OK, maybe you're right about the fact that MSIE has more security flaws than other browsers. That's also because more people are using it and more people found bugs.
Still, Mozilla and Netscape will never be first class browser with large user base. Don't even think about commercializing Mozilla when it can't open certain DHTML sites. I've tried 1.2.1 (just now) on both Windows and my Debian.
They still have the same problems. The DHTML functionality hasn't been fixed. Bug #182253, "document.write() eats initial characters in 1.2".It explains why so many sites with DHTML menus are being hit by the current bug. The sites are using document.write() to create them.
Also, there is a new bug that was just recently discovered. Progressive JPEG rendering in Mozilla hasn't been functioning properly since release 1.2.1. As an example, this image will open properly in MSIE, Netscape 6 and 7, Opera, however it won't open properly in Mozilla.
So, what steps do you think that Mozilla developers to squash all these bugs?
I actually tried and downloaded Mozilla 1.2.1 for Windows today. Having installed it on my computer, I tried going to some DHTML-based sites. However, I still keep getting the same error message as 1.2.0:(
That's your assumption, I'm not responsible for your assumption. Mozilla should be fixed from bugs like this. Admit it! There's an error in Mozilla that needs to be fixed! Rather than redownloading it again and again and having to recompile it on your system (some nerds do this), just install Windows and click "Windows Update".
I know MSIE have exploits. Can't you just click the "Windows Update" button from the Start Menu, and when a new window prompts you for security verification, check the box "Always trust content from Microsoft Corporation" before you click the OK button, and then reboot. That should solve it.
With Linux/BSD/whatever, especially on Gentoo you need to recompile it from some source, and thus it reduces productivity.
I know... uninstall Mozilla from your system, get rid of Linux/BSD/whatever partition, then install Windows, ask for a refund to Redhat Linux (if your distro is Redhat), or ask for a compensation to GNU/Richard if you use Debian.
1) There's only 1 Linux: I'm talking here about 1 Linux distro for DESKTOP use. Read it over again, remember it, have a nightmare about it. What I mean is just 1 Linux distribution. Sure, many people disagree with this, but hey maybe you were right that having 100 Linux distributions with different config files and package manager is more fun for you. Do you think the business world see it the way you see it?If you were right though, what's keeping a lot of people who have tried Linux for DESKTOP use switched back to Windows and doesn't look back?
If, for example: Amy runs SuSE and Jake runs Mandrake. Both of them have different config tools, different config file locations. Both Amy and Jake are just average users who just managed to installed Linux and was very excited about it. Suppose Amy needs help with configuring the a web server because she wants to have her personal homepage. Amy doesn't know which package to install. She asks Jake about it, and Jake told her just install http-server-xxxx.rpm.. But Amy's Apache server packaged is named differently in Linux - it's apache-xxxx.rpm (BTW, yes I've encountered this problem). There are many scenarios that you can think of.
If you were right, why do some people initiate Linux Standard Base?
2) A more stable X-Window: I have Sager NP8560-Ultra on my system. Everytime I switch to the console and back to X-Window again, X-Window crashes. Ctrl-Alt-Backspace can't solve it. It has been like that since Mandrake 7.2. Redhat 8 apparently doesn't crash on me, however I'm reluctant to use Redhat. Redhat 8 kernel wasn't compiled with low latency patch and XMMS skips a lot (this doesn't happen in Mandrake). I mean, they even advertise it for deesktop use? Are Redhat people joking? I've contributed a few apps to both Redhat and Mandrake, and my software gnome-telnet & Mandrake Update Robot is included in Mandrake (7.2 - 8.0) and Redhat 7.1 Powertools & Redhat 7.2 (only gnome-telnet).
Also, X-Window consumes way more resources than Win32. Yes, you can tell me to use FVWM95 or WindowMaker rather than KDE and GNOME. However, FVWM95 or WindowMaker doesn't give as much functionality as KDE and GNOME. Both KDE and GNOME are the two desktop managers that provide functionality close to MacOS and Windows. Do you understand what I'm saying here?
3) One desktop/windows manager with consistent look and feel. True, Win95 interface have differences with Win2k, WinXP, etc. What I'm talking about here when I say 1 desktop/windows manager also includes: 1 API. This makes developer live so much easier. Consistent look and feel accross all applications. Yes, Winamp different from MS Excel, Windows Media Player 8 and MS Excel interface doesn't match. But you're talking a different language here. I'm saying that Emacs is totally different from KEdit or KWrite and GEdit - especially the shortcut keys. A sawvy Linux user can handle this, but your grandma doesn't even know how to handle Emacs. The configuration file in Linux across Linux distributions is different. This is VERY FRUSTRATING for technical support.
Also, Redhat changes its RPM API in 4.0 to 4.x and there was a few differences. Mandrake Update Robot causes segfault when compiled with the new RPM library, but it was okay with the older one. Having a consistent API in terms of functionality is important. I'm just way too lazy to handle complaints especially when I make my software for free
4) More complete manual.
You said:
Something as in depth and technical as the one shipped with pre-installed Windows? What's it called, F1 isn't it? Or Clippy?
Something that a normal user can still understand. Yes, Clippy is stupid but it helps grandma to use MS Word and amuses her (some are probably annoyed). If you're more proficient with Windows, you have the option to turn it off. It's on by default to help grandma and some little kids 5-7 yrs old who just start learning computer
You said:
want a manual? there's this site (www.google.com) where I can search the web and find all sorts of useful info on how to set up any part of linux. the linux documentation project is a really good starting point.
You're kidding right. We're talking about manual that just works - simple stuff like connecting with dial-up modem. If Linux manual is so good (including formatting, look & feel, usability, etc) (especially with Google), how come a grandma can't do it with Linux but she can do it with Windows - using both the same external 56K modem? READ MY STATEMENT AGAIN: I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR DESKTOP USAGE FOR THE AVERAGE JOE USER WHO BARELY KNOWS COMPUTER! Some people needs to learn how to read properly. A Grandma who just got her $199-PC from Walmart probably doesn't know what Google is. Yes, Google is very simple to use but the process to find a good manual can be very lengthening. Compare the "Help and Support" in Windows XP to Linux manual. Which one is formatted more user friendly so that Grandma and little kids can easily navigate the help system?
4) And this one is #1 my favorite:
Wow, was that dificult for you to copy out of the MS manual? Cause it looked difficult. You say you have used linux and wrote some apps yet you claim that X-Window can crash the whole system? Also, there is only one linux. There are many different distrobutions based on that linux kernel. Consistent as compared to what? Windows? Your kidding right? You do know that computer vendors don't directly suppport an OS in general as a practice unless you pay them $$$ for a support contract or per incident right? prisoner# msce18xxxxx. Currently planning my escape.
Elitists and closed minded person like this is one of the biggest reason why I leave Linux world. People who can run Linux maybe more technical sawy than the average user, but they're just too elitist.... Probably a 14 yrs old script kiddie....
Yes, I know there's only one Linux kernel - again forked with different patches but the source is the same. Still, it's forked. I'M TALKING ABOUT LINUX DISTROS HERE, AND IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND A SIMPLE LANGUAGE LIKE THAT,.....insert some flames for stupid retards here....? Anyway, the kernel I have in Redhat 8 is not the same as the kernel I have in Mandrake 9. They have different optimization. Don't go talking about Windows 95 vs Windows NT again as a comparison. The next time you want to say something, think something intelligent.
This is my #2 favorite: At a time when MS continues to split Windows into Pro, Server, ME, XP, 2K, CE, Embedded, yadda yadda It's called version. This is very common in programming world. If you want to see it that way, then you'll see Redhat 5.2, 6.0, 6.1 as different "splitted Linux". Debian Woody, Debian Potato, etc etc etc. NT line=XP,2K, Windows NT4, NT3.51 9x line=95, 98, ME...etc
By the way, you shouldn't try to go to run Linux if your IQ is that high. You might "blow up" your computer.
I find that a lot of Linux users are closed minded about non-free software. If you want to get into desktop world, you have to be able to make money from Linux applications. In order to be able make money from Linux, software developers have to make a target where the operating system has a large user base. If Linux developers want it to have a large userbase, Linux has to be really easy to use right out of the box, thus reducing the learning curve. With different desktop applications (Gnome, KDE), incomplete manual, little inconsistency copy/cut/paste (which is dependent on applications - not KDE/GNOME), added with the fanaticism and eliticism of its users (Yo! I can c0mp1l3 the whole L1nux from source - I'm 31337 attitude), I personally don't think it can compete with Mac or Windows, especially in usability area. Linux is maybe more secure, faster, and handles a lot of things better than other operating system, however don't forget about usability and consistency & coherence in the design.
There are just way too many inconsistency in its functions, plus there are too many Linux distributions, and this confuses people. If the scenario were different, i.e:
1) There's only 1 Linux
2) Only 1 desktop/windows manager
3) A more stable X-Window where it doesn't crash the whole operating system
4) Consistent look and feel (btw, Bluecurve is a joke)
5) More complete manual
6) More drivers for hardware ... ...
I believe if these criteria is met, computer vendors would be more than happy to install Linux by default. The cost to support an operating system that has many inconsistency is just too much. I've been both a developer and a tech support, and I couldn't imagine myself trying to support different distro with many inconsistencies everywhere.
I have produced a few free Linux software since 1999 and I was a member of Gnome foundation, but now I erased all my Linux partition and just use Windows entirely. Moreover, I need money. I can't make money from developing Linux software. Nobody in the past has hired me solely based on my ability to develop high quality C++ and C software in Linux.
-- My $0.02 + 7% Canadian GST tax + 8% provincial tax
do you think he can really persuade the people in India to use free software? Does he really have people skill?
Not only that, Microsoft's $400 million donation really proves that economy development is more important than just being able to produce yet another free GNU/"insert product name here" software.
Woohoo, yet another Micro$hit IIS hacked!!! Microsoft surely makes crackers go Ka-Chingg!!;)
Any of you guys remember that a few weeks ago (or was it last week?) creditcards.com that uses Microsoft Windows NT was hacked and about 3 million credit cards was stolen? Again and again and again. Even Microsoft itself has been hacked twice this year, plus another www.microsoft.si hacked.
Sorry about that. What I meant was, how can I prevent people from stealing my GPL'ed source code (ie: they made a commercial software based on mine without redistributing the source code)? I can't spend my time disassembling other people's software.
Anonymous Coward wrote:
I work for a pretty big financial company, where we steal GNU and other GPL'd code all of the time.
Who's going to do anything about it?
Since the stolen code is compiled into our software and none of you schmucks has access to the source, who is going to sue?
And even if someone discovered that we violated the GPL and stole code, who has the resources to sue us? We owe all of the idiots donating time and efforts to the 'community' big time. We have stolen thousands of man-hours worth of development work and saved our company millions!
Thanks all!
You're pretty darn right. However, what if someone finds by disassembling it? Remember, crookedness doesn't worth it. Nothing in this world can be kept as a secret forever.
If, for example, I code some cool proggie with a GPL license, and a company decides to use and make money from it but doesn't even distribute the code (and without me knowingly), what can I do? It seems even with GPL when they have to distribute the source too, who knows that someone else might still our code - and produce a binary-only apps?
The registry was designed to get around all the design limitations of ascii text files as a config mechanism. If you would learn to use it properly, you will find that it is quite powerful and is quite far ahead of the unices from a design standpoint. Perfect - no, but neither are text files. I imagine the unix world will come to many of the same design conclusions when they actually come up with some advanced infrastructure for the kernel. That will probably never happen, though, with all the fragmentation.
I don't understand why you can say that registry is the right way. It is one of the biggest fundamental flaw in MS-Windows. Most Windows apps store their config in the registry. Now, if the registry corrupted, the OS crashes. It can't be edited by hand, and we have to try "regedit/c". The more the registry is used, the slower the OS is. Try installing an application that heavily use Windows Registry. When you uninstall it, it doesn't reduce the size of the registry.
I imagine the unix world will come to many of the same design conclusions
No, thanks. It will never happen. I refuse to do the same way as Microsoft use registry. You can ask any other Linux programmers besides me. If I have to edit anything by hand, I'd prefer regular ASCII text, rather than using regedt32.exe. A centralized configuration in 3 files (SYSTEM.DAT and USER.DAT and HWINFO.DAT) is just a very impractical design. Also, by the way, I don't have to reboot everytime I make a simple change of configuration in Linux and FreeBSD, unlike Windows 9x/NT/2000. If I'm running a very critical application on Windows, for example: e-auction (eg: e-Bay) that say, running 400 transaction/minute and I have to reboot for simple changes -- and the reboot takes 3 minutes, I would've lost 1200 transaction.
Saying that Registry is a good design is like saying bubblesort is efficient. Thank goodness I don't have to follow Microsoft's mindset in designing an operating system.
>He wants to get into programming (already asked me about Assembly and Java), and wants to design an OS (the next Linus Torvalds?).
My opinion is: you might want to teach him not how to design an OS, it is better to teach him to design a useful application. This world is already quite full of operating systems, but still lacking of high-quality applications in some OSes
Making yet another OS means that we have to re-invent the wheel again (except when the current OS can be improved but the leading programmer doesn't want it to be improved). It's better to improve rather than starting from ground zero, except when there's already a fatal fundemantal design that is hard to be fixed (eg: Win95/98/NT/2k registry)
When I was about 15 years old, I also wanted to make an OS (even without good knowledge). Then I bought a book "Operating Systems: Design and Implementation" by Andrew S. Tanenbaum - Prentice Hall a book about Minix. That time, I didn't even understand what UNIX was (neither TCP/IP or networking), and I didn't know what IP address meant. I read about memory management stuff (swapping, etc) and about how to access PC intr 0x13 for reading fixed disk, bootstrap loader, etc. But later on, I realize that I'm alone and doing all that stuff will just waste my energy, since I didn't have any internet connection that time (1995?) - there was no BBS/internet in my city (I didn't even have a modem). I didn't live in America/Europe where you guys have BBS/Internet. But anyhow, I still enjoy reading that kind of stuff. It's really good to enrich our knowledge, pretty neat!
Anyway, you might want to teach him how to make cool networking applications (eg: instant messanger, telephony, etc) or graphic stuff or some other useful application for real life, it's less painful than making yet another OS from ground zero again. Good luck!
It's really sad to see that Corel decided to leave Linux arena. Corel might actually be able to bring multimedia companies to port their applications to Linux, since it's aimed for desktop user.
Corel has done a very good job on Corel Linux, and I hope that some people maybe able to continue developing Corel Linux. Look at Corel's contribution to Wine, and they ported WordPerfect Office 2k to Linux. Yes, maybe it's not perfect yet, but at least they've tried really hard. Despite Corel has little Linux experience, I'm still, however, impressed for their commitments for the last 1.5 years.
Let's wish them success for their future business, and I hope somebody can continue Corel Linux development.
You'd better take the domain quickly. MICRO~1 took domain windows2000sucks.com and redirect it to their support page. Guess what, I should register windows2000reallysucks.com!
Slashdot Mirror
OK, maybe you're right about the fact that MSIE has more security flaws than other browsers. That's also because more people are using it and more people found bugs.
Still, Mozilla and Netscape will never be first class browser with large user base. Don't even think about commercializing Mozilla when it can't open certain DHTML sites. I've tried 1.2.1 (just now) on both Windows and my Debian.
They still have the same problems. The DHTML functionality hasn't been fixed. Bug #182253, "document.write() eats initial characters in 1.2".It explains why so many sites with DHTML menus are being hit by the current bug. The sites are using document.write() to create them.
Also, there is a new bug that was just recently discovered. Progressive JPEG rendering in Mozilla hasn't been functioning properly since release 1.2.1. As an example, this image will open properly in MSIE, Netscape 6 and 7, Opera, however it won't open properly in Mozilla.
So, what steps do you think that Mozilla developers to squash all these bugs?
I actually tried and downloaded Mozilla 1.2.1 for Windows today. Having installed it on my computer, I tried going to some DHTML-based sites. However, I still keep getting the same error message as 1.2.0 :(
For example: this site won't work
So is it like when there's a buffer overflow on Pine, Wu-FTPD, Sendmail, Webmin, BIND, openSSL,..... should I name more?
...was that because Mozilla developers can still see Microsoft ads on Slashdot??
...perhaps that's why there's still Microsoft ads on Slashdot...
Perhaps a lobotomy will fix you...
That's your assumption, I'm not responsible for your assumption. Mozilla should be fixed from bugs like this. Admit it! There's an error in Mozilla that needs to be fixed! Rather than redownloading it again and again and having to recompile it on your system (some nerds do this), just install Windows and click "Windows Update".
It's *that* easy!
I know MSIE have exploits. Can't you just click the "Windows Update" button from the Start Menu, and when a new window prompts you for security verification, check the box "Always trust content from Microsoft Corporation" before you click the OK button, and then reboot. That should solve it.
With Linux/BSD/whatever, especially on Gentoo you need to recompile it from some source, and thus it reduces productivity.
Yeehaa for Windows!
I know... uninstall Mozilla from your system, get rid of Linux/BSD/whatever partition, then install Windows, ask for a refund to Redhat Linux (if your distro is Redhat), or ask for a compensation to GNU/Richard if you use Debian.
Windows is da best 31337 ! Rox0r!
That will fix it
First post, btw
Why bother building a Linux distro from scratch?
But will this eliminate Microsoft ads on Slashdot?
Well... here's some clarification:
.....insert some flames for stupid retards here....? Anyway, the kernel I have in Redhat 8 is not the same as the kernel I have in Mandrake 9. They have different optimization. Don't go talking about Windows 95 vs Windows NT again as a comparison. The next time you want to say something, think something intelligent.
...etc
1) There's only 1 Linux: I'm talking here about 1 Linux distro for DESKTOP use. Read it over again, remember it, have a nightmare about it. What I mean is just 1 Linux distribution. Sure, many people disagree with this, but hey maybe you were right that having 100 Linux distributions with different config files and package manager is more fun for you. Do you think the business world see it the way you see it?If you were right though, what's keeping a lot of people who have tried Linux for DESKTOP use switched back to Windows and doesn't look back?
If, for example: Amy runs SuSE and Jake runs Mandrake. Both of them have different config tools, different config file locations. Both Amy and Jake are just average users who just managed to installed Linux and was very excited about it. Suppose Amy needs help with configuring the a web server because she wants to have her personal homepage. Amy doesn't know which package to install. She asks Jake about it, and Jake told her just install http-server-xxxx.rpm.. But Amy's Apache server packaged is named differently in Linux - it's apache-xxxx.rpm (BTW, yes I've encountered this problem). There are many scenarios that you can think of.
If you were right, why do some people initiate Linux Standard Base?
2) A more stable X-Window: I have Sager NP8560-Ultra on my system. Everytime I switch to the console and back to X-Window again, X-Window crashes. Ctrl-Alt-Backspace can't solve it. It has been like that since Mandrake 7.2. Redhat 8 apparently doesn't crash on me, however I'm reluctant to use Redhat. Redhat 8 kernel wasn't compiled with low latency patch and XMMS skips a lot (this doesn't happen in Mandrake). I mean, they even advertise it for deesktop use? Are Redhat people joking? I've contributed a few apps to both Redhat and Mandrake, and my software gnome-telnet & Mandrake Update Robot is included in Mandrake (7.2 - 8.0) and Redhat 7.1 Powertools & Redhat 7.2 (only gnome-telnet).
Also, X-Window consumes way more resources than Win32. Yes, you can tell me to use FVWM95 or WindowMaker rather than KDE and GNOME. However, FVWM95 or WindowMaker doesn't give as much functionality as KDE and GNOME. Both KDE and GNOME are the two desktop managers that provide functionality close to MacOS and Windows. Do you understand what I'm saying here?
3) One desktop/windows manager with consistent look and feel.
True, Win95 interface have differences with Win2k, WinXP, etc. What I'm talking about here when I say 1 desktop/windows manager also includes: 1 API. This makes developer live so much easier. Consistent look and feel accross all applications. Yes, Winamp different from MS Excel, Windows Media Player 8 and MS Excel interface doesn't match. But you're talking a different language here.
I'm saying that Emacs is totally different from KEdit or KWrite and GEdit - especially the shortcut keys. A sawvy Linux user can handle this, but your grandma doesn't even know how to handle Emacs. The configuration file in Linux across Linux distributions is different. This is VERY FRUSTRATING for technical support.
Also, Redhat changes its RPM API in 4.0 to 4.x and there was a few differences. Mandrake Update Robot causes segfault when compiled with the new RPM library, but it was okay with the older one. Having a consistent API in terms of functionality is important. I'm just way too lazy to handle complaints especially when I make my software for free
4) More complete manual.
You said:
Something as in depth and technical as the one shipped with pre-installed Windows? What's it called, F1 isn't it? Or Clippy?
Something that a normal user can still understand. Yes, Clippy is stupid but it helps grandma to use MS Word and amuses her (some are probably annoyed). If you're more proficient with Windows, you have the option to turn it off. It's on by default to help grandma and some little kids 5-7 yrs old who just start learning computer
You said:
want a manual? there's this site (www.google.com) where I can search the web and find all sorts of useful info on how to set up any part of linux. the linux documentation project is a really good starting point.
You're kidding right. We're talking about manual that just works - simple stuff like connecting with dial-up modem. If Linux manual is so good (including formatting, look & feel, usability, etc) (especially with Google), how come a grandma can't do it with Linux but she can do it with Windows - using both the same external 56K modem? READ MY STATEMENT AGAIN: I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR DESKTOP USAGE FOR THE AVERAGE JOE USER WHO BARELY KNOWS COMPUTER! Some people needs to learn how to read properly. A Grandma who just got her $199-PC from Walmart probably doesn't know what Google is. Yes, Google is very simple to use but the process to find a good manual can be very lengthening. Compare the "Help and Support" in Windows XP to Linux manual. Which one is formatted more user friendly so that Grandma and little kids can easily navigate the help system?
4) And this one is #1 my favorite:
Wow, was that dificult for you to copy out of the MS manual? Cause it looked difficult. You say you have used linux and wrote some apps yet you claim that X-Window can crash the whole system? Also, there is only one linux. There are many different distrobutions based on that linux kernel. Consistent as compared to what? Windows? Your kidding right? You do know that computer vendors don't directly suppport an OS in general as a practice unless you pay them $$$ for a support contract or per incident right?
prisoner# msce18xxxxx. Currently planning my escape.
Elitists and closed minded person like this is one of the biggest reason why I leave Linux world. People who can run Linux maybe more technical sawy than the average user, but they're just too elitist.... Probably a 14 yrs old script kiddie....
Yes, I know there's only one Linux kernel - again forked with different patches but the source is the same. Still, it's forked. I'M TALKING ABOUT LINUX DISTROS HERE, AND IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND A SIMPLE LANGUAGE LIKE THAT,
This is my #2 favorite:
At a time when MS continues to split Windows into Pro, Server, ME, XP, 2K, CE, Embedded, yadda yadda
It's called version. This is very common in programming world. If you want to see it that way, then you'll see Redhat 5.2, 6.0, 6.1 as different "splitted Linux". Debian Woody, Debian Potato, etc etc etc.
NT line=XP,2K, Windows NT4, NT3.51
9x line=95, 98, ME
By the way, you shouldn't try to go to run Linux if your IQ is that high. You might "blow up" your computer.
I find that a lot of Linux users are closed minded about non-free software. If you want to get into desktop world, you have to be able to make money from Linux applications. In order to be able make money from Linux, software developers have to make a target where the operating system has a large user base. If Linux developers want it to have a large userbase, Linux has to be really easy to use right out of the box, thus reducing the learning curve. With different desktop applications (Gnome, KDE), incomplete manual, little inconsistency copy/cut/paste (which is dependent on applications - not KDE/GNOME), added with the fanaticism and eliticism of its users (Yo! I can c0mp1l3 the whole L1nux from source - I'm 31337 attitude), I personally don't think it can compete with Mac or Windows, especially in usability area. Linux is maybe more secure, faster, and handles a lot of things better than other operating system, however don't forget about usability and consistency & coherence in the design.
...
...
There are just way too many inconsistency in its functions, plus there are too many Linux distributions, and this confuses people. If the scenario were different, i.e:
1) There's only 1 Linux
2) Only 1 desktop/windows manager
3) A more stable X-Window where it doesn't crash the whole operating system
4) Consistent look and feel (btw, Bluecurve is a joke)
5) More complete manual
6) More drivers for hardware
I believe if these criteria is met, computer vendors would be more than happy to install Linux by default. The cost to support an operating system that has many inconsistency is just too much. I've been both a developer and a tech support, and I couldn't imagine myself trying to support different distro with many inconsistencies everywhere.
I have produced a few free Linux software since 1999 and I was a member of Gnome foundation, but now I erased all my Linux partition and just use Windows entirely. Moreover, I need money. I can't make money from developing Linux software. Nobody in the past has hired me solely based on my ability to develop high quality C++ and C software in Linux.
--
My $0.02 + 7% Canadian GST tax + 8% provincial tax
do you think he can really persuade the people in India to use free software? Does he really have people skill?
Not only that, Microsoft's $400 million donation really proves that economy development is more important than just being able to produce yet another free GNU/"insert product name here" software.
Woohoo, yet another Micro$hit IIS hacked!!! Microsoft surely makes crackers go Ka-Chingg!! ;)
Any of you guys remember that a few weeks ago (or was it last week?) creditcards.com that uses Microsoft Windows NT was hacked and about 3 million credit cards was stolen? Again and again and again. Even Microsoft itself has been hacked twice this year, plus another www.microsoft.si hacked.
Sorry about that. What I meant was, how can I prevent people from stealing my GPL'ed source code (ie: they made a commercial software based on mine without redistributing the source code)? I can't spend my time disassembling other people's software.
2 02&cid=83
Here's one of the thing that I'm afraid of: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=00/12/17/1751
Anonymous Coward wrote:
I work for a pretty big financial company, where we steal GNU and other GPL'd code all of the time.
Who's going to do anything about it?
Since the stolen code is compiled into our software and none of you schmucks has access to the source, who is going to sue?
And even if someone discovered that we violated the GPL and stole code, who has the resources to sue us? We owe all of the idiots donating time and efforts to the 'community' big time. We have stolen thousands of man-hours worth of development work and saved our company millions!
Thanks all!
You're pretty darn right. However, what if someone finds by disassembling it? Remember, crookedness doesn't worth it. Nothing in this world can be kept as a secret forever.
If, for example, I code some cool proggie with a GPL license, and a company decides to use and make money from it but doesn't even distribute the code (and without me knowingly), what can I do? It seems even with GPL when they have to distribute the source too, who knows that someone else might still our code - and produce a binary-only apps?
What's your opinion?
The registry was designed to get around all the design limitations of ascii text files as a config mechanism. If you would learn to use it properly, you will find that it is quite powerful and is quite far ahead of the unices from a design standpoint. Perfect - no, but neither are text files. I imagine the unix world will come to many of the same design conclusions when they actually come up with some advanced infrastructure for the kernel. That will probably never happen, though, with all the fragmentation.
/c". The more the registry is used, the slower the OS is. Try installing an application that heavily use Windows Registry. When you uninstall it, it doesn't reduce the size of the registry.
I don't understand why you can say that registry is the right way. It is one of the biggest fundamental flaw in MS-Windows. Most Windows apps store their config in the registry. Now, if the registry corrupted, the OS crashes. It can't be edited by hand, and we have to try "regedit
I imagine the unix world will come to many of the same design conclusions
No, thanks. It will never happen. I refuse to do the same way as Microsoft use registry. You can ask any other Linux programmers besides me. If I have to edit anything by hand, I'd prefer regular ASCII text, rather than using regedt32.exe. A centralized configuration in 3 files (SYSTEM.DAT and USER.DAT and HWINFO.DAT) is just a very impractical design. Also, by the way, I don't have to reboot everytime I make a simple change of configuration in Linux and FreeBSD, unlike Windows 9x/NT/2000. If I'm running a very critical application on Windows, for example: e-auction (eg: e-Bay) that say, running 400 transaction/minute and I have to reboot for simple changes -- and the reboot takes 3 minutes, I would've lost 1200 transaction.
Saying that Registry is a good design is like saying bubblesort is efficient. Thank goodness I don't have to follow Microsoft's mindset in designing an operating system.
>He wants to get into programming (already asked me about Assembly and Java), and wants to design an OS (the next Linus Torvalds?).
My opinion is: you might want to teach him not how to design an OS, it is better to teach him to design a useful application. This world is already quite full of operating systems, but still lacking of high-quality applications in some OSes
Making yet another OS means that we have to re-invent the wheel again (except when the current OS can be improved but the leading programmer doesn't want it to be improved). It's better to improve rather than starting from ground zero, except when there's already a fatal fundemantal design that is hard to be fixed (eg: Win95/98/NT/2k registry)
When I was about 15 years old, I also wanted to make an OS (even without good knowledge). Then I bought a book "Operating Systems: Design and Implementation" by Andrew S. Tanenbaum - Prentice Hall a book about Minix. That time, I didn't even understand what UNIX was (neither TCP/IP or networking), and I didn't know what IP address meant. I read about memory management stuff (swapping, etc) and about how to access PC intr 0x13 for reading fixed disk, bootstrap loader, etc. But later on, I realize that I'm alone and doing all that stuff will just waste my energy, since I didn't have any internet connection that time (1995?) - there was no BBS/internet in my city (I didn't even have a modem). I didn't live in America/Europe where you guys have BBS/Internet. But anyhow, I still enjoy reading that kind of stuff. It's really good to enrich our knowledge, pretty neat!
Anyway, you might want to teach him how to make cool networking applications (eg: instant messanger, telephony, etc) or graphic stuff or some other useful application for real life, it's less painful than making yet another OS from ground zero again. Good luck!
Hahaha, that's subtle, but I do it all the time too!
;)
Yeah, for debugging, I just use fprintf(stderr,..,...)! Save my time a lot, bro!
From Anonymous Coward ->
Question: What are six words you DON'T want to hear your girlfriend say?
Answer:
- I think I'm having a baby
- I slept with another guy yesterday
- I'm sorry, but I just farted
- I've gotta tell you I'm pregnant
Russian parts, American parts, all Made in Taiwan!
It's really sad to see that Corel decided to leave Linux arena. Corel might actually be able to bring multimedia companies to port their applications to Linux, since it's aimed for desktop user. Corel has done a very good job on Corel Linux, and I hope that some people maybe able to continue developing Corel Linux. Look at Corel's contribution to Wine, and they ported WordPerfect Office 2k to Linux. Yes, maybe it's not perfect yet, but at least they've tried really hard. Despite Corel has little Linux experience, I'm still, however, impressed for their commitments for the last 1.5 years.
Let's wish them success for their future business, and I hope somebody can continue Corel Linux development.
You'd better take the domain quickly. MICRO~1 took domain windows2000sucks.com and redirect it to their support page. Guess what, I should register windows2000reallysucks.com!