If you’re using Hudson with a CVS-based project and receiving the error “cannot open CVS/Entries for reading” error when Hudson tries to check-out the repository, check to see that the branch tag you’re using is actually a branch tag and not just a revision tag. I was getting this error and it was driving me [...]

If you’re using Hudson with a CVS-based project and receiving the error “cannot open CVS/Entries for reading” error when Hudson tries to check-out the repository, check to see that the branch tag you’re using is actually a branch tag and not just a revision tag. I was getting this error and it was driving me crazy, because I could run the same “cvs co -r branchname modules” command from the terminal and it worked fine. Until I realized that I’d created the “branchname” tag as a revision tag, not as a branch tag.

How to check whether a given tag is a revision tag or a branch tag:

cvs update -r tagname filename
cvs status filename

Look for the “Sticky Tag” line; if after the tag name it says “revision:”, well, it’s a revision tag. If after the tag name it says “branch:” then it’s a branch tag and, unfortunately, my solution to this maddening and uninformative error doesn’t apply to you. Best of luck.

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Update 2010-08-16: If you’ve gotten past the initial “cannot open CVS/Entries” error but now Hudson is failing when it tries to generate the CVS changelog, that’s due to Hudson issue 6312 which as of today is not fixed. The workaround is to disable CVS changelogs completely, which may be a good idea anyway with projects of any reasonable size. This post on i-proving.ca has the details.

Sure, it sounds silly, but a few of my favorite weekday lunch places on University Ave don’t offer WiFi (free or otherwise) and aren’t near enough to anywhere that does to pick up the signal. They’re almost close enough; my MacBook Pro and my Palm Pre can “see” the networks and try to connect, but [...]

Sure, it sounds silly, but a few of my favorite weekday lunch places on University Ave don’t offer WiFi (free or otherwise) and aren’t near enough to anywhere that does to pick up the signal. They’re almost close enough; my MacBook Pro and my Palm Pre can “see” the networks and try to connect, but not achieve or maintain a connection. It seems that this situation is the perfect one for one of these devices. I’ve found a few that look promising but I’m having some trouble choosing one. Feel like helping?

Hawking HWUN3 Hi-Gain USB Wireless-N Adapter with Upgradeable Antennas for Mac & PC (White) – $42.24

1000mW 1W 802.11g/n High Gain USB Wireless G / N Long-Rang WiFi Network Adapter – Dongle – $23.95

1000mW 1W 802.11g/n High Gain USB Wireless G / N Long-Rang WiFi Network Adapter – Dongle With Original Alfa 5dBi and 9dBi Rubber Antenna – $24.99

MacWizards Antenna & Booster for MacBook/PowerBook – $79.99

There’s quite a price difference between the least and most expensive, but the MacWizards item looks to be much smaller and sleeker. They all seem to have fairly similar specifications.

There’s also the rather different BearExtender n3 – $44.97

The BearExtender is an external device connected by a USB cable, not a plug-in antenna as are the others. It seems a bit too clunky, but the performance might be better since it can be moved around more freely.

What do you think?

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Update 2010-08-18:

Someone from the company that makes BearExtender found this blog post and contacted me, offering free shipping and a 30-day review period to try out their product. Not a freebie for review, just an invitation to buy one. I figured with free shipping and the 30-day return privilege I couldn’t really go wrong, so I jumped at it.

The BearExtender is not nearly as large as it appears in the promotional pictures. It’s actually a flat (maybe 1/2″ thick) square (around 2″/side) and very light, with a clip on the back to stick on to the Mac’s open lid. Comes with one short and one long USB cable, an antenna, and a USB drive which includes a getting started guide and the driver software. The software is really the only disappointment; it’s ugly and the usability is rotten. However, it does work.

My baseline use case is sitting at a cafe in downtown Palo Alto across the street from a Starbucks. With the Mac’s built-in WiFi, I can intermittently see the “attwifi” network and get a very weak connection that drops after a minute or two; essentially useless. With the BearExtender, I get a strong signal from the “attwifi” network, can immediately connect, and the connection stays up without dropping.

It connects without issue to my AirPort Extreme N at home, and also displays quite a few more networks around my home than the built-in WiFi. I’d say it’s well worth the money, which after all is only as much as dinner for two at a reasonably nice place.

Again, to be clear, I’m reviewing this on my own accord; I paid full price (less free shipping) for the unit and they didn’t ask me to write or do anything.

I knew this prompt sounded familiar: If I were a superhero, I would be The Waffler! (January 2009) The Waffler is a crusader, battling to save common, everyday, decent folk from the soul stifling power… of mediocre waffles! The photo is from our last cruise on the Disney Magic, after the Halloween costume contest, with [...]

I knew this prompt sounded familiar: If I were a superhero, I would be The Waffler! (January 2009)

The Waffler is a crusader, battling to save common, everyday, decent folk from the soul stifling power… of mediocre waffles!



The photo is from our last cruise on the Disney Magic, after the Halloween costume contest, with two senior officers who really have no idea what's going on. This costume won the "most original" prize in the contest, by the way.

I have no patience for the stupid. None at all. I'm not talking about the developmentally disabled, or those who are uninformed through no fault of their own. I'm talking about deliberately ignorant, small-minded people who can't connect the opinions they've been spoon-fed with the consequences in the real world, and who don't bother to [...]

I have no patience for the stupid. None at all.

I'm not talking about the developmentally disabled, or those who are uninformed through no fault of their own. I'm talking about deliberately ignorant, small-minded people who can't connect the opinions they've been spoon-fed with the consequences in the real world, and who don't bother to look around to see if there might possibly be another valid perspective.



Note that I'm not singling out any particular political party or affiliation; there are idiots all over the spectrum, and I have no time or interest in dealing with any of them.



People who can't learn how to properly merge onto the freeway also annoy the hell out of me, but usually engender a response somewhat stronger than an eyeroll.

Plinky Then I saw Jolie O’Dell’s Tweet: .bbpBox17054042529 {background:url(http://a1.twimg.com/profile_background_images/89223312/jolie-odell.jpg) #ffffff;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block} WordPressjust bought Plinky from Thing Labs. Nice work, @shellen and @photomatt! http://bit.ly/bIPWY4less than a minute ago via TweetMemeJolie O’Delljolieodell And then [...]

Plinky

Then I saw Jolie O’Dell’s Tweet:

And then I got my first Plinky prompt today. Welcome back!