Linux Users

[Ish]

Regarding C#, Java and C++. For database/ business apps where shipping the .net framework / JRE isn't a big deal I'd always use one of those two. Just not having to worry overly about memory management is such a huge boon. And they make it pretty straightforward to do the kinds of things you'd want to do in business apps.

I don't have a strong preference over either. Yes C# has plagarised Java. But then Java plagarised C++ and other languages. Big deal. Personally I prefer the .net framework to the Java APIs: I just find it to be better documented and less.... messy.

As for C++. Well I'll always have a soft spot on it. And if your writing stuff for Linux then its almost mandatory if you want to write KDE and Gnome apps. I'd also still use it for shrink wrap applications and downloadable stuff.

They've all got there place basically

[labrat]

Binary distros don't enable Apple's patented bytecode intepreter in FreeType by default, so truetype fonts won't look as good as on Windows/MacOS. If you're using a source based distro like Gentoo it should already be enabled unless you've put bindist in your USE (Gentoo).

[Valken]

I have to admit, that these days when I run graphical Linux apps I use X11 forwarding and display the apps on my Mac.

It's ages since I've even started the graphical environment on my Linux box so I put it on last night! I'd forgotten how much effort I'd put into customising XFCE!

[Commander Marklar]

That's how I used to run stuff at uni. Any of the SPOS (systems programming and operating systems) class could go to any of the computers and just fire up any of the clients to run on the computers X server. X may not be that pretty internally but it sure is a well designed system and works perfectly.

[Valken]

Aye, I'm a big fan of running X11 stuff remotely. It's nice to have a "cute" laptop running some heavy duty apps without any serious pwning of it's underspecced processor and much less network usage than one would expect.

I still think it's funny when people go on about Terminal Services and Citrix (OK, so Citrix is much more but *shrug*) like they're greatest thing ever while being totally ignorant to the client/server idea of the X11 protocol.

[Ish]

Valken - do you need any particular software on the Mac to be able to do that? I ask as I'm thinking of buying an iBook in a couple of months (basically as soon as I've moved house) and that sounds kind of cool.

[Valken]

There's a version of X11 for OSX that Apple provide as an extra on the Panther install CDs or for download from there sites.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/x11/

You just ssh into the host machine using the -X switch. It should set the display correctly and if you run a graphical app on the Linux box it'll appear on the local desktop.

It's a Unix thing and OSX is essentially a flavour of Unix. (FreeBSD with Mach kernel)

I think it's basically a port of XFree86 4.4.3 and it works great... even does hardware accelerated OpenGL and stuff.

And for pointless fact fans... it was John Carmack of id who did the original port of XFree86 for MacOS X Server.

[Ish]

Nice. I'm so there

[Resonance]

What would you say is that best resource for learning Linux and understanding the more techinical things you can do with it?

[Commander Marklar]

tbh, i wouldn't worry about technical stuff if you're having trouble getting around the basics and setting it all up

hmm, i can't think of anything off the top of my head... there are loads of docs and stuff online and that usually come with a distro. maybe linux for dummies? any number of O'Reilly books will do you, plus there is always something like a boxed distro that may help.

having just read that back, that sounds so elitist but i don't mean it like that >_<

edit: you could always have a play with knoppix too.

[Valken]

Mandrake's a good n00b distro...

The best thing to do is set up Linux with the oh so popular Apache, PHP and MySQL config... prob the most common Linux function and setting them up is a good learning tool.

[Ish]

If you come from a Windows background I'd stress not giving in immediately too. Give it a week or two. It took me about a week to settle in and about another week to feel comfortable.

For basic use I've found that its not so much that its horrifically more complicated than Windows its just different and the initial head scratching is just down to you not knowing what you should be doing as opposed to something being particularly complicated.

[gingerj]

I found my Red Hat Linux Unleashed 6.x.x whatever it was back then was very helpful with what was actually going on with linux its not a very difficult o/s to use and isn't a resource hog and the security aspects are amazing since like 99% of anything bad happening on your computer is created via holes in some M$ program Plus if you get lost and stuff you could always use wine and return to familiar territory.

[Valken]

Dual booting is the only way to go IMO... Why not have the best of both worlds? HD space is so cheap and gaming on Linux is a little annoying when DirectX is the most prevalent gaming API out there.

Plus Office 2003 = better than anything on Linux.

[Resonance]

How would a create a dual boot machine that boots straight into windows without making me choose windows everytime I bootup. Ideally I would Like to have linux act as if is not there until I want to boot into it.