Slashdot Mirror
Ubuntu Linux Preview Released
psykelus writes "Ubuntu Linux, a Debian-based distro (formerly flying the flag of 'no-name-yet.com') annouced a preview of their first release (Warty Warthog) earlier today. Ubuntu is the most shiny Debian-based distrobution ever, sporting Gnome 2.8 and an extremely streamlined, mostly automatic installation & configuration process." For a limited time, they're also sending out free disks on request.
we really need to scrap 90% of the distributions out there, there are way too many, and out of the mainstream ones, we only need a few (less than a dozen, if not even less)
i'm not trying to flame, but people waste their time creating a distro, most of them with nothing special/different to offer, it's like reinventing the wheel over and over again.
slackware, debian, gentoo, fedora, suse, mandrake, and maybe a few others that offer something good, that's all we really need.
Marge, get me your address book, 4 beers, and my conversation hat.
This is the single biggest problem with open source.
Too much frikkin choice.
Its like standing in a sweet shop staring at the gazillions of jars and having to choose just one.
People are wise to stay close to the trunk versions of software. By all means, fork a project and expand on the features. But always try to consider how to re-merge the fork at a later date. Lets have the BEST of everything in one core repository.
We need to build on what others have done, expand a masterpiece, but lets keep it consistent.
liqbase
Then only use slackware, debian, gentoo, fedora, suse or mandrake its not like you have to actually have to run every single one that exists. People make another distro because they want to, and they probably either learned a lot in the process, or enjoyed themselves. Like any open source project people have worked on, they were even kind enough to let others benefit from their hard work if they wanted to. They did it because they wanted to, or they felt that they had something to contribute so I doubt that they feel they wasted their time, and since it was there time to begin with what are you complaining about.
"I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
Your telling me. I was plently willing to stick with Stormix long term.
"I'd love to have a "user friendly" Debian distro to recommend to people so that they aren't stuck using Mandrake,"
Hello, Fedora, Suse. Anyway, while I'm no fan of proprietary Linux if your set on using a Debian based distro that's user friendly why aren't you pointing them at Xandros or Lindows? Really easy to use, newbie friendly versions of Debian are in short supply.
If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
No, we need all the distributions we can get, more choice means more people are inspired to create software. True, some distros come and go, but that's also the way the free market works. Shaving Linux distros down to only a few would be like saying OK, we only need WAL-MART, K-Mart and Target - all those other stores are just a waste. If some people like shopping at those little stores, let them.
The beauty of Linux is that anyone can make a distribution...
Don't remove that liberty from the people please!...
we really need to scrap 90% of the distributions out there, there are way too many, and out of the mainstream ones, we only need a few (less than a dozen, if not even less)
Why? Just because another distro comes out, do you expect the whole world to fall apart, and to have to get used to another new distro? Stick to the one you like. Nobody is forcing you to change, and nobody is forcing newbies to have any specific distro either. The beauty is choice. Test the new ones out if you want. The ones that have been around for a long time have proven their worth in the OSS community, and thus have better status with the masses. If you want stability, use one of those. If you're curious, use some of the newer ones. But don't ask things like "Will it be around in a few years?" or "Should I switch?" If you want those kinds of answers, go to a palm reader.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
I don't think the Ubuntu guys and gals are doing this because they think they're going to put redhat and suse out of business. They're doing it because they want to. If you get an itch, I promise I won't complain if you scratch it.
Also, maybe this Ubunto thing is it. Gentoo was nothing just a couple of years ago. Same with Lycoris and Linspire.
knoppix is debian and it's one cd. There ya go! I think they will be around for a spell, too.....
Your lawyer is either more intelligent than the GNU foundation, or didn't read the GPL FAQ.
[quote]
Can I use GPL-covered editors such as GNU Emacs to develop non-free programs? Can I use GPL-covered tools such as GCC to compile them?
Yes, because the copyright on the editors and tools does not cover the code you write. Using them does not place any restrictions, legally, on the license you use for your code.
Some programs copy parts of themselves into the output for technical reasons--for example, Bison copies a standard parser program into its output file. In such cases, the copied text in the output is covered by the same license that covers it in the source code. Meanwhile, the part of the output which is derived from the program's input inherits the copyright status of the input.
As it happens, Bison can also be used to develop non-free programs. This is because we decided to explicitly permit the use of the Bison standard parser program in Bison output files without restriction. We made the decision because there were other tools comparable to Bison which already permitted use for non-free programs.
[end quote]
[source: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html]
I'm not going to argue about your modifications to the kernel; I don't know enough about kernel code to competently do that. I can argue that you can use GCC to compile things and not release the source. That's just a blatant piece of FUD, unless I'm mistaken.
HTH.
It's only an insult if it's not true.
What problem does this solve that other Linux distributions don't? So Debian is aiming for a 100% Free Software GNU implementation, Mandrake is aiming at the desktop users, Red Hat is aiming at the corporate desktop, Slackware is aiming at the traditional UNIX users, Gentoo is aiming at the power users... where does this new one fit in?
Ok.
If I need a (for instance) hammer, I might go to the store, and there will be a few different manufacturers hammers available.
They might individually have small additional bits and creature comforts, but they all do the same job. Any of the hammers will hit any nail into the wood.
However with Linux and open source in general, there are many distributions and projects, each trying to do the job, but each being different enough to be incompatible.
I am not against customisation and fitting software to your specific needs, for an excellent example of this in motion, the plugins for Firefox are perfect. All the developers are working towards a common goal.
We both get what we want without overwhelming normal users with unnecessary parts.
liqbase
Or you could always try Slackware. It's a no-brainer to install, but the whole distribution is geared towards maintainability, so you get to learn at least as much as any Gentoo user, but without so many headaches.
This is a story about a Debian variant, so why have you shown up trying to change the subject? Who is really the troll here? For Pete's sake, this distro isn't even trying to court the same user group that might be interested in Gentoo, so why are you here? Seriously.
Why is every Debian thread getting hijacked by Gentoo users ??? Are you jealous ?? I'm getting sick of it..... SICK I SAY....... :)
The creation of Debian-based distributions like User Linux and Ubantu, in my opinion, are sincere efforts made by people 100% committed do Debian, that are trying to help it. They are basically saying: "Hey, we can have a Debian stalbe release with a 2.6 kernel and 2.6 Gnome now! We don't have to wait any longer!"
In my opinion, that might make Debian work. A normal user can assume that current free software under Debian will always be under unstable, that stable means "outdated" and that developers use the "pure" Debian unstable. If you don't want to mess with it, go get a meta-distribution, like Progeny, Linspire, User Linux or Ubantu.