Daily Archives: Tuesday, March 24, 2015

  • GNU nano 2.4.0 text editor released

    Steve WoodsLinux, Open Source, Tech

    Four years after the last major update to version 2.3.0, the developers of the GNU nano text editor have now announced the release of version 2.4.0. In his email Chris Allegretta nano now has a fully functional undo system which is now enabled by default, vim-compatible file locking, linter support, formatter support, syntax highlighting flexibility and many fixes for bugs reported since version 2.2.

    nano screenshot

    Besides the source code package (in tar.gz), the new version of nano is available from the GNU nano website for various Linux distributions and Windows. The latest unstable release of the 2.3 branch is also available for download.

  • Sign of spring – blackthorn

    Steve WoodsBristol, Language

    This morning on my walk from home in Easton to the Bristol Wireless lab in Bedminster, my eye was caught by blackthorn blossom standing out white against the blue sky.

    blackthorn blossom
    Blackthorn blossom in Lawford’s Gate, Bristol

    Blackthorn (prunus spinosa) derives its name from its thorny nature and its very dark bark.

    As its Latin name denotes, it is a member of the plum family. Its fruits – sloes – are well known for their bitterness, unless picked after they’ve been bletted, i.e. attacked by autumn frosts. Their best-known use is for making sloe gin.

    photo of sloes
    Sloes. Note the thorns. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

    The modern English word sloe comes from the Old English slāh. The same word is noted in Middle Low German, historically spoken in Lower Saxony. Similar words are found in other languages with Teutonic roots.

    With its savage thorns, blackthorn has traditionally been used for making a hedge against cattle or a “cattle-proof” hedge.