Ceci est une ancienne révision du document !
Even if we’re running Ubuntu with Unity or GNOME, we can still install and run KDE based applications. From the Synaptics Package Manager store, we can install Kalzium, KGeography, KStars, KDE Marble, and KIG. Last month we looked at how to install the KDE-based science programs, and took a quick look at Kalzium, the app heolping us to understand and explore the Periodic Table of the Elements. Then, we also briefly explored KDE Marble, the globe/map program. If you need help getting KGeography, KStars, or KIG on your system, please refer back to last month’s Everyday Ubuntu. This month, we’re going to check out KGeography, KStars, and KIG.
KGeography
Below is the main initial interface for KGeography.
You can select a map for a country in the box on the left. Let’s be non-cosmopolitan and pick USA, so I at least have a shot at knowing the states and capitals. Not much chance I’ll know the cantons of Switzerland, although I actually do have a friend who lives there.
Here’s the map of the USA: Now, on this screen, you can click on a state to get more information on that state:
So, when you click, you get the state name and capital, the state flag, and a small letter i inside a blue dot. Clicking that i symbol will open your web browser to the Wikipedia page for that state. Pretty cool!
Finally, you can see on the left hand side a number of options to test yourself. This brings up a dialog box allowing you to select how many questions you want, then you’ll get a series of multiple-choice questions: Spoiler alert: Montpelier.
KStars
KStars is the KDE astronomy package. Its initial startup wizard screen looks like this: Press Next, and you can select your location. My location is about 50 miles from Atlanta GA, and about 100 miles from Birmingham AL. Selecting either one probably gives me a pretty decent representation of the night sky where I am, but Atlanta is obviously more accurate:
KStars then gives you an option to download additional data files to enhance your astronomical experience: Once you’ve completed this, KStars will start the program proper and will by default give you a Tip of the Day. Once you close that, you’ll get a representation of the night sky in your current location at your current time:
You can advance or retrace the time, Find specific objects, Zoom in or out, change geographic location, or stop the clock using the menus up top. Let’s find one of the most easily recognizable ‘objects’ in the night sky, the constellation Orion. Click Find Object and simply type in Orion and hit OK:
Zoom in until it's right in the middle, filling up your screen:
Just to the right of center, you can see Orion’s easily recognizable “belt”, with information on the stars and other celestial phenomena that make up the constellation. Very nifty.
KIG
KIG is a geometry/drawing program. Its tools actually remind me quite a bit of Micrografx Designer, a vector-based drawing program from the early Windows days. I worked for Micrografx for about 2 years, and photo-editing, flowcharting, presentations, and vector-based drawing were definitely computer activities I learned a LOT about during that 2 year span in the early 90’s.
KIG’s initial interface also has a Tip of the Day by default. Once you’ve dismissed the day’s tip, you’ll get the blank initial XY coordinate screen (shown above).
As you can see, there are a LOT of tools for drawing geometric figures. Let’s try the fifth one in the left-hand column just to get an idea as to how the program works:
This is the tool for drawing a line using two points to define the slope and location. Click once to ‘stamp down’ the first point (shown right).
Move the mouse to another point on the desired line, then click to define the line. KIG will draw the full line based on your input (shown top right)
KIG saves in its own proprietary format.
Next month: Maybe time for another retro-gaming column? Be here and see.