View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Colonel_Panic Just Arrived
Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 2
|
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 3:20 pm Post subject: linux software on Mac |
|
|
Sorry if this is an idiotic question, but I couldn't figure it out on my own...
Since Mac OS is a sort of Unix and it is said to be (more or less?) compatible with linux, does that mean that I can go and download some linux software source and compile it on Mac????
I'm thinking about buying a new computer and trying to decide whether I just by one with no software and install linux or perhaps buy a Mac. Mac would be my choice if I can use tools, commands, tricks and applications that I've become familiar with (on linux).
Will Mac bring me best of both open source and commercial software?
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
catwoman Just Arrived
Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 0 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
|
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Read this thread for more info:
http://security-forums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12163
Sorry your question is not my area of expertise or I'd have been more helpful
Quote: |
Will Mac bring me best of both open source and commercial software |
As with everything else on a Mac, it depends what software you need to use. Certainly most common commercial software is available to Mac users and there are many open source/freeware/shareware available.
This is one source that I know of:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
hugo Forum Fanatic
Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 16777215 Location: Netherlands, Europe
|
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Mac OS X can, if the development package has been installed, compile most UNIX sources like Linux, *BSD, and other open source operating systems do.
Most UNIX-flavoured OSes are POSIX or ANSI compliant. Roughly said, the POSIX and ANSI standards have been created to make different compilers on different systems understand the code the same.
Most open source projects can be compiled on a MacOSX machine, although it *could* happen that certain required libraries do not compile. This is something you'd have to find out for yourself (or by checking the projects' homepage to see if MacOSX is supported)..
Note that this only is true for source packages: you cannot run linux binaries on a MacOSX-box.
Hope this helps.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Colonel_Panic Just Arrived
Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 2
|
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for replies, everything seems good so far.
Are there going to be 64 bit laptops from Apple any time soon?
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
catwoman Just Arrived
Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 0 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
|
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 1:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Colonel_Panic wrote: |
Are there going to be 64 bit laptops from Apple any time soon? |
Hopefully! I read that the problem with putting the G5 chip (64 bit) in powerbooks is there's too much heat - can't remember where I read that or I'd post a link.
One they sort that out we'll have a new range of G5 powerbooks
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Colonel_Panic Just Arrived
Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 2
|
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Google brought up some rumours on G5 powerbook. One date mentioned was september this year. Maybe.
No doubt that Apple is working on it and will deliver something pretty soon though.
Hmm... 64 bit AMD+linux or wait for G5 powerbook? (which probably will cost more than a small banana republic when it finally arrives )
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|