Linux - general discussion

[Heretic]

Well, since the other thread was locked, let's just go on here.



Thinking about investing a few hours to install Xubuntu on my main PC and try to get Max/Gmax and FSX to run.

 

[mmann]

Oh, to be young! After going through a period of learning a totally different operating system whenever I updated my computer; I have now reach a stage of stability with Windows. Developing for FSX with various tools is presenting enough challenge for me at this stage in my life!

 

[Heretic]

Here's an overview over the major Linux distributions with their specific pros and cons:

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major


Still pondering about which one to pick up for my main PC.

 

[bobbyjack]

Well, since the other thread was locked, let's just go on here.



Thinking about investing a few hours to install Xubuntu on my main PC and try to get Max/Gmax and FSX to run.

You keep posting like I'm arguing with you. I'm not really. My problems with Linux are learning curve problems. Just like I have with Windows or Apple.

Then you make a statement like "Windows is for regular people, Linux is for engineers." That may have been true at one time. Spend some time on a Linux home page. They care very much how many folks use it. They want more and more folks to use Linux. They are going out of their way to make Linux appeal to everyone, with photo, video and music software. As a general purpose computer, my Ubuntu 11.4 (now that it has the few hundred updates required) seems to work fine. In fact, I have installed it on some computers where the owner has hosed Windows and don't have a way to reinstall it. Linux has some nice open source video software I'm interested in.

But, much of what I do can't be done in Linux. Just that simple. Even if I could do everything, there isn't a compelling reason to switch. For what I do Linux is no more stable or faster. If I can get the video software to work, that will be the only thing I can use it for.

mmann,

W7 isn't that different from XP. Think about it. Sure, it looks a bit different. They renamed a few things, and moved some stuff around. Device Manager has not changed much since W98. Control Panel icons are a little different. The changes take some getting used too, but it is not a new OS. In fact, if you don't like the look, you can make it look like ME.

Bob

 

[mike4lin]

Install is a matter of 5 min.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhnLk3gviWY&feature=related

Even compiling the latest Wine is as simple as:
wine/tools/wineinstall

ok a newer wine is out do:
cd wine
make uninstall

and install alike above the newest.

Linux is by far the best OS, it only needs you to leave M$ thinking.

 

[mike4lin]

@ Mr.FaosFX

Every Linux looks different. Look here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1836700&page=2

 

[arno]

Thinking about investing a few hours to install Xubuntu on my main PC and try to get Max/Gmax and FSX to run.

Keep us posted about the progress. I have one desktop with Linux already and if I could also run FSX on that would be nice .

 

[arno]

Linux is by far the best OS, it only needs you to leave M$ thinking.

Can we please keep the discussion here on subject? There is no need to start an endless discussion which OS is better. Just as we don't want flamewars here whether FS2004, FSX or X-Plane is better.

We are a community to help people make addons for their flight simulation software. Discussing how to use Linux as a part of that is fine, but don't turn this in a "my OS is better" thread please.

Thanks,

 

[Tejal Bernardo]

Yes, for exemple how could help Linux run simulations games and so on, you know that for begin a dialectic war here in the internet environment one not have to do too much , I imagine a computer devoted to fsx and running linux and fsx only, the cessna should fly like a jet.?

 

[Heretic]

Debian and XFce it was. Got it up and running to start some tests.

You keep posting like I'm arguing with you. I'm not really. My problems with Linux are learning curve problems. Just like I have with Windows or Apple.

I can now confirm that the learning curve can be extremely steep.

Trying to get NVidia drivers installed, I killed a major component for displaying UIs. A few hours of googling and console work later, I finally got things working again. A horrifying experience for sure, but I've learned quite something in the process.

Then you make a statement like "Windows is for regular people, Linux is for engineers."

There was a "I've read somewhere that..." prefix, so these weren't my own words.

But, much of what I do can't be done in Linux. Just that simple. Even if I could do everything, there isn't a compelling reason to switch. For what I do Linux is no more stable or faster. If I can get the video software to work, that will be the only thing I can use it for.

Fair enough.

Keep us posted about the progress. I have one desktop with Linux already and if I could also run FSX on that would be nice .

I'll give it a try.

Yes, for exemple how could help Linux run simulations games and so on, you know that for begin a dialectic war here in the internet environment one not have to do too much , I imagine a computer devoted to fsx and running linux and fsx only, the cessna should fly like a jet.?

Actually, no. FSX performance under Linux is said to be lower than on Windows.

 

[Heretic]

Okay, I'm trying to get FSX to run without having to install it (as my Linux partition is just not large enough).


After adding some runtime packages to WINE, FSX boots to the main screen and I can here music, but that's when the show just stops.

I've just tried to adapt the paths in the Linux fsx.cfg to point to the right location, but so far without luck.

 

[mike4lin]

If you start in a terminal alike: wine fsx.exe
it will give output about missing dlls etc.

I've experienced a black fsx myself some months ago, after updating Wine. I don't recall what I've changed, but FSX is working again.

 

[Heretic]

I know.

There's a patch for that behaviour, but it requires a recompiled Wine.
Recompiling the most current Wine isn't possible though, since a compilation breaking bug was introduced.

I've compiled a working version of Wine after doing a regression, but FSX then killed my window and desktop manager. Not good...

 

[mike4lin]

There's always, unlike Windows , the possibilty to go back. Do a uninstall and search the old archived wine, wich was used in the wine appdb description for FSX.
Rename .wine to f.ex .wineNEW
and install the old wine. Follow/redo exactly those instructions on appdb.winehq.org.
It works and for testing the newest Wine...as above.

Going to play some Wolfenstein on Wine now...

 

[Heretic]

Isn't Wolfenstein OpenGL? That'd be cheating then.

Well, getting the source code of "that" older Wine from Sourceforge and compiling and installing it at least started up FSX properly now.

But an inconsistent black menu and a Cessna in pieces totally spoils the party.

I guess it's the graphics drivers now. (280.13s) *Sigh*

 

[mike4lin]

My last Debian install dates from around 1999...so I can only tell that on Ubuntu it's a (pretty much) one click Nvidia install.

Default planes should all be fine. Only addons complicate life for many reasons.

I've also Tomb Raider Underworld running which is DX9 at least.
Ahmm I've installed DX9 from the Wolfenstein DVD, as indeed I had troubles with some weird DX versions from winetricks...

 

[mmann]

Looking at the process involved in getting FSX to work with Linux I can certainly draw a couple of conclusions:

1. People who prefer to fly FSX are best advised to run Windows.
2. People who prefer Linux as an OS are best advised to fly X-Plane or FlightGear.

On the other hand if you enjoy a good challenge...

 

[n4gix]

Quit "Wine-ing..."
Everyone knows old Wine is better than new Wine!

 

[Heretic]

My last Debian install dates from around 1999...so I can only tell that on Ubuntu it's a (pretty much) one click Nvidia install.

Yeah, NVidia provides a driver with installer, but it's reportedly a trainwreck and leaves many, many files behind when you uninstall it.

Default planes should all be fine. Only addons complicate life for many reasons.

Well, after enduring the long, long, LOOOOOONG loading times, I managed to get into the sim. It wasn't pretty though.
Aircraft parts all over the place, textures were displayed only sporadically.

Ahmm I've installed DX9 from the Wolfenstein DVD, as indeed I had troubles with some weird DX versions from winetricks...

Hm. I have a healty mix of a MS supplied DirectX and winetricks' weird single .dlls installed.

So I gues reverting to the default 'X might help. Will probably test it next week.

Looking at the process involved in getting FSX to work with Linux I can certainly draw a couple of conclusions:

1. People who prefer to fly FSX are best advised to run Windows.
2. People who prefer Linux as an OS are best advised to fly X-Plane or FlightGear.

On the other hand if you enjoy a good challenge...

Yeah, it really is challenging.

Besides "because I can" and "helping Linux users to experience FSX <-> Windows users experience Linux" I even can't think of a rational reason to do this...


Maybe I'd be better off using my time to get into FlightGear.

Quit "Wine-ing..."
Everyone knows old Wine is better than new Wine!

Bill L. Man of God, FSX superhero, pun-isher...

 

[mike4lin]

Yeah, NVidia provides a driver with installer, but it's reportedly a trainwreck and leaves many, many files behind when you uninstall it.
...
Yeah, it really is challenging.
..
Maybe I'd be better off using my time to get into FlightGear.
..

I think they explicitely recommend to use installers from your
distribution. For Ubuntu I've found somewhere at x-plane.org
forum an installer to get the latest driver.

No: Unix _IS_ user friendly - it's just selective about who its friends are !

Yea me too look here: http://fgfs.sgier.com/
I'm currently looking into: http://wiki.flightgear.org/index.php/Howto:_convert_objects_from_MSFS
as the script messes up my objects.