Manfred Touron
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How-To

2 pages about "How-To"

Automate ArchiveBox with Google Spreadsheet to Backup your internet

Introduction

I just discovered ArchiveBox on my GitHub feed.

ArchiveBox allows you to store copies of webpages at a specific time.

It is still new for me, but from what I see, my workflow will be something like this:

  • to store copies of interesting webpages that I may want to read again later, i.e., my bookmarks; and then, use these archives:
    • as a backup link when the main page is outdated
    • as a way of comparing how the webpage would have changed with time (diff)
    • to list my interesting links
  • to periodically monitor changes of webpages I want to follow over time, i.e., my public social profiles, or this site web

To make it easier for me to maintain, I want to update a Google Spreadsheet and never touch a shell anymore.

My setup

First, write some links on a Google Spreadsheet document.

Then, publish the document in CSV format.

And finally create a script that will fetch the links in CSV and run the archiver against those URLs.

Here is my custom Makefile:

And my adapted docker-compose.yml file:

Run make loop in a tmux or another process-backgrounding method.

Result

I now only need to add new links to a Google Spreadsheet and let my script do the rest.

Windows 10 Setup 🖥

Image made with Paint.exe

Introduction

I recently ordered a Microsoft Surface Book 2 with Windows 10. The last time I used a Windows for something else than playing games was in 2006.

About the “why”, here are some reasons:

  • to give a new trial, especially after seeing Microsoft becoming more and more “cool” company, in the Open-Source and Linux world,
  • to get out of my routine/comfort zone,
  • to be able to see how my different projects are running and are easily usable by a developer under Windows,
  • to put the same shoes that people I will try to help with my apps and projects,
  • for the challenge of having a very secure Windows configuration,
  • to have arguments if I need again to say that I don’t fit with Windows :)

I wrote this blog post while installing to try to be exhaustive. I hope this article can be useful for someone else trying to switch from Mac OS X to Windows, or for people interested in running Windows from a Security/Developer/Musician guy’s point-of-view.

(At least, it will be helpful for me for the next time I need to install a Windows machine.)

Windows Install

  • Disable anti-privacy options
  • Disable Cortona
  • Enable FaceID
  • Use a strong password for the pin, not a short number
  • Device encryption is now the default, well done Microsoft 👍
  • When the install is done, reboot, log in, and let Windows download and install all the updates (multiple reboots)

Apps & Settings

Not yet installed/tried

  • Affinity Designer or equivalent
  • Something that synchronizes screenshots in a Cloud Folder
  • Cinema 4D
  • Traktor
  • Lantern
  • Luxafor
  • OpenVPN / Shimo alternative
  • A good weather app, with rain notifications
  • FullContact
  • Airplay client
  • Steam
  • Mailplane
  • Notes.app
  • Encfs
  • Brain FM
  • Reason
  • Pixelmator
  • Inet
  • Kaleidoscope
  • Webex

Problems & Missing stuffs

  • Keyboard binding is hardcore
  • The default Trackpad is bad
  • Using an Apple Trackpad in Bluetooth is worst
    • even with custom driver
  • The Update system is annoying
  • The Driver system is complicated
  • I miss Quick Look
  • I miss Alfred.app
  • I miss the tree view mode of the Finder
  • I miss iTerm (I tried multiple alternatives, the best fit for now is the terminal built-in Visual Studio Code)
  • I miss Mailplane.app
  • I miss iMessages and other synchronicity applications with my iPhone
  • I miss the Screenshots keyboard shortcuts
  • I miss Notes.app

Good surprises

  • WSL is wonderful
    • but slow, with strange linking between the Windows filesystem and Linux
  • Paint 3D is fun (and sometimes useful)
  • Microsoft SongSmith is brilliant

Further Readings