Linux Newbie!?

Question

Hey everyone, I FINALLY got my SuSe box on the internet using NDISwrapper! Yay!! Anyway (horray for me...) since I am BRAND new to linux (I an duel booting windows XP), I was wondering if any of you could give me some tips, and tricks, or just some general advice on a decent way to learn the ins and outs of a linux box.

I'm not really new to computer hardware or software (as I major in computer programming) but there are some MORE specific questions I had...

1) I need a nice complier with a GUI...kind of easy to install...remember I'm not really sure how everything works with. Need to be able to write C++ in it.
2)I installed gaim already...any other got to have software I should know about?
3)(I am NOT sure what the package is...and I'm not quite sure to find out...yet...) But is the defualt server package on SuSe 10.1 for FTP/File Server software decent?
4)Anti-viral software recommendations? I realize it is a low risk but I do like feeling seurce...espically since I just figured o

out how to switch user accounts...

Anything else I should know? OOOOO...hey look open office!

Answer 1

You ask a lot of questions. I use a distro. It is from ubuntu.org. Pretty cool. The KDE/gnome desktop alone convinced me right away to buy new hardware and I only boot to Win when I want to make a media file.

I'm going to recommend the forums at ubuntu. All kinds of linux users besides the ubuntu check out there. You have advantages and disadvantages running SuSe. Most of your add-ons and updates are rpm whereas we are apt-debians. Debians are usually more complete. rpm on the other hand oftentime require you compile from source.

As far as IDE. Take a look at netBeans. It's mainly for Java but I did notice there are plug-ins for C++. Otherwise, linux comes with editors already built-in. I like the netBeans because it will hint for you on code completion. Good luck! I rather enjoy being WinFree. Laugh with me when those suckers upgrade to Vista -- no more pirated materials. Ha, ha, ha.

Now, if they ONLY made more software for the 64-bit machines. sigh.....

Answer 2

glad I pass by this way tonite your in luck to say the least, where r u from?
there are many suse linux places to get the info you need, and let me tell you a bit of bad news first. your about to lose your dual boot system I haave installed Suse and windows on several systems and lost either suse or XP.

if you had xp on first then your ok you won't lose xp but you will lose suse. and if suse was on first you will lose windows sorry to say

now you can go on to Novell.com and register and become a member, get on the user groups blogs
check out the cool sulutions you will be told how to get round the dual boot system.
there are several compilers within the 5 CD's u have got so don't run before you can walk,
did you buy the system with suse on it or did you buy suse and install it?

get back with me I can guide you to the right places when it comes to suse

Answer 3

Switch users:
use the "su - {UserName to Switch To}"
FTP:
I run slackware 11 and it is proftpd
but try "apropos ftpd"
Apropos is a search of executables in linux. It searches the command and the Description
then take the command and enter "man {command}". That will open the "man pages" for that command. when you want to exit hit "q"
Virus:
don't waste your time!
Any other software:
I like apache, partially because I do a lot with web programming (i.e. PHP/MySQL)

You didn't ask it but try "pico" instead of "vi" for text editing

You would know it but I learned all of this in the past two weeks, as I installed it 2 weeks ago

Answer 4

A piece of general advice that I'd offer is this - learn to use bash. There's so much more you can do by typing than there is by clicking! ;) Also, it'll pay to learn to use vi or vim or emacs - a lot of the time you'll be needing to edit things from the console without a GUI - at those times a knowledge of one of these text editors will be very useful.

I've been using QtDesigner a bit recently - it's got a real nice feel to it, a pretty decent C++ editor by all accounts :)

Rawlyn.