Comments on: Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop Edition Review – What works. What doesn’t.

By: Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) Desktop Edition Review

Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) Desktop Edition Review — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:22:39 +0000

[...] underwhelmed by Ubuntu 9.10. It’s not a bad release. Most stuff works. But looking back at my review of Ubuntu 9.04 it seems that not much has really [...]

By: James Ward

James Ward — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:53:16 +0000

Hi Bradley,

The only open source effort I know of is:
http://axdt.org/

IntelliJ also has decent Flex support.

So far Adobe hasn’t made any announcements about what will happen to FB for Linux.

-James

By: Bradley Wells

Bradley Wells — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:42:52 +0000

Hi James, I too am a Flash Dev that prefer Linux but have to keep using Windows or OSX to work on. My main reason as well for wanting to work in Linux is sinmply: “it allows me to use my pc the way i want”.

I have voted up the flex builder for linux bug but was wondering whether there are any opensource Flex IDE initiatives that I can look at?

Another question is “What will adobe do with the current Linux Flex Builder” after Dec 2009?
I will be extremely happy if they hand it over to the community to further development, sort of like an OpenSuse type initiative?

By: James Ward

James Ward — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:35:05 +0000

Hi Erik,

You can just install powertop and run it with sudo. It will tell you what processes are using the most CPU. It also give you suggestions to further improve battery life.

Despite the issues I still use Linux and want to use Linux for a few reasons:
1) It provides me freedom to use my computer the way I want to use it.
2) I’m familiar with it. When a problem arises I know how to fix it.
3) When it works it works great! The every improving quality and performance of Linux in some ways is way beyond Windows and Mac.
4) As a developer I can be really productive on Linux due to great tools like Bash. I also fret having to pull up a command prompt on Windows. I know with Cygwin and other things you can have these tools on Windows but they just don’t work as well as they do natively on Linux.
5) One reason I don’t use Mac is that it doesn’t let me use the hardware of my choice.

Those are some reason off the top of my head.

-James

By: Erik Weibust

Erik Weibust — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:28:12 +0000

James,

Great post. Good insight.

Two questions:
1. Could you provide some info on how you’re using PowerTop?
2. Why Linux? You mentioned that you’ve been using it for 15 yrs and from your observations with Ubuntu 9.04 you still have issues. Why have you been fighting with it for 15 yrs? What’s the allure? Why not Win or Mac?

Thanks…
Erik

By: James Ward

James Ward — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:06:11 +0000

Hi fintan,

I have a Lenovo W500 but most ThinkPads have had accelerometers for a while.

-James

By: fintan

fintan — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:42:37 +0000

your laptop has an accelerometer? what kind of laptop do you have james?

By: Fabian Vercuiel

Fabian Vercuiel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:19:05 +0000

And lets not forget to vote for Flex Builder on Linux improvements!
http://bugs.adobe.com/jira/browse/FB-19053

I use Ubuntu at home, and I’ve got to say the biggest problem for me is Adobe’s attitude towards this, I think its merely coincidence that since they decided on using Eclipse for FB that porting to Linux was easy.

I need the Flash IDE, Illustrator and Photoshop on Linux, it frustrates me that its not there and keeps me stuck on Windows.

Other than that, well.. graphics issues with ATI and a lot of AIR apps display differently on Linux or dont work.

By: Julien

Julien — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:40:31 +0000

Interesting. I’ve also upgraded my laptop, and the only real annoying bug I have is that “ATI” driver bug. Cheers

By: Prashanth Ellina

Prashanth Ellina — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:13:24 +0000

Enjoyed reading the review on Jaunty. Thanks. I am considering upgrading sometime soon.