School begins, habits must change
29 September 2007 in Personal ExperienceWith the start of the new school year, new classes must be taken, and needless to say begin new adventures.
This semester I’m having a major turnover. My programming class is going to be restricted only to Java code (OOP). As if that wasn’t enough changes, I’m also changing my current OS to linux (Ubuntu to be more specific) to really ease the pain of using Eclipse.
Its not my first time using Linux, but its certainly changed since last time. Ubuntu choice was really made in a instance of a second, being one of the most popular distros. I must say, they are really becoming more and more similar to Windows (witch is a good thing).
After installing in my laptop and desktop computer I was surprised to discover that most (80/90%) of the hardware was supported. Two years ago, this number was just plain fiction.
Another feature that astonishes me in Ubuntu (not exclusive) is the visual integrated apt-get/dpkg. The simple process to get any software you need, its just incredible. This is the kind of stuff, no other (proprietary) OS will ever get this good.
But every software have its flaws. In my fist impression, the cons are:
- Full builtin NTFS support (I’m already installing ntfs-config for this);
- The still missing proprietary software you really miss from Windows (VS.NET, Office, iTunes, Flash, etc.);
- Better games;
- Even better driver support. e.g: It supports the builtin laptop volume changer, without supporting the sound board (no sound);
For now, the pros overcome the cons.
But as a programmer, none of this matters most than a good development environment.
In this subject, I was already sure the python, gcc and java support was going to be enough for the time being. What I didn’t expected was how easy I got Mono full installed and ready for developing. Joining this framework with the new MonoDevelop IDE, can most probably make the best developer environment in linux (at least for managed code).
I must say, for a package based on a Microsoft product, they sure do a lot better on deploying that MS. I still hope MS finds a more suitable way to get their framework deployed.
So much more could be said about my new environment. As so, in the following times, I will be focusing more on Linux/Java developing. I will also keep my WPF content, because I find this technology of immense value that no other platform was capable of competing (even java with its swing + substance + nimbus can match this).
By the way: For really cool java user interfaces this (curious-creature) blog its just amazing.
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9 comments. Add your own comment.
Rob says 29 September 2007 @ 13:51
A few points:
- eclipse works rather well in Windows
- flash 9 exists for Linux (just need to add the correct repositories, or in Ubuntu go to add/remove programs and enable the resctricted programs)
- you also got open-office, and for itunes replacement use amarok, it’s actually much better
- deployment of .net in windows couldn’t be simpler: it’s just an non-interactive installer
Mário Lopes says 29 September 2007 @ 14:42
The points you pin down about Linux are not exactly Linux pitfalls but rather Windows thingies you’re used too.
- NTFS: Linux has a plethora of filesystems that are way better than NTFS. The sole reason for supporting NTFS is to help the Windows users to access their partitions. I’d rather bash Microsoft for not opening the NTFS specifications, otherwise it would have been correctly implemented by now;
- VS.NET, Office, etc.. have nothing to do with Linux; Again, you can try bashing Microsoft for not porting them to Linux, but it’s certainly not the OS’s fault;
- Better games: I’ll give you that, but those wanting to have fun just buy a Wii;
- Driver support: Out of the box, Ubuntu supports way more hardware than Vista or XP.
MN says 29 September 2007 @ 15:56
COnfirmo o comentário anterior; uso Linux, tenho o flash 9 a funcionar perfeitamente, assim como o OpenOffice (lê/escreve Word, Excel, etc). Quanto ao iTunes, há muito software do mesmo estilo (Amarok costuma ser o mais indicado)…
IPHONEZ says 29 September 2007 @ 17:35
“The still missing proprietary software you really miss from Windows (VS.NET, Office, iTunes, Flash, etc.)”
Que argumento estupido contra o linux, se não há VS.NET/office em linux, a culpa será da microsoft ou do linux? O Flash há, o itunes tens clones muito bons
“Better games;”
Outra argumento estupido, será culpa do linux ou dos estudios de jogos
“Even better driver support. e.g: It supports the builtin laptop volume changer, without supporting the sound board (no sound);”
Ja tentaste usar o google?
pedro mg says 29 September 2007 @ 19:48
Well done. Don’t forget to use the Deskbar applet on the botton panel. It’s very handy once you get used to it.
Are you on Gutsy ?
You may have to change the sound defs. What’s your laptop brand/model ? Enable PCM volume on the volume preferences.
$ lspci
can you see the sound device ?
$ alsamixer
You can see it on menu Desktop > then its on Preferences (i believe, i’m on Debian) and it’s the Hardware option, to see all the HW on the machine. I bet you’ll be having sound by now.
apt-cache search java | more is your friend
fabiopedrosa says 30 September 2007 @ 17:40
Thanks rob, for your points.
Indeed, eclipse works really well on windows. If it weren’t for others classes were Linux is a must, I could’ve stayed in windows.
Also, Flash Player do exist… but not its editor. That’s also a need piece of software.
Open-Office it still far from the MS Office, but Amarok sure beat some of iTunes problems.
On the subject of MS .NET framework deployment, I think MS could do a better work. Although its installer is pretty simple (and works fine), it still needs to be manually downloaded by the needing software. Windows should just offer an automatic dependency resolution for its framework. Even on Vista, with the 3.0 builtin, when the 3.5 get realeased, software that makes use of it need to download (if not allready) and install it manually.
Replying to other comments, I don’t see why you suppose I were bashing Linux/Ubuntu in favor of Windows. Sure I understand Linux doesn’t have anything to do with Office/VS.NET/iTunes/etc support. Porting software is and allways will be for the ones that create the software in the 1st place. But, I still miss them
Rob says 1 October 2007 @ 09:09
Well you can always use the (java-based) Flex framework which is free, cross-platform and (if not yet, soon to be) open-source. Other compilers exist in the form of mtasc, haxe (same author), check osflash.org for alternatives. If you really need Adobe’s Flash try running it through wine, people have done it in the past (albeit with a few bugs).
I see what you mean regarding .net, it would be nice for windows to offer to download the appropriate framework version instead of only complaining that the program needs version x.
As for windows bashing, i’m a multi OS user and although i prefer a unix base (which i find much saner and logical) i recognize that M$ has created good software, VS is the prime example and it hasn’t competitors in the linux world (maybe QT builder, but let’s hope MonoDevelop will get there eventually).
Mário Lopes says 1 October 2007 @ 14:02
Rob,
VS.NET has a competitor, Eclipse. VS.NET is good, but Eclipse might be better due to huge panacea of available plugins (and because it’s a multi programming language IDE and not stuck to the .NET framework).
Rob says 2 October 2007 @ 11:11
Mario,
I agree. But Eclipse needs a good GUI-editor plugin, a wxWidgets one would be great, for wx-Ruby development for instance.
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