Difference between revisions of "Linux"

Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution for personal computers and is recommended for users who are making the switch from another OS to Linux. The Ubuntu Software Centre is a distribution centre exclusive to this specific family of Linux distributions.

Useful Programs

Wine

Wine is a compatibility layer that allows one to run Windows applications and games on Linux. one of the easiest and most popular way for Linux users to run programs written for Microsoft Windows. It also provides a software library that can help developers port Windows games to Linux.

The Shell

The Unix Shell "bash" available on Linux is a very useful tool for doing system tasks. If you use Linux as your main operating system, then it is heavily recommended that you learn how to use it. Google Code University provides a good starting guide.

Steam

The Steam client for Linux is currently in open beta but only officially supports Ubuntu 12.04 LTS or later. You can download it from the Steam about page.

Graphics

Laptop graphics

nVidia Optimus

The Bumblebee project provides support for discrete/integrated combos of graphic cards.

ATi/AMD

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Fglrx

Common Fixes

Graphics Drivers

On Ubuntu the drivers can be installed using a graphical utility. Ubuntu will automatically notify you if there are proprietary drivers available for your graphics card to install.

As Linux by default only provides open source drivers, proprietary graphics drivers are not provided. These drivers are generally much faster and can be installed via jockey-text:

1) Install jockey-text: sudo apt-get install jockey-text

2) List drivers: jockey-text --list

3) Enable the correct driver (whichever mentions being current) eg.: jockey-text -e xorg:nvidia_current

Disable Desktop Compositing in Fullscreen

Instructions

Instructions

Running Games on a Separate x Server

Running games on a different X server from ones main desktop can dramatically improve performance and generally reduces the amount of problems within a game especially when using an advanced compositing window manager like Compiz. To launch a separate X server with a game create a new .sh file and paste in the fallowing code:

#! /bin/bash 
DISPLAY=:1.0
xinit $cd '/YOURGAMEPATH' $* -- :1

Save and allow the file to be executable. Running this script in the terminal will make it much easier end the server when you are finished with it. Alternatively you can set the path to a terminal emulator like Xterm /usr/bin/uxterm and launch the game from a terminal in the new server. You could even launch a file browser like nautilus /usr/bin/nautilus Press Alt+Ctrl+F7 to return to the main desktop and Alt+Ctrl+F8 to go back to the newly created one.

Instructions

Instructions

Instructions

Instructions

References

↑ http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/21/how-easy-is-it-to-play-windows-games-on-linux/

[1] ttp://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/21/how-easy-is-it-to-play-windows-games-on-linux/

[1]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 }}
 '''Key points'''
-{{++}} Native Steam version of Linux is being developed and is in beta with a [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8495-OKZC-0159 list of working games].
+{{++}} Native Linux version of Steam is being developed and is in beta with a [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8495-OKZC-0159 list of working games].
-{{++}} Number of natively supported Linux games has dramatically increased with the introduction of the [[Humble Indie Bundle]].
+{{++}} The number of natively supported Linux games has dramatically increased with the introduction of the [[Humble Indie Bundle]].
 {{--}} Getting Windows-only games up and running in Linux can be significantly more challenging than on [[Windows]].<ref>http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/21/how-easy-is-it-to-play-windows-games-on-linux/</ref>
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 {{ii}} [http://store.steampowered.com/browse/linux/ Steam Linux store]
 {{ii}} [http://steamcommunity.com/linux Steam Linux community]
-{{ii}} [https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues Github bug reporting]
+{{ii}} [https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues GitHub bug reporting]
 {{ii}} [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Valve Ubuntu Wiki] - guide to Steam.
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 === Ubuntu ===
 [[Wikipedia:Ubuntu_(operating_system)|Ubuntu]] is the most popular Linux distribution for personal computers and is recommended for users who are making the switch from another OS to Linux.
-The [[Ubuntu Software Centre]] is a distribution centre exclusive to this specific Linux distribution.
+The [[Ubuntu Software Centre]] is a distribution centre exclusive to this specific family of Linux distributions.
 == Useful Programs ==
 === Wine ===
-[[Wine]] is one of the easiest and most popular way for Linux users to run programs written for Microsoft Windows. It also provides a software library that can help developers port Windows games to Linux.
+[[Wine]] is a compatibility layer that allows one to run Windows applications and games on Linux. one of the easiest and most popular way for Linux users to run programs written for Microsoft Windows. It also provides a software library that can help developers port Windows games to Linux.
 === The Shell ===
 The Unix Shell "bash" available on Linux is a very useful tool for doing system tasks. If you use Linux as your main operating system, then it is heavily recommended that you learn how to use it.
 [http://code.google.com/edu/tools101/linux/basics.html Google Code University] provides a good starting guide.
 === Steam ===
-The [[Steam]] client for Linux is currently in open beta but only officially supports [[Wikipedia:Ubuntu_(operating_system)|Ubuntu]] 12.04LTS. Download it from the steam about page.
+The [[Steam]] client for Linux is currently in open beta but only officially supports [[Wikipedia:Ubuntu_(operating_system)|Ubuntu]] 12.04 LTS or later. You can download it from the Steam about page.
 ==Graphics==
 ===Laptop graphics===
-====Nvidia Optimus====
+====nVidia Optimus====
-http://bumblebee-project.org/
+The [http://bumblebee-project.org/ Bumblebee] project provides support for discrete/integrated combos of graphic cards.
 ====ATi/AMD====
 http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Fglrx
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 == Common Fixes ==
 === Graphics Drivers ===
-As Linux traditionally only provides open source drivers, proprietary graphics drivers are not provided. These drivers are generally much faster and can be installed via ''jockey-text'':
+{{ii}} On Ubuntu the drivers can be installed using a graphical utility. Ubuntu will automatically notify you if there are proprietary drivers available for your graphics card to install.
+As Linux by default only provides open source drivers, proprietary graphics drivers are not provided. These drivers are generally much faster and can be installed via ''jockey-text'':
 ) Install jockey-text: <code>sudo apt-get install jockey-text</code>
@@ Line 55: / Line 57: @@
 ) Enable the correct driver (whichever mentions being current) eg.: <code>jockey-text -e xorg:nvidia_current</code>
-===Disable Desktop Compositing===
+===Disable Desktop Compositing in Fullscreen===
 {{Fixbox|1=
 {{Fixbox/instructions|Compiz}}
 :# Install CCSM(CompizConfig Settings Manager)
-:#Be careful! This tool can easily break your desktop!
+:# Be careful! This tool can easily break your desktop!
 :# Enable unredirect fullscreen windows under general settings
+{{ii}} This is unnecessary in Ubuntu 12.10 and later, as this setting is enabled by default
 }}
 {{Fixbox|1=