Linux for Engineers

KOTAPAKA · 03-26-2008, 05:16 AM

Hello
What linux distro would be suitable for a student studying Engineering at university (most likely mechanical Engineering)?

BTW I am using Debian at the moment on a Dell Inspiron 6400 Laptop if it matters.

pixellany · 03-26-2008, 06:34 AM

My first reaction is that any distro should be fine. The question will be what applications you need. For example, you may want to have computer-aided design and analysis tools on your personal computer(s). This means lots of memory, good graphics, etc.

I would stay with what you are used to until you find something that doesn't work.

rrowsome · 03-26-2008, 08:51 AM

You will probably need to run software for your classes. It might only be available for windows, in which case you should dual boot both linux and windows, if you have enough room on your hard drive. As far as the distro, you don't want to have to learn Linux System Administration on top of mechanical engineering, so pick the distro that's easiest, and that you have the most experience with, and that won't get in the way of your classwork. You might even want to go with windows, unfortunately.

knudfl · 03-26-2008, 01:12 PM

There is specific live distro: CAELinux:
http://caelinux.com/CMS/index.php?op...tpage&Itemid=1
and further info here:
http://www.roseindia.net/linux/linux-cad-software.shtml
Simply googling 'linux cad distro' (without quotes) for info.
And CAELinux: Saw it first time in Linux Format, LXF Jan. 2008 (issue 101)
Good luck!