I am looking for a program for Technical Analysis of shares/ stock markets etc. that will work with Linux. Metastock/ OmniTrader are such programs for Windows. Can anyone please tell me an alternative for Linux? That is the only obstacle that is keeping me from switching from Windows to Linux!

Here's one:
http://eiffel-mas.sourceforge.net/

and another:
http://www.intuitecsoftware.com/

Not to pull a STFW on you (It is your first post) but really, please STFW before you post. Both were found on the first page of a google search for "linux stock analysis software"

Greetings,
There are 225 investment programs listed in the sourceforge open source software catalog. Almost all of these applications require downloading some other applications as well. For example, Merchant of Venice, 0.7 beta (17/April/2006) is a stock market trading program that support portfolio management, charting, technical analysis, paper trading, and experimental methods like genetic programming.Venice runs in a graphical user interface with online help and has full documentation. Venice runs on Unix,Mac OS X, and Windows. I have tested it successfully under Linux (SimpyMEPIS 6.0)and on Windows XP Professional. However, it requires the Java runtime environment J2SE JRE 1.4 or higher which although free, must be downloaded separately from Sun. The situation with other software in the Sourceforge catalog is similar. They depend on other packages which must be obtained separately. IMHO, installation, in most cases, requires a fair amount of Linux programming experience and is less than straight forward. The install information provided with the applications is frequently sparse and assumes that the user is a developer or experienced Linux programmer.

I've been searching for years in vain for ways to migrate over to Linux but was held back because I need to use Metastock.

After a full week of experimentation, I've finally figured out how to get Metastock Professional 8 to work flawlessly from within Ubuntu's Hardy Heron 8.04 LTS.

Check out the screenshot here : http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3...rtualboys5.png

Here's a video demonstration of how it works : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEIupV0jMIQ

The graphics is just a tad slower (almost imperceptible) than when using Metastock in Windows XP, but for the convenience of being able to use Linux as the host operating system, this deal is hard to beat. Also, unlike gamers, that speed difference is immaterial to most chartists.

With the Windows XP operating as a virtual machine inside your Ubuntu Linux desktop, your usual data provider's software should work as if it were operating within Windows XP. However, I've noticed that the speed of my daily EOD data updates is not as fast since that data has to be written to a virtual harddisk. Nevertheless, it is still at an acceptable speed.

To get this setup to work from Ubuntu's Hardy Heron, you'll need to download a free open-sourced virtualisation software called VirtualBox. Then install Windows XP into it, followed by Metastock and your data provider's software.

Note that the free Sunbelt Personal Firewall 4 works fine inside the virtual Windows XP, while Comodo Firewall Version 3.0 crashes that virtual system.

A significant advantage of using VirtualBox is that you can take "snapshots" of your virtual machine, which in this case is Windows XP. The snapshot will save everything in your virtual PC up to that particular point in time. If you mess up your system with bad installs, or get infected with a virus, you can always recover back to a previous saved point in time without having to reformat your PC's harddisk and reinstall all the software again. It's a real time saver!

Below is a step-by-step guide to help newbies to setup their Ubuntu Hardy Heron system.

Instructions on how to get and install VirtualBox version 1.5.6 are here :
http://www.ubuntu-unleashed.com/2008...rdy-heron.html

To key in those commands, start the Terminal mode by clicking on [Applications],[Accessories],[Terminal]. Then copy the relevant text and paste it into the terminal. Remember to press the [ENTER] key after you have pasted the relevant text.

Some broken packages may exist but that can be taken care of by clicking on the Red arrow at the desktop panel which is beside the date and time. Alternatively, Synaptic Package Manager (at [System], [Administration], [Synaptic Package Manager]) can fix those broken packages.

After the software is installed, you can access it from [Applications][System Tools]. Before you start the software, you need to add yourself to the vboxusers group before VirtualBox allows you to access it. [Steps : click on - System,Administration, Users & Groups, your account name, Unlock, enter password, add your account name to vboxusers.] Logoff, then login again and VirtualBox will grant you access.

Once VirtualBox is up and running, click on the [NEW] button and a wizard will appear to guide you through your Windows XP installation. Just follow the instructions accordingly. You'll need to have your Windows XP disc ready for this installation.

After installing Windows XP into VirtualBox, run the virtual Windows XP and you can now install Metastock, your data provider's software, your firewall and any other relevant software in the same way you would install them in Windows XP.

For an optimal experience, do complete the following 2 steps from the taskbar of the virtual window:

1. To free up the mouse pointer to move freely between the guest and host desktops, click on [Devices], [Install Guest Additions]

2. To get seamless integration with your linux desktop, click on [Machine], [Seamless Mode].

You will now be able to run most/any of Windows XP's software on Ubuntu's desktop.

Hope this is of help to fellow traders who want to migrate over to Linux.

The term "Programmer" is used for someone that actually composes, or authors, the software. Actually writes the source code. The person that installs the program is called the user. Installing programs like Java is simple. Any person that can turn on the machine and download a file should be able to at lest learn how to install software. With any real operating system you can install from binary packages or from source, if the compiler is installed and on Linux it usually is. If you choose to install from source, or if no binaries are availible, you should read the "README" file or maybe take a look at the "INSTALL" file. Usually they are located in the root directory of the source code directory. It's actually very simple.