<div dir="ltr">Hi, some time reader, first time writer.<br>I'm a second year CS student and had to work with the Linux in the farms for a while now and frankly, I love the idea that someone finally forced me to use Linux. I think it's a good thing.<br>
<br>I've already had stuff explained to me and had a chance to explain things to others. I already told people that they better get used to using the Linux and Unix on the farm machines. Firstly, because they have to; Secondly, because it's better; And thirdly, because it's fun.<br>
<br>Problems of Windows\Linux compatibility with code files I solved with Notepad++. I don't know if there's a Linux version or a Linux substitute but it's an awesome writer for windows that can display context in many languages and can also convert to\from Windows from\to Linux formatting. Saved me a lot of trouble.<br>
<br>The new Open Office version (3 and up) is completely compatible with MS-Office 2007 documents and gave me no trouble as much as I've used it, making it better than MS-Office if compatibility is the question. It looks different but doesn't require that much of a leap to change to. And it's freely available to both Windows and Linux users.<br>
<br>I used vim to program on the Linux and Unix machines but my brother
recommended Eclipse so I want to try that if anyone is willing to teach
me.<br><br>I know of a Linux geek in the CS farm's support team but I think it takes more than that. I don't know how the W2L lectures went before but I agree that installing Linux, as far as I tried Ubuntu, is pretty straight forward. It's all the configuration afterwords that's troublesome. Up until now I have failed completely at configuring mine for WiFi and a secondary display and those two, along with 'How the hell do I run a Virtual Machine\Box on my Linux?' are the major hurdles before I completely switch to Linux. So, any info on that will be welcome. (I've tried Ubuntu 8.04 and fiddled with Satanic slightly but not much)<br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 10:38 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:haifux-request@haifux.org">haifux-request@haifux.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Message: 4<br>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:51:10 +0200<br>
From: Eli Billauer <<a href="mailto:eli@billauer.co.il">eli@billauer.co.il</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [Haifux] Student complaints.<br>
To: <a href="mailto:haifux@haifux.org">haifux@haifux.org</a><br>
Cc: Yossi Gil <<a href="mailto:yossi.gil@gmail.com">yossi.gil@gmail.com</a>><br>
Message-ID: <<a href="mailto:497E142E.9080601@billauer.co.il">497E142E.9080601@billauer.co.il</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed<br>
<br>
Hello again.<br>
<br>
Now we're talking!<br>
<br>
To begin with, I see that students mention problems with transporting<br>
files to Windows. I suppose that they use Microsoft's compiler, and run<br>
into problems with the back and forth?<br>
<br>
Which brings me to turn to all Linux evangelists out there: You've maybe<br>
missed it, but this is the moment you've been all waiting for: Someone<br>
has forced CS students to use Linux in the labs. They will end up either<br>
hating it and stick to Windows, or adopt it on their own computers,<br>
solving most of their annoying problems. And it looks like it's going to<br>
depend on, well, us.<br>
<br>
There may be a need to make a LiveCD for CS students, which would<br>
basically be the original Ubuntu disc + utilities for developing if<br>
necessary. This could allow students to use the same environment at<br>
home, without installing Linux on their hard disks. As this is an<br>
recurring process (the disc will need to be upgraded as Ubuntu gets<br>
upgraded) I can't see how it's done well by volunteers. But once someone<br>
has done it the first time, I suppose it will be pretty easy to repeat it.<br>
<br>
As for Eclipse: Dear Haifuxers, is any of use using it? Personally, I<br>
don't like IDEs, and I believe I have a few people with me on this<br>
mailing list.<br>
<br>
If the policy would be to guide students to work with more down-to-earth<br>
tools (XEmacs/vim, make, gcc, ddd etc) I suppose we have quite some<br>
material handy, and I suppose it won't be difficult to find someone to<br>
speak about these. I believe it's an educational choice, partly because<br>
the programmer gets a better feel of the tools, as opposed to IDEs which<br>
generally attempt to hocus-pocus.<br>
<br>
As for MS Office, there's always OpenOffice, which I don't use<br>
personally. If the real problem is compatibility between MS and<br>
OpenOffice, it's time to remind everyone that OpenOffice exists for<br>
Windows as well. Or use the LiveCD solution.<br>
<br>
As for the other issues, I can only ask one question: Do you have one<br>
Linux geek in the lab's support team? To me it seems like these problems<br>
require a few hours each to solve, which is peanuts in terms of<br>
employment, but too much to ask someone to volunteer for.<br>
<br>
Other views?<br>
<br>
Eli<br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
Web: <a href="http://www.billauer.co.il" target="_blank">http://www.billauer.co.il</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br></blockquote></div><br>-- <br>Don't let people drive you crazy when you know it's within walking distance.<br>And no one ever said being a heretic was easy.<br>>>>><<<<<br>May we meet in Less Interesting Times...<br>
<a href="http://eran.geek.co.il">http://eran.geek.co.il</a><br>
</div>