Jekyll2026-08-15T18:26:13+00:00https://mikechilson.com/feed.xmlMike ChilsonFreelance Software Developer/EngineerMarkLite Markdown Viewer/Editor Version 1.1.0 Released2026-08-15T00:00:00+00:002026-08-15T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/MarkLite-1.1.0-ReleasedMarkLite version 1.1.0 is both a feature and maintenance release. Changes include being able to print in both view and edit modes, Enabled word-wrap in editor mode, fixed external links in markdown documents not opening the link, fixed minor insert mode bug, cleaned up and removed some old code not being used any longer, fixed a small memory leak, and optimized several functions.

MarkLite is an open-source, lightweight Markdown Viewer and Editor for Linux and Windows. I wrote MarkLite out of frustration for having to load a feature-heavy Markdown editor to just view or make a quick change. I developed MarkLite in Dart/Flutter and it was one of my first attempts to write a platform application in that language/framework combination.

Overview

Basically the way MarkLite works is it opens in a viewer mode (you can set it as your default MarkDown viewer by right clicking on a .md file and choosing MarkLite there). You can either read the Markdown document then close it or simply click the Edit button to edit it. Edit mode is a full features edit with features like Find, Goto Line, Line Numbers, Syntax Highlighting and Key Commands.

Features

  • Lightweight application that loads fast.
  • Can be set as your default viewer for Markdown files.
  • Viewer/Editor modes.
  • Offers a light and dark mode.
  • Button to online markdown reference
  • Editor has basic functionality for quick edits.
  • Common keyboard shortcuts in editor.
  • Find/Replace in editor.
  • GoTo Line feature in editor.
  • Line numbering in editor for convenience.
  • Reference button points to a Markdown reference website in your browser.
  • Markdown syntax highlighting in editor.
  • Ability to print both in viewer and edi modes.

MarkLite is currently available on Linux in .deb, .rpm, and snap packages. Now available in a Windows version also.

Final Thoughts

Remember that MarkLite is a lightweight viewer/editor and does not have the full editor/IDE dynamic syntax analysis and other features. This application is focused on being a FAST loading viewer with light editing, not a feature rich editor.

You can read more or download the package, snap or installer at the MarkLite website.

]]>PromptRobot 0.3.0 Released2026-07-25T00:00:00+00:002026-07-25T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/PromptRobot-0.3.0-ReleasedBirmingham, Alabama (July 26th, 2026) PromptRobot, the easy-to-use graphical tool for Linux to store and run your obscure or complex command-line apps and bash commands with the click of a button, today announced the release of version 0.2.0, bringing usability improvement for Linux system administrators and everyday users alike:

What is PromptRobot
PromptRobot is a lightweight and fast graphical tool for Linux to store and run your obscure or complex command-line apps and bash commands with the click of a button, without having to look them up every time or search through bash history.

Features:

  • Lightweight graphical interface to run saved terminal commands.
  • Save complex and infrequently used commands.
  • Supports both Bash and PowerShell for Linux.
  • Great for both Linux beginners and System Administrators.

“PromptRobot is built to be simple, fast, dependable, and do one thing well following the NIX philosophy” said Mike Chilson, author of PromptRobot.

Availability
PromptRobot 0.3.0 is available now. For more information, visit promptrobot.app.

Press Contact
Mike Chilson
info@resizeall.app
resizeall.app

]]>ResizeAll 0.3.0 Released2026-06-20T00:00:00+00:002026-06-20T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/ResizeAll-0.3.0-ReleasedBirmingham, Alabama (June 20th, 2026) ResizeAll, the easy-to-use batch image resizer for Windows and Linux, today announced the release of version 0.3.0, bringing usability improvement for web developers and everyday users alike:

What’s new in ResizeAll 0.3.0

  • Updated to the latest Dart and Flutter framework version.
  • Optimized Processing Code: Improvements under the hood help ResizeAll run more efficiently during batch operations, reducing overhead while maintaining high-quality resizing results.
  • Updated New About Dialog: A redesigned About window makes it easier to view version details, contact information, and the official project website.

“ResizeAll is built to be simple, fast, and dependable,” said Mike Chilson, author of ResizeAll. “Version 0.3.0 builds on the existing ease of use for batch resizing images, and improving performance and polishing the overall experience.”

Availability
ResizeAll 0.3.0 is available now. For more information, visit resizeall.app.

Press Contact
Mike Chilson
info@resizeall.app
resizeall.app

]]>MarkLite Markdown Viewer/Editor Version 1.0.1 Released2026-06-19T00:00:00+00:002026-06-19T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/MarkLite-1.0.1-ReleasedMarkLite version 1.0.1 is a maintenance release. Changes include being recompiled with the latest Dart, Flutter, and library dependencies, and slight rework of the code that shuts down the program when you exit to make it more streamline.

MarkLite is an open-source, lightweight Markdown Viewer and Editor for Linux and Windows. I wrote MarkLite out of frustration for having to load a feature-heavy Markdown editor to just view or make a quick change. I developed MarkLite in Dart/Flutter and it was one of my first attempts to write a platform application in that language/framework combination.

Overview

Basically the way MarkLite works is it opens in a viewer mode (you can set it as your default MarkDown viewer by right clicking on a .md file and choosing MarkLite there). You can either read the Markdown document then close it or simply click the Edit button to edit it. Edit mode is a full features edit with features like Find, Goto Line, Line Numbers, Syntax Highlighting and Key Commands.

Features

  • Lightweight application that loads fast.
  • Can be set as your default viewer for Markdown files.
  • Viewer/Editor modes.
  • Offers a light and dark mode.
  • Button to online markdown reference
  • Editor has basic functionality for quick edits.
  • Common keyboard shortcuts in editor.
  • Find/Replace in editor.
  • GoTo Line feature in editor.
  • Line numbering in editor for convenience.
  • Reference button points to a Markdown reference website in your browser.
  • Markdown syntax highlighting in editor.

MarkLite is currently available on Linux in .deb, .rpm, and snap packages. Now available in a Windows version also.

Final Thoughts

Remember that MarkLite is a lightweight viewer/editor and does not have the full editor/IDE dynamic syntax analysis and other features. This application is focused on being a fast viewer with light editing, not a feature rich editor.

You can read more or download the package, snap or installer at the MarkLite website.

]]>The Linux File/Directory Command Trinity2026-06-10T00:00:00+00:002026-06-10T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/The-Linux-File-Command-TrinityIntroduction

The cp, rm, and mv commands form the essential “File/Directory Trinity” for managing files/directories in Linux and Unix-like systems.

cp (copy) duplicates files and directories. rm (remove) deletes them. mv (move) relocates or renames them.

Mastering these three commands is critical for efficient and safe file and directory management in the terminal. This tutorial covers basic usage, common options, advanced techniques, and important safety.

Basic Use

Copying Files and Directories with cp

Copy a single file to another filename cp source.txt destination.txt
This creates an exact copy of source.txt as destination.txt.

Copy a file in the current directory to another directory
cp document.pdf /home/user/Documents/

Copy multiple files from the current directory to another directory cp file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt /target/directory/
cp *.txt /target/directory/

Copy a directory recursively to another directory (use the -r or -R flag for directories)
cp -r projects/ /backup/projects/

Removing Files and Directories with rm

Delete a single file in the current directory
rm unwanted.txt

Delete multiple files in the current directory
rm file1.log file2.log
rm *.log
rm file[1-5].log

Delete a directory and all the contents from the current directory
rm -r old_project/
Warning: rm is permanent—there is no recycle bin.

Moving or Renaming with mv

Move a file in the current directory to another Directory
mv report.pdf /home/user/Archives/

Rename a file in the current directory
mv old_name.txt new_name.txt

Move and rename a file in the current directory in one step
mv data.csv /archive/final_report_2026.csv

Move multiple files in the current directory
mv file1.txt file2.txt archive/
mv *.txt archive/
mv file[1-2].txt archive/

Common Options

For the cp command
-r / -R Recursive: copy directories and contents cp -r src/ dest/
-i Interactive: prompt before overwrite cp -i file.txt existing.txt
-v Verbose: show what is being copied cp -v *.jpg images/
-u Update: copy only if source is newer cp -u *.txt backup/
-p Preserve: keep permissions, timestamps, etc. cp -p important.doc ~/secure/
-a Archive: like -p -r -d for backups cp -a /etc/configs/ ~/backup/

For rm (Remove)
-i Interactive: prompt for each file rm -i *.tmp
-I Interactive: prompt once for multiple files (safer than -f) rm -I *.bak
-f Force: no prompts, ignore non-existent files rm -f temp.log
-r / -R Recursive: delete directories and contents rm -r folder/
-v Verbose: show what is being removed rm -rv old_dir/

For mv (Move/Rename)
-i Interactive: prompt before overwrite mv -i file.txt existing.txt
-v Verbose: show what is being moved mv -v *.png images/
-u Update: move only if source is newer mv -u newdata/ archive/
-b Backup: creates a backup of the existing file in the destination if the same file name already exists mv -b config.conf config.conf.bak

Advanced Uses and Combinations

Copy with Wildcards (All Three Commands Support These)
Copy all JPEGs in the current directory to another directory
cp *.jpg /pictures/

Remove all temporary files in teh current directory
rm *.tmp

Move all pdf files that start with “report” in teh current directory to another directory
mv report_*.pdf /final_reports/

Safe Recursive Operations
Copy entire home directory structure (removing the ownernship) to another directory
cp -a --no-preserve=ownership /home/user/ /backup/

Remove a subdirectory and all its contents in teh current directory
rm -rf testdata/
Careful! Make sure this is what you want to do!

Move and Rename in Bulk
You can combine mv with shell features, Rename all .txt to .md
for file in *.txt; do mv "$file" "${file%.txt}.md"; done

Copy Only Newer Files Across Systems
cp -u -v /local/project/* user@remote:/remote/project/
Use scp or rsync for remote, but cp locally

Pro Tips and Safety

Always use -i when unsure, especially with rm and mv.

Test with echo first: echo rm -rf *.tmp to preview what will be deleted.

Create aliases for safety (add to ~/.bashrc):
alias rm='rm -i'
alias cp='cp -i'
alias mv='mv -i'

Use rsync for complex copies, more powerful than cp for large directories and remote transfers.
Check before destructive actions: ls first, then act.
Permissions matter. You may need sudo for system files, but be extremely careful.
Recovering deleted files is difficult. Use backups or tools like testdisk/photorec only as last resort.

Golden Rule: Never run rm -rf / or similar without understanding the consequences.

Conclusion

The cp, rm, and mv commands are the foundation of Linux file management. Once you master their basic syntax, options, and safe practices, you’ll navigate and organize your filesystem with confidence and speed. Practice in a safe directory first. Combine these commands with other commands, pipes, and shell loops for powerful automation on your Linux system.

More details are available in the man pages:

man cp
man rm
man mv

Stay tuned for more tutorials.

]]>The Linux ls Command2026-05-23T00:00:00+00:002026-05-23T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/The-Linux-ls-CommandIntroduction

The ls command is one of the most fundamental and frequently used commands in Linux and Unix-like operating systems. It stands for “list” and is used to display the contents of a directory. This tutorial covers basic usage, advanced options, and professional tips for mastering ls.

Basic Use of the ls Command

Listing Files and Directories

  • To list the contents of the current directory in the terminal, type: ls
  • This shows files and directories in a simple columnar format.

Listing with Details

  • Use the -l option for a long listing format that includes permissions, owner, size, and modification time: ls -l

Listing Hidden Files

  • Hidden files start with a dot (.). Use the -a option to show them: ls -a
  • Note: You can combine options like this: ls -la or ls -al

Listing Specific Directory

  • To list contents of a specific directory: ls /path/to/directory
  • Example: ls /home/user/Documents

Human-Readable Sizes

  • Use -h with -l to show file sizes in human-readable format (KB, MB, etc.): ls -lh

Using Wildcards
Wildcards are powerful pattern-matching tools that allow you to list directories and files selectively without typing every name. They are especially useful when working with large directories or groups of files.

Wildcard Description Example
* Matches any number of characters ls *.txt
? Matches exactly one character ls report?.pdf
[] Matches any character in the set ls file[1-5].txt

Advanced Uses of the ls Command

Sorting Options

  • Sort by size (largest first): ls -lS
  • Sort by modification time (newest first): ls -lt
  • Reverse sort: Add -r, e.g., `ls -ltr (oldest first)

Recursive Listing

  • List contents of directories recursively: ls -R

File Type Indicators

  • Show file types with symbols (/ for directories, * for executables): ls -F

Colorized Output

  • Many systems have color support enabled by default. If not: ls --color=auto
  • NOTE: many modern distros alias ls to ls --color=auto

Ignoring Patterns

  • Ignore files matching a pattern: ls --ignore=\*.tmp

Combining Options

  • Common powerful combination: ls -lathr This shows all files (-a), long format (-l), human-readable sizes (-h), sorted by time (-t), reversed (-r)

Pro Tips: Advanced Tips and Tricks

Setting Default ls Behavior in Login Scripts

  • You can create an alias in your shell configuration file to make ls behave differently by default.
  • For example, Bash users, edit ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile: alias ls='ls --color=auto -h' (can be ls with any parameters)
  • For more advanced defaults: alias ll='ls -lh' or alias la='ls -lah'
  • After editing, reload with: source ~/.bashrc

Piping ls Output to Other Commands

  • The | symbol connects the standard output (stdout) of the left command to the standard input (stdin) of the right command. This enables powerful command chaining without saving intermediate results to files.

Examples with grep

  • List only files containing “report” in their name: ls | grep report
  • Case-insensitive search: ls | grep -i report
  • Show detailed list of .txt files: ls -l | grep '\.txt$'
  • Other Useful Pipes
    • Count files in directory: ls | wc -l
    • Find largest files: ls -lS | head -n 10
    • Paginate long output: ls -l | less

Additional Pro Tips

  • Use ls -1 to list one file per line (useful for scripting).
  • For inode numbers: ls -i
  • Show full paths with tree alternative or find, but ls can combine: ls -d $PWD/\*
  • In scripts, always quote variables when using ls to handle spaces: ls "$DIR"
  • Performance note: For very large directories, consider using find instead of ls -R

Conclusion

Mastering the ls command significantly improves your efficiency on the Linux command line. Practice these options in your terminal to become comfortable with them. Combine ls with other commands using pipes for even more powerful workflows. Don’t forget, all this information can be found in the ls man page man ls.

Stay tuned for more tutorials.

]]>MarkLite Markdown Viewer/Editor Version 1.0.0 Released2026-05-08T00:00:00+00:002026-05-08T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/MarkLite-1.0.0-ReleasedMarkLite version 1.0.0 has been released and is now stable and in maintenence mode. This mean there will probably be no more major additions to it and only language updates and any bugs that might be discovered.

MarkLite is an open-source, lightweight Markdown Viewer and Editor for Linux. I wrote MarkLite out of frustration for having to load a feature-heavy Markdown editor to just view or make a quick change. I developed MarkLite in Dart/Flutter and it was one of my first attempts to write a platform application in that language/framework combination.

Overview

Basically the way MarkLite works is it opens in a viewer mode. You can either read the Markdown document then close it or simply click the Edit button to edit it. Edit mode is a full features edit with features like Find, Goto Line, Line Numbers, Syntax Highlighting and Key Commands.

Features

  • Lightweight application that loads fast.
  • Can be set as your default viewer for Markdown files.
  • Viewer/Editor modes.
  • Offers a light and dark mode.
  • Button to online markdown reference
  • Editor has basic functionality for quick edits.
  • Common keyboard shortcuts in editor.
  • Find/Replace in editor.
  • GoTo Line feature in editor.
  • Line numbering in editor for convenience.
  • Reference button points to a Markdown reference website in your browser.
  • Markdown syntax highlighting in editor.

MarkLite is currently avalible on Linux only in .deb, .rpm, and snap packages (windows and flatpak coming soon).

Final Thoughts

Remember that MarkLite is a lightweight viewer/editor and does not have the full editor/IDE dynamic syntax analysis and other features. This application is focused on being a fast viewer with light editing, not a feature rich editor.

You can read more and download the package or snap at the MarkLite website.

]]>MarkLite Markdown Viewer/Editor Version 0.6.0 Released2026-04-03T00:00:00+00:002026-04-03T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/MarkLite-0.6.0-ReleasedMarkLite version 0.6.0 has been released with several new features including a toolbar button to launch a Markdown Reference in the users browser, assigning a hot key to the theme button (light/dark modes), and more code refactoring to keep the program lean and fast.

MarkLite is an open-source, lightweight Markdown Viewer and Editor for Linux. I wrote MarkLite out of frustration for having to load a feature-heavy Markdown editor to just view or make a quick change. I developed MarkLite in Dart/Flutter and it was one of my first attempts to write a platform application in that language/framework combination.

Overview

Basically the way MarkLite works is it opens in a viewer mode. You can either read the Markdown document then close it or simply click the Edit button to edit it. Edit mode is a full features edit with features like Find, Goto Line, Line Numbers, Syntax Highlighting and Key Commands.

Features

  • Lightweight application that loads fast.
  • Can be set as your default viewer for Markdown files.
  • Viewer/Editor modes.
  • Offers a light and dark mode.
  • Button to online markdown reference
  • Editor has basic functionality for quick edits.
  • Common keyboard shortcuts in editor.
  • Find/Replace in editor.
  • GoTo Line feature in editor.
  • Line numbering in editor for convenience.
  • Markdown syntax highlighting in editor.

MarkLite is currently avalible in .deb, .rpm, and snap packages.

Final Thoughts

Remember that MarkLite is a lightweight viewer/editor and does not have the full editor/IDE dynamic syntax analysis and other features. This application is focused on being a fast viewer with light editing, not a feature rich editor.

You can read more and download the package or snap at the MarkLite website.

]]>MarkLite Markdown Viewer/Editor Version 0.5.0 Released2026-03-17T00:00:00+00:002026-03-17T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/MarkLite-0.5.0-ReleasedMarkLite version 0.5.0 has been released with refactoring of the keyboard handler and markdown viewer code to keep pushing the program to be light and fast, also new a feature to support GitLib specific markdown extensions.

MarkLite is an open-source, lightweight Markdown Viewer and Editor for Linux. I wrote MarkLite out of frustration for having to load a feature-heavy Markdown editor to just view or make a quick change. I developed MarkLite in Dart/Flutter and it was one of my first attempts to write a platform application in that language/framework combination.

Overview

Basically the way MarkLite works is it opens in a viewer mode. You can either read the Markdown document then close it or simply click the Edit button to edit it. Edit mode is a full features edit with features like Find, Goto Line, Line Numbers, Syntax Highlighting and Key Commands.

Features

  • Lightweight application that loads fast.
  • Can be set as your default viewer for Markdown files.
  • Viewer/Editor modes.
  • Offers a light and dark mode.
  • Editor has basic functionality for quick edits.
  • Common keyboard shortcuts in editor.
  • Find/Replace in editor.
  • GoTo Line feature in editor.
  • Line numbering in editor for convenience.
  • Markdown syntax highlighting in editor.

MarkLite is currently avalible in .deb, .rpm, and snap packages.

Final Thoughts

Remember that MarkLite is a lightweight viewer/editor and does not have the full editor/IDE dynamic syntax analysis and other features. This application is focused on being a fast viewer with light editing, not a feature rich editor.

You can read more and download the package or snap at the MarkLite website.

]]>MarkLite Markdown Viewer/Editor Version 0.4.0 Released2026-03-11T00:00:00+00:002026-03-11T00:00:00+00:00https://mikechilson.com/blog/MarkLite-0.4.0-ReleasedMarkLite version 0.4.0 has been released with updated Dart and Flutter versions, Refactoring of code to keep the program light and fast, also new a feature to track any changes to an open file if another program modifies it.

MarkLite is an open-source, lightweight Markdown Viewer and Editor for Linux. I wrote MarkLite out of frustration for having to load a feature-heavy Markdown editor to just view or make a quick change. I developed MarkLite in Dart/Flutter and it was one of my first attempts to write a platform application in that language/framework combination.

Overview

Basically the way MarkLite works is it opens in a viewer mode. You can either read the Markdown document then close it or simply click the Edit button to edit it. Edit mode is a full features edit with features like Find, Goto Line, Line Numbers, Syntax Highlighting and Key Commands.

Features

  • Lightweight application that loads fast.
  • Can be set as your default viewer for Markdown files.
  • Viewer/Editor modes.
  • Offers a light and dark mode.
  • Editor has basic functionality for quick edits.
  • Common keyboard shortcuts in editor.
  • Find/Replace in editor.
  • GoTo Line feature in editor.
  • Line numbering in editor for convenience.
  • Markdown syntax highlighting in editor.

MarkLite is currently avalible in .deb, .rpm, and snap packages.

Final Thoughts

Remember that MarkLite is a lightweight viewer/editor and does not have the full editor/IDE dynamic syntax analysis and other features. This application is focused on being a fast viewer with light editing, not a feature rich editor.

You can read more and download the package or snap at the MarkLite website.

]]>