Linux Questions?

[Dalius]

If you have any questions regarding any distro of Linux, ask here!

[gish]

I just took the plung, I am sick of Windows and the whole idea of it and the crashing...so I am sure I wil have some linux questions...do you develop in Linux, if so you will be helpfull to me?

Thanks

[BovineCreature]

Linux/UNIX type operating systems are MUCH easier to code in, especially in languages like C and C++, because they were built on them. They contain many extra libraries, and documentation (do this command: man man) is built into the system. Also all UNIX systems come with an assembly compiler (gas or something), and most come with PERL too nowadays.

If you're serious about Linux, it is a good idea to learn how to use a good shell, such as BASH, some basic shell scripting, how the system works, etc. Buy a book. If you want a nice looking desktop run XFree86 (you probably already do), and check out http://www.themes.org/.

For any misc. hardware questions, a great place to look is www.linuxdocs.org, plus the website of whatever distro you got.

That's all.

-BovineCreature

[gish]

I am serious about using and developing in Linux. I am sick of Windows crashing and running like crap. So far my experience in Linux has been promising. Now I am going out to get a book to learn the basics like installing apps??...oh well a little learning I will have to do....but thanks for the reply....and I will be back!

G

[sans-hubris]

If you guys like Linux, but you still like MSVC++, then check out KDevelop (http://www.kdevelop.org). It's very MSVC++-ish. The next version will have an Intellisense-style code completion. Both Vim and Emacs (UNIX editors) have code completion, but not in the style that MSVC++ has. The KDevelop people are very close to finishing up the next version of KDevelop, so be on the look out!

[gish]

Yeah..I just set it up last night..it "looks" very good...now I hope it will "allow" me to develop!!??

G

[gish]

one question?
if I develop with Kdevelop can and will it run on other windows managers like Gnome? I am still learning this Linux environment so bear with me, and I am sure this is a good question for others as well!!??

Thanks

G

[imported_bryan]

I've been using Linux for a couple years. Gotta say I love the OS. However, I do mainly all my coding on Windows, which is where I spend most of my time :-(

I can also help answer any Linux questions anyone may have.

Post away!

[sans-hubris]

Originally posted by gish
one question?
if I develop with Kdevelop can and will it run on other windows managers like Gnome? I am still learning this Linux environment so bear with me, and I am sure this is a good question for others as well!!??

Thanks

G As long as you have the KDE/Qt libraries installed, definitely. KDE/Qt apps have no problems running on other window managers. They are X Windows clients just like everything else.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Hey guys, I use Jext from www.Jext.org I know Nafae just installed it and he seems to like it as well. It's written in Java so you do have to install at least the Java Runtime Environment (available for free at www.javasoft.com) But once it's installed you can run any Java program.

Although it's written in Java it's a great editor and mini IDE for C, C++, assembler, html, Java, Python, Ruby, PHP, etc.

Just thought I'd toss out another suggestion for an editor. Of course, I know plenty of people who do their entire development in vi. They seem happy, It's not for me but they seem to like it. ;)

[GnuVince]

Of course, I know plenty of people who do their entire development in vi. They seem happy, It's not for me but they seem to like it.


Correction: vim :) Verrrrrrrrrrry different.

[Feztaa]

Yeah, using vi would be pretty painful. Vim rocks though, I wouldn't even think of writing code in any other editor.

Hell, I even edit my emails with vim ;)

[Ludootje]

I haven't seen any difference yet between vim & vi, except that I have to type less (the 'm') when I use vi :)
What's the difference in fact?

[Pizentios]

Vi is old and outdated....plus the licence that it is under doesnt allow people to change and make it better...vim is a vi clone, under a better licence that allows futher development. plus on new versions of linux when you type vi your still using vim. That's why you don't notice the difference.

[BovineCreature]

Originally posted by Feztaa
Yeah, using vi would be pretty painful. Vim rocks though, I wouldn't even think of writing code in any other editor.

Hell, I even edit my emails with vim ;)

Hehe. I use vi. It is my favorite editor. It is Godly.
I've tried vim, but I've found the only difference is some coloring, and backspace erases your characters.
Vi is painful when you first start off, however. You have to get all your spacing right and crap, overall it's VERY annoying. On the other hand, it is VERY customizable. I'm sure vim is too, it's just vi is standard and it's better to know a standard editor than it is to know a non-standard one :D.

[GnuVince]

Vim has auto indenting for many languages, support for infinite undo, folding support, i18n support, has many GUI's, is standard in a lot of Linux distros, supports writing from right to left, etc. And Vim provides a vi compatibility mode. There's NO reason whatsoever not to use vim

[Dalp]

I'm looking to start a Linux box and was wondering:

What's a good distribution?
What's a good book to read?
And what's the system requirements to run Linux with a GUI?

[Strike]

Heh, I still remember the banner I made for codeexamples.com that you mention in your sig, Dalp. :)

Asking "what's a good distribution" is more likely to give you people's personal preferences than a rational debate about the ups and downs of certain distros. Instead, search around places like distrowatch.com and compare what they have, as well as listen to other people's comments. Personally, I like Debian :)

Good book to read ... well, there are tons of resources online like at www.tldp.com for starters. But perhaps the best advice is to simply get a book with a distro CD in it and just go through that book.

Linux with a GUI can run on as little as a Pentium/75 or so, with like 16MB of RAM, but it's not exactly a fun time. I'd say any P2 class machine with 32MB or more would be comfortable at the least.

[Dalp]

Has anyone here ever installed Linux on a Macintosh PowerPC? I could use some help.

[Strike]

http://people.debian.org/~branden/ibook.html

Here's an article on installing Debian woody (3.0) onto an iBook (without any physical media!), so I assume it at least steps through the installer. Assuming there aren't any vast hardware differences, this article should be able to help.

[jolinux]

Here is my server info that runs X-Windows.
I also have some scripts on codeexample.org
;)

http://www.jolinux.net/SysInfo/index.php

[sans-hubris]

Originally posted by jolinux
Here is my server info that runs X-Windows.
I also have some scripts on codeexample.org
;)

http://www.jolinux.net/SysInfo/index.php You have a really small hard drive.

[Strike]

Wow, is that uptime correct? 225 days?

[jolinux]

+10 gigs is a small harddrive? More than enuff for me and about 6 other users I would think. Yes, 225 days uptime! Going to drink a few beers with the 'boys' when I hit 365....well, I drink beer with them every weekend..I'll just have an excuse that day. ;)

[morphman]

I use vi too because i have to switch back and forth between a lot of operating systems (from SCO 5.0.6 UNIX to Redhat 7.3) and they all have vi. Of course some use vim but there not enough of a difference to really bug me. It is nice to be able to hit backspace and have it go back though instead of entering all sorts of foreign characters on the screen, hehe.

[Pizentios]

Ok, I've got a question....I was wondering about the windows c++ lib called conio.h. What is the unix/linux equivalant?


oh and i use vim for everything, it's just plain sweet.

[kmj]

ncurses.h or curses.h

[Pizentios]

sweet, thanks for the quick info.

[unruly]

Originally posted by morphman
I use vi too because i have to switch back and forth between a lot of operating systems (from SCO 5.0.6 UNIX to Redhat 7.3) and they all have vi. Of course some use vim but there not enough of a difference to really bug me. It is nice to be able to hit backspace and have it go back though instead of entering all sorts of foreign characters on the screen, hehe. :set compat

sets vi compatablity mode

[Strike]

holy thread resurrection, batman

[darelf]

If you really want to learn Linux and are a developer. Start with LFS (Linux From Scratch). After you go through that, you will know how every part of your Linux box works and why things are set the way they are.

[VoodooWizard]

gotta agree with darelf, I plan on trying that LFS as soon as I have some extra time from school. Sounds kinda fun to basically create your own linux distribution. 8)