Saturday, December 6, 2008

Timekpr Version 0.2.2 is released!

This program will track and control the computer usage of your user accounts. You can limit their daily usage based on a timed access duration and configure periods of day when they can or cannot log in. With this application, administrators can limit account login time duration or account access hours.

DEVELOPMENT:

  • This program is heavily depended on Linux-PAM and its time and access modules.
  • Beta 5 has been released, and now supports Ubuntu, Kubuntu & Xbuntu version 8.04 and 8.10 - Special thanks to .nedberg for this much anticipated release.
  • If you would like to contribute to the code, join the timekpr-maintainers team on launchpad.
  • Current status indicated below:
    - Ubuntu Hardy: Works
    - Ubuntu Intrepid: Works
    - Kubuntu Hardy KDE3: Works
    - Kubuntu Interpid KDE4: Works
    - Xubuntu Hardy: Works

HISTORY & CREDITS:

  • This project was born after Charles Jackson's (crjackson) request for a program that time-limits user accounts:
    Ubuntu Forums. You can also find a progression of the history posted at the
    Bucknasty. blog.
  • This is a complete re-write in python and vast improvement from the original timekpr bash script:
    Waggledance.
  • Even Nedberg initially began to improve the original bash script from Chris Jackson. Savvas Radević packaged it and soon began co-development.
  • Special thanks go to Charles Jackson (crjackson), who has contributed a lot by suggesting, brainstorming useful features, writing the initial blueprint, and
    being the primary tester.
  • We would also like to thank all the people posting to that topic in ubuntu forums for their comments.

Additional Information
Developers Even Nedberg and Savvas Radević (or .nedberg and forger) of the Ubuntu forums have rewritten the package using python as opposed to the bash shell script of it's previous form. timekpr now has a full featured interface with the ability to change and grow as needed. The beta 3 release adds support for both KDE and Xfce versions of Ubuntu 8.04 & 8.10.

I have requested an additional feature of a black-out setting that would let you slice a chunk of time right out of the normally allowable login hours. This would be for designated home work time, or other required activities. Please bookmark this page for future updates.
- Charles

INSTRUCTIONS
Download the deb file and double click on it to install. Configure your users, click apply and then quit when done. Just remember to check back here to always get the latest version available.

Intrepid Ibex Users should install by adding Even's PPA repository to there software sources list, and then use your package manager to install. This will always give you the latest version and keep your system updated.

Stable repository:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/timekpr-maintainers/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/timekpr-maintainers/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main

Development repository:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/nedberg/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/nedberg/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main


Prior to installation, you must Un-install any previous versions by running the code below in a terminal session.
sudo dpkg --purge timekpr


2 comments:

Dennis van Leeuwen said...

When I try to download the .DEB I get;

Not Found
The requested URL /timekpr_0.2.2~b6_all.deb was not found on this server.

Bucknasty said...

That's because it's at beta 7. I've updated the post and fixed the link. If you have Intrepid installed, I would just add the repository listed in the post and get automatic updates.

-Charles