Re: bits/news from the users of Debian?
Goupil wrote:
>
>
> 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
>>
>>
>> --
>> To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST@lists.debian.org
>> with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact
>> listmaster@lists.debian.org
>>
>>
>>
>
> 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
>
Today i think of my mail, read it another time and find it very pretentious.
Excuse me for it's sound. "I fall into the net" (I'm not sure of the
translation) :
Proudness and pretentiousness aren't very distant :(.
--
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