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KDE Running on Mac OS X
GeoffP writes "AppleTalk Australia is running a story on running KDE on Mac OS X. For those that don't know, KDE is a graphical desktop environment used to access your computer's files. Finally, Mac users have a free (as in speech) approach to their filesystem."
A neat article.
However, I can't think really why you'd want to be running KDE on Mac OS X when you already have such a neat (IMHO) interface. I suppose it's good for a laugh, too.
Ummm... If I wanted to run KDE, why would I buy a Mac? I mean I love my Powerbook, but I know the Pentium M systems are faster, cheaper, and (if my experiences are the rule not the exception) more reliable.
The evil monkey commands you to dance.
I guess I should write up my tutorial on how to run fluxbox on OS X, and my follow up, setting environment variables to allow Terminal.app to interact with the X server.
Do it. Don't put down documentation on any process that others might not have done - there are many MANY people who might not have the experience to come up with the solution on their own, but who may benefit from it.
The attitude that writing documentation on the simple stuff is pointless is the reason so many man pages, web pages, FAQs and howtos on open source software sucks dog nuts.
Not everyone is geek enough to know how to do some of the cool things - that knowledge comes about for those of us who are geeky enough to enjoy learning the ins and outs of everything for its own sake. Other people, the majority, need to see how something can work when set up well before they'll accept it.
KDe, for all it's open source goodness, isnt a superior system to what OSX has. I dont get why you would bother - OSX is a delight to use.
Finally, Mac users have a free (as in speech) approach to their filesystem.
1. KDE has been running on OS X for many years now.
2. cp, ls, mv, etc are open source, and have been available on OS X since the beginning.
3. KDE is nice, but I didn't buy a Mac so I could run KDE, I bought it so I could run OS X.
Which isn't to say it's not good to be able to run KDE if you want, just that I've never heard someone lament, "oh, that only there were some form of free (as in speech) approach to the filesystem on my Mac".
Choice I suppose. If you ever needed a few KDE apps, then here's a solution. If you ever spent your time 50/50 in OS X and KDE, this is the best way to go - if only fink were a little more up to date with KDE packages in a consistent sense.
One of the parts omitted from the article was a demonstration by Si, the guy who wrote the article, of a KDE desktop running on one monitor and OS X running on the other - both controlled by the same G4. For him, it works well and documenting how it was done just makes sense. Not everyone has the complete knowledge needed to get this up and running if they DO need it.
It's certainly not going to suit everyone - nor even the majority of people using OSX/KDE, but it's going to make life just a little more comfortable for the few who need to use both regularly.
Hey, many many years ago I've ran Quake on ancient IRIX workstations. Oh wait... it was over X with the actual binaries running on a Linux x86 box. Oh, and I'm running KDE on Windows right now (Cygwin X server, of course, on a machine at work)! Hey, come, lookie, KDE for Windows!
How exactly running an X program over X can be considered a port? It just works as it should, but there is nothing special to it.
The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Aqua goodness, brushed-metal goodness, unified tool bar grayish-ness, the new iTunes post brushed-metal dark grayish-ness, etc. Basically, whatever shinny inconstant interface turd Apple thinks is cool this month.
;)
And yes, I realize the irony of an Apple interface rant coming from some a-hole who's screen name is "Aqua OS X"
"Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
Slashdot: Computer News for People New to Computers
Ever think there are different levels of geekdom? I'm a music geek first and foremost, and a computer geek second. I didn't know what Fink was, yet I've been a Linux user and casual Sourceforge browser for nearly 3 years and an OS X user for almost a year. I found this article useful even if you didnt, just for novelty value rather than anything else.
Just because you already knew how to do something, doesn't mean everybody does. If this was a PC World 'How to Switch on your Computer' article, you might have a case, but this is a site for all geeks, not just computer geeks; all reasonably smart people - people likely to enjoy this site - should know how to turn their computer on, but not all of them are going to know about something like this, which they might find useful for any number of reasons.
Rant over. I just don't like people who assume just because something is of no interest to them, or simple to them, that it's boring or obvious to everyone else.
I liked this article, it's something I might try out when I've got a few hours to spare. You can read something else if you want.
Thank you, slashdot, for enlightening me as to this smart bit of kit. Keep it up.
Dealing with lawyers would be a lot less tedious if they all looked like Casey Novak.