On Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:45:52 -0800 Russell D Brunelle <rdb...@uw.edu> wrote:
> I'm working on creating the "perfect" step-by-step procedure for > setting up a Linux workstation for scientific writing, based on LyX > and with an emphasis on selecting the best available FOSS tools for > creating graphics and performing computations. Whenever possible I > wanted to select tools which are in common use, so that the skills > being gained might have lasting value. > > Here's the draft I have so far, which builds on something I mentioned > on this list a while ago: http://russellb.livejournal.com/1335718.html > > I believe a simplified guide such as this could be very helpful for > students about to enter college to study one of the sciences, and I'm > hoping members of this list might be able to offer suggestions for > additional third-party tools, or enhancements to LyX, which may have > been left out. I don't consider myself a LyX expert, but I do > believe there is a need for something like this, and I gave this my > best shot in the hopes of getting the ball rolling. > > Russell OUTstanding Russell. Very thorough and *very* much needed. I'm so glad you recognized the value of dia as diagramming software -- most remember only its lower quality past and not its current spectacularism. I also like the fact that you recommended both Gimp and Inkscape -- both are necessary to my business. And congrats on recommending Gnumeric -- it just works, and works, and works, and never crashes. Life would be boring if everyone agreed, so here are some of the points I would have diverged had I been the author: 1) I'd recommend Ubuntu over Debian for two reasons: A) Ubuntu is easier to get working with random hardware, and B) Ubuntu is likely to have a newer LyX. On the other hand, Debian's more likely to have a *working* LyX :-) On the subject of recommending distros, I can find you at least fifty people to tell you that Ubuntu sux, and having used it for five years, I can't argue with them because I see their point, but for me it's still the best. 2) I'd either stay away from recommending an email client at all, or I'd expand it to discuss the different types, PIMs, fat email clients, and webmail. Some people, me for instance, run screaming from email acting like a PIM, so I doubt I'll ever use Evolution. More on email in another post... 3) As long as you're listing specialized products like R, Sweave, SPSS and the like, you might consider listing one or two circuit analysis softwares. The blogpost you just wrote is *very* necessary for the LyX biosphere. There's a LyX wiki somewhere where you can put URLs of LyX docs. You should find it and include the URL to your blogpost. Thanks for the great job! SteveT
