[Aur]

Ok, so here's the thing. I've been using windows and I want to dual boot it with linux or OpenSolaris; But thats the problem, which do I pick. Which has better performance, and is better for programming. I've been looking up info online but havn't quite found what I need to know, and I dont want to commit to installation yet so I've been trying to OpenSolaris Live Cd which has limits on C++ (which bytheway is what I will be programming with the most, maybe a little java eventually) from what I can tell. It really comes down to what can be used for normal functionality while being top notch for programming C++.

Got all that lol?[i]

[no2pencil]

Just curious how you landed on Open Solaris as an option?

[Aur]

Since I posted I've been looking more on the web and am leaning more towards Linux (which leaves the question of which would be the most functional for normal tasks as well as for C++ programming). But a while ago I decided to try Java programming and kept seeing opensolaris popping up as somthing that seemed big(on the site at least) but its unix based and, once again according to the site, is for developers.

I see that you use linux any tips on which one i might head for, I've tried quite a few like Knoppix, Ubuntu, small bit of gentoo, and more.

[no2pencil]

Well, each distro brings it's own benefits to the table. Since you are looking for development, really, there isn't much difference from one to the next.

From a Java standpoint, you can develop Java on Windows & Linux. All you need is the javac compiler, or an IDE. So Open Solaris isn't probably what you want.

Ubuntu would be good if you don't want to mess around at the OS level. Gentoo, Fedora, or Slackware would be suggestible if you want to learn a little (or a lot) about how Linux works.

[Aur]

Honesty, right now the two that have caught my eye the most would be Fedora and Gentoo.
But gentoo seems like it would be a hastle, (i tried an install once) unless i could make an iso of my "finished product" so to speak. Which would you suggest between those two? Or any other suggestions still lol.

[no2pencil]

I would suggest Fedora.

I've got one install at my office, & I've used it with much success at other jobs. It's the free alternative to red-hat & is pretty popular in the business world (in my opinion), compared to Gentoo or Ubuntu.

[Aur]

Cool i'll download the live cd, real quick though which cd do I get for an amd proccessor, i686 or x86_64. Thanks for the help.

[no2pencil]

If your processor is 64 bit, then you want x86_64.
If your processor is 32 bit, then you want i686.

[Aur]

i686 it is then.
Thanks again. I know its probably not something huge but it's been bugging me for a while

[MorphiusFaydal]

I personally would have recommended Ubuntu over Fedora (I have... issues with RPMs.) But it all comes down to personal preference. I normally run Gentoo myself, but i don't mind the maintenance that goes into a Gentoo install. Both Fedora and Ubuntu are much easier to set up and maintain than Gento..

[Tom9729]

Linux has better hardware support than OpenSolaris.

Unless you want something Solaris-exclusive like dtrace or ZFS, just go with Linux.

This post has been edited by Tom9729: 07 December 2008 - 03:28 PM

[Aur]

Ok, I've decided on fedora for now. I may change if I find something better later, or I run into too many issues. With that in mind I don't want to start an entire new post to find another answer, so where would I find find some good tutorials for Fedora and C++ on Linux. Seeing as how I have no idea what RPM's are, and no clue how to run app's that I write on Linux, the tutorials would have to be pretty noob like.

[MorphiusFaydal]

RPM stands for RPM Package Management. Yes. It's a recursive acronym. It's the package management system that RedHat (and thus, Fedora) use. It has a tendency to go into a state called "dependancy hell" - http://en.wikipedia....Dependency_hell for more info. apt-get (Debian/Ubuntu) and portage (Gentoo) are pretty good at avoiding this.

And any C++ tutorial will work. I personally like http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/ as a good reference, since it's not structured like a traditional tutorial, but it'll do the job admirably.

To compile your programs from the command line: $ g c c -o output_name input_file.cpp. (With no spaces on the "gcc"... This forum software hates me.)

To execute said program: $ ./output_name.

Obviously filling in output_name with the program name (usually something short... like tutorial3, since you're not distributing the tutorial programs. This will obviously change when you move on to programs you *do* intend to distribute.

input_file.cpp is the cpp file that you have written your program in.

[Aur]

I've been experimenting with the command line and such for c++ (using fedora 10 live cd) but the only c++ thing I can find is the cpp command. So you say to use gcc but it says

[[email protected] ~]$ gcc
bash: gcc: command not found

when I try gcc. If I get a post back tonight ill check it tomorrow afternoon, I have to go to sleep and have school tomorrow.

Thanks in advance

[MorphiusFaydal]

I doubt the LiveCD has GCC installed. When you install, make sure you install the Development category, as this should contain GCC.

Note: When compiling, you may have to substitute "g++" for gcc... Usually gcc will detect that it's a C++ file, but if it doesn't, then you'll need to specify "g++"... Which is the C++ compiler in GCC.