New to BSD

[miller0521]

I have never used any BSD flavored distro's. I have used Linux particulary Fedora, Kubuntu, and Gentoo.

Is it going to function the same? I use GCC to do compiling of c and c++ code, is that available as well? Also is KDE and Gnome available?

I guess I am just unsure as to what seperates PCBSD from a Linux OS.

Any help on this would be appreciated. Also, why is it you use PCBSD, do you prefer it over Linux? And is it the most up to date on things? Such as when KDE releases a new version, does it take long to get it? How about things such as GCC?

Thanks!

[TerryP]

I don't know if it's "GNU" or "Minerly BSD Edited" GCC but GCC is what I use, it comes with the system as does Perl and some other things. The JDK and JRE comein PBI format, as well as traditional BSD Ports.

The only major issues I've found the last time I tried Linux was that Slackware Linices /etc directory made me cringe in horror ! (What a mess it looked like). Some diffrences in commands. I.E. my tcshrc does not work on Slackware 10.1 since I use an alias of ls -FGH for ls. (GNU didn't like the -G part)

Ports usually works very well as well. Compiles from source, portage on Gentoo or w/e was based on this.

I prefer PCBSD as PBI in my humble opinion are more successful then FBSD packages, Debian Debs, or RHL RPM's. At actually working when I install them that is. + I have a minimal of X config to do. FreeBSD and NetBSD would be my top choices as I don't like the hacked to gether hodge podge + distro hell of Linux (but I like the kernel).

Two good articles on the diffrences between FreeBSD normal and Linux Distros
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/bsd/2004/11 ... asics.html
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/bsd/2005/01 ... asics.html

Many linux programs can run on FreeBSD via a Linux Compatiblity Layer (ABI) with the same speed (as far as I can tell)

[miller0521]

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to give PCBSD a shot tomorrow. Another question arises though. Does it use the bourne again shell? ( bash )

I just ask that because I know how to do scripting in bash, and have NEVER worked with another shell, though I'm sure I coudl learn it quickly.

Also, are all the ports that are available on FreeBSD available to PCBSD? And which is better to install from, ports, or PBI if the PBI is available?

Also do I install themes from http://www.kde-look.org just like I do on Linux? I really like the QtCurve one, and I don't see it as a PBI or in ports.


Thanks!
Mitch

[TerryP]

Yes you can use the stuff from that site. We even have 1 PBI for a KDE Theme and 1 PBI for a KDE Window Decore (Love them on my laptop), several people also use setups from that site on their PCBSD More PBI for that stuff wouldn't hurt the Windows users coming to PCBSD any ether.

BASH, the first shell I liked *memories* Their's a PBI to install BASH but I think it dosn't update /etc/shells (i.e. it dosn't make it ready for you to use it as a login shell). Bash is also availble via Ports and Packages.

Yes ports are fully operational on PCBSD as much as FBSD.

The default shell is like csh or tcsh, hey why dont you give ports a go with installing bash?

(The GUI Way)
KMenu->Computer->PCBSD Settings-> Computer
Click tasks, click fetch ports and take a break depending on your internet and CPU. (At least 15min) You can also type
portsnap fetch && portsnap extract as root in a shell - same thing as above but installs Ports via command line.
Open konqueror and navigate to /usr/ports/shells/bash. Click Tools-> Open Terminal and su to root.
su
password: root password
make install clean

Or

(Shell way)
open konsole or an xterm and type
su
password: your root pass
cd /usr/ports/shells/bash
make install clean

And you should be getting GNU Bash 3.0

You can change it to your default shell via
chsh -s /usr/local/bin/bash
password: your user password
Or by going to KMenu->Computer->PSBSD Settings->Add user and taking a look around.

Also b.t.w. You can update KDE yourself via ports/packages when theirs a new version or wait for a PCBSD Update (which would probably be a matter of weeks instead of days.)

[dracheflieger]

KDE is updated to all but the latest base on the 1.11 PC-BSD update or ISO

[Thulemanden]

I have never used any BSD flavored distro's. I have used Linux particulary Fedora, Kubuntu, and Gentoo.

Is it going to function the same? I use GCC to do compiling of c and c++ code, is that available as well? Also is KDE and Gnome available?

I guess I am just unsure as to what seperates PCBSD from a Linux OS.

Any help on this would be appreciated. Also, why is it you use PCBSD, do you prefer it over Linux? And is it the most up to date on things? Such as when KDE releases a new version, does it take long to get it? How about things such as GCC?

Thanks!

As a desktop user, using KDE you probably won't see any difference. The online package selection covers most desktop use. It's a click affair like .exe or rpm

The fonts are way better.

There is another comman for installing packages from command line, that's all you'll see in the beginning. Oh, and all ports are 'stealth' on security (http://www.grc.com /shieldsup while they were just 'closed' on Linux. Added security and added stability on the package font due to a more thorugh development policy. In all, a better experience.

[miller0521]

How do I use the ports system? When reading that handbook thing I found it tells me that I need to subscribe to mailing lists and the such.

I would prefer to be able to just use something simliar to what I have in Mepis and thats a program called Synaptic...

Or at leats just be able to do a update at the commandline or something. I don't want to have to sift through mailing lists to download and upgrade packages.

Another question I have is , do GTK apps such as Firefox blend in with KDE, like if I change the KDE theme, does it affect GTK apps as well? I have had trouble with some LInux Distributions making this work. So thought I'd ask here.

Also, will it be hard to make PCBSD see my Shared windows drives and printer?

And should I use PBI's or the ports for packages?

[DragnLord]

How do I use the ports system? When reading that handbook thing I found it tells me that I need to subscribe to mailing lists and the such.

The handbook does not state that a mail list is manatory in any way.

I would prefer to be able to just use something simliar to what I have in Mepis and thats a program called Synaptic...

KDE has a few options, and the portinstall program works well (after ports has been installed).

Or at leats just be able to do a update at the commandline or something. I don't want to have to sift through mailing lists to download and upgrade packages.

See portinstall and 'pkg_add -r' for commandline.

Also, will it be hard to make PCBSD see my Shared windows drives and printer?

Install lanbrowser and activate the lisa deamon.

And should I use PBI's or the ports for packages?

That depends on how you want to install/use programs.
*PBIs installed do not effect the base system (similar to Mac OS X)
*ports become a part of the operating system

[miller0521]

Ok so dealing with the difference between ports and the PBI's, the PBI' sseem really really nice, however I Notice that Kdevelop is 3.2.2 yet the newest from KDE is 3.3.3, so when there is a version difference like this, am I better off going for ports instead of the PBI?

[DragnLord]

Ok so dealing with the difference between ports and the PBI's, the PBI' sseem really really nice, however I Notice that Kdevelop is 3.2.2 yet the newest from KDE is 3.3.3, so when there is a version difference like this, am I better off going for ports instead of the PBI?

If you really need the new features of 3.3.3, then ports would be better for you.