Linux: the beginners guide

[Sharktooth]

As the title says, here's a beginners guide from Techware Labs: http://www.techwarelabs.com/articles/software/Intro_To_Linux/

[Shinigami-Sama]

the fact that they list 3 versions of unbuntu as 'top linux' and have no mention of slack or gentoo I begin to question its merits...

[communist]

the fact that they list 3 versions of unbuntu as 'top linux' and have no mention of slack or gentoo I begin to question its merits...
Gentoo and Slack are the choice for linux beginners - what a shame they left them out!
:rolleyes:

[Shinigami-Sama]

Gentoo and Slack are the choice for linux beginners - what a shame they left them out!
:rolleyes:

they didn't even mention the top level linuxes(linix? linii?)
I find the trend towards unbuntu everything disturbing..

[communist]

they didn't even mention the top level linuxes(linix? linii?)
I find the trend towards unbuntu everything disturbing..
Not to argue for the sake of arguing but beginners most probably dont care that there are a million and one linux distros (which they do mention). From the guide:
There are three major Linux distributions that most other distributions stem from, Debian, Slakware and Red Hat.

[Henrikx]

Gentoo and Slack are the choice for linux beginners - what a shame they left them out!

Most Linux beginners are not even in a position to properly install Ubuntu, Fedora, etc . When did you enter last time a Linuxforum?

There are instructions, Wikis, Books, Howtos and yet always the same questions.

How do I install Linux?
How do I format my hard drive?
How do I install Linux alongside Windows.
I have installed Linux, Windows is now deleted.
How to play xyz under Wine?

Most people are not able to read a manual, or they dont want and you speak from gentoo. Funny..

If you speak from gentoo, I hope you mean Arch :)

[communist]

I was being sarcastic.. oh well what can you do on text only medium except adding the rolling eyes?

[Sharktooth]

every linux user knows he had to start from a distro and every linux user knows that distro was just the first step into the linux world.
it's absolutely normal you will look for your favourite distro once you get used to linux... but ubuntu is just a good starting point for a beginner.
i would have added pclinuxos to the guide... however gentoo is not a choice for a newbie, expecially if he comes from the windows world...

[Henrikx]

I was being sarcastic..
Sorry. My English is without Root (sudo) :(

but ubuntu is just a good starting point for a beginner.
9.3 was my last Suse Distro.
After that, I was looking for replacement.
Condition: Good documentation, good Wiki, and a good Commuity.
Since 7.04 am with Ubuntu.
Negative : Ubuntu is not always to date.
Too many Windows Newcomers who do not understand - Linux is not Windows.
I have built scripts for svn ffmpeg, svn mplayer / mencoder, git x264, svn Avidemux etc, now I miss nothing more.
(Ok Avisynth...a little bit :( )
Avisynth Linux - I hope the development continues


Paldo Linux (Amnon82) is my second distribution.
With upkg management. Very interesting.

For me, there is no reason more for Windows.
But I have needed months to find equivalent programs, now its ok.

[Sharktooth]

avisynth 2.5.x works perfectly on linux thru wine...

[snherbst]

I the guide ok for a noob if he/she want to install Ubuntu. The only thing missing was that it wasn't in danish so that I could show it to my brother.

[JoeBG]

Sorry. My English is without Root (sudo) :(
Paldo Linux (Amnon82) is my second distribution.
With upkg management. Very interesting.

Paldo has everything that you need for vioencoding and authoring in his distro - very good for peole from this board.

They are also working on a GUI for upkg => will become very easy in the future.

[fibbingbear]

avisynth 2.5.x works perfectly on linux thru wine...

To be fair, having to run it through Wine kinda begs the question, "why are we using Linux again?"

I'm surprised there isn't better Linux support for Avisynth, considering that its open source.

[nm]

To be fair, having to run it through Wine kinda begs the question, "why are we using Linux again?"
Well, if you only use Linux to run AviSynth, you could as well use Windows. However, people generally have many other reasons to use Linux and being able to run the current AviSynth versions through Wine is just a bonus.

I'm surprised there isn't better Linux support for Avisynth, considering that its open source.
It's also designed around Microsoft's VFW API and builds only with MS VC. AviSynth 3 is rewritten to be more portable, but development is slow because AviSynth 2.x is good enough for most people.

[Henrikx]

Is there someone who has managed to compile Avisynth 3.0 ?
So far I see only questions, no answers.
is slow because AviSynth 2.x is good enough for most people

That is the reason?
There are enough developers?
In Linux Forum(s)? the most people dont know Avisynth 3.0

Avisynth 3.0 = Doom9 insider information.

[nm]

Is there someone who has managed to compile Avisynth 3.0 ?
Don't bother unless you want to help developing it.

That is the reason?
That's my guess. Of course there are many other reasons too, like AviSynth 3 developers having other things to do and the fact that lower level stuff (FFmpeg, x264, ...) attracts the interest and time of many developers. Redesigning frameworks is a bit boring in contrast.

There are enough developers?
No, as far as I can see.

In Linux Forum(s)? the most people dont know Avisynth 3.0
It is still just a non-functional prototype, so it's no wonder users are not yet interested. Avidemux and MEncoder provide more than enough functionality for most people anyway.

[Henrikx]

Don't bother unless you want to help developing it.
??

It is still just a non-functional prototype, so it's no wonder users are not yet interested.

Are developers welcome?
If yes, I write about it in ubuntu Forum(s).

[nm]

Don't bother unless you want to help developing it.??
As I said, the program is pretty much useless in its current state. If you are not even able to get it to compile, chances are that it wouldn't do much for you (and you wouldn't do much for it) even if you had the binaries.

Are developers welcome?
If yes, I write about it in ubuntu Forum(s).
I'm not part of the project but I've never heard of an open-source project that wouldn't welcome new developers (if those developers are actually helpful and know what they are doing).

[Henrikx]

If you are not even able to get it to compile, chances are that it wouldn't do much for you (and you wouldn't do much for it) even if you had the binaries.


Since 2006 (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=118035&highlight=Avisynth3.0) People try to compile Avisynth 3.0.
Sure, we are all Idiots. Did you mean this with not able?

[nm]

I mean that there is no point in trying to compile it.

You would only need to do that if you want to help in the development (by writing code, that is) and then you wouldn't even need to ask for help on compiling.

[Henrikx]

I mean that there is no point in trying to compile it.
Yes and No.
If i want to make PR for Avisynth 3.0 in Linux forums, but can show nothing, it is strange :(.
I have no idea how to get developers excited.

[nm]

Yes and No.If i want to make PR for Avisynth 3.0 in Linux forums, but can show nothing, it is strange :(.
I don't think there is anything that interesting to show right now.

I have no idea how to get developers excited.
By showing them AviSynth 2.x... ;)

[Henrikx]

By showing them AviSynth 2.x...

OK.
But my first sentence will be: nm from doom9 said ... :)

[shevegen]

By showing them AviSynth 2.x

Allow me to make a somewhat lengthy post. Many years ago, when I was using windows mostly, I fell in love with avisynth.

A text file that gives me complete control of video and audio stuff? That was awesome.

Fast forward to 2008. So much has changed in between... amazing. Anyway, to make a few important things:
- I am using Linux (Gobolinux because it has the cleanest design)
- I am using Ruby (very elegant "scripting" language IMHO)
- I am using mostly mplayer/mencoder

Now the "problem" I have is that right now Avisynth on Linux isnt simply as fun as on Windows. Avisynth is not directly to blame for it, but on windows Avisynth really makes up a LOT. I still want to use Avisynth, but right now I am using mencoder + a few ruby scripts to do the encoding parts. (Right now I am pissed that mencoder delogo filter is so crappy compared to avisynth ones).

Last time I tried to compile avisynth it failed. Then there were no new news for some months. Now I can understand that devs have other things to do, no problem here. But on the other hand, I also no longer have the time to spend too much time with computers (or rather I dont really want to). If i can find a simple way to do something, I do it. In most cases this means writing a short ruby script and thats it.

I still hope that one day Avisynth and Avimerge on Linux become as nice as Avisynth and Virtualdub on Windows but right now it kinda sounds like a neverending story.

Altogether I must say while Linux is very usable, video is not something it is BRILLIANT at. Too many half-baked solutions... yes it takes effort to produce high quality apps, but on the other hand this all is so slow .... it kinda takes the fun out of it too. But windows users can happily use all these things already.... :(

Back to the point of my reply here:

So on Windows I guess Avisynth is fine, but for the Linux folks right now I recommend mencoder + scripting solutions.

Wine is an excellent choice and I use wine a lot, but still my personal *feeling* is that when I use wine (and as said, i encourage people to use it), I think it is a "hackish" approach.

Linux should be better than Windows in every aspect. Unfortunately it is not.

[Henrikx]

OT
- I am using Ruby (very elegant "scripting" language IMHO)

Can you tell something about Ruby and "elegant"?
What is the difference to Python?

[Shinigami-Sama]

OT


Can you tell something about Ruby and "elegant"?
What is the difference to Python?

ruby has far less support for different platforms, especially when on 'rails'
and slooooooooooow

they're getting better though

I'd stick with python untill ruby matures some more, so another year or so