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To-be computer major interested in Linux

post #1 of 9
4/12/03 at 5:20pm
Thread Starter 
Currently, I'm a senior in high school and am planning on majoring in Computer Engineering or Computer Science. I've grown up almost completely on Microsoft. (For a few early years, we had an Apple, but I was about 4 years old.) Since I have a great interest in programming and understanding how computers work, I've gained a bit of interest in Linux, due to its open-source nature where I could learn about how OS's work. I have been programming in C++ for over 4 years now, mostly for Windows, but do have some console experience. I am a very fast learner and love a good challenge, so long as it doesn't take forever to decipher.

Would you advise me to give Linux a shot? If so, which version do you suggest I try and why?
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post #2 of 9
4/13/03 at 5:59am
go for mandrake 9.1beta3
or if your in for some hardcore s h i t,
go for lrs-linux. <www.lrs-linux.org>

also, dont think "linux"
think of learning "Unix"
since unix based systems are prevalent in the comsci academe.
also, dont stick with C++,
try oldschool C, Perl, Java even,
hell throw in Cobol if ur a masochist.
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post #3 of 9
5/7/03 at 10:21pm
Thread Starter 
Another question--if I got a second HD, could I install Linux on that drive and dual boot that with WinXP?
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post #4 of 9
5/7/03 at 11:26pm
Thread Starter 
Another question - is there any way to develop your own GUI, while still using the Linux kernel? How would you try it? (I've suddenly gotten interested in OS development!)
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post #5 of 9
5/8/03 at 12:42am
Yes, it is possible to have a linux install on one HD and a windows install on another and just dual boot. I used to have that set up a while ago and would simply change what booted in the bios.

As for developing your own GUI, it is possible, but it depends on what you mean exactly. If you mean something like developing a gui for an application like you would with visual basic, there's programs to do that. If you mean a window manager, then sure, take your pick on which one you want to hack on -- there's lots of projects out there looking for help from coders. You could learn the gtk api and write programs for gnome or learn qt and do kde. You could even learn the X libraries and make your own thing. Since its all open source you can look at what other people have done and just tweak it the way you want it.

Since you obviously seem interested in programming, I'd say install linux and keep working with it. At first it's a pain in the a** but once you figure out how things work its great.
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post #6 of 9
5/9/03 at 1:18pm

Joy

So true, Mr Yoya


I give ya 3 bannanas for this:

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post #7 of 9
5/9/03 at 2:21pm
As a computer science major, I would have to say that learning linux has helped me out tremendously, especially in computer architechture classes. Linux lets you get down to the nitty gritty hardware details in the software.

No matter what classes you take, you are going to end up in a shell eventually. Learn that command line.

The most I ever learned about linux was when I setup Gentoo on my laptop, but I do not recommend it for your first distro.
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post #8 of 9
5/9/03 at 6:25pm
Thread Starter 
I already downloaded it.
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post #9 of 9
5/10/03 at 3:51am
Good for you. Just like a CS major to never shy away from a challenge. If you need any help with it, just post here and I'll see what I can do. Plus, these forums are more help than you will get from most anywhere.
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