Links round-up

The oldest post in my post cache that may be applicable...

I don't have time to blog about things in general for now, so I'll present you with a list of links I've gathered on my travels through the web...

Make mailto: links open Gmail (Ubuntu):
www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubuntu/set-gmail-as-default-mail-client-in-ubuntu/

TortoiseSVN-like script for Nautilus (GNOME):
jasonfield.com/freebies/

A helpful article from Microsoft:
support.microsoft.com/kb/247804

A small computer running Xubuntu now on sale (did I already blog about this?):
www.linutop.com/

Flip, a novel programming language:
www.daimi.au.dk/~eriksoe/Flip/

Why Linux drives don't need defragmenting:
geekblog.oneandoneis2.org/index.php/2006/08/17/why_doesn_t_linux_need_defragmenting

Free web hosting:
www.110mb.com/

Free file hosting:
hostfile.org/

My Starred Slashdot articles:

Ubuntu Market Share:
linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/11/1452257

GPLv3 & Microsoft:
linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/06/1333257
slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/0030227

Written articles vs blog posts:
slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/09/2111255

Using the mouse in UIs:
hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/09/1232230

Spammers vs CAPTCHAs:
it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/09/0110203

OpenMoko phone on sale:
developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/09/0049249

The world's first programmable robot?
hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/07/1924248

I think so, this time:
linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/06/2119243

History of the CD:
slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/04/2230245

The Linux shell, a new user's friend?

Paul made another post yesterday, about the merits of the Linux text shell, and whether it was an ideal interface for new Linux users to have to learn.

So, they say that Linux forces users to learn how to use the shell and that, basically, Linux can't do anything without it.

It is a common argument made by Windows advocates, that it is impossible to use Linux without using the shell. I am glad to say, this is just not true.

Everyone knows that Linux grew from a shell-only interface, X and GUI applications came (much) later. Over the years Linux gained an image of being the hacker's operating system. It is far easier to hack (NOT 'crack') than Windows is.

Linux is growing beyond that now. Distributions (yes, I am saying it again) such as Ubuntu are doing their best to keep the shell to only those people that want it, and not require the people who don't to use it. In reality it is perfectly possible to use an Ubuntu system without knowing anything about the shell. There are graphical applications for practically any task you need to perform. I believe a little more could be done (ie. a GUI way to run programs as root), but still we are practically there already. One problem is that Linux tutorials nearly always show only shell way of doing things. This is at least better than Windows where a long how-to like this ("Click this tab, tick that box, click ok, oh, and again, and again...") could usually be done in a single command that could be copied and pasted.

Are shells good or not?

Yes, yes they are. There is no doubting the power of the shell. It is pretty easy to get started, you don't have to be a computer expert either. Knowing how to use the shell can help you take advantage of certain features in Linux that make it better than other operating systems - the possibility to bring it back to life from practically any crashed state, without data loss, and nearly always without rebooting. (Perhaps a simple how-to on this topic is in order... :) )

ObsidianLake: Another quarrel with my good friend...

In Paul's recent post about whether Linux is ready for the desktop, he debates whether there is a demand for Linux, and asks:

"Should or will Linux become a commercial product?"

I think we should look at how Linux started out, where it is now, and where it is heading.

For a start, the Linux kernel was started with entirely different goals to the components that make up the rest of a GNU/Linux system. Linux was not begun with intention of being free (as in freedom). It was a personal project of Linus. For GNU on the other hand, the philosophy came first. Ten years ago there was little commercial worth in either of these ventures, only once they were combined into a usable system would things start to gain interest and momentum.

GNU/Linux in the present day is doing quite well. It has taken a long time, but it is now ready for the desktop. GNU/Linux is earning recognition from both hardware and software makers, and the number of users is snowballing. I have to say this is in no small way helped by Ubuntu and a couple of other easy to use distributions. It is important to note that all of the most popular ones are free. Now that Linux is comparable to Windows in practically every way, what else is there to compare on, except the price? This is why I believe that free distributions will always be the most popular. Commercial distributions have their place almost only in the enterprise market.

Into the future? GNU and Linux will remain free, and Microsoft will have no choice but to switch away from its reliance on Windows being the dominant OS if it is to survive. Windows was the first easy to use OS, and it brought the possibilities of computers to those who would otherwise never have had it. This is the only reason it is on 99% of PCs today. Now that GNU/Linux is a competitor, with the added advantage of being free, Microsoft have no choice but to re-think their business. Very soon Haiku is also going to raise the BeOS community from the (un)dead, and this will only stir the mix even more.

Concluding by returning to the original question, is Linux a commercial product? No, at least, not while we are talking about the home-user's desktop. Should it become commercial? Well, supposing it did, it would lose one of the best things it has to attract people on the OS centre-ground - its freedom.

New Laptop

Finally I ordered a laptop for myself. I've been saving up for a while, but now I will be able to use my GSoC money towards it also. It should be arriving this week.

I'll be probably doing most of my development on it, so the first thing I will do is install Ubuntu alongside the pre-installed Vista. Yes, because I still need access to Windows for testing things, I will probably keep Vista, but reduce its partition size and dual-boot it.

Seeing as I have never used Vista before (only looked over someone's shoulder) you can be sure I will be posting a Vista vs Ubuntu right here very soon :)

Microsoft gives guidance on OS design

Some of you may have tried Windows Vista. It has a great new feature 'User Account Control', or UAC.

UAC allows users with administrative privileges to use the PC without the privileges enabled, until they are required. When a program requires the extra privileges, Windows pops up a dialog, describing what program is asking for administrative rights, and you must enter your password to continue. This is a great feature, and it makes using the computer for everyday tasks much more secure. For example, if your web browser was compromised, it would be limited in what damage it could cause, unless you had previously granted it administrative rights.

You may wonder why I am telling you this (you probably already know about UAC). However Microsoft have publicly said last week how great UAC in Vista is (though it hasn't stopped Apple making fun of it!). In fact they recommend that other operating systems should support it too!

"If you look at it from an architectural direction User Account Control is a great idea and strategically a direction that all operating systems and all technologies should be heading down," -- Peter Watson, Microsoft Australia's chief security advisor.

Chief security adviser? He must have used Linux, even briefly, at some time, right? This is a feature that Linux has had since the beginning, in the form of 'su' and 'sudo'. Before you think otherwise, no, Windows Vista was not even the first OS to bring it to the desktop! Here is a screenshot of Ubuntu: