ID:186036
 Sep 3 2005, 7:46 am
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I want to put together a computer strictly for running Linux. It will be mainly used for programming, but a fancy GUI wouldnt hurt. So anyway, I was wondering what version of Linux to use and what hardware works best with it.
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I run an AMD64 on an asus with the gentoo distro. But this setup isn't for anyone new to linux. The AMD64 is a good setup if you can afford a good solid system. One of the easiest distro's is ubuntu. I've heard that puppy linux is also easy for noobs.
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I would suggest Puppy Linux, it's very lightweight (only 60MB!) but has a GREAT GUI, and also very style-ish.
Has plenty of great programs, and even it's own Webserver built in! Also, I am attempting to make an installation package for BYOND (not like it's hard anyway! Just extract a few files!) Puppy linux is the way to go, it's very lightweight, and lightweight background processes (practicly none!) Also, you can fit it on a USB, CD (multisession), or on your hard-drive if you wish. | |
None, really...
You can even emulate some programs with WINE, if you tweak it a bit. I havn't seen any drawbacks to using PuppyLinux.. On some computer's it's a little touchy (certain old computers have a hard time running it) but other than that, it's a great OS. The only reason I left it alone for a while, is because of BYOND. | |
If it's so lightweight and without fault, though, why wouldn't everybody use it? There are many other builds of Linux that are popular; how does PuppyLinux differ?
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* Smaller programs are more efficient
* Programs work - no crashes, no crisis, just working software * Puppy loads into memory in 30 seconds or less from CD (No loading time when installed in HD) * Faster than any other Linux * Your Laptop battery lasts longer - practically no hard disk access, even when loading from hard disk # Easily install and uninstall different programs # Make Puppy look like Win98, XP, Linux or completely unique # We have the friendliest support forum, a comprehensive wiki and IRC # Better by design. Ideal on the latest equipment including thin clients # Used to power underwater robots and time travel prototypes # Developer support for C, Tcl, Perl, Lua, XUL, PuppyBasic and Ajax\ No malware, no viruses, no trojans. Open mentality. Open software. New software added every day. Stable. Easy and familiar generic GUI Just arriving: Wine Windows emulation, tiny Java add on, Business size Puppy with Perl, Graphics Puppy, Puppy on a USB keydrive for sale, New Puppy thinPC, Create your own Puppy version, Run and save Puppy on CD-R or DVD-R, Puppy Pizza Wi-Fi support Puppy in hardware, Pawed Casting - Radio Puppy, New Wiki Server, Puppy Linux Foundation  Puppy just works. http://puppylinux.org/ | |
Flame Sage wrote:
# Used to power underwater robots and time travel prototypes <font color=red size=1337>WHAT?</font> | |
Puppy Linux (At least the older Live-CD version I used) flew like a bat outta' heck on an old 300 mhz AMD K6, too. It blew me away with its speed on older hardware.
If that's changed in the newer versions I'm reading about now, it would be a shame since I hoped to revive old hardware with Puppy later on down the road. ~Kujila | |
They used puppylinux with a few underwater welders, just to try it out, worked out pretty good I hear.
And yes, puppy is still the great speed and preformance you guys love, but now it's 10x better, Kajika, from what I remember, you had an OLDER version, 1.05 boasts so many new features, it will make your head spin! | |
if you want a full desktop experience, and don't mind the big download, give ubuntu or kubuntu a try. the latest version, 5.10, runs quite well and lots of pre-installed goodies to use.
i use kubuntu on my laptop and desktop, and kubuntu server for digitalBYOND hosting on the new boxes (the original one still runs mepis3.3 - meh, it ain't broke so i won't fix it). if you are looking for lightweight and small download, either PuppyLinux, or (my favorite for it's fluxbox interface) DamnSmallLinux should fit the bill. both are under 100MB (i think DSL is still around 60MB) and give lots of goodies for the price. and speaking of bill, you can also give SLAX a try - it has several variants depending on your needs, for example, a 'Kill-Bill' edition for gaming. | |
I actualy installed kubuntu tonight, before you posted this. It was a simple setup(A little disk stuff, but that is because I have 2 harddrives with a total of about 8 partitions). Seems fine, and would be great for the Joe who surfs the web and checks email, but I am having troubles with GL. But I guess that is generaly a linux thing, I had the same problem with Mandrake and Fedora. Mandrake was nice, but has really gone corparate. That kinda pisses me off, because it is harmful to the sprit of linux, feel free to disagree, but just try to find the free version on thier site, good luck doing it in under 10 minutes. I will admit, the ATI drivers installed on this, and I could not get them to install on Mandrake or Fedora. So one up for them. It might also have to do with not having an intel chip on my MoBo anymore (Upgraded to AMD 3200+ 64bit). Installation was easy, no fuss, and it gave me all packages, by default, which is nice, I don't like selecting. It aslo comes with Adept pre-configured. Adept is a package management and update program. It alows you to surf a large list of software, download, and install, while taking care of dependencys and whatnot. I am still learning the ropes of it, but it seems to be working well. So, Ubuntu, or Kubuntu get my vote. I prefer Kubuntu because it comes with KDE, my prefered desktop environment. Don't take my word, try it yourself.
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Scoobert wrote:
Mandrake was nice, but has really gone corparate. That kinda pisses me off, because it is harmful to the sprit of linux, feel free to disagree, but just try to find the free version on thier site, good luck doing it in under 10 minutes. I actually think it's a good thing. If a company wants to try and make it selling Linux, more power to them! If they've got something worth selling, and people want to buy it, why shouldn't they be allowed to do that? There will always be free Linux distros if that's what you're after; and if Mandrake comes up with some cool shiny new feature, you can bet that someone is going to implement it in another distribution too. Plus, word-of-mouth alone is a pretty slow advertising tool. When the people behind Mandrake spend money advertising their product, they can't avoid also advertising Linux in general. (Nor would they want to, really.) That can only be good for the Linux world. It's a win-win-win situation; Mandrake wins, their customers win, and the wider Linux community wins. =) That said, last time I tried Mandrake I wasn't particularly impressed. But good on them for trying. | |
I like distros that are capable of running on anything from a 200 mhz Pentium to a 3 GHZ mega-rig. =D
Like I said above, Linux is my tool of choice for making old hardware into useful tools. Like, I <3 AbiWord =D ~Kujila | |
Sweet, I will definitely have to give this a try. Do they have a PPC build? I ought to try it on this 466 mhz G4 I have if they do =)
but now it's 10x better, Kajika I am Kujila =) ~Kujila | |
I like Slackware.
It's speedy, secure and the most unix like. It's a little bit of a pain to set up tough. The install is all GUI. And you need to set it to boot into a GUI manager manually, by editing /etc/X11/inittab | |
if you use adept, make sure you enable the 'universe' repositories, and do a full update (been some security and bug fixes just in the last days). lots more goodies in the universe repos.
the only thing i had to install 'by hand' was the latest GAIM, Skype, and Azureus from their statically compiled binaries - luckily it's pretty easy to do lately- unpack, put where you want to keep it, and run the batch file that starts/installs. then i just make an icon for the desktop/menu that points to the new program. luckily this bit of manual work does not take long, and is only for those rare occasions when the repositories have not caught up yet. and now that i have qemu running Win98se, i get my BYOND too! :D | |
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php
~Kujila