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SoftBank buys server-grade Arm silicon designer Ampere Computing

3 months 2 weeks ago
Japanese tech investor expects its own hyperscalers and e-com giants to collaborate, which could take a bite out of x86 market

Japanese tech investment house SoftBank Group has announced its intention to acquire Ampere Computing, the chip design firm that makes server-grade silicon based on the Arm architecture.…

Simon Sharwood

Boost Productivity with Custom Command Shortcuts Using Linux Aliases

3 months 2 weeks ago
by George Whittaker Introduction

Linux is a powerful operating system favored by developers, system administrators, and power users due to its flexibility and efficiency. However, frequently using long and complex commands can be tedious and error-prone. This is where aliases come into play.

Aliases allow users to create shortcuts for commonly used commands, reducing typing effort and improving workflow efficiency. By customizing commands with aliases, users can speed up tasks and tailor their terminal experience to suit their needs.

In this article, we'll explore how aliases work, the different types of aliases, and how to effectively manage and utilize them. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced Linux user, mastering aliases will significantly enhance your productivity.

What is an Alias in Linux?

An alias in Linux is a user-defined shortcut for a command or a sequence of commands. Instead of typing a long command every time, users can assign a simple keyword to execute it.

For example, the command:

ls -la

displays all files (including hidden ones) in long format. This can be shortened by creating an alias:

alias ll='ls -la'

Now, whenever the user types ll, it will execute ls -la.

Aliases help streamline command-line interactions, minimize errors, and speed up repetitive tasks.

Types of Aliases in Linux

There are two main types of aliases in Linux:

Temporary Aliases
  • Exist only during the current terminal session.
  • Disappear once the terminal is closed or restarted.
Permanent Aliases
  • Stored in shell configuration files (~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile, or ~/.zshrc).
  • Persist across terminal sessions and system reboots.

Understanding the difference between temporary and permanent aliases is crucial for effective alias management.

Creating Temporary Aliases

Temporary aliases are quick to set up and useful for short-term tasks.

Syntax for Creating a Temporary Alias

alias alias_name='command_to_run'

Examples
  1. Shortcut for ls -la:

    alias ll='ls -la'

  2. Quick access to git status:

    alias gs='git status'

  3. Updating system (for Debian-based systems):

    alias update='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y'

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George Whittaker

Is Dark Energy Getting Weaker? New Evidence Strengthens the Case.

3 months 2 weeks ago
Cosmologists have uncovered stronger evidence that dark energy -- the mysterious force accelerating cosmic expansion -- may be weakening over time. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration presented their latest findings at the Global Physics Summit in Anaheim, California, reinforcing their preliminary results from last year. The DESI team analyzed data from approximately 15 million galaxies collected over three years, more than doubling their previous dataset of 6 million galaxies. Combined with supernova observations and cosmic microwave background data, their analysis shows a 4.2-sigma deviation from the standard Lambda-CDM cosmological model, which assumes dark energy remains constant. "We are much more certain than last year that this is definitely a thing," said Seshadri Nadathur of the University of Portsmouth, a key DESI researcher. These findings align with recent independent results from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), which earlier this month reported a similar 3.2-sigma tension with Lambda-CDM -- a tension that disappears if dark energy is allowed to vary. If confirmed, evolving dark energy could fundamentally alter cosmologists' understanding of the universe's ultimate fate. Instead of expanding indefinitely until all particles become impossibly separated, the universe might follow alternative trajectories. "It challenges the fate of the universe," explained Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki from the University of Texas at Dallas. "It's game-changing." Moreover, these findings challenge the simplest explanation of dark energy as vacuum energy, which quantum physics suggests should remain constant. Instead, the results indicate unknown physics, possibly involving a new particle, a modification to Einstein's theory of gravity, or even a new fundamental theory. DESI will continue observing through 2026, eventually producing a final map expected to include 50 million galaxies, potentially providing definitive evidence for this cosmic paradigm shift.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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