Fractanoid is an experiment in multithreaded programming to allow the processing load to be split across multiple cores in a computer. The image area is first split into 200×200 pixel blocks, each of these blocks is stashed into a list which is being monitored by a series of threads within a threadpool. The blocks are processed and the results signalled back to be displayed.

The image area also always full panning support with new blocks calculated continously as they appear on the screen. Zooming in and out results in clearing of display and recalculation based on the new zoom level.

Through the preferences dialog, the number of threads can be modified to take advantage of extra CPU’s available in the system. This results in extra threads being added to the thread pool.

Download the source tarball: fractanoid 0.1.tar.bz2

Amarok recently released the ability to synchonise music to your iPod, so I was finally able to stop using iTunes to transfer my songs. However I was still stuck using the Mac to sync my addressbook.

Well not anymore, after some quick poking around, and a simple script, I am now able to transfer my complete KDE addressbook (including photo), with a simple command line.

Just mount the ipod, and execute the script, passing the ipod’s root directory as a parameter. That’s it! The script loads your KDE addressbook, makes a few simple modifications the iPod requires, and copies it across.

Download kde_ipod_sync.rb