Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Swappolube is back!

Wicked!

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

can someone post a video demo of this? my phone is not with me, and i am very interested in seeing this. thank you in advance!

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Makes it so fast it's almost telepathic. :D

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

You don't need a video demo; there is nothing to look at. You just choose checkboxes and easily change settings. Here is a screenshot.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

it seems that i downgrade my python right before it started working, anyone knows a command to upgrade it again ?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

i wanna ask about somthng after i did the changes n i clicked apply n i restarted mobile,n opend the program again i found boxes uncheckd like i did nthn but the numbers changed as i did n when opend conky didnt find any change so why is tht ?????????????? am using swappolube version 0.3-1

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Hi,

Has anyone run into problems copying large files on the device, in x-term while swappolube's proposed settings are in effect?

I'm picking up on the other poster's post about transmission stalling and hanging, because I suffered similar problems while copying a lot of files in x-term.
The phone would become increasingly less responsive and after a while become completely unresponsive and then reboot.
I tried with both the cp command and within midnight commander.

When I reset swappolube's settings to the default, the phone wouldn't reboot while copying the same set of files. Could this have something to do with write-back caching, or is this not implemented in the system?

silbah

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

It looks more like the oom_kill_allocating_task is the problem here. Of course, I might be totally wrong..

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Have to say that I'm not a hacker at that level and don't follow lkml.org, but if you tried it and you have seen something promising we can see how to bring it in.

cheers

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Could be. But the phone would reboot instead of the task getting killed. Or could the reboot be a "collateral damage" of the x-term getting killed unexpectedly?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Uploaded an updated version (0.3-2) in extras-devel

This update does bring some small new functionality as requested. In the menu you will find a new button that will restore the default values.

Special thanks goes to Khertan as I used his code to construct the new about window - this guy writes really nice and clean code!!

Changelog:
* Added new menu button to restore default values.
* Code cleanup and some better comments.
* New About window with connection to the wiki page and rotation support.
* Removed Credits window (it is included in the About).
* Some small UI beatifications and better ordering of the entry fields.

I've done my best to test and I believe nothing from previous functionality was broken. Nevertheless will wait a few users to test first, before pushing to extras-testing.

PS: my previous comments on having a scrollable window with a row of buttons on the side will take some more time as I won't be able to work on this for the next couple of weeks. So I thought to better push what I have now.

EDIT: Uploaded 0.3-3 which corrects a typo in the about window. Also updated the wiki with new screenshots and descriptions of the changes for each field.
EDIT2: Promoted to testing - please test and vote here: http://maemo.org/packages/package_in...ppolube/0.3-3/

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

hi! after i installed swapolube and tweak the settings shown on the wiki, my MyDocs is turning out to be a "read-only" folder when downloading torrent files via Transmissions app. i corrected the issue but it re-appears after doing the swapolube settings and then using transmission app.

is this because there is something wrong with my swapolube settings, the transmission or my MyDocs?

Thanks.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Great tweak , my n900 is faster and more responsive because of you :D

thanks a lot .;)

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

I've considered trying this app, but I've gotta ask a few questions first. I've monitored a few posts with problems with Transmission and permission issues. Have any of these issues been resolved(because they aren't listed as issues with this version on the wiki)? And has anyone really had any short term or long term issues with this app(and I will be using the recommended settings)? I've dealt with Swappiness on Android, but I just followed instructions blindly and I wasn't completely sold on it.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Hi Gabby, the problem is caused by transmission, i had the same trouble way before swapolube was even around, i think it has something to do with transmition having unfinnished downloads and file sizes not matching up. For me deleting my incomplete downloads and re-mounting MyDocs did the trick, there is some info on fixing it at http://www.adminlinux.org/2010/04/no...-readonly.html and some stiff floating around on here somewhere, although i cant rember where.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

The problem is with the vfat partition, it is very fragile.
The only real solution is to repartition it as ext3, though this may be overkill for most users.

An easy fix is to plug in the N900 via USB, delete the partial file and unplug. Sometimes 2 consecutive reboots are required to remount MyDocs properly.
Do this before a fsck as I had one go on for over 14 hours and it didn't actually do anything, 1 plug/unplug of USB and it was sorted.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

@The Arsonist:
- The permission issue has been resolved a few versions back.
- About the transmission application problems, I really cannot comment. I used it last time a year ago and it was in quite a bit of hog for my device. In general, even though I don't know the reasons and the exact details of this case, I would not exclude that some settings can amplify problems that transmission might have.

In my opinion, if you are using transmission you are not targeting anymore for low consumption and you can put the settings to default - there is a button in the version in testing for that. When your transfers are complete you can reapply the settings of your liking.

Finally, the application was done after a request of debernardis to assist the research of the optimum settings for those options. It is clear that the "proposed" cover only a part of the userbase and not all use cases. For example, if a user would like to push around large volumes of data regularly most probably the default settings are better or at least tested in more length for stability.
There is a place for users that don't really want to experiment of course, for those I would propose to use the interface to change just the swappiness value in something like 60 and only that.

Just to be clear, that is only my opinion and I'm not an expert in any way on kernel tweaking matters.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Uploaded an updated version (0.3-4) in extras-devel

This update does brings some small new functionality in the GUI.
The options which are not enabled are normally grayed. They become visible and allow changes only when they get enabled/selected. (See the attached screenshots - it'll make more sense!)
Should be more user friendly and useful to spot fast what will be stored.

Changelog:
* Added signals to show only the enabled options.
* Added better information messages on several actions.
* Added check if the Delete Tuning option really deleted the file.

There are 2 votes missing in the test version (0.3-3), so I will wait for those before pushing this version to extras-testing.
If you have tested the previous version vote here: http://maemo.org/packages/package_in...ppolube/0.3-3/

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Hi.
Is it normal that all select and values turn to blank when I check "current", even after doing proposed, apply, and store?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

(It's clear that you use the 0.3-4 version from the testing)

Yes, it is the intended behaviour.

- When you press "current" it reads all relevant settings the system is running at the moment.

- For example: If you select and change only one of those options and choose:
"Apply" will propagate this new value to the system. All other settings will remain as is.
"Store" will make a new persistent tuning file with only this setting. So the previous tuning file will be overwritten.
(Your question makes me realise that this should be made clear somehow to the user and I will try to inform the user somehow in the next version. Thanks)

Hope it makes more sense after my explanation - if not please ask again.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Thanks!
So, if I understand (I have problems with english sometimes :p), when I press proposed, apply and store, the settings you propose are store and are apply to my phone, even on a reboot, and they're not shown when I press "current", that's ok?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Hi,
Thanks for your great efforts.
My N900 seems to be much more responsive since using Swappolube.
Even I don't understand most of the settings, I just push the proposed button and then Store button to keep the proposed setting.
Are the proposed settings the best possible?
Is there any way to prevent battery draining so fast when using wireless, GPRS, or listening to music with a bluetooth headset?
Sorry if my questions sound so stupid to you.
I am using the 0.3-4 version.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

The first duty of the app is to performance. If you want savings, there are many threads about battery life. Lower CPU clock, disable 3g, bluetooth, lower encryption on wifi, enable power savings, etc.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Agreed. But isn't it better to expand swappolube's ability to powersave, too, while improving performance? If you have to disable those daily useful functions for power saving, I would replace my N900 with a brick:p

Off-topic: The other option, ofcause, is to wait for Nokia to release the best ever firmware that pleases every N900 user, the PR10.3 or something:). When this were out, we would not need swappolube anymore. You would be able to call for days in 3G mode with a single charge. The N900 would have turbo boost technology which would multiple its cortex CPU to be equal with Intel Core i7 when you play SuperTux2 or lower its frequency to zero when you locked the screen and keyboard:D Who cares about swapolube or kernel power then:confused:

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

@matts76, James_Littler:

thanks to you! so its not a one-hit-KO! solution, i already quit on a first fsck.vfat and reboot and ended up reformatting.

:)

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

TBH, I didn't want to hijack the thread. Your wifi+BT combo is drainy like heck, and there is little you can do. I'd check the battery threads, there is too little saving to be had by optimizing flushes if you use wifi with WPA. In perspective, swappolube could push 300 hours standby to 301, while heavy wifi would drain you in 4. Hence the issue. The list of drainers in your case far, far outweigh any gains from delayed flushes.

Frankly, you need to rethink your strategy or get a second battery to extend BT headset play from network.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Thanks for the suggestion. I already have a 1500 mA USB Solar charger. Still, a full charge on both does not give me 5 hours of net surfing while listening via bluetooth. Maybe I have to bring along a car's battery in my backpack for the N900 anytime I am on the move:D

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Isn't WiFi and BT being a big battery drain a myth, originated because in the past it used to be true?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

You're kidding right?

You do realize those are Radios that transmit and receive?

Get one of the battery utilities and watch what your battery does over 24 hours with these Radios on and off.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Wifi drain is a myth in the sense that people think the radio drains it. At 10 mW, it drains about the size of an LED. It is not a myth in the sense that using it requires the CPU to be up, the math to keep up WPA/2 is quite intense (the major drain in WiFi is the computation). Using wifi to transfer requires several things to be up, network layer, TCP/IP included, driver, daemons that watch on/off, periodic searcing for handover on wifi arrays, etc.

As for BT, same deal, mostly. Lower requirements, but still.

As for our car battery friend, I'd recommens wired headsets, that could cut your usage in half in a best case scenario, and get you a noticeable 20-25 percent in worst case (these are guesses).

Wifi is cooler if the AP supports sleep, but if you trickle data through it (streaming) versus bursts (HTTP), it useless. Also, power save shoukd be maximumin N900 for this to work. Also, open auth and a mac filter is better power but poor security versus WEP/WPA.

Playing from internal memory via wired is gonna save. Pick a minimalist player, like mplayer versus Instinctiv (I have no idea how much each eats, I just picked minimal versus cool).

And remember, the biggest drains in N900 are screen on full, CPU, GPU, WiFi, GPS, BT, roughly in that order. Depends on usage.

For me, I have more that 50 percent increrase in life by browsing at 2/5 light that 4/5 pips in the light setting. More ambient light helps.

So, watch CPU usage in player, get wired headsets, play from eMMC, you should see an increase. As for streaming via WiFi, not much I can recommend. It just plain drains.

And, if all you do is play audio, lower CPU clock, it saves when in low usage. For me, it doesn't work, when I fire it up the CPU shoots as I do intensive stuff. The quicker I'm done, the better. I had better battery at high CPU clock.

Have fun.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Uploaded an updated version (0.4-1) in extras-devel

This update does not bring any new functionality but it just a redesign of the GUI. I have managed to create a scrollable list for the options which will give the ability to add more options if needed as well as other functionality.

Changelog:

• Restructure of the GUI to have a scrollable list and the buttons on the right.
• Added better information messages on several actions.

I have not promoted it to the testing repo yet and since I'm away from my PC, it will hold me back for a couple of weeks (at least) in adding new features that have been already requested/discussed.

Will be good to hear your opinions on this change and more ideas for additions you'd like to see.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

tried to download it after finally feeling comfortable about doing so.... then i go to install but i get a "conflicting software packages' error when i run it form app mgr. any suggestions.

thanks a lot =)

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

You could paste the log for us to be able to help.

Did you install also the nogui version?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

the error i got is as follows:

Unable to install 'Swappolube'.
Conflicting application packages.

when i click on details i get the error:

conflict with application packages: python2.5-qt4-network (4.7.5-maemo1)
python2.5-qt4-webkit (4.7.5-maemo1)
Swappolube NoGui (0.1.2)

lemme know

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

You can safely remove swappolube-nogui; for those python packages you need to upgrade to the 4.7.5-maemo2 version

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

so do i find the python pkg in app mgr? as well as uninstall the nogui from there as well?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Yep. Python packages are in extras so you should be able to make an upgrade from the application manager. And you can remove the nogui package from there too.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

there are several python packages in there... which would work out best?

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

open xterm
do: sudo apt-get update
then: sudo apt-get install --reinstall python2.5-qt4-network python2.5-qt4-webkit
then: sudo apt-get remove swappolube-nogui
then: sudo apt-get install swappolube

I think this should work.

Re: [announce] swappolube to lubricate your gui
 

Hi!

just got a quick question,

i accidentally delete the tuning file on swappolube, then I clicked "proposed" and my custom config is still there, will this happen after reboots? i mean if i did not click the "store" button, will my custom config still be there if "proposed" button is tapped?

Thanks

EDIT: my custom config is the one shown on wiki :) Happy Holidays