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97 Comments
- trollick, on 10/12/2007, -6/+49sudo apt-get install build-essential
apt-get install checkinstall
./configure
make
sudo checkinstall
Finally, something that will make sense to my grandma. - armbar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+31"Switch to Gentoo"
Last time I used it, running Gentoo required me to use a 20-page manual to get the settings correct to download and install. I certainly liked using it, but it's not really a good first-time user's distro, like this article is aiming for. - kirkio, on 10/12/2007, -3/+24The most helpful of these is probably number 9, Compiling from source.
I have looked and looked for an easy explanation and tutorial for compiling programs and installing them from source, and this site gives you an excellent explanation and how-to in one minute.
digg++ - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19Surely there has to be a way of automating this process through a GUI. Maybe something that would let you specifiy the tarball containing the source and take it from there? That'd be kinda nice.....
- bonked, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14You did
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Ten_tips_for_new_Ubuntu_users
Posted 63 Days ago - word for word description - I usually complain about the dupe police, but holy sh!t - you could have at least written your own summary if you wanted us to think you stumbled on it. - SimonGray, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14Yeah, that was an unfortunate day to switch ;-)
Nothing like that has ever happened before, thoug,h and after this experience, it probably won't happen again. - slowth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I decided to switch from Windows to Ubuntu two days ago. Everything worked well except for the update that corrupted X org so that I couldn't boot to a desktop. I'm completely new to linux, and not really familiar with the command line, so I had no choice but to reinstall windows. It seems the problem is fixed now, but I just spent the past day reinstalling windows so I don't think I'll try Ubuntu again for a while. For a linux distribution that supposedly 'just works' that was a unfortunate first experience.
- hotani, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Hahaha - gramma would love that!
The CLI is no place for most users. They don't want to have to use it, and shouldn't have to even know it is there. Just because *we* use it, doesn't make it the only (or best) way to get things done. As soon as you tell a windows user who is mildly interested in linux to "open a terminal window..." it's over.
Linux snobs retort with, "well, you need to learn about your system so don't complain about having to go to the CLI." Do I need to have the knowledge to take apart and rebuild my microwave before I'm worthy to cook food in it? I sure as hell hope not. People want an OS that works. They don't want to learn how to compile software. They are not developers, they are writers, accountants, lawyers, etc... Why should they have to become system administrators to use their computer?
I've been using *nix since 1999 and will always look for the GUI way first - especially with Ubuntu which I use at home. Many times that is just to see if it is true to its motto of being "Linux for Human Beings." Granted, many times it is - but not always. As soon as a linux distro can be installed, set up and then function day to day without the CLI, it may just be ready to "take on the desktop." Until then, it will remain a niche OS for the sysadmins. - xst4t1kx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12...and usually "just works."
So long as you don't have an ATI card and a 5-button MS mouse. - a7bat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10@jimmygoon:
I mentioned the place "ubuntuforums". And how do I know? I use ubuntu as well and I really hate it when users tell newbies off. Ubuntu's aim is to make it "easy" and elite users shouldn't complain if other users want an easy method of doing things. I have linux experience, but if it can be done easy, why not?
Here's your one place where a user asks for a deb for Nictonie+ and they get shot down by saying to follow the steps because it's so simple for them.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=196835&page=11&highlight=nicotine - halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9@EvilTesdall
Pardon me while I warm my hands by the heat of the flame war.
At first I was giving you the benefit of the doubt, and assumed that you might just be a frustrated user who found Linux too difficult to use.
Then I read some more of your other comments and got to the one where you equated using a Mac to being a Homosexual (You use far less refined language to express the concept).
That's when I realized you were one of a few things:
1. A blatant Troll. This is the most likely scenario. If you are a Troll, I recommend you work on developing some subtlety. While there's something to be said for the initial rush of anger that one or two really vile comments can create, it's short lived and artless.
On the flip side, everyone enjoys the threads involving the more talented Trolls, the ones that leave you thinking they're views real and not just designed to incite.
2. A moron. Let me be blunt,. Bragging about being a network admin running an all Microsoft shop doesn't exactly raise your Geek Credibility. I know people who call themselves "Network Admins" who in turn can barley operate a computer. They have consultants come in and do the real work, and all they do is routine maintenance and create the occasional user account.
Your arguments are poorly worded and your criticisms are vague and emotional. You could say, for example:
"Linux's heavy dependence upon obtuse command line options makes it difficult to use."
"Have you ever tried to walk someone through editing their X config file over the phone, when the only installed editor is vi?"
"Linux failed to install on any of my test hardware, despite my having followed the directions faithfully."
All of the above would have been valid criticisms form a new user. Instead of offering actual reasons not to use Linux, you merely bashed it. To exacerbate your embarrassment, you proudly confessed that despite having three Linux Books at home, you still don't know what an RPM is. That alone tells me that you are either a Troll, or lack rudimentary research skills. It's not that hard to understand that an RPM is an archive file containing the files needed to install an application and configuration data.
One of the few arguments you offered, that the existence of RPM files somehow meant Linux was too complicated to use, reveals that you lack the computer skills to equate an RPM with a ZIP file containing an application's installer.
You can prattle all you want about what you do and do not supposedly "administer." The bottom line is, you clearly lack the computer skills to understand a complex system, and I weep for the exchange users at the mercy of your computer phobic hands. - ttoomey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I think they should have had something in there about using Automatix.
http://www.getautomatix.com/
That program really does alot of the initial install work for you including alot of the 10 items mentioned in this article. - a7bat, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12But that would be too simple and upset the elite users at ubuntuforums, especially since they already complain that unexperienced users want debs for all software.
- pcheaven2k, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8While I know you are just joking about your cat, it does merit a response.
A few months ago, I tried my damndest to install Ubunto 5.10 and get all my hardworking properly, to no avail (even on three different machines). While I did find the install painless and the use of automatix to get most everything working there were a few things that just wouldn't cooperate (like my printer, scanner, digital camera, etc) so I gave up and went back to windows. Anyway, yesterday I received a shipment of Ubuntu 6.06 disks and I decided to boot one of them to the Live CD and play with it. I was impressed that all my hardware (in the computer) worked without any configuration whatsoever. While the computer was still booted to the live CD I had to leave for an hour or so, when I returned somehow Ubuntu had been completely installed, all my hardware was working and the Live CD had been ejected......Upon close inspection of my computer I discovered Paw Prints from my 4 year old Rat Terrier (Jack Russell want-a-be). So I guess you could say "Ubuntu - So Easy to Install even a Dog Can Do It!"...... - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7This article was pretty lame really. The POINT of ubuntu is to provide a nice user experience so "sudo apt-get" and the like never need to be typed.
1. Getting multimedia to work
* This is actually useful, but has been covered many, many times.
2. Changing the defaults
* System menu -> Preferences -> Preferred Applications
3. How to install packages
* Applications Menu -> Add/Remove
4. Sudo and gksudo
* Somewhat helpful
5. Add users to sudo
* Mildly helpful. Better alternative is System menu -> Administration -> Users and groups. Properties on the user, User Priv. tab.
6. Adding a new desktop
* Kinda useful, but again, should have used synaptic rather than sudo apt-get.
7. How to reconfigure X.org
* Useful. Let's face it, sometimes X goes bad, and when it does... you need a command-line level way of fixing it.
8. Log in automagically
* At least they do this one right by giving the menu / GUI instructions.
9. Compiling from source
* Not exactly a tip for beginners.
10. A new kernel
* Absolutely not for beginners. - halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@EvilTesdall
Have you ever though of switching to Mac?
They're even easier to use than Windows! - theCore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Personally, I prefer using ``apt-get source package-name'', then compile the package by running ``dpkg-buildpackage'' (actually, I use ``debuild'', but it's not installed by default) in the directory of the package. (If there's any missing dependencies, just run ``apt-get build-dep package'', as said in the article.) After, you get a .deb file in the parent directory, that you can install with ``dpkg -i''.
Sometime, I want to pull to source directly from developers repository, and get their development version. So, what I do is, I copy the debian/ directory in the package's sources directory, and build it with ``dpkg-buildpackage''. Often, developers make changes that break the patches for Ubuntu. You can remove them, with ``rm debian/patches/*.patch'', then ``echo > debian/patches/00list''.
If you are really meticulous, you can add a log entry in ``debian/changelog''. But, I won't cover the details here.
This method is more complicated, but it builds better package. CheckInstall is not the best way for installing packages, but it works when you need a quick and dirty install.
If anyone is interested by becoming a Ubuntu package maintainer, you can check out the Ubuntu Packaging Guide (which I'm one of the proud maintainers) at http://help.ubuntu.com/ and the MOTU (Master of the Universe) wiki page at http://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU/ . Help is always welcome. - n0xie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"But really, how much market share does Microsoft own?
Market Share really isn't a good measurement for quality now is it? Especially since they've run a monopoly for quite some time, only now other OS's are slowly but steadily taking away marketshare, much like Firefox did to IE.
"Ya wanna know how they got that way?????"
Actually they locked in all big vendors, bought competition and simply destroyed them competitors they couldn't buy using various tactics borderlining criminal behaviour. Also they made companies and users deliberatly dependent on their framework, added services to their core OS which are clearly a direct competition with other software, making it harder to compete, and they all did that with a smile. - arsgeek, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Excellent article! Proving that you learn something every day, I never knew the 'easy' way to add other users to the sudoers file. Now I do!
- n0xie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Actually Linux bitch slaps MS in the servermarket. MS would have a fieldtrip if they went 50-50 against Linux. This is mostly thanks to LAMP in all it's variaties and forms.
- B111, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"...but ermmm I'm a network admin for a local government..."
WTF? I highly doubt it. - transeunte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I own an ATI card and can't run Ubuntu.
The saddest part is that Canonical has sent me some neat stickers and I can't put them anywhere since I don't use Ubuntu. ;( - jolionessness, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4i have a Microsoft explorer 5 button trackball mouse that set up automatically no problem.
as for my ati card i will admit its harder to set up then I'd like but that's really not ubuntu's fault. - SimonGray, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"8. Log in automagically"
What's up with "automagically" I see everywhere? Is it an unfortunate misspelling or some kind of fad? - tuxuser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4i no longer use ubuntu and btw you don't need that terminal coomand for updating just use the wizard.
- fiver22, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Dugg -mostly for #10 (linux-image-686 package for newer processors) -It had never crossed my mind before.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This is excellent. I'm a new Ubuntu user and this is a quick guide that I actually find useful instead of the same tired-out "essential software" or "windows equivalent" guides.
- Blazeix, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5It seems that every other 'tips for ubuntu' article we get talks about how great automatix is though. Automatix is useful, but it's nice to have a little variety!
- Pie_Man, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Tip #11 - X marks the spot
Do not automatically assume that the latest Ubuntu updates won't blow up your computer. - motang, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Nice, I am going to bookmark this one. Good find.
- tcybulski, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3yeah. the drivers from ati.com work quite well for me. a fairly simple install process is here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI
(by the way, if you're having trouble even getting the livecd working with ati, use the safe graphics mode. it's ugly as get out, but it works.) - 00monkey, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6if you don't like Linux,,, don't read the Linux section of digg.. or anything from the Linux section of digg.. or any story relating to or slightly referring to Linux... some people like it and if you don't fine.... but dude seriously shut up! your opinion holds no meaning to us hear so why are even wasting your time. go crash something and call me after you reboot to BSOD
- marcrosoft, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Don't give gentoo a bad name...
Who cares what other people use... I like gentoo! - vixenk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Just a tip - you could've just popped in the live cd and reinstalled the system without it touching any of your configuration/personal files. Always something to fall back on if you don't know what to do to fix it *and don't have any way of getting help fixing it, I should add*. Once you have your system configured the way you like it you pretty much won't have to ever do it again no matter how many reinstalls/upgrades you do to the system itself.
- benplaut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@armbar -
last time i checked, the guide was 87 pages. It literally made the drive motor on my printer break. - cmiller1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3He really is a sys admin at a local government job! Look! http://www.tuttle-ok.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BCC5DEFB6-1B2A-4783-A5F8-A92275C95081%7D
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@bonked:
The description was just cut-and-paste from the first paragraph of the article, as many submitters (lazily) do. You did RTFA, right? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"the default editor is set to Nano, which isn't optimal if you're used to Vim."
I suspect that by "new user", he means linux/unix guy using ubuntu for the first time. But that would negate the purpose of the article in the first place.
What kind of new user would even know how to use Vim?! - tcybulski, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2iirc, the install partitioner IS gparted. yeah, the default partitioning options suck, but i haven't had much of a problem with manually editing partitions.
- myFriendDerrik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I know this was mentioned earlier, but Automatix is really the way to go or Easy Ubuntu.
http://www.getautomatix.com/
http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/ - azzkicar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Totally agree. This is useful stuff. +digg
- holdemcharts, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I wish I had this 2 months ago. Still very useful, thanks!
- Arkonnan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2#10 was easy using the package manager. One minor point they should have pointed out however is that you should also download the linux-restricted-modules package, as some of your old video drivers will not work with your new kernel, and you'll be greeted with a command prompt the next time you login. In that respect, you're right. Definitely not for beginners. But it's easily remedied.
- happyhappyhappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This must a list of 10 tips for a new user coming from another linux distribution, not a new user coming from windows/mac.
- venomt2k, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Two days ago I installed VmWare on my Windows XP and through this virtualization software installed Ubuntu. Tonight I will install Fedora (Red Hat). The installation of both vmware and ubuntu was so smooth - I was very surprised. I had installed an older version of Red Hat on an older system and it gave me a lot of trouble - I had to go out and by a book on how correctly install it. Check out www.vmware.com for the virtualization software. I heard about it on the Security Now 53! Podcast with Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2i think in ubuntu you can do a right click deb install, would be nice if all files were already in debs i wouldnt mind it, would save a few steps. They should also include something on "BUM" boot up manager. Also for me, the worst part of linux was the dual boot "grub" always seemed to screw up somehow, i prefer useing vmware, its just easier to use.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5@trollick: "Finally, something that will make sense to my grandma."
I resent that. My grandma codes for Microsoft! - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The newest ubuntu release won't even install on an old compaq proliant server... POS ubuntu, I told them they had problems with 5.10 but they didn't fix them, instead they made it worse.
The default partitioning sucks monkey balls and the manual partitioning doesn't work correctly (in the install app not gpart.). - xst4t1kx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've been trying to get both working for months, followed every tutorial I can find (ATI,Ubuntu,Official,Unofficial) posted in various forums asking for help and one of two things happens every time: A. Nothing B. Xserver fails. Given up on it for now. I like Ubuntu but it shouldn't be this much of a problem.
- scratched, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4You forgot a step: Shell out $100+ for Windows
Linux is free. If Microsoft can put out a version of windows that is totally free (both as in beer & speach), then you have a point, but Linux is created for free. A lot of folks that contribute to GNU/Linux do so without expecting payment.
Linux is also more stable (at least in my experience). In the server market, Microsoft and Linux are 50-50 for that reason. -
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