Ubuntu on Windows • Hacker News Board

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#611

Post by cyphar » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:26 AM UTC

matt_wulfeck wrote: post #172

x1798DE wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not move to Linux?

Just out of curiosity, what does a Linux desktop offer that's not also natively offered in Mac and also highly polished? Every year I try a switch to Linux desktop. This year I made it as far as trying to get multiple monitors working well. I also dabbed in gaming. In the end I went back to my work=Mac game=Windows duopoly.

> Just out of curiosity, what does a Linux desktop offer that's not also natively offered in Mac and also highly polished?

Freedom, a full GNU userland, proper package management of the entire system, plethora of CLI programs which can fulfil your every need and only really work on GNU/Linux, configurable, etc.

> Every year I try a switch to Linux desktop. This year I made it as far as trying to get multiple monitors working well. I also dabbed in gaming. In the end I went back to my work=Mac game=Windows duopoly.

I use multiple monitors every day for my work under OpenSUSE and Arch. They both worked with either minimal (Arch) or no (SUSE) configuration. I use DisplayPort which works pretty well.

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#612

Post by Stratoscope » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:27 AM UTC

So how does one actually install this thing?

I set up the brand new Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 14295 from MSDN. Hanselman's blog post says:

> After turning on Developer Mode in Windows Settings and adding the Feature, run you bash and are prompted to get Ubuntu on Windows from Canonical via the Windows Store...

OK, I turned on Developer Mode. Now what? What does "[add] the Feature" mean?

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/DevelopersCanRunBashShellAndUs...

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#613

Post by wtbob » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:31 AM UTC

ausjke wrote: post #538

Ubuntu desktop can do pretty much all Windows can do these days, not to mention mostly all I need is just a browser now. I spent 364 out of 365 days with a Ubuntu and it works fine(yes the one day left is for Turbotax that needs the Windows). Maybe the real reason that MS is moving super fast towards open source nowadays is to damage the open source goodies from within after they failed to attack it heads on many yea…

I've been running TurboTax on Linux for over a decade now …

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#614

Post by novaleaf » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:32 AM UTC

talawahdotnet wrote: post #242

crudbug wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think M$ is targeting more developers with *NIX background on the desktop side rather than Linux apps on server. So a bash support with uniform CLI is the end-game.

Yea, I think they are going after developers who use OS X because it is UNIXy. Smart move given how en vogue Apple laptops have become for developers these days.

I dev on a windows box, and deploy to ubuntu servers running on gcloud. I am very excited by this news!

right now my initial deploy+vm provisioning scripts are written in windows .cmd scripts, only because it means I don't have to have a C&C server somewhere. I'll be really happy to put all my automation scripts in bash and have it run regardless of dev env!

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#615

Post by Pwngea » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:36 AM UTC

NateDad wrote: post #301

jpalomaki wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have hands on experience, but Dell XPS 15 looks like an interesting option for thoaw looking for Windows laptop that is close to 15" Macbook Pro (quad core, sleek etc).

I have the XPS 15. It is almost identical to a Macbook Pro. Build quality is really awesome. Super super happy with it. The new one with the infinity edge screen is super friggin' sexy, and will absolutely be my next computer. I know a bunch of other devs on the XPS 15 as well, also very happy (we run Ubuntu, but I'm sure it's even better in Windows).

Which one do you have? How is it specs-wise?

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#616

Post by bradyd » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:39 AM UTC

stingraycharles wrote: post #376

iamcurious wrote: post #370

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You jest, but I agree. I might accept a GNU/Windows machine as a working computer, but I would be a lot more weary of accepting just a Windows machine.

Would this be possible? How far could anyone (outside of Microsoft) strip down Windows to leave behind just a kernel with a functioning GNU environment (let's say, a shell and file access) ?

The install environment for Windows, Windows PE[0], is an extremely stripped down version of Windows. It's based on the same code base as the main Windows, but basically only comes with the command prompt and task manager. It's available free as part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Enviro...

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#617

Post by drakenot » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:40 AM UTC

dcw303 wrote: post #507

This is good news for developers with Macs, and it has nothing to do with an option to switch platforms. By doing this, Microsoft are legitimising bash as an OS feature for "developers who like unix". This has two effects on Apple: 1. It means they will be less likely to remove their bash CLI from a future OSX / iOS hybrid workstation OS nightmare that we all don't like to think about. 2. They will have to compete wi…

I was thinking this as well. The bash version which is included with OS X is really old[0]. They refuse to ship any software which is licensed under GPLv3. It makes me wonder if they will reverse on that stance?

Homebrew also breaks with every major OS X release. It would be really nice to get some 1st party support on a package manager.

I feel like Apple does the bare minimum in this area to stay POSIX compliant. I would really like to see them feel some pressure here.

[0] https://www.reddit.com/r/bash/comments/393oqv/why_is_the_ver...

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#618

Post by shanselman » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:46 AM UTC

anthk wrote: post #132

mrkd wrote: post #33

Scott Hanselman has a good write-up here: http://www.hanselman.com/blog/DevelopersCanRunBashShellAndUs... Google Cache: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http:/...

"Of course, I have no idea how to CLOSE emacs, so I'll close the window. ;)" What if you read the welcome screen, Mr. Scott ;) ?

It was a joke. ;)

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#619

Post by shanselman » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:47 AM UTC

Stratoscope wrote: post #612

So how does one actually install this thing? I set up the brand new Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 14295 from MSDN. Hanselman's blog post says: > After turning on Developer Mode in Windows Settings and adding the Feature, run you bash and are prompted to get Ubuntu on Windows from Canonical via the Windows Store... OK, I turned on Developer Mode. Now what? What does "[add] the Feature" mean? http://www.hanselman.com/…

Builds coming soon first via the Windows Insider Program. Sign up and you'll get it all over Windows Update soon.

Re: Ubuntu on Windows

#620

Post by shanselman » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 4:48 AM UTC

bdcravens wrote: post #235

Looking at Hanselman's blog on this, was excited to see Redis running. Presumably this makes the Rails on Windows story a bit better?

Absolutely. As Rails would then be running on Linux.

I code ruby running in this system (some stuff has issues, it's beta, and I'm doing Sinatra) but using Visual Studio Code as my editor.