A tool for unpacking multiple archives and other ramblings

I've always wondered why torrents are packed into multiple archives, sometimes even archives inside other archives. Anyway, I've got fed up with all the unpacking routines, especially after downloading several seasons of something that has each episode in an individual folder containing 20 rar or zip files. So, after one evening of coding this nightmare is now over.

Here is the screenshot of the stupidly named tool (click to visit project page):


It was also a good reason to try out new version of NetBeans. I still hate GUI builders, however for small "write and forget" kind of projects like Multi Unpacker it's a fairly good choice. However NetBeans is still slow and unresponsive in comparison with Eclipse.

So far Multi Unpacker is for Windows only, however it's a spare evening away from becoming cross-platform (and you are welcome to join the project). Too bad my MacBook broke down completely, so Macs will most probably not get any special treatment... This is also bad news for Hawkscope, unless someone is willing to donate me an old Mac? :)

Hawkscope on Mac. Finally.

Last week I have quit sleeping and did hell of a coding on Hawkscope. And there's a new version, with many significant changes and improvements. To name a few:

• Works on Mac OS X! (Java 5, Tiger / Leopard)


• Installer packages for Windows, Mac and Debian (Ubuntu).


• Settings can finally be changed via Settings Window, like in most normal applications...


• Speed! Especially noticeable when you have many network drives.


• Check for updates. A new way to annoy the users!


• Blacklist. Remove all the shit you don't want to see.

Download links:
hawkscope_0.4.0-1_i386.deb: Debian Package for i386 GTK Linux (Ubuntu)
hawkscope_0.4.0-1_amd64.deb: Debian Package for amd64 GTK Linux (Ubuntu)
Hawkscope-0.4.0.dmg: Mac OS X i386 Package (Tiger/Leopard)
hawkscope-0.4.0-installer.exe: Windows i386 Installer (XP/Vista)

Hawkscope: Getting Better

Finally, I've managed to finish the SWT implementation of Hawkscope GUI. Along with some other minor fixes and improvements it ended up as a new Hawkscope version: 0.3.0.

A list of key points for this release:

• Tray icon should work with Mac OS X (at least with 64-bit Leopard /w Java 6)


• Hawkscope menu is more responsive and usable


• Keyboard navigation through the menu is finally available


• Each OS/Architecture has it's own build


• Added -delay <milliseconds> startup parameter as a workaround for Java bug #6438179 that prevented Hawkscope from auto-starting in operating systems like Ubuntu. Read more in the User Guide

By the way, if you're on 64-bit Vista or 64-bit Leopard with Java 6 and you've got Maven in your hands, you could be helpful by providing the build for your OS. Thank You!

If Java is your cocaine, you are welcome to join the development - just contact me.

Download links for the new Hawkscope 0.3.0:

hawkscope-0.3.0-linux-gtk-32.jar - Linux GTK 32-bit Executable JAR
hawkscope-0.3.0-linux-gtk-64.jar - Linux GTK 64-bit Executable JAR
hawkscope-0.3.0-win-32.exe - Windows XP/Vista 32-bit Executable
hawkscope-0.3.0-win-32.jar - Windows XP/Vista 32-bit Executable JAR

Java 6 on 32-bit Intel Mac

Dying to have Java 6 on an older, non Core 2 Duo Intel Mac? You should get SoyLatte.

SoyLatte is a functional, X11-based port of the FreeBSD Java 1.6 patchset to Mac OS X Intel machines. SoyLatte is initially focused on supporting Java 6 development; however, the long-term view far more captivating: open development of Java 7 for Mac OS X, with a release available in concert with the official Sun release, supported on all recent versions of Mac OS X.

It lacks some features like system tray support, but overall these folks are doing a way better job than the official Apple Java team.