I was looking for something (in Python) to parse the bn_IN PO files (to get some statistical data) and found POlib. POlib is a python library to manipulate and extract data from PO and MO files.

In other news, my exams have finally ended, which means I’ll be able to devote all my time to my SoC related work from now on. This was the only semester where I had all CS related papers (Object Oriented Technology, Computer Networking, Computer Graphics, System Administration and Software Engineering), so hopefully my grades would be comparatively higher this time. I’ll know by the end of August.. :-).

Has anyone thought of doing localization in (চাটগাঁইয়া বুলি) Chaţgãia Buli ? I would love to see GNOME (or even XFCE) in my ancestors’ language. Though I cannot speak the language, I can understand it (at least 90% of it) when it is spoken by my father or my paternal aunt (pishi). If someone knows the language and is willing to do the translation, I can provide all the infrastructure (server space, mailing lists, etc) and technical help.

Finally got my visa for the UK (it was pretty smooth, contrary to my expectations). I had heard a number of horror stories on visa interviews, but I wasn’t even called for an interview. I simply dropped off my application (with my passport and a lot of accompanying documents) at the VFS office in Kolkata and collected a sealed envelope containing my passport on the next day. Pretty smooth process, I would say.
As per my plans (to be confirmed by Monday) I’ll be arriving at Birmingham on the 13th evening. I plan to stay during the entire GUADEC, then maybe visit London (or some other interesting place) for a day or two, and then finally, I leave on the 26th afternoon.

As far as my SoC work, things have been progressing at a somewhat slow (mainly due to my impending exams), but steady pace. I have already created a working patch for global desktop items (I had some initial trouble understanding Nautilus code, but in the end managed to figure it out, thanks to Federico and some nice documentation that comes with the Nautilus source). The patch allows Nautilus to show the files in a given directory (specified via Gconf) as read only icons on the Desktop (similar to Trash, Computer, etc). And in case you are getting worried about desktop clutter, don’t worry, it is turned off by default :-). And if you are still worried, you can go through this post that I made at the nautilus mailing list. The original proposal can be found here.

Here’s a Theora video of the patched Nautilus in action. The global items directory is set to /var/lib/gnome/desktop in Gconf, and all the files in that directory are being displayed as read only links on the user Desktop.


Next in line is to polish up the patch, and simultaneously work on the enhancement to Sabayon that would make the management of these global items easier.