Last week I was at DORS/CLUC 2009. It is three day open source conference in Zagreb, Croatia.
The first day I had a lightning talk titled something like: How did delivering our web application to client look like before we automated tests and how it looks today? It was just an introduction to my Watir talk the next day.
The talk was a lot of fun. I really like to show off how Watir is useful, easy to use and, of course, just cool. This was the first time I did some live Watir coding using Linux and Firewatir and I had some problems, but nothing serious. (I usually use Windows and Watir::IE.)
Also, this was the first time I had a workshop (about 3 hours). We spent a few hours doing some basic Watir tests.
It was nice to see what other people are doing and to meet some familiar faces. There was a lot of intersting presentations, and also a lot of presentations that were a bit boring to me. The usual. The best presentation was by Dobrica Pavlinušić on freeing hardware. Topic not really interesting to me, but Dobrica is just the funniest presenter I have seen so far.
There is Twitter #dorscluc channel, Flickr dorscluc2009 tag and #dorscluc channel at irc.freenode.net projected by one projector all the time.
When I was recording podcasts on Windows XP machine, it was easy to do it using all open source or free software. All you had to do is install Skype (free, voice over Internet), Audacity (open source, audio recording and editing) and play a bit with Windows XP audio settings. To be true, it took me a few podcasts to figure out how to set audio just right, as you will surely notice if you listen to the first few of my podcasts.
A few months ago I got a Mac and I thought it would be as easy to record podcasts there. I was wrong. I have been trying and trying and only a few days ago I was able to record a Skype conversation on Mac.
What was the problem? I installed Skype and Audacity (both have Mac versions) and, to my great surprise, there was no option in Audacity to record both audio from Skype and from my microphone, as there is on Windows XP. I browsed around, tried a bunch of software and could not find anything that would work. At the moment, I think it is the limitation of sound card, but I could be wrong. (I used Boot Camp to install Windows XP on Mac, and could not record all audio even then.)
Then I found a great article, Recording Skype calls on GarageBand with LineIn and SoundFlower (Mac). It showed me that there is a way to record Skype on Mac using only free software. But it got me only 90% of the way. I was able to record both Skype and my audio, but I did not hear Skype audio. Asking a question and not being able to hear the answer is usually a problem in an interview. In the end, I found the solution in article’s comments, but it took me a while (and some luck) to figure out how to fix the problem.
To record and edit audio, you can use GarageBand (free, I got GarageBand ‘08 with Mac OS X, but you have to pay for GarageBand ‘09) or Audacity (open source).
System Preferences > Sound
– Output: Headphones – Built-in Audio (always use headphones when recording so your microphone does not catch sound from the speakers)
– Input: Internal microphone – Built-in (check ‘Use ambient noise reduction’ and move microphone input volume slider to the right)
While configuring Skype for the first use, you should uncheck option that Skype automatically adjusts microphone volume and move the slider to the right, but I can not find that configuration wizard, even after reinstalling.
Create New Podcast Episode > Male/Female Voice > Monitor: On
Make sure you turn monitor “On”, or you will not hear the other person speaking. I heard my voice with about one second delay, so the next time I will try “On with Feedback Protection” instead of “On” setting.
Preferences > Audio I/O > Playthrough > Hardware Playthrough: Play new track while recording it > check
With software playthrough I heard my voice with about one second delay, but it was fine with hardware playthrough.
Start Skype conversation and when you want to record, click ‘Pass Thru’ button in LineIn and click record button in GarageBand or Audacity.
Software versions I used:
Mac OS X 10.5.6.
Soundflower 1.4.3
LineIn 2.0.3
GarageBand ‘08 4.1.2 (248.7)
Audacity 1.3.7
Skype 2.8.0.324
Nice people from linux.hr got a booth there and asked a few local open source groups if they would like to join them. One of the groups they asked was a group I am member of, ruby-hr (Ruby Croatia).
I planned to be there a few hours, but my boss said it is fine with him if I spend the whole day there, so I went for that option.
There was about ten booths, a pretty small trade fair. Linux.hr team were handing out some Ubuntu CDs, and since I do not know anything else, I was showing people how Watir works. I guess I showed Watir to about 10 people that day. Not bad.
Since Ubuntu has live CD, I tried it on my Mac, and it worked fine. Wireless was not working, and Linux gurus said that Ubuntu probably does not have drivers for my hardware.
There is also a funny story. I was entering the fair and saw a big penguin walking around. Of course, it was one of the linux.hr team, so he approached me and said to follow him to our booth. So, I am walking behind a giant penguin, and at the entrance they ask me if I have a ticket. I said: “I am with the penguin“, and to my surprise they just let me in. I newer thought that knowing a penguin can get you any benefits.
This was the first time I did some live Watir coding using Linux and Firewatir and I had some problems, but nothing serious. (I usually use Windows and Watir::IE.)
