This is my first post, so to all of you out there, my name is Joe and I have been following this forum since I decided on buying an ATT Tilt (Kaiser) and you all have been a tremendous help in a lot of decisions I made with my phone.
Now onto the question at hand, I have some programming knowledge in the world of computers (C++, VB, etc...) but I was wondering the differences in trying to make a program for my phone. If someone can direct me to maybe a tutorial or another post that might help me, please do (I looked but couldn't find anything), I would like to start giving back to the forum that helped me out.
There isn't much difference between C++ and VB in general, just some prefer the less strict 'grammar' in VB and some prefer the clear 'grammar' in C++. Speed wise, if you were to be using M$'s classes, both ought to be the same, while if you were to write in pure C++ native language, C ought to be better compiled.
Another alternative would be the .Net thing. If I'm right (haven't been really using one), is a class package for both VB and C+ which seemingly make it easier to program.
Depends on what you have (i.e. the programming software), if you were to have Visual Studio 2003+ (or later, no sure), you can download the WM6 SDK, which includes tutorial on how to get started.
Well what I have on hand right now...nothing at all...I'm at work at the moment and in my freetime here would like to work on a few things, I've been analyzing some other pieces of software since I posted this and noticed the use of XML files for the setup.
I have no preference in what language I use (hell one I don't know yet would work for me...knowledge is a blessing in IT). Just wish to be able to take some of the programs I use at the moment (ex HTC Home, BatteryStatus) add a little more functionality for my own personal use since I really don't feel like copyright lawsuits.
Basically Hanmin, I guess it just boils down to what would you suggest to use with the available "tools" at hand or suggestions, I'm up for anything, new to this game, I figured I would get wisdom from the pros here to make myself useful in my downtime
"There isn't much difference between C++ and VB in general," - now there's a statement to launch a major debate! But I'll resist the temptation and move on to a more constructive response - PPL. PPL (Pocket Programming Language) is a great little package which gives you an IDE for developing pocket pc apps in a C like language on either the pocket pc itself or on a pc. Read about it and get a free trial download here:
http://www.arianesoft.ca/
With that title, you might think I'm an idiot, but I'm just pre-noob. I'm not sure how accurate the question was worded. I'm sorry.
I am just starting with Java. I got a For Dummies book, and read a few chapters for the theory, and now, I'm about to go back to the beginning to start typing in examples for the practical. But I'm confusing myself with all the IDE choices. I plan on building for Android, but also standalone for PC or web or however it works. My problem is the desire to get used to one IDE workflow and layout from the beginning.
Sorry for all the background, but can I follow along with the code in my book and learn the Android-specific stuff later? Or is Android Studio APK specific.
Sub question(and I'm sorry im posting this on an Android Studio forum), but would I be better off with Eclipse/NetBeans from the start?
saneinsylum said:
With that title, you might think I'm an idiot, but I'm just pre-noob. I'm not sure how accurate the question was worded. I'm sorry.
I am just starting with Java. I got a For Dummies book, and read a few chapters for the theory, and now, I'm about to go back to the beginning to start typing in examples for the practical. But I'm confusing myself with all the IDE choices. I plan on building for Android, but also standalone for PC or web or however it works. My problem is the desire to get used to one IDE workflow and layout from the beginning.
Sorry for all the background, but can I follow along with the code in my book and learn the Android-specific stuff later? Or is Android Studio APK specific.
Sub question(and I'm sorry im posting this on an Android Studio forum), but would I be better off with Eclipse/NetBeans from the start?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, you can't use Android Studio at the moment, because it's designed only for Android development.
you should start with NetBeans or Eclipse, and then migrate to Android Studio
I’ve enjoyed writing down my thoughts and my entire workflow as one big chunk of text before starting coding. It helps me to get an overview of the things that I need to be doing. I’ve noticed that different developers have their own unique way of planning and organizing their work - right from paper and checklists, to visual boards.
It would be interesting to see 1. what tools each of us use to manage your project plan? 2. how we share this plan with our team members/clients? 3. how do we manage our specific daily tasks and todos? and 4. our workflow/ project management process?
Feel free to share your thoughts. Probably we could learn from each other's best practices.
Well, I have a system about the daily tasks and todos. Whenever I start any work I have to have a list of tasks, written in paper or in computer, to tell me all the things I have to do. These tasks can be very small things, like fixing some small flaw, or bigger things, such as starting to implement some bigger feature. Once I have all the tasks written down, I start doing the items in list in what ever order I feel like is the best, wiping things off the list as I finish them. Usually the list grows as there comes up some stuff that I was not able to plan beforehand, but as long as I have all these tasks written down, they will eventually all be dealt with. This system is super simple and helps to keep the stress down as I do not have to try to remember all these small things, and I am able to focus on the task that I am doing right now.
Talking about my own, single person projects:
Earlier, I just started coding and then had a lot of refactoring, removing, redoing...
In my recenty projects, I started writing document and just put in all my ideas. Writing helped to organize my thoughts and ideas.
The document ended it paragraphs like
- motivation
- interface
- feature x
- feature y
- feature z
... and rough ideas of how to implement something (client-server communication, how to...)
So I just used something like word.
I think, moving it further, you could use scribbles of classes, class diagrams... but for that I am still an too impulsive coder.
I'm using trello.com and creating 3 boards TODO DOING DONE. It help a lot with organization .
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Switching to Linux after many years of using Windows can be a daunting task, but nowadays, it’s easier than ever. I just finished up four years of a computer science degree, for most of which I would switch between Windows and Linux. Windows was primarily my gaming operating system (as anti-cheat clients for games like Counter-Strike require Windows), but for anything else, Ubuntu was my go-to operating system. Prior to starting my degree, I was almost completely a die-hard Windows user (admittedly with experience in Linux server administration) and I would scoff at the thought of having Linux installed on my main machine.
However, it quickly became apparent that Linux in recent years is a whole lot easier than it once was, and the suite of applications you can install has grown dramatically. Gone are the days of needing to compile your own applications, for example, as there are now countless application repositories that you can access. If you think about it, even ChromeOS is a Linux derivative, which has more than enough software support for many people.
My personal Linux experience has basically always been with Ubuntu, but it has clearly improved across the board with package managers coming bundled with many of the popular distributions. Being a hardcore Windows user, I knew my way around a computer and the little that I did need to use the command line for I felt comfortable in using. Pretty much all your favorite applications are on Linux, and the ones that aren’t often have viable alternatives.
For the purposes of this article, I am going to be documenting my switch from Windows to Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux distribution and uses the Synaptic package manager, which is a GUI for the Advanced Package Tool, or APT. It also has built-in Snap support. The beauty of using Linux is the terminal, and in particular, how much control it hands over to the user.
Note: forcing yourself to get used to Linux isn’t something that you need to do, and it will come naturally over time. If you’re like me, you’ve used Windows machines all your life, and it won’t be easy to immediately transition over. Your computer is your computer, and making sure you can still do everything that you need to do is paramount.
Linux package managersThe biggest learning curve when switching from Windows to Linux will be learning how to use package manager. In most cases, the various Linux package managers all act and feel the same, and switching from one to another is easy once you’ve learned how to use one of them.
With Ubuntu, you can use the Synaptic package manager, or you can do what I do and make use of APT via the terminal. Applications can be downloaded and installed online as you would on a Windows machine in most cases, and the ones that require a bit more work often have instructions on how to use the terminal to install them.
Personally, I switched to just using the terminal and the apt-get command for nearly all cases.
Build your ownIf you’re the kind of person to want to have complete control over their operating system (which likely explains why you’re considering switching from Windows), Arch Linux is an operating system that you basically will need to end up building yourself. It’s a pretty lengthy install process, but a great way to get to grips with Linux and how the terminal works, while also ensuring you setup and install everything that you need and nothing more. Depending on the device you’re using, it’s possible you may need to engage in a lengthy setup anyway in some way or another.
For me, installing Ubuntu on the Huawei MateBook 14 2020 required building the latest version of the Linux kernel in order to ensure complete compatibility, as Ubuntu at the time did not support the Ryzen 4xxx series of chipsets. Your mileage will vary on this front, as it’s entirely possible that your machine will work right out of the box with Ubuntu, once all drivers are set up.
Install Arch Linux
Software that I useThe biggest sign that Linux has come a long way is that pretty much every common application that you would use is now present on the platform. I play a lot of games, I listen to a lot of music, and I do some development. These are the three core necessities I had when switching, and nearly all of them have been met.
Gaming
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Gaming on Linux is by far the most underdeveloped facet of the ecosystem, and it’s a mixture of developer choices and a history of poor graphics drivers that have left Linux in the current situation that it’s in. NVIDIA refused to contribute open-source drivers, and AMD had an open-source Radeon driver that was not as good as the proprietary alternative dubbed Catalyst. The only open-source NVIDIA alternative was Nouveau, which was developed unofficially by reverse engineering official NVIDIA drivers. These issues were exacerbated by developers not even building games for Linux, though that has changed more in recent years with the advent of the Steam PC (which runs Linux) and a growing number of Linux users on Steam.
There are a lot of AAA titles that don’t work on Linux, and likely won’t ever. All hope is not lost though, as a combination of Proton and Steam Play makes most Windows-only games at least compatible with Linux, even if they may not work perfectly. Proton is a fork of WINE, a compatibility layer for Windows applications to run on Linux, and it has a number of optimizations primarily focused on gaming to ensure compatibility across operating systems.
While an argument can be made that Proton’s existence encourages developers to not bother with implementing proper Linux support, it’s better than the alternative of games not being playable at all. Ultimately, gaming is no longer next to impossible on Linux machines, which puts it far ahead of where it once was. The biggest issue for me switching entirely has been that a lot of anti-cheat software does not run on Linux, and the two anti-cheat clients that I use for Counter-Strike are Windows-only. Aside from that, there’s no gaming incompatibility stopping me from using Linux all of the time.
Many die-hard Linux users will say not to support WIndows-only games, as that will force developers to release games on Linux. While that’s technically true, only roughly 1% of gamers on Steam are using Linux. Is the number growing? Yes. Is it still low? Also yes. The truth is that there isn’t enough interest for developers to want to care about Linux if it’s not easy for them to do so, and rather than alienating people from the Linux community just because they want to play Windows games, we should be welcoming them with open arms and showing them how to get around what may be the one deterrent they face.
If you’re going to ask someone to switch to an operating system that they don’t know and need to learn, and they need to no longer play their favorite games, that’s a pretty tall order for a lot of people.
Download Steam
DevelopmentIf anything, development on Linux is easier than on Windows. I use virtualization software in the form of Docker and VirtualBox, both of which are much easier to set up and use on Linux. Docker itself can be finicky to use, whereas the terminal in Ubuntu makes managing and switching between my containers a breeze. The environment variables are also much quicker to manage (in my opinion), meaning that it is easier to set up file paths for SDKs and commonly used project management tools like Maven.
I personally use IntelliJ as my IDE for Java, and PyCharm as my IDE for Python. Setting up LaTeX for document creation and editing was also much easier than on Windows, particularly when attempting to install all of the LaTeX packages that I use for my document templates. LaTeX is a collection of independent tools, and the LaTeX distribution that I use is TeX Live.
Download Docker
Download VirtualBox
Download IntelliJ
Download PyCharm
Download LaTeX
Photo editingSadly, Adobe hasn’t released any of its tools officially on Linux. There are two ways to get the likes of Photoshop working on Linux - WINE and PlayOnLinux, or VirtualBox. As already mentioned, virtualization technologies work well on Linux, and it shouldn’t be a problem to get working. However, it’s likely that performance will suffer if running it in a full-fledged Windows VM, particularly if your computer isn’t powerful. If you don’t need all of the advanced features of Photoshop, then you can switch to using GIMP for photo editing, as it does a lot of what Photoshop does.
Download GIMP
Video editing softwareMost major video editors aren’t on Linux, and therefore, it’s likely you’re going to need to learn to use a new video editing software. I use MAGIX Vegas 16 for my video editing, and others might not use Adobe Premiere. If you don’t mind learning a new video editor, then the powerful DaVinci Resolve might be exactly what you need to transition over to Linux. What’s more, DaVinci Resolve is free, so you can try it out without needing to break the bank. Like anything, there’s a learning curve, but I found that having had experience with many different editors, I was able to pick it up fairly quickly.
Download DaVinci Resolve
Awesome right up!! I've gone 50/50 Windows-Linux but my distro of choice after trying many, many is Manjaro. It's very easy on computer resources and looks beautiful.
I'm hoping to do a full build of Arch this summer
Arch will be a walk in the park for you after learning Manjaro. You'll find that it's also more stable than Manjaro.
I switched to Linux a year and a half ago and haven't looked back since. Why you ask, well because I got fed up with windoze spyware. Same reason why I use a custom ROM without google trash apps though I kinda miss google maps but hey you can't have it all.
chomsky55 said:
I switched to Linux a year and a half ago and haven't looked back since. Why you ask, well because I got fed up with windoze spyware. Same reason why I use a custom ROM without google trash apps though I kinda miss google maps but hey you can't have it all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XPx64 was Window's zenith with W7 being it's last good OS. I run W7 and have a XPx64 machine.
Zero faith in W11, the fail runs strong in MS.
So sick of big sister wannabes.
I helped my brother install Linux Mint MATE in his 8 year old laptop (dual-boot) and it was 5 to 10 times faster than Win10 and since then I have never even thought about using Windows 10.
#Linux4Life
Much emphasis has been placed on open-source, and I think each person approaching the use of Linux on their PC should consider unpacking this angle because there's lots to think about here. For instance, open-source doesn't necessarily mean free, and neither does it mean best in practice. Nvidia may have refused to release open-source drivers for their GPUs, but they're also spent the last year and a half working with Valve and a number of large hardware manufacturers to make their tech accessible as well as viable for gaming in Linux. Without these two companies providing this support, and the updates they continue to provide, this latest push, the most advancement made towards Linux becoming a viable platform for gaming, would not exist. And their software remains proprietary still. So does the open-source philosophy really provide much draw for non-Linux users to take the plunge?
On the note of users coming from other operating systems, I think it's perfectly reasonable to consider anybody in this group the same as drivers who don't know anything about the mechanical workings of an automobile yet still manage to use them for their intended purpose. Learning to service a vehicle yourself in order to perform maintenance or repairs is to develop a technical skill that many if not most people will never do. For most, the computer is a technical tool fit to facilitate achieving an objective. They don't fancy taking on the role of the mechanic any more than they see themselves becoming a veterinarian to provide care for Fido or Spot. Until Linux's user-experience can be as guided and polished as the simpler alternatives, it will remain the technical user's OS, primarily used by enthusiasts and programmers/developers.
sammiev said:
Arch will be a walk in the park for you after learning Manjaro. You'll find that it's also more stable than Manjaro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate that. Hopefully before summer ends, I can get started on it
Clamtacos said:
Until Linux's user-experience can be as guided and polished as the simpler alternatives, it will remain the technical user's OS, primarily used by enthusiasts and programmers/developers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the number one reason why I use Linux in the first place. I stopped compiling ROMS with the HTC-Evo - which was the first time I set up a Linux build. The first computer I ever bought was a Win 95 Machine (I actually had an old DOS machine with Win 3.1 on it for a short time) and from the beginning, I jumped right into being "the Mechanic"
I JUST started with Ubuntu the other day. I am finding getting connected to my NAS devices takes a LOT of time. Wondering what I need to change/do to make it as fast as Windowz. Just a 2X click and I'm there.
I also can't seem to find a setting for how I want to have my desktop. I don't want a wallpaper just a solid color background.
I'm 70 and it's like starting all over again with a PC. I KNOW my way around Windowz, after all been on it since 1988 and MS DOS before that. So I'm somewhat savvy but this is a whole new world.
flhthemi said:
I JUST started with Ubuntu the other day. I am finding getting connected to my NAS devices takes a LOT of time. Wondering what I need to change/do to make it as fast as Windowz. Just a 2X click and I'm there.
I also can't seem to find a setting for how I want to have my desktop. I don't want a wallpaper just a solid color background.
I'm 70 and it's like starting all over again with a PC. I KNOW my way around Windowz, after all been on it since 1988 and MS DOS before that. So I'm somewhat savvy but this is a whole new world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, which Distro are you using and second, Google/Bing/Duck are your best friends. On almost any Distro there are packages you can install that will allow you to tweak your settings, download other wallpapers, fonts, etc. That;'s one of the best parts of Linux - it's customizable to anyway YOU want
Over the years I've kept looking at using Linux instead of Windows. But every time I go back to Windows for the following reasons:
I find the Linux system management arcane. I don't want to be a systems manager. I want something as "easy" as Windows' Control Panel/Settings
I use Microsoft Office products and OpenOffice is, for me, not a suitable alternative, especially not for Excel
I use iTunes for my music
I've tried Wine but found it clunky and slow.
I really like the scripting Linux has (I use lots of shell scripts to get certain tasks done) so I use Windows Subsystem for Linux. But that's a far cry from a full-fledge PC.
Clamtacos said:
Much emphasis has been placed on open-source, and I think each person approaching the use of Linux on their PC should consider unpacking this angle because there's lots to think about here. For instance, open-source doesn't necessarily mean free, and neither does it mean best in practice. Nvidia may have refused to release open-source drivers for their GPUs, but they're also spent the last year and a half working with Valve and a number of large hardware manufacturers to make their tech accessible as well as viable for gaming in Linux. Without these two companies providing this support, and the updates they continue to provide, this latest push, the most advancement made towards Linux becoming a viable platform for gaming, would not exist. And their software remains proprietary still. So does the open-source philosophy really provide much draw for non-Linux users to take the plunge?
On the note of users coming from other operating systems, I think it's perfectly reasonable to consider anybody in this group the same as drivers who don't know anything about the mechanical workings of an automobile yet still manage to use them for their intended purpose. Learning to service a vehicle yourself in order to perform maintenance or repairs is to develop a technical skill that many if not most people will never do. For most, the computer is a technical tool fit to facilitate achieving an objective. They don't fancy taking on the role of the mechanic any more than they see themselves becoming a veterinarian to provide care for Fido or Spot. Until Linux's user-experience can be as guided and polished as the simpler alternatives, it will remain the technical user's OS, primarily used by enthusiasts and programmers/developers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I Agree with U.
Non-Commercial licenses have its own limitation too.
But, commercial and non-commercial licenses have given us "a color" in our life!
HipKat said:
First, which Distro are you using and second, Google/Bing/Duck are your best friends. On almost any Distro there are packages you can install that will allow you to tweak your settings, download other wallpapers, fonts, etc. That;'s one of the best parts of Linux - it's customizable to anyway YOU want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I WAS using 20.04 but got so frustrated I had to give up. I couldn't figure out how to add a folder to the desktop and then put shortcuts in it. Made a folder but I couldn't put anything into it. Then I played some STEREO 2CH videos and only the left side would be audible. Sound settings are so minimal....using the slider for L/R balance did nothing to change it. I guess I'm just too dang stupid to figure it out.
I'm not bad mouthing it, believe me. It's just not the right distro for me, I guess.
flhthemi said:
I WAS using 20.04 but got so frustrated I had to give up. I couldn't figure out how to add a folder to the desktop and then put shortcuts in it. Made a folder but I couldn't put anything into it. Then I played some STEREO 2CH videos and only the left side would be audible. Sound settings are so minimal....using the slider for L/R balance did nothing to change it. I guess I'm just too dang stupid to figure it out.
I'm not bad mouthing it, believe me. It's just not the right distro for me, I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey i get it too. But, I can say, depending on where you are at with updates, 20.04 has been getting many updates over past few weeks.
i can say gamers and audio files are folks that use a program for the needs. should look at snaps for a Real Hi-Fi player. (Some browsers and some players are just not good enough)
Hang in there... from what I have been reading, the next Ubuntu LTS seems to be rather nice, right from the start. Just need the right software for what you want to do
I JUST started with Ubuntu the other day. I am finding getting connected to my NAS devices takes a LOT of time. Wondering what I need to change/do to make it as fast as Windowz. Just a 2X click and I'm there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Ubuntu from time to time. For mounting nas shares I use a script file with mount points which I execute after boot. Example line for the script below. Make sure you create mount points first (for example /media/Tv-shows)
sudo mount -t cifs //192.168.1.123/data/TV-Shows -o uid=1000,username=admin,password=password,rw,nounix,iocharset=utf8 /media/Tv-Shows
I'm sure there is more (maybe easier) ways but this is how I do it
I guess I'm just spoiled. I don't feel I should have to do a script to access my NAS. They showed up but were not accessible in Mint or in Ubuntu. I installed Zorin? and access to them and could make book marks. Somehow, I still felt limited. So I just threw in the towel and went back to Windowz. Too old to give a dang and too set in my ways I guess. Thanks for the info and the help but it's just not gonna be an OS for me.
I just dual boot so I can have the best of both worlds. Thanks for sharing.
sammiev said:
Arch will be a walk in the park for you after learning Manjaro. You'll find that it's also more stable than Manjaro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um no
Arch is obviously more stable then manjaro, but it definitely won't be a walk in the park (especially the installation) after using an OS with pre-included apps
I'd suggest using Arch after mastering the Debian based distros (like ubuntu or mint) or experiment with manjaro in a vm (better in my opinion)
NullCode said:
Um no
Arch is obviously more stable then manjaro, but it definitely won't be a walk in the park (especially the installation) after using an OS with pre-included apps
I'd suggest using Arch after mastering the Debian based distros (like ubuntu or mint) or experiment with manjaro in a vm (better in my opinion)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm long past Ubuntu and Mint and I've watched a few walk-throughs for building Arch from code. It'll be a project but one worth taking on