Setting up a Linux-based development computer
About Unix and Linux
Unix is a name with a rich and complicated history. It is not one single product or brand, but rather a name for computer operating systems that conform to certain ideals, provides certain tools and features.
Linux is a free clone of the Unix design that has found widespread use in the world of IT.
Unix, and thus Linux, are chiefly "commandline"-oriented systems. They provide a text-based "shell", which is a prompt at which you enter commands by typing with your keyboard. The commands are translated and executed by the system.
This tutorial will help you with the basics of setting up a free Linux-based development workstation that you can use to build all kinds of software.
In the following tutorials, all text to be typed at a command line will be prefixed with PROMPT> . The actual command line prompt on your machine is likely to be different. We also use $ to indicate a Linux specific command and C:> for a Windows specific command. While we don't currently provide explicit instructions, the tools also work correctly on Mac OSX (the commands will more resemble the Linux commands provided). The example output resulting from the command is shown immediately thereafter without any prefix.
Installing your operating system
See: Conventions
Preparing your workspace
KDE Colors:
Crappy forced Blue color for C-like language functions: edit: /opt/kde/share/apps/katepart/syntax/c.xml
Use the icon to the right to check for errors on this page.
Email webmaster@spineforge.net if you find any.
All content copyright (c) 2005 Chris Rose-Mathew (www.spineforge.net) unless otherwise specified