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Typos and formatting.

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Nathaniel Beaver
2016-02-11 19:40:59 -06:00
parent 29387026de
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@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ If you are a Windows user:
Intrinsic technical deficiencies of the Windows NT operating system Intrinsic technical deficiencies of the Windows NT operating system
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is a list of examples specific limitations This is a list of examples of specific limitations
that are the result of the Windows kernel or API. that are the result of the Windows kernel or API.
------------------------- -------------------------
@@ -161,13 +161,17 @@ are hampered by licensing restrictions and technical limitations.
.. _though they do exist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Environment .. _though they do exist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Environment
For example, `until Windows 8`_, desktop versions of Windows could not boot from a USB. For example, `until Windows 8`_, desktop versions of Windows
(And while running a live USB of Windows 8, it is still not possible mount internal hard disks.) could not boot from a USB.
(And while running a live USB of Windows 8,
it is still not possible to mount internal hard disks.)
.. _until Windows 8: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831833.aspx .. _until Windows 8: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831833.aspx
The `BartPE LiveCD building program`_ is 3rd party software that will run on any version of Windows, The `BartPE LiveCD building program`_
but it is `only able to make`_ a LiveCD for Windows XP or Windows Server 2003. is 3rd party software that will run on any version of Windows,
but it is `only able to make`_ a LiveCD
for Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.
.. _BartPE LiveCD building program: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BartPE .. _BartPE LiveCD building program: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BartPE
.. _only able to make: http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22258 .. _only able to make: http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22258
@@ -200,7 +204,8 @@ retain settings and data on the next boot-up.
This makes live versions of Linux useful for This makes live versions of Linux useful for
recovering files from damaged hard drives, recovering files from damaged hard drives,
making bootable backups of an entire drive, making bootable backups of an entire drive,
scanning a disk for malware without loading a potentially compromised operating system, scanning a disk for malware
without loading a potentially compromised operating system,
distinguishing hardware problems from software problems, distinguishing hardware problems from software problems,
and other tasks requiring a temporary operating system. and other tasks requiring a temporary operating system.
@@ -849,7 +854,7 @@ and ``.desktop`` configuration files with mimetype information
.. _filetypes are determined: http://www.howtogeek.com/192628/mime-types-explained-why-linux-and-mac-os-x-dont-need-file-extensions/ .. _filetypes are determined: http://www.howtogeek.com/192628/mime-types-explained-why-linux-and-mac-os-x-dont-need-file-extensions/
A file's executable status is separate from its file extension, A file's executable status is `separate from its file extension`_,
and an executable text file written in a scripting language and an executable text file written in a scripting language
can control how it is run via the `first-line shebang convention`_, can control how it is run via the `first-line shebang convention`_,
e.g. ``#!/usr/bin/env python3 -i``. e.g. ``#!/usr/bin/env python3 -i``.
@@ -859,6 +864,7 @@ but languages that emphasize cross-platform compatibility,
such as Python, such as Python,
have `implemented work-arounds`_. have `implemented work-arounds`_.
.. _separate from its file extension: http://superuser.com/questions/405972/why-do-i-need-an-execute-bit-in-file-mode-on-unix-file-systems
.. _first-line shebang convention: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shebang_(Unix) .. _first-line shebang convention: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shebang_(Unix)
.. _implemented work-arounds: http://legacy.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0397/ .. _implemented work-arounds: http://legacy.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0397/
.. _cannot indicate it is version 2 or 3: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7574453/shebang-notation-python-scripts-on-windows-and-linux .. _cannot indicate it is version 2 or 3: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7574453/shebang-notation-python-scripts-on-windows-and-linux
@@ -1208,10 +1214,12 @@ Thus, the API can be used to restrict what programs can do. [#wine_dlls]_
This is not a theoretical problem. This is not a theoretical problem.
Because of Intel's High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection, Because of Intel's High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection,
Windows applications cannot use the graphics card Windows applications cannot use the graphics card
to manipulate windows the way Flip3D does. to manipulate windows the way `Flip3D`_ does.
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3848558/what-is-the-api-to-create-applications-like-flip3d https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3848558/what-is-the-api-to-create-applications-like-flip3d
.. _Flip3D: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows7_flip.png
Sometimes it isn't the API, either; Sometimes it isn't the API, either;
on Windows 8 it is impossible to disable the dwm window compositor. on Windows 8 it is impossible to disable the dwm window compositor.
@@ -1234,7 +1242,8 @@ This was not without controversy.
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848042%28v=vs.85%29.aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848042%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
Linux also has an API, Linux also has an API,
but it is not tied to the desktop environment, but it is based on a standard (POSIX),
is not tied to the desktop environment,
and is not controlled by a single corporation and is not controlled by a single corporation
in the same way that the Windows API is. in the same way that the Windows API is.
@@ -1749,14 +1758,17 @@ Software configuration: registries and text files.
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
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.
The data that matters The data that retain configuration when upgrading or recovering from data loss
|---| that retains configuration when upgrading or recovering from data loss |---| are scattered around as ``.INI`` text files in unpredictable directories
is scattered around as ``.INI`` text files in unpredictable directories
or in the `Windows Registry`_. or in the `Windows Registry`_.
In general, there is insufficient separation amongst an application's In principle, applications should put config files in ``%APPDATA%``,
but in practice many of them put it in the install directory.
Furthermore, ``%APPDATA`` makes no distinction
amongst an application's
configuration and plugins, configuration and plugins,
history and log files, history and log files,
and data that is cached for performance. and cached data.
This makes configuration less robust This makes configuration less robust
and harder to adapt to the needs of specific users. and harder to adapt to the needs of specific users.
@@ -1777,6 +1789,7 @@ depending on the needs of the people using it.
System administrators, for example, System administrators, for example,
care about system-level configuration files, care about system-level configuration files,
generally text files in ``/etc/``. generally text files in ``/etc/``.
Text files are simple to edit Text files are simple to edit
for ad-hoc debugging and automation, for ad-hoc debugging and automation,
easy to diff, easy to diff,
@@ -1785,19 +1798,17 @@ and robust against corruption.
User level configuration is stored in dotfiles User level configuration is stored in dotfiles
(hidden folders or files) (hidden folders or files)
in the user's home directory. in the user's home directory
There are good arguments to the effect that There are good arguments to the effect that
making dotfiles responsible for configuration `is problematic`_. making dotfiles responsible for configuration `is problematic`_.
Configuration files would make much more sense Configuration files would make much more sense
if stored in a dedicated configuration folder in the user's home directory, if stored in a dedicated configuration folder in the user's home directory,
and indeed some applications are `beginning to standardize on this`_. and many applications follow the `XDG base directory standard`_,
which is intended to address this problem.
.. _is problematic: https://plus.google.com/+RobPikeTheHuman/posts/R58WgWwN9jp .. _is problematic: https://plus.google.com/+RobPikeTheHuman/posts/R58WgWwN9jp
.. _beginning to standardize on this: http://standards.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/basedir-spec-latest.html .. _XDG base directory standard: http://standards.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/basedir-spec-latest.html
In the meantime, however, dotfiles do the job, cluttered as they are,
since each user's files and configuration
is isolated to his or her home directory.
Centralized databases like the Windows Registry Centralized databases like the Windows Registry
are usually unnecessary for configuration. are usually unnecessary for configuration.