Thanks for the info. Most of what I know is that I have big box bought Compaq that would be starting to struggle with non-support if I left XP in it but gives superior performance with Ubuntu and, once you learn a new set of tricks (For Ubuntu rather than Windows) runs more smoothly and boots up in about a fifth of the time. It's also virus free, to say nothing of getting programs like Open Office for free instead of paying a hundred bucks for Microsoft Word.
On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 5:14 PM, Chris Knadle <[email protected]> wrote: > On Sunday, January 16, 2011 04:08:53 pm Robert Mark Wallace wrote: >> I was under the impression that most of the open source software for >> Windows are really Windows editions of Linux programs. Correct me if >> I am wrong. > > Although that's common, there are examples of the reverse also -- some open > source software is for Windows only, sometimes because that's the only place > it's relevant -- like a problem that only needs to be solved on Windows. Or, > often the same software exists with different names -- like KDirStat for Linux > vs WinDirStat for Windows. > >> Also correct me if I am wrong, but a big drawback for open source >> windows software is that the programmer still can't get access to the >> Windows source code. > > From the programmer standpoint, most the time the API is what you need rather > than the source for the API. My understanding is that most of the APIs are > documented for programmers to use, but certain internal APIs aren't such that > they aren't available to projects, such that a project can be completed but > might not be as efficient as it could be if all of the APIs were available. > >> Also correct me if I am wrong but I though that the reason why my >> LInux install is half the size of a Windows install of similar >> software because Linux software writers can go right to the kernal, >> and Windows software writers can't. > > I don't think that's what it is -- it's more likely got to do with libraries > that are more commonly shared, i.e. more code re-use. It's not a kernel > thing, as essentially both systems are POSIX, so in terms of the kernel most > of what a programmer would write is common. There are kernel-specific things > only at a very low level, so for instance you likely wouldn't try to implement > dtrace on Windows, but which kernel is used (or which filesystem) doesn't > matter if you're just trying to read a file. > > But another thing is that on Gnu/Linux systems its far easier to be able to > choose packages to install and to remove software due to dependency checking. > Windows package management isn't as sophisticated. > >> I started this thread to try to get the readers to think in terms of >> finding new markets for LInux, not to start getting into Windows. > > There's nothing wrong with discussing open source software for Windows, IMHO. > >> I also have some real concerns in that I have downloaded a lot of >> viruses from places like Download.com. I use Linux because I can get >> all of my software from more secure sources (just about all that I use >> is from the Columbia U mirror of Ubuntu.) > > Signed packages with multiple internal checksums is a nice thing, yes. > > -- Chris > > -- > > Chris Knadle > [email protected] > _______________________________________________ > Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org > http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug > > Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium > Feb 2 - Zimbra > Mar 2 - MHVLUG 8th Anniversary - Show and Tell > Apr 6 - Introduction to IPv6 > -- Robert Mark Wallace 60 Delaware Road Newburgh, NY 12550-3802 (845) 541-7396 _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Feb 2 - Zimbra Mar 2 - MHVLUG 8th Anniversary - Show and Tell Apr 6 - Introduction to IPv6
