Database Users

What linux distro are you running?

Lately, I've seen more linux questions come up and people seem to want know what version of Linux they should use. So, I thought a poll would give people a good idea what others here are running and what they have to say about it. Please vote and comment if you'd like.
Currently, I'm running Ubuntu -- but will make the switch over the weekend to either Fedora or OpenSUSE, pending on the feedback that comes from this thread.

pseudoremora said:
Lately, I've seen more linux questions come up and people seem to want know what version of Linux they should use. So, I thought a poll would give people a good idea what others here are running and what they have to say about it. Please vote and comment if you'd like.
Currently, I'm running Ubuntu -- but will make the switch over the weekend to either Fedora or OpenSUSE, pending on the feedback that comes from this thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ubuntu here

Ubuntu 10.04 on my EEEpc and android in my blood

I was already expecting Ubuntu to be the clear winner -- but I'm hoping that it doesn't become a huge land slide win, lol.
I want to install something other than Ubuntu; so people's comment/feedback are very much welcome. Please, do share your opinions and experiences.

I have Ubuntu installed in VMWare Fusion, but that is for a class. I try to never touch the stuff.

pseudoremora said:
I was already expecting Ubuntu to be the clear winner -- but I'm hoping that it doesn't become a huge land slide win, lol.
I want to install something other than Ubuntu; so people's comment/feedback are very much welcome. Please, do share your opinions and experiences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to move from ubuntu, but are in love with it's binary packaging manager, you will love arch linux.
If you're a guy who loves to do everything from source, then gentoo is for you.
If you want a very stable system, and also all the tools needed for programming and making packages for yourself, slackware is for you.
If you are a total noob, ubuntu is the choice for you
I personally use gentoo most of the time.

darchstar said:
If you want to move from ubuntu, but are in love with it's binary packaging manager, you will love arch linux.
If you're a guy who loves to do everything from source, then gentoo is for you.
If you want a very stable system, and also all the tools needed for programming and making packages for yourself, slackware is for you.
If you are a total noob, ubuntu is the choice for you
I personally use gentoo most of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahahaha, thanks for the answers. I'm not a newcomer to linux, been using it for a while now, but just thought I'd get an idea as to what people were using. Arch Linux sounds interesting, but so does gentoo and slackware -- looks like I'lll be testing heavily over the weekend!

Where's the Linux Mint love??? Haha that's my distro of choice, but its built from Ubuntu so I guess I should vote for that...

Just loaded my first linux OS and so far it is great. I will be out of windows if everything keeps goes this smooth.
I have to get a couple windows programs to run under linux and if I can I will dump windows all together.
I am running Linux Mint and loving it so far.

zippy-man said:
Just loaded my first linux OS and so far it is great. I will be out of windows if everything keeps goes this smooth.
I have to get a couple windows programs to run under linux and if I can I will dump windows all together.
I am running Linux Mint and loving it so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're in luck my friend, I shall point you in the right direction:
WINE
2 votes for Linux Mint huh? Interesting.

Linux Mint is the best for me by far.
It's based off Ubuntu but made a lot nicer.
<3

How easy is Slackware to use?
edit: If you like Ubuntu, you can check out Debian. Ubuntu is the dummy version of Debian.
Linux has really grown since the 90's, almost all the widely known distro's are loved, and supported when it comes to say programming.
Just their are certain perks, like Gentoo uses a BSD based package installer called portage, and other stuff. I think it really just depends on what you are looking for, I'm personally looking into Arch Linux and Mint, but if I'm not happy, there's always Ubuntu for me

Backtrack !!!

kniteshift said:
How easy is Slackware to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's easy to set up and install, becuz is follows the KISS standard, but everything after that, you really need to know linux well to do, such as getting 3rd party packages, though people have been trying to make that easier with slapt-get and other overlays to the default package manager.

kniteshift said:
How easy is Slackware to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slackware was developed by Linus Torvalds (Linux creator). It's the oldest Linux distro around and its more "Unix-like" based. Slackware is considered one of the cleanest and least buggy distributions available today. For more information, you can go here -- it'll give you the Top 10 distro's.:
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major

linkinx64 said:
Backtrack !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yay Backtrack and Auditor!!!
I have an Ubuntu box, but run LOTS of linux distros as live CD's when the need arises, such as Backtrack and Auditor. I also like PCLinuxOS and the Games for Linux live dvd's. Last time I checked, there were two of them.
But my favorite Linux-based OS has got to be Android

Guess who voted Slack pseudo lol.
There is only one.

pseudoremora said:
You're in luck my friend, I shall point you in the right direction:
WINE
2 votes for Linux Mint huh? Interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks i loaded that up a couple days ago pretty cool.
Wine is emulating most of the windows programs i need but a couple will still crash etc. I am working on it trying to learn but so far it is going good

+1 for Mint.

Dual boot Arch and Ubuntu, but have not booted Ubuntu in quite a while.

sdk for non intel mac

i went to finally get the sdk for my imac,then i realized its only available for intel based macs.is there anything i can do

boydroid said:
i went to finally get the sdk for my imac,then i realized its only available for intel based macs.is there anything i can do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Join up with the year 2000.

That MAC has been good to me so not gonna happen...how about a answer that might actually help
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

is kimpossible

boydroid said:
That MAC has been good to me so not gonna happen...how about a answer that might actually help
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok first of all, why are you talking about a media access control? it's not relevant to this discussion about macs. second, you need to get a new mac. the mac minis are great and are only about 600 bucks. you have an incompatible computer. incompatible computer is incompatible.

boydroid said:
That MAC has been good to me so not gonna happen...how about a answer that might actually help
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the ONLY answer that's gonna help you.
Unless you manage to get Google to write an SDK for PPC.

If you figger out how to install Linux on your system, it would work that way.

illogic6 said:
If you figger out how to install Linux on your system, it would work that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, it wouldn't.
The Linux SDK is still x86 only.

Yet again Apple efs its customer base
You could possibly get away with some kind of Virtual Machine, but I have a feeling vbox won't run on your architecture either.
And $600 is WAY to much to pay for a Mini.
Hell buy a $200 netbook and install Ubuntu with a Mac theme - you can't tell a difference other than the awesome that is radiated from a Linux machine VS a mac - unless you are just a linux guy and know how it works...then you could tell a difference....ok so there are some differences...but buy a white HP netbook and slap one of those Apple stickers they give you with an IPod on it...then you cant tell a difference....well you still could but its getting arguable then.
This is why the only apple product I will ever own is my 160gig Ipod classic - and when it dies Ill just build a new EEE PC for my car.

only reason i use a mac is because i need software such as final cut pro and aperture which are not found on windows or linux.

There's no way to use the SDK on a PPC Mac without reengineering the whole thing from scratch. The PPC is a big-endian processor, and x86 is little-endian, so your byte-ordering and structure sizes are different. If you've ever delved into cross-platform compiling (OpenWRT is a good example), you know that's its a major PITA. I've adapted a few small pieces of C code to successfully compile on PPC, and its no joy.
You're going to be SOOL on the virtualization front as well. There was a version of VirtualPC years ago that performed software x86 emulation on the PPC platform, but performance was abysmal even running Win98 on my Dual G5. I doubt that a modern Windows OS would even run at all. None of the current virtualization products will run on the PPC platform, as they all tie in to hardware virtualization support at some level (processor extensions or otherwise).
I truly feel your pain in this situation. I have a Dual G5 Power Mac that's still humming along happy as can be, but I can't run any current software on it. My iBook G4 isn't quite as happy these days, but is still 100% functional. Next to my G5, I have a cheapo Dell that I finally broke down and bought to power-up when I need to run x86 stuff. I recently picked up a used MacBook Pro, and WOW I can't believe what I was missing out on. The performance is night and day better than my G5, and all current software runs on it beautifully. With VMware Fusion installed, it can do anything I need. I hate to say it, but you need to upgrade.

well i got my answer,i guess a new mac purchase is a must...i have never used a windows pc so definately not going that route,question can i buy a pc with linux preinstalled on it...if that was possible i would like to learn to use it

boydroid said:
well i got my answer,i guess a new mac purchase is a must...i have never used a windows pc so definately not going that route,question can i buy a pc with linux preinstalled on it...if that was possible i would like to learn to use it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are some sites that sell computers with Linux pre-installed.
Here's one:
http://linuxpreloaded.com/

abcdfv said:
There are some sites that sell computers with Linux pre-installed.
Here's one:
http://linuxpreloaded.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks,ill start looking

boydroid said:
thanks,ill start looking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably what you're gonna want to do first is ask yourself:
"What do I use my computer for"
There are some Linux distributions specifically designed to work as media servers, as video/image manipulation stations, and basically just about any specialization you can imagine.
If you're answer is
"I just want to use it"
Chances are Ubuntu or Mint is the way to go.
If your answer is
"MUST HAVE THE FASTEST NO MATTER WHAT"
A Gentoo based distro is the way to go.

[Q] on device programming/coding

I've asked this a long time ago, but now i've heard this question from other's, twoo.
So:
Is there (or will there be) a way to code direct ON an android device (maybe at android 3.0)?
Not the script things..
The new android tablets (some of them already bringing hardware keyboards) would be great to code on. (really portable, long lasting battery) So it would be pretty cool if we could code java on device. (even programming on windows you often need have your portable device connected to debug).
Does anyone see any chance or will this be illusion?
Now when ces shows microsoft's arm windows will be late - maybe too late - this could push android once more. no need of an other os to code. ;-)
But maybe i'm only still al little dreamer.

I would think that eclipse or some company like that will make a mobile developing platform sometime in the near future. I hope so, anyways

I do all my coding on a Mac Book Pro with Eclipse. Starting go get a little cabin fever and would like to maybe go to Borders or a coffee shop with WiFi and spend some hours coding there.
Now, were I to do so, I can't see coding on my phone even with full size keyboard. And I'm not taking my pride and joy Mac Book out either and spill coffee on it or have it stolen.
I'll just get a Netbook as cheap as I can and max it's memory....should work fine

Rootstonian said:
I'll just get a Netbook as cheap as I can and max it's memory....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But why buying a netbook when you already own a tablet with keyboard? ;-)
Shure, coding on a smartphone seems to be a LITTLE useless, but a 10inch Tablet on the way to work in train, in a cofeeshop, during a coference...

infantilo said:
But why buying a netbook when you already own a tablet with keyboard? ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't own a tablet unless you're calling the Mac Book Pro laptop a "tablet". Why get a netbook? Because $300 is easier to deal with getting coffee spilled on or stolen vs $1,500

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS!!
I would not expect to see a full IDE development on a phone, just something that can take source files, compile to Java, then convert to Dalvik.
But for tablets, an IDE could be usable.
I have a thread on this very subject floating around -- essentially we would need to get a Java compiler running on the device, and also the DX tool that converts the .class files to the Dalvik bytecode.
infantilo said:
Shure, coding on a smartphone seems to be a LITTLE useless, but a 10inch Tablet on the way to work in train, in a cofeeshop, during a coference...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see this for most phone -- my Desire Z has a physical keyboard, which leaves lots of room on the screen for editing

so it seems to me, it would be our devs and hackers turn to get an compiler working. i don't see professionals to do this :-(
Desire Z and co are more tablets in my opinion than smartphones
where's this thred?

Java IDE on Android
see this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13245680&postcount=7

embedded device evolves into a pc?
i still need huge monitor, mouse and keyboard for development. when i can connect all that stuff to my phone/tablet it evolved already to a pc?
-didi

Bodhi Linux for Gen 8?

Just started a thread with the developers over at http://www.bodhilinux.com/forums/ to try and get this awesome little distro of linux running on our tablets. What is Bodhi linux? Its a beautiful, fully functional, low resource hogging version of Ubuntu, basically. It uses the e17 desktop window manager (http://www.enlightenment.org/) which is better suited to tablet use than Gnome or KDE. It will run on machines with virtually no resources (http://www.bodhilinux.com/system.php) and run well. Last but not least, have a look at the software that it can run (http://www.bodhilinux.com/software/doku.php).
One of the developers on the forum thinks that they might try and push an Arm based version of Bodhi up their list of todo's if they could get the support for it So if anyones interested, and even if your not, please visit the links and don't be afraid to join the forums to show support for this. This could be amazing if it bears fruit.
Thanks for reading
The guys over at Bodhi need a test machine so if anyone can offer some info as how to attain one it'd be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.

It looks like really nice dream. It is just awsome. I am waiting to authorization email from bodhilinux forum so I can post on it too. I am waiting for my Archos 101 to arrive. I wanted to start some work to get some linux distro with e17 on it. But Bodhilinux developed for it... I have no words. Just awsome.

Wouldn't it be brilliant! Not getting my hopes up yet but I can't help but get a little excited. Bodhi guys seem really supportive too, if they got this working it could really take off for them, every android tab owner would want it from galaxy tab to the nook and we might be the first.
edit:
Wow!! @ zindy. This man means buisness. Please anyone who reads this go over to the bodhi forum thread and check out what zindy offered. Dude , you're awesome.

Hmm, I never thought of using the E17 GUI for a tablet. I think where it shines is that the widgets are resizable! This means you can get them just right for your tablet's screen.
On the downside, it is amazing how many places on your tablet that you are reminded that a touch screen is NOT a mouse when you try to use a desktop environment that was designed to use a mouse. For a preview of what I am talking about simply use either an RDP or VNC client on your tablet to remote into one of your traditional computer's screen. Yes, this is solvable, but it means even MORE work.
All that said, if that guy gets it running on his Nokia N900, then getting it to work on our Archos shouldn't be all that much harder.
I think it would be easier to just do the Debian install on our tablets as found elsewhere on this forum and then E17 would just be an "apt-get" away. Next all you would do is import the wonderful customizations and artwork from Bodhi (not hard) and you are done!

I understand what your saying but the dev over at Bodhi seems really supportive so i,'d expect long term support for Arm based tablets in general. There maybe a tweaked GUI in the future ,who knows? But either way it'd be a really fun little distro to have on our device. I agree that Debian would probably be easier for us but that's a well established distro. Bodhi on the other hand is still in its infancy and they would really benefit from our support , as much as we could benefit from theirs.
Thanks for reading.

wartstew said:
Hmm, I never thought of using the E17 GUI for a tablet. I think where it shines is that the widgets are resizable! This means you can get them just right for your tablet's screen.
On the downside, it is amazing how many places on your tablet that you are reminded that a touch screen is NOT a mouse when you try to use a desktop environment that was designed to use a mouse. For a preview of what I am talking about simply use either an RDP or VNC client on your tablet to remote into one of your traditional computer's screen. Yes, this is solvable, but it means even MORE work.
All that said, if that guy gets it running on his Nokia N900, then getting it to work on our Archos shouldn't be all that much harder.
I think it would be easier to just do the Debian install on our tablets as found elsewhere on this forum and then E17 would just be an "apt-get" away. Next all you would do is import the wonderful customizations and artwork from Bodhi (not hard) and you are done!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking about installing Debian with E17 too. But then we got in touch with Bodhi developers. Try installing of E17 on any general distribution and then try installing last Bodhi version. I was using Bodhi in version 1.0 for some time, but some bugs in E17 environment forced me to get back to xfce. But now I tried to install 1.1 and I started thinking about installing it again as main OS to my work notebook. Main difference is Bodhi has many customizations and improvements made to E17 and updates are made from SVN sources. In Debian you get few months old version. In Bodhi you are more up to date. E17 is developing really fast. Those bugs are gone and it is only a few months. This is main reason why I am interested in Bodhi on Archos much more than trying to install it on top of Debian. I will send some money to donate dev tablet for Jeff on thursday so we will see what happens in near future. Still waiting for my Archos 101 to arrive. Another reason for me to make donation instead of trying to get it working on my own is that Jeff and his team will make all the hard work for all of us. I was playing with Debian on Eken M001 and it ate a lot of my time. I appreciate Jeff's interest in this so I can spent my time another way.

I have installed the Debian from this page:
w w w DOT debian-archos DOT c o m
After that an upgrade to KDE with apt-get was easy (I even tried
the netbook version).
I have testet wifi, video hardware acceleration and several applications like
OO.
The only thing I have to complain are the virtual keyboards. Something like
the maemo virtual keyboard would be nice. Currently I use an external usb-
keyboard. Its like a netbook .
- I read Bodhi-Linux has its own repository. Can I still use debian packages? For example if I like to install software which is not existing in the repository.
- Which virtual keyboard is used by Bodhi-Linux? Can it compete with the Maemo version (Screenshots?).

Bodhi has its own repositories, but only for customized contents. The rest is downloaded directly from Ubuntu repositories. I think Bodhi for Archos may be build on Debian, because it has arm packages ready to use. You will be able to install .deb packages surely.
Virtual keyboard looks really usable in Bodhi (E17). May be it is customizable, but I didn't try to change its skin. It has three different layouts (letters, numbers and symbols, customized notebook keyboard layout including cursor keys, home, end, etc.) and it is possible to use different languages. I don't have any screenshots, but you can try it yourself. Download Bodhi iso and run it in virtual machine. After boot choose tablet/netbook profile and you can make an image of how it would look like after successful port to Archos. The best thing is that it is optimized for finger scrolling and touch operation as well. I like its environment.

As of when i post this we currently have half of the target donated, a total of 108 dollars while we need 200. Jeff over at bodhi will stump up the last 100 dollars to make full price for the archos and then start testing on it. So anyone interested please help out, even a little would help http://www.bodhilinux.com/forums/index.php?/topic/1509-archos-tablet-fund-request-for-donations/ . Thanks.

If say we got bodhi on our archos, can u then install like say a latex editor (say kyle) and edit latex in proper syntax ? (as in the program helps and not just typing a plain text)

Planning on basing Bodhi for ARM on Debian. So once I get it up and rolling you will be able to install any of the 10,000+ packages in the debian repo on your ArchOS
~Jeff

I have good news. We are done. $200 donated for tablet right now.
Good luck Jeff

@ Zindy Good job. Thank you for donating so much and
@ Jeff thank you for taking on this project, I seriously cant wait.

My ArchOS device is ordered thanks to all the donations - for those that want to keep up with the progress follow the thread here
~Jeff

For those wondering I've gotten my hands on a little ArchOS70 and have started work on this.
Pic related - http://i.imgur.com/GF3vT.jpg
~Jeff

Seriously, how beautiful is that? Wow.

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
I can't wait till first releases
Dympy.

Found out about this today, had debian running on my archos but it just didn't feel right. This looks to be amazing and if it's anything like the reviews i have been reading it will replace android on my archos (Despite any beta bugs).
Ready and willing to test and help in any way possible, good going Jeff!

Hey guys, another quick update. This is a post from the bodhi forum,
.......
The general UI is working. The touch screen, wifi, and CPU manager all work. Been currently working on getting support for E's built in battery module working with the tablet hardware.
Once I get the battery rolling I'll post an image with instructions for installing the "alpha" quality image on your own ArchOS.
Then I need to start building some touch-friendly packages to upload to the repository
~Jeff
.......
So things are looking good for Bodhi on gen 8 devices.

Alpha release... come and get it !!!
http://downloads.bodhilinux.com/jeff91/rootfses/bodhi4gig.img.tar.gz
Pretty slick. Dont forget to thank Jeff for his work.

Is it possible to natively run Linux rather than on top of Android for Nexus One?

I've bought a new phone however I do not want to waste my Nexus One. The idea came to my mind firstly was to make it a small 'server' running at home.
Technically I bet it's possible however I don't have a clear path to do that... I've googled for a while and I saw a lot tutorials about how to run Ubuntu on top of Android. However what I want is to get rid of Android and run Linux directly on the hardware.
I think that should have been done by some guys... any help thanks in advance!

zhangxiao83 said:
I've bought a new phone however I do not want to waste my Nexus One. The idea came to my mind firstly was to make it a small 'server' running at home.
Technically I bet it's possible however I don't have a clear path to do that... I've googled for a while and I saw a lot tutorials about how to run Ubuntu on top of Android. However what I want is to get rid of Android and run Linux directly on the hardware.
I think that should have been done by some guys... any help thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IIRC, Android is Linux.
If you mean the computer OS, I have no idea.

Theshawty said:
IIRC, Android is Linux.
If you mean the computer OS, I have no idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I understand that - However I meant Linux such as Ubuntu or Arch distribution...

zhangxiao83 said:
Yes I understand that - However I meant Linux such as Ubuntu or Arch distribution...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Running Ubuntu has been deemed possible.

Yes, but why and who will make a port (isn't this simple)? And not all drivers are open source and available to public.
BTW, android is linux and you can even port some applications (a time ago sometime is talking about porting glibc to android, don't remember if this get done, but I think is useless somehow).

It will happen
Word on the street is that Android drivers are being merged back into the development branch of the Linux 3.3 kernel. It's not too surprising considering Android developers were working with the Linux kernel developers until the 2.6.33 Linux kernel.
I bet we will see Debian or Ubuntu running on our N1s eventually. The N1 has a great developer backing since it was pitched as a developer phone, so I bet one of the many talented developers out there will eventually cook up a native Linux ROM. Besides, there are native ports for other devices out there so they can't be too far off.

You can currently install Ubuntu on your N1 but honestly it's pointless. Yes There are great apps to use but compatibility isn't 100% on the phone AND the apps run too slow to actually be useful.
You'd have better chances developing an app for android to do what you want lol.
If this helped hit THANKS

http://nexusonehacks.net/nexus-one-hacks/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-your-android/ Check this link for a how-to.