Linux Archive

The Must-Fix List For 2.6.0

  Submitted by Jeremy Andrews Linux 7 Comments
Andrew Morton posted a lengthy list of items that need to be done before the 2.5 development kernel tree should be turned into the 2.6 stable kernel tree. He prefaced his list by noting that 2.6.0 does not mean, "it's finished, ship it", alternatively offering, "I'd propose that 2.6.0 means that users can migrate from 2.4.x with a good expectation that everything which they were using in 2.4 will continue to work, and that the kernel doesn't crash, doesn't munch their data and doesn't run like a dog. Other definitions are welcome."
Read More

My (Ongoing) Linux Odyssey

Linux 34 Comments
Compelled by the endless debate of whether Linux is ready for the desktop, I wrote my own rant. It morphed into some kind of "my experience with Linux". This is some kind of long term review of Linux, from the very specific viewpoint of someone who uses it to do research about computers and networks. It is not a distro comparison, or Linux vs Windows TCO comparison, or any such thing. It is just a story about a guy who found Linux.
Read More

If I Had My Own Distro

Linux 180 Comments
Lately, we've all read a lot of articles about desktop Linux - so many that it's getting hard to tell them apart. One says "Why Linux Sucks," the next "My Success With Linux." Even Michael Robertson of Lindows.com joined the fun with his "Why Desktop Linux Sucks, Today." But very few people have proposed anything radical, and I believe that's what's needed to take GNU/Linux to the next level.
Read More

The Linux Filesystem Explained

Linux 32 Comments
"The first thing that most new users shifting from Windows will find confusing is navigating the Linux filesystem. The Linux filesystem does things a lot more differently than the Windows filesystem. This article explains the differences and takes you through the layout of the Linux filesystem." This is a pretty old article, but it's still a good read, especially for newbies.
Read More

A View of Linux from the Sidelines

Linux 63 Comments
The genesis of this article is the editorial "Why Linux Sucks as a Desktop OS" over at vBrad.com. While the author had some valid points about Linux, and I have shared his frustration, his approach was one that lost a large part of the audience. I have a little experience with Linux (I have played with Red Hat, SuSE and Mandrake, and have installed and used Linux in four or five flavors over the years) and have followed Linux as an interested observer.
Read More

Why Linux Sucks as a Desktop OS

  Submitted by Frank Rizzo Linux 80 Comments
vbRad.com has an article detailing how modular nature of Linux is causing it to have difficulties penetrating the home desktop market. "Bottom line. Most of these problems can be traced to lack of integration between components in Linux. Until there is some integration Linux is unlikely to gain a foothold in the desktop market" the author concludes.
Read More

CodeWeavers Review: Photoshop under Linux

  Submitted by Jeremy Newman Linux 34 Comments
CodeWeavers has released CrossOver Office 2.0.0. This new version adds support for Photoshop 7.0 (other versions of Photoshop work as well), Word XP, Excel XP, and PowerPoint XP. Photoshop even has support for tablets under Linux. There is now a trial version of CrossOver Office available for download. DesktopLinux.com previews the upcoming CrossOver Office 2.0 release from CodeWeavers that introduces support for Adobe Photoshop, among other featured enhancements. Embedded Linux support engineer, and former Adobe test engineer, Cal Erickson gives the new release extensive testing.
Read More

Application Development on Linux Power

  Submitted by Frank Linux No Comments
Deploying and developing your application on Linux for the IBM pSeries and iSeries POWER platforms is similar to deploying and developing on other Linux systems. In this article the similarities and differences that you need to be aware of for the Linux POWER systems are discussed.
Read More

Why the Design of the Kernel Scheduler is Critical

Linux 17 Comments
"Two of the most critical parts of a kernel are the memory subsystem and the scheduler. This is because they influence the design and affect the performance of almost every other part of the kernel and the OS. That is also why you would want to get them absolutely right and optimize their performance. The Linux kernel is used right from small embedded devices, scaling up to large mainframes. Designing is scheduler is at best a black art." Read the article at LinuxGazette.
Read More

Why Linux Still Gives Me Grief

Linux 119 Comments
Several days ago I wrote a rather scathing article about my utter dismay and disappoint with Mandrake 9.1 and by association, Linux as a whole. Since then I have had many many flames and equally as many agreeing emails (is there a simple opposite word for flame?) Since then I have been trying, really really trying to get my system working fully. But time and again I'm coming up against the same brick wall of (un)usability, computer esotericism and down right idiocy.
Read More

Why Linux is Not for You: The Lengthy Rebuttal of a Linux User

Linux 119 Comments
Put yourself in his/her shoes. You're a budding young technical writer and the one word you hear popping up in almost every tech-related conversation is, you guessed it, Linux. Now look in the mirror and try to tell yourself you're more than a writer. After all, you write about technology because it not only interests you, but you're accurate and fair enough to tell it like it is. Maybe not.
Read More