[brendan hart]

Should i use linux for proggramming, i am learning java vb asp.net etc in my course , just wonder if its worth it

[theRemix]

it sounds like you will be using visual studio... so you want to use win*

hth

[Jack000]

don't know what you're doing, but in my circles you'd be laughed at if you do all your work in windows.

my current employer (redback/ericsson) would not look at your resume if you do not have at least som unix/CLI experience.

[pgo]

Well...if he's developing with Windows technologies (VB, ASP)...he kinda sorta has to use Windows, doesn't he?

[Jack000]

he did mention java. I took the question to be "should I use linux for programming, in general"

plus php > asp.net :]

[brendan hart]

um i think php is great for simple stuff. freelancer. but im positive if i was to get employed by government or bank they would rather i coded with jsp/asp.net

[freelancr]

Originally Posted by brendan hart

um i think php is great for simple stuff. freelancer. but im positive if i was to get employed by government or bank they would rather i coded with jsp/asp.net

Not necessarily. Even though Windows is very widespread amongst end users, there are still plenty of organizations out there making good use of open-source/non-ms software. You would do well to gain some knowledge of Linux, and even better if the applications you made were cross platform.

If I were you I would run a dual boot system, one partition for windows, the other for Linux. This will give you the chance to get used to both systems.

I would do your VB/ASP.NET work on your Windows partition, and Java work on your Linux partition. Then if you have time, try to get your finished applications to work on the other operating system.

I do this, and I develop web applications for both Windows Server and Linux Apache. My Windows drive died a few months ago, so have just been using Linux recently. The only thing I am missing at the moment is games, but there are plenty of Linux solutions to that too, just I don't fancy paying for Cedega.

Have fun exploring Linux, its great not having to pay for software.

[proc355]

Originally Posted by pgo

Well...if he's developing with Windows technologies (VB, ASP)...he kinda sorta has to use Windows, doesn't he?

Nope - check out mono => mono-project.com

Interestingly sponsored by Novell, who are now having a sexual relationship with owd Bill => novell.com/linux/microsoft/

I'd agree with the dual boot - if you get the ntfs drivers for 'nix (a lot of distros have them by default now) you can keep all your work in a windows partition and use from both platforms.

Do yourself a favour and start learning one of Vim (my choice) or Emacs - you wont look back. Java uses a lot of 'boilerplate' code so an IDE can be a good thing but you can essentially build your own using one of those (sans point and click).

[Jack000]

Originally Posted by brendan hart

um i think php is great for simple stuff. freelancer. but im positive if i was to get employed by government or bank they would rather i coded with jsp/asp.net

jsp is basically the java version of php, what you really need to learn is OO java.

[theRemix]

i only run linux on all my computers in the apartment... so i use the school's computer when i needed visual studio for a class, it's just easier to have a win* environment... but i have many vmware win* machines that i run within linux for testing or development whenever i need.

[austers]

mac > all :O

[Jack000]

mac = unix

[brendan hart]

where can i get linux, do i need to create a boot cd or floppy to run it?
there are so many versions i dont know which im ment to get haha

[Paul]

you can get a cd to boot ubuntu

[brendan hart]

should i get ubuntu 7.04 or the lts version, the home desktop one seems like more of a user experience rather then a programming sort of view.

karloff do u use webdesignforums?

i also have a 64 bit machine, but my recent attempts with 64 bit operating systems has lead me away from them

[freelancr]

Originally Posted by brendan hart

i also have a 64 bit machine, but my recent attempts with 64 bit operating systems has lead me away from them

I bought a 64bit processor as soon as they came out, and ever since I have been trying constantly to get everything to work on a 64bit OS. Using Windows x64 was ok recently, though there are still random annoyances with a few drivers, and x86 is still far better supported and updated.

Using Linux x64? Fuck that. Tried it a few times but is always much more of a pain in the arse than running Linux x86. Linux is only supported by other users, so its hard enough to find drivers for stuff, I still haven't figured out how to print or scan on my network print/scanner combo.

As you are new to linux, I would recommend you go with Kubuntu 7.04. The desktop that comes with it (kde) is closer to Windows than Ubuntu (gnome), and comes with better applications (kate, amaroK, kopete, k3b, kaffeine, ktorrent, etc).

Download the .iso CD image, burn it to CD, then just pop it in the drive and it will let you have a play around with the Operating System and also give you the option of installing it permanently too.

Kubuntu - Download

[Snowshiro]

Brendan,

My advice would be go out and buy a good book. It's clear that you don't really have the first clue about what Linux actually is, or how it works (no offence meant - there's no reason why you should) and while you could easily get literally millions of pages on the web, a book will present what you need to know in a more logical methodical order, than just Googling for information.

[freelancr]

Originally Posted by Snowshiro

My advice would be go out and buy a good book.

I haven't bought any Linux books yet, but have been looking. I see a lot of the reviews on Amazon complain the books are out of date, and when I look in bookstores there are generally just reference books that are dictionaries of commands. Can you recommend any that aren't just for reference, but actually walk you through what you are learning.