h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi there HappyDude,

I have seen you post quite a few favourable comments about Linux and I'm thinking it's about time I built myself a box

Bob knows, there's a shed load of info on the Interweb, but there's nowt like personal recommendations

I've read about RedHat and a few other variants... but that was ages ago - has much changed in the last few years? My instinct is to go with stuff that is v slow to change - unless there are serious bugs etc - I like the line 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'

Anyhow...

First and foremost, I simply want a system to w*rk with (not 'on' )... I don't play games, hardly ever play music and v v rarely video

My goal is to build, using completely free/open source software, a (relational) database-driven web application

So, I'm thinking MySQL, which seems rather resource-economical...

In IBM-PC terms, a 200MHz machine running Win Server 2000 would be MORE than capable of what I want/need - I figure that if I can't something go fast on a slow machine, I ain't doing it right

So, if you're up for it... I'd love to hear your suggestions - both hardware and software


Cheers
six7s

The first question you have to ask is Linux or BSD.

BSD tends to more stable and run on a wide variety of hardware (so your not just limited to intel/amd x86 architecture), but has less software available than Linux.

Linux is pretty stable and has plenty of software but tends to be (but not always) focused intel/amd X86 architecture.

Next question is to you want to install & go or are you up to doing a bit of configuring (and learning) yourself? (my initial recommendations are based on the second choice).

---------

"using completely free/open source software"
This limits the choice a bit but here are two that meet the criteria...
GNU Darwin http://www.gnu-darwin.org/
Debian http://www.debian.org/

If you just want an easy install and no messing about then Ubuntu or Kubuntu will do the job (but keep in mind that the fully featured desktop managers will require faster processors & more memory) http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ another to look at is Vector Linux (this one has a choice of more light weight window managers) http://www.vectorlinux.com/
Ubuntu is based on Debian and vector Linux on Slackware.

I've used NetBSD in the past and now I am very enamored with Slackware Linux.

Providing you are not afraid of the command line and a bit of configuring and you want Linux I'd say Debian or Slackware depending on ya personal preference.

NB: If you want to start a flame war ask this question over at http://ask.slashdot.org/

Thanks! Well, those 4 sites will keep me busy for a few hours

So far, I am leaning towards Ubuntu - I really like "I am what I am because of who we all are" and the forums I've read so far are so encouraging

Also, I'm taking your recommendation re "easy install and no messing about" - command line doesn't faze me at all - but I figure 'walking before running' might be and idea

As for the flamewars - I think I'll skip 'em!

OK... back to the reading

Thanks for the tips!