Codepad – The ClassHelper.org™ Blog

I’m proud to note that Linode (my full-time employer) has been the subject of an extensive VPS performance review, and has come out as the clear winner.  For those who don’t already know, a virtual private server (VPS) gives you the power of a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost (a Linode 360 costs $19.95/month).

Linodes are a great platform for educators, parents, and students looking to learn more about Linux and open source software in general. Whether you’re interested in hosting a personal blog or a school website, you don’t have to sacrifice flexibility and performance for price. In fact, ClassHelper.org runs on a Linode, happily serving hundreds of thousands of page views each month without breaking a sweat.

Obviously, some may point out the fact that I’m a bit biased. I’d respond by noting that I was an extremely satisfied customer for over five years prior to joining the Linode team as an employee, and used Linodes to meet the hosting needs of many clients. I can honestly say I’ve never seen another hosting provider come close to the value and quality of support offered here.

ClassHelper.org’s computer science section has a new addition. The Linux VPS host tutorial will teach you how to turn any reasonably modern computer into a virtual private server hosting platform. The guide uses Ubuntu Server 8.04 LTS as the base server operating system, with virtualization provided by VMware Server 2.0. It includes full instructions for creating a Debian Linux virtual machine with the ISPConfig hosting control panel installed on it.

Tux Paint Logo

Kids love computers, and kids love to draw. If you want an application that combines these two in a kid-friendly format, have a look at Tux Paint. This free Linux-based drawing program is designed specifically for children, offering a ton of fun features that are sure to keep a youngster occupied for hours (well, at least one hour).

Basic drawing tools include various paint brushes, shapes, lines, and text. All tools have a few different options for the way they perform in a drawing. There’s a stamp tool, which allows kids to easily add fun clip art to their compositions. In the example below, I’ve used a bunch of tools to give you an idea of the sort of shapes you can create. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve always been a big fan of backyard astronomy, and now that the weather is warming up (well, depending on where you live) I’ll be spending more time stargazing. For Linux users, KStars is a fantastic celestial navigation aid that offers tons of custom features. Designed to be easy for beginners, yet powerful enough to satisfy serious astronomy fans, this desktop planetarium package really delivers. Here’s the default start view, from my geographic location in Atlanta, GA. Read the rest of this entry »

Teachers are always on the lookout for educational software that can actually hold a child’s attention. Instead of cutting the kids loose on the Xbox, why not give GCompris a try? It’s an educational software suite, with the full version available for Linux-based operating systems like Ubuntu at no cost. It’s also available for Windows 2000 and above, but the free Windows version comes with a limited number of activities (you can buy the full version for 20€). Comprised of tons of simple and engaging learning games, GCompris is designed to establish and reinforce basic skills like counting, word recognition, and more. Read the rest of this entry »

Teachers and parents searching for new tools for teaching chemistry should give Kalzium a look. Part of the KDE Education Project, Kalzium is easily installed on various distributions of Linux, such as Ubuntu. Students in a wide range of grade levels will find the application useful; it has features ranging from basic facts about each element to a molecular calculator built in. Here’s the default Kalzium start screen, showing the periodic table of the elements. Read the rest of this entry »

Parents and teachers looking for a fun new way to reinforce basic astronomy concepts need look no further than Celestia. This free planetarium software package allows students to explore the universe in three dimensions, freeing them from the monotony of standard science texts. Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux (the screenshots shown here were captured under Ubuntu Linux), Celestia is open source software designed to please any astronomy buff.

Update (March 26, 2009): I’ve posted a Celestia video that shows what this application can do.

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