DragonFly doesn't stack up as a desktop box at the moment. Here's a post I made on osnews.com about it:
Go ahead, install Dfly, and cvsup the latest FreeBSD ports tree and DragonFly dfports tree. Now try to build some useful apps... Way too many apps won't build from the ports tree. If you're lucky enough, there's a dfports override. If you're even luckier, it'll be the same version as the ports tree. Let's assume you actually get those apps installed... A few weeks later you cvsup the ports tree again and try to do a portupgrade. Suddenly SDL in the ports tree is upgraded... By SDL in the dfports tree isn't. Great... Now you have apps that want the newer SDL that keep building SDL from dfports, which you already have installed and which isn't up-to-date...
You can always try pkgsrc, if you want.
First, you need to build and install the bootstrap code. Then you need to update bmake from the bmake package (the forget to tell you that on the gobsd.com site). Forget about getting enlightenment running, imlib2 fails to build. You currently need to patch the gtk2 port (assuming the patch hasn't been committed yet). Firefox won't build, nor will SDL. If you want to build Blender, it'll try to build nasm, which requires the gcc3-c package... Which won't build. (You can edit the nasm Makefile to remove the gcc3-c dependency).
Sorry folks, but DragonFly is really only suited for developers at the moment, IMHO.
Just because they're end users doesn't mean they should change the meaning of words. When dealing with computers, the definition of the word applicable to computers is the one that should be used.
And just because the WINE programmers are in the CS field, it doesn't mean they should change the meaning of words, either. WINE clearly meets the third definition of emulator from the American Heritage Dictionary, the definition that is applicable to computers.
The American Heritage dictionary is not written for CS, Physics, Biochemistry, or any other such specialized purpose and isn't really reliable for them.
Nor is WINE written for CS, Physics, Biochemistry, or any other such specialized purpose. It's written for end-users, who are going to accurately see WINE as an emulator.
If that's the case, why can't users just run "./notepad.exe" instead of "wine./notepad.exe". Or perhaps wine does something after all... Like emulating the win32 API.
Any reason why I should trust your definition (and perhaps the definition of many programmers) over the definition commonly accepted by society? WINE may be an open source development project, but it's a product, aimed at end-users. End-users don't care what the technical definition of emulator may or may not be. They are going to think that WINE emulates windows, because, according to every definition they know/lookup, it does.
Or perhaps the dictionary has the correct definition. It almost certainly has the most commonly accepted definition of the word "emulator" in mainstream society.
If you don't agree it's an emulator, than you should be able to explain how it doesn't mean that third definition from the American Heritage Dictionary:
To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments an style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
3. Computer Science. To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
Sorry, but that third definition clearly applies. WINE most certainly is an emulator.
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments an style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
3. Computer Science. To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
Sorry, but that third definition clearly applies. WINE most certainly is an emulator.
There's currently a project underway to develop an opensource r300 driver. It's making decent progress considering that ATI refuses to give the specs to the developers (though they have given the specs to Xi Graphics).
Then it is obvious that you don't know what an emulator is.
From American Heritage Dictionary:
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
3. Computer Science. To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
Sorry, but that third definition clearly applies, so it sounds like you don't know what an emulator is.
Slashdot Mirror
DragonFly doesn't stack up as a desktop box at the moment. Here's a post I made on osnews.com about it:
Go ahead, install Dfly, and cvsup the latest FreeBSD ports tree and DragonFly dfports tree. Now try to build some useful apps... Way too many apps won't build from the ports tree. If you're lucky enough, there's a dfports override. If you're even luckier, it'll be the same version as the ports tree. Let's assume you actually get those apps installed... A few weeks later you cvsup the ports tree again and try to do a portupgrade. Suddenly SDL in the ports tree is upgraded... By SDL in the dfports tree isn't. Great... Now you have apps that want the newer SDL that keep building SDL from dfports, which you already have installed and which isn't up-to-date...
You can always try pkgsrc, if you want.
First, you need to build and install the bootstrap code. Then you need to update bmake from the bmake package (the forget to tell you that on the gobsd.com site). Forget about getting enlightenment running, imlib2 fails to build. You currently need to patch the gtk2 port (assuming the patch hasn't been committed yet). Firefox won't build, nor will SDL. If you want to build Blender, it'll try to build nasm, which requires the gcc3-c package... Which won't build. (You can edit the nasm Makefile to remove the gcc3-c dependency).
Sorry folks, but DragonFly is really only suited for developers at the moment, IMHO.
It's a freakin' TV show. A good TV show, but just a TV show. It is not reality, and should not be the basis for any real legal opinion.
Dinivin
Just because they're end users doesn't mean they should change the meaning of words. When dealing with computers, the definition of the word applicable to computers is the one that should be used.
And just because the WINE programmers are in the CS field, it doesn't mean they should change the meaning of words, either. WINE clearly meets the third definition of emulator from the American Heritage Dictionary, the definition that is applicable to computers.
Dinivin
You could say that wine emulates the Microsoft implementation of the win32 API.
:-)
So it could be said, in fact, that WINE is an emulator.
BTW, if it's just a big joke, why do all the WINE fanboys get so upset when someone points out that WINE is an emulator?
Dinivin
But emulator isn't being used in the CS field when talking about WINE. It's being used in the field of computer end-users. There's a huge difference.
Dinivin
BTW, even the WINE readme says that WINE executes programs:
It (wine) consists of a program loader which loads and executes a Microsoft Windows binary...
Dinivin
No matter how much you try, at BEST you can claim that wine emulates the win32 api, but you'll never be able to claim it emulates windows.
I never made the claim that it emulates Windows.
Dinivin
The American Heritage dictionary is not written for CS, Physics, Biochemistry, or any other such specialized purpose and isn't really reliable for them.
Nor is WINE written for CS, Physics, Biochemistry, or any other such specialized purpose. It's written for end-users, who are going to accurately see WINE as an emulator.
Dinivin
If that's the case, why can't users just run "./notepad.exe" instead of "wine ./notepad.exe". Or perhaps wine does something after all... Like emulating the win32 API.
Dinivin
Any reason why I should trust your definition (and perhaps the definition of many programmers) over the definition commonly accepted by society? WINE may be an open source development project, but it's a product, aimed at end-users. End-users don't care what the technical definition of emulator may or may not be. They are going to think that WINE emulates windows, because, according to every definition they know/lookup, it does.
Dinivin
Or perhaps the dictionary has the correct definition. It almost certainly has the most commonly accepted definition of the word "emulator" in mainstream society.
Dinivin
To copy exactly; reproduce.
To appear like; resemble.
If you think that WINE doesn't imitate the win32 API, you're not the brightest. No offense, of course.
Dinivin
If you don't agree it's an emulator, than you should be able to explain how it doesn't mean that third definition from the American Heritage Dictionary:
To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
Dinivin
Yes it is an emulator.
Dinivin
Yes it is an emulator.
Dinivin
From American Heritage Dictionary:
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments an style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
3. Computer Science. To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
Sorry, but that third definition clearly applies. WINE most certainly is an emulator.
Dinivin
From American Heritage Dictionary:
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments an style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
3. Computer Science. To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
Sorry, but that third definition clearly applies. WINE most certainly is an emulator.
Dinivin
There's currently a project underway to develop an opensource r300 driver. It's making decent progress considering that ATI refuses to give the specs to the developers (though they have given the specs to Xi Graphics).
Dinivin
Would you consider GTK+ for Windows a Linux emulator? I wouldn't. Similarly, Wine Is Not an Emulator.
Does it let you run unmodified linux binaries? Didn't think so. Therefore GTK+ for Windows is not an emulator. WINE, on the other hand, is.
Dinivin
Given the success of iTunes, I'd say that people have already bought into DRM.
Dinivin
Sorry, but it clearly meets definition number 3 from the American Heritage Dictionary. You are right on one point, though: this is not a hard concept.
Dinivin
Wine emulates the Win32 API, if anything
So, in other words, you admit it's an emulator.
Dinivin
Then it is obvious that you don't know what an emulator is.
From American Heritage Dictionary:
1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated.
2. To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
3. Computer Science. To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
Sorry, but that third definition clearly applies, so it sounds like you don't know what an emulator is.
Dinivin
Just because that's what the developer's claim, it doesn't make it so.
If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it's gonna be a duck.
Wine, acronym or not, is an emulator.
Dinivin
So it's a US thing? Please explain, then, why I had to fill out a form saying where I would be staying when I flew into London from the US?
Dinivin