Open Source coders switch to Mac
Treason! Bring out the gallows!
RESPECTED MEMBERS of the Open Source community are risking excommunication by admitting that they use Mac OSX as a development platform for Unix and Linux according to OS News.
Ivan Krstic admits in an attack on the One Laptop Per Child Programme that he "switched to OSX and find it to be an overwhelmingly more enjoyable computing experience", adding "there... I said it. Hang me for treason."
But the seea change is unlikely to result in a flood of Open Source offerings for OSX according to Dana Blankenhorn. "Krstic isn't rushing out to create open source software for the Mac. The installed base remains too small to deliver the support revenues necessary for success."
Thom Holwerdapoints out that "Just about every open source software package is available on the Mac, either via a true, native port, or via tools like MacPorts and Fink. Of course, not every package out there will be available for OS X, but not every package out there is available for Windows either - there will always be gaps. But overall, when you use Mac OS X, you'll have access to your favourite open source Linux tools. And for many, Mac OS X and Aqua are major selling points over Linux."
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flaw of logic
I read this yesterday on another news site and I still fail to see the logical flow of thought here. One developer switches from using mainly Open Source software on a daily basis to one of using mainly Open Source software on a proprietary platform = there is a flood of Open Source developers moving to the same proprietary platform? Right.Lengthier, more accurate headline
Site with Mac fanboy slant reassures Mac fanboy audience that it's alright to be a Mac fanboy - it's not just "pretend creative" types.He'll Only Be Hanged by His Own Kind
Funny how open source developers trying to create a cheap, open platform computing environment go to the most expensive and regulated computing environment today for their own personal use. Really vets the open source software out there...Maybe they should have aristocratic computing and plebian computing: Mac OS X and Linux, respectively. Guess who's getting the scraps of the other...
Advantage?
Gee, I find all of this talk about Mac fanbois, from Linux fanbois, to be really amusing.I suppose it would never occur to the lessor Linux fanboi minds out there, that every time another high profile Linux user moves to OS X at least part time, that it's being done because they realize it's the superior OS.
No that would never happen. And reporting on those facts shouldn't be done either, should it? It might destroy this self made world some Linux users have invented for themselves.
You may not want to believe it, but free isn't everything.
Only geeks use Linux
It is a simple fact, linux sucks for most people.There isn't anything so wonderful about OS X or Vista or XP. There are choices to be made such as price, aesthetics, usability... but when it comes down to the facts all of the commercial OS's can handle anything a consumer needs and they all do it with varying degrees of success, but they all do it with greater ease than Linux.
Linux sucks.
No one, outside of geeks and the desperately poor (albeit a rather large group), give a damn what linux offers because LINUX IS TOO DAMN COMPLICATED FOR THE 'I JUST WANT IT TO WORK' people, which is everyone besides geeks - the desperately poor have no choice, but they'd use something other than Linux if they could afford it.
I can hear penguins now...
'oh! KDE is so pretty, gnome is so resource free, Ubuntu is sooo easy!' LIARS!
Unless you are a geek, Linux is crap.
I know this because I've tried the distros and they are a long way from 'insert disk, point, click, install... done.'
"Yay, linux can do everything and more!"
Too bad you have to spend half a lifetime learning linux in order to make it worth using. It is still better to go get a job and buy what you really want.
I WISH that Linux could compete with OS X or even XP. I'm not against open source, but the Linux people should go work on their product for awhile and come back when it really is as easy to use as a commercial OS. Maybe if they didn't have 5,000,000,000 different tweaked distros of the OS they'd be able to create one nice one.
But like I said, Linux is for geeks and that is what geeks do... argue, fight, pout, and moan about crap that no one really cares about except themselves.
Nothing wrong with being a geek, or using/loving linux, but the great utility of Linux for the average consumer (someone who thinks a computer is simply a means to an end) is far overrated.
Stuff works
I have a lovely time developing Linux stuff under VMware Fusion on a MacBookPro. Mac OS X tools from BSD distys collectively are often too different from GNU versions to survive full builds, because they sometimes use extensions, so you can add GNU versions using MacTools or Fink, or you can just do the build under a Linux disty. The important thing about Mac OS X is that it provides an underlayment that works. The networking works, compared to my bad experiences working with just SuSE 10.2 directly with remarkably uncooperative wireless support. Pick your battles. You're trying to get stuff that you do done, and you do not want to have to rewrite significant parts of the OS to get there. I agree, Apple stands on the shoulders of open source authors.Darwin
Just in case you didn't know... The basis of OS X is Darwin. Which is open source... Along with a whole host of non-UI related stuff:http://developer.apple.com/opensource/index.html
People use Macs for development for a reason. It's unix with a UI that you don't have to futz with. Cost of the box doesn't really factor into it when it 'just works' better than the alternatives.
Now thats a shame
So what your saying is that 'Open Source' software is - Open?I've yet to use a Mac in anger - I can level my tables with beer mats. But if I had one I'd probably use it to develop open source software. I'd never buy one myself but other people budgets .....
most expensive
i'd like to see figures to back that up. since switching to exclusively using apple hardware, i've not spent any money on software. i use GNUCash (open source linux app) for finances, included bundled software, which is clean in appearance and minimalistic/maximizes efficiency of screen real estate, easy to use and i've compiled software on linux or in terminal on OS X so say i'm just a dumb clueless fan or what-have-you, but o/~ i think ur crazy, just like me o/~ (please don't call the riaa)oh and...
apple has <b>at times</b> been an industry leader. OS X being posix compliant or whatever the correct term is...well, run with the big dogs or stay on the porch. <b>some</b> people have already ditched Windows for a posix compatible OS (ie linux). u gotta admit, apple has made <b>some</b> smart moves maybe?Oxi Moron
Huh?! Say that again! Weird: devs creating open sauce goodies on a VERY VERY VERY closed source OS. Well if it works for you buddy...[http://youroyster.webs.com/]
For years now
many in the Plan 9 development community have been using OS X as their primary OS, with a great wailing and gnashing of teeth heard from many in the Plan 9 development community.There are even some getting by with Linux!
Linux - all herotics shall be burnt at the stake.
Amen. Nothing wrong with a bit of Apple's beautiful design. Open Source may be free but why should that mean it's pig-ugly?There's nothing stopping you running any brand of Linux either natively or in something like Parallels as a virtual machine.
I use a mac, a pc and ubuntu for different tasks - I prefer the MacBook Pro, OSX & Xcode for it's simplicity. Ubuntu is a right pain if you start compiling your own things but there's always someone that's written a driver for the obscure thing your attempting to use. The PC laptop is saved by MS Office and Visio (and ETQW :D).
All I can say to linux, mac and ms fanboys - grow up ffs. That's coming from an old Acorn fanboi..
Where's the beef?
Go along! There is noting to be seen here.Except the ramblings of a disgruntled project ex-member that is miffed at the outcome and direction of the stuff he helped creating: "OLPC is no fun anymore, even Mac OS is more nice to work with".
The only point worth considering is that a Mac gives you a decent machine computing wise where you can install any OS you like in parallel. If you do not mind running around with laptops that are more on the brittle side, that is.
Just my 0.02€
This article lacks common sense
Ok, Why do I need a development software to create something open source?Open Source merely means that the source code is available to the public and anyone can add on and improve to the software programming.
Linux users have GNUC++
There is also Java which allows you to even generate your own API....
In other words, all you have to do is compile your program and upload it to sourceforge with the source of the program....and that is your open source program....
RE: Only geeks use linux
Yeah, right.....BUT
Only uber-ultra-mega-geeks use Z/Os. Forget about graphics. Forget about lousy PCs..... (and MACs, for that matter) and welcome back to the old, good, trusted dynosaurs. Then, open an ISPF window and launch a LINUX shell session from there.... (mainframes support a virtually unlimited amount of virtual LINUX machines)
Now, that's what REAL geeks do. While other folks read these funny debates then move on to live a real life....
Oldest of old news?
I've come across developers using their MacBooks like this since the dawn of time (or at least OS-X). It makes sense -- you get a nicely packaged, glitch-free, versatile system that does literally everything you need ("and will even run Windows if you really have to").