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Geek Culture / Best Linux or Unix based OS and dual boot software?

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budokaiman
FPSC Tool Maker
15
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Joined: 24th Jun 2009
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Posted: 22nd Oct 2011 18:59
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I'd like to install a Linux or possibly any Unix based OS, on a second partition of my hard drive. I'm only going to be using it for some development testing, and not as a main operating system, so I'm looking for one that's not too big in size, but is also reliable. With that said, what do any of you guys find to be the best Unix based OS and dual boot software?

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Travis Gatlin
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Joined: 14th May 2009
Location: Oxford, Alabama
Posted: 22nd Oct 2011 19:06 Edited at: 22nd Oct 2011 19:07
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Well, Ubuntu is linux based, free, only about 2gbs and is very reliable.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://awolthehunted.blogspot.com/
For the latest news on my FPS in development, check out my blog!
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bruce3371
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Location: Englishland
Posted: 22nd Oct 2011 23:14
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Quote: "Well, Ubuntu is linux based, free, only about 2gbs and is very reliable."


This.

Plus, you don't need any dual booting software if you install it from within Windows, Ubuntu does all that for you.

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Ocho Geek
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Joined: 16th Aug 2007
Location: Manchester, UK
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 12:01
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make sure you get ubuntu by WUBI if you don't want to have to mess around with partitions and boot disks if you want to remove ubuntu


Not Spanish, Not Eight, Just Ocho

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Travis Gatlin
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Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 18:25
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WUBI is the official installer now, it's required to install it.

http://awolthehunted.blogspot.com/
For the latest news on my FPS in development, check out my blog!
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AutoBot
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Joined: 25th Sep 2009
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Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 20:34
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I just use VirtualBox for all my Ubuntu-based things. Make sure your CPU supports virtualization before you use it though. Its not very feasible for 3D graphics though (only has a 128MB virtual graphics adapter), but if you don't require that then its more flexible than dual booting (i.e. snapshots).

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budokaiman
FPSC Tool Maker
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Joined: 24th Jun 2009
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Posted: 24th Oct 2011 14:24
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I did decide to go with Ubuntu, and using the GRUB dual boot that it comes with. One more question, just to make sure, Ubuntu uses the same x-exectuable files that other Linux machines use right?

Quote: "I just use VirtualBox for all my Ubuntu-based things. Make sure your CPU supports virtualization before you use it though. Its not very feasible for 3D graphics though (only has a 128MB virtual graphics adapter), but if you don't require that then its more flexible than dual booting (i.e. snapshots)."

I won't be using Ubuntu too frequently, so I don't want to virtualise it.

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Indicium
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Posted: 24th Oct 2011 15:10
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Quote: "WUBI is the official installer now, it's required to install it."


Erm no. WUBI is only required to install from within windows.

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Travis Gatlin
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Posted: 24th Oct 2011 16:19
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Quote: "WUBI is only required to install from within windows."

That's what i meant

Quote: "x-exectuable files that other Linux machines use right?"

Yeah, i'm pretty sure it does.

http://awolthehunted.blogspot.com/
For the latest news on my FPS in development, check out my blog!
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Ocho Geek
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Location: Manchester, UK
Posted: 24th Oct 2011 23:03 Edited at: 24th Oct 2011 23:03
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no it doesn't

Ubuntu mostly uses .deb files; but you can mark any file as executable through the properties window, just apply that to any files you need to execute

two errors in quick succession eh?


Not Spanish, Not Eight, Just Ocho

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bitJericho
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Location: United States
Posted: 25th Oct 2011 00:07 Edited at: 25th Oct 2011 00:08
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A deb is more like an msi file, but yeah, if it runs in one version of linux it probably runs in any. Most software not distributed in .deb format or in your package manager needs to be compiled (which is pretty straightforward if the developer made a good readme)

The wonderful thing about ubuntu is if you can't find a good readme for something, it's probably in the ubuntu wiki.


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Travis Gatlin
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Location: Oxford, Alabama
Posted: 25th Oct 2011 05:57
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Quote: "two errors in quick succession eh?"

Eh, I've had bronchitis this week, leave me alone... lol

http://awolthehunted.blogspot.com/
For the latest news on my FPS in development, check out my blog!
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mm0zct
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Location: scotland-uk
Posted: 25th Oct 2011 21:28
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Binary compatibility is somewhat a problem in linux actually.

If you statically link your binary then everything should be fine.
If you dynamically link it (ie. it uses the system libraries, like .dll's on windows) then it depends on having the same version as the version of the libraries it was built to target.

.deb and .rpm files are a bit different, in that they tell the package manager what the dependencies are and it will try to fetch them from your software repository.

This is all a moot point generally though, because 99% of the software you need is already in the distribution's repository, a sort of library of pre packaged software specifically for that distribution. All you do is open the sofware/package manager (called different things in different distributions, synaptic is common) and look for the package you want, and it will install it.

AMD AthlonX2 5000 black edition @2.8ghz, 4gb pc5400, AMD/ATi hd3850, creative xfi music, 24" hp widescreen 1920x1200 + 22" zalman trimon 3D 1680x1050, ECS KA3 MVP mobo
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data 98junkiee
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Posted: 29th Oct 2011 00:06 Edited at: 29th Oct 2011 00:08
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I like Linux Mint personally but Ubuntu is better for beginners it seems.

Now is a good time to be getting into Linux, things are starting to pick up a bit more pace in recent years in terms of both hardware and software compatibility (getting more cross-platform dev skills now while Linux is still considered a niche product may give you a good advantage).

p.s Hopefully in the not so distant future we'll see Linux as more of a mainstream OS and see more Linux/no-os computers on offer from computer vendors

[edit]Most Linux systems come with a good partition manager and multiboot-loader so you shouldn't have any problem with that[/edit]
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