Wednesday

Linux

Linux Distribution Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a community developed operating system designed to work for laptops, desktops, and servers. It contains all the programs necessary to get you started, OpenOffice, several image editing/creating programs, media players, internet browsers, e-mail tools, programming tools, and much more. In other words, if you are using Windows, you’ll pretty much find you can do almost anything with Ubuntu as well. Being community driven, there is hundreds of documentations available online to get you up and running in no time. There are also free releases every six months!


According to Wikipedia, around 8 million users are using Ubuntu as of today and numbers are steadily increasing. Dell even created a campaign of offering Ubuntu on their desktops at some time.

So why use it?

Many experienced programmers recommend having experience in a programming environment. Now here is your chance!


You can install Ubuntu easily and have a dual boot computer. In other words, when your computer boots up it may give you an option to whether it should run your current OS or Ubuntu. You can also download the LiveCD and try it out without installing anything!


Also Ubuntu tends to use little system resources. My Vista currently takes about ~1.0 gig running while running little to no applications. Ubuntu? Shouldn’t be more than half using the counterparts Ubuntu has to offer.


Below are a couple of self-explanatory pictures that should show you the OS.

So where do I get started?

Ubuntu : Go download Ubuntu
What is Ubuntu? : More background
Ubuntu Forums : In case you need help or have any questions

Installation

Installation is pretty straightforward. Back up all your information beforehand!!! You may run the risk of formatting your hard drive in the process! The new edition of Ubuntu launching tomorrow seems to be packed with a newer version of Wubi which is supposed to help you with installation. Don’t be discouraged. Installation is simple and shouldn’t take more than 20-45 minutes. You simply pop in the cd (which you download from the website), and follow the instructions!

I’ll be posting a tutorial later on how to install it for those who still need that extra help! I’ll also be posting a tutorial soon on how to write your first program in C++!