I am completely new to Linux (meaning that I have never used it or installed it yet), and would like to start down the correct path by gaining the advice of someone that knows the Linux landscape well.

I am developing a kiosk type hardware, and need to develop software in VB .net to run the device. (By Kiosk I mean that when the hardware is supplied power, the system will boot, then run the VB code automatically.)

Does anyone know what a viable, and hopefully the best, Linux distribution package would be to implement? If there are multiple options for doing so, what would be the trade-offs, etc.?

Is there a separate software that allows the use of Microsoft VB code?

Are there any caveats?

Thank you.

Any Linux distro should be able to work, but this will depend on your hardware. For example, if you've got a 'real' computer, you've got alot more options than if you're using an early ARM CPU embedded device, booting from USB.
Yes, sort of. You CAN maybe use Mono to get VB code to run under Linux, but it's probably not a good idea. VB=Microsoft....as in, most of the code may want to take advantage of MS things, which are NOT present under Linux. If you want it to be fast and reliable, write the code for the platform you're putting it on, no matter what it is.

TBone,

Ok, thanks, although I am still not sure about what to do at this point. Unfortunately, I must use VB. So there is no viable option to run VB on Linux then? Am I just stuck with Windows as my OS if I use VB .net? Do you know of what are my other coding options then for an embedded solution? I would like to use something with a transparent boot (i.e. no logos, etc.)and something that is light on the CPU demands since I may use a single core CPU.

Basically, I will have a GUI and issue commands through the (RS-232)serial port. I plan to run audio/video clips on demand as well. Do you (or anyone else) know what would be suitable for doing so?

Thanks much.

If you are forced to use VB .net you should probably stick with a microsoft OS. This would ensure your code would work as designed as it would exist on its platform of choice, Windows....

Again, Mono *CAN* run VB, mostly. Depends on the code, what it does, and how it does it. Don't know why you 'must' use VB....the code isn't set in stone. Rewriting into another language for what you describe is fairly trivial. Linux has many GUI based toolkits/options to get code up and going, and lightweight desktops to run it on. Should easily be able to run on single-core, small machine.

If you won't/can't change, then jkirchner is right on the money...stick with Windows. I personally think it's a bad move...since you're then locked in to what MS wants, on their schedule. Don't want to upgrade? Tough. Want to use VB? Well, we've decided to charge big $$$ for the features you want. Don't like it? Tough. Upgrade your software, write it to open standards, and you'll have a LOT more options now, and in the future.

I found a Kiosk type distribution, but it is far too expensive to consider as an option.

I think the only challenging task I would have for Mono would be for serial (RS-232) communications. Do you know if that would be an issue?

Again..MAYBE. This all depends on how the code is written, etc. If you're not going to rewrite the code into a portable language, you've got two choices. Try it on Mono, and see if it works (which is FREE, and just requires a little effort), or stick with Windows.

And what "kiosk type distribution"?? Unless you're paying for RedHat Enterprise, or SuSE Enterprise, all the linux distros I know of are free. You can even get CentOS, which is a free, community-supported version of RedHat Enterprise.