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Fix some typos and add some remarks.

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Nathaniel Beaver
2015-05-28 14:03:30 -05:00
parent b46b074278
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1 changed files with 21 additions and 7 deletions
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why-linux-is-better.rst
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@@ -275,13 +275,13 @@ i.e. the default call to ``CreateFile`` does not enable the ``FILE_FLAG_POSIX_SE
(This is to maintain `compatibility with MS-DOS`_ filesystems and ultimately to the era of FORTRAN and punch cards.) (This is to maintain `compatibility with MS-DOS`_ filesystems and ultimately to the era of FORTRAN and punch cards.)
However, Windows' own NTFS filesystem is `case-preserving`_. However, Windows' own NTFS filesystem is `case-preserving`_.
This means that it is possible to mount an NTFS partition with Linux and make a file called "Myfile.txt" in the same directory as "MYFILE.TXT", This means that it is possible to mount an NTFS partition with Linux and make a file called "Myfile.txt" in the same directory as "MYFILE.TXT",
but it will `not be possible to read or modify both those files`_ using standard Windows software. but it will `not be possible to read or modify both of those files`_ using standard Windows software.
.. _Windows API for opening files: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363858(v=vs.85).aspx .. _Windows API for opening files: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363858(v=vs.85).aspx
.. _is not case-sensitive: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/100625 .. _is not case-sensitive: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/100625
.. _compatibility with MS-DOS: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365247(v=vs.85).aspx .. _compatibility with MS-DOS: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365247(v=vs.85).aspx
.. _case-preserving: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_preservation .. _case-preserving: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_preservation
.. _not be possible to read or modify both those files: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc976809.aspx .. _not be possible to read or modify both of those files: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc976809.aspx
`Not everyone`_ considers filename case insensitivity to be a bad thing. `Not everyone`_ considers filename case insensitivity to be a bad thing.
However, it does have `negative`_ `ramifications`_ for cross-platform development. However, it does have `negative`_ `ramifications`_ for cross-platform development.
@@ -350,6 +350,12 @@ Some `practical reasons for preferring UTF-8`_:
.. _byte-order mark: http://www.unicode.org/faq/utf_bom.html .. _byte-order mark: http://www.unicode.org/faq/utf_bom.html
.. _security issues with UTF-16: http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.ietf.charsets/372 .. _security issues with UTF-16: http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.ietf.charsets/372
In principle, UTF-16 would have the advantage of constant time addressing of single characters,
but in practice most programming languages do not provide data types for this,
with the `exception of Go and rust`_.
.. _exception of Go and rust: http://lucumr.pocoo.org/2014/1/9/ucs-vs-utf8/
---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
File extensions are the sole determiner of filetype. File extensions are the sole determiner of filetype.
---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
@@ -364,9 +370,11 @@ as they inevitably do
--- recall that filenames are not case-sensitive --- --- recall that filenames are not case-sensitive ---
one program must take default precedence over the other for that file extension. one program must take default precedence over the other for that file extension.
For example, there a lot of different file formats with a ``.dat`` file extension, For example, there `a lot of different file formats`_ with a ``.dat`` file extension,
but only one application gets to open them by default. but only one application gets to open them by default.
.. _a lot of different file formats: http://filext.com/file-extension/dat
On Linux, `filetypes are determined`_ by a combination of On Linux, `filetypes are determined`_ by a combination of
filesystem metadata, filesystem metadata,
heuristics based on file signatures (a.k.a "magic numbers"), heuristics based on file signatures (a.k.a "magic numbers"),
@@ -486,8 +494,11 @@ but it compromises the utility of the operating system.
The Linux kernel does not require a particular desktop environment, The Linux kernel does not require a particular desktop environment,
or indeed any graphical desktop at all. or indeed any graphical desktop at all.
However, Linux desktop users generally run graphical user interfaces managed by the X server, However, Linux desktop users generally run graphical user interfaces managed by the X server.
of which there are many, many choices. There are are many, many options for `desktop environment`_ and `window manager`_ on Linux.
.. _desktop environment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_Window_System_desktop_environments
.. _window manager: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_window_managers
This is in contrast to Windows, This is in contrast to Windows,
which must have a graphical desktop and offers only one option. which must have a graphical desktop and offers only one option.
@@ -740,12 +751,15 @@ Registries and dotfiles.
------------------------ ------------------------
On Windows, configuration files are not centralized in the user's home directory. On Windows, configuration files are not centralized in the user's home directory.
Most of the things that users care about --- Most of the things that users care about
not losing configuration between installs --- --- not losing configuration between installs ---
are scattered around as ``.INI`` text files in various directories or in the `Windows Registry`_. are scattered around as ``.INI`` text files in various directories or in the `Windows Registry`_.
This makes configuration less robust and harder to adapt to the needs of specific users. This makes configuration less robust and harder to adapt to the needs of specific users.
Windows developers have noted the `many other drawbacks`_ `of the registry`_.
.. _Windows Registry: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms970651.aspx .. _Windows Registry: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms970651.aspx
.. _many other drawbacks: https://rwmj.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/why-the-windows-registry-sucks-technically/
.. _of the registry: http://blog.codinghorror.com/was-the-windows-registry-a-good-idea/
On Linux, most configuration can be done graphically within applications or configuration managers provided by the desktop environment. On Linux, most configuration can be done graphically within applications or configuration managers provided by the desktop environment.
A lot of it is handled by the `package manager`_. A lot of it is handled by the `package manager`_.