About the Author
I'm Stephan, a Linux user with a passion for open-source, UI/UX design, and exploring what makes fiction work.
In my spare time, I focus on (and write about):
- Programming (mainly in Python and Rust)
- Retrocomputing (mostly DOS but, as of January 2023, I also own a machine running Mac OS 9.2)
- Reading and Reviewing Fiction
- The odd bit of UI/UX design or literary theory
For notification of significant updates to existing posts, consider following me on Mastodon.
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Category Archives: General
Treating The Symptom: A Privacy Law Story
In May 2011, new legislation was passed in the EU (directive 2009/136/EC) which was intended to require opt-in for tracking cookies. It comes into effect on May 26, 2012. Next Saturday. While people are agonizing over how compliance will gut … Continue reading
Posted in Web Wandering & Opinion
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The State of Digital Distribution on Linux
Note: This is cross-posted from the blog in my Desura account to ensure my backup system catches it. After one of my previous posts, showing off my obsession with flowcharts and how much I overthink buying new games, it occurred … Continue reading
Posted in Geek Stuff, Lair Improvement
5 Comments
Secure Cloud Backup/Sync
Given the mounting concerns over cloud storage offerings and the increasing occurrence of bills like ACTA and CISPA, it’s becoming increasingly important to find alternatives to US-based, un-encrypted cloud storage services like Dropbox. The question for poor saps like me … Continue reading
Posted in Geek Stuff
3 Comments
How I Buy Games (as a Flowchart)
Being the geek that I am, one thing I’ve wanted for a while is a diagram of how I decide what to do when a video game catches my eye. I finally made one. (Note: further commentary below the diagram) … Continue reading
Posted in Web Wandering & Opinion
2 Comments
When Linux Freezes…
Like many geeks, I’ve moved less tech-savvy relatives to Linux and, in my mother’s case, common ideology goes a long way to overlooking bugs and rough edges. However, working with her has revealed a serious problem in the Linux desktop … Continue reading
Posted in Web Wandering & Opinion
1 Comment
Preventing Broken Links
TL;DR: If you’re going to move to a new URL, fill out my templates and put them at the old one to make damn sure other people’s links don’t break. Yesterday, I finally found a use for the root http://ssokolow.com … Continue reading
Posted in Geek Stuff
1 Comment
My Issues With AppIndicators
With the work I’ve been doing on my systray icons in the last few days, it occurred to me that I should probably mention that, when given the choice, I explicitly turn off Ubuntu-style AppIndicators for applications with regular systray … Continue reading
Posted in Geek Stuff
1 Comment