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Fixing lots of typos and minor edits.

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Nathaniel Beaver
2014-09-21 12:45:35 -05:00
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why-linux-is-better.rst
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@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ but harder to give objective, concrete examples.
With the caveat that both Windows and Linux are moving targets, With the caveat that both Windows and Linux are moving targets,
this document describes some specific technical reasons to prefer using Linux as a desktop operating system. this document describes some specific technical reasons to prefer using Linux as a desktop operating system.
These reasons are not exhaustive, These reasons are not exhaustive
--- and not meant to be ----
but aim to be representative. but aim to be representative.
These will not touch on closed vs. open source development, These will not touch on closed vs. open source development,
@@ -108,6 +109,8 @@ If you are a Windows user:
- Instead, this is meant to provide insight into why some people choose to use Linux as a desktop operating system, - Instead, this is meant to provide insight into why some people choose to use Linux as a desktop operating system,
despite its shortcomings, despite its shortcomings,
and possibly to challenge some misconceptions that people have about Linux and Windows. and possibly to challenge some misconceptions that people have about Linux and Windows.
- Corrections and additions are, of course, welcome.
Windows developers are ones who know the most about its flaw and strengths.
- Finally, definitions of better and worse are necessarily subjective, - Finally, definitions of better and worse are necessarily subjective,
despite the title's claim of objectivity. despite the title's claim of objectivity.
You may heartily disagree with substantial parts of what follows, You may heartily disagree with substantial parts of what follows,
@@ -403,7 +406,10 @@ Debugging with default tools.
----------------------------- -----------------------------
On Windows, Ctrl-C will usually `copy an error message to the clipboard`_. On Windows, Ctrl-C will usually `copy an error message to the clipboard`_.
Alternately, one can try to run the command from a terminal and log the output. Alternately, you can try to run the command from a terminal and log the output.
.. TODO: Using the informal you here seems to be the only option.
Everything else I can think of is too awkwardly phrased.
.. _copy an error message to the clipboard: http://weblogs.asp.net/chuckop/110153 .. _copy an error message to the clipboard: http://weblogs.asp.net/chuckop/110153
@@ -468,24 +474,31 @@ and `third-party remote desktop software is not permitted`_ to legally `circumve
Note that this is a licensing issue, Note that this is a licensing issue,
not a technical limitation of Windows itself, not a technical limitation of Windows itself,
but it has consequences for the utility of the operating system. but it compromises the utility of the operating system.
The Linux kernel does not require a particular desktop environment,
or indeed any graphical desktop at all.
However, Linux desktop users generally run graphical user interfaces managed by the X server.
The Linux kernel does not require a particular desktop environment.
Linux desktop users generally run graphical user interfaces managed by the X server.
Because Linux is multi-user by design, `multiple local instances of the X server`_ are not unusual, Because Linux is multi-user by design, `multiple local instances of the X server`_ are not unusual,
even with different desktop environments (e.g. GNOME and KDE can coexist on the same Linux box). even with different desktop environments (e.g. GNOME and KDE can coexist on the same Linux box).
X sessions can be accessed remotely using e.g. `VNC`_ or `X over SSH`_. X sessions can be accessed remotely using e.g. `VNC`_ or `X over SSH`_.
It is common for two different users to work remotely at the same time on the same machine. It is common for two different users to work remotely at the same time on the same machine.
A `multiseat`_ configuration is also possible if the hardware is available.
Even on single-user machines this capability of the X server is useful to e.g. run two different desktop environments at the same time.
Also, sometimes Linux users will forego the X server entirely and log in from a virtual terminal (``tty``).
This is important to be able to do if the X server crashes or cannot start.
.. _multiple local instances of the X server: http://journalxtra.com/linux/desktop/multiple-desktops-on-one-linux-pc-now-thats-greedy/ .. _multiple local instances of the X server: http://journalxtra.com/linux/desktop/multiple-desktops-on-one-linux-pc-now-thats-greedy/
.. _VNC: https://wiki.debian.org/VNCviewer .. _VNC: https://wiki.debian.org/VNCviewer
.. _X over SSH: https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/ch07.en.html#_connecting_a_remote_x_client_via_ssh .. _X over SSH: https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/ch07.en.html#_connecting_a_remote_x_client_via_ssh
A `multiseat`_ configuration is also possible if the hardware is available.
Even on single-user machines this capability of the X server is useful to e.g. run two different desktop environments at the same time.
.. _multiseat: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/xorg_multiseat .. _multiseat: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/xorg_multiseat
Also, sometimes Linux users will forego the X server entirely and log in from a text-only `virtual terminal`_ (a.k.a ``tty``).
This is important to be able to do if the X server crashes or cannot start.
.. _virtual terminal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_console
Because the Linux kernel does not rely on the X server to function, Because the Linux kernel does not rely on the X server to function,
the X server can be restarted without rebooting. the X server can be restarted without rebooting.
@@ -512,10 +525,14 @@ and Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) is working on a separate but similar e
.. _Wayland: http://wayland.freedesktop.org/architecture.html .. _Wayland: http://wayland.freedesktop.org/architecture.html
.. _Mir: http://unity.ubuntu.com/mir/ .. _Mir: http://unity.ubuntu.com/mir/
However, X11 has become so pervasive that versions of it power not only Linux desktops but also the BSD family of operating systems and OS X (XQuartz), However, X11 has become so pervasive that versions of it power not only Linux desktops but also the BSD family of operating systems and OS X (`XQuartz`_),
and it's even been ported Windows or Android, and it's also been `ported to Windows`_ `and Android`_,
even though they don't use it as a display manager. even though they don't use it as a display manager.
.. _XQuartz: http://xquartz.macosforge.org/landing/
.. _ported to Windows: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming/
.. _and Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.sourceforge.x11basic
-------------------------- --------------------------
Some notes on performance. Some notes on performance.
-------------------------- --------------------------
@@ -627,12 +644,13 @@ since each user's configuration is isolated to his or her home directory.
.. _beginning to standardize on this: http://standards.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/basedir-spec-latest.html .. _beginning to standardize on this: http://standards.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/basedir-spec-latest.html
Centralized databases like the Windows Registry are usually unnecessary for configuration. Centralized databases like the Windows Registry are usually unnecessary for configuration.
Applications for which text files are bad choice, Applications for which text files are a bad choice,
e.g. ones which need to store huge amounts of data or must use atomic updates, e.g. ones which need to store huge amounts of data or must use atomic updates,
can use, for example, an SQLite database in the user's home directory. can use, for example, `an SQLite database`_ in the user's home directory.
The GNOME desktop provides `dconf`_, which is probably the closest thing to a Windows Registry that Linux has. The GNOME desktop provides `dconf`_, which is probably the closest thing to a Windows Registry that Linux has.
.. _dconf: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/dconf .. _dconf: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/dconf
.. _an SQLite database: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Places.sqlite
Moreover, using ordinary files instead of a database for application configuration has many benefits. Moreover, using ordinary files instead of a database for application configuration has many benefits.
Since many configuration files on Linux are `textual`_, Since many configuration files on Linux are `textual`_,
@@ -712,15 +730,14 @@ which is significant for overcoming Window's issue with `installing software fro
.. _does not currently have package moderation or package signing: https://chocolatey.org/about .. _does not currently have package moderation or package signing: https://chocolatey.org/about
.. _installing software from untrusted sources: `Malware.`_ .. _installing software from untrusted sources: `Malware.`_
On the bright side, most of the language-specific package managers, On the bright side, most of the language-specific package managers such as
such as
Haskell's ``cabal``, Haskell's ``cabal``,
Perl's ``CPAN``, Perl's ``CPAN``,
.NET's NuGet, .NET's NuGet,
Node.js's ``npm``, Node.js's ``npm``,
Python's ``pip``, Python's ``pip``,
and and
Ruby's RubyGems, Ruby's RubyGems
are available on Windows. are available on Windows.
Linux has several mature, general-purpose packaging systems, Linux has several mature, general-purpose packaging systems,
@@ -894,7 +911,7 @@ Some users may even attribute problems arising from failing hardware to malware
This also has consequences for developers. This also has consequences for developers.
Because few Linux users experience problems due to malware, Because few Linux users experience problems due to malware,
they will report bugs cause by the actual applications, they will report bugs caused by the actual applications,
not ones caused by malware. not ones caused by malware.
Linux has a better security model which uses secure package installation by default, Linux has a better security model which uses secure package installation by default,