LinuxQuestions.org - What programs would you like to see ported to Linux?

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- - What programs would you like to see ported to Linux? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-software-2/what-programs-would-you-like-to-see-ported-to-linux-105955/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444863)

This is possible, the problem with such setups, even though developers deny that it exists is that those small programs take up resources. The best example of this is Open office an Libre Office. They both have a small program that starts and allows you to select which one of the suite choices you want to use. Hands down, Microsoft office programs start much faster than the two open source programs mentioned and part of the reason is that you do not run a start program to run any of the MS office suite programs. You run those programs directly.

I mentioned this to Open Office tech a few years back and the response I got was:

"Open office starts faster because we have a small program that is waiting to start one of the Suite programs."

Just to be clear you are conflating two things here: The first is that some developers provide something akin to a WINE setup with their games and the like to allow them to run on Linux. These could have very little impact on performance or enough impact to really ruin the game for you depending upon what is being done on what machine.
The second is that Libre Office developers did something weird with a "helper cache" that I never quite understood but, yes, for a while it caused a slowdown upon opening (I don't appear to have any issues now but honestly can't recall whether I did something with the settings or the developers did). This is nothing to do with something being written for Windows and, as I understand it, used to happen with the Windows version also.
As far as this "developer arrogance" causing slowdowns on older hardware goes that is most certainly not a Linux only problem and I don't think it's relevant at all to this thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444863)

This is possible, the problem with such setups, even though developers deny that it exists is that those small programs take up resources.

This is a non fact based claim, which has no relevance whatsoever to the 10+ year old post you're replying to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444863)

The best example of this is Open office an Libre Office. They both have a small program that starts and allows you to select which one of the suite choices you want to use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444865)

MS office suite starts faster and there's no middle-ware program that must run before running one of the suite members. That also means it automatically uses less resources or is more efficient in using those resources.

So far as I can tell in the case of libreoffice, there is a "soffice.bin" which loads into RAM, takes up about 160MB initially and stays there - I don't see the 'middleware'. So unlike MS office, spreadsheet, database, word processor, etc are all part of the same program. I'd like to see some more info on this middleware. Perhaps it's different in openoffice, if so can you show some ps output showing RAM usage and showing whether or not the 'middleware' launcher is unloaded normally when the main program is up and running?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444863)

Hands down, Microsoft office programs start much faster than the two open source programs mentioned and part of the reason is that you do not run a start program to run any of the MS office suite programs. You run those programs directly.

Maybe back in 1997...?

The only MS office program which still starts up relatively quickly is excel. The rest are horrendously bloated and slow. I take it you don't use outlook much?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444863)

While Microsoft is still refining their code to insure it is responsive on the older platforms, the open source developers seem to be writing code for the latest greatest systems and do not bother to refine the code so that the program is responsive on older system.

Is this just gut feeling as well? MS bloats out it's products and literally forces the user to buy newer hardware - that's by design. There is a reason why open source software users can make the most out of older hardware. So I think you've got it backwards - and I'm pretty sure most would agree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444863)

This of course is not the case with certain Linux distros who in fact develop for older systems.

Well no, distributions can be deliberately tailored to antique hardware, but most just develop for general usage. It's up to the end user to make sane choices - e.g. lightweight window manager on a Pentium 3 with 1GB of RAM and full blown KDE on the core i7 with 4GB...

Quote:

Originally Posted by stovey (Post 5444863)

My ultimate point is: for doing desktop publishing and basic spread sheet work, a single core processor and 4 gigs of ram is plenty powerful enough to do the job. Developing such programs to need more than that is just arrogant.

And that's exactly what Adobe, MS et al do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinslw (Post 5444834)

I have a Sony Digital Camcorder that can not upload pictures and videos into my OS which of course is Linux Ubuntu 14.04/15.04
It doesn't matter which OS I use they will not work with many MS programs.
I would like to see this program ported over because many of the Linux programs don't work for this camera either.
Please let me know when or if this can be done.
Thanks,
Joe

I know that some Sony cameras don't use USB Mass Storage, which can make things difficult. We have a Sony Digital Camera at work, which will only allow you to properly manage the files on it using their own software, and 1 third party software (in windows). I haven't tried it on Linux as yet. You didn't mention which camera it is, and whether it uses tape/disc or memory cards. I presume it isn't disc based, or there wouldn't be a problem.

Fair play to Sony, they actually seem to provide open source code for their cameras (or some anyway), under the GNU license. http://oss.sony.net/Products/Linux/DI/category01.html
Only source code or RPM though.

If I could get a Garmin updater for linux (like garmin express) I could finally ditch w+++ows for ever.
Also the WEKA data analysis software which is already open source in java. Does it need a port to linux or can it run in java under linux.

Quote:

Originally Posted by npjrogers (Post 5445296)

One of the best things about Java is that it is cross-platform; you just need Java runtime on the platform you want to run it on. So it should be able to work without any major issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maples (Post 5445592)

One of the best things about Java is that it is cross-platform; you just need Java runtime on the platform you want to run it on. So it should be able to work without any major issue.

While in theory Java is platform independent, in practice it often is not, for example when the software in question is using Java Native Interfaces. Anyways, just try it and/or ask the project/developers for help.

Thanks everybody. I today installed WEKA data analysis on my laptop running Linux Mint 17.2. Now I can really understand bigger datasets and see connections without having to be a stats nerd!
Any thoughts abour Garmin Explorer for map updates?
Nick Belfast

Quote:

Originally Posted by political-paul (Post 5421899)

Thank you! 1- Program with flexibility to mount .iso programs. (I have gotten a few programs, then had to download something to mount it [wrong, that shouldn't happen] to discover the mounting program does not work. (I'm a novice!)
2- Anti-virus program, a good one like Kaspersky. I tried to install a Kaspersky I have but wouldn't work on Ubuntu.
I downloaded Ubuntu, heard good things about it, but none of those "good things" I saw. I tried to post to warn people that Ubuntu is NOT for any novice. You need to be experienced/knowledgeable with computers, then you will probably like it. I discovered not to download the newest program (like I did with Ubuntu & GNOME) for a novice like me. Let the more knowledgeable work with the newest release because they know how to work on/fix the problems. (It's like not to buy the newest car that comes out for sale due to all the fixes that need to happen).

You said "Constructive" comments. I suppose that also means "constructive criticism?". Regardless, I'm not criticising, rather I love the idea of Free Downloads. As a result, I am doing what I can to patronize whoever advertises with you in the hope of a positive manner to help spread a "free Ubuntu".

My experiences with this forum has not been as good as you stated "... we continue to remain extremely friendly..." Actually NO, you haven't, to me that is though I have been quite polite and trying not to be offensive, but I still got negative reactions. My experiences, and the ones I have read indicate NO the "challenge others" and "differing opinions" are clearly not tolerated! I received name-calling, when I certainly did not throw the first name-call and belittling comments.

Let's make ONE issue perfectly clear - I noticed the people who are giving advice to others to help them through their computer problems are doing so VOLUNTARILY! I believe they deserve much more respect for donating their time/expertise all trying to help a frustrated person. You also cannot insist upon volunteers to put-up with a thin patience line dealing with a novice like me.

I learned I need to know more about computers, as I should have all along. I joined an on-line free computer course (at least it's free so far). I'm learning, slow for someone my age, but trying.

This may "ring-a-bell" to someone: I have a Hp Pavilion dv6, I backed-up everything from this lap-top into a 4Tb external drive I formatted NTFS prior to backing-up. I have all sorts of private information, checkbook & things, in the external drive. I was downloading GNOME because it said I had to have such in my newest Ubuntu. The GNOME was so big I put it in the external drive and now I can't access it, given an error message.

After asking questions on the forum, a kind soul started to help but lost patience soon. My post warning people that if they want Ubuntu, they need to be more experienced/knowledgeable than me (in a polite & respectful manner) was received with names like "idiot", "troll" just to name a couple, and nothing, or otherwise blacklisted.

I know nothing about computer software writing, but think there should be some sort of .iso program that could install all other .iso programs written so a person could download what he/she needs without an exhaustive search and download of a program designed just to mount the program I just downloaded. Most people would respond with frustration and refusal to deal with whoever did that to them, and they won't forget. That part is a mistake that needs to be corrected.

Hello, friend,
what Kaspersky product did you try to install ?
I can try to help you if you'll give me more details.

It would be difficult to be more inadequate on the command line than I am.
I have been a member of Linux Questions for years and admit to posing some pretty dumb questions.
I have never been insulted or ridiculed and always found a solution to my dilemna.
Matthew

Quote:

Originally Posted by drmjh (Post 5454675)

It depends on whom you tie into, a few of us aren't as patient as others and have a sarcastic and sardonic tongue.

I would like to see a free TV program for Linux that actual works once installed without any fuss.

Crippled; I would like to see a free TV program for Linux that actual works once installed without any fuss.

Have you tried xawtv? It's old, no bells and whistles, just takes in the signal to your TV card (I use Dish Satellite)
and puts it up in a resizable window. If no sound, try plugging your speakers directly into your card.

If you don't want to fool around with resetting it every time you bring it up, here's the config file (.xawtv) I use:

***********

[ORB]
channel = 3 //use whatever channel you want here. This is the channel that comes in from my satellite box.

[global]
freqtab = us-cable

***********

That's it. (BTW, you don't need the asterisk lines.)
Keep the spaces between sections, it's important for some reason.
Good luck!

Quote:

Have you tried xawtv?

Thank you for suggestion that. I just tried it and it didn't work for me but I guess because I don't have a TV card. If I ever get S.S.D.I. which I paid into for over 33 years, then I will be able to buy a TV card and try it again.

Quote:
I just tried it and it didn't work for me but I guess because I don't have a TV card.
End Quote:

Check on www.pricewatch.com and look for TV Cards. I use an ATI TV Wonder VE (value edition) I got
there. It cost me $13 US. I've had no trouble with most distributions being able to use it.

You won't be able to use ANY TV signal without a TV tuner card.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crippled (Post 5459718)

Then what, precisely, are you looking for?
What is the name of the Windows program which you would like to see ported to Linux?