions to the FFMPEG-Coder project! Whether you're interested in fixing bugs, adding new features, improving documentation, or simply want to get involved, your contributions are highly valuable to the community.

Read more on how to contribute to this project.

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir
Computer Science Engineer

Introducing ALib: Your Cross-Platform C++ Utility Library

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:46:04 +0000

I'm Mushfiqur Rahman Abir, a computer science student, and I'd like to introduce you to ALib, a powerful cross-platform C++ header-only library I've been developing. ALib is the result of my passion for simplifying software development by providing a collection of commonly used utility functions that can save you time and effort. I want to emphasize that ALib is still in its early stages of development, and I'm actively seeking contributions from the community to help expand its functionality.

It is mainly a small library that can make your c++ coding a lot easier by giving you some great usefull functions that you won't need to implement every time in every project as these functions abilities are much common in need.

Features

ALib offers several key features that make it a valuable addition to your C++ projects:

Cross-Platform Compatibility: ALib works seamlessly on Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring your code functions consistently across different environments.
Modular Extensibility: ALib's modular, function-based structure allows you to easily modify or extend its features to meet your project's specific requirements.
Colored Text Decorations: ALib leverages the rang library to support colored text output, adding visual appeal to your terminal displays.

Provided Functions

Within ALib, you'll find a range of functions designed to simplify various tasks in your C++ projects. These functions include:

clrscr for clearing the screen.
consoleWidth and consoleHeight to determine terminal dimensions.
countdown for creating dynamic countdowns.
showLoadingScreen for displaying loading screens.
horizontalLine and verticalLine to draw lines within the terminal.

I have planned to add some more functions in future.

Why Use These Functions from the Library?

You might be wondering why you should consider incorporating the functions provided by ALib into your C++ projects. Here are some compelling reasons:

Saves Development Time: ALib eliminates the need to reinvent the wheel by offering a collection of utility functions commonly used in various projects. This saves you valuable development time that can be better spent on implementing your project's core logic.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: ALib is designed to work seamlessly on Windows, Linux, and macOS. By using ALib functions, you ensure that your code behaves consistently across different operating systems, reducing the risk of platform-specific issues.
Modular and Extensible: ALib's modular architecture allows you to pick and choose the functions you need, keeping your codebase clean and organized. Additionally, you can easily extend or modify these functions to tailor them to your specific project requirements.
Enhanced User Experience: ALib's support for colored text decorations through the rang library enables you to create visually appealing and informative terminal displays. This can enhance the user experience of your command-line applications.
Beginner-Friendly: ALib is designed to be beginner-friendly, making it accessible to developers of all skill levels. If you're new to C++ or programming in general, ALib can serve as a valuable resource to kickstart your projects.
Community Contributions: By using ALib, you become part of a growing community of developers contributing to and improving the library. Your feedback and contributions can help shape the future of ALib and benefit the entire community.

In summary, ALib simplifies the development process, promotes code reusability, and enhances the functionality of your C++ projects. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your coding journey, ALib offers valuable tools to make your programming tasks easier and more efficient.

Time for an Example

Without Using ALib

So we often want to make the title of our project a bit fancy when we are making some terminal based application in cpp. So to do that we have to write the code somewhat like this -

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

// Function to decorate text with asterisks above and below
std::string decorateText(const std::string& text) {
    int textLength = text.length();
    std::string decoration(textLength + 4, '*');
    return decoration + "\n* " + text + " *\n" + decoration;
}

int main() {
    // Input text
    std::string inputText = "My project";

    // Decorate the text
    std::string decoratedText = decorateText(inputText);

    // Print the decorated text
    std::cout << decoratedText << std::endl;

    return 0;
}

And you have to write this every time you do a project to just add a bit changes.

With ALib

You can do the same thing in just one line and also customize the banner/title as you want without the need to chnage the core function code

include "Alib"
int main(){
decorateMe("ALib", 2, "_");
}

Done ✅. And you will get an output like this

______________________________
ALib
______________________________

Of course this saves time and effort. You can view more examples by running the test file present in the repo.

Installation Guide

Windows

To use ALib on Windows, download the alib.hpp header file from the ALib GitHub repository.
Place the downloaded alib.hpp file in the directory where you're working on your C++ project.
You can now include alib.hpp in your C++ code and start using the ALib functions in your Windows project.

Linux & Mac OS

Download the alib.hpp header file from the ALib GitHub repository.
Copy the alib.hpp file to /usr/include
You can now use the linrary in your project code or in IDE/Editor of choice using the

#include "alib.hpp"

Arch Linux

Arch users can install the library from AUR easily using yay/paru

yay -S alib

Contributing

I welcome contributions from the community to help make ALib even more valuable. It's designed to be beginner-friendly, making it accessible for developers of all levels. Whether you're reporting a bug, fixing an issue, or adding new features to this library, your contributions are highly appreciated. You can learn more about how to get involved by reading the contribution documentation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ALib is your go-to solution for simplifying C++ development across various platforms. Since it's still in its early stages, your contributions are essential in making it even more valuable to the developer community. I invite you to explore the ALib GitHub repository to get started and to join our community of contributors.

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir
Computer Science Engineer

Enhance Your Fast.com Experience with the DraculaFast Dark Theme 🌙

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 19:39:34 +0000

Fast.com is a go-to tool for checking your internet speed. But have you ever wished it looked a bit more appealing and was easier on the eyes during those late-night speed tests? Well, your wish has come true! Introducing the Dracula Dark Theme for Fast.com, a project that combines functionality with aesthetics.

Why Use the Dracula Theme for Fast.com?:

Our Dracula-themed CSS brings a fresh new look to fast.com, following the popular Dracula color scheme. Not only does it make your speed tests easier on the eyes with its dark theme, but it also adds a touch of style. Whether you're a night owl or just appreciate a sleek design, this theme is for you.

How to Install:

Installing the Dracula Dark Theme for Fast.com is a breeze. Simply visit the userstyles.world page here and click the "Install Style" button. Voilà! Your fast.com experience just got a major upgrade.

We've also provided step-by-step installation instructions in the project's GitHub repository here for your convenience.

Contribution and Feedback:

This project is open source, and we welcome contributions from the community. If you have ideas for improvements or want to get involved, head over to our GitHub repository. We appreciate feedback, bug reports, and, of course, pull requests. Together, we can make this theme even better!

Closing Thoughts:

Thank you for taking the time to explore our project. If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to connect, feel free to reach out. Stay tuned for more updates, and happy speed testing with the Dracula Dark Theme for Fast.com! 🌐💻

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir Computer Science Engineer

Organize Your Digital Study Materials Quickly Using This Tool

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 08:32:07 +0000

Education nowadays has become so much digital that almost all of our study materials can be kept inside a tiny pen-drive. But in the end managing all of the files for all of the courses becomes very challenging and overwhelming, especially when you're a computer science student like me and if you are a student like me who likes to keep his study materials organized and quick to lookup for later on then this post is for you. In this post I will share about a tool which I have created & use for organizing my study files quickly which saves a lot of time and hassle in each semester.

Overview

If you are in a hurry these are the main links you will need in this post -

Why I Build This Tool?

So let me share my story behind deciding to make this tool. As a computer science student, I keep all my notes, PDF books, teachers lecture slides, lab works, assignments, coding and many more all in one place specifically a pen-drive is of my preference. And I tend to keep the files in a Semester by Semester and then Subject by Subject order and sometimes I nest the files into more specific sub-directories for more useful management.

But the problem I was facing was that in each semester starting I had to manually create all the folders one by one and create the subject's folder one by one which was very tedious. And at that time, I thought that can't this be made a little automated so that I don't have to do it manually in each semester? So, then this tool was born.

What This Tool Does

In simpler terms, it is a very simple tool which just creates nested folders automatically for you in just one click. It will properly keep the folders structure for you like Year -> Semester -> Subject -> Lab, Theory -> etc more if you need it (You have to use the CLI then). You just have to put the subject names and boom it will create the folders for you in no time. No need to go inside a folder one by one and create all those folders each time by yourself let StudyFolderOrganzer do that or SFO I like to call it 😁.

Let's Explore the SFO Tool

Currently the tool is available for Windows platforms only. But I do have plans to make it available on Linux based OS too if I get enough responses to the project. So, enough talks, let's dive into the tool.

The tool has both a GUI and a CLI version available. The CLI version do comes with some more features obviously ;). You can grab the tool from the official website here

My Recommendation

I will recommend the GUI version for most of the users as it is simple, easy to use and safe. And also the development of SFO CLI version has been stopped and been mainly focused on the GUI version so to keep updated GUI version is recommended.

How to Use (GUI)

Watch this short demo video and you will understand what and how to use this tool.

Click here to view the short video

Wanna Contribute?

So, this project is for students. And I will be more than happy if other students come forward to extend this tool more with more cool features. As this tool now only has options for university students and I have designed the folder structures as my university runs, so it will be great if more students come and implement other folder structure templates into this tool. I am always open to pull requests to this project.

You can read this doc or reach me out for contributions. Thank you ♥

Happy to share this tool with you and hope you will like it Students 💜

Mushfiqur Rahman Abir
Computer Science Engineer

Forem: Mushfiqur Rahman Abir

Taking Notes On Terminal Made Simple: Introducing AppNotEx for Linux

Introduction

Installation

Usage

FFMPEG-Coder: Simplifying Video Conversion with FFMPEG

Introduction

Links

Project Description

Who is this Tool For?

Features

Installation Guide

Windows

Linux (Debian-based distros)

Automatic One-Click Process

Arch Based Distros

Other Methods

Using FFMPEG-Coder

Example 1: Basic Video Conversion

Contribute

Introducing ALib: Your Cross-Platform C++ Utility Library

Features

Provided Functions

Why Use These Functions from the Library?

Time for an Example

Without Using ALib

With ALib

Installation Guide

Windows

Linux & Mac OS

Arch Linux

Contributing

Conclusion

Enhance Your Fast.com Experience with the DraculaFast Dark Theme 🌙

Why Use the Dracula Theme for Fast.com?:

How to Install:

Contribution and Feedback:

Closing Thoughts:

Organize Your Digital Study Materials Quickly Using This Tool

Overview

Why I Build This Tool?

What This Tool Does

Let's Explore the SFO Tool

My Recommendation

How to Use (GUI)

Wanna Contribute?