Lars Bjerregaard wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I saw a link to your survey from LWN, and wanted to reply to it because of
> it's
> friendly and inviting tone. I'm not subscribed to the list (but maybe I
> should
> do that...).
>
> I first touched a set of Linux diskettes around 1995, and have been
> dabbling
> with it on and off since then, with increasing intensity. About 4 years
> ago, I
> took the plunge and became a 100% Linux user on my home desktop, and I
> haven't
> regretted it for a minute. I'm a professional systems developer, and do
> some
> measure of system administration as well. I grew up in the world of DOS
> and
> Windows, and so Unix was not my "entry by birth" into the world of
> computing. By
> now I certainly am addicted to the 'Unix way', although I am forced to use
> Windows at my work.
>
> I keep track of all things Linux and FOSS intensively, and find that by
> far the
> most interesting things in computing go on in this huge ecosystem. It is
> also
> close to my heart in terms of philosophy and ethics.
>
> I think during the years I've been trough most of the major distributions:
> Redhat, Suse, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Debian, and a few others, and during the
> years of
> experiments and playing around, I have come to know which things about a
> distribution that *I* value, and put the highest emphasis on. My last
> full-time
> desktop system was Ubuntu, through a few releases, but I came to realise
> that I
> didn't really want to install a new release every 6 months, and it was
> sometimes
> a bit too unstable for my taste, with too many unfixed bugs.
>
> A year ago, I switched to Debian Etch full time on my desktop. At the same
> time
> I realized I was becoming increasingly disappointed with Gnome, and so
> wanted to
> check out if Linus is right, and switched to KDE. And boy do I agree! I
> love
> KDE, and wouldn't switch for the world now.
>
> What my personal preferences in a desktop system amounts to are:
> - Highly stable
> - Bugs quickly resolved
> - New release about every 2 years
> - Good hardware support
> - A huge array of packages to choose from
> - A rock solid and versatile package manager/system
> - A window manager that doesn't get in my way, or tries to be smarter than
> me,
> but allows me to easily just configure things the way *I* like it.
>
> Those would be the mainpoints. So where I am now after all my travels, the
> Etch
> + KDE combination is what comes closest to fit that bill, and I enjoy it
> tremendously. I've become picky over the years, and I really have to give
> big
> kudos to the Debian team, for providing such an excellent system to us.
> Thank you!
>
> Current annoyances with my desktop system are:
> - With the current kernel the boot process freezes hard about every 15
> boots on
> average. The kernel update before that one froze hard the same way,
> roughly
> every 5 boots. The kernels before that did not have a problem. I should
> probably
> overcome my hesitation with the Debian bugzilla, and try and submit a good
> bugreport.
>
> - When X starts, there's a wait for 10 seconds, whilst my Dell monitor
> displays
> "Cannot display this resolution", until it finally starts correctly. This
> was a
> problem in Ubuntu as well, and after hours of xorg.conf tinkering I've
> given up,
> and I just live with it.
>
> - The Wine package is (IMHO) completely broken, and I use the one from
> winehq.
>
> - There's an issue with having to get drupal5 from testing. It should at
> least
> be in backports, if at all possible.
>
> - Adept, which would be my preffered package manager on the desktop, does
> not
> work when interactivity is required with the package install ("unable to
> display
> frontend kde"). It displays a curses frontend which simply doesn't work on
> the
> display. I've tried fixing it from various tips to no avail. So I use
> aptitude,
> which is a very fine tool indeed.
>
> - In aptitude, pressing 'C' should display the changelog for the package,
> but
> only does so 1 out of 20 times. Otherwise it's 'unavailable'. Would be
> very nice
> to have it always just work.
>
> - I've set up bridging network (TUN,TAP) to facilitate host nic access in
> VirtualBox machines. For some reason it takes the bridge about 10 seconds
> during
> the boot process to acquire an IP address. Without the bridge there's no
> problem.
>
> - Getting iceweasel and icedove to have working links and mailto: links
> was
> manuel work. Shouldn't be necessary.
>
> - Working sound required manual tinkering.
>
> - In xorg.conf I had to change 'ati' driver to 'radeon' to get X going at
> first.
>
> But I do have to say that I still love Debian. It takes a bit more manual
> tinkering to get everything set up right, as compared to e.g. Ubuntu, but
> once
> it's done, I get much more of that robust feeling, and things just work,
> day in
> and day out, which is what I need from my primary home system.
>
> The packages I use the most are:
> - Iceweasel
> - Icedove
> - Krusader
> - Wine
> - Virtualbox
> - K3b
> - Vlc
> - Kplayer
> - OpenOffice
>
> I do have the popularity-contest package installed, and install it on all
> Debian
> installations which I'm in charge of.
>
> Besides using Debian for my desktop system, I also run it on a couple of
> small
> office servers which I administrate, and of course Debian is the perfect
> server
> OS (but then you knew that). I intend to continue to deploy Debian servers
> around the place, and to take the plunge and run it on a VPS, serving my
> mail
> and other things. That will be fun.
>
> By the way, I would love to have a seperate 'server' and 'desktop' cd for
> Debian, optimized kernel and package selection for those 2 scenarios. I
> think
> it's something Ubuntu gets right. Other wishes I have for Debian is to
> continue
> to improve the ease-of-configuration on the desktop. Good GUI tools are a
> must,
> and Ubuntu has a slight edge here. No doubt the desktop is by far the
> biggest
> challenge in the OS world.
>
> You are free to do with these comments of mine as you wish.
> Again, thanks for Debian! It's a marvellous OS, with a bright future ahead
> I'm sure.
>
> All the best,
> Lars Bjerregaard
>
>
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>
>
>
OK :)
I'm completely agree with you. Nice and clever Post.
My personal best-of, and my personnal contribution to the community that
i'am proud to present here :) :
(you are sure that if i install a new disk, i install all those software)
I take that of my small software data base :
UTILITY & PLUG-IN :
alien (to convert game in RPM format to DEBian package)
configure-debian (easiest interface than dpkg fot configuring some package)
console-tools (for small font and on screen time when i exit of Xorg)
subversion (downloading source of a lot of games and other software, more
simple than cvs)
gkrellm (for a continuous display of the state of my system)
gparted et qtparted (i like the two, for formating hard disk or USB key)
gnu-fdisk (the same in curse)
gui-apt-key (for key for new repository)
hwinfo (for info to vesa mode and some other)
ippl (to choose what kind of info i wan't record on /var/log/syslog and then
display with Superkaramba)
Superkaramba (display Syslog, internet radio, a state of my system, a like
Mac OSX launch, a nice clock)
k3b (formating CD and converting some format)
kdirstat (nice plugin for Konqueror for displaying use of disk : right
clic>Open with KDirstat - Directory Statistics)
gdm and gdm-themes (the nicest and greatest interface for starting window
manager)
kdm kde-kdm-themes kdmtheme (i use it in case of broken gdm)
kommando (nice software, finally i don't use it a lot, i use F1 to F12 to
lauch my favorite software)
konqueror (the nicest and more powerfull file manager on the world, it's my
point of view :))
krename (for renaming all my photo with the good name and other work with
large number of file)
lha (sometimes for files, i don't use it a lot)
libqt-perl (to use dialog interface with perl script, usefull)
loop-aes-utils (powerfull and fantastic for crypting files or mounting CD
without to format a CD)
manpages-fr manpages-fr-extra (for french man page, "man:" in adress bar on
konqueror :)
pcopy (powerfull to copy a hard disk in one command, for example : pcopy
/dev/sda /dev/sdb)
picwiz (plug-in for konqueror to resize picture or group of picture by a
right clic)
pptview (for easy viewing of some fun stuff on Power Point format send by
friends :)
rdate (for taking the time on internet for my PC's clock : you must open TCP
3690 port on your firewall)
symlinks (some script use it)
unrar or unrar-free (for file on rar format)
usbmount (automaticaly mounting of usb key or camera)
wine (it works great for me on Debian Sid)
xfe (nice file manager but less powerfull than Konqueror, it's an
alternative)
xnest and xserver-xephyr (for starting easily another connexion)
INTERNET
Ktorrent (the greatest for some download)
amule amule-common amule-utils-gui (for some download)
epiphany-browser (nice browser but Iceweasel is great. Alternative)
iceweasel iceweasel-I10n-fr (with there plugin, the nicest and greatest
internet browser on the world :)
icedove icedove-locale-fr (like iceweasel but for mail :)
kget (powerfull for downloading a lot of file, you can stop and restart the
download)
kmess (nice for tchat on MSN but no video i think)
knmap nmap (for security testing of my firewall)
konversation (powerfull and nice for IRC)
kopete (the biggest for MSN because you can tchat with webcam. But i have
had a lot of problem to discuss with webcam with all that kind of software :
a lot of crash. Kopete like other)
amsn (powerfull but some bugs and Tcl/Tk is not the good choice for
interface : not nice. Qt or Gtk would be a better choice)
liferea (the biggest and easiest for news on RSS)
links2 (when Xorg crash, it's the only way to communicate and find info on
internet and you can still use it with a VGA graphic interface : nice and
powerfull)
pidgin (like kopete, a nice software)
wget (powerfull for downloading on curse mode on console)
COMPILATION
build-essential (for compilation of a kernel and build package)
g++ gcc cpp (for compilation)
kernel-package fakeroot (easiest way for compiling kernel)
libgtk2.0-0 libgtk2.0-dev libglib2.0-0 libglib2.0-dev libglade-2.0
libglade2-dev (for : "make gconfig" and configuring my kernel)
qt3-dev-tools libqt3-mt-dev g++ (for : "make xconfig" and configuring my
kernel. Alternative)
python python-numeric python-opengl python-pygame python-twisted (I love
game writen on python)
tcl8.4 tcl8.4-dev tk8.4 tk8.4-dev (for compiling aMSN)
DESK :
evince (for reading PDF. Konqueror can read pdf but evince is nice when you
associate it with PDF file and use it with Iceweasel)
gdeskcal (nice calendar)
gnumeric (nice and powerfull, like Excel on Windows. I prefer it to
OpenOffice because more closer of Excel and reliable).
kpresenter (i don't have the utility but it seems powerfull)
msttcorefonts linux-libertine (for truetype font)
myspell-fr-gut (french dictionnary use by OpenOffice and Icedove)
openoffice.org-common openoffice.org-core openoffice.org-l10n-fr
openoffice.org-help-fr penoffice.org-kde
openoffice.org-style-andromeda openoffice.org-style-crystal
openoffice.org-writer openoffice.org-calc openoffice.org-draw
openoffice.org-impress
(the greatest alternative for Microsoft suite. I'am very happy with
openoffice.org-writer)
openclipart-openoffice.org openclipart-png openclipart-svg (free clipart for
all kind of use :)
scribus (i don't use it today but i know it's great)
NETWORK
Great great great great (the only word it comes to my mouth :)) :
Exchange files with all of your PC on linux :
nfs-kernel-server (you must install it on the PC which will be the server)
nfs-common portmap (you must install those on the PC which will be the
client AND on the server)
HARDWARE
camorama camstream (my webcam : to see if it works :)
jpilot jpilot-* (my PDA : the easiest software to use it)
kino kino-brightness-contrast-plugin kino-hsv-color-space-plugin (great for
my numerical camera with it's IEEE1394 interface)
kdenlive (like kino to make some process on my personal movie)
mjpegtools dvgrab (powerfull plugin for kino, kdenlive and other)
mesa-utils (for glxgears and glxinfo : for testing if the 3D acceleration of
my graphics card works)
pwc (for my Logitech Quickcam webcam)
sane sane-utils xsane (powerfull for my Epson 3490 photo scanner)
splix (for my Samsung CLP 500 laser color printer)
xserver-xorg-input-wacom wacom-tools libxtst-dev (for my wacom intuos 3
tablet)
xserver-xorg-video-i810 (for one of my PC : a SAMSUNG Q35 with it's Intel
card : all packet must work like it !! A packet to install and you have 3D
accelerated graphic on your PC : Great !)
DRAWING
dia-gnome (vectorial drawing : nice)
Inkscape (the nicest and powerfull for vectorial drawing)
xaralx xaralx-svg (another powerfull software for vectorial drawing)
gimp gimp-help-fr (the reference for all type of drawing)
krita (the nicest. Less powerfull than gimp but easiest to use and
powerfull)
gwenview (I use it all the time : a photo viewer and browser)
kipi-plugins (powerfull plugin for gwenview and other)
SOUND
audacity (great great great for modifying sound and make fun stuff)
icedax (to convert your musical CD to WAV)
krecord (to record sound)
kwave (to manipulate WAV file)
lame toolame twolame (great codec to manipulate sound)
soundconverter gstreamer0.10-lame (to convert sound on some format : ogg,
wav, flac, mp3)
ripperx (interface for ripping CD. I like it)
rosengarden4 (i don't have the use but i know it's powerfull)
audacious audacious-crossfade audacious-plugins audacious-plugins-extra
audacious-plugins-ugly (a nice and powerfull player)
amarok (nice and powerfull but i don't use it : too big for me)
sox (provide /usr/bin/play for having sound on gdm)
VIDEO
ffmpeg libavifile-0.7c2 libdvdcss2 mjpegtools mpeglib toolame twolame (MUST
have codec to read video on my PC)
w32codecs : DO NOT INSTALL (a lot of problem with it for me : shacking
screen, ...)
vlc (the most powerfull video player : a MUST have : when other are broken,
it's the only player which work)
mplayer (powerfull : and it install some other codec, a MUST have)
totem totem-mozilla totem-xine (The first for me ... when it works :)). A
video player. I love it)
xine (very powerfull software to read video, a MUST have)
gxine gxineplugin (front end for Xine : nice, i use it)
kmplayer kmplayer-plugin (front end for Xine : nice, i use it also)
k9copy (i don't use but i know it's powerfull, like DVDShrink on windows :
DVD -> MPEG)
kaffeine kaffeine-mozilla (powerfull but i don't use : too big for me)
kdenlive (see HARDWARE).
kino (see HARDWARE).
NICE STUFF
chameleon-cursor-theme comixcursors crystalcursors dmz-cursor-theme
industrial-cursor-theme xcursor-themes (to change the cursor of my mouse).
gnome-themes-extras (nice fonts for all the OS)
gtk-engines* (nice themes for gnome)
gtk-qt-engine (for having the same look of KDE's software for gnome software
on KDE)
kde-icons* *-icon-theme (for nice icons for my desktop. I love Tangerine and
kde-icons-crystal)
polymer kde-style* kwin-style* (nice windows on KDE. I love serenity,
kwin-style-crystal and kwin-baghira)
oneko (a small cats play on your desktop. on a console type : "oneko
-tofocus -dog &")
The list is big and you said : he don't use all of those software :))
My point of view : i install all this list because :
all are free, some software are powerfull or usefull for some kind of use
and not for other. I love the choice.
That's all folks :)
Thanks for your job : i love it !
Bye
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