Miscellaneous > Applications
apache win32 port
lu666s:
Karen,
Seems to me that you have a few misconceptions that are somehow outdated.
1. Most of the current linux distros have a good GUI interface or a choice of several and for normal use (email, browsing, aim-ing, etc) there are all the tools in the GUI that you need. Actually, many more than you would not expect for stuff that is not intended for the common user, development/programming tools inclusive.
2. As an add-on, you can fire up the xterm and do most of it also via commandline. It is often a real time saver.
3. As for apache/php/mySQL, there is virtually no difference as the config goes between winblows and linux, except maybe one -- it may be running more finicky on winblows because the original apps were developed for *nix and the win ports are kinda an afterthought.
There are only a few things that you my need to learn about linux to get fast on track -- filesystem directory structure. That is something that differs substantially and it is important to have an idea where things go and where you can find them; there are minor differences between distros, but all follow essentially the standard scheme. Second thing is the question of permissions and users. Not a rocket sci at all, just a common sense matter, but in winblows that is usually not an issue (unless one takes care to set the permission structure in NT/w2k/xpee, however most people stick with the default admin access not knowing any better). In some sense, you have been exposed to these two aspects since you have to deal with a FreeBSD remote server, if I am not mistaken.
You can digest these two aspects in one afternoon, and you are set and ready.
kjg:
quote:Originally posted by VoidMain:
Karen, please don't make these assumptions about needing to be a "code warrior" to use Linux until you have tried it yourself.
(snip)
And as far as "The Best Hammer" analogy: (lots of snips here -everybody reading this can read your post too)
I suppose if you go down to the corner store and they have a hammer bin back in the corner full of hammers that work better than any other hammers, and you can take as many of them as you want for free, ...
And then there is a hammer bin right at the front door with a big shiny sign that says "best hammers, only $199" and you bought this hammer, ... then tried to drive the nail and missed and smashed your thumb because the hammer was improperly balanced...
--- End quote ---
Oh, great analogy! But, I don't think it's entirely accurate - you have to take into account the pervasiveness of the Windows OS (this is where MS's evil anti-competitive practices come into play). To be more representative of the OS situation, you'd have to say that instead of just being in the front "splashy" bin, the $199 hammers are available at EVERY hardware store, and at MOST of them, they're the ONLY hammers available. The "better (and free) hammers in the bin in the back corner" scenario would only be found in a few out-of-the way, non-mainstream stores - and the consumer would have to know where to find them.
Yes, the information of where to find the better hammers (and operating systems) is out there if the consumer knows where to look. And it should be noted that it's not unreasonable to expect a certain level of consumer responsibility in doing his or her homework. But it isn't entirely the consumer's fault. For one thing, as you said, when *nix started out, it WAS "rocket science" to use it, and only code warriors were capable of doing so. You say that's changed and, although I didn't know it, I'm not surprised to learn that a variety of providers are trying to move into the non-warrior niche with more user-friendly GUIs.
But, that isn't a well publicized fact, and while *nix users are justifiably proud of having found and "bought" the better system, this pride is sometimes expressed as an attitude of superior technological knowledge and abilities - which only feeds the public perception that the *nix OS is not "accessible" to the average Photoshop-, Excel- and Explorer- using Joe/Jane Q. Public. (A perception, I might add, that Micros(uck)oft is only too happy to perpetuate whenever the opportunity arises.) Given this wide-spread, and largely unchallenged misconception, is it any wonder that those J. Q. Publics (most of whom already have too many headaches and too many things to do), decide that they don't need yet another "headache."
There needs to be a serious effort to challenge the perception that switching from Win-whatever OS to Some-other OS involves a lot of headaches and "new stuff" to do and learn. Until there is, very few of the 80% (or whatever) of computer users that "just want to pound in the damn nail" aren't going to give switching any real consideration. I see some of that going on, but it's not nearly enough to compete with the ubiquitous Windoze propaganda out there. Not yet.
I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person, but even I wouldn't have gone looking for this info until my ISP raped my computer. OK, that's a bit harsh, but that's how it felt. I got bit by the Comcast takeover of the Roadrunner network. They sent me a CD that supposedly would install the communications software I needed for the new type of modem to communicate with my computer and their network. NOWHERE it the literature did it say that they would replace my IE and OE with their "branded" (and bloated) version, plus add a lot of other unidentified (or at least, opaquely-named) stuff to my hard-drive. Even the "install wizard" only said that the software would now "install the necessary updates to my browser" so that I could access the Comcast network. "Necessary" my a$$. The fact that Opera worked with their network "out of the box" so to speak makes it clear that they just wanted to put THEIR garbage in MY computer.
(oops, off on a tangential rant there... Sorry. Back to the originally scheduled rant...)
Going back to your "improperly balanced hammer that smashed my thumb" - as I kind of implied above, I probably WOULD "continue on with the pain" because it's very hard to find out that the REASON it smashed my thumb was that it was improperly balanced. I would have assumed that it was "user error" - another perception that MicroSlop likes to perpetuate whenever given the opportunity.
quote:If after giving it a serious try and you still say the same thing then that is a different story.
--- End quote ---
Actually, I'm expecting that I'll be able to deal with it without too much trouble - I went from Amiga to Windows with only a couple of years under my belt, and by the time I deal with setting up a MySQL database on a FreeBSD system running an Apache server (not to mention writing PHP interfaces), it'll probably feel like a piece of cake. I'm just not going to change everything at the same time. I'll deal with this database/server "new stuff" first, using the system I'm familiar with, THEN worry about dealing with new system "new stuff." It's like that old saying about time - the great thing about time is that it keeps everything from happening all at once!
Karen
Gonusto:
Yea, I feel your pain. My parents ISP at home got raped in exactly the same way . . . OUCH!
-Gonusto
kjg:
quote:Originally posted by Karen:
There needs to be a serious effort to challenge the perception that switching from Win-whatever OS to Some-other OS involves a lot of headaches and "new stuff" to do and learn. Until there is, very few of the 80% (or whatever) of computer users that "just want to pound in the damn nail" aren't going to give switching any real consideration.
--- End quote ---
If I could edit my posts, I would change this to say that "very few ... are going to give switching any real consideration." Or maybe to say that "most of the 80% ... aren't going to give switching..." That's what I get for going back and rephrasing something without checking the WHOLE sentence!
And, why CAN'T I edit my posts? The FAQ says I'm supposed to be able to. Other people can edit their posts. (You don't have a "pout" icon, so I'll just have to fake it) out:
Karen
kjg:
quote:Originally posted by lu666s:
Karen,
Seems to me that you have a few misconceptions that are somehow outdated.
1. Most of the current linux distros have a good GUI interface or a choice of several and for normal use (email, browsing, aim-ing, etc) there are all the tools in the GUI that you need. Actually, many more than you would not expect for stuff that is not intended for the common user, development/programming tools inclusive.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, VoidMain mentioned that too, so I went to the site in his sig. It looks like I've allowed myself to be mislead by the Windoze propaganda machine (again). Still, it's a common misperception, and as I wrote above, more needs to be done to counter it to the "unwashed masses" who might NEVER visit a site like this. Gotta take it to the streets, people!
quote:Originally posted by lu666s:
2. As an add-on, you can fire up the xterm and do most of it also via commandline. It is often a real time saver.
--- End quote ---
:Shudder: I'm not ready for commandline yet. It took me several tries to get a listing of what modules were compiled into the Apache server I installed. (I want to duplicate (as far as possible) what my hosting company has, to avoid using something locally only to find that it wasn't available there.)
quote:Originally posted by lu666s:
3. ... There are only a few things that you my need to learn about linux to get fast on track -- Second thing is the question of permissions and users. ... In some sense, you have been exposed to these two aspects since you have to deal with a FreeBSD remote server, if I am not mistaken.
--- End quote ---
I've only skimmed through the hosting company's info on permissions, as I'm not ready to set up there. But I'm currently learning about htaccess and restricting my own apache and MySQL server to "localhost" only, so I have a sense of what you're talking about. Also set up a user for MySQL that I *think* will duplicate the "user" that will be accessing the database on the web (select only permissions on two tables).
The good news is, the more I learn, the more the "big picture" is slowly coming into focus and I'm starting to feel more comfortable with the *thought* of working without a microsoft "net". At least, my anxiety level about it decreases every day, and I'm beginning to believe that I'm gonna get there without tearing out ALL my hair. Hubby says I seem to be cursing a lot less too. Which is (in general) a good thing, if only because it keeps the dogs from trying to hide under his desk. <G>
Karen
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