Ok fine, I'm decided. I'm don't with non-OSS for the rest of my natural-life. Prior dot.com kablam I was a developer for IBM. I coded in VB (GUI) and MSVC++ (controls) for a FLIPPIN HUGE distributed application for Ca Child Welfare case workers. When prior to that I was a script kiddie with an Associates Degree, in a business environment the only thing I had coded in was VBA. After the .com fiasco I started working on web pages when I could get them. I haven't coded in 2 years and have decided to get back in shape, but I have decided what I didn't like about the whole thing was not getting my props. The check was nice, but I felt like a drone. No one knows what I did and I had a tendency of shocking myself with my work at times. Damnit I deserve my props! Open Source is all about props, but you gotta earn em. So there it is. Freedom for hire.

Things to consider:

Yes, development will be a goal, though not a priority to begin with. Ultimately I aim to do the LFS thing and create my development platform as a single purpose install to run in multi-boot scenario.

I have setup a linux box (Suse I believe) to share the dsl connection with 2 computers using a hub (the dumb ones) and masked their ips and mac ids so they only appeared as 1 box to the rest of the world. Linksys didn't do what they did at this point... Modem was a Cisco 675 and I hacked it so we had open pipes up and down... The ISPs hadn't really figured it all out yet at that point either...

I have installed a basic LAMP box and configured the associated apps, but would not call it secure by any means...

I have some exposure to ssh and sftp, but only from a user end. I have tinkered with it for brief moments in time and setup a few multiboot boxes, but haven't really gotten to know it. I am not intimidated, I want it to be hard (so few things in tech have been really truely challenging to me), I want to know what I'm doing, not just following the steps...

Thanks for reading this far, if you choose to reply to this newbie post, I'll remember it.

So I gotta learn this and do it fast. Here in lies my questions...

1) Would there be a real advantage into learning multiple distros side by side? or Linux and FreeBSD side by side?

2) I here GenToo is good for absorption because it makes you operate at a lower level. Can be hard to handle but makes you tougher as a result. Opinions on that one if you would. Or suggestions for a harder one that still works out of the box..

1) IMHO no. They really aren't that different. Pick one and soon you'll see you can manage others too.
2) Gentoo and FreeBSD will not give you anything you don't ask for. Beginner may miss some functionality due to simple fact he does not know what it's all about.

WTF are you you talking about? What is "props"? Are you unable to construct a sentence in English?

Cheers.

"Props": n. Favor or admiration given to a person because of something done. A verbal show of support or recognition of good achievement. One usually "gives" props. Sometimes prefixed with "mad". From "propping up". ("I'll give Joe props for that crazy stunt.")

Props

I like number 5 the best, and hey he's from Canada too! What's that all aboot?

Like giving Rik props for beating me to it...

anyway BACK ON TOPIC! ><

sounds like you're pretty grounded and realistic. Jump in and have fun!

more specifically-
1) what ever floats your boat. if you wanna do bsd, do bsd- though I've been happy with just linux. You will only have to remember one licsence if you go linux- multiple legal stuff for bsd.

2) you are right about gentoo- look into slackware and debian also before making the final choice- I would say that slackware is slightly more newbie friendly (ok, it was easier for me- ymmv)

Welcome to LQ!

titanium_geek

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General, and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

elemental666:
Whatever you're doing, I suggest you work on your English,
your grammar and spelling are appalling. ;}


Cheers,
Tink

Really, I had this pegged as a newbie type discussion...

No really, Linux, general I could understand, but non-technical General? I asked questions about distros in relation to learning linux, please put this post where it belongs...


*checks his spelling*

Hmmm, shunted over to Linux-Distributions. Where there are lots and lots of these "I want to be a developer, is it true that all Linux distros are the same for this sort of thing?" threads also exist in perfect harmony.

WTF, if all I can get out this forum is a bunch a smartass BS and flames then maybe this isn't the forum to use during my learning process.

I'm asking valid questions and looking for thoughtful replies. The name of this damn site is linux questions and with the exception of a couple of people who actually stayed on topic all I'm getting is flack.

That want to be a developer line is crap, I was and still am a developer and I never asked if all distros were the same. If you look in the Linux- Newbie forum there are several posts along the same line, only I actually showed evidence of doing SOME research before posting!

How community conscious is it to put someone down for wanting to know if they had the right idea before jumping into this?

What purpose does it serve to put the post in a more appropriate spot only to also put down the poster with comments like that?

How was my post so off track?

I didn't ask a question to be treated like a damn tard!

hey- woah elemental- it's ok- the double shunting is rare- and it's actually better to be in distros. you are asking about which distro, freebsd- etc- and development (ok- so a little bit) - the people who hang out here LIVE and BREATHE the differnt distros- they are the people to ask.

the mega problem with your post was it went on and on. not really a biggy- unless you want people to pay attention to your question.

this site is really useful- we do try and be helpful. Maybe go back and shift your questions to the top of the post- story after. (edit button)

Trust me- these aren't flames- just personalities showing thru. Don't drop out, just work on your post structure- make it easier for people to see EXACTLY what you wanna know- (we're vague when we don't know what you are asking about) and you'll be fine.

I hope that a little post shunting doesn't turn you off LQ- I love this site, and hope you come to feel the same way.

titanium_geek

Easy tiger There is no developer distro. Ok. No developer distro. I know of programmers using Gentoo, others using Fedora. I know security experts using Mandriva. All distros have the same tools - or you can download them if they don't.

The only advantage to learning more than one distro side by side, or Linux & *BSD, is to say that you have done it. Really, you should try a number of different distros to see which one you like. Often, there is no logical reason for liking one distro over another, you either do or you don't.

And according to ESR (Eric Raymond), hackers are supposd to be able to take a mild flaming.

Ok, sorry if I got bent, but I never asked about a developer distro. I provided maybe too much info about my situation. I just wanted to send the message that I"m looking for distro that would be a good challenge and that I'm not afraid of compilers or code. Which should make a difference in the distro that would fit me best. Also you'll notice I didn't even ask what distro should I use, I asked about using multiple distros and if there was a distro that was harder than Gentoo yet worked out of the box in most situations.

What erks me at that I get berated for my spelling and grammar (ok grammar maybe but I didn't misspell anything, I even used the spell checker). I got shunted and put down at the same time by someone who obviously didn't even read the questions. If your gonna flame me, do it on something I said, not something you think I said. And its bad form, hacker or no hacker, to be a moderator and make stupid comments like that.

The only thing worse than not searching for info before asking is posting to threads without reading them.

*soapbox*

That's hear. And no, the spell-checker wouldn't notice.

And the whole post (yes, I did actually read it before I moved it)
was a mixed ramble of career intention and an invitation to compare
Linux (various distros) and maybe BSDs. That, as far as I'm concerned,
places it in General, since neither the BSD forum nor any of the
Linux-Forums are really meant for those kinds of discussions.

And I reserve my right to move a post without answering
any of the questions therein.


Cheers,
Tink